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

[Bookie]

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

Actually, this works really well. My local grocery runs its sale flyer on Monday, and I was at the grocery yesterday for dairy and produce. Plus, I filled my car while on the way home.

Let it begin . . . My rules: (kindness of boefixepa)
1. No discretionary spending... (ie eating out, grocery shopping, entertainment, clothes etc...)
2. No driving (doable because I am in walking distance of my office)
3. Normal 'bills' are allowed as they come up... (Scheduled checks go off on Monday)
4. No stockup -- thus the surprise
5. No 'reward' spending or splurging when done what's the point if you save it and then spend it?
6. All money saved or 'left over' at the end of the month gets transfered to savings.
7. Time frame (for me for it to be 'hard') is two weeks.

I'll aim for two weeks as well, since I said in the other thread that one week would be easy for me. But the A/C remains an option. I'm frugal; I'm not masochistic.

[jodi]

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

I'm here! Count me in. My rules:
1. No discretionary spending
2. Gas expenses allowed, although I will be limiting the unnecessary driving
3. I only have one outstanding bill which will be paid tonight - I don't think any will come up in the next week that can't wait until after the challenge
4. Slight stockup - here's the reason: we live in a house with my parents. If we run out of something and I can't buy it, they will. In fairness, I want to stock up a little on the things we use a lot (i.e. milk) so that I am just not shifting the cost onto them.
5. No 'reward' spending or splurging
6. Time frame is one week to start Thursday morning
Let the games begin!

[robex]

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

Count me in, too. I will start on Monday, July 31 and go through the following Sunday.

My rules are:
1) No spending money on food or drink of any kind. This will be hard for me as we often eat lunch out at work, or go to Starbucks.
2) I will not use the dryer.
3) All family activities will have to be free ones ie. water park, library etc.
4) I will gas up the car, and stock up on groceries on Sunday...enough for the week.

I would commit to not using the a/c but we don't have any, just fans. I will, however, turn off the computer every night before going to bed.

I will stick with one week, and then we're on holidays. In September, I will do 10 days in a row.

[tgavin71]

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

I'm in. Well sort of anyway. My challenge is going to work like this. From tommorrow on for everyday that I don't spend money on necessities such as bread, milk, petrol etc I will put $1 in a jar to go towards special lunches with friends.

[getforfree]

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

Rules for me:
-- all normal bills paid
-- gas for work only and church on Sunday
-- milk will be the only food I will buy, so $18 or less for milk for 2 weeks, that's only 8 gall instead of 16 (the nearest grocery store is 0.3 miles away, can walk)
-- I started yesterday, I did my grocery shopping on Sunday and haven't bought anything since
-- I have less than half a gall of milk in my fridge now, so that will be really a challenge

[Broken Arrow]

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

Alright, ladies and gents. Ready or not, here I go!

[Ima saver]

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

I talked to my husband about this last night and he says he will not give up going out to eat at night next week. But I wish the rest of you, lots of luck!!

[boefixepa]

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

OOhhhh, this is going to be fun! Check in as you find things that will have to wait. Struggles and such, and those who are debating, jump on at any time!!

So far so good for me. No AC yesterday and I made it just fine....I've had guests for the nearly the last week and have had to have it on for them. I'm dreading my bill.

[Ima saver]

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

Any body else up for this challenge??

[Gruntina]

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

Count me in! I can not believe I am doing this!!!! First time I ever challenged myself to anything.

My rules:

1. Pay regular bills as normal
2. Limit to 40 dollars for food before hand... (This is challenge as empty fridge and cupboards as we just flea bombed the house...due to client having a dog with fleas)
3. I normally fill my gas tank every 4 days... My goal will be to fill it up and make it last the whole week. (My bf lives 45 min away sigh....)
4. No discretionary spending
5. If make challenge, reward has not cost anything or I lose purpose of this challenge. I am thinking of giving myself a couple of hours to relax by reading magazines and making iced coffee at home. (This is for a girl who works two full time jobs!!!!)

[Ima saver]

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

Wow, two full time jobs, you deserve a break!!

[Gruntina]

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

Just 9 more months left to go of paying off my debts and I can finally quit one! whew! but will need so much motiviation to keep going as I am already burnt out!

[Dido]

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

You can count me in, too. I'll start on Friday--already have plans for tomorrow, and also am almost out of milk and fresh fruit, which I'll stock up on. Otherwise I've already been trying to do a "pantry challenge" so food purchases have been less anyway. I also have to fill the gas tank up so I can get to and from work next week. All the bills are paid. I do have a serviceman coming on Saturday to do yearly maintenance on the furnace (and show ME how to do it--this is my first year owning a house and I don't even know where the filter on the thing IS). I won't count that against the challenge. I *won't* decrease the A/C beyond what I already have; I'm way too irritable in the heat & humidity without it (upstairs A/C is kept at 83; downstairs doesn't have a programmable thermostat but I try to turn it on & off to keep the temp at around 80 and the humidity close to 60%.)

[Broken Arrow]

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

Argh! False start! I have to get some Draino for my sink. It's been kinda clogged for a while, but now it's nearly stopped up altogether!

So *cough* yeah, what I meant to say is that I'll be starting... this weekend.

[boefixepa]

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

NOooooooooooo, this is what you do, baking soda and vinger down the drain so they 'fuzzle' and react fill with water and plunge it with the plunger. It'll push it through the trap....

That's the fun of the game...figuring out another way....

If it's a kitchen sink have someone hold the stopper (and they best hold it well) over the second sink.