We also went on our annual family vacation. We've been saving up for about 6 months for our vacation and were able to pay cash for it. Going away for the weekend was so fun! I love that family of mine! Hanging out and just being together as a family is the best! It was so fun! We went to LA and did a lot of fun stuff. I will share pictures soon...promise:)
After a month of all of these fun filled...and not so fun filled expenses (remember I said we had a car issue), our savings is a bit on the sad side. To build back up our savings and get our minds back into budgeting mode, Hubby and I are doing a spending freeze for the month of June.
We sat down together and came up with a budget of the month. We used a spreadsheet in Libre Office. We have vowed to not doing any extra spending. We are going back to the basics and using everything on hand. He is committing to not eating out and only using a monthly budgeted amount of $25 for his Dr. Pepper fix each day. He will bring his lunch to work each day.We had gotten out of this habit the past month and eating out really adds up fast!
I will not be doing any extra spending...which means no thrifting, clearance shopping, gift buying, etc. We will not being going out for family night or date night this month. We will be getting creative and doing fun stuff at home, with what we have on hand.
I am going to rein in my gas usage as well. We've been doing a lot of field trips for school, which is awesome....but I also know I need to pick and choose, so I don't spend so much in the mileage department.
I've cut our grocery budget in half, from what I normally buy and we will not be buying any toiletries. I also will not be buying any music.
So there are my do's and don'ts for the next month. I am excited for this challenge and to be able to get my mind set back into saving mode.
If you're craving a spending freeze like me, join my family during the month of June! I plan to update our journey here in full detail throughout the month, but join me on instagram @blissful_and_domestic & use the hashtag #Junespendingfreeze!
Do you have ideas for saving money & spending less? please share!
XO Danielle
I loved the No-spenduary challenge this January. I'm in! I'll use the tag on Facebook =)
ReplyDeleteWe will be participating out of necessity. My husband as of this past Saturday became unemployed. (he as the only one working.) We can pay the rent for another four weeks but that is it. We have each put so many resume's and applications in, that hopefully someone will call soon. In the mean time not a dime is to be wasted. I have made some jewelry too and we plan to set up a yard sale. so here is a June spending freeze, and praying I can still bring the sparkle and joy into our home during this event!
ReplyDeleteWe are in a similar situation. I"ll pray for your family. <3
DeleteI think a spending freeze is a great idea. Meal planning is one of the easiest ways to save money. Making the best use of items in the freezer and pantry can make your food budget go even further for a short period of time. See my 2 week plan here: http://www.thelostapron.com/2014/11/saving-for-christmas-spending.html
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. We are going on vacation in June, though and that makes a total spending freeze at that time impractical, but I bet I will be more than ready to join with you when we get back home! Thanks for your constant inspiration to make do with less!
ReplyDeleteI love looking up free local activities for our family, and following the free section on Kijiji or checking in with Freecycle. We found that the summer months sometimes let us pick free produce from neighbours or neighbourhood urban picking projects- great ways to make money go further. Good luck on your spending freeze!
ReplyDeleteHi Danielle I've decided to join you on this spending freeze!
ReplyDeleteWe're taking our annual family vacay in a couple months, so I'd like to freeze our spending to prepare. Please share your daily and weekly progress. Even if I can't match you, I'm always inspired to try!
ReplyDeleteI'm joining you! I was just thinking last night I want to try to save $100 a week to buy my daughter a plane ticket home, and she wants to do a service project for her church instead of graduation presents. She wants to put shelving in the clothing closet. Right now everything is piled on the floor. Thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteI NEED to do this myself. we're having lots of expenditures already planned but I'm going to do a modified so we don't go crazy on vacation!
ReplyDeleteI have been really interested in all that you do. Do you have any suggestions on saving on things like toilet paper, paper towels, hygiene items and also trash bags and dish washer tabs?
ReplyDeleteThanks