Comments on: Day 23) The Magic of No-Spend Days http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/ Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:15:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Financial Tracking Takeaways http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/#comment-39702 Financial Tracking Takeaways Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:04:36 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1327#comment-39702 [...] two days. I like being on top of things much more than I’d anticipated. I like recognizing no-spend days. I like planning our spending with debt snowflakes in mind. I’m much more excited about our [...] [...] two days. I like being on top of things much more than I’d anticipated. I like recognizing no-spend days. I like planning our spending with debt snowflakes in mind. I’m much more excited about our [...]

]]> By: Diane http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/#comment-39640 Diane Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:51:25 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1327#comment-39640 Laura - no tea and no books for a whole year? This is sounding rough... I've been working at drinking more water for some time. Soft drinks are a special treat on pizza night or with a burger - once a week or so. BUT I love my hot tea with milk & sugar in the morning. I don't think I would give that up. I love books too, & have tried to use the library more. However, certain special-interest books are not available & I use them for reference & to re-read, so I buy those (mostly on dog behavior & training). Good luck with your 2009 challenges - you're certainly a determined woman! Laura – no tea and no books for a whole year? This is sounding rough…

I’ve been working at drinking more water for some time. Soft drinks are a special treat on pizza night or with a burger – once a week or so. BUT I love my hot tea with milk & sugar in the morning. I don’t think I would give that up.

I love books too, & have tried to use the library more. However, certain special-interest books are not available & I use them for reference & to re-read, so I buy those (mostly on dog behavior & training).

Good luck with your 2009 challenges – you’re certainly a determined woman!

]]> By: Laura in Atlanta http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/#comment-39626 Laura in Atlanta Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:50:20 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1327#comment-39626 Challenges are fun, Diane . . . so good luck! I'm currently challenging myself to go one month drinking water only. Period. No coffee, no tea . . . water only. After a few days of caffenine withdrawal ;-), I've been doing good! With my No Spending Challenge, it wasnt to 'prove' anything, it was more of a 'why did I buy this taco today, when I have perfectly good food at home to eat' . . . it was more of a challenge to 'use up' what I already had. So, I actually didn't prepare for the challenge, I just started one day with no spending, and kept it up until I was down to Pickles, mustard and olives. ;-) My recent challenge? . . . and this is tough for me - buying NO books in 2009. Period. I am an extremely avid reader and I read upwards of 100 books a year, mostly nonfiction and history. So, i would on average buy 2 new books a month and even more in used book stores. This year? 2009? Nope, baby! Library and borrowing from friends, familty is the way to go! Not sure how long I will last (it's only February ;-)) but so far, so good! Challenges are fun, Diane . . . so good luck! I’m currently challenging myself to go one month drinking water only. Period. No coffee, no tea . . . water only. After a few days of caffenine withdrawal ;-) , I’ve been doing good!

With my No Spending Challenge, it wasnt to ‘prove’ anything, it was more of a ‘why did I buy this taco today, when I have perfectly good food at home to eat’ . . . it was more of a challenge to ‘use up’ what I already had. So, I actually didn’t prepare for the challenge, I just started one day with no spending, and kept it up until I was down to Pickles, mustard and olives. ;-)

My recent challenge? . . . and this is tough for me – buying NO books in 2009. Period. I am an extremely avid reader and I read upwards of 100 books a year, mostly nonfiction and history. So, i would on average buy 2 new books a month and even more in used book stores. This year? 2009? Nope, baby! Library and borrowing from friends, familty is the way to go! Not sure how long I will last (it’s only February ;-) ) but so far, so good!

]]> By: Diane http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/#comment-39599 Diane Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:56:38 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1327#comment-39599 LOL Laura - well, that explains it! That would be quite a challenge Since I have 2 sons - 1 in high school & 1 in college - I would have to exempt them, as well as the dog and the cat... When it comes to kids, even older ones, something unexpected always comes up. As for the animals, I could be sure to stock up on supplies in advance, but what would that prove? I guess I would consider groceries, medicine, gas & pet food to be necessities. At some point I might consider trying to do a month with no "unplanned" spending for anything optional. LOL Laura – well, that explains it! That would be quite a challenge

Since I have 2 sons – 1 in high school & 1 in college – I would have to exempt them, as well as the dog and the cat… When it comes to kids, even older ones, something unexpected always comes up.

As for the animals, I could be sure to stock up on supplies in advance, but what would that prove?

