No Spend August! - Page 2

[kathirynne]

Ground rules

Originally Posted by ChioMamaPT

Can we review the rules and guidelines for the game?

Okay, here are the groundrules as I see them. (These are the same groundrules as we had for the June and July challenges.):

1. During a "No-Spend" challenge, we pay recurring monthly bills (rent/mortgage, power, water, phone, child care, credit card bills, et cetera.)

2. We also pay transportation costs (petrol, bus pass, train ticket, et cetera), and buy groceries (although if you can feed your family with what you already have on hand, more's the better). Emergency expenditures (car repair, medical bill, et cetera) are also paid.

3. What we don't do is buy anything that 1) we don't really need, 2) we can borrow, barter, or find for free, 3) comes from a fast food shop or a take away.

Basically, the idea is that we use what we have on hand, and get creative in using our resources. (Checking out a book from the library, for instance, rather than buying the book.)


Each person should do what works for them...


ETA: I am in for the August challenge.

[Bex80]

I'm IN!! We have to have a no-spend August. Dh is working on business things and he had to plunk down some cash to do it, so there is no room for me to do any spending other than groceries, gas, and medical neccesities. I posted my embarassing story back here.

[isaiahsmom]

I want to join. I failed miserably last month. It was ds birthday and I went over board.

[amj'smommy]

Weellllll I did just buy something off the TP : but in my defense it's not August until midnight and I did pay with my pp acct which is just $ I made from selling a few things on the TP. I did transfer the remaining balance over to my bank acct though so I won't be tempted

[ChelseaG]

I want to join - I am doing so bad on our budget right now - and we are VERY in debt - I don't think we are spending that much - but then we get the credit card bill and YIKES! A "No Spending" challenge sounds like just what I need to get my butt in gear!

[ChioMamaPT]

I spent 21 cents today.

I know it sounds dramatic to be upset about 21 cents but I do really feel guilty...I have to mention it because you guys help me feel accountable!

[phathui5]

I spent $40 to put gas in the van for the week. My goal is to make the tank last as long as possible. The last fill up I managed to stretch to ten days. Then I spent $33 at Safeway for produce and soymilk for the hoardes of kids we have here lately. That will be my shopping for the week.

[FamilyFriendlyLife]

This is my very first post (which is why I do not even have a signature established yet), though I have been "lurking" around F&F for quite awhile, garnering fantastic ideas and vicarious support. I am hoping signing on to "No Spend August" will help make me more accountable. Biggest challenge the last couple of weeks has been insanely busy schedule, leading to costly takeout food purchases. Need to get this under control, particularly as our 2nd little one is due to appear quite soon (leading to even busier times). So, for August, I hope to stay within budget for all expenses, eliminate takeout (except for one or two ice cream visits), and reduce gas spending drastically. Best of luck to everyone in meeting your personal "No Spend" goals - I look forward to hearing how everyone does!

[chrfath]

I'm in. We only have $100 until the 15th so we really need to be serious about this. We have the bills covered but that is extra groceries and the like.

I could definately do 15 days. Do you count in your partner?

[Mom2Joseph]

I've been lurking too but determined to really do it this month. My goal is to stick to our budget. It works on paper so I just have to STICK to it! OUr budget includes a cash "allowance" for my DH and myself to spend on ourselves, the kids and/or unexpected little expenses as well as cash for groceries/food and when it is gone, it's GONE! All I want to see on my bank statement are checks and gas purchases - everything else should come out of cash.

This is really hard for me but my DH and I are determined to put hardwood floors in our house before Christmas as well as have $$ in savings for property taxes and insurance. I really need to do this as we also have medical bills starting to come in from the birth of our daughter in June.

I'll keep you posted!

[Mom2Wilmo]

Oh man now this just reminds me of how horrible I did in July when I was supposed to be good! I really really really have to get back on track, though. I want to have another baby and that will require a car that can fit 3! carseats. We need a down payment. I did get a part time WAHM job though so that will help with the payments. I think the easiest way to do this is the 24 hour rule (Bex80 knows what I'm talking about). If I see something I really "need" I have to wait at leats 24 hours before I buy it to think it over. It has kept me from wasting a lot of money. I am however saving up to buy The Well Trained Mind for homeschooling since we start back up again in Sept. I found a good deal on Amazon.com so next payday I'm going to get that. Good Luck everyone!

