no money for a week...voluntarily???

[Kris10Leigh]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

One more thing...if I do go to the grocery store just to purchase a light bulb, I will also walk out with cookies or a bag of chips or something else that caught my eye. By waiting a week, only the light bulb ended up on my list. So if I can restrict myself to only shopping one day a week and learning to do without if I run out of something during that week, I will save quite a bit over a period of time.

[tgavin71]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

The lightbulb example is a good one. Me I would just go and buy it now. For me the challenge is not about not buying the light bulb it is about buying the lightbulb and not buying the extras.

[Kris10Leigh]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

I have to agree, tgavin. Essentially, in the long run, that is exactly what this challenge means. It has forces me to be a little more organized and a lot more accountable.

[Broken Arrow]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

I agree that not spending your money frivilously is the spirit of the game as well. The challenge simply forces me to think harder about what I do with my everyday money and why, as well as motivating me to keep such waste to a minimum.

Everything else is a matter of investment in my view. For example, I have a rare opportunity to get off work early this Friday. This gives me a chance to get my car's tag renewed and oil changed; something that I am usually not able to do with any other weekdays.

[lrjohnson]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

I haven't joined yet-with $25 a month "play money" I've already limited myself . But I am loving seeing people's posts, and I might jump in soon.

I think, if you hold off on eggs, the longer term is: a short term clearing out of the pantry, and a longer term possibility of getting to a semi-monthly or monthly shopping trip. Both are good rewards, even if you eventually buy eggs.

[getforfree]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

But not buying the light bulb that burned out me kitchen just sets me back one week without a lightbulb.

If you have same lightbulb in some other room, that maybe you use less often than kitchen, take it from there and put in in the kitchen. That way you might maybe delay buying lightbulb for even longer. I can't emagine my kitchen without any light there. I wouldn't be able to cook in the evening, because it's kinda separated from all other rooms.

[getforfree]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

End of day # 9:

Didn't spend any money, although I was tempted to buy some milk when I was picking up MIL's prescription, so instead I just walked the store, collected some coupons and left. We still have almost half a gall of milk at home, so hopefully I will fit into my milk budget.

[jodi]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

I know a lot of others on the challenge are stopping spending on everything but I can't see how this is going to be of any benefit. It makes no difference to the food budget whether you spend $3 on eggs this week or next week. Your still spending $3 on eggs.

I have to respectfully disagree, at least in my case. The challenge is making me realize what I can do without. An example - if I had gone shopping this week, I would have spent $2.33 on a 12 pack of soda (sale at some local store). Because of the challenge, I put this on my mental list to get after it's over. Then I realized that if I were to buy this soda, DH would have at least one can per day until it was gone. If I don't buy it, he will have water, iced tea, or nothing. So I scratched it off my mental list, along with a trip to the store which probably would have cost me another $20.
Another example: I always go to the local farmer's market every week whether I need anything or not. And I always buy something. Two weeks ago it was broccoli, which sat in the fridge until it went bad as I had so much other produce from the garden. Last week I chose not to go due to the challege. There's a $2-5 savings right there. No waste, no doing without as the garden has kept us well-fed. In this case, it's more an example of breaking a habit. I didn't go there because I needed to - I went because I wanted to.

[Bookie]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

Glad you picked up on that. Saving is not spending. The eggs I don't buy this week leave money in my pocket. Next week's eggs come out of next week's grocery allowance.

So how are people handling the savings from the Challenge? Will you actually have cash in hand when the dust clears, and what will you do with it? I draw a weekly allowance for daily spending. When the Challenge is over, I'll have a tangible sum to bank (or blow).

[Kris10Leigh]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

Bookie, our challenge money will simply give us much needed cushion in our checking account! Finally, a week of not waiting for that next paycheck to come! After that, all extra money goes towards credit cards.

[Ima saver]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

I am only on day 2. I have spent no money at all. Plus we have eaten home for 3 nights straight. I take that money we spend for eating out and add it to my challenge money. I tend to go to the store every day because I am bored. Of course, i always find something to buy, grocery wise. Yesterday, I just stayed home.
I do need to make a deposit in my business account, so i will go out today. I wonder how I will do??

[boefixepa]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

I did great yeasterday! A guy at work gave me $10 toward all the food I make and bring in on them. I told him to make a request then, he himmed and haughed and finally said he liked anything with lemons, blueberries or cream cheese. Knowing I had both at home I went home and pulled out the cook book to see what I could find and make with what I had on hand. Result....bluberry cobbler and a cream cheese cherry cake! Both were a hit this morning. I did have to use the powered eggs in the cake, but it came out great. I will use the $10 to buy more frozen fruits and some specialty items for treat for the guys that I normally would not buy so I can make some new things. I get to go to lunch today....but it's a work thing, so I don't have to pay!!

[kashi]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

Day 6. SO had to fill up his gas tank, but that's the only thing we've spent money on so far outside of the challenge.

Last night SO used up our eggplant to make eggplant parmesan, and our shriveling blueberries to make blueberry cobbler. Both were awesome! I told him he can cook all the time from now on.

I am definitely taking more notice of things that we're out of...like dishwasher detergent, aluminum foil, laundry detergent that's almost gone...

Yes, we'll go shopping to replace those things after this week, but we're both doing a great job of not picking up stuff from the vending machines or coffee shops. I think we'll make this no-spend week a monthly occurance!

[Ima saver]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

You are doing great kashi!!

[kashi]

Re: no money for a week...voluntarily???

Thanks, Ima! You too!! I'm impressed with your three days of eating at home!