I guess I would consider groceries, medicine, gas & pet food to be necessities.

At some point I might consider trying to do a month with no “unplanned” spending for anything optional.

]]> By: Roger http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/#comment-39592 Roger Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:44:26 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1327#comment-39592 It is a great feeling. I remember, when I kept a log of all my credit card purchases (which I'll have to start doing again), it was always fun to see how long it was since I last spent any money, and to see if I could break that streak next time. Something to look forward to when I try this. It is a great feeling. I remember, when I kept a log of all my credit card purchases (which I’ll have to start doing again), it was always fun to see how long it was since I last spent any money, and to see if I could break that streak next time. Something to look forward to when I try this.

]]> By: Laura in Atlanta http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/#comment-39576 Laura in Atlanta Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:27:57 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1327#comment-39576 My 28 days . . . was a result of a challenge from a friend who had gone 31 days and bought ONLY gasoline (once) and cat food. She said her cat was not subject to the challenge, so buying cat food was okay. But yah. My 28 days was HARD. I got down to nothing to eat. Seriously, my fridge had mustard and pickles and olives. My 28 days . . . was a result of a challenge from a friend who had gone 31 days and bought ONLY gasoline (once) and cat food.

She said her cat was not subject to the challenge, so buying cat food was okay.

But yah. My 28 days was HARD. I got down to nothing to eat. Seriously, my fridge had mustard and pickles and olives.

]]> By: Ron http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/#comment-39547 Ron Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:20:37 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1327#comment-39547 I've gone as much as six weeks without spending anything but that was in college, in a dorm, with a meal card! I regularly can go without spending today but that's mostly because I have a company car and a company credit card. We've hit three no spending days so far this month personally though! I’ve gone as much as six weeks without spending anything but that was in college, in a dorm, with a meal card!

I regularly can go without spending today but that’s mostly because I have a company car and a company credit card. We’ve hit three no spending days so far this month personally though!

]]> By: Diane http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/#comment-39521 Diane Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:07:42 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1327#comment-39521 Laura - 28 Days in a row? Wow! I'm not sure how you did that. It would definitely take some planning ahead for me! Surely something unexpected would come up in 28 days... I'm happy with 11 in a month so far and planning on a few more by the end of the month. Laura – 28 Days in a row? Wow! I’m not sure how you did that. It would definitely take some planning ahead for me! Surely something unexpected would come up in 28 days…

I’m happy with 11 in a month so far and planning on a few more by the end of the month.

]]> By: Laura in Atlanta http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/#comment-39511 Laura in Atlanta Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:29:36 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1327#comment-39511 i love love love tracking NSDs . . . such fun and yes, they really do stop you from a lot of impulse spending!!!! The longest I went was 28 NSDs in a row. And that was of ANY KIND spending. I'd love to do that again! i love love love tracking NSDs . . . such fun and yes, they really do stop you from a lot of impulse spending!!!!

The longest I went was 28 NSDs in a row. And that was of ANY KIND spending. I’d love to do that again!

]]> By: Diane http://financefreelancelife.com/2009/02/23/the-magic-of-no-spend-days/#comment-39499 Diane Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:08:29 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/?p=1327#comment-39499 So far this month I've had 11 'no spend' days! And 3 of the days I did spend were only prescriptions. That's more than usual because my son had the flu early in the month & I had to get meds 2 days in a row. Keep in mind I don't leave the house every day, because I work at home, so my 'spend' days are always grouped around errands. I agree that necessary spending (like groceries or meds) doesn't feel like de-railing the NSD process. But I DO think twice before spending without real need, if it will make an NSD into a spend day! "Magic" is the word for the NSDs! I've never counted them up before, and it really is motivating to see the number going up... I'm loving it! :-) Think I'll start a new page in my excel workbook to track NSDs each month - LOL! So far this month I’ve had 11 ‘no spend’ days! And 3 of the days I did spend were only prescriptions. That’s more than usual because my son had the flu early in the month & I had to get meds 2 days in a row.

Keep in mind I don’t leave the house every day, because I work at home, so my ’spend’ days are always grouped around errands.

I agree that necessary spending (like groceries or meds) doesn’t feel like de-railing the NSD process. But I DO think twice before spending without real need, if it will make an NSD into a spend day!

“Magic” is the word for the NSDs! I’ve never counted them up before, and it really is motivating to see the number going up… I’m loving it! :-)

Think I’ll start a new page in my excel workbook to track NSDs each month – LOL!

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