Still not buying (much)

When you pay close attention to what you're buying, you start to notice all the things you buy without thinking about it.

Restaurant meals. Extra apples. A magazine. A book.  Lip balm.

I'm not saying you shouldn't buy these things in No Buy February. The point of the exercise is to get rid of conspicuous consumption, not all consumption.

But when you're not whipping out that plastic to buy those cute pink gloves (I don't have pink gloves! They're only $15! They match my hat!), or the new Stephanie Plum novel (it's on Kindle! That's not like buying at all!), or the twofer day at the consignment shop (consignment isn't like buying, because someone else already bought it before me!), you start to notice all those nickles and dimes that financial planners are always telling you could put your kid through college.

And they really can. I did finally spend half that forty bucks that was in my purse, but it took nearly three weeks, because I stopped nickle and diming, partially because I was thinking about it, but partly because I simply haven't been going into any stores.

I did have to get a new card reader; mine has vanished without a trace. Otherwise, I'm still good.
Oh, right a recipe:

Marvelous maple oatmeal-raisin cookies
Use the recipe on the box, but substitute 2/3 cup of maple syrup for the sugar, and drain off about 3 tablespoons full of the egg to adjust the amount of liquid).

No Buy Valentine's Day

The universe, or at least American society, conspires against a "no-buy" pledge. The car needed a new drive belt. Otherwise, that's it. I have the same $40 in my wallet today that I had on Feb. 2.

No buy Valentine's Day is actually a breeze, comparatively. I made pie.

I used this recipe for the filling (although I cut the sugar in half), and a standard lard-based crust, using honey liqueur instead of water.

This is also a Dark Days recipe-- the only non-local ingredient was the sugar, which I purchase at a locally-owned mom-and-pop.

Role reversal

It's been a topsy-turvey winter, and it's a traditional topsy-turvey month, what with it having too few, but still too many days in it and all.

February 29 is even rarer than a blue moon, so on that day, the girl gets to ask the boy out, which is probably why it got the honor. Well, as far as every Sadie Hawkins Dance I've ever heard of, anyway.

Originally, Sadie Hawkins Day was in November, having debuted on November 15. All the sources tell you that Sadie Hawkins Day is NOT February 29, that this is a "common misperception," but it seems to me to be one of those "common misperceptions" that everyone holds, except scholars, your annoying cousin who has to be right about everything, and Sheldon from Big Bang Theory (just speculating). Reading about it has kind of been one of those "I hate Google" experiences.

The Wikipedia article doesn't even acknowledge the concept that it might be associated with Feb. 29, so apparently your  cousin edits the Sadie Hawkins wikipedia page.

So, with all due respect to the mavens, your cousin, and Al Capp:

Sadie Hawkins cookies
Use original recipe for toll house cookies, but cut flour to 2 cups, substituing 2/3 cup cocoa powder; substitute white chocolate chips for semi-sweet.

Ladies, use them to invite your sweetheart up to see your etchings (of L'il Abner).

No Buy February

I'm a day late, but it doesn't matter if I'm a dollar short, because February is "No Buy" month!

Basically what you're trying to do is not buy anything you don't need. What starts to happen is you begin to define "need." Clearly food, but how about clothes? Dinner out? Valentine's Day card or gift (can't you make something instead?).

I'll extend it this year and say if you do buy something not strictly necessary, no using the credit card. This month pay for what you buy, when you buy it. (Sorry, that means you can't buy anything on line, unless you use your debit account, which is not a good plan on line.)

Check out last year's post for the "rules."