Do I Need This Want? The last day

So today is the last day of DINTW. I have learned some important lessons along the way and want to share them with you. I learned that I dont have to go to the mall or Target or some thing to spend money on things I dont need when I am bored. I can get on Pinterest and get inpiration, or Yahoo to get news and gossip, all completely free!
Or read a book. Did you know that there are big buildings full of books that are free to check out, read, then return? I rediscovered my love of libraries lol. I have saved around $30 because I checked books out at the library and didn't buy them. What a concept!
I have heard that one way to see if you should buy some thing or not is to wait a couple of days and see if you still want it. That my friend is a true concept! I am about to share some thing with you that may shock you. I went to Charming Charlies in South Hill mall. It is a HUGE jewelry store, like a Clairs on steriods, all blissfully color coded. I want to live there. This place is the temple of temptation and every time I go I end up spending at least $50. I am happy to report that I went in there a couple days ago and walked out with *nothing*. I saw quite a few things I wanted, not gonna lie. Also they now have a CLEARANCE section!!! I almost lost it at that point. But I stayed strong and didnt succumb to the siren/succubus that is Charming Charlies. I consider myself 3/4 of the way fully rehabilitated.
While there were some stumblings along the way I think me and my love did ok. It was heard at first just because we are used to buying stuff we want and need. But after a while it got easier and easier to think things out clearly and see that you dont NEED everything you WANT. I am going to do my best to keep the lessons I have learned in mind while I go about my regular day to day life.

I already have next months project in mind so stay tuned!

xoxoxox

Emma Jean

DINTW Regrets..

This post is about regrets. This month has taught me alot about how I spend money. I use it as entertianment in the form of shopping, I use it to fill my tummy with yummy, but bad food, spend it on my nails and face, buy clothes that I dont wear all the time. I regret most of those things. I regret getting pedicures! no good reason for them! On fake nails that I soo didnt need. On coffee that is filled with calories. I regret all of that. I dont want to waste money, after all it doesnt grow one trees! I hope that I can keep that in mind and spend money wisely. I have been pretty good for the most part but I did have chinese with my wife that was absolutely delicious that I regret, on the same day drinks with friends that I dont :). I was so happy to see them so I dont regret that!! I only have a few days left and I dont really have a driving desire to go spend a bunch of money.. If I stay clear of sales ha ha!!

Heres to spending wisely!

Emma J

Day 17 of 'Do I Need this Want?' Part 2.. Stuff I WANT!!

I am not going to buy these items. I repeat. I will not buy these items! Nor do I need them. But I WANT them!!!

This sweater from Victorias Secret. I want it in a black or grey.

 You can wear it a bunch of diff ways apparently, and I LOVE sweaters

I also want shoes like these but in a creme and tan color. I love oxfords!

I will wait and see if I desperatley have to have them, but atleast I recognize they are a want not a need!

xoxox Emma

Day 17 of 'Do I Need this Want?'

Hello all!
Here is what has been going on..

We have been getting quite a bit of snow here! Not as much as NY gets but a lot for Washington! It is beautiful and all but I dont want to drive in it!

Me and Terra celebrated our five year anniversary on the 12th! We had a super romantic lunch at Dennys. There was candles and roses and violins playing in the background.. Just kidding! I had school that night and had just gotten done volenteering at the hospital, had to squeeze it in! But we had a real celebration on the 14th with our nearest and dearest at a resturant. That was wonderful as well. We did have some other indulgences as well , we went out with a couple friends to celebrate a birthday. All in all I will say that even with all that we managed to make wise choices as far as money goes. We had a coupon for Dennys and got small entrees at dinner, only used the cash we brought to buy drinks at the club.. We have managed to keep our spending under control even with all the temptations!

Sorry this post it a lil boring.. I started school full swing and have been studying my lil booty off! I have a test today in Bioligy and reading stuff about chemistry makes me long for math! I dont do well with abstract things like molecules and protons I guess.

Wish me luck!

xoxox--

Emma Jean

Day 11 of 'Do I Need this Want?'

Soo lets see what has been going on in the wonderful world of Emma lately..

I started school back up on the 9th so if I dont blog as much that is why. I am taking two super intense classes, one fun class. My bio class I took 8 pages of notes. Literally! My math class has a book that is 4 inches thick!! Literally! I have a test every Tuesday for bio and a test about once a week for math. Not super excited about those.. My art class on the other hand I am wildly excited about! It is intro to watercolors and I cant wait to get started!! I will have so much fun in that class and my teacher is really nice.

So I expect to be a little stressed this quarter and I know there is some thing I do when I want to blow off some stress.. SHOP!! But I am not going to. I have to find other outlets for my stress. I will craft or paint or pin on pinterest. There is plenty to do when I need to unwind other then shop, I am sure..

