For most of February I was out of the country. However, I had a chance to read a couple of posts that really, really resonated with me and I truly hope you get a chance to read them. There were a number of amazing posts this February but two really, really moved me.
February Link Love
The Frugalwoods wrote a compelling, honest, and thought provoking post on the Power of Privilege and Pursuing Financial Independence. I think that people are really harsh on other people who struggle with finding whatever their magical formula is for becoming financially secure. The lovely Frugalwoods couple address some of the issues that may be keeping people from success.
J$ from Budgets are Sexy wrote a wonderful post about Martin Luther King Jr.’s Money.I read this post in a library in Sydney and it made a bit teary eyed. I was very moved by how much Dr. King believed in the movement for social equality and aligned his money with his values. Fortunately, the King family is financially ok.
I just read this yesterday and this post makes SENSE. Bridget from Money After Graduation wrote a fantastic post called There Are Only 2 Ways To Make Money. Word. RIght now I’m all about a lot of little projects until I can catch the big fish.
The Shop My Closet Project Around the ‘Sphere
Rockstar Finance kindly shared my post The Price Americans Pay for a Life Of Convenience. So awesome!
Tonya from Budget and the Beach shared my Why I’m Choosing Positivity Post.
I had a fun-time participating in the Debt Free Guys Money Masters series. Also, I would strongly encourage you to read their blog. They write very well researched and intriguing posts about finance.
Cat from Budget Blonde shared my post The Price Americans Pay For A Life Of Convenience.
Shannon from the Heavy Purse shared my 5 Reasons Self-Talk is so important post.
Kayla from Red Headed Stepchild shared my Why I Fired Myself Before Somebody Else Did post
Natalie from Budget and the Bees shared my post about Moving to Realize Your American Dream
Toni from Debt Free Divas shared my 13 Frugal Things To Do In Melbourne
Please Support Tonya From Budget and the Beach!
My super talented friend Tonya has started a crowdfunding campaign so that she can produce more of her amazing personal finance related videos. Like the one below.
Please click on this link if you would like to contribute.
Upcoming Challenges
I love doing a challenge. Some challenges that I’ve done before include:
- The Vegan Challenge
- No Shopping For A Year Challenge
- No Grocery Shopping Challenge (I lasted 9 weeks)
Now, it’s time for a new challenge because sometimes you need to introduce discomfort into your life in order to make things happen.
So, this year I’m doing a CASH ONLY Challenge!
I don’t do challenges in February because it’s a short month. Usually I will do one in January or March. This year it’s March! Starting on March 1st, 2015 I will only be using cash. I am not anti credit cards, but I think that I need to dig deeper in order to make some more progress on my debt repayment. I am still trying to figure out the best way to approach this challenge.
- Most of my bills I pay virtually
- I cook at home most of the time
- Most of the fun things I do in Colorado are free (hiking, biking, walking around, and free events)
- If I need to pay for tickets online I can do it with my debit card=cash or go to the venue if it’s in Denver/Boulder and pay for tickets in person.
- Aggressively use what I have.
- Contact the Frugalwoods when I need support and inspiration!! They are my spirit people.
I had a major relapse in the Fall due to Depression and I am trying to work on coping mechanisms to manage when I feel depressed that don’t include shopping. Interestingly enough, I haven’t felt depressed since I quit my job so I might be able to manage my depression (and money) better without the stressor of my old job.
Clutter Clear Up Challenge-Minimalism Is My Friend
Isn’t it funny how being gone from home for awhile enables you to look at things with different eyes. Even though I consider my place to be pretty clean and I have been getting rid of stuff with the purpose of creating more space literally and figuratively in my home (and my life) for new things I still feel like I have too much stuff in my place! So I will be getting rid of at least 25 items a day-everyday.
I want to get rid of:
- Nails (haven’t used them yet)
- Too many tubes of glue
- Pens (it’s like they have babies in the drawer)
- Grocery bags-apparently I purchase a new bag every time I go to the store
- Old magazines
- Paper-WHY SO MUCH PAPER??!!!
- A few more items of clothing
- And a whole bunch of random stuff.
I don’t get rid of books. I collect books. My newest one is Wild by Sheryl Strayed. Pretty fitting for the type of trip that I took don’t you think?
Hire Me Because I Want To Work More-Idle Hands and All That….
I am looking to pair up with the following people and or entities:
Local businesses
Non-Profit Organizations
Bloggers!
What I’d like to do for you:
Special Projects
Ongoing Projects and Administrative Tasks
Virtual (Assistant) Assistance
Blog Management-Are you going on a trip? I will manage your site so that you can relax!
Contribute blog posts to your fabulous blogs!
Social Media Management
Etc.
Contact me at: jackson.l.michelle@gmail.com
What’s Your Plan For March?
Any Challenges On The Horizon?
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Hi Michelle and welcome home!
I loved the Frugalwoods posts too. I’ve been paper de-cluttering this morning – moving home creates SO much paper!
Good luck with your challenges this month.
Laura…I have a lot more paper than you!! LOL. I want to get to your level of minimalism. #NotSureThatWillHappen
Pens (it’s like they have babies in the drawer). ha ha! OMG so true! Thanks so much for spreading the word on my campaign. Not sure it’s going so well, but all I can do is keep trying. I can keep making them, but I have to use the producer that makes me _____! so I would rather hire someone. 🙂 I like your challenge and can see why you’d want to do that. I’ve considered the same thing because I start to feel just a tiny bit out of control with where things are going cash flow wise when I’m using cards. My big goals for march are taxes (sniff) and trying to create two videos, and hang on to as much money as I can because work is STILL slow and I’m going camping in Utah the first week of april.
I love a good challenge. I’ve just completed a no-spend month (Feb) which sounds a bit lame against your no-spend YEAR! I might tackle that one when my lovely daughter is fully independent (hopefully 2016) so it’ll just be me I need to worry about.
I have a paper problem, too. Don’t know where it all comes from… it’s like I call it from a parallel universe or something. Need to figure that one out quick smart. Unless it decides to transform itself into paper money, of course. Hey, it *could* happen! 🙂
Oh, and look into vitamin D, it might help you.
I have to restart my challenge tomorrow! I didn’t take take into account that I needed to switch a couple of things before doing the challenge. I think doing a No-Spend month is awesome! Consider how many people DON’T do things like this? The paper is driving me crazy. I’ve been working on random clutter, etc. But, I don’t think I really had the energy to tackle it the way that I really wanted to. Now I’m really working on it and it feels great.
Welcome back to Colorado, Michelle! I also want to try the vegan challenge. But, I am still not ready for it. What really motivates you to push on, when you see your favorite, like lamb pops, that you crave for?
Thanks Jayson! The vegan challenge was great for the first 2 weeks, but the last two weeks were really rough for me. You just power through when you see stuff that you want because you want to succeed at the challenge.
I love the de-cluttering and cash-only challenge ideas. Thank you so much for including my privilege post, I really appreciate that. And, you should feel free to get in touch anytime! Does this mean Frugal Hound is your spirit animal ;)? She’s definitely mine.
I am still trying to figure out the framework of the cash only challenge because I travel a lot and usually would book accommodation with a card. But I use cash usually for everything else. Thanks! And maybe Frugal Hound is my spirit animal…even though I was leaning towards a lion LOL!