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

[Ima saver]

Not fair, that is not all i said!!!

[Broken Arrow]

I'm sorry, you said something else? Must be that darned Male Selective Hearing acting up again.

[Ima saver]

Must be!!!

[kashi]

DAY SEVEN....and booking right along. It is hard not to shop. It's funny how often the thought pops into my head.

Last night SO made a nice artichoke risotto for dinner. No shopping, just watching tv and reading. I made a necklace with beading supplies I have on hand.

This has definitely been interesting...but I'm ready to go shopping! Tomorrow is our last day of no spending, up until our dinner with friends.

Good job, everyone!

[boefixepa]

So far so good!

You guys make me laugh! I love it!

[Dido]

Originally Posted by kashi

It is hard not to shop. It's funny how often the thought pops into my head.

Same here! I'm on day 6, one more day to go. I'm very much looking forward to my small planned grocery shop (and stop at the gelati stand!) on Saturday.

I'll definitely take more pleasure in this weekly ritual than I usually do.

[Broken Arrow]

Day... er... don't know anymore. Day 4 I guess.

Still holding, though it's starting to drag. Of course, you guys know about me having to get my car checked out tomorrow. I see that as a necessary evil. Besides that, it would appear that I may be able to hold out for as long there is still gas in my car....

[Kris10Leigh]

Day 6 for me and still doing well. I almost caved today...but I didn't. I met some girlfriends at the pool and we were tossing around the idea of having our husbands meet us there with dinner in hand for all the hungry swimmers. Fortunately, one husband couldn't make it, so none of the husbands came. Otherwise, I would have gone for it! Instead, I packed P.B. crackers to make sure the boys had a snack.

I'm ready to go shopping too! I may cave 12 hours early to take my boys to a movie tomorrow. The local I-max is playing a "classic" movie about the ocean which they only show on Fridays. We just recently vacationed at the beach in Kitty Hawk and again in Rhode Island, so I would love for them to see an educational movie about the ocean and the I-max is just an incredible experience!

[jodi]

Beware, all you fellow frugalites...when you go off the challenge, the urge to spend returns with a vengeance (I already see from some of your posts, you are feeling the same). I woke up late today and instead of reaching for the instant oatmeal I keep in my office, I felt I DESERVED to stop at McDonalds. Granted, I did chose the cheapest breakfast item (burrito) compared to the bacon and egg bagel I usually get (savings of $1.25)...but still, I went out of my way to go the ATM just so I could buy breakfast. I did not have a hard time on the challenge at all...so why this urge to spend??? And now I find myself considering lunch out tomorrow with DH and the boys after they get their haircuts. Ugh.

[Bookie]

Day 9: Sadly, today's report has little to do with economy and nothing to do with restraint. Self-indulgent all the way, and so, I'm afraid, is this post.

I attended the breakfast meeting of an advisory council on which I have a seat, a stately forum which gravely ponders issues on which those assembled have had no input and will have no impact. This process is one stage of "consultative management," which apparently means involving as many people as possible before doing what you intended to do initially. I gather it's all the rage in business administration circles. But they do feed us.

The breakfast buffet makes the excursion worthwhile. This cornucopian invitation to dietary excess is prudently shunned by most the those assembled. The wages of sin being cholesterole, or so I gather. I go through it like Sherman through Georgia, yielding to every temptation, and savoring my breakfast quite as much as I do the envy of my dry-toast and black coffee companions.

As lrjohnson reminds us, treats become all the more enjoyable as they grow more rare, and I do this only once a month, so it justifies a drive into the city.

Later on I accompanied a friend to the local shopping mall. The poshest of the local emporia was having an invitational sale for store card holders only, and my guy took time off to fill out his wardrobe. (His wife would have her turn tonight.) OK, the man's a fast-lane mover in a dress-for-success profession. Appearances count. First cabin all the way. I get it.

The place was busy -- packed -- on a Thursday? And people weren't there to browse. I'm talking about a feeding frenzy amid discounted designer labels. The country club set in K-Mart shopper mode. My companion is a regular, and "his" salesman was expecting him. We were whisked from area to area. Rainment was displayed, considered in terms of past and planned purchases, selected or discarded, carted off for fitting. An hour later we staggered out, laden with some of his bargain booty. (The tailored itedms would be picked up later.) The bottom line? More than my monthly gross income, and every single purchase was "a deal." Isn't that great?

Thus day nine of the Challenge was spent in an orgy of wretched excess -- and I still didn't spend a dime.

[Dido]

Originally Posted by Bookie

I attended the breakfast meeting of an advisory council on which I have a seat, a stately forum which gravely ponders issues on which those assembled have had no input and will have no impact. This process is one stage of "consultative management," which apparently means involving as many people as possible before doing what you intended to do initially

Sounds like almost every academic administration I've been exposed to.