I faced some challenges the last few days. I got my school check! I got all my books and supplies and I have money left over, money that I would normally go find a pair of shoes to spend on or some thing of that nature but I have been able to restrain myself pretty well. As a matter of fact it doesnt even feel that restraining. For example I went to Dick Blicks in Seattle (art supply store that has EVERYTHING). I bought what I needed for class and did not buy anything else. I saw some stuff there that was pretty awesome. They have these things called oil sticks?!? I guess they are a love child between oil paint and pastel sticks. I dont know what or how to use them but I want some. I did oggle the Pan Pastels as well, They have every color imaginable! I would love to have that many colors!
I also went to Target the other day. I am notoriously bad at getting in and out of Target. I can fit $70 worth of stuff into one bag, easily! It is a shame! Me and Terra went and got her some needed things and looked around the store. With a cart. Which as you may know can hold many wants, not just needs! We looked at new stuff, looked at cds, looked at holiday socks ( I have a weakness for them), they have a fabulous pair of shoes that I am still semi-day dreaming about but dont need... I have to admit that I didnt look through the clothes, I didnt want to tempt myself. That and it was all summery springy stuff. Not cold weather stuff like we currently need here!! Check out time came and wouldnt you know it we did great! We only bought the stuff we came there for and actually needed! What a concept!

Refering to my resolutions post I did go out and buy me a lil some thing some thing. I bought a personal blender. It is for making single serve smoothies and I absolutley love it! It was $15 at Walmart and in my mind it is a need. I have had such a good time with it! I have been making really healthy smoothies that simultaneously gross people out! I want it to be part of my new healthy lifestyle. Here are some pictures::

They are both spinach based. Chocked full of yummy stuff like carrots and celery and strawberrys and mango etc.. The one I made this morning looked so aweful by wife probably wouldnt have sat next to me! ha ha

What stores are your weakness? Do you intentionally avoid some stores because you know you will want to blow money there? I know I do!

xoxox-

Emma jean

My New years resolutions

I want this year to be a year of transformation. I want to change some things about myself. I like me but there are certain things I can def change and improve on. Here is my list in no particular order

#1: Change spending habits! I am already doing 'Do I Need this Want?', trying to make a change to where I only buy the things I need, cut out my impulse and frivoluous spending. I want to save money and get a nest egg going for me and Terra to put down on a house/go on a awesome vacation/emergencies etc..

#2: Quit smoking! I havent had a cig since new years eve and I am doing ok now. I want to keep with it. I am getting too old to be smoking because if I stop now I can undo the damage. I dont want my kids to smoke when we have them and quiting now will help with that. I want to be healthy, which leads to my next resolution..

#3: The classic: Lose weight! I am sick and tired of being over weight. I am not wanting to be super model thin. I want to be average, healthy. I want to feel different, more confident and sexy. I want to LOVE my body not just deal with it. Me and my wife have struck a deal. I will give myself a year to lose the weight I want. I will give it my best effort, exercise and dieting. If I dont get where I want to be and it is a fail then we will persue other avenues. I ssssoooooo want the surgery in Mexico (Gastric Sleeve) but I dont have $5000 to get it. So I am going to try it the old fashioned way!

#4: I want to crack open my shell/hidden side. I feel that people have this outer covering to them that hides their emotions and vunerablilities. In my opinion artist have conciously shed that part of themselves to be more in touch with thier creative side and emotions. I want to explore the side of myself that I keep hidden like the dark side of them moon. I want to crack that part of me open and look at it. This sounds like a scary prospect to me because I am not sure I will like what I find. I dont know if I can deal with having my emotions, feelings and vunerabilities so close to the surface, but I know I have to do this if I want to to delve into my creative/hidden side. I am constantly in a state of contemplation and self exploration and I truly feel exploring the parts of myself I keep hidden will bring me closer to alot of things.

I also want to be the best possible spouse I can be to my wife :) Hopefully it will be legal here in Washington soon!!

What are your new years resolutions??
xoxoxox- Emma Jean

Day 7 of 'Do I Need this Want?'

Yesterday I took my parents to the airport so they can go see all of the other siblings and grand kids then go and take care of my Gramps for a couple weeks.. So yea I know it is dorky to miss your parents when they leave for a month, especially when you live with them. Thats me for you! They didn't end up making it on the flight as standy by so we went and got them.

The trouble comes in when my mom says lets go see that movie 'we bought a zoo'. I want to spend time with my parents so I say yes! Even though I know that it is a want and not a need. I know, I know. Can you put a price on family quality time?? (Did that line work on you?)  Me and T bought tixs then go get seats and turns out that mom and dad can't get tixs because it is sold out! So we get our money back and just go home. We turned on a movie on Netflix and had home made popcorn. It was great to be able to wear sweats and a robe, hang with my parents and lovey and not spend an extra dime! Don't have to spend money at the movie theater to get the family fun time experience.

xoxoxox- Emma Jean

Day 6 of 'Do I Need this Want?'

