Sunday, February 19, 2012

Challenging Challenges



Besides Carla's double challenge of No/Low Spending and Decluttering my little piece of the universe I am taking part in two other challenges - The 10 Pound Challenge with Erika at Newlyweds on a Budget and The Sealed Pot Challenge with Sft at Travel, Mortgage Freedom, 101 and Life Goals. Also, once Little Lamb at Little Lam Wants to be Debt Free  becomes debt-free (very very soon!!) I will be joining her celebration by dedicating a 25km bike ride to her amazing accomplishment!

You could say that I'm challenged.

Here is a look at my Sealed Pot:
Now, I don't weigh mine like some people I know (Carla), but then $5.00 bills don't weigh very much! I'm keeping it well fed. I have a feeling I might need to make another pot or find something a little larger. But I'll wait and see. I've been thinking a lot about what I'll do with the money and I think I've finally decided. I'm going to put the money into something I really need for my home in PEI. I don't know what that'll be yet, but by December I will have made up my mind. Some possibilities are: a tankless hot water heater, new deck, new fence, leveling the driveway, commissioning a headboard from Jeffery Kerras at Back Road Folk Art, or another piece of furniture for the house.

I'm glad I didn't make a firm decision right off the bat about how I wanted to use the money once opened. It's nice to have something to dream about and I can keep changing my mind right up until December.

The 10 Pound Challenge is a different story:

I haven't been as successful with this challenge as I would like. There have been a lot of ups and downs, lots of temptations - invitations to dinner, eating out, Valentine's Day dinner and so on. I would say that 5/7 days per week I'm sticking to my "eating plan" (stole that from Gill - it's so NOT a diet!!)  Hence the ups and downs.

Now, if it were a TRUE eating plan I'd be able to stick to it even when I eat out, but I haven't been. I've been indulging myself. My only saving grace is I still have until April  16 to lose the ten pounds. I have lost a solid seven pounds and do notice the difference in the waist band of my clothes. I would like to lose at least another seven pounds for a total of fourteen pounds. Sooooooooooooooo I will keep trying. And trying. And trying. I won't give up. I'm pretty confident I can get to ten pounds by April 16. Then I'll try for another four to five pounds more by summer. I have hung onto a big pile of summer clothes from skinnier days - if I can't wear them THIS summer then out they go. I really don't to do that, hence the CHALLENGE!

Sigh......OK, time to get my but in gear...I think I need to go have some lunch...I'm suddenly feeling very hungry!

22 comments:

  1. You have a LOT of irons in the fire!!! Just the low spend/declutter challenge is keeping me doing double duty I couldn't tak on any more. Congrats on the weight loss, you are gonna make it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh I think everyone is free to change their sealed pot goal or decide later on...it's just a bit of financial fun isn't it?

    I don't weigh ours but do have an occasional peak into it and dream how much is in it from time to time. And of Cornwall of course or PEI in your case....

    Dream away Jane!

    Sft x

    ReplyDelete
  3. What fun you are going to have when you open the sealed pot. Yours makes me think that I have to dream bigger.

    ReplyDelete
  4. All your ideas for the Sealed Pot sound good.  What a thrill to have the money sitting there and you can spend it on anything you choose!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your sealed pot...yours is the one I copied for mine! ;)!

    You have some great ideas for PEI!

    7 lbs is awesome!!  I have yet to lose anything...it keeps finding me...BUT today we joined a local health club...so...there should be some lost pounds soon!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I only weigh  mine 'cause I don't want it to feel self-concious... ;) lol!! Trying to beef him up to 4 1/2lbs now! haha! Mine has NO bills though, just change. I haven't made up my mind 100% either, i'm leaning towards a keyboard as i've always wanted to learn piano and could hopefully teach the girls as well. We shall see... we have all year to decide!! 

    ReplyDelete
  7. I vote for a hot tub at PEI!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You really are doing great. So many people are bettering themselves-I'm so tempted. LOL.
    I can't wait to see what you decide to buy but I think that I'm with smith938. Party at your house?!?

    ReplyDelete
  9. hi there Jane I am still around......

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have yet to lose a pound for the 10 lb challenge!  In fact, about 5 lbs found ME!  Working on it though..   And the Sealed Pot challenge, I joined a month late.  I put all my loose change in it, but I really don't want to count all that change!  I am going to start putting "bills" in it.  I don't know what I will use it for either.  December is a long way away!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh no! Well you've had SO MUCH going on in your life plus all of those fabulous meals from your mom's church family!! BUT there's still almost two months left in the challenge! I have two separate pots - one for the bills and larger coins, and one just for dimes, nickels and pennies. I have some paper rollers so when I get enough for a roll I roll 'em up - it lessens the work for December.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm glad to hear it Maureen!!  You will always be a member of this little blogging community and I, for one, wish you would start posting again:) Sarah really misses you too as you were her FIRST follower!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Let me just say SonyaAnn that I'm seriously considering that option lol! But I think the party should be in PEI!! Bring your tent!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. You know, you might be onto something here...in my vision board I have a picture of a hot tub outside surrounded by snow and trees - I definitely see a hot tub in my future!! You've hit the nail on the head with this comment Susanna!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm curious - do you put your sealed pot on the scales by itself or do you weigh yourself with and without the pot lol!  I actually have a separate jar for my pennies, nickels and dimes and then when I get enough for a roll I roll them up and then exchange for a $5.00 bill when I get enough. I do NOT want to face all that coinage come December!  Is that cheating lol?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes, I thought it should look like a gift to myself!! Congrats on joining a gym!! I used to do that but find I prefer to exercise at home, but that's just me. I love hopping on my bike and I either watch a movie, listen to music, read a book or do a sudoku!  I just can't do one thing - I always have to multi-task. One of the joys of adult ADD!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I know! It's a great little challenge and so easy - it doesn't require any exercising or cleaning! Just shopping!

    ReplyDelete
  18. This has been the easiest challenge so far - there's no cleaning, no decluttering and no exercise involved - just spending!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. A friend made a hot tub suggestion and actually that is another possibility!! And then of course she wants to have a hot tub party!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks Debby, I sure hope so - I've sort of plateaued for the past couple of weeks so need to renew my efforts.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I totally jump on the scale with it..hahaha!! Then try again & subtract the difference! I put in all my coins except pennies... :) I'm sure I'll be cursing when I'm doing all the coin rolling in December...haha!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sometimes Jane I just feel like getting through the day is a challenge.  Can I get through today?

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comment - it means a lot to me that you read my post and are leaving a comment - you just made my day!