Saturday, February 11, 2012

Saturday Befores and No/Low Spend February Update

I have been extremely fortunate so far this February. The only extra expense has been the purchase of ink cartridges for my home printer. That $80.00 expense has been counteracted by having several other bills come in under estimate AND by Michael and Kazi both contributing to the purchase. My heating bill was under estimate by $22 due to a mild winter and low natural gas prices; my electricity bill was under estimate by $6 and my PEI electric bill was under by $22. I have set the $88 aside that I needed to save this month towards the cost of our new TV and still have $234 left for misc spending for February. So, unless something really unexpected happens this month I should be able to meet my financial goal.

Our Valentine's Day plans include going out for wings (we will split the cost) and then going to see "Safe House" for $4.00 as it's cheap Tuesday at Rainbow Cinema. While I haven't had many No Spend days this month I have had many LOW spend days. I can live with that. My Sealed Pot hasn't seen much action this month as I've been using my debit card or PC points mastercard for purchases, but since I didn't go out this morning for a newspaper and coffee due to the bad weather I put the $5.00 I would have spent into my pot instead. I guess we just can't have it ALL!


Today's challenges have been set up and photographed for the "before" shots.  They are:
...sending someone a card or letter using "snail mail" so here are the three cards I'm going to send to 3/4 of my siblings.  Why only 3 of my 4 siblings you ask? Well, because I am going to email my brother Gord as I need to ask him a question requiring a more immediate response.


These three cards were made from photos of my friend Jule's much larger sized artwork. They were chosen by Reforest London for the purpose of making note cards to raise money for planting trees in our city.
One byproduct of this challenge has already manifested - I store my cards in the bottom drawer of a wicker filing cabinet. Sorry, no before shot but while looking for cards to use I ended up sorting and tossing cards received over the past...oh.....twenty years or so!! Then I matched up cards with proper sized envelopes so they'll be ready to use when I need them. So a little bonus decluttering project for today:)

After getting the cards written, addressed and stamped I'll take another photo for tomorrow's "After Shots" post. The decluttering challenge for today is my "dreaded challenge" which for me is the upstairs linen closet. Here are the before photos:

 This is the stuff that doesn't FIT INTO THE LINEN CLOSET so it sits on top of a bookcase beside the linen closet!!
 The dreaded closet....
...the stuff that falls on my head...
 ...a mishmash of lotions, potions and notions....
...sheets, pillow cases, and sundry other items that DO NOT belong there...
...the sleeping bag is covering up a number of sins...and somewhere in there is my sewing machine and who knows what else??

All right... the dreaded moment has arrived. The laundry is done, the dishes are done, the garbage has been collected so there are no other procrastinations I can manufacture!  I am going to take myself up there (cue spooky music) and face the monster once and for all!!

26 comments:

  1. Good luck on the d-cluttering of the linen closet, you have some hard work ahead of yourself as to where to store the extras that don't belong there.
    I really should d-cutter the pantry. You may have given me some much needed ambition. Oh wait there is always tomorrow right??
    I still love getting cards the snail way. It's so much fun to see something addressed to yourself and know it's not a bill.
    Have a great weekend.

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  2. Bless you my dear and carry on!!!! I think I spot a bottle of NiQuil in that closet. You may want to keep it handy for tonight, never know when you will need a nip or two for the aching back!!

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  3. Those cards are beautiful!  I keep thinking how nice they would look framed :)   Good luck decluttering

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  4. It's too bad we don't all go back to the art of hand-written letters!    I'm not participating in the challenge, but this reminds me of a couple cards I need to send out :-)

    GOOD LUCK with the dreaded challenge!!

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  5. Oh no, that was my dreaded spot also.  I have to do the tupperware cupboard and then I really need to clean the linen closet.  It is so awful, much worse than yours.  Where does this sh*& come from anyway?

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  6. I don't know WHERE it comes from - it's like the sheets multiply in there!

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  7. I know! Michael sent me a card in the mail a couple of weeks ago and it was so exciting to get something besides bills or junkmail!

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  8. I had thought of framing them but since she's my friend I can get more for that purpose!

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  9. I know - I'm not looking forward to more back pain but it seems inevitable anymore - just another fun part of aging!

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  10. Haha I'm thinking of storing the "extras" in a big garbage bag and perhaps a few donations:)

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  11. I love those notecards! does your friend sell artwork?
    I gotta get back to decuttering but switching to day shift is usually tough on me and I come home and crash - only 3 days of it though!

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  12. You're doing really well in the financial front this month!  Go You!  Looking forward to seeing the after pictures.  I actually enjoyed decluttering my linen closet because it feels nice to open the door now and see it all tidy and clean.  :)

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  13. You're doing great with your $$$ this month!! :) Godspeed with the closet, Jane!! ;) lol!

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  14. Best of luck with your dreadful....er, dreaded challenge!lol
    You'll meet the scary head on and come out the other side all the stronger for it. ;-)

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  15. You are really making great progress Jane!   Can't wait to see how your dreaded challenge turns out!  I am working on one of my on. 

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  16. I had no luck last night in trying to comment, no idea what was going on.  Anyhow, great before and after photos.  I love your cards.  Got my card and letter mailed out on Friday.  Enjoy your cold and snowy Sunday, I am hibernating,
    Gill

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  17. Yes, we are hibernating too, very cold, snowing and blowing, why on earth would I want to go out in it? Enjoy your day Gill!
    Sent from my iPad

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  18. I'm finished with my "dreaded" challenge now thankfully - how is yours going?

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  19. You're right - i did!

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  20. Thanks Carla - I got it DONE!! And so thankful, I really wasn't looking forward to that one - it's one of those spaces that's easy to ignore!

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  21. Great Valentines Plans! 

    We're going to have my favourite dinner followed by snuggling up in front of the log burner. 

    Maybe a film?

    Sft x

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  22. Well I got it done, I procrastinated as long as I could but so glad it's all organized now. Makes accessing things I need so much easier!

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  23. Yes, she does sell her art work. I love having talented friends!

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  24. That sounds good too! How about a romantic comedy??

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  25. Those cards are beautiful, I'm sure your siblings will be glad to receive them.  I love proper cards and always keep a stash on hand for sending.

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  26. I hope to keep up the routine - send out a couple of cards every Sunday morning. I don't want it to become a lost art!

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