April 2019 End of the Month Wrap Up
My goals for April included at least fifteen no spend days, a new source of income, and no new debt. I ended up with twenty-two no spend days and no new debt! I have several ideas in the works for the new source of income, but I am still working on those.
Some bloggers say no spend days don't work because they will simply spend the next day. In my case I like to string as many no spend days together as I can and hopefully have more no spend days than spend days.
I think having twenty-two no spend days out of thirty is pretty good. Having no spend days helps me to save money by not spending it in the first place.
My goals for May include no eating out, no new debt, and as many no spend days as I can get, which will hopefully be over twenty.
Some of my spending in April included..
Gas $94.01
Groceries $132.69
Insurance $255.67
Yard Sales $5.00
Insurance is normally our biggest spending category. It's a necessity in my book as I would not want to be without it.
I already have my budget written out for May and plan to continue as many no spend days as possible.
In May and June we will have income from pet sitting again. I am still working on other sources of income for the summer as well.
Have you made any goals for May yet?
Belinda
~ Living within our Means ~
22 no spend days is wonderful. Different people can do things differently so if it works for you that is all that matters.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marybeth. I so agree with you, we need to do those things that work for us. :) I hope you have a great day.
DeleteI think No Spend days can be a good tool.
ReplyDeleteIf you are trying to change your spending/way of thinking, forcing yourself to change your habits(which a no spend day does at least short term)then they are a good teaching tool. The end result, hopefully, is a long term behavior change and if the tool doesn't get you there then the final result won't be long term change.
Some folks, like yourself, really don't need that tool anymore because your behavior has permanently changed. But it's second nature now to you and if it works for you then go for it! ;-)
Thank you, Sluggy. It's like that old saying, "use what you can, and leave the rest". If it works for you, great and if not that's OK too.
DeleteI don't understand why people plan no spend, but spend beforehand in preparation of the no spend. ("Hey, no spend tomorrow, so I will go shopping for clothes today, then stop for appetizers on the way home.") Then they wonder why no spend days don't work. I think a lot of people are in denial about their level of self denial. I enjoy the challenge, though. Sounds like you do too. Happens when you are content, I guess. To each his own. No spend is fun, and I thought I was good at it. But now, I want to aim for 23 days. Game on! (I won't count previously budgeted payment to house build as per our contract, but will count new furnishings, etc.)
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't make sense to me either, Meg. (The spending beforehand in preparation of the no spend). I want to stop impulse spending and a week of no spend days in regards to that is good for me and my budget. Like a stop at Hardees on my way to work for a sausage biscuit, not much, but it adds up and I am prouder of a week of no spend days than a week of $2 spent each morning. I think it happens when you are content too. That is a big factor for me. Thans, Meg. :)
DeleteThat's wonderful Belinda. I hope you will achieve your May goals as well.
ReplyDeleteI rarely spend money on work days. So most week days are NSDs for me. :)
Thank you so much, Nil. That's great that you are not spending on work days. That doesn't leave many days to spend at all.
DeleteI find no spends work for me if I will just do them....
ReplyDeleteYes, It does take a little bit of discipline, which isn't always easy.
DeleteThe discussion reminds me of being at a fabric store. Waiting at the cutting table, another patron and I struck up a conversation. She was a public speaker, from place to place, who used one pattern for a zipperless dress she wore to engagements. Dresses paired with differently styled jackets, sweaters, and so forth gave her a variety for her wardrobe, and she chose good fabric for her dresses, but she did not require a spendy wardrobe. Less shopping for her.
ReplyDeleteNo-spend days can persuade some to skip unnessary purchases, any type of purchase. Stretching my income requires a plan, but I do not set no-spend days.
I watched a YouTube video today of two ladies who made a pattern out of a shirt by tracing the shirt onto paper. They said it could be done with any favorite article of clothing one wishes to duplicate. I found it very interesting.
DeleteI say if it works go for it. I love days when I really need to go to the grocery store but manage to eke another meal or two out of our pantry making some unexpected no spend days.
ReplyDeleteOh,, I love that too, Anne.
DeleteCongratulations for meeting all your goals. Oh my gosh pet setting. That is going to be so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of no spend days too. It's not something I make a conscious effort to do. I think it's just the way my lifestyle is and how I want to spend my money if I am out and about. Most of the time I don't want to spend money, lol.
Thank you, Safyne. I love pet sitting and loving on the animals. They love it too.
DeleteI know what you mean about not wanting to spend any money. I know I feel that way as well.
The weather has been rainy and raw here so I have already had several no spend days in May. I hate going out in nasty weather. I did go out yesterday and tried to get everything done. Can't leave the cat with hardly any food so that was the biggest expense. The weekend weather is once again supposed to be rainy so I expect to be around the house.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice you already have your May plan in place. I usually just wing it.
I'm sorry you've had so much rain, Mary Lou. I know that gets old quickly. We definitely have to keep our kitties fed or they will meow like crazy. LOL I hope you have a good weekend despite the rain coming.
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