It’s hard to believe that today marks the last day of April in my 2018 No-Spend Year!
Unlike other months, April was a relatively easy-going month in terms of our no-spend progress. This past month I didn’t need to make any large repairs at home, replace any items, or seasonally prepare anything at home. Overall I spent a total of $212.14 on groceries and toiletries while saving our family $881.62.
How I saved:
- $116.00 on requesting interlibrary loan books for of my reading club selections.
- Used earned Amazon gift cards to purchase $100.00 in household goods for my ETSY shop.
- Groomed pets at home which saved us $70.00.
- Sold unused household items on Facebook local groups and made $125.00.
- Reviewed a phone case and saved $20.99 off the cost of buying a new case.
- Was gifted a care package of Lush Soaps and saved $40.00 by not buying toiletries.
- Used free Redbox codes twice for family movie nights and saved $3.00.
- Utilized free Hulu with our family Spring plan and saved $7.99.
- Traded crochet handtowels for homemade preserves, nut butter, and produce; saved $50.00.
- Donated to charity for tax receipts in deductions totaling $150.00.
- Ate from our pantry and freezer for one week saving $64.00.
- Cut my family’s hair at home. Saved $70.00.
- Sold used books on eBay. Earned $64.64 after seller and PayPal fees and shipping labels.
I was very encouraged by my savings this past month. Especially with what I was able to put back from selling things around the house. It still surprises me how small things still seem to creep into our home. This was due largely to having participated in a YouTube minimalist collab this month really helped me reprioritize my decluttering habits at home.
Around the house:
This month also saw the end of this year’s robotics team at my husband’s school. To end the year with a bang, my husband and our local robotics team were able to try out a STEM learning kit I received from Circuit Cubes. They had a ball with this kit. If you’re in the market for affordable STEM learning kits, check them out here.
Spring has also found its way into my garden. I’ve spent a lot of time germinating seeds, weeding flower beds, pruning crepe myrtles, mending the trellises for our climbing roses, planning to build additional compost bins, and turning the last of fall’s leaves into mulch for the warmer months ahead.
I also made a batch of my DIY rose food. It’s my go-to for keeping my climbing roses looking their best year after year. As you can see, the results speak for themselves!
This past month also saw the creation of a small venture on this site, Anchor app mini-podcasts. Each Thursday I post a 5-7 minute mini musing over my week, home, and ideas rattling around the noggin. I’d love for you to check them out each week! I’m also working on my upcoming regular podcast and two ebooks set to be published later this coming season.
I’ve also gotten back into the habit of prepping my household cleaning caddy each Monday. Making batches of all-natural bleach, wood polish, and countertop cleaner. I’ve also been experimenting with a DIY black soap cleaner, so stay tuned for an upcoming recipe as well!
Needless to It has been a busy time at home. A time of progress and enjoying more of the simple life at home.
So, friends, I want to ask, did you participate in our no-spend, or your own frugal April, be sure to leave your comments about what you learned! If you didn’t participate, I’d still love to hear how and where you saved the most this month! Share your stories below!
