Spend No Money Challenge

by Katy on September 20, 2008 · 7 comments

 

 

Many of you have been on board for my Waste No Food Challenge, and even tagged along for my Buy No Food Challenge.

It’s now time for:

The Spend No Money Challenge.

Starting Monday, September 22nd, I am going to see how long I can go without spending any money. I will obviously still need to pay my mortgage and utilities, and other set expenditures.

My goal?

One week. 

You may think that’s a wimpy amount, but I want to start small. Too much and It’ll be too daunting. One week at a time folks. 

So there will be:

  • No meals out.
  • No Goodwill trips. (Gulp . . . .)
  • No coffee with friends.
  • No grocery store trips.
  • No nothing extra. At all.

I can already see a few difficulties. Such as, it’s school picture day for my ten-year-old next Wednesday. So that will be an exception. I can’t sacrifice my kids. How else will I remember their awkward only-forschool-pictures smiles?

I’m also out of canola oil, but my fridge is otherwise stocked bizarrely full with the found food that my mother brought over yesterday.

I would love to have company in my time of deprivation, so let me know in the comments section below if you’re game for a challenge.

Let’s learn together what it’s like to cut all extra expenses, frivolous and otherwise from our lives.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

Update:

Apparently my Spend No Money Challenge coincides exactly with Discardia. Which runs between solstices in a way I don’t quite understand. But September 22nd – 29th is a new cycle.

Coincidence?

Actually. . .  yes.

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Jinger September 20, 2008 at 6:30 am

I’m with you on this challenge! Due to a snafu, a check for some contract work I’ve done, didn’t arrive and that was my grocery and gas money for the rest of the month. So, I’ll be digging deep and not spending at all. Tomorrow is a street festival where I will look and enjoy only. Today I’ll be walking, working on projects and off to the library for my free entertainment.

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Beth September 20, 2008 at 8:06 am

I admire your resolve!
After a quick trip to the grocery store for essentials, I’m in.
Thanks for the inspiration. It’ll hopefully be interesting to discover (re-discover?) some no-cost enjoyment. I often feel like I can’t walk out my front door without spending.

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luneray September 20, 2008 at 11:53 am

I’m with you. My downfall is coffee and bubbletea breaks at work. It mostly an excuse to get out of the office and take a short walk so next week I need to focus on the walks and not the treats.

Have you read “Not Buying It?” It was the chronicle of a couple in Brooklyn who made the decision to not spend any money for an entire year except on absolute essentials, which they decided upon ahead of time. Their goal wasn’t to try to save money (although that definitely was a result) but to find out just how much mental and physical energy is directly related to buying stuff. Not a perfect book, but very interesting all the same.

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Joe Zollars September 20, 2008 at 1:10 pm

I’m totally with you on this!

Joe,
the kansas non consumer

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Lisa Whipple September 20, 2008 at 4:46 pm

Can we shoplift?

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Skwurlee September 20, 2008 at 10:13 pm

I have lurked your blog and the yahoo compact group for long enough, I’m in – will hit the grocery store tomorrow 🙂

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Elinor September 22, 2008 at 8:46 am

I’m going to join you in this weeks challenge. I am only going until the 27th, because I’m going to a couple of festivals that day. I am also allowing myself to get quarters to wash my laundry, and perhaps my car.

This will be really good because I’m getting a shopping urge and I don’t need to shop, I need to save.

Thanks for the push.
Elinor

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