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

**Bookie** · 08-02-2006, 05:57 PM

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

Day 8: Boogying into week two of my Challenge I find I'm developing a sort of rhythm that allows me to relax into this new pattern of behavior.

- I've run out of things to run out of, so I'm no longer concerned with what I'll do when . . .

- I have my meal plans organized for the duration using only available ingredients. I have enough and variety.

- The shopping prompter in my head has finally switched off. No more "I need to buy" messages.

So I spent the day working at home, delving into my obscenely large music collection and reading from my latest library haul. Anything to stay out of the heat..

Oh, I had company last weekend, a female friend whom I warned about the Challenge when she called. ("Sounds like something you'd do," she remarked?

) Anyway, she brought a couple of containers of yoghurt (to avert starvation in the hardship zone) and left one behind. Today I ate it.

"So what?" I hear you say. Ah, but you don't understand. An early childhood trauma left me utterly convinced the yoghurt was yucky, and I should never touch it again. Today was the first time in half a century that I've tested that certitude. A challenge from the Challenge. Not bad actually.

And in the spirit of full disclosure, I should admit that tomorrow I'm compelled to declare a time-out. I have a breakfast meeting at the university, and I intend to take the car. Breakfast is a freebie, however.

**jodi** · 08-02-2006, 06:17 PM

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

Bookie, I knew you were a guy, but I had you pegged for much younger. You type like a man half your age

Today I spent...again. But it was totally justified and I feel no guilt as it was for the health of my youngest, who had a raging fever. I went to the store to pick up some Infant Tylenol. Seems to have helped. We think it's some new teeth coming in.
Dh also had dinner out tonight. He left for school around 10am this morning and the stubborn man will not allow me to pack him a lunch (or dinner). He got home about a half hour ago, so I can't fault him for getting meal out ($4.42), although I can fault him for his pride

DH has to bring a snack into class tomorrow and he actually said "Can you make some cookies so we don't have to buy anything?". My DH??? Sure, it was no sweat to him since I was the one actually making the cookies, but for him to make that suggestion rather than just pick up some Doritos on the way in...that's progress. So I will estimate another $4 in savings from not making a trip to the store for this.
Ah, I completely forgot what my savings were up to - $40ish? Anyway, this ends my challenge. My week is up. I will continue to check in here as I am thoroughly enjoying this post. I may even join again, but not for a few weeks. My brother is getting married soon, meaning the next week and a half will be a flurry of preparations (baking, haircuts, gift shopping, trying on outfits, etc). It will not be frugal. But it will be fun

(I did get my next paycheck today. I successfully made it through the week - until today, that is - without touching any of the meager money I had left in my checking account. Hip hip hooray!)

**lrjohnson** · 08-02-2006, 06:58 PM

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

Bookie:

Your posts on this Challenge would make an excellent blog. Give it a thought.

Laurel

**tgavin71** · 08-02-2006, 11:32 PM

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

Well its the end of day 7 for me. My balance is back to $0. Well technically it should be $-5.50 as I spent $11.50 at lunch but I am going to cheat a bit. Naughty I know. On the plus side I bought my kids an icypole each. $1.50 total but went without myself as it was something that I wanted not what I needed.

**PrincessPerky** · 08-03-2006, 05:52 AM

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

Bookie, I shall chime in, you type like a much younger mn

(and rather well at that.) BTw, congras on the yogurt

and IMO tags for the car don't count.

Jodie, I hope your kid feels better

, fevers are no fun, teething is a pain too (I got one kid teething now, but no fever)

Ima, what I wouldn't give to be bored! have you tried seeing if the local college will let yiou teach a class? or a local church? or volunteering? Or start a garden?

We went to the grocery store last night (OK DH did, I was here) spent our budgeted 100, but no eggs! and no diapers!

Neighbor found half a sleeve, between ecing (used only two diprs yesterday! none yet today) and cloth as needed(with allergies it is harder to use cloth) I should make the week, but not wthout eggs, so I am asking my neighbor to get me some while she is out, and it is all your fault. I want to make it more than 7 days without spending (and no I don't have egg powder!) my goal is to go to the store next Thursday (instead of wednesday) and not spend on Saturday. I know I am late. (though if you want to get tecnical yesterday finished up a 7 day nospend run)

I was also thinking, in older books, you hear about people going all winter with no fresh veggies, or going the 'quarter' with no pay...it seems to me that today we have it easy! I also recall when my family made shopping trips two or even three times a week...we've come a long way already, if I could get my garden to grow I think I could make it 10 days, but past that the milk would go bad even if we didn't drink it.

**Dido** · 08-03-2006, 05:54 AM

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

Finished day 5 yesterday without a problem--managed to bring lunch and soda to work. Today I'm going to a potluck and have figured out what I can make from the dwindling stores, so should make it through day 6.

I think I can make the coffee grounds last one more day, and I can do *one* day without soymilk, but after tomorrow (day 7), I need to go restock the most-used perishables and consider continuing for another week after that grocery trip.

**Ima saver** · 08-03-2006, 08:26 AM

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

Well, bookie, you are almost my neighbor, I am even thinking about moving to east tennessee!! I am on day 3 of the no spend challenge. My rules allow me to go out to eat every night, but we did eat in on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
But we celebrated me reaching my goal of $10,000 in the $20 challenge.
We did order frugally, the total bill was under $20 at the restaurant last night.
Plus, my dh has agree to stay home and have dinner in, only hot dogs and beans. I did not stock up on groceries cause I thought we would still eat out every night!!
We brought home all the left overs for both of our lunches today.

**Broken Arrow** · 08-03-2006, 08:40 AM

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

So, what got him to change his mind? Hot dogs and beans doesn't seem like much incentive compared to eating out.

**Ima saver** · 08-03-2006, 09:26 AM

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

SEX (just kidding) I told him about the challenge and even tho he is not "into" it, he said he would try it one night. One led to two and two to three! But I am sure we will go out this weekend, we have for the last umteen years!