May frugals/no-spend days

[ApatheticNoMore]

Well $1200 later, we are living within the benevolent moat of soil saturated with pesticides surrounding our house. But not to worry, it's only toxic for termites and safe for people and pets.
I'm thinking no vegetable garden this year.

I think there are less toxic ways to get rid of termites now, apparently is says you can do it with heat or freezing and possibly other methods. I dont' know if any of them are as effective but non-pesticide termite removal would be my first thing to research if I owned a house and it had termites (the second of which isnt' true, because the first isn't ). But that doesnt' help you now. Oh I doubt any way of getting rid of termites is "no spend".

[lucas]

Hi there rosa!

termites.. what a nightmare... no matter how much we may love mother nature, she is also a cruel bitch sometimes... I hope you're not too stressed...

[Stella]

I did have a no spend day today. I was going to buy some picture frames, but I am too tired. I would have had a no spend day yesterday but I had to pick up $2 worth of photos from Walgreens for a school project.

I was so, so tempted to order pizza tonight. My spring allergies kept me up a lot last night and Zach went to do some electrical work today on our friends' DIY kitchen remodel. These are the friends who always help us when we need babysitting, so he is doing it for free. He didn't get home until 7:00 and I was really tired. It would have been easy to just call it a Mothers Day present to myself. Instead I cooked up some sausages and peppers. It tasted just fine.

[lucas]

Well done Stella for not making that pizza purchase! it's funny, the more I work on being frugal, the more I realize that I need to plan ahead in order not to save money... sometimes circumstances intervene - like if something wackly happens at work and I have to stay all evening - and it is difficult to stay 'spend-free'.... of course, I do have the option of just going hungry, but i'm not quite prepared to go to the length of starving myself... by the same token, sometimes circumstances change in unforeseen ways and I find there's no need to spend money (like when I went for dinner the other night and my cousin insisted on paying the bill).... anyway, I'm on course for another no-spend today... the first of this week...

i hope you're all having a nice monday!

[lucas]

Hello simple friends,

Well, I managed to go 'spend-free' yesterday, and I'm pretty sure I'll manage the same today (will be staggering straight home from the office, without much reason to spend), so that will take me up to four no-spend days so far this month...

Hugs,
Lucas

[lucas]

Well, laundry and an overwhelming craving for strong fresh coffee meant some money leakage from my wallet today... my no-spend day count for May remains at 4 days so far...

[lucas]

Hello my minimalist friends,

I'm glad to say today was my fifth no-spend day this month... it's reassuring to see that bad spending habits can be changed when you put your mind to it... im still aiming to rack up 12 in May altogether.... when I've worked though my accounts, I realized that I spend an incredible amount of money just on coffee each month and year... the daily trip to the cafe on the way to work - it all builds up - especially living in new york and being easily tempted by gourmet $5 coffees... not this week! living and learning... I hope you're all well...

Total no spend days so far in May: 5

Hugs,
Lucas

[Teacher Terry]

I am having an entire no spend week but not exactly by choice. My oldest son had to take my car to pick up my youngest son's big, old dog halfway across the country so he can come live with us. My youngest is traveling for work so no longer able to keep him. Normally my hubby only works p.t. so I could use his car but his job is going full speed. I could go somewhere at nite when he gets home but by then I am tired. However, I am getting completely caught up on cleaning, laundry, etc.

[lucas]

Hi there Terry... a week without spending is something to be proud of, even if it didn't happen entirely deliberately! You've obviously got internet access, so i'm sure you could have blown some funds from the comfort of your front room had you wanted to... as for me, groceries and a completely unnecessary coffee shop 'incident' ('spice pumpkin muffins? I have to have one!') meant I laid out some cash today... so my 'no-spend day' tally for May so far remains at 5 days...

I hope you've had a nice friday...

[rosarugosa]

Lucas, when you don't indulge at the coffee shop, what is your alternative? Do you make coffee at home and take a thermos, or can you make coffee at work? I always make and drink coffee at home before going to work, but I'm not someone who wants to drink coffee throughout the day, so that strategy works for me but wouldn't be for everyone.
This hasn't been a totally frugal week for me because I was on vacation, but I did have a budget established for recreational spending, and we stayed within that budget. I did do some recreational shopping with my sister yesterday, but we went to Savers and Salvation Army. I scored two good books for $4.00 at Savers, and a perfect pair of jeans for $8.00 at SA. The jeans were a major score! We did a lot of walking in the woods for entertainment this week, so that was fun & healthy & free.
Terry, I am disappointed that I didn't accomplish more in the way of window washing and yard work this week, but my husband is working this weekend, so I still have some time left. Good for you for being so productive! I did get the closet cleaned out this week, so that was one good accomplishment.