No-Spend Challenge Complete!

It's finally over!  The 30 Day No-Spend Challenge is complete!  I was really dragging there by the end, but here's my 30 day, budget breakdown:

Average monthly gas usage - $108.42
Gas usage during NSC - $109.09
No savings here, but just a few cents below average: -$0.67.

Average monthly food purchases - $324.28
Food purchases during NSC - $156.93
I was able to cut my food costs by over half, saving $167.35!

Average monthly "fun money" - $47
Fun money spent during NSC - $17.15
I did break the eating out rule twice, but I was still able to stay way below my monthly average and saved $29.85.

Savings by simply not buying random things during NSC - $72

This brings my total savings during the 30 Day No-Spend Challenge to $268.53!

Photo Credit

I'm very happy with that end total.  It is a surprising amount for me.  I've always thought of myself as a pretty thrifty person, but this challenge taught me exactly how thrifty I could be.  If I kept my spending this tight for a whole year, I'd save over $3,200!  Craziness!  

If I were going to try to do this challenge more often, I think a more reasonable and sustainable time frame for me would be 15 days each month.  By only strictly restricting my spending half of the month, I could still feel like I could live a normal life while still saving some money.  I've heard of people going for a 6 month+ No-Spend Challenge!  I commend them wholeheartedly, but I've got to have a little wiggle room.  I like obscure food ingredients and eating at new restaurants way too much to go without them for a half a year.  

For those of you who tackled this challenge as well, how did it go?  Did you save as much as you thought you would?  Did you surprise yourself?  Thank you for joining me on this journey.  Stay tuned for more budget tips and kitchen tricks.  

Update - Day 20 on No-Spend Challenge

Greetings.  So I totally fell off the wagon on Saturday, but it wasn't a long fall.  I mentioned a few days ago that I made plans to spend the day in Indy, and I was concerned about breaking the No-Spend rules.  I did end up breaking a few:
 - Gas to get to and from Indy ~$7.50
 - Lunch $7.40
 - Frivolous fabric buy $2
 - Donation to Buddhist center $2

I don't regret spending a single cent because my cousin and I had a great time.
Our day began at the Indiana Buddhist Center.  Neither of us had ever been to a Buddhist center before, and we came for a meditation session.  We were treated to butter and milk tea and an impromptu teaching by Hlarampa Geshe Jinpa Sonam.  It was an honor to be there.

After a great meditation, we headed to Irvington for lunch at one of the best pizza places in Indy, Jockamo's.  Ashley had never been to Broad Ripple before, so we spent the rest of the afternoon walking around BR window shopping, walking the Monon, perusing the Indianapolis Art Center, and pining for ice cream.  We had very good self control though and only splurged on lunch.  

Day 15 - Half Way There

We made it half way!  15 days into the 30 Day No-Spend Challenge, and I'm not sure about you, but I'm feeling the struggle now.

I've made two plans with friends for this weekend.  Accommodating friends and this budgeting game has got me scratching my head.  I'm packing a picnic dinner for Friday evening to be enjoyed during an outdoor symphony - which I can get everyone into for free.  That's a nice bonus.

Saturday will be harder because I'll be taking my cousin around Indy, and who wants to pack a lunch when there are so many delicious restaurants around!?  The conundrum!

There have also been instances where I've wanted to get frivolous with the ingredients I have at home.  I've stopped myself quite a few times from making cookies, brownies, or something else sweet.  We don't really need these, and it would be sort of wasteful when that flour could be used in something more nutritious, like bread.

But...I have made a mug cake or two to subdue my raging sweet tooth.  It's only a single serving and that's how I've justified it.  My go-to mug cake comes from Not Quite Nigella's blog, and you can find the recipe here.

This photo comes from Table For Two's blog.  Aaaand I'm making their mug cake recipe right now.  It's been one of those days.  How do you cope with stressful days and a tight budget?

Kitchen Tip - Regrowing Your Scallions

Whenever I buy green onions at the store, I think of them as a tiny investment.  They are a wonderful cut-&-come-again food that can easily be grown inside.  I bought some recently and planted them so I can have perpetual onion-y goodness in my windowsill.  

They are extremely low maintenance plants to regrow.  When you are buying them, look for the bunch with the longest roots.  Use the green parts as you would, but reserve the bottom two inches to plant into potting mix or compost enhanced soil.  Keep a little of the stalk above the soil level - about half an inch.  Water it regularly, don't let the soil dry out completely, and you're on your way to your second cutting of green onions!

Day 10 Update + First World Problems

So far in the first third of the No-Spend Challenge, there have been no grocery shopping binges, no road trips or outings, no U-Pick berry picking, or the like for me.  And I'm fine with that.  I've liked getting creative with the ingredients that I have on hand and/or eating more simply.

