A Change of Word

In the book I'm reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert-she talks about cities and people having one word. For example New York's work is achieve. She is in search of her word and eventually finds it. I let the idea of what my word is roll around in my head for a few days. Today, it came to me: selfish. Yes, I said selfish. My word is selfish. Most people would not want to describe themselves with ones negative word, but I cannot lie to myself. Instantly after I found my word, I had the thought that that word needed to be changed to selfless. This is a big change. A change I would like to work toward even though it will be extremely difficult. Change is good. Change is essential. 
January 13th-$0 
January 14th-$46.89 (post office-most of it was for an international swap I agreed to join in late 2010-this also took up my post office budget for the next 3 months.)

Special Gift

Last night I came home from basketball practice to a really cool present waiting for me. My DH got me a planner. I know, you're probably thinking what's so cool about a planner? THIS planner has a DAILY EXPENSE record in the back which will help me tremendously with my no spending 2011 plan. 
January 4th-$0

Happy New Year!

Yay! It's a new year! I will be going through with the no spending this year (with exceptions). Exceptions are okay as long as they are thought out ahead of time. I have a $20 budget per month for sending swaps.  I will also have to spend money on kid stuff like school activities, sports, and clothing. Bills, of course, and supplies for my new button making business. 
So far so good. 
January 1st-$0 
January 2nd-$0 
January 3rd-$0 
I am putting an ad in the trading post part of our paper to see what happens. Have you changed any habits for the new year?

A No Spending Idea

I have heard of people going for certain amounts of time without spending money except, of course, for regular bills, food, and grooming necessities. I think I would like to try this. There are a few reasons why I would like to try this adventure: 
1) I want to stay home with my baby (aka remain unemployed) 
2) I have a lot of time to spare by helping others 
3) I am getting used to being broke 
So, the plan would be for one year...to barter my time for goods and services. Say for instance someone needs a babysitter. I would babysit in return for...laundry soap, postage stamps, baby clothes, clothes for me, etc. Or I could clean up a beauty shop in return for a haircut. This way I am helping out someone and getting the things I need (or want) in return. 
I will be starting a new button making business in January and will be spending money on that for supplies, booths, etc. A majority of the profit (minus purchasing  supplies) will be saved. There is no point in me starting a home-based business if I am just going to blow all the profits on stuff I don't need. 
I will also spend a budgeted amount of money on sending swaps on Swap-Bot. I have a lot of craft supplies that I no longer use that I can swap on there for things I can use. 
I would like to keep a running list of things I need on here. This is all just an idea for now. I need to let it swim around in my head for a few days to make sure it is something I can commit to. Any thoughts on this?

Emotional Rollercoaster

That is what I've been on for the past week. My emotions are completely bonkers! Everything makes me cry, and not just a few tears, more like hysterically sobbing. Today's fiasco started when my daughter's father gave me 45 minutes notice that he was bringing a buddy home on their lunch break for dinner. I hadn't even planned on making dinner, but now I am having a guest over for dinner. Not a single plate is washed (we only have a few as it is) because I ran out of gloves (I am weird about doing dishes without gloves-eww). So, here I am sobbing into my hot soapy water with dinner on the stove. I made the 45 minute deadline but it wasn't easy. My whole back was covered in sweat. On the bright side, my kitchen is clean and the dishes are done. I wasn't mad at him for giving me short notice, I am just emotional about everything lately. As they say, This too shall pass.

Improvements

I have recently been making some improvements in my life. The way I act and react, the way I clean, I even made a folder for all the different categories of e-mail I receive. This doesn't always go as planned, but hey I'm trying. I'd like to improve this blog as well so I'm looking around for ways to make this blog better!