Monthly Archives: January 2025

January 31: No Spend Challenge Update

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It’s January 31 and that means my No Spend Challenge is officially coming to an end. However, I’m retooling the rules for February. That means I’ll continue a variation of what I’ve been doing only with a few exceptions.

Meanwhile, January went well. I mostly stayed within the confines of my rules with a few exceptions including dinner out with my cousin who I haven’t seen in ages and coffee shop drinks when I met a subject for an interview at work. That coffee shop is a local business and I didn’t mind at all spending a few bucks to support them. There were also some grocery items that I didn’t technically need but were on sale and I will use. With the rising cost of groceries, I’ll take a deal on staples when and where I can. 

The fact things went well doesn’t mean there weren’t unexpected expenses. For example, Scout developed an issue that required a vet trip and an allergy shot. I would never make my cat suffer for want of a vet visit just because of my challenge. I injured myself that same day, winning a trip to urgent care and to the pharmacy for meds. However, a No Spend Challenge isn’t an excuse to avoid seeking medical care for myself either.

Of course, I did stop at Dollar General on the way home to grab something I needed. In a fit of feeling sorry for myself, I bought a Diet Coke and some sugar free candies. This was purely off script and outside the rules but it sure did taste good after the stressful couple of days I had endured.

There were other things I learned and that I noticed this month. In addition to cutting out shopping, I have seriously reduced my exposure to things and people that influence my thoughts and actions. The more distance I put between me and social media influencers, the happier I am.  

I figured out that it took precious little to transform my bedroom. A fresh coat of paint (purchased in December) did wonders and I shopped my house for things to bring it all together. Three dollars worth of craft paint updated picture frames for a gallery wall. There are things that I want to find for that room but I’m going to be very particular about buying exactly the right things. In other words, there’s no rush.

Values based spending isn’t something I have talked about here yet. This has been intentional because I suspect this will open the door to some political commentary that really isn’t welcome here. However, I will say this. I value money in the bank more than stuff on my kitchen counters. I value supporting small businesses and those that support my worldviews more than big conglomerates that lack any hint of moral character. I value the promise of adventure and travel in the near future more than I can say. I value my peace more than anything else and how I spend my time and money help me to protect that. 

We have talked a lot this month about my No Spend Challenge. Why have I brought you on this journey? I suppose I just want to encourage folks to think about spending and accumulating stuff in a different light. I have wanted you to see that when you shop, you’re also choosing how you spend your time. In that moment, you’re investing precious time. More importantly, how much time did you spend earning the money you’re trading for things? Do you want to take a vacation or retire someday? It’s easier to do these things with money in the bank instead of clutter in the closet. 

I’ve had a wonderful month of sleeping in on the weekends, purging stuff from my home, working puzzles, reading and feathering my nest. While I have missed adventuring, the weather hasn’t been good for it and I have no regrets. I’m going to continue focusing on these things with a couple of small adventures along the way in February.

One question people often ask is what I’ll buy first when this is over. It’s like they think this challenge is something to endure and just get past. I do have a little list of things to buy for my new blue bedroom. There are a couple of books and I’m starting to think about freshening up my bathroom with paint and new floors. My aim is to sort out the bathroom updates before summer.  Nothing is urgent. I won’t be out shopping anytime soon. 

Tonight’s agenda includes a regular scheduled haircut and a few groceries and supplies from the store. When I tried to make a grocery list yesterday I thought it was interesting that I couldn’t think of a thing to write on it other than water, cat food and sunflower seeds for my birds. I do have a better list than that now but it took a while to figure out. 

We will keep talking about this No Spend Challenge and how it will evolve into February. I have some more practical tips to share so stay tuned.

Contemplations On The Unknown Soldier

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On a tree lined street in Philadelphia’s Old Town, you will find a brick walled park where people gather in the mornings for guided yoga. Here you might find a little boy chasing a squirrel as his dad tags along behind. There might be an elderly couple sitting quietly as they take in the world around them.

These are some things I saw in Washington Square one late summer morning last year. We were intrigued by this place with its mix of old and new and a monument of some sort on the other side of the square. We were surprised to find ourselves standing before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution.

Despite the city’s commitment to preserving history, it never even occurred to me that such a thing would exist. This memorial honors the soldiers who died during the Revolutionary War. It was humbling to learn that many of them were buried in mass graves right here in this square. 

There’s a statue of George Washington and an eternal flame. The tomb includes remains which were disinterred from beneath the square. The plaque on the tomb, which was completed in 1957, reads “Beneath this stone rests a soldier of Washington’s army who died to give you liberty.”

