Wednesday, October 13, 2021

A holiday challenge

 I had an unexpected soccer game on Sunday (bumped into a coach at Starbucks on Saturday, who asked if Nick could make an early morning game). It was a *really* early start time, but the view was so lovely. It almost made up for setting an alarm on a Sunday morning. ;-) The photo has no filter.



I'm feeling the need to create some financial challenges for myself. I have a bunch of bigger projects in motion (finding an accountant & financial planner, opening up a Donor Advised Fund to make charitable donations more advantageous, etc). I used to use my eBay money to pay down our mortgage, and it was so exciting & motivating to see the balance drop regularly, with each small payment. Now that the mortgage is gone (hurrah), I'm losing my motivation.

I've decided that I'll use all of the eBay money earned between October-December to cover holiday expenses and gifts. I don't think it will be enough, but I'm hoping to offset 30% of our holiday budget, with earnings. Let's see how I do!

I haven't been listing much at all, so I'm off to a slow start. Hopefully this will be the motivation I need to kick things into gear.

What about you? Do you have any holiday or other financial challenges/goals you're working on at the moment?

16 comments:

  1. The view is worth the early morning-stunning. Now that I've turned adds back on and am doing the MS Rewards, I feel like I should apply my earnings towards something. t will be small potatoes, so I want to think something I might put off buying for myself, but would still be a motivation. I was thinking perhaps a new light for the dining room-something to bring the house forward 30 years instead of just shrugging it off as "fine." I'll look forward to reading your success.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was really so lovely. I like the idea of applying the earnings towards something to update the house. Sounds like a win to me!

      Delete
  2. I don't other than asking the kids for a list of 4 items each so I can get started.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That view is beautiful! I love your idea of applying your Ebay earnings to holiday expenses. I've been applying my point earning gcs to Christmas for years and it always feels good to shop guilt free (no spending my own money).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really was lovely. We apply our credit card cash back to our grocery bill, which is also super helpful at that time of the year

      Delete
  4. We usually give the sons some cash and I make them a few items.

    I try and save my leftover allowances and use it to buy craft supplies, but this year I hope to be able to buy a loom and perhaps a laptop for the sewing/craft room and get rid of the rather large desktop...

    I also use my save allowance to buy Harvey his Christmas gift.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That view is gorgeous. I can't stop looking at it. eBay has been ghastly slow for me for the last few weeks.I don't remember it ever being this slow (for me) for this length of time. As far as financial goals, still whittling down the HELOC. We started a little late with putting money aside for Christmas this year, hopefully eBay will pick up and that will help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. eBay really has been slow lately. Fingers crossed that it picks up for you.

      Delete
  6. Getting back to blogging regularly,lol.but no not as such.my kids use Amazon on their wishlists and really want experiences (although my son is losing weight) so I'll start buying physical gift cards pretty soon. I di have sewing goals for gifts and need to get off my duff in that area.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My kids still have a few physical things, but we don't exchange gifts for the adults, which makes life pretty easy.

      Delete
  7. Gorgeous view! I am just trying to pay for living expenses for law school kid. Has full scholarship but I do not want him to take out school loans, and I keep selling extra used cars, since they are going for astronomical prices, not eating out at all, and just generally watching it. Still, I like to eat steak, catfish, and shrimp so it gets pricy. Even eating it at home. I am still living in my extremely cheap house during week ( it is barely liveable) and my retirement house on weekends, but the cost of both was very little, so I am not spending on personal housing. These are older, small homes at 912 sq ft and 720 sq ft. . They also need a lot of work and I am taking my own sweet time. I still do not have anything but a stove, fridge, and sink in work house kitchen, and I have been there 10 yrs in March. Obviously I do not get in a hurry about decorating…..or caring…… lol. I suppose that is frugal. Cindy in the South

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is definitely frugal, Cindy! What's your plan for your "extremely cheap house"? Are you planning to sell it when you retire? Is the retirement house a longer drive from your job?

      Delete
    2. I will probably give it to one of my kids and he can sell it. Yes, I currently live an hour north of my job. My retirement house is 2.5 hours north of my job.My job is in southern part of state. Cindy in the South

      Delete
    3. Ah, got it! I can see why you wouldn't want that long drive every day :-)

      Delete