Congrats on making it through day 9!

[tgavin71]

Originally Posted by jodi_m

Beware, all you fellow frugalites...when you go off the challenge, the urge to spend returns with a vengeance I woke up late today and instead of reaching for the instant oatmeal I keep in my office, I felt I DESERVED to stop at McDonalds. Granted, I did chose the cheapest breakfast item (burrito) compared to the bacon and egg bagel I usually get (savings of $1.25)...but still, I went out of my way to go the ATM just so I could buy breakfast. I did not have a hard time on the challenge at all...so why this urge to spend??? And now I find myself considering lunch out tomorrow with DH and the boys after they get their haircuts. Ugh.

I think it is similar to what happens when people go on a diet. They go without for so long and then think to themselves hey I've been so good I go and buy Maccas or KFC or whatever. They reward themselves with food.

When this challenge was first brought up I have to admit that the splurge at the end of the week had me worried. That is why I choose to stop spending on wants instead of stopping spending altogether.

[Kris10Leigh]

Bookie, good for you! I personally hate to shop, so it is rare that I set foot in a mall. When I do, I am truly overwhelmed by all the glitz! The lights, the sounds, the echo, the "buy me" attitude! They make it very hard to get out of there without a purchase. Sometimes experiences like that can you make feel like you deserve it too or what's wrong with me? I'm impressed that you were able to come out of it the same as you went in! And, once again, that was a fun post to read. You have a knack for writing!

Jodi and Tgavin, you both bring up yet another great point in this thread. Cheating. You are quite right! I have not cheated, and now do not intend to, but the temptation has been there. I have been fortunate not to have had too many opportunities to cheat. The biggest temtation was last night, and I'll admite that had my friends eaten out, I would have joined. And tonight if the movie I wanted to see was still at the Ominimax (which thankfully for me it isn't), I would have done that too. I think things that pop up like that are the true challenge.

All that aside, today is the last day of the challenge for me, though I will probably go as long as I can with two exceptions. I have to go to the grocery to pick up dinner items for tomorrow because we are hosting a birthday dinner for my MIL. We also need to get her a $25 present. I have grocery money left over for the dinner and the $25 will come from an account for that purpose.

[boefixepa]

No problem last night. I looked through the store circulars in the mail and there was nothing that was even a good deal to be tempted on. Then I played with some neighbor kids and read my favorite articles from the tightwad gazette.
All's good!

[Ima saver]

I have finished up day four. We stayed home and ate in last night. My husband works a little later when we don't go out, so he is actually earning more.

[jaksilee]

I didn't post my last 2 days...so here goes!
Wed I did break the challange and bought a $1 coupon holder, for all the coupons that I have been getting with all the free samples I am signing up for from the freebies area.
Thur I didn't spend anything beyond a few bills that were budgeted to be paid.
today I will be taking my $4 and doing my laundry mat run...I plan to wash a bunch of things at home so I can only spend $1.50 instead of the whole $4. I also plan to go "shopping"in my freezer and pantry and plan next weeks meals. Then I will take my $5 tommorrow and buy some fruit.

[jaksilee]

Originally Posted by Bookie

Thus day nine of the Challenge was spent in an orgy of wretched excess -- and I still didn't spend a dime.

Bookie how cool that you got to kill your shopping craving with out spending any money! Sounds like after that shopping trip though you might need a nap!

[kashi]

jodi, I feel the same way. I've been thinking about all the things I'd like to buy. T-shirts, swim suit, summer interview suit, shoes, aluminum foil, air mattress...on and on. I'm going to have to exert some serious self control next week.

Day 8, last day for me! Last night we made bean burgers and fries, and I made a loaf of cinnamon swirl bread. No money spent! Today we're not spending anything until dinner with friends tonight.

We're definitely going to do this every month! It's a good exercise in self restraint.

[Gruntina]

I have to admit, I don't think it was fair for me to join this challenge. I am working two full time jobs and usually only have two half days off on the weekends to myself. This leaves me so little time for shopping. So this was not really a test of restraint.

Because I am so angry for having a debt that was caused of another person, I want to pay it off. I have about 9 more months to go. (Only 5 months if I get my bonus at the end of the year but not depending on it).

When all the debts have been paid off, I am really scared!!!! I will quit the second job and wont be bringing home a lot of money but again I wont know what I am missing since all of it went to debts. But I am worried of how my spending habits and how my "wants" are going to change. I am afraid that because I have been spending the last 3 to 4 years paying off a debt that was cause of another person purchasing things off of my credit cards, I am going to feel like I am entitled to buys something’s for my self.

[Ima saver]

It has not been nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I have only been to wal marts once this year and that is where I tend to spend money. We don't really have any stores in our town other than drug stores and dollar stores.