I'm Going on a Diet

One topic I've been interested in and reading a lot about for the past two years is personal finance. At 39 years of age, I am finally beginning to realize that the only person who's going to take care of me in the future is me. A slightly annoying realization, honestly.

In order to be prepared for whatever that future will be for however long it lasts, I feel like I need to arm myself with information and take action so I'm not a burden to friends, family, or society at large.

On this journey, I've been following a couple of blogs fairly regularly - The Simple Dollar and Get Rich Slowly. And I've made some concerted efforts. I save 10 percent of my pre-tax income in a 401(k) and I save another 10 percent of my pre-tax income (after taxes have been taken out) in a savings account. In order to achieve these savings goals, I've incorporated some mental games and frugality activities into my life.

About once a month I do a $10 weekend. As in spend only $10 from Friday after work to Monday.

Most other weeks I try to only spend money on weekends and buy only one thing during the work week. This means if I go to lunch on Monday, that's it. No other spending until Friday after work. I'm not completely strict on this one, but I do try to go into the week knowing exactly where my money will be going so there are no impulse purchases. I've also cancelled cable, started packing lunch every single day and cut out all stops to the bakery or coffee shop. Everything I consume in a day has to come from home.

Frugality can be addicting so I find myself looking for new and better ways to cut expenses. And today I found one while reading another favorite blog - Unclutterer. Today's entry describes a challenge called the Great American Apparel Diet - a movement to abstain from spending any money on clothes for one year. One year!

While reading this blog entry, I recalled a recent conversation with Staci (I think we can safely assume her name's going to come up a lot on this blog). As we were talking I went on and on about how perfect my current wardrobe is and how there is absolutely nothing missing.

So if this is true, why not put this little challenge to the test? Can I go a year without buying any new clothes? I'm willing to give it a shot. There's absolutely nothing to lose. Here's me, vowing to my little cyber world that I will not purchase any clothing for one year from today, July 24, 2010. With one caveat - I need a light spring/fall jacket and have been on the lookout for the perfect one for forever. If I find it this year, I'm going to buy it. Oh, and shoes don't count...and neither do undergarments.

Game on.