Today I ventured out of the house! The first time in a few days! We went to Costco and I lived to tell the tale with my moolaah intact.. Costco didn't even have a lot of samples, the most exciting thing was Greek yogurt! I love the Costco brand of 'chocolates of the world'. I looked for them and couldn't find them. I soo would have gotten them and been happy as a clam.Yes they were a want but some times you just NEED some chocolate! Life is meant to be enjoyed!

We also went to Marlenes, a healthy organic store. Not tempted by a whole lot there, but I did see a organic blush there that looked like a pretty good dupe for Nars Orgasm blush..

Me and Terra also braved Winco, I caved and bought a chocolate bar. Its that time and I needed some chocolate. This is a example of how what may be a want to other people might be a need to me or vice versa. My wife needs soda but I certainly don't see it that way. What are some of your needs that other people think are just wants?

xoxoxo-
Emma Jean

Day Five of 'Do I Need this Want?'

My sister Star brought up a very good point:::

Star said...

I just want to say that if you buy the kindle book later, then I don't really think that you saved that money. Let's discuss that. You just put it in your wish bucket to buy in February. All I know is you are going to need to put that money in savings back into your account come FEB cause your wish bucket is going to be heavy.

It is a book that I read about in Psychology Today Magazine and it really interest me so I may buy it later. But it is not a impulse purchase of some thing shiny that caught my attention, I have been trying to get ahold of a copy for a couple weeks now. I am attempting to put it on hold in the library or perhaps find it at half priced books.

The lesson that I am hoping will get ingrained into my brain this month is to stop and evaluate my purchases. To stop making impulse purchases and think more carefully about money, that just because I have some money in my pocket doesnt mean I need to go to the mall/craft/thrift store to buy some thing. Also to prove to myself that just because I want some thing doesnt mean I need it. So in theory I wont have a heavy wishlist because I will have f igured out that I dont need those wants. All in good theory!

Some thing is coming of it so far. I had to pay the dentist for part of my bill and also pay for my tabs and I had to money to do it! Me and Terra didnt spend it on coffee or Applebees or stuff like that!

I will be getting my school check soon and I will have some money in my pocket so a true test is coming!!

xoxox

Emma

Day 4 of 'Do I Need this Want?'

I have had a easy time of my spending diet as of late, I have been sick and got a tooth pulled yesterday so I am been home bound. I DID have some temptation thought.. I went to Walmart to pick up a site to store order and didn't even wander around. Only because I felt like dying.

Also I bought a book for school on Amazon and I searched to 'see' if they had a book for my kindle. They do. I was justthiscloseto buying it. Seriously. Instead of the one click ordering I put it in my wishlist for a future date, or perhaps to find at the library.

Then there was the Martha Stewart Magazine calling out my name at Rite Aid as I filled my much needed pain meds. It was a wedding issue, with glistening rings on the cover wrapped in ribbon. If your brain can salivate mine did! So instead of purchasing it I sat right in the pharmacy and looked at the pictures to my hearts content. Valuable lesson learned. Vicodin is a need in my case. Martha Stewart magazine is a want. A want that was satisfied in store with out purchasing! 

My other New Years resolution is to quit smoking. So far so good. I haven't had a cigarette in 4 days. 

Here are the purchases that didn't happen;

Two Pack deal of smokes: $15ish 

Martha Stewart Magazine: $6ish

Kindle book that will wait: $9

Total Transferred into savings: $30

Cross your fingers that I get better soon!

xoxoxo

Emma Jean

Day One of 'Do I Need this Want?'

So today is the first day of no spending.. I am home bound and not feeling super wonderful so it should be easy today!

My lovely wife Terra has joined on to this experiement too! It will be nice to have some moral support and it will also help us change our spending habits as a couple. Yesterday we went to Ikea and a couple other places and I am proud to report that I didnt buy any thing.. We stopped at JoAnnes for my mom to look at fabric and Terra came out with a couple of Scooby Doo things (Terra is a rabid obsessed avid collector of all things Scooby Doo). I reminded her that there will be no Scooby Doo purchases this month and she sighed and said that she knew that.

I have done a few things that will hopefully help me with this month. I unsubscribed from the emails of the following companies::

Victoria's Secret
Groupon
Living Social
Charllotte Rousse
Old Navy/ Gap
Amazon's groupons
Walgreens
Rite Aid
Cafe Press
Ulta (I discovered the Ulta location in south center.. I can't go any where near there!)
DSW
Eyes Lips Face
World Cost Plus Market
Rent the Runway
I need to unsubscribe from Michaels but I can't. My mom uses the coupons.

That is a lot of junk mail that I now dont have to go through and delete. I also deleted my Living Social and Groupon apps off my phone. I never realised how inundated I was with companies trying to buy me.

A question: Is buying materials for crafts/art work a need or a want?

xoxoxxo
Emma