Comments on: Post No Spend Challenge Confessions

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:31:16 +0000

This is a great idea! We actually did this last October. Was it easy? Not really. It took a lot of effort to not spend. But, it really showed us how much we could save at the end of the month. That feels good! I think we may have to implement this a few times a year!

By: JOY

JOY — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Found the challenge too late – but I’m going to start it on my own. Love It! Thanks for the great idea!

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:11:00 +0000

I am glad you stood up for yourself Amy! I can’t believe people accused you of any part of the economy-that is crazy!!! My thoughts- this country needed a wake up call on spending! It angers me when society tells us we need to spend more to get out of this economical mess! That makes no sense to me. Please know you have my support and many others for all your work on helping us and sharing ways to live wisely and financially frugal.

By: Diane at Kidoozy

Diane at Kidoozy — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Thanks for sharing what you learned. I didn’t do the challenge but I was more conscious of where and when I spend each month, and it was enlightening.

By: Coco

Coco — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0000

When you started "no spend challenge" last month, I was curious. But being new to couponing and having so much fun scoring great deals (& seeing amazed faces of cashiers), I was just not ready.

Being inspired so much by you and those who joined you, however, I decided to do the (modified) challenge (I will buy fresh (& maybe frozen) vegetables only) this month.

I am surprised by the criticism that frugal spending negatively affects economy. I am pretty sure that for our grandparents or great grandparents, no-spend challenge was a norm, rather than a "challenge." They would be scandalized as well if they were criticized for their behaviors 100 years ago. Also, wasn't excessive lending and borrowing one of the major factors we are in this mess?

Thank you again for your insightful and honest post. I am looking forward to having fun doing "no spend challenge" as much as you did.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:03:00 +0000

Amy I greatly appreciated your No Spend Challenge mainly because it made me take a moment and think about my spending habits every time I was out shopping. No I did not actually do the challenge, but I did relize my family wastes a ton of money on things that are really not worth it. The biggest thing is going out to eat. With another soccer season starting and two kids with differnt schedules it is hard to resist hitting a fast food place on the way home. But I realize if I plan for those days with simple meals I don’t feel the need to go out to eat. Since finding your blog I have started planning meals, cooking at home and have become aware that I can control my spending. I hope to get my family out of debt soon. I agree with some of the posts here that we need to all become debt free and start living within our means. I think that will help our economy the most in the long run. Thanks again for all your hard work!

By: michellewegner

michellewegner — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:26:00 +0000

I have stopped myself from binge shopping two or three times since you ended your "No Spend Challenge." Because you did this, it has caused me to stop in my tracks and ask myself what is really important, and what do I REALLY need or not need.

I think consumerism is the god of our century, and I thank you for being one of the ones to stand up and say enough is enough.

Imagine if everyone would just take one month out of their entire lives to do what you did and give all the money they did not spend to someone who really had a great need. Imagine what difference we could make in the world...

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:03:00 +0000

Amy, I just want to say THANKS for doing this. I don’t think it was irresponsible at all. To the contrary, I think it was inspirational and encouraging, just like your blog is every day. You’re a real mom with real challenges and you face each of them with such a great attitude. Your outlook has such a positive influence on me, and I appreciate it so much.

I didn’t join you on the no spend challenge because we have a new baby coming in May and I am in preparation mode. However, the challenge has really encouraged me to question *every* spending decision and more often than not I’m saying no. You have done a great job of showing that happiness and fulfillment doesn’t have to cost money….as well as showing us great ways to enjoy what we already have!! THANK YOU!

By: Hoosier Homemade

Hoosier Homemade — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:43:00 +0000

I would absolutely not apologize for your efforts! I think you did great! Having the No Spend Challenge in place gave me a good excuse to say no to my boys, which is always difficult for me.

By: becca

becca — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:24:00 +0000

Thank you for your challenge, and for blogging about it daily for us to see! I am inspired and I really want to do this. My husband is the kind that thinks a reward needs to come at the end of the “challenge”. He said it’s not really a challenge without a reward. When I told him what you were able to do with the money you saved at the end, he then realized that was the reward! I think we might be moving closer to trying this for at least a couple of weeks. It has inspired me that I don’t need to look at the Garanimals every time I go to Wal Mart now. Our son doesn’t need a new cute shirt every trip to Wal Mart. He doesn’t need a new sippy cup every time either. Those were my two biggest problems. We also don’t need stuff from the Dollar Spot at Target every trip either! So, I have stopped those and we already see improvement there. We also see improvement on our “eating lunch out at work”. I pack lunches, but if we so choose to eat out with friends, we have to use our “allowance” of $20. a week. We get it in cash and once it’s gone, it’s gone. We cannot use the debit card for any out to eat spending. Those two things have helped alot and I hope to make even more progress in this system of saving money, spending less, and using those coupons! Oh, and shopping at Aldi, because I love me some Aldi!!!