Bargain Becky Turns into Minimalist Becky

I haven't blogged much lately because I suck.  Honestly, I haven't really been "bargain hunting" much lately.  For months actually.  As the new year came, I found this growing need to get rid of all the crap in my life.  I don't even know how I got so much crap.  I guess that's just what happens when you get old, pump out some kids and move to the suburbs.

I can't think of a single material possession I bought in January.  That's with just subconscious thoughts of not wanting crap in my life.  So with February, I'm following the Happy Housewife as she launched a "no-spend February Challenge".  It's quite simple - don't buy anything that is a non-essential in the month of February.

Obviously these things can not happen over night but I've already done some stuff to save me time, space and money - and some of them are rather shocking for my previous extreme couponing ways:

-  I cancelled both my newspaper subscriptions.  Sorry Boston Globe ($14 a month) and the Patriot Ledger ($10 a month).  It was good while it lasted, but I haven't read the paper in months so it's pointless to give me a paper that automatically goes into the recycling bin.  I print the coupons I need off the computer.  I originally got the papers 5 years ago because I would read them AND I wanted the coupons - now - I don't.  So I'm saving a tree and $288 by canceling those.

-  I modified my gym plan.  I love going to the gym.  I have for years.  It's my leisure time and my kids'.  I know there are discount gyms out there for $10 a month, but I need the kid programs and the pool.  But I was on a higher plan that was $108 a month.  I switched it down to a plan that is $91.  Mostly, instead of being granted access to two separate gyms, I can only go to one now.  But that's fine though because I can't remember the last time I was at the other gym.  $17 a month saved - or $204 a year.  

-  I've joined Facebook yard sale sites - and I've already made $50!  On crap that was just sitting around my house!  About a week ago, I joined these yard sale groups on Facebook that are in my town and surrounding towns.  I post pictures of things and the price I want.  I have a bunch of stuff up there and I've organized my postings in charts in a binder - because I have an obsession with binders.  I've also been organizing my stuff so if it sells, it sells but if it doesn't, it's neat and orderly.  I know I don't have enough stuff to do a full blown yard sale, but I have been trying to talk about 4 or 5 friends to bring some of their crap over and we can team up for one big tag sale this spring.  That will help this situation out a lot.

So today is Day 1 of this challenge.  Now I'm motivated to post more stuff...