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February 12, 2015

February No Spend Month Challenge: Day 12 Recap

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Good evening, savvy savers! Today I challenged you all to tackle cleaning out your little caves of wonder, your bedroom closets! If you are anything like me, your closet was nothing short of a time capsule of the last decade of your life, and probably need a cleaning overhaul today.

You were allotted: 40 hangers, a skinny bin, and that’s it! So, how did you all do today? For me, I was able to clean out my closet and had eight hangers left over, woohoo! As well, all of my purged clothes will be used next week during our “selling week;” all of the clothes being purged can be donated, sold, or upcycled, too! My closet, which was already small, went from having the rod bowing in the center, to being freed up! I can now see all of the pieces I love! I forgot I still had my Burberry wrap! How awesome is that! 

Now, before anyone asks, my boxes shoes are located above my closet, and I have an awesome, huge set of built-in drawers which house my house clothes, pajamas, scarves, and more. But my closet, long the place where garments were pressed together so tightly they could not move, is now free-flowing, organized by fabric, and I now feel that despite losing a few dozen items, I have more options, as every item I kept I can fit, and just love! 

As I organized my closet I kept three piles: A pile of wearable outfits, a pile of donations, and a pile of clothes which can be sold. And when I was finished I tried on each and every outfit in the keep pile, and guess what? Three outfits were too large for me currently, which was an awesome affirming moment for me! All-in-all, this was painless, and left me feeling elated! 

The 40 hanger system is a keeper for me! 

So, here’s the before and after:

Before & After

 

As well today, I was also able to accomplish:

  1. As part of my #Choose30 Daily Challenge, I woke up at 7:25, walked my fur babies, showered, & dressed to my shoes. (Thanks, Flylady!)
  2. Worked on my daily Motivated Moms Planner.
  3. I finished a day’s worth of clerking assignments ahead of schedule!
  4. I cooked from my pantry for each meal.
  5. Read my daily devotional.
  6. I waked two miles.

Today I saved:

  • I eat at home this evening for dinner, saving our family $6.95. 
  • I recycled, upcycled, and composted one bins of deluge, and saved $0.25, the cost of 1 trash bag. 
  • My family drank water today, and saved $0.69, the cost of a 2-liter of soda.
  • I also did not watch cable tv, and saved $3.68 by doing so.
  • I lost a half day’s worth of electricity costs, and saved $3.00! 

So, overall today my family saved: $14.57

This months savings goal remaining: $359.43

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Day 13 challenge! 

 

Here’s to saving,

misty1

 

Challenge Links:

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DIY Pencil Pouches!

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 Hello again, savvy savers! Today finds us with another awesome DIY project just in time for national test prep in most schools! If you were anything like me as a child, you always needed a pencil pouch, supply case, and student ID bag; all needed to make sure that our schedules, Lisa Frank pencils, push-through lead insert-able pencils, scented Mr. Sketch markers, and the illicit ultra-cool, but highly impracticable pencil top erasers handy! With most schools prepping for National Standardized Testing next month before Spring break, now is a great time to send the kiddos off to school in style, clad with new pencils, in an affordable pencil pouch! 

Also worth noting, be sure to check the Scotch website for everyday coupons on duct tape, colored tape, and the like; I purchased my rolls of Duct Tape, the day after Christmas for the past two years, at CVS with coupons, for only $0.10 per roll! I also purchase my baggies, with coupon at the Dollar Tree, making this project $0.15 per bag, on average!

So, to begin you will need the following:

  • Scissors or Cutting Board
  • Ziplock bags; quart size for Pencil Pouches and Student ID & Gallon Bag for In-Binder School Supply Pouch
  • 3-Ring Hole Punch
  • Customized Duct Tape
  • Straight Edge
  • Card-stock or Scrapbook Paper Sheet
  • Sharpie or Colored Marker
  • Binder (or D Clip, if linking to a backpack)
  • Page Re-Enforcers, Optional

Here’s how to make the DIY Pencil Pouches:

  1. Lay a Ziplock baggie on a clean surface, as flat as possible.
  2. using a straight edge and sharpie, mark two inches off of the bottom of the baggie.
  3. Cut the two inch section off of the baggie and set to the side.
  4. Lay your tape flat on the baggie, and continue to wrap each strip of the baggie; each baggie will use three strips.
  5. Secure the bottom strip together.
  6. If you just want a pencil pouch, you are now done!

 So that it, folks! An easy-peasy DIY version of  DIY Pencil Pouches! 

Here’ to saving,

misty1

February No Spend Month Challenge: Day 12 (Clean Out Your Closet)

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Good morning, savvy savers! I hope you are all well rested, and in the mindset to save this morning! Things are a little amiss at my home this morning, as two of my three fuzzy little girls are at the vet this morning, one with an ear infection, and the second getting her final round of puppy vaccinations; when all of my family isn’t home, human and fuzzy alike, this seems a little sadder, you know?  So today, in keeping with this weeks cleaning trend, I want to focus on another problem area in many homes, our personal closets. Yes, our little caves of wonder. If you are anything like me, your closet is nothing short of a time capsule of the last decade of your life, and probably in need of an overhaul today! 

So today, I challenge you to purge your closet. But there is a catch to today’s challenge, you can only keep 40 items. Now before anyone gasps in horror, this is a purposed experiment. I am challenging you to limit your closets to 40 hangers, 40 items so that your closet only contains clothes you can currently fit, look great in, and simply love! All of the clothes being purged can be donated, sold, or upcycled, too! 

So here are a few tips to help you purge your closet:

  • Purge veraciously.  Keep only the items that you absolutely love, can comfortably fit, and wear on a regular basis.  
  • If something doesn’t fit “just right,” has holes, stains, is out of season, or you haven’t worn in one year, toss it! 
  • Skinny Bin. For clothes that you are five pounds from fitting, create a bin or basket which can be placed in the top of your closet; no more than ten pieces. 
  • Think Fabric. Torn or stained items, made of interested fabrics, can be reprieved from the donation bin, and instead may be cut into strips or squares for crafting; think pillo cases, framed vintage tees, tee-shirt rugs, and more! 
  • Invest in great hangers.  Think smaller, huggable hangers for clothing, and bendable hangers for swearers; plastic hangers can be re-purposed to hang fabric in your craft room, and wire hangers can be stored for wreath forms.
  • Maximize your losses.  Purged items can be sold via Craigslist, eBay, Facebook, consignment shops, Threadup, or garage sales.  

Don’t think of this as a chore, but a life lesson. By purging the things we don’t need, want, or use, we are making room for all of the clothing and accessories that make our bodies look and feel better. Today we are freeing ourselves for the bigger, better deals. So today, let’s see how we can change our perspectives, one closet at a time! Be sure to mosey on back her tonight to see my daily recap!

Here’s to saving,

misty1

 

Challenge Links:

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