August No-Spend Challenge -- Congratulations no-spenders!!!! You made it to the end! - Page 2

[nadia105]

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

I'm Nadia, SAHM to 3 kids: dd is 4, ds is 2.5, and my youngest ds is 7 weeks.

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

I want our money to go further so we can do the things we want with it (give more, do some updates on the house, more retirement savings) instead of having it slip thorugh our fingers on all the little things we buy.

I want to make more conscious choices about my spending. I want to teach my kids how to prioritze things and in order to be able to do that, I must be able to exhibit restraint and prioritize myself.

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?

~Plan more outings to parks, etc so we can get out of the hosue w/o spending money
~NOT go to any store (esp Target!) w/o a specific list of items and a rough estimate of how much it will cost to buy them.
~Keep track of everything, even what I buy with my spending cash. It really isn't the 'free money' I treat it as sometimes.

[Synchro246]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

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

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

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. I'm Laura. I have a two month old and a toddler so going out to stores is no longer a problem I have been selling stuff on ebay & almost unvariably the paypal money ends up going toward buying something (unecessary) on ebay. I'd like to sell more stuff this month, but I'll need a gameplan to avoid spending monty there.

2. I just want more $ to put toward debt.

3. My plan
* Only go to buy gas & Grocies on Fridays. Use a list & stick to the list. Only grocery shop in a grocery store (for me impulse purchaces almost never happen there)
*Sell on ebay, but do not check in there. Questions should come to my email. After shipping send the money to my bank account.
*Spend at least three days a week in the gym. (this might not seem related, but it is for me. It keeps me busy and gives my self esteem a boost.)

ETA one more.
I will use my cloth diapers more, though I can't commit to full time. I have three packages of diapers for the baby. I will not buy more.
For the toddler I have one package of pull ups & I just opened one. After his morning poop I will have him diaperless more.

[Beachlivnmom]

Aloha
1. I am stacy a SAHM of 4year old and 4 1/2 month old. I have just learned how to sell on e-bay and TP so I amd trying to do that to get rid of what we don't need.
2. My dh job is very seasonal so when its good it good and when its bad its bad. We have yet to ever save enough to do better then just scrape by in the winter. I want to pay more on CC while the fishing is good and buy plane tickets to NC for the kids and I to visit family.
3. *Better meal planning
*Groceries only once a week with list
* No walmart runs
*Stay home more to save on Gas
* try to make weekly payment on CC

I use cloth full time already and I line dry everything, I also have electronics on power strips that we turn off.

I have company coming but I will resist going out to eat with them and pack a cooler to take to the pool and beach.

*I have a coupon for a Brita so i will get that and 2 water bottles to save us from buying cases of bottled water

* I will allow myself to buy shoes for everyone except baby in the family with cash only.
* I will allow myself 1 icecream or smoothie a week

[granola_mom]

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

Hello, my name is Chloe. I am mostly a stay at home mom to my eight month old daughter. I am also starting out as a birth doula, but am not doing paid gigs yet and only one or two births per month. Since moving into our first unfurnished place, My partner and I always seem to have something we *need* to buy... blinds, book shelves, cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaner... these things add up quickly. We always end up making our major purchase in the first week of each month when we get our money, and are usually broke for the last week of every month, which perpetuates the cycle because it makes us want to spend a lot as soon as we arent broke again.

We are horrible with grocery shopping. This is another one of our major downfalls. We invested in a CSA share this summer and it's not working out well for us, because we like a variety in our food and it seems we're getting insane amounts of lettuce and zucchini and about half of it ends up going bad no matter how many salads we try to eat. We also hate doing large shopping trips, its just stressful for both of us and so we end up making trips to the supermarket much too frequently. We try to go to the market because it is a lot cheaper, but we're addicted to the convenience and proximity of the supermarket. And we both have our expensive habits... chips for him, diet pepsi for me.

There are some other bad habits (thrift store addict!), but I can tell you more as the month progresses...

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

A) We want to move into a house next year and with the way we're spending money, it's not going to happen.
B) We want to invest in a good washer and dryer because we hate the laundromat and it's very expensive in the long run.
C) I'm starting up my own business, and this requires an initial investment before I start bringing in more money. My partner is living largely off of student loans, so that money is going to have to be paid back one day.
D) I come from a very materialistic family and although I am very different from my family in so many ways, I still have that materialistic mindset imprinted into me somewhat and sometimes I have to really try to work against that. I want to live simply. I want to let go of that aspect of myself.

