A No-Warning/No-Spend challenge!

[Kris10Leigh]

As a family, we have been really bad lately. We need to some serious "no-spending" and soon! I am back to .50 here, .75 there. We are eating out more, though not as much as we were at our worst.

So spell out your own rules and let's see who can come back in a week having spent nothing!

For me, I will buy gas within my budget.
For just one week, i can't think of anything I NEED. The rest of the month is a different story.

I need some motivation! So please play along and have fun!

[Broken Arrow]

Woooah. No warning?

As we speak, I've got exactly half a bottle of water, half a bottle of ketchup, and half a bottle of honey BBQ sauce in both my fridge and pantry combined! Ah, bachelor life.

I'm not sure I can just do it just like that! If you at least give me tonight to get ready... then that could be a different story.

But... alright. Since this is a good cause, I'll join in the festivities. I'll start mine tonight at midnight. Dum dum dum!

[Kris10Leigh]

Thanks Man! I knew I could count on you!

[PrincessPerky]

Heh, well I would love to join in, but then my son wouldn't get a birthday party, dinner, or present!

Though I do have a goal when I go to the store Saturday of NOT getting more than I need for the birthday (no splurging on rockets or something while out! No eating out, pack the pbnoJ, ect)

baring Saturday I can go...till next Wednesday when I (err DH) go back to the grocery store.

[PRICEPLUS]

Well since I am on my fourth day of a no spend I guess I'll join in. The only spending is on fixed bills.

[JanH]

Gosh, I can't do it right now cos I have to go visit my son in concert this week. Oh well, I'll sit on the sidelines and cheer you guys on!

[DivaJen]

I know I need to buy milk, but I could probably eek out at least a few days otherwise. In fact, I don't think I even have any bills to pay this week. We've got food for dinner, food for breakfast and snacks for school. I just put gas in the car yesterday. I'm game!

[project15]

I can't participate...I'm getting married this weekend, tons of money will be spent (ok, not tons, just a set aside amount).

[Marcymox]

wow- this is perfect timing- I've been waiting for the no spend challenge to come up! I even went to the grocery store today.

Is this the same as the one we did in August?? can we still make up our own "rules" ? Like I know IMA said she did it , except for eating out.

I have already comitted to several scouting events for my children to attend- wrote the checks , just haven't given them to the leader yet, so those will have to be exempt from the challenge- I consider it money already spent.

I like reading how people who "needed" something made do with something else so they wouldn't spend money. - that is the best part of this challenge.

I'm in.

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by project15

I can't participate...I'm getting married this weekend, tons of money will be spent (ok, not tons, just a set aside amount).

Congratulations!!!!!

[jodi]

Ditto on the congrats, project15!

Kristen, great idea! I'm game. I have $33 in the checking account until payday (only two days away), but I should be able to go a week. Just did some big shops for food, so it will do me good to stay out of the stores for a bit.
My rules: gas expenditures allowed (DH has to commute an hour each way to school). Also allowed - one trip to Rite Aid to purchase Kashi cereal (free after rebate) - they had run out today when I stopped, but might have more by Thursday

[lrjohnson]

Well, we haven't gone grocery shopping since a small run on 9/11, so if it's our own rules I need to allow a grocery run. But other than that, I'm in.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by project15

I can't participate...I'm getting married this weekend, tons of money will be spent (ok, not tons, just a set aside amount).

A likely excuse. (kidding)

Ooookay, so I just got back from the grocery store. You know what? As I was pulling up to the supermarket parking lot, I thought to myself, "How on Earth did I do it last time?" Because, for the life of me, I don't know how I did it! I don't think I did at all. I think I basically fumbled through it in complete disarray.

This time, I tried to have some kind of game plan, but I still ended up getting lost. It's never really dawned on me until now, but how DO people figure out what they're suppose to buy? The idea of budgeting groceries for days if not weeks ahead is still an alien concept to me.

Of course, learning to do it will save me a lot more money in the long run. So, in that way, I am very glad to be participating in a no-spend challenge again. It really put me on the spot to think beyond just, "I wonder what I should eat tonight?"

Halfway through, I got lost on how many night's worth of food I have in my cart, so I decided to just err on the side of caution by buying more than I think I need. A lot more. In fact, this is the most I've ever spent on groceries by myself.

I am also certain that I am forgetting something... or rather, several somethings. I just don't know what it is yet. I'm sure it will come to me in crystal clarity when I am officially into my challenge at, oh say, 12:05am tonight.

Well, I topped off my gas tank and, because I knew it will be at least a week before I can eat out again, I decided to get take out tonight. Well, wish me luck!

[frugalfarmwife]

I'd love to join you but I'm already into my 11 day no spend challenge, lol. After paying all the bills and extra on mort and groceries I had 32.56 left in checking for a two week period. Hubbies Gas doesn't count since he has to commute. We're almost there on a full 14 day challenge, paydays coming soon!

And you do learn to grocery shop for longer times, just takes practice. Make a list and stick to it!

kj

[Gruntina]

I would join but I already committed to making my bf dinner on Wednesday and I don’t have the appropriate meal for it at this time. Otherwise I would just eat the beans/rice and cereal for the week.

I like to cook special dinners on Wednesday because that is the evening he takes the college ASL courses and we go over the signs during dinner and always saves some for his lunch for work the next day. This makes him especially happy.

[Bookie]

Count me in.

Full Disclosure Statement: The supermarket within walking distance of my home is closing. Today was their final business day. They were discounting heavily to clear the shelves, and my normal Monday shopping day was augmented by a repeat trip this morning. I will not lack for groceries.

[DivaJen]

I forgot about dollar scoop night. We had planned on going out for one dollar ice cream tonight, so we went ahead and did that. I did find a nickel while we were there, though! lol.

OK, so milk I still need, and ice cream is taken care of. I love ice cream.

[MonkeyMama]

I would but I was going to run to Target thursday or friday to pick up a few things (Armed with my coupons that expire soon and the fact I already put this off a week or 2).

I would play anyway and count that as a planned expense but well, reading the thread reminds me there is no way I can not buy milk for the kiddos for a whole week. LOL.

Or gas. But since these are all planned and somewhat necessary I guess I can just say I will give it a whirl on not spending on anything else. No spending until next Tuesday, eh? Easy peasy.

Easy until temptation hits. We'll see!

[Kris10Leigh]

Today it should be easy enough not to spend. I brought my lunch. I'm going to be at work until 4:00, rush home and then DH's parents are treating us to Miss Saigon at a local dinner theater. (No money out of our pocket! ) So there won't be any time to spend money! I just have to make sure I don't hit up the pop machine.

[Bookie]

Today shouldn't be much of a problem. First, because it's raining, and I'm not inclined to go out, and, second, because this will be a cooking day. Big time.