We are now more than halfway through the month of October so I thought it was time I posted an update of my progress with my twin challenges of ‘Frocktober’ and ‘Stoptober’.
Frocktober is going well. I have worn a dress or skirt and top every time I have left the house, apart from a couple of weeks ago when it was quite cool and I wore jeans for our casual Friday. I have managed the additional challenge of not wearing an identical outfit twice in the month so far. Hopefully, I can get to through the next 13 days as well.
Stoptober has been less of a stellar success, possibly because I started it on a whim and did not have any great plans. Mind you, I think it is a bit of a fruitless exercise if you buy up big the month before in order not to spend during a particular time. We have continued to buy modest amounts of groceries as well as fruit and vegetables. I have thought carefully about what I needed and bought only the basics. Our ‘essential’ spending has included a doctor’s appointment for me as well as a trip to the dentist for The Duke. He has a follow-up appointment for more treatment next week. On the weekend we bought some wire to fence the vegetable garden, seedlings and more grain for the chickens. I see these purchases as an investment because the returns will always outweigh the outlay.
Our one real ‘failure’ was a decision to eat out last Friday. We went to the local pizza restaurant and I tried the gluten-free bases which were very acceptable. We have taken our packed lunches to work each day and I managed to dodge a couple of lunches at work which has meant that I have saved the money but also have not had to confront the issue of what to eat while maintaining my grain-free, sugar-free eating plan as much as possible.
The mortgage will look a bit healthier with the additional money saved!