The electric toothbrush decided to die this week as well.  It's back to the free, manual toothbrushes from the dentist's office now.  And that's fine too.

I ran out of chili powder, but found that I had all of the components to assemble my own, and so I did.

$251 total savings in 10 days.

Wrangling with the "need" for instant gratification and buyer's high has been a good learning tool.  Most of us in this modern world are incredibly spoiled.  We can so easily and quickly get what we want, and we forget how very little we really need.

Please, please forgive me for posting a link to a horrible song related to this topic, but it's so true.

Photo credit

What are your thoughts?  I hope that I haven't offended anyone, but if I did, it's for your own good.  How have you been going on this challenge?  Is it a struggle or does it lighten your burden?  

First Trip to the Grocery Store on the No-Spend Challenge

Food is our highest expense at the moment.  We invest in good health by eating well and buying good, fresh food.  And it doesn't help my budget that grocery stores and farmers markets are my happy place.  I was avoiding shopping for groceries because I can easily get carried away.

This trip was a success for the most part.  I spent half of the amount of money that I would have normally, and I mostly stuck to the items on my list.  It is so easy for me to overbuy fruits, vegetables, and baking goods.

In fact, I recently took a count of all of the different types of sweeteners I have.  Sweeteners - not sweets.  Nine.  The number is nine!

Photo Credit

I have 4 of the ones shown above and FIVE more.  This is not counting dates, raisins, or chocolate.  I even have Golden Syrup for the love of Pete. 

So needless to say I'm pretty well covered as far as shelf-stable foods go, but it was the fresh veggies that I was missing.  And tortillas.  And hot sauce.  And probiotic drink....  I'm not going to beat myself up for buying way to many bananas, tomatoes, and bell peppers.  There could be worse things to spend money on.  

Any tips for sticking to your grocery list without going crazy?





New to the No-Spend Challenge?  Click here and here.

Day 5 Update + Strawberry Basil Smoothie Recipe

Hello again.  I hope that you've found benefit in these first few days of the 30-Day No-Spend Challenge.  I've kept track of the things that I would have purchased normally had I not begun this thrifty game.

The total amount of money I've saved so far is about $153.  Just in five days.  I'm a bit amazed and perplexed simultaneously.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this.  How has it been for you?  Has it been difficult?

Yesterday I mentioned green smoothies.  They are an amazing way to get greens into your system.  I've been playing with flavors for about a month now.  I've even gotten a five year old to drink them greedily.  The one I blitzed today is absolutely delicious, refreshing, and tastes like summer.  I'll be posting more green smoothie recipes along the way.  Let me know how you like it.

Photo Credit

Strawberry Basil Smoothie

- handful frozen strawberries
- handful chopped cantaloupe
- 1/2 handful chopped pineapple
- 1/4 cup fresh basil (or more to taste)
- juice from half of a small lemon (or more to taste)
- 1 tsp. ground flax seeds (optional)
- 1/2 cup water or more to help blend

Throw everything in your blender and blend.  Taste to see if it has enough basil and lemon juice.  Blend again and enjoy.

Makes 1 smoothie

Cheap Travel Attempt and Fail

Sooo...Megabus is a really great way to get from big city to big city on the cheap.  The kicker is that you need to book your tickets early and/or be willing to get dropped off at the bus stop at scary hours of the night/morning.  You have to get your tickets immediately when you see a great deal.  And there are some really great deals - like $2 round trip great deals.  If you can score travel bargains this cheap, I wouldn't even consider it breaking any No-Spend rules, but I wasn't fast enough this time.

My two best college friends live in Chicago.  

One of them is expecting her first baby (Natalie, in the middle), and I would love to be there for her baby shower.  I waited an hour or two too long to buy the bus tickets and the price SOARED.  So, I'll be booking my tickets to see her in December after her baby has arrived - waaay in advance.   Luckily she'll be having a shower in her home town as well, which is much closer and without all the insane traffic.

About those rules...

It didn't occur to me until today that yesterday when I mentioned the 30 Day No-Spend Challenge, I didn't set you up with any ground rules.  Slightly important...  The video that inspired my attempt at this challenge is one by Talk Raw.  I like Rachel's thoughtful rules as well as her reasons for promoting this challenge.  She recited one of my favorite quotes, "Necessity is the mother of invention."  I believe in this statement wholeheartedly.  It is one of the truest statements that I know.  

Photo Credit - Mummy Central

Below is a list of rules that are based from Rachel's suggestions.  I've added on a few to get more specific.  These rules are more like guidelines or suggestions.  You may pick the ones that work best for you, but try to push yourself.  You will find that you are more adaptable than you think.  

