Out with the Old & In with the New February 2014

Hosted by Michelle @ Because Reading and Berls @ Fantasy is More Fun

Out With The Old: February 2014

Books Read: 5
Books Reviewed: 5
Favorite Book Read: Cress by Marissa Meyer
Favorite Post Written: A Month of Rapunzel Announcement

February was a pretty normal month here for me on the blog. I posted reviews, readathons, and challenge sign ups. My favorite post has to be my announcement of A Month of Rapunzel Event that I had been planning for almost a year.

In With The New: Goal #2

I want to participate in the No Book Buying Challenge this year, but I wasn't going to because I couldn't think of a book buying budget. I'm a college student so most of my book buying money goes to textbooks. I save hundreds of dollars on textbooks every semester by using sites like bookrenter.com, and chegg.com. My rule of thumb is if I don't have to get it from the college bookstore I don't. The money that I save on textbooks gives me some leeway to buy books I actually want to read. I want to show my shelves some love this year, but I also still want to buy some books.

Berls from Fantasy is More Fun set up a reward system where she could earn money to buy books. I think it will at least give me enough money to buy books from the library book sale.

My Budget for 2015:
Purchases can be made through giftcards and rewards earned.

My main goal in 2015 is to continue my healthy lifestyle, but to really kick it in gear. This year I'm kicking sweets out of my diet. I didn't allow them very often this year, so in 2015 I'm going to lower the number even more to about once a week. My exercise plan is going to come back into action also and I'm hoping to stick to it this year.

• $1.00 for every week I swim twice a week  (this one will be adjust come summer since we have a different pool schedule, but at college I have access to the pool twice a week and have to wake up at 6:00 in order to make it over there.)
• $1.00 for every week I run at least twice a week
• $.10 for every monthly keyword challenge book completed
• $.20 for every book I read that I own
• $.10 for every series finished
• $.10 for every library book read
• $.30 for every kindle ebook read

These are my goals notice how I'm rewarded for every book I'm read, but I can earn more money by reading books I own and kindle books since that is where my money goes. I will also allow myself $.05 earned for every dollar I save on textbooks. This doesn't allow me a whole lot, but it is something. I also coupon quite a bit, but I could do better. I can earn .05 cents for every $10 saved with coupons.

This is kind of a game for me to play in 2015 to see how much money I can save myself in order to buy books. Let's say in January I read 5 books. Two books are books that I own, Two book is from the library, and One book is an ebook. Lets also say in January I swam for all three weeks I'm at college. Lets also say that I ran for 2 weeks, so I skipped a couple workouts. I didn't finish any series or complete any books for the monthly keyword challenge.I would earn about $5.60 in January. It will slowly build over the year. I think this is a fun way to limit my spending.