Comments on: No Spend Month Update: Week 2

By: jhp2

jhp2 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:46:58 +0000

I just came upon this and it looks interesting. The one thing I would see changing is that there is no premium assigned to your time. In other words, you save money on items but making from scratch can often take a lot of time and effort. If no value is assigned to your time, you do not know if that is a good cutback. Example; Frozen waffles. In the morning, that is a quick breakfast for the kids before we head out the door. However, making from scratch could be quite an investment in time and loss of sleep! I wonder if after you do these months you look back at your time spent and wonder if it could have been spent better on something else, perhaps something that creates income or income opportunities?

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:43:36 +0000

Hi Blair, we skip the cheese. Sometimes we use pesto instead of tomato sauce, and that has enough richness by itself. We already had some packages of Bob’s Red Mill pizