Thanks for all the positive feedback. The storage fee in the budget is for a storage unit in Colorado. I am in North Carolina. That is a bill I hate paying.

The first week of the December challenge is over. Here are the results.


The Easy Goal
---Set up and use envelope budgeting system. BE FRUGAL.

Surprisingly staying on budget last week was easy. I am using an envelope budgeting software program, called Budget for Windows. At this rate I will be able to save over $10,000 during the next 10 months.

Right before starting this challenge I paid off one credit card. Last week I transferred the balance of the other card to a card with no interest for 6 months. By paying the budgeted $200 a month, it will be paid off in 6 months.

I don’t have plans for the extra $200 a month during the last 4 months. Maybe another website.


The Hardest Goals
---Work out daily - cardio, weights or stretching

I was supposed to work out every morning. I didn’t workout any morning. I worked out most evenings though. I already get up very early and getting up even earlier is killing me. I guess it is just a matter of self discipline.

In the coming week I will force myself to role out of bed and get to it. I want to alternate nautilus and cardio machines in the mornings. On weekends I will add Pillattes. Eventually I want to add 1 hour of walking after work, while listening to books on tape. I’m off to a slow start, but I did get started.

I think I set some specific performance requirements and use a Carolina Shag class in January as a reward. Shag is type of swing dance similar to west coast swing. It is usually danced to beach music.


The Hardest Goals
---Eat in a very healthy, low glycemic index style (no dieting)

I did eat 6 small meals a day. But I think I might have gained weight. Need to emphasis the “small” more. Weigh in is in the morning along with the body fat calculations.

Being a Tightwad is making this harder. I eat lunch in a cafeteria for a flat rate of $3.50. I eat a large salad, 2 veggies, 1 carb and about 3oz of protein. I feel like I am wasting money if I don’t clean my plate. I am stuffed after that. I guess I should cut way back.

Another problem is getting stuck out of town at lunch. I end up delaying lunch and eating in a restaurant. That is expensive and unhealthy. I need to carry some emergency meals so I can stay on target.

I have thought about carrying a couple of meals in my Mr Bento, Japanese thermos lunch box. It would be cheaper I think.



One Last Hard Thing To Do

I didn’t keep track of hardly anything after the first couple of days. I want to make a record of spending (I did use the envelope system), workouts or eating. I didn’t make any entries here either.

About 15 years ago I did a spending log as it was recommended in Your Money or Your Life. The results were shocking. My spending was trivial and not aligned with my values. I think keeping track of things for a while will help me make my life more congruent.