1.  No stockpiling allowed.  Begin where you are right now.

2.  Do pay your usual monthly bills: mortgage/rent, utilities, internet/phone, childcare, loan payments, credit card bills, etc.  Not paying those could cause you to lose even more money.  That is not the objective here. 

3.  You may buy gas for essential transportation, but no road trips or frivolous outings.  Try biking or walking more to cut down on gas usage.  

4.  The Food: No eating out or take out.  Cooking at home is so much more economical.  Pack your lunches.  Try to use the food you have at home first before going out to buy more.  This calls for some googling, brainstorming, and creativity which can lead to happy accidents and new favorite meals.  

5.  Toiletries & Cleaning Products:  Only buy the absolute necessities or try making your own with the ingredients that you already have on hand.  The uses of baking soda and vinegar are seemingly infinite.  I will post more about this subject in the near future.  

6.  No buying clothes, shoes, home goods, or furniture.  Borrowing, trading, and bartering is encouraged.  

7.  No Starbucks.  Make coffee at home instead for pennies and I'm not talking Keurig here.

8.  Only free entertainment allowed.  No going to the theater, to a game, to a theme park unless it's free.  Keep an eye out for free events in your city, go for a hike, pack a picnic, fill a time capsule, make up your own treasure hunt complete with treasure map.... 

9.  No impulse buys in general.  This includes but is not limited to make-up, magazines, gum, candy, vending machine snacks and sodas, etc.  Example: when my humble chocolate stash runs out, I won't be buying more until the 30 days have passed.  Some may argue that chocolate is a necessity - and some days it totally is - but unless you are trapped on a desert island with the option of chocolate or grass, chocolate isn't vital.  And when I run out of cereal, crackers, and graham crackers (my go-to snacks for their magnificent crunch factor), I won't be buying more.  I only eat them when I want something sweet or salty and need to crunch on something, not usually because I'm hungry.  I will deal with my psychological need to crunch when that day comes.  

To help stay motivated, keep track of how much money you would have spent so that you can see tangible figures of how much you are saving.  

Let me know your thoughts on these "rules" and if you have any additional rule suggestions.  
Baby steps is walking none the less.  :)

Greetings! Welcome. I offer you a challenge.

Hello stumblers upon, passers by, et al.  My name is Sarah.

I don't know about you, but I have an itch.  An itch, a stir, an insatiable buzzing that gives me the sensation that something is amiss.

I wasn't going to write a blog.  I've blogged before.  I wrote loyally in a journal for 10 years and trickled off my writing for another three.  I even had a sweet gig as a food writer for a couple of years.  As frustrating as writing can be at times, it has been the most consistent form of self expression throughout my life.  And so it goes again.

I will elaborate as the pages turn, but let's start here - on a physical level, monetarily speaking.

I came across an alluring challenge on YouTube entitled the 30 Day No-Spend Challenge.  Money is not everything, being the root of all evil and such, but it weighs heavily on us none the less.  How many decisions do you make that relate to or stem from money?  It's socially ingrained in us to want more, "need' more, more and more and more.  Not just money, but stuff.  All kinds of stuff.  Stuff that we didn't even know that we "wanted".  How do you know if you really want something?  Is it even a good thing to want?

Let's journey together, beginning with money, to figure out how to use less of it whilst living a full and happy life.  Simplicity is the answer.  Let's walk towards simplicity together, at our own pace, in our own time.  Together.  Better yet, let's make a game of it.

I'll show and tell first.

Today was my first no-spend day.  My ever-aching sweet tooth began to pulsate after lunch and the many hours following.  What I wanted was some chocolate.  A good substantial chunk of chocolate.  But I reminded myself that this was Day 1.  So I fixed a cup of tea with sugar and didn't spend a cent.

Another needless yet delicious item I've been craving for a few days now is halva, a sesame seed or sunflower seed based block of sugary, Russian goodness.

This lovely photo was taken by Still Served Warm.  Their description of this unusual treat is spot on.  The only flavor comparison that I can match to halva is peanut brittle with added subtle, warm spices.  The texture is hard to describe, but I'll go.  It's crumbly, almost like a dry paste that dissolves into a nutty grit on the tongue.  It's sweet and nutty and RICH.  Sometimes dotted with other nuts and dried fruit.  My Estonian friend turned me on to it.  Evil woman.

So no chocolate or halva purchases for me today or for the next 29 days.  My wallet and my body probably thank me for it.

Let's do this again tomorrow.  Let me know how you go.  Good luck and thanks for keeping me honest.