I keep an active shopping list divided into categories: clothing, accessories, electronics, house stuff, and trips. Nerd alert. It’s part financial planning, part style organization, and lately, the part that usually gets the least attention — trips — has gotten a bit more attention, leaving me with countdowns to the arrivals of these adventures and my bank account depleted.
I just booked an airline ticket to Chicago for Labor Day where I’ll be meeting my college besties for what we’ve dubbed #Reunion2013.
So, in light of putting these vacations on the books (yay!), I’ve put myself on a bit of spending hiatus. I don’t mean to imply that usually my spending is unlimited because it’s far from, but I’m usually scouting for a good deal on something on my shopping list, good consumer I am.
Now every dollar I have is evaluated for what it can get me now against what adventure it could buy in Europe in a few months or how much shopping and brunching I’ll get to do in September with my biffles. So, in the spirit of moderation, I’ve come up with a few guidelines to curb my spending as I focus on saving for my summer of fun.
Limiting meals out. Whenever I look at my budget, the place I always determine that’s the easiest to change quickly and has the potential for meaningful savings is eating out. Fortunately, I enjoy cooking, so by grocery shopping at the beginning of the week and cooking enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day, I can get through most of the week without going out to eat. But being a moderation-ist and not an absolutist, for this to be sustainable, I’ll justify the occasional frozen yogurt or takeout order.
Saying no to brunch and yes to peanut butter toast.
I also lowered my monthly budget for shopping, which is why these booties aren’t mine.
Available from Lucky Brand on Piperlime.
Planning cheap or free weekend activities. While I love a trip to the movie theater and a weekend filled with brunch and shopping, I’m opting for no- and low-cost entertainment alternatives — watching movies and TV at home, making crafts out of stuff I have at home, and taking hikes both urban and otherwise.
So last weekend we spent the early afternoon on Sunday at the Treasure Island Flea Market — a once monthly outdoor market that takes place on the island in between San Francisco and the east bay. While tempted by a few good deals — among them a basket of fresh donuts for $4 — I just browsed and walked away with just photos and some vitamin d. 
The plan for this weekend is a cheap craft (stay tuned!), blogging, and reading. Maybe a hike, if the weather holds up. Happy March!
Your snow-free existence is taunting me after Chicago keeps getting dumped on with snow this past month!
I am totally with you on the spending hiatus. For me, it’s definitely food where I spend the most! It’s crazy because I pack a lunch everyday and spend around $50 weekly on groceries but it’s the little bits here and there that totalllllly add up (i.e. happy hour one night, brunch on the weekend, Chipotle for dinner after a long workday). If I could curb those more, I’d be much happier with my budget!
Jorie, we’ve had such a nice winter. But it’s a tease. San Francisco summers are foggy and chilly, so we’ve got to enjoy it now, because it won’t be back until September. What planet do I live on?
Glad I’m not the only one who is sometimes astonished where my money goes only to find it went to baking supplies and takeout! I’m reeling in the spending so we can party Jay-Z and Beyonce come Labor Day
I’m so with you! I have Jordan to thank for my grocery budgeting (woo Instacart!) but it’s the eating out that ultimately gets me. Now that the weather is even nicer, there are so many free SF things to do! Such as dog park dates
Totally! Parks, walks, window shopping. The weather has definitely helped me have some good, free fun!