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) Instead of purchasing expensive items that I need brand new, try to shop around more, look on freecycle, craigslist, kijiji and ask family members if they have something lying around in their garage first.
B) Plan meals around my food box, and finish whats in that before making additional purchases. Go to the market at least once per week for food with a plan for what to buy, and if I must go to the supermarket, walk.
C) No more impulsive purchases or emotional shopping.
D) Ask myself it I truly need what I will buy, and if spending extra money on something is an investment or just purely luxury.
E) Cut the chips, pepsi and other expensive bad habits.
F) When thrifting, ask myself if I am really getting something I need for a deal or am just feeding my thrift addiction and putting more junk into my house.
G) When buying something new, try to sell something else unneeded to balance (ie we will sell our DD's old car seat and are buying another used one from craigslist)

[nantahala]

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

28, married, apartment-dweller in a smallish resort town, cat lover, full-time hospital worker. No children yet.

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

DH and I are working Dave Ramsey's plan (albeit with some flexibility) and we still need $500 more in our Baby EF which we need to finish in August. Aside from that piece, we want to get out of debt and start throwing $$$$ at retirement savings so we can take advantage of the compound interest.

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?

We use a Zero-Based budget for each pay period (works better for us than the month) and we use cash for auto gas, groceries and blow money - once it's gone it's gone and there's no more until the new cycle. I track everything we spend in a small notebook, bargain shop and shoot for NO SPEND days. Luckily, we live in the most beautiful place on the planet (lol!) so just being outside is a good time.

[TICKLEDPINK]

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

Hello all! My name is Katherine and I have a loving dh (of 8yrs)and the most beautiful dd who just turned 2. My husband is in the military so we are poor! I am also a SAHM, which I think can be part of the reason that I over spend. I tend to go shopping, primary overpriced baby boutiques, and local “discount” clothing stores such as T.J. Max, when I get bored or I get feed up with trying to save money which seems like it will never happed. I’m a total impulse buyer as well. If something is on sale I’ll totally get it because a bright flashy sign says sale. I tend to blow money without even realizing it until its too late and our bank account reads $0.00.

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

I have decided not to spend any money this month, other than on grocies and bills to see if I can really do it and to get ahead for once.

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?

I know that I must avoid the mall and all clothing stores. I must ask if it’s a need or a want. It will be even harder this month because my horrible money hungry mother in law is coming for a visit and she believes that we should take her shopping and wine and dine her. This really ticks me off too because we don’t have the extra money to do these things and she knows this but she is worse off than we are and she plays on that. But I know that you all can defiantly help me threw this and if I can make it through this month than it will only get easier. I look forward to working with yall!

[brooktosea]

Well I'm in after a very useful July challenge.
1) I'm a SAHM to a 4 yr old and 8 month old. Do family business bookkeeping after kids are asleep. We have a seasonal business and have to budget our money for the year. This year with added expences it will be very difficult. This group in July helped me trim the budget and save hundreds. It also set me on the path of paying attention to everything invovling money which lead me to make choices that really helped as well. (like moving cc to lower interest rate etc)

2)my goal is to break even and not have to put any major expensenss on cc.

3) Meal planning (this really works), packing food and water when I leave house, Leaving cc in freezer, staying away from ebay unless I'm selling something, sell some things on craigslist. take advantage of free things to do with the kids like going to the beach, be resourceful.

[Synchro246]

I'm feeling chatty. I know rosie + one :. . .lindsay/becoming, do I know you? How old is your babe?

I went grocery shopping today and underestimated. Oops. Nothing was un-necessary (except maybe the household de-oderizers--but that's subjective & you haven't smelled my house )
I ended up spending $112. I won't be going again until next Friday. That shoudn't be a problem though.

[jennaugustson]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

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

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

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. I am Jenn, a SAHM to Evan who is 4 and Teigan who is 7 months. We try to live simply, but are looking for ways to improve. My husband, over the past few years, has switched jobs taking a big pay cut, but now receives benefits/retirement. I usually work nights in the summer, but took this year off. Thanks to my husband's influence, I am already pretty frugal, but still need help toning down unneeded spending...

2.We have our house under renovation/addition and it sucks all of our money. So I would really like to put as much money I can into it to finish, since my daughter keeps asking when her "big girl room" will be ready..So cutting out all extra spending will be great. July is our worst month with car insurance, property taxes, and things like that coming due.. So we will need to tighten our belts for August.


