The first challenge we will be embarking on is one that is going to get us on track to start saving money from the get go. We are all coming off a spending heavy month. With Christmas shopping, parties, eating out, etc, the month of December can start to really thin out your wallet or bulk up your credit card, depending on if you paid with cash or not. With that in mind, I thought it would be great to start 2017 off with a spending freeze. I did this a few years ago and last June. Each time it was a real hit. I love the opportunity it gives me to refocus my attention back onto keeping our finances organized and in the black.
Having a whole month dedicated to spending as little as possible, also enables you to put your spending in the spotlight and get you back in the budgeting frame of mind for the new year. I think every once in a while we need a refresher, to make sure we are spending money wisely.
This challenge is one that has little rules. The only rule is to save as much as you can. Everyone will save a different amount. We all have different budgets, that are personalized for the people living them. If you can not do a complete "No Spenduary" aka "Spending Freeze" then pick one thing you want to cut back on this month. Maybe it is those coffees you get from Starbucks in the morning. Cutting out Starbucks and going for a thermos full of homemade coffee, will save you tons! If you spend $2 a day on coffee and you forgo that expense this month. You would have saved $62 over 31 days! That's amazing! Remember that every penny adds up. Money not spend, is money saved.
This first challenge will be something we participate in all month long, but this week we will really be focusing on how to make do with what we have. I always find I start to recognize my urges to shop when I do a spending freeze. Most months I don't even think about it, but when I take the time to put a hold on the shopping, I see where my weaknesses are and what I need to work on....or resist...like those dang kindle books and ebay shopping ::wink wink::
Be sure to follow me on my channel, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily inspiration. Let's start 2017 off with a bang and save some dinero :)
XO Danielle
Love it! I'll be following along. I've got my family on board. Thanks for writing out the blog, as well as the video - vlogging doesn't work as well for me, but I will always be reading your posts!
ReplyDeleteYES! Great challenge! you can def do this!
ReplyDeleteXO Ellen from Ask Away
www.askawayblog.com
So excited for this! ... we recommitted in July to becoming debt free. over the holiday break we wrote out and talked more about it and we have a lofty goal of being debt free by the end of 2017 (except the house!! ... Baby #4 is coming in 6 weeks so I am still buying groceries this month to do some freezer cooking but sticking to the normal food budget!
ReplyDeleteEvery few months, we save receipts for every single purchase we make and then tally them up at the end of the month. It's amazing (and scary) to see how quickly the money adds up! I also find that I resist more purchases because I don't want to collect another receipt! LOL. We don't have specific budgetary limits for each category of spending, so that's our way of staying accountable and remaining mindful of living below our means. I love your challenges and am always so inspired by them!
ReplyDelete