by Hope
We are almost half way through the month of January. And we have spent NO Extra Money (I did pay our rent and utility bills, of course.) Unfortunately, it does look like I will have to spend some this week.
Our Pot Bit the Dust
First, one of our 4 cooking pots bit the dust. Not only did the bottom come off, but it also almost caught fire. I honestly was going to try to make it through the month without replacing it, but with us cooking so much and only having 3 pans now, I really need too.
Thankfully, I received an Amazon gift card and a Walmart gift card for Christmas, so I won’t have to spend any cash to replace it.
Grocery Store Run
We are also running low on some of our essential groceries. Since I didn’t pre-plan for this no spend month or do a month long meal plan like I did for our No Spend October, I was less prepared with stocked shelves this time.
Therefore, I don’t feel super bad about having to spend some money on groceries. We are still primarily eating through the freezer and pantry, but there are some things we need. I will report back on how that goes. I’ve been putting it off and haven’t even made a list yet.
As a sidenote, we did run out of propane tonight. Discovered when Sea Cadet tried to make us burgers. We ended up pan frying them which was fine. But I’ll be adding propane to my February list.
Is anyone else doing a #NoSpendJanuary? How’s it going?
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
I’d say that pan is definitely toast! My other suggestion for a new pot is to check the thrift store. It’s possibke that people received new cookware for Christmas and sent their other stuff to the thrift store for someone else’s use. Then you can save your gift cards for other things.
Great idea – might find a nice pot with a stronger bottom too!!
Good to hear from you! I was wondering how your month was going. Glad to hear you are doing well sorry to hear the pot is not. As the poster above mentioned thrift stores are often great sources for kitchen ware.
I LOVE the thrift store idea. Unfortunately, our pickings are quite slim in our tiny town.
I’ve checked in a couple of times this past week with no luck – no pots or pans of any kind.
BUT I am travelling to the larger city Gymnast was training in on Wednesday to meet with a couple of clients so I’m going to check there as well. They have some pretty large thrift stores. I’m hopeful I’ve found one there.