"Positive" Spending in 2013?

[Smithie]

So, I was making my budget for the New Year, and I had an idea. I sort out my food spending by groceries, restaurants, coffee shops, fast food - you get the idea. Our household spending on food is average for a family of our size and income level. So other than sighing over the eating-out categories and resolving to be a more moral person next year, I wasn't planning any major changes. 

Then I thought, I really do try to source local meat and produce. I go out of my way to buy it. Why not have a "Local Products" subcategory and find out at the end of 2013 how much my efforts paid in concrete terms, i.e. dollars flowing into my local foodshed? 

For those of us who itemize our spending, what other "positive spending" categories could we try in 2013? Should we have monthly "Good Spend Challenge" threads to complement the traditional No Spend threads? 

[LilPenguinMama]

Ooh! I like this idea!

[mamarhu]

I am trying to obligate myself to one day a week public transportation. My job usually requires driving (I meet with my clients in their homes or in the community), but Tuesdays are a staff meeting at the office, and I am making that my paperwork day, and telephoning day. So I can take the bus to work one day a week. Little or no $ savings, but I feel good about using a little less gas. My bus ticket expense counts as a "good spend"! I hadn't looked at it that way. Thank you!
 

[ilovemygirl]

I really like this idea too. I've struggled a lot with not spending on good things. I finally put my foot down a few months ago and will only buy eggs from my local organic farm. They really are sooooo much better. 

Can this include things that are good for us too? I've been holding off going to the chiropractor for way too long due to the expense. I finally have an appointment this weekend. It's going to hurt financially but I really need it. 

[LilPenguinMama]

hooray for going to the chiro! Hubs finally went today and it made such a difference! I like thinking about it in terms of positive spending. This chiro isn't on our "plan" but pays much more time and attention. He massages muscles into place as well as making the traditional cracks/adjustments.We feel good about supporting an independent businessperson!

[micah_mae_]

The chiro and a masseuse are in our budget now. I have bad back/hip problems and I've put it off so long that I may never fully recover. I'm 29 weeks pregnant and starting later this month I'm going to the chiro 2x/month and the masseuse 2x/month to try to get everything back in shape for delivery (my hip problems caused issues with my first birth). After the baby is born and I'm "put back together" I'll see them each 1x/month and the rest of my family will start going to the chiro 1x/week. It really helps my autistic son when he's adjusted, he had a birth injury (arom caused him to be locked into a nuchal arm, ascinclintic position..2 hours of pushing and a neck injury :( ). I look at that as positive spending..it's hard for me to do but we all do better when mama feels better!

[lactatinggirl]

I read that people only go to 50% of the checkups they need to at the doctor because of financial reasons. Preventative care (which I think includes eating good food too) is important. I like the idea of good spending.

[ariahsmum]

Drove 10 miles one way to get 1.5 gallons of raw milk,  3 lbs stew meat plus a soup bone at a local organic farm.  Spent $35 in product not including the gas!

[avismama24]

What a great thread! WE grapple with this all the time. We are on a fairly tight budget, and eating well is really important to our family. I would love to be a localvore, but we just can't plain afford it. Instead we do a monthly shop at a cheap grocery store and stock up on all grains, protein, canned stuff, frozen veggies etc. But we also spend some extra money on local food. We buy raw milk from the lady in town, get local eggs, and in the summer months get our fresh produce locally as well. I have to tell myself that my first priority is feeding my family and having enough food on the table, but if we all do our small part it will add up. $12 a week in raw milk, or 15 for fresh veggies is within our budget and helps support a nice community and local economy.

[Smithie]

I thinned my turnips and ate the baby veggies with their greens. Yum, and those turnips seeds back in November were most definitely a Good Spend, even if they don't count towards 2013. 

Purchased onion and leek sets from an independent grower in Texas - another Good Spend. 

But as to the local Good Spends, so far it's milk from the dairy, coffee processed by a local roaster, and some clothing from a local consignment shop. Maybe $70 this year to date. I'm going to set a goal of $3000 for the year, for items edible and nonedible that are keeping my money in the community and supporting ecologically sustainable consumption. 

01/07: 70/3000

[mrsmischief]

Love this idea! Subbing 

[lakeruby]

Love this idea!  I am coming up with a budget this year for the firs time EVER (got Dave Ramsay's Total Money Makeover for Christmas!) and once I have a budget written I will set a goal for local spending.  We buy most of our meat, eggs, raw milk and veggies locally already, but I rely a little too much on Amazon.com and Vitacost.  It's hard to find that balance between spending less money and keeping your money in the local economy!

[Wolfcat]

We made this decision a few years back: there are certain things that are worth the extra money. It keeps our family healthy, reducing future medical expenses.

[orangemomma]

subbing for inspiration. I want to keep track of my purchases more carefully this year.  We do buy a share in a local organic CSA for our summer vegetables - that's May through November.

[Smithie]

Another thrift store trip! 115/3000 so far this year...

[mamarhu]

My income/lifestyle is about to dramatically increase (getting a house with my elderly Mom, and our combined income will be huge). In addition to savings, it will be important to me to be conscious of "good spending". I look forward to being able to afford a CSA again, and better quality food in general. Same with other aspects of life: I definitely will need a new (used) car in the coming year. Rather than than just the cheapest adequate transportation, I am able to be considering a hybrid. Although it would be much more expensive initially, the gas savings can justify some of the cost, and I would feel good about the environmental impact. I also am thinking of going to grad school. Clearly an expensive choice, but firmly in the realm of "good spend" to me. Hard to say if it would ever pay off in terms of a pay raise or a better job, but it would help me increase the good I can do in my community.
 

[Ragana]

I did this for a few years, then fell off track - my positive category would be making or buying handmade/small producer gifts for birthdays and major holidays (for us, Christmas). I also do handmade Halloween costumes or costumes put together from thrift store pieces each year.
 

[Smithie]

Local eggs and dairy products!

01/07: 70/3000

01/12: 115/3000

01/14: 135/3000

[straighthaircurly]

Originally Posted by mamarhu 

 Same with other aspects of life: I definitely will need a new (used) car in the coming year. Rather than than just the cheapest adequate transportation, I am able to be considering a hybrid. Although it would be much more expensive initially, the gas savings can justify some of the cost, and I would feel good about the environmental impact. I also am thinking of going to grad school. Clearly an expensive choice, but firmly in the realm of "good spend" to me. Hard to say if it would ever pay off in terms of a pay raise or a better job, but it would help me increase the good I can do in my community.
 

We had a chance to lease a car through work this fall so we chose a Nissan Leaf all-electric. Now we try to drive that one as much as possible which has allowed my car to sit idle all weekend and a lot more during the week. I am down to needing only $20 of gas each month. Good for the budget and the environment too!

[Smithie]

Local eggs and dairy products again!

01/07: 70/3000

01/12: 115/3000

01/14: 135/3000

01/24: 145/3000

My next mission: the spring consignment sales. This is a really big thing around here. If I could clothe my children for the summer from these sales, I would be so happy. No new clothes manufactured for our needs, and $$$ in a local mama's pocket! 

Also, the farmers who sell me chickens have slaughtered and processed their beeves! I am so hoping that this meat tastes good to my family.