No Spending in July ~ Want to save money? We'll help you. Please join us at any time. - Page 4

[krisnic]

Tribe,

Can you try Freecycle for things for the bathrooms? I remember how expensive it was to outfit our bathrooms. Maybe you could get the essentials off of freecycle and just replace them little by little instead of putting out all that money now?

[krisnic]

We leave for Wisconsin today, the first day of the challenge. I will be taking my laptop so I should be able to check in a couple times. My plan of action is to not take credit/debit/cash and just checks. We shouldn't have to pay for anything, dp is paying for the gas. I have my water bottle sitting in the fridge getting cold so we don't have to buy drinks. I have also made a list of stuff to pack so I don't forget something and need to replace it when we get there.

[bwylde]

I'm back! This will be my third month .

My name is Carla and I'm a spendaholic. Give me some free time and I will put some damage to our teeny tiny allowable spending.

I'm going no spend again because we are very low income and we are trying to save the money to buy a house with cash. We have a very aggressive plan in motion which involves saving about half our income, meaning we're living on literally next to nothing. I'm a SAHM to my two wonderful children (5 and 2) and DH works part time at a local grocery store for next to min. wage (which is why we have so little money). I am going to start babysitting this week for the summer but I am not going to be making much money since it's not much. That money is going right to savings.

July is going to be hard as we may be vacationing, which leads to spending. I'm not sure how to tackle this yet, especially since we'll probably need a few new things for camping (I much prefer a motel, but we'll how things go).

I am going to stay out of the stores, attempt to meal plan again (food is getting BORING!!), stick to a budget and shopping list and try to take advantage of free things.

I will allow myself one second hand shopping trip this month as I know we're going to need some clothes. I am also going to allow myself to buy a pad of watercolor paper as this is a hobby I am taking up and I have learned that other kinds of paper just don't work!

Can't think of much else other than I don't know what I'd do without this group! It has saved me from spending too much and kept me sane while doing it!!

[minimunklemama]

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.

I am Natasha,I SAH with my three kiddies whom I adore but if I don't get out of the house everyday I tend to go a little stircrazy: that's where the spending comes in,we live in a quaint little town with great stores but it's the coffee houses that call my name as I pass them or the bagel place...or the ice cream place...help.I try to budget $10 out of the grocery envelope for friday pizza but that's it

2. Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of July. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.

We just moved into our dream home but the mortgage is high.we need to cut our spending so we aren't worrying about paying it.we want to start putting a regular mout a month in accounts for college,at the moment my coffee habit is eating into their credits
a.No coffee from the coffee houses
b.only ice cream for the kids on pizza night IF there is money left.Itend to find the money from elsewhere when we se up the $10
c.no more clutter from other peoples yard sales.only clothes for the kids that we need.

3. No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?
A) Eat at home.
B.make ALL my coffee at home
c.do a stock up shop at costco and plan the months meals
d.make all of dh lunches so he doesn't have to spend silly money too

Help me out ladies,this is my first month and i'm going to need my hand held.

[phathui5]

Joining in, as we will have just enough money to pay our bills this month if we don't spend any extra.

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.

My name is Liz. Since buying a house last year, we've been perpetually behind with paying every bill but our mortgage. Moving isn't an option, so we need to cut all the extra spending and get back on track with paying things. In addition, we now have to make another car payment that my dh's work had previously been paying for, as they decided to switch to company cars (but we still had a loan on a car that we can't get out of until we pay down what we owe on it).

Dh is working full time and in the process of getting a second job to pay off the car debt so we can sell the thing. I do home childcare but will be on maternity leave soon, which will set us back.

2. Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of July. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.

1) I need to be able to pay all of my bills this month, including the car payment that isn't in our budget.

2) I'm tired of explaining to companies why we can't pay them yet.

3. No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?

1) Write down everything we make and spend so I can work up a budget.

2) Stay out of stores and places that I would be tempted to spend money.

3) Grocery shop from our pantry and only buy ingredients that we're missing to make what's there. Make up a weekly menu and grocery list so I don't buy things we don't really need.

4) See if I can bring in any extra money by selling things or doing surveys online.

[rosadesal]

im in

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.

I'm Chelsea, 22 - I'm due with my first baby on Tuesday and so I think that *might* help curb the spending
I'm also on maternity leave from work and will only be getting paid enough to cover my expenses month to month (like student loans, credit cards, car insurance), so I really need to watch it. I also really want to accomplish this "do instead of buy" thing, because when I get bored its so easy for me to find somewhere to go and spend money, and I know there are better ways to live. I don't want to be another consumer robot. I am not planning on spending nothing, but I do want to significantly cut down what I have spent and ultimately change our lifestyle so that we aren't buying as much and we are living lightly on what's inside and depending on the earth rather than on external things.

2. Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of July. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.