There are other words carved into the side of the tomb. The phrase that resonated most with me is a phrase from President Washington’s farewell address in 1796. “The independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts of common dangers, suffering and success.”

The other quote I liked best reads “Freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness.”

My friend knelt on the ground before the monument and watched the flicker of the eternal flame. I stood, drinking in the sights, smells and sounds of this place that felt so sacred and so important. I was grateful there were no crowds to muck up the peace and reverence of this place. Yet, I was pleased to realize that this sacred ground appeals to those who seek a place to reflect as well as a young man with his small child who hopefully is teaching that youngster to respect the past. 

After all, everyone prospers when we all remember the progress, accomplishments, failures, and sins of our own past. 

We took our time here. It was a beautiful, reflective place to pause. On this cold January day when the nation has a conflicted view of who we are and who we ought to be, I’m glad I had that morning to reflect and to silently thank those brave soldiers who gave all while fighting for a vision and a dream for the life democracy would give their families. 

Washington Square and the tomb are part of Independence National Historic Park. There are tons of opportunities to interact with the past. This is just one of them. I hope you will someday find your way there to tour Independence Hall, to admire the Liberty Bell, and to sit where Betsy Ross worshiped. It’s an eye opening trip.

The Long Winter

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The cold snap finally snapped here in southern Ohio and yesterday’s high reached a balmy 40 degrees. It was still chilly though when I fed the birds in the morning, sliding a little on the glassy snow. Just before venturing out, I had cuddled up in bed in my new blue bedroom with the book “The Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I came back inside to make a hearty breakfast hash that would keep me full for hours.

I intentionally chose this Little House On The Prairie book for this week because I thought the hardships experienced by the Ingalls family and the fine folks of Walnut Grove would help to put into perspective the inconveniences I have been facing because of the cold and snow.

It tells the tale of one particularly harsh winter where a series of blizzards over several months left trains immobilized, houses buried up to their rooftops and families in dire need of coal for warmth and cooking. Folks in prospector shanties have snow blowing in through the walls and tar paper roofs peeling off in the wind. The Ingalls family have moved to town where they’re sealed up tight but they still run out of supplies, twisting hay into sticks to burn for warmth and cooking as they watch their supply of potatoes and wheat dwindle down to nearly nothing. 

They are hungry and cold. Their hands are raw from twisting hay and grinding wheat for loaves of bread that are stretched into meager meals. When the kerosene runs low, they go to bed early. When the wind howls, they entertain themselves by singing. When things seem so impossibly dark they may not survive, they keep going with hope that the spring thaw will come early and allow a train full of food to make it before people actually starve to death. 

Most people I know have nice, warm homes that can withstand the wind and cold. No one wants to pay the high heating bills but we find a way. We have plenty to eat and brave folks out there who plow the roads so we can make it to the store to buy the things we need for survival. We even have sturdy, enclosed vehicles to get us around. Some have four wheel drive vehicles. I just have a nice little car that handles well and the heated seats have kept me comfortable even on the days when the thermometer has topped out below zero. 

People like me don’t know what it means to truly do without or to suffer because of the weather. Of course, that hasn’t stopped folks from complaining. 

Drive a few hours south to the mountains of western North Carolina and you learn how quickly things can change even for modern folk with some resources. People who have lived in these mountains for generations lost everything in a hurricane, the likes of which they had never seen. You  know, life in Appalachia has never been easy but a catastrophic hurricane has made these mountains unlivable for so many people. 

The 24 hour news cycle has no time to tell you about the suffering down there because they’re too busy chasing the next lucrative tale that will get clicks rather than the ones that need told. But there are people living in tents and campers not rated for cold temperatures in an area known for harsh winters. They’re hungry, cold and tired. They’re demoralized because they have so few resources and choices of their own.They’re at the mercy of strangers and what donations they receive.

It’s heartbreaking and frustrating. It’s shameful that we have such short attention spans that we can’t be bothered to care about people suffering in more than one place at a time. It’s shameful how far we have fallen as a civilization that our fellow Americans in need will just continue to suffer with little acknowledgement. 

And others who are rich with resources –  heat, a roof and four walls, plenty of food and the comfort of home – will continue to whine about some snow flurries and cold. 

Personally, I will continue to do what I can to reduce my own energy consumption and will continue to be glad for the home in have. I will be grateful for the pantry full of food and the warmth generated by a casserole in the oven and all the entertainment and comforts provided by this sanctuary I call home. 

