It hasn’t been a very productive month. I’ve been under the weather and I injured my knee. It has been rainy and gross and I haven’t been feeling great. Blah!

Money

This month was a little spend-y, but aside from one iffy situation, I followed my low-buy rules.

I spent $39.24 on my regular sewing subscription and some replacement fabric marking tools (which came from eBay, now that Joann is no more). The iffy purchase consisted of three paper sewing patterns paid for with credit card points. I didn’t intend to spend anything on new patterns until at least July, but with Joann closing down and rumors swirling that the company owning the big 4 patterns (Simplicity, McCall’s, Butterick, Vogue — think old fashioned tissue paper patterns in little envelopes) would also soon go under, I panic bought some patterns. I didn’t pay anything out of pocket for them, but this purchase was technically against the spirit of the rules I set in January. I’m just going to be compassionate with myself. Shit is scary, and sewists are feeling particularly tender. Look, I hated Joann Fabrics… but I still shopped there. I bought almost all my notions and 100% of my thread from them. I literally don’t know where I’m supposed to buy thread now, and I live in the fourth largest city in the United States. It’s an idiotic state of affairs. Fuck private equity forever and ever.

I spent $112.38 on secondhand clothes from eBay and Poshmark, including two sundresses, a swim top, some bike shorts, and a ponte knit pencil skirt. I definitely got some real bargains! I spent $72.60 on books, which was less than I expected and kind of surprised me. (I’ve definitely been watching too much TV.)

I bought a DVD set, several MP3 albums, and a set of Hello Kitty decals. (The DVDs and decals were secondhand.)

Our grocery spending was under budget… but only because I increased the category target. I also bought some cloth napkins and some new bedsheets to replace a set that tore. All of those textiles came from eBay (although everything was new with tags).

Writing

I only wrote my short story this month. I tried to get a newsletter finished, but it got stuck in the drafting stage.

Goals

I listed eight goals for June. (Some of my 2025 goals will change from month to month, and some will remain the same.)

Writing
+ Write short story
+ Send newsletter

I didn’t send a newsletter again this month, but I wrote and posted my monthly short story.

Household
+ Finish hemming linen towels
+ Try one new recipe

I finished hemming one towel, which is better than nothing! I’ll keep working on them. (I’ve procrastinated on these towels for years, so what’s a little more time?) I thought I had tried a new recipe, but I had only tried a new product, some shelf-stable gnocchi from Trader Joe’s. I don’t think that counts. (I’m still ahead for the year on new recipes, though.)

Money
+ Complete two modules for certification training
+ Do mid-year analysis on household and personal budgets

I did complete two training modules and finished my mid-year budget analysis. I increased a few spending targets (like groceries) and reduced the monthly budget for other categories (like household repairs, which mainly come from savings, anyway).

Personal
+ Send a set of postcards
+ Sew two summer garments

I sent those postcards, and sewed a tank top and a pair of shorts.

Goals for July

Writing
+ Write short story
+ Send newsletter

Household
+ Make cork toppers for nightstands
+ Try one new recipe

Money
+ Complete four modules for certification training

Personal
+ Sew one garment

Everything Else

• One of my dearest friends was in town and I got to spend a good bit of quality time with her! I’m very socially isolated and it was so great to just… do normal hanging out things. One evening, we went to a movie night sponsored by my favorite local bookstore that featured a group discussion on “The Lady Vanishes” (book version) followed by a screening of the Hitchcock movie based on the book. It was so much fun! They’re doing “Vertigo” in July, and I hope I have time to finish the book.
• I only read (or listened to) 7 books in June. What the hell was I doing with my time??
• After finishing “Severance” and re-watching it twice (I was right to be worried about those goats; I am completely vindicated), I re-watched all three seasons of “The Mandalorian.” Everybody loves a single space dad and his green boy, okay?

And that was June.