Monday, December 1, 2014

Sealed Pot Results


Yesterday was results day for SFT's Sealed Pot Challenge.  You pick a goal of your choosing each year, then save bits and bobs every single week year round and at the end you get to see what you managed to save.  My can is an old coffee can that I pasted travel pictures to - as my goal is a weekends away fund.

This year we broke into the can in July for our kayaking weekend away (see post here).  I was going to break into the fund again in October for our second weekend away but due to a refund of an overpaid bill that did not happen.



Our savings totaled $533.50 for the year, less $304.50 spent on our weekend away for a balance left of $229 to spend on the next adventure.  There has been talk of a weekend in Vancouver or Tofino, both very costly places so today I have raided my purse yet again and tipped in  $7 to get the year started off right.  I find this method of saving for things we want to do very painless.  I also regularly raid our change jars and when enough of a certain type is ready for a roll, it goes into the sealed pot.  We also put 100% of all bottle deposit returns into the pot.


I scored a whole bunch of gift bags and ribbons (some brand new and some recycled) from my Mom who finally was able to get to the bottom of all her Christmas tubs and pare down the excess.  I hauled off two full bags to the Salvation Army and kept these to assist with the "No More Christmas Crap campaign".  We decorated her new Christmas tree with items that had not seen the light of day in 10 years as her old place was too small to have much more than a Christmas wreath and a tabletop tree.  She bought a 7.5 ft prelit tree which - although not sure what she was thinking as she is 5 ft 2 and there is no way she can decorate it by herself.  Oh well, I enjoy helping her and we got her place all decorated up for the holidays.

Our home got 100% decorated this week - even the outside lights went up yesterday as we enjoyed some sunny skies and crisp -3 degrees Celcius air.  No snow fell as predicted, although other areas of the island did get large amounts.

Things are back under control as the Christmas cards have been started (bought for $1.25 at the thrift store) for my older Aunts and Uncles who aren't on Facebook and who still like getting Christmas cards from family and most of the shopping has now been completed.

I redeemed $70 worth of Shoppers Drug Mart points these weekend on a special bonus redemption day that gave me an extra $10 to spend.  Part was spent on groceries and part on gifts and chocolate for stockings.

Hubby and I are giving each other a very small gift this year as our main gift is the cost of a puppy (partially paid for already by money my Mother-in-law gave us for Christmas).  We will not be getting that puppy until mid-spring as there is a large waiting list for hypoallergenic dogs (bichon frise is what we are aiming for based on size, temperament and allergy factor although we can be flexible if another option comes along).  I am still browsing the rescues every day but the likelihood of finding a dog that would work with hubby's allergies are almost nil.

We have two more weeks of company work then have taken the rest of December off.  When you are self employed and work out of your home we are lucky enough to be able to do that.  I see baking, movies and reading in the near future!

15 comments:

  1. Oh, it all sounds so lovely!!!! I am in throes of decorating here!!!! Glad we got some outdoor things done yesterday as it is 30 degrees cooler today! Which is okay since it doesn't seem quite right to be sweating as you hang Christmas decorations up!!

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    1. I don't know how you do it Linda - it took me nearly two days and we only put up one tree!

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  2. Great job saving for your travels!

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  3. Aw so jealous, the rest of December relaxing sounds awesome! But you guys deserve it. I'll be busting ass like crazy for a while working on little sleep, too inspired to stop and need the $$$, but there will be breaks when it's warm at least? :) Take photos of the new puppy when it's here!

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    1. December is a resellers prime selling time - I hope you do well Van. Take some time for yourself though - and yes, I promise to take lots of puppy photos once he/she is born. We will get to meet the puppy right away then take it home 8 weeks later. I am so excited to get a pet again!

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  4. Hi CC

    Once again congratulations on your SEALED POT total. Just amazing and so painless as you say :)
    We are also trying to get Christmas sorted. This drive is partly fueled by the fact that we leave on the 18th!

    Thanks for you support this year. You are inspirational!

    Sft x

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    1. It is always tough when traveling near Christmas time. I am kind of glad we are staying put this December. I hope you get everything sorted. Cheers!

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  5. Congrats on saving money, the cards being done and getting a puppy. So much is going on at your house! So do you want to come decorate my house? This weekend is Den's Christmas party and we have to decorate and get the tree. Next weekend on Saturday will be cookie making and then Sunday a visit at a local restaurant for my MIL. Then the next weekend, Anna will graduate. Oh and somewhere in there I will have to pick up DJ. Sigh, I need a drink.

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    1. You are one busy woman! Hopefully you can get a bit of time in there for yourself. If I lived closer I would come help decorate lol.

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  6. I too save money ... in a shiny pink pig. But I like the idea of a sealed container for vacations etc. Good idea! Thank you.

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    1. Welcome Sandy! Consider joining in over at SFTs blog - if you follow her blog she reminds you every week to put something in the pot.

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  7. That was a goodly sum for a sealed pot! I must get back into that habit. My decorating will be minimal this year as my decorations are in a storage area that I won't be able to access until the new flooring is installed but I bought a couple things today in the clearance section of Pier 1 plus I bought a $3.00 tree from Goodwill - it sits up high out of the reach of certain kittens! Now that my migraine is gone I'm starting to feel much more festive!

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    1. It was a good sum. When I know I have something cool for I have no problem stashing the money away. Hubby says I am like a squirrel that way.

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  8. The sealed pot is a great idea. Loonies and toonies sure add up faster than pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters in the States. Even so, when I take my coins in after my dish gets full it makes a surprising amount. In Canada, I roll my coins and take them to put into the bank. One time I donated them a friend's son's donation account. - Margy

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