[chrfath]

Well, I am off to a horrible start. Lunch out with my DMIL. Then clothes shopping. I realized I only have 3 pairs of shorts. Then I saw the clearance B&T man stuff. I need to use that 24 hour rule too. Great idea.

[phathui5]

I did it today! We even had a fun time out. I took the kids through the Starbucks drive through and used coupons to get everyone free tangerine slushies. Then we went to the indoor playground at the mall and didn't buy anything. We're not going out again today, which means I've won!

[7kiddosmom]

I am joining here for inspiration. So far I have just spent $.50 on a library fine, of course I also made the house payment but that doesn't count.

It was so hard to come home for lunch instead of grabbing a burger w/ the kids. And I know it is expensive to eat out with the kids, even McDonalds runs us $30.

Dh wants to go out for dinner tonight, but we will be hitting a buffet and I am not counting it against me because it is HIS idea! lol

Kasey

[Ruthiegirl]

So far, so good. Of course it is only the 1st of August. I think if things go as planned, I will keep to my no spend challenge.

I do a have one hurdle to contend with. We are hosting dh's 13 year old cousin next week. She came last summer and it was really difficult to find things she liked to eat. Pizza, burgers, take-out was all she wanted. I couldn't tell if she was just working me over or really wouldn't eat our food (or is that just normal behavior for a 13 year old kid?)

Anyway, it cost me a small fortune to have her here. I am hoping she is a little more open-minded this time around and will be willing to at least try our rice and bean veggie food. We are decent cooks. If it is not too much bragging, I would say that we are really good cooks. So, I know the food is tasty, but it is weird to a teenage kid.

Anyhoo, off to scope out some normalish, teen friendly recipes.

[volcaniclava]

well, I went to town and didnt buy coffee OR the large seltzer I usually get, then we went to the river swimming all day cause it was so hot. I need to go grocery shopping so I did take the kids out to eat, $15 for all three of us, wasnt so bad, and I didnt want to go grocery shopping without cleaning out the fridge and making a list, that $15 probably6 saved my $40 on stuff I would buy cause of no list - justification I know, but ...

[leximom]

I'm in this month

[kathirynne]

Originally Posted by Ruthiegirl

So far, so good. Of course it is only the 1st of August. I think if things go as planned, I will keep to my no spend challenge.

I do a have one hurdle to contend with. We are hosting dh's 13 year old cousin next week. She came last summer and it was really difficult to find things she liked to eat. Pizza, burgers, take-out was all she wanted. I couldn't tell if she was just working me over or really wouldn't eat our food (or is that just normal behavior for a 13 year old kid?)

Anyway, it cost me a small fortune to have her here. I am hoping she is a little more open-minded this time around and will be willing to at least try our rice and bean veggie food. We are decent cooks. If it is not too much bragging, I would say that we are really good cooks. So, I know the food is tasty, but it is weird to a teenage kid.

Anyhoo, off to scope out some normalish, teen friendly recipes.

My children (and their cousins, friends, et cetera) know that there are always 3 choices at my house at meal times:

1. Whatever I have decided to make for the meal.
2. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich (made by whomsoever is too picky to eat #1)
3. Starvation


(I think it's important to give kids choices... )

[7kiddosmom]

Originally Posted by kathirynne

My children (and their cousins, friends, et cetera) know that there are always 3 choices at my house at meal times:

1. Whatever I have decided to make for the meal.
2. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich (made by whomsoever is too picky to eat #1)
3. Starvation


(I think it's important to give kids choices... )

Are you sure you haven't been to my house? Same rules here.

[rachelmarie]

I'm in!

I kind of blew it today, though. I, unfortunately, can't resist the yummy coffee and homemade cookies at our local co-op. I went in to get deli turkey for dh for lunch and spent $4 more than I should have.

BUT lately I've felt a real shift in my attitude toward spending money in general. I used to always want to buy things that I didn't need. However, because of my voluntary simplicity journey I've come to not even want those things I don't need which in turn makes it so much easier to not spend.

Good luck, everyone!