Saturday, January 17, 2009

No Spend Challenge: Week Two



I wish I had posted this yesterday instead of today because things were going really well until then.

Here's the day by day breakdown.

Saturday:
-0-
Well, not exactly true, but I only bought groceries and groceries don't count. Plus, I did really well at sticking to my list and using coupons.

Sunday:
-0- It's easy to not spend money at church and at home. (smile)

Monday:
-0- Snow day! Stayed home all day in our pjs! (Bliss)

Tuesday:
$1.85 Mailed a package to a friend in Arkansas. (Steph, I'm mailing yours in February b/c it's going to cost more than $1.85.)

Wednesday:
-0- I was going to meet Jamie for coffee at Starbucks (still have a gift card balance!) but we ended up having coffee at her house instead. 

See? I'm doing so good. $1.85 
(Isn't there some verse about pride going before a fall?)(grin)

Thursday:
$25 John and I met our pastor for lunch--our treat--at Qdoba. We're trying to get connected at our new church and we've been trying to get together with him for awhile. It worked out we could all meet on this day and lunch was the best option. He's a great guy. He answered all of our questions, got to know us a little more, and I left feeling very encouraged and excited about this leg of our faith journey.

Friday:
$5 for Bunco. We play for money, and we each throw $5 into the pot. I tied for most wins last night and we decided to split the prize so I walked away with my original $5 plus $5 more. Nice. 

I was feeling all smug at one point yesterday thinking that I was doing really well with my spending. 

In the middle of Bunco I realized that I forgot all about two big things. John took the kids out for dinner...and to the movies last night. I didn't ask him for a total, but it was probably at least $40. Granted I needed them out of the house for a few hours, but I didn't think about the extra expense.

So...not as great a week as I'd hoped...but still not too bad. This challenge is proving to be challenging indeed!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here's how I see it. Money John spends doesn't count. So that nixes the $40 and the $25 pastor lunch (which is really taking care of God's servant which we're commanded to do, so that doesn't count because it's like tithing....)

That leaves Bunco - which you MADE money at - and then subtract the $1.85 from your $5 win, and you actually made $3.15.

Don't you feel pretty good about yourself now?

Rae said...

FABULOUS job, Meredith!! I haven't totaled up my week yet....but I know this week was better than last BUT not as good as yours!

Brenda said...

I think you did great! Got your money back plus with Bunco. Don't be too hard on yourself. It's a fun challenge that's got everyone thinking how to cut back.
God bless,
Brenda

Jacquie said...

Still, all in all, that's not too bad!!

Stephanie Kay said...

You did great this week! Changing your thinking about money and spending is hard work. It doesn't happen overnight. The biggest improvement I see for this week is you didn't have any impulse shopping. The things you spent money on were known ahead of time OR supported goals that you have for yourself and family (friendship - bunco, connecting/relationship - lunch with pastor). That's big! I think you did a great job!

I've been complaining about how I can't seem to stay within my grocery budget...groceries prices are going up...whine. whine. whine. The thought occurred to me to spend the next couple of months tracking the groceries I buy that have little to no nutritional value. (tortilla chips, cake mixes, cokes, lemonade mix, tea, etc.) It'll be easy to do in my budgeting software. I'm hoping two things will happen - 1. I'll stay within budget as I become more conscious of my decision making. 2. We'll eat healthier as I buy less non-nutritional food.

We'll see how it goes.

Amber said...

I think you are doing great, Mer.

Don't be hard on yourself.....

On another note...I'm so happy for you guys that you have found a church that you are loving. That is great!!!!

Gretchen said...

Oh, lunch at Qdoba with pastor and only $25.00? That's not bad. Plus, it's an investment. :) See how I rationalized that for you. Perhaps i'm not a good influence. But honestly, I think your extra vigilance and efforts are really paying off. You're definitely having a trickle down effect, girl. I saved $30 last week in coupons. Big is beside himself. Doesn't know who moved in with my skin on.

Stephanie @ My Answered Prayer said...

I can rationalize it all for you too if you'd like. You are doing great! Me not so great. When I send your package I'm going to include $$ for shipping the outfit for A. I just haven't made time to send yours but need to soon.

Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt said...

Hey, well (wink, wink) HE spent the money, and not YOU. :)

Karla Porter Archer said...

i think this is great. i'm going to try to follow your lead.

xoxo~K

Michele said...

Good job!!! I'm proud of you. I didn't do as well this week as I did last week. I want you to know though you have really inspired me to cook more meals at home and only eat out once a month. I've even convinced Jon to play along with me (he loves to eat out).

My biggest purchase this week was fabric. I bought some used Parson's chair for my dining room after Christmas, and I need to recover them. Decorator fabric was on sale at Joannes for 50% off and I had a 10% off coupon. I just had to to take advantage of it!!

You're doing a great job though. Keep up the good work. January will be over before you know it!

Jackie said...

I agree with Moriah. ;)

And I think you're doing a fabulous job...you're right...I think this is much harder to actually do than it sounds.

Megan L Hutchings said...

Not that my opinion matters, but I think you are doing AMAZING ;)!!!

Megan L Hutchings said...

Not that my opinion matters, but I think you are doing AMAZING ;)!!!