3.I spend the most on food and I will have a hard time here b/c I want to buy everything organic and it is just too expensive..I will focus on getting the important things organic (like dairy and produce) and try to be creative with planning meals and cooking things so that the leftovers can be used to make the next dinner.

I also want to become an expert ebay seller...I've only sold something once and think I have lots of things to sell..

Finally, hope to try and cut down on our use of the dryer and a/c. Luckily, we live at the beach where it is a bit breezy...

Ok, here goes...

[SusanInItaly]

Originally Posted by TICKLEDPINK

My name is Katherine and I have a loving dh (of 8yrs)and the most beautiful dd who just turned 2. My husband is in the military so we are poor!

Hello to another military mama!!! I take it your DH is AF? We are Navy and just PCSed from Jax!

[CeciMami]

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

Hi! I'm Cecilia, SAHM to DS who just turned 2 this month, and partnered to DH for about 10 years now! DH has a full time gig in entertainment, and I work PT so that we can throw money at our debt!

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

I only got that part time job so that we can get our "snowball" rolling so spending that money would be totally insane! But since we "just" break even at the end of the month, I need to really watch every penny and I figure posting here will help! (This may sound silly, but at the end of our debt there is a picture of a pop up trailer so that we can go camping in comfort and style! Whatever works right?)

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. It's really hot here and I tend to use shopping as entertainment (glad to read that I'm not the only one!). Ross and Target are my favorite hang outs because they have the cutest toys for DS (and he doesn't need any more!!!!)

b. I need to STAY HOME, organize myself so that I'm only going to the library once every two weeks (it's pretty far away).

c. Meal plan and only grocery shop once a week, plan so that I only go to Costco once a month. (We're getting our 1/4 grass fed cow on the 3rd so I'll have PLENTY of cooking to do which will give me something to do and fill our freezer at the same time!) I also need to get back into the habit of going to the farmers market...

d. Only do 1 playdate a week, preferably at my house, to save on gas!

e. Stop eating out on the days that I work. TAKE LUNCH WITH ME! DH and I have a $10 allowance per week of "blow money" but I could buy books with that instead of craptastic food!

Can't wait to get started!

[J's Mama]

Okay, I'm back! But this month will be slightly different as DS and I will be in Mexico for 2 weeks visiting DP's family.

MY INTRODUCTION:
I'm Siobhan, mama to Joaquin 14 mos. and partner of 7 years to Hilario. DP works full time in restaurant work and I work PT as a Montessori teacher's assistant. We "shift-parent"!

WHY I'M SPENDING LESS IN AUGUST:
*We have almost no savings. This past month I just opened up our account and it has $150 in it! Better than nothing, right?!
*We have ~$6000.00 in c.c.debt and crazy high APR on both!
*We are TTC baby #2 and it's all out-of-pocket this time!!! (~$3500)
*We are planning to move back to my home town in NY by next June and need money for all the moving expenses and a little cushioning besides.

MY PLAN:
-meal plan!!
-work budget that I just created from July expenses
-NO recreational shopping
-NO eating out

GOALS:
*Allow myself 1 pint of Ben & Jerry's a week! (I became quite addicted in July!)
*keep a running tally of my no-spend days : 0/31 to further motivate myself!


GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!!!!!!!: :

[maggiemae]

1. Maggie, WOHM mom to three little kiddos.
2. I am joining becuase we are sooooo broke and have no savings. I repeat no savings.
3. I am going to post everyday to help me not spend.

[my2girlz]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

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

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

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?

I'm Heather. I'm a SAHM to 3 kids. Kalyn will be 8 in Sept, Saige is 5, and Alex will be 3 in a few weeks. My dh works from home in sales for a company out of state. My 22 year old brother lives with us since he is new to the area and is planning on going to school here.

I need to really watch my spending in August. DH gets paid salary plus commission. Sales are really down this year and we are struggling with the new change in lifestyle. We are barely, if that, breaking even. I've had to use CCs on basics over the past few months and I need to get out of that rut. Here are my goals.

1. stay out of stores
2. not have to dip into savings or use CCs
3. limit "want" buying

My obstacles will be that we have a lot of things going on that have been planned for a long time. My dh's grandma, uncle and girlfriend are coming to stay with us 8/6-8/8. We have a wedding in another state 8/10-8/12. Luckily, my parents said they are paying for our night of the wedding (8/11) and we will be using our reward nights for our stay at a Holiday Inn on 8/10 (ds's bday). Then my SIL and her girls are coming for a visit 8/14-8/15 and dh goes out of town for work the next week for the entire week. Plus back to school stuff that I need to do. Yikes!

