This month has been a No Spend Month (with my own modifications). For example, we did eat out unlike some families that choose not to. We could have saved another $350, so that’s a bummer but it kept my kids from going nuts. We didn’t go to the movies or go to any “expensive” restaurants like BJ’s.  We tried to have $30 and under meals which ended up being In and Out and our cheap local taqueria.

I am really excited about the amount of money I saved on groceries. I spent $408. I budgeted $550. Our normal monthly budget is $750. I spent a little more than half but I also included  a Labor Day party and a few extra things I had not planned to buy but they were on sale- super sale.

I am really going to try and implement the NO Spend Weekend each month and a Pantry Challenge at the end of month. Perhaps I can replicate some of these savings throughout the year.

I will report my actual savings at the end of the month.

Ligia

Yesterday started week two of our No Spending Challenge. This next week will be tough. I am just getting used to going into “work” which means I am out and about, being tempted by all kinds of stuff like: coffee shops, or drive thru windows.

I blew it yesterday and got a Boba. Yes, I felt guilty. However, I returned some shoes at Kohl’s and got $6 in cash which covered the Boba.

We also sold a few things over the weekend-just things at home- and made $35.  I still have a few things to post online and hopefully sell this week.

One of the rules for this challenge includes getting to spend the money we get from selling stuff.

I still feel guilty-maybe it’s because I didn’t get one for the kids?

Ugh-

Anyways, our biggest challenge is eating out. So I have to stick to my guns and say NO. No to myself. No to the kids. NO to my spouse.

No Spending means no spending.

I know we will be proud of our efforts come September 30th.

Ligia

I am plugging away at this No Month Spending Challenge. Some days are harder than others. On days when I am tired and don’t want to cook, I am tempted to get the take out menu. This past week, we did pretty darn good in that department. The kids and I spent $29 on Wednesday. On the weekend we only spent $48. Unfortunately, we also had some unexpected expenses like prescriptions for our dog. A whopping $168. Then, my car has been leaking power steering fluid and we had to fix for $210. Luckily, I have a miscellaneous savings account where things like this come out of.

I also managed to go into the grocery store-twice-and only get what I needed. I had to tell myself to not look and go straight to the dairy case.

Overall, we have spent $228 on food related expenses which might seem too much, but by this time in August we had spent over $800 so that to me is amazing.

Ligia