A) I don't have any money and won't be going back to work as much come fall, so there are priorities that need to be taken care of and the rest needs to be put away.
B) I want to do instead of buy and change our way of living
C) We want to plan a vacation
D) I want to have money set aside instead of barely getting by from paycheck to paycheck.

3. No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?
A) Learn to cook (dear take home chef curtis, you are my inspiration)
B) only buy what is necessary
C) drive less
D) accountability


okay mama's here we go! happy july!

[ErikaLeigh]

I sat down yesterday and started make meal plans. I'm going to do meals one week at a time. How do you all do them?

[angelcollector1]

It's July 1st, I think between this challenge and the "No eating out" challenge I joined, this is going to be an interesting month for me.
I need to be here so very badly! I know the only place I have planned to go today is to bring my son to drop off a job application at Wendy's. The boy needs to find a job, he'll be 19 in 4 days.
I have food out to make for dinner today, and I will cook tomorrow evening for lunches for the week since tomorrow is lunch out at work, paid by the company.
I know I will be spending about $10 on Tuesday as my son wants to see a new movie that comes out- Transformers. That's it.. Nothing else is planned for the week, the 4th of July is going to be relaxing at home. I still don't know many people here and if I decide to spend the day with the new guy in my life it means one of us driving 175 miles each way since he lives so darn far and we're both short of cash since he starts a new job this week and hasn't worked in a while except for per diem flight nursing.
I'm going to need my hand held here too since I'm used to grabbing something out while I"m driving all over the place, Dunkin this, Panera that..McD's drink... can't do it anymore, those little amounts add up fast.

[Om Girl]

Welcome new mama's!

[maggiemae]

I do not have plans to go anywhere today and the pantry is full. I am going to have to buy a hard drive for my computer tomorrow, though.

[brooktosea]

Thinking about having a yard sale. thought that might be a fun way to kick start things.
Someone wrote about decluttering. Could you talk about that somemore. I think that goes hand in hand with no spending. It seems like in our country we have a tendancy to shop for recreation. I read once that the best way to save money is to go for a bike ride in a park everytime your tempted to go to a mall to just "pick up that one thing that turns into 20 things".
I'm sure we have all bought toys for our kids to find it ignored not to long after and felt like we wasted our money.

today I avoided buying wrapping paper for a wedding gift and my daughter and I made our own paper. Turned out much more personal maybe not very elegant but cute.

[TRIBE]

Originally Posted by ErikaLeigh

I sat down yesterday and started make meal plans. I'm going to do meals one week at a time. How do you all do them?

I plan around sales, and currently around my produce drop box I get weekly which includes fruits and veggies. I use www.vegweb.com or www.allrecipes.com for meal ideas. Since we try to eat a veg*n diet it's been a hard transition not centering my meals around a meat but when I get into it's easier.

My menus are also pretty flexible in that if I don't feel like making black beans on rice on Tues I'd rather have stirfry that was on Fridays menu then I switch them out.

--I have to go grocery shopping today. And since I am trying to spend wisely it means going to walmart as the local grocer here is pretty expensive.
I also have a business venture coming up which means buying for it, but I am going to try and put that off until August since I can't sew anyways until my household goods are out of storage.
--I have been watching freecycle and craigslist for some items I need. But most of my house is freecycle items and honestly I just want better for my new permanent home. I probably should get over that though if I want be able to afford to do the things I really want in that house.

[Mom2Joseph]

All about me...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. I'm Valerie, SAHM to 2 gorgeous babes, 1 year old DD and 3 year old DS. I spend when I think we are "going broke" or short on money. Doesn't help when the budget is tight!

2. our mortgage is 43% of our income - due to taxes and insurance problems here in Fl - need to be more frugal!

Oh my word I can't believe I'm about to write this but I think I want another baby.... If so, must save, save save!!! Our DD's medical bills last year were over 20K. Then again, save for what? I have too many CD's, breast milk is free, great health ins., just need a crib to put next to our bed. Hmmm, maybe we CAN afford another baby! Can't afford a minivan but can squeeze one more car seat in our jetta... Sorry for the rant!:

3. My game plan:

- Come on here and post everyday

- get my allowance and use it like I'm supposed to. If I don't, then I use the ATM card all over town and the internet and there goes our budget.


- get our grocery cash and keep in an envelope. Only purchase things like milk and bananas, eat out of the pantry...etc. Cook from scratch.

- DO NOT buy any gifts! Make or just send a card.

that's it.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I'll need help with ideas for things like those spur of the momment birthday parties that my daughter is always being invited too. Maybe she can make some gifts.

Brooktosea -- Gifts are always tough because you can no-spend yourself, but gift-giving is part of our culture and you are expected to buy something ~new~ as part of the exchange...so I usually count them as necessities and just try to find a good deal.