My plan is to stay at home more often to save on gas and needless spending. I also need to be even better at sticking to the menu and use up what we have at home. I also need to figure out more ways to save money and really analyze where it's going.

[scrapadoozer]

Up ya go, little thread.

[MamaPam]

My name is Pam. I am a SAHM to 3 girls ages 3 and under.

Why a No-Spend August? DH and I are trying to rebuild or savings account, get in a position for DH to back to school in January, and pay off cc and medical bills. We have no open credit accounts and getting this debt paid off would give us a lot more wiggle room in our budget. We also just desire to just consume less. We have more plenty of stuff as it is.

Goals
*Buy only things needed. -Groceries -Pay Bills -Gas
*No Eating Out
*Stick to budget
*Put money saved to savings

Exceptions to No Spending
-birthday present and party stuff for DD#2-Goal to spend less than $75
-Finding a great deal on winter clothes for DD#1
-Possible outing with small group from church

How
-Stay Accountable to Group
-Make sure DH takes lunches everyday
-No sodas or other things we don't need that sneak into our grocery cart

[Meems]

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

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

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?

Alright! I'm in!

I'm a mostly SAHM to my DD, and would like to keep it that way... I have been lurking on the July $0 spending and have kept track of my unnecessary expenses. Wow. Probably $400 for July. I really need to improve!

I am trying to spend as little as possible to pay off as much debt as I can over the next few months. I also need to cut the internet buying. I shop online for a lot of stuff b/c we live in a remote area, but I buy a lot of stuff that we could do without. I also need to stop buying diapers- we have plenty and I am going to commit to selling what DD grows out of and only buy new ones (if necessary!!) w/ that money.

My plan---
online shopping!
*spend less on groceries and go only 1x/wk
*do free activities w/ friends
*eat out only 2x/month
*pack food and water for car trips/ outings
*do less laundry and line dry
*keep the A/C set at 77 or above
*keep track of expenses

Thanks and I wish everyone luck!

[mama kate]

1. I'm Kate - SAHM to Emma Lu (3) I am also a daytime Mama to 2 babies - 1 fulltime/1 part time to supplement our income.

2. July was a HUGE bust for us : - we had friends in town & Emma's birthday. so we spent waaaaaay to much on food/eatting out - we DID manage to not go overboard on gifts which we tend to do!

3. I need to watch the grocery budget, go to an envelope system fopr DH & I, & stop eating out so much.
I need to get better about doing things like line drying (once the rain finally stops) at least we haven't had to water the yard/plants!

No major purchases needed this month but I am starting to look for bargains Christmas gifts since our gift list is HUGE! Today for instance I found 6 books for @$2 each at borders for nephew & friends little boy)

[sweetfeet]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

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

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

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. I'm Meghan. I have 2 kids, 5 and 9 months. My dh is a full time student and works full time. I'm a sahm.

2. In July we went on a vacation that had some unexpected expenses thanks to needing a locksmith and buying a spare key for our rental car. I spent a lot of money in the airport because I was bored and when I'm bored I eat. I also bought stuff we didn't really need when we were out sight seeing. We ate out a lot too. Anyhow long story short I now have a balance on my credit card.

3. My plan:
*Keep up my excel spread sheet
*Cloth diaper full time
*Make a meal plan and a shopping list and STICK TO IT!
*Find free activities to do with the kids.
*Make use of our library for homeschool needs.
*Allow myself to eat out 3 times during the month.
*No online purchases
*Stay out of stores

[lunamama]

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

My name is Kristi, I am a SAHM of 3 homeschooled great kids. I am ever scouring our finances to find ways to save money and pay down our debt. My husband has a job that makes us most of out yearly income in the summer months so we have a challenging budget.

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

Well, we are in quite a bit of debt from an injury my dh sustained last year. He was out of work for 6 months and we racked up our credit cards. I also need to save $8000 to pay for our expenses over the winter months.

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?

I am planning on keeping track of all money spent. The kids and I are going on a trip to visit family for 3 weeks and I need to keep spending under control. I am planning on buying the kids clothes and shoes and myself some clothes while we are there but only what I have budgeted for.

I am hoping that this thread will help keep me accountable!
Thanks for starting it!!