317 Zephaniah Way

Oct. 1, 2008

Spending Freeze Challenge

I have been inspired to challenge myself to a spending freeze. My inspiration comes from Julie who wrote a great post on being frugal, my sister-in-law, Amanda, who brought up the idea of doing a spending freeze, and the simple fact that Tom will be demoted to First Officer again in November due to Comair furloughing again.

I want to open this challenge up to anyone who is feeling the need to cut back on their spending...or is just up for a good ol' challenge!

Here's how I plan to tackle my Spending Freeze Challenge:

Eat from my pantry. This is actually fun to do because it forces me to be creative with my cooking. Often my kids love my creations...that's a good thing.
Don't go into a store/restaurant unless it is absolutely necessary.
Make from homemade when ever possible...food, house cleaners, etc.
If I see something I think would be really helpful to me, write it on a list to buy next month. See if I still feel this way next month.
Barter/trade/borrow
Track how much I am spending on a written log.
Research more frugal websites, books, etc.
Spending Freeze Challenge dates: October 1 - October 31

So what do you say? Are you in? I am hoping to post any great websites and books I come across. Feel free to leave a comment with any great frugal sites and/or books that you know of.

Here are two articles that I got some of my ideas from:

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Comments

Sep. 29, 2008 - Awesome Idea!

Posted by OldSchoolMarm

I'm in! We have cut way back on trips to town (appr. 25 miles away), so after I finish my comment here I'm emailing my hubby what we need from the store so he can pick it up on the way home from work. I'm really going to be doing this much more often as he doesn't mind and it saves us the trip and gas money. Besides when we have to go anywhere on a school day it makes the day so fragmented and we don't seem to get as much done.
Blessings, Julie

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Sep. 29, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Sounds like a great idea to me. I'm in!

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Oct. 1, 2008 - Spending Freeze

Posted by Precious1

Great Ideas! We've basically set up a plan similar to yours. Although with some of mine driving to work and to the college we have added things like carpooling and if I need something it is a phone call away rather than me running an extra trip if someone else is going to be going past the grocery store or near one anyway. This has been a big help. We do have many computers on "all day" because of doing some online schooling but I have wrote up time limits for after school hours to get them all off.
I plan to implement a night of candles. Remember the storm that took our electric out for days? Well, I told my husband that maybe we should have a night a month as a reminder. In the winter when we have the fireplace going we often turn the lights out or when the Christmas tree is lit and it gives such a warm feeling (although I must say I like knowing that I can flip a switch if I needed to). Anyway, when the electric was out we read by candlelite, listened to Odyessy tapes and talked.

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Oct. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by PowerlineProductions

Awesome idea! I am inspired! I have a blog here too now!

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Hello and welcome to my place! I am a homeschooling mom of four spunky, rarely quiet, fun kids ages 11, 9, 6, and 3. We are traveling down this winding road of living and learning...what an adventure! I find great encouragement from Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing." I think Zephaniah 3:17 perfectly sums up who God is and how He feels about each of us. I never want to move away from the Truth this verse speaks…so I’ve made it my permanent address.
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