I had a milestone birthday this month, which I did not acknowledge in any way. My birthday is cursed, and the curse tends to show up in more extreme ways on significant years, so my lack of birthday cheer was curse-avoidance and not anti-aging sentiment. Being an ancient crone is magnificent! But my birthday itself is dangerous to my well-being. Anyway, let’s examine the rest of the month.

Money

I’m still chugging along on my low-buy year. Aside from books (more on that in a moment), I think I only bought an album on Bandcamp, a figurine, and some postcards.

I spent $6.00 on a sewing subscription this month and nothing at all on clothing. (That almost never happens!) However, I participated in a veritable orgy of book spending. I mean an intense ancient bacchanal, too – not some giggly suburban key party. I spent a whopping $117.94 on books in March. This isn’t against my rules! I want to be clear on that. I’ve found that I can’t stick to a small reading budget, so I’ve stopped trying. But I haven’t spent this much on books in a single month in a long time.

I had a free burrito bowl from Freebirds and a free chai from Starbucks for my birthday. Did that make up for the books? No, but it was a nice free lunch.

We also finished the month about $75 under our grocery budget, which felt like a big success.

Writing

I submitted my third piece for the 12 Short Stories in 12 Months program. I wasn’t satisfied with it, but other people seemed to like it.

Goals

I listed eight goals for March. Some of these will change from month to month, and some will remain the same.

Writing
+ Attend two writing webinars
+ Write short story
+ Send newsletter

I took two paid webinars and three free ones! This is probably the only place where I overachieved this month, as you will see. I finished and posted my story on time. Still no newsletter. I just… can’t.

Household
+ Deep clean balcony
+ Try one new recipe

The pollen has arrived. I didn’t think this goal through, honestly. The balcony is going to have to wait. Instead, I framed and hung several small art pieces. (This was on my household list; it just wasn’t earmarked for March.) I also didn’t try a new recipe this month. I did cook an older recipe in a completely different way, so it felt like a new recipe, but I didn’t feel it counted.

Money
+ Finish and bill two annual clients

Again, I ended up doing something else that was equally useful! One of the clients I’d intended to finish presented an unexpected stack of new backup, which changed the timeframe for completion. The other one got pushed back because another (faster-paying) client unexpectedly sent their missing information, so I finished their work first. (That client has already paid! I love that.) I’ll move this goal to April.

Personal
+ Go to the gym (or walk) four times
+ Sew one project

I didn’t do a damned thing in March, physically speaking. I haven’t been feeling well at all this month. No walks, no gym. I’m barely leaving the house, to be honest. I still haven’t finished any sewing projects! That actually worries me a bit. I need some summer clothes and I would prefer to make them. Hmm.

Goals for April

Writing
+ Write short story
+ Send newsletter (goal to be removed if not accomplished in April)

Household
+ Reorganize desk area and office supplies storage
+ Try one new recipe

Money
+ Finish and bill two annual clients
+ Spend 10 hours on certification training

Personal
+ Finish therapist-recommended workbook
+ Sew one project

Everything Else

• I’ve been reading/re-reading Murderbot. Let’s all hack our governor modules and watch Sanctuary Moon!
• I read 22 books this month. My favorite was Hampton Heights by Dan Kois, though I also really loved Coyote Run by Lilith Saintcrow.
• The tree pollen is about to do me in. I may hate summer more, but spring is no picnic. Sigh.

And that was March.