Allowances...

Gift Cards are fair game when it comes to buying things. Last night, during our "the Budget Ronin presents: the Budget Ronin's Financial Discussion Roundtable, starring the Budget Ronin," the Budget Naginata and I jointly agreed that gifts others may give us (not required!) for birthdays and holidays should be used for fun and frivolity. I have the option to use gift money to pay down some debt, but if I want to get a small something, it should be totally allowed. They are gifts, after all.

As if on cue, Administrative Professionals Week (the week of April 25th) has already contributed to the effort. In my office, it's colloquially coined "Staff Appreciation Week." Administrators, Secretaries, Copy Center Staff and IT Staff (amongst others) are all "appreciated" this week. I haven't been at this particular office long, but I think they have done a good job in thanking all of us. Winning a contest as part of the festivities netted me a $10 gift to a local sandwich shop around the corner. This isn't the first time I've won that particular prize (both were Trivia contests), but instead of spending the gift card the next day, I've decided to pocket it and use it as a reward somewhere down the line. It doesn't expire, so unless the shop closes, I can use it in the next month or so for a nice treat or a fallback in case I forget to pack a lunch one day. I like having the option open.

The Budget Naginata has been talking with others about this experiment and gotten some helpful feedback. First and foremost, I am adding her as a writer to this blog. If it's an inclusive project, then let's include all the results here, we decided. We'll be tagging posts to make things easier to identify.

We've also been heartened by some things we've read online and heard from other people. There may be some modifications to our goals as we progess, but we'll be sharing all of that here. Any ideas we crib, we'll be giving full acknowledgement to, as well.

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement they've given us so far. You know who you are... And if you don't, we've kept a list. There may be photos, too. Incriminating photos... So keep that encouragement coming if you ever hope to get your hands on those negatives.