Today is the first day of my family’s challenge to not spend money. Starting today, I will be uploading a new picture to our site and the MomAdvice No Spend Challenge Flickr group that has been set up. I can’t guarantee I will be writing something every single day, but I will try to photo document our journey.
Again, you can tailor the challenge to your family and what you need to do. We bought groceries, some family’s approach a no spend challenge by raiding the pantry. We chose a month, you can choose a week. Don’t be limited by my restrictions at all!
If you are looking to eat from your pantry, I encourage you to visit 5 Dollar Dinners this month and visit Erin’s frugal recipes to get some wonderful ideas. You can also visit our recipes, The Aldi Queen blog, or even our general food section for some inexpensive ideas to accomplish your challenge.
However you do it, whatever length of time you do it…heck, even if you fall off the wagon doing it, I am proud of you for trying!
For moral support among participants, please leave your name on the link list and let us know that you are participating. We can visit each other’s sites and offer support as we take on a great challenge with many benefits!
To access all of the information on the MomAdvice No Spend Challenge, please visit this link to read all of the entries!
My 12yo son & I started this challenge a few weeks ago. Each week we have at least 1 day that we spend nothing. We're also starting to use a budget this week, making a list for the grocery store, and best of all, keeping track of how much money we save! We're using coupons, watching sales and feeling great about taking control of our finances.
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We’re following Dave Ramsey’s steps! So with that comes NO SPENDING!
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Thanks for hosting this. It’s been in the back of my mind for awhile now; I just needed a kick to do it. Looking forward to sweeing how it plays out.
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I love this idea! i have an addiction to spending money like you would not believe! I am going to commit to not spending money every monday for the rest of the year! i am hopinh that this helps me to become a frugal mommy and better at managing our money!
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My New Years resolution was to get out of 50% of my debt this year. I used pearbudget during January and was shocked to see how much money I “saved” my family with all the trips to CVS and Wags! Januarys goal was to track spending, Februarys is to not spend unneccesarily.
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I’ll need to take a little more time to think about the logistics of this but that’s why they call it a challenge right?
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we are planning meals 2 wks at a time to avoid the “go to the store to get one thing and come home with 10 syndrome!”
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My husband & I have had to stick to this way of thinking since around Christmas when I got cut to part time at my job. It's hard not doing some of the extras, but being a coupon/sale crazy wife is awesome!
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Is the challenge only open to bloggers? I don’t have a blog although I have this blogging account. What would I put in the URL for us non bloggers?
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well we went weeks with only getting milk and bread last fall and worked out well, and last week because of the ice…its nice to have others for support
Our rule in the house is ask first is it a need or a want?
we will be doing this again, I am doing the NO SPEND CHALLENGE
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we love to try this when we go on our weekend adventures– its fun and you find out about different stores and restaurants you normally wouldnt have gone into! we like to call it our freebie adventure.
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I have two boys, one is 9 years old and the other is 2 years old. I have been teaching them both how not to spend and we ended up going a whole week with out spending a dime.
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What a great idea! I’m committing to not spending anything every Tuesday until the end of March. Hopefully I’ll be able to curb some random spending!
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I think this is a wonderful idea! I am going to try to commit to this challenge and not spend any money twice a week.
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I’m subscribe on the linkylist.
I’m not spending a dime if I don’t have to. I’ve even started my own online store to sell things. we’ll see how it goes.
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What a good idea! I’m going to start by not spending anything until next Friday. We have a pantry and freezer full of things we need to use up, not to mention freebies (coupons and gift cards) to treat ourselves to.
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I am going to start off with trying out a week I don’t know if my family could survive any longer then that my husband is a big eater outer. So we will see how it goes and if it goes good we will try longer next time.
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Awesome idea! In the economic state we are in it is better to save as much as we can and not splurge on the unnecessary accessories in life. I will commit for a week and see how it turns out!
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i’ve been doing my own “no spend” challenges for many years now — it’s nice to see so many others interested in doing so. the hard part fo rme is getting mynhusband on board!
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I am going to start Feb. 15 and not spend any money at all for the rest of February on anything other than groceries and regular bills. No trips to Ross…no binging on doughnuts at the store…NOTHING!!!
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We are going to not spend any money on anything other than groceries and bills starting Feb 15 until March 1st!
Thank you!!
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Okay, I’m gonna do this, I don’t know how… but I think I can try!
It’s the beginning of the school year here in NZ and that means a lot of extra expense, that and the car needed fixing etc. It never ends. So I think I need to end the spend, bite the bullet and just quit for a bit… (enough of the cheesy rhyming!)
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I am just now starting. We are 230.00 in the hole which really is not that bad I guess – but I don’t like it.
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I’m down!!! We paid off all our credit cards last year and working on paying off our house. People look at you crazy but, self discipline is the key.
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I have had this challenge for 12 months. I have written one check per month for the mortgage payment. The rest I have paid in cash. Food, fuel, electricity and water. I have learned to downsize my spending. I use the public library for all videos, DVD’s, magazines, newspapers and email. Using friends and creating a coupon clipping club so you can exchange coupons is a great idea, especially if you don’t buy the Sunday newspaper. YES, YOU CAN SAVE $$
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OK, I am so ON this. I can’t believe I am signing up for this but you have inspired me!
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I started not spending money in Jan 2009. I only get what I really need. It feels so good. My next challenge is to stop smoking–save big money there. Keep me in your thoughts it won’t be easy. I am 64 and on social security. I quit working so that the younger women could get the hours I was getting. They need the money more than I. I felt it was my way of helping. I plan to plant a garden this year, that excites me, I may give surplus food to a food pantry, that would help others.
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