Taking Inventory and Reviewing 2008

I've been taking inventory, and making one last list of things I might need before 3-31-09.

Right now it is just shoes for my little boy and a water filter for the fridge!

I'm going to try and be done with Wal-Mart, but there are a few things they sell there that I cannot get at my local grocery store! I will just need to make a list and stick to it!!!

I also have started going through stuff to see what I have! OH MY!!!!!

I have 6 liquid hand soaps from Bath & Body, 2 new facial scrubs that I love, 3 of my favorite lotions, 3 Bath & Body works Lotions, 2 Bath & Body Works sprays, enough anti-wrinkle creams to last me until I'm 85, 3 shirts in my closet still have the tag on, I have one sweater that still has the tag on..... (the list just goes on and on)!!!

Then I started looking at my credit card statements and bill payments in 2008. If I avoid Kohls in 2009, I could save over $1000!!! That number doesn't include my December Kohls bill!

Then I tallied up all the Gymborees, JCPenney's, Macy's, Bath & Body, Victoria's Secrets, etc and I got tired of calculating by the time I got to May 2008!!! Let's just say I can save quite a bit of money if I avoid these stores in 2009!!!!

I spent a fortune at Wal-Mart and Target, but I know many of those purchases were for food and diapers and household supplies.

I am going to avoid Target and Kohls in 2009, and only go to Wal-Mart with a list!

It's not having what you want, its wanting what you've got!

I love the song "Soak Up the Sun" by Sheryl Crow. I love those lines in the song.

Last night I was cleaning out my jewelry box, and I have 8 pairs of silver "fashion" earrings. Some are small, some are big, some look twisted, while some are smooth. Some have some gold in them. Well they are all very nice, and I sure don't need anymore!

Sometimes taking a look at what you have, makes you realize how much you really have.

The more I think about this, the more I think I'll expand this to Ann Claire and Liam!!!! They both got so much for Christmas and are TOTALLY stocked up when it comes to clothes and everything else!

I bet I can make it to March 31, 2009 without buying them one new thing! My one exception might be that Liam will need new shoes before then!!

What am I thinking???

My BIG resolution for 2009 is a "no buy" for myself.

I am not making my family suffer, so they are not participating. I can still buy toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc. I'm not going to stink in this process. My whole goal is to save money. I'm going to try this on a quarter by quarter basis. I just have to make it to March 31, 2009!!! Then I can re-evaluate!

Rules:
1. I cannot buy anything for myself. This includes the following:
Stuff from Bath & Body Works
iTunes downloads
clothes
shoes
accessories (purses, jewelry. etc)
stuff to decorate the house (picture frames, art work)
movies/cds

2. I can buy household products such as windex, dish soap, paper towels, clorox wipes, etc.

I think this will be somewhat difficult, because I always end up finding stuff on sale that I cannot seem to live without. Kohls always seems to send 20% or 30% off coupons to my house. Macy's always has great sales plus extra % off coupons! I'm sure I will come up with things to add to the list- I just haven't been tempted yet!!Well I still have a few days left of 2008, I better make sure I don't need anything for the next 90 days!