Journal of a Busy Mom

living one day at a time

September 30 Days of No Spending

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I have been wanting to do a No Spend Month for a while, but I’ve hesitated because it sounds so hard. Who can spend zero dollars for 30 days??? Not me.

So as I researched this idea more and more, I realized that I can set the rules!

Here are some of the articles I read:

No Spend Month-Our March Challenge (Thrive or Survive)

15 Tips to Plan your own No Spend

How to get ready for a no spend month (Centsiblyrich.com

The Ground Rules ( Living Well Spending Less)

I printed the worksheets from Thrive or Survive and Living Well Spending Less and came up with my own challenge:

Ground Rules:

I may buy this month:

eggs, milk/dairy, fresh produce
vitamins
medications
Things we may absolutely NOT purchase this month:

coffee
treats
clothing
accessories
home decor
hobbies
entertainment
beauty items
no pampering (pedicure etc)
no household goods
no office supplies
no AMAZON purchases
Other rules:

Eat out lunch on Wednesdays with the kids (after our Bible study class)
Eat one time on the weekend with the whole family
Use gift cards

The other suggestion I read was to also make this a selling month, get rid of stuff. So my goal is to sell $500.

I will keep updating on my progress as the month goes.

Ligia

Christmas Gifts: Socks in a Bag

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I saw this incredibly cute idea and I wanted to use it this year for my sister & friends gift. I added it to the Bath salt gift posted here.

Here is where I found the tags: Touchet Soiree

I was lucky enough to find nice $1 socks at Walgreens. The lotions I purchased at Bath and Body Works during their holiday sale. So the total cost of this gift was under $4.

Ligia

Christmas Gifts: Peppermint Bath Salts

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Each year, I try to find a unique gift to give family and friends at Christmas time. I love to make homemade gifts. I don’t know any better way to show my love and appreciation than by giving of my time, my talent and my money all in one.

This year I made several unique gifts and here is the first one: Peppermint Bath Salts

I did not come up with it myself so I need to give credit to Suburban Simplicity.

I doubled the recipe to create these 6 1/2 Pint Wide Mouth Jars.

Here is the recipe:

4 Cups Epsom Salt

1 cup sea salt

1 cup baking soda

20-30 drops of peppermint oil

8-12 drops of food coloring

I got my peppermint on Amazon. Here is the link: Sun Essential Oils.

The jars I got at Walmart. Here they are on Amazon: Jarden Home Brand

  1. Combine first three ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Add peppermint and stir or whisk to distribute throughout the mixture.
  3. Divide in half into separate bowls. Add the food coloring to one of the bowls.
  4. Layer bath salts in the jars. It took about three tablespoons, maybe a little less since I had small jars. Press down and add the next layer and so one until you are done.

I plan to make some for myself (minus the food coloring) to use for foot soaks.  My daughter gets ingrown toe nails a lot so I am hoping this will bring her relief.

Ligia