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

[Bookie]

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

Hey, Kris, you really are doing great, and I don't think anyone misunderstands where you're coming from. Like I said earlier, I really am impressed by those of you who are doing the Challenge while juggling households and families and little kids. I can't even imagine . . .

[boefixepa]

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

Me too on the family and kids things! I don't mind inconviencing myself, but other people is a whole other thing! So for those out there doing it....hats off ta ya!

[Ima saver]

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

That is true, having kids makes this doublely harder!

[Bookie]

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

Day Seven: Ahem . . . When Marie Antoinette was told that the Paris mob was rioting because they had no bread, she is reputed to have replied, "Then let them eat cake."

I have no bread. My last two slices were sacrificed on the altar of lunch, ceremonially arrayed in tuna salad, anointed with mayonnaise, and garnished with pickle. What was that again, about eating cake?

In case any of you missed the memo, I'm not exactly the Galloping Gourmet. Truth is, I consider cooking an unnatural act, one to which I'm driven only by crass necessity. I do it without flinching, but I'm not the sort who casually whips up baked goods on the spur of the moment.

Thus it was quite inexplicable that last week's pantry raid uncovered a stash of muffin mix. (What could I have been thinking!) Powdered milk was reconstituted for for the occasion, and two of my remaining eggs were asked to give their all. (I will miss them.) And the outcome of this alchemical experiment?

Voila! Muffins, one dozen thoroughly workmanlike muffins, undistinguishable from the real thing. Another triumph of ingenuity in the face of resource depletion. *bows to rapturous applause*

Oh yeah, and I made it another day without spending money.

[Ima saver]

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

Good for you bookie!! Cooking is not my thing either!!

[Kris10Leigh]

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

Bookie, way to go! That's funny! I was contemplating muffins tonight too. As fate would have it, my neighbor made some zuchinni bread from her garden. Free zuchinni bread. Works for me. Anyway, I enjoy reading your updates!

[boefixepa]

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

One DAY! My homemade fudge brownies with carmel from ice cream topping lasted ONE DAY at work! The plate is empty! That's when I know I'm good....my homemade breadsticks I brought....almost gone, but there were alot of them.

Way to go Bookie on braking out the cooking skills.

Still no spening....

[Dido]

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

Bookie, good for you on breaking out of your comfort zone and making those muffins. Funny post!

[Dido]

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

Day four down here. Stayed at home all day hibernating in the A/C, so wasn't really challenged. Tomorrow I go back to work and have to back a lunch and remember to take my diet soda with me or forgo it, so that's when things start to get challenging.

[Broken Arrow]

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

Day 2 of 3rd try.

No spend so far. It's not so hard when you work all day, and then get so tired that you fall asleep, only to wake up hungry and eat whatever in the fridge.

Ah, almost like back in the college days.

[tgavin71]

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

Successfully completed day 5 of challenge with no "want" spending. 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.
It like when those emails about no buying petrol day come around. The oil companies don't give a hoot as they know motorists will have to fill up their tanks eventually.

[tgavin71]

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

whoops forgot Balance is $5

[jodi]

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

Just reread my ground rules and saw that I excluded gas expenses...so the total amount I have spent this week is $39.95, not $69.95. Saved so far: $38.50.
I did spend money today. My mom decided she wanted to order a pizza and said she would treat, as it was too hot to cook. Well, I went to pick it up and my dad told me to get the money out of his wallet. There was $4 in his wallet. So I grabbed a $10 off the dresser and I paid the rest out of my found money. Oh well. I don't mind splitting costs like this, although if it were up to me, I would have made pancakes or a salad for dinner. So that's $11.80 I have to add.
Good money karma continues: I left work to meet DH at a doctor's appt. for the boys today. I found a parking meter with 2 hours left on it. Then I looked at the spot next to me and saw it had 20 minutes, so I directed DH to pull in there when he arrived. We had to pay an additional $.10 to that meter, but it's better than the $.50 we would have had to pay otherwise to park two cars for an hour. So add another $.10 to the total.
I saved about $1.50 today by calling my brother to ask if he had any extra dill, as I wanted to make pickles. Normally I would have run to the store to get some, as I have cucumbers coming out my ears. He has a lot extra and brought over a bunch as he was stopping by anyway to use the pool.
Total spent: $51.85
Total saved: $40
Darn. I was hoping to "save" more than I spent this week. I've still got a few days left. I shouldn't have to spend anything tomorrow.

[jodi]

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

Just an observation...this challenge has really made me notice how the availability of things leads to consumption. It sounds rather "duh" to say this, but here's an example. I have two bottles of flavored water sitting next to my desk at work. I won't drink them because they aren't cold. I thought about putting them in the fridge today, but then I realized that if I knew they were there, I would drink them the next day. If I don't put them in the fridge, then I take my empty bottle to the sink and fill up on water. So by making the flavored water unaccessible, I am saving up to $1 per day.
I think a lot of us are finding that not having our regular items available, we are finding cheaper or free ways to compensate. I certainly am a lot healthier for drinking plain water, and just a little bit richer

[Kris10Leigh]

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

Tgaving78, you bring up a good point. I've been thinking about that too. In fact, as I find myself needing something, I jot it down on my grocery list. So these things that I am saying "no" to now will eventually be purchased. However, it has definitely forced me to look very hard at needs vs. wants. By writing down things I need and waiting a fully week to purchase them, I am able to think for a full week about whether or not I can live without the item. It also makes me realize how much of my money leaks right out of my pocket.

I think many of us are finding that when we are "not allowed" to eat out we find creative ways not to. Anyone who has "made a muffin" instead eating out for breakfast has save a few bucks. Taking lunch to my husband instead "allowing" him to eat at McDonald's save a few bucks. But not buying the light bulb that burned out me kitchen just sets me back one week without a lightbulb.

This challenge has made me realize just how much we impulse buy without even realizing it.