Freaking out

This morning as I sipped my last coffee from a coffee shop and bought my school books, I realized that I had overtime money. Thank goodness for overtime!!!!!!! So I revised my budget, giving myself $100 for prespending and $40 for a haircut.
The closer the fast comes, the more that I am freaking out!!

Here is the list of cravings that I definitely need to get before the fast....

-Shorts (Screw the fact that it is January, what am I going to wear come summer!)

-Shoes (I want to hoard them, need shoes bad)

-Sequin Jacket (This has been an odd obsession of mine- I know I would never wear it, but I want one)

-All of my favorite foods (Knowing that I will not be eating out at all next year, except when other people buy me food, is making me want to purge more on food than I had imagined)

Most of these things, I don't actually need.... so I am going to try to use the money that I have set away for prespending to spend on things I actually need- wish me luck!

January - Budget (Check One)

Today, I took some time to budget out my first check of the month.

 I am hopeful as this experiment progresses, that I will be able to look at what is necessary based on budgets for every check.

Check One
From overtime
$40-Haircut

$100-Prespending allowance (I am allowing myself a little bit of shopping mayhem before the 1st, plus I need some money for New Years Eve drinks)
Rest of check

$645-Rent

$60-Food

$74-Books (this is my last semester before graduation from this school- no books again until Fall!!)

$15-Phone

$10-Gym
I have a dentist appointment on January 3rd, I am not sure how much they will charge me yet.

***** Savings of $274 before dentist

In the past I would have spent the savings amount (and then some) on eating out and clothing.... it seems like such a high amount now that I see it!!

I am really nervous/anxious/excited about this spending fast. I can't believe that as of now, we are only days away until the New Year.... I can't wait!!

What is this about?

"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." This quote has been sitting in my cubical for the past year. I put it up to inspire me to make a change in my life, but the more it just sits there, the more it taunts me. I live a life of excess- not to the point where I am chilling on fancy yachts, with sexy men feeding me grapes, while I throw hundred dollar bills everywhere... but still.... I’ve let shopping, eating out, drinking, etc. become a big part of me. This is not the lifestyle that I want for myself. I have made it my resolve to make dramatic changes in 2012 in order to have the life that I want. I’ve decided to be content with what I have by creating a life without excess. I am taking the Spending Fast Challenge from "And then she saved" (here is a link to http://andthenshesaved.squarespace.com/spendingfastguidelines/)

What does this mean? No more lavish spending, except that which is absolutely necessary.

What I will have to spend money on:
Rent (I don't want to live on the street)


Bills (obvs)


Household items (cleaning, tp, etc.)


Cell phone (Pre-paid $30 per month)


Food (off brands, in season fruits and veggies, no fancy stuff- that includes fancy cheeses)
Gym membership (through work only $10- plus gym= healthy)

Bus pass (I walk most of the time, but like most humans I do get lazy)

Haircuts (I know these may not seem necessary, but my hair is really thick/unruly and impossible to deal with if I don't get regular haircuts)


 What I'm NOT spending money on:

Internet

Clothing (of all kinds)

Makeup
Eating out

Drinks at bars

Shoes

Gifts

Coffee at coffee shops

Etsy stuff
New music from itunes, amazon, or any other pay for music site



Will my journey be hard? Of course... already I feel like my mind is racing as I prepare myself for this challenge. Knowing that on January 1st, my life is going to change dramatically is scary. Part of me wants to take this time to hoard and binge while I still have the chance. Being able to see these feelings is making me understand more clearly that this is something that I need to do. For now, I am going try my hardest to keep my emotions in check and use this time to ease into this lifestyle. I know these emotions are only popping up from fear.