But some no-spend ideas:

1. I liked Tribe's suggestion of a future playdate certificate. Good one!

2. Re-gift...when your daughter receives gifts that you think she may not play with all that much...hide them away! Then you will have those gifts to pass along at the next birthday party.

3. Recycle...does your daughter have any toys that are barely played with? That look just like they are brand new? How about books -- books don't usually have price tags so it won't be hard to pass them off as new.

4. Garage Sale...this is the season. Often you can find new toys with the tags still on them at garage sales. This is a cheap way to get something almost new for gifts.

5. Brownies, cookies, home-made candy...sometimes those are acceptable presents.

Hope that helps!!!

[merrijayne]

I'm in we will be lucky if we can make all of our bills in July. And expecting a new baby Ahhh. Well i am usually good about not spending unless really nessecary lets see how we all do.

I usually try to clear out unwanted things, sell trade.
I sell my own handcrafted items online, and sometimes trade for them.
I love making something out of something else.
a firm believer in
use it up, where it out, make it do , or do without.

[rosadesal]

Originally Posted by merrijayne

I'm in we will be lucky if we can make all of our bills in July. And expecting a new baby Ahhh. Well i am usually good about not spending unless really nessecary lets see how we all do.

I usually try to clear out unwanted things, sell trade.
I sell my own handcrafted items online, and sometimes trade for them.
I love making something out of something else.
a firm believer in
use it up, where it out, make it do , or do without.

6 kids!!

[Deece in MN]

I would love to join this thread, I really need it :)

Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.

Hi, I'm Deece. I am a sahm, homeschooling my 2 dc. My dh and I are struggling with our spending habits and really need to get them under control.

Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of July. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.

A) We have no extra money right now to go towards unnecessary spending.
B) I want to get through the rest of the year without adding more to our debt load.
C) I want to break old habits and replace them with new, healthier spending habits.

No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?

A) Eat at home and plan out our meals so I spend less at the store and use what I do buy.
B) Stay out of any store that is not necessary to be in.
C) Entertain ourselves at home.

[Metta&Karuna]

Hi all,

I just lost my post.

Alright, so my circumstances (divorce, way less income than even our subsistence needs, so cutting into savings each month) make it a given that I will get nearly all thumbs up for the month so I won't be posting those. I will post if I do stray. (I did briefly waver today about getting $10 in firecrackers for my kids, but the truth is that there are many happy and memorable ways to celebrate the fourth that are totally free, so I let the temptation subside. )

My current challenges are:

To increase my clarity about what is truly absolutely necessary in this current situation, as opposed to what would have seemed necessary three months ago

To continue my commitment to library returns -- only 75 cents last month, and hopefully no fees this month; this one has kicked my butt in the past

To find the right arrangement for phone and internet, so it is cheaper, and boy is my head spinning with the options and the pros and cons
Do you have any input?? I started a thread about this:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=702413

To be active, creative and inspired about pursuing sources of income, to create more breathing room



Things I started doing this spring to reduce unnecessary spending:

cold water wash, line drying
no eating out
almost no convenience foods --lots of home cooking
budgetting carefully, tracking my spending
going rarely to the grocery store, eating greatly out of pantry
meal planning
reducing meat eating
freecycle
being attentive to gas usage before deciding to drive somewhere
set AC at 80+ with lots of fans on
making presents rather than buying them, also collecting good stuff for free
when possible
WIC
learning a lot from MDC!

A question in my head right now:
I would like to take the kids to the pool to have outdoor cool playdates with their friends, but the pool is like $10 for the bunch of us, I think, so that's a hard one to be sure about, as in, can I justify doing it once a month? Once a week? Still trying to figure that one out. We do have savings, so I *can* dip in as needed, it's just that it's finite, and it's our security, with a lot of uncertainty up ahead.


Thanks, mamas! Here's to a July full of love, friendship, nature, deep breathing, good sleep, laughter, and all the best things in life, since they're all free!

[BMG580]

Not sure I can participate 100% since we are currently on vacation and eating out, etc. this week but I want to subscribe for inspiration!

Just want to add that while we are not financially tight right now I want to implement a workable budget so we can save more, track what we are spending on frivilous things so we can omit that spending and stop contributing to the rampant materialist culture we live in thus aiming for more sustainable living.

[Deece in MN]

July 1st no spending

Our town has an arts in the park every year on the Sunday before the 4th of July.
A friend of ours asked if we wanted to meet them there and hang out. We went and I left all my money at home!
We only live a block from the park, so when my dd started bugging me for a treat we went home and got a freeze pop and some water. She was happy and I made it through the day without spending any money
This is a big deal because in years past we would end up spending $20-$30 just on some snacks (a smoothie is $5 alone).
We are also going out for a boat ride tonight and instead of eating out I am packing us some food to eat while we are out.
So, one day down 30 days to go :
I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...

Deece