If you remember nothing else, here are three takeaways to consider:

  1. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder is much different than the tv show but well worth your time. It goes a long way to put things into perspective for a modern human who needs to remember the hardships of those who came before us. 
  2. There are Americans who are suffering at this very moment. They are invisible and ignored but badly need help. This isn’t a drill. History will judge us harshly for how we have handled this catastrophe and others to come. 
  3. If you have a roof over your head, plenty to eat, a reliable income and a place to call your own, I hope you will consider incorporating a practice of gratitude into your daily habits. 

I witnessed something lovely in my community this week. Volunteers enlisted others and pooled resources to open a warming station in our county seat. People were given a judgement free place to warm up, enjoy a good meal and be entertained. Some spent the night. I think others just came for the food and fellowship, a kind of warmth that is stronger than the cold. In the process, volunteers met some folks in need of more help than could be provided by a warming station and got them some assistance. 

There are currently programs around the U.S. to help pay winter heating bills and places like food pantries to help folks supplement their groceries. If you or someone you know is in need, I hope you’ll consider accepting assistance to make your life easier. 

There’s still much winter ahead.

Presents

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I occasionally find myself standing in a checkout lane holding a coaster, lotion or tv remote that belong on my nightstand. You see, Scout enjoys knocking things down to watch them fall. Sometimes those things fall on the floor but they often land in my open purse to be discovered later.

He’s a cat and that’s the sort of thing cats enjoy. I just call them “presents.”

Yesterday I was digging through my purse at work only to discover he had left me something else this time – one of his beloved catnip filled mousies.

You can tell it’s well loved. I’m honored he would trust me with this treasure and it brightened my day.

The little things really do make all the difference!

King Of Indiana Pizza

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In an age of corporations with cookie cutter locations, there’s an Indiana based pizza chain that bucks all trends.

Founded in 1956, there are locations all around the Indiana and every self respecting Hoosier I know will tell you that Pizza King pizza is a literal slice of Home and Heaven.

I visited one in Muncie a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Fantastic service, my kind of atmosphere and absolutely delicious food left me feeling happy and wishing I could go back another time on that trip.

I was reminded of this recently when my blogging pal over at Hiding in Plain Sight posted this story about a Pizza King location he made out of Lego. Check it out. He gives a lot of history and the Lego model is pretty cool too.

I found this 2019 story from Indiana Public Media that says that while the food is consistent, each location has its own character. I truly enjoyed the character of the one I visited even though I’m not certain which of the several Muncie locations that was exactly.

In addition to a darn good salad and veggie pizza, I liked the ordering system. You just pick up the phone receiver and someone in the kitchen takes your order. It wasn’t long at all before a waitress brought my food.

I would absolutely go back if given the chance and I’m a little sad there’s no Pizza King near me. Want to drool over their menu? Find it here!

Piles, Piles Everywhere

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A trademark of January around here is the unusual amount of piles that are waiting to be dealt with. Piles, piles everywhere! While it’s part of the process, it’s pretty annoying. 

This is not how I enjoy living. 

Decluttering is one of the most amazing things I do in winter but, my goodness! What a process. There are piles of bags and boxes to be donated on Friday. There are piles of items for the recycling later this week when it’s a little warmer. I have to take my recycling to a place in town so I don’t really want to lug it all around when it’s below zero. There are piles of trash bags to go. There are things to be returned to the store. There are piles of books to be donated to the little free library down the road.

Then there are the piles of things that stay. Piles of recipes to try or toss. Piles of books to be read. Piles of puzzles waiting to be pieced together. Piles of papers waiting to be sorted. Piles of bits and pieces of ingredients waiting to be turned into something good. Piles of literature for trip planning. 

So many piles. So much to do. So much that I truly don’t want to deal with. Ha!

BUT I do feel incredibly accomplished as I can tell you that I have decluttered over 150 items so far during this No Spend Challenge and I still have a ton left to do. That feels pretty darn good! 

So I’ll take the trash out tomorrow and get the recycling, donations and returns out the door asap. Tomorrow I will try a new recipe and maybe start a puzzle or begin planning a trip. 

Or maybe I’ll resume decluttering and make more messes! Are you decluttering or spring cleaning this month? 

Remember, fellow adventurers, these cold winter days are the best time to get your housework caught up. You want to be free to set out on those trips, hikes and fun adventures as soon as the weather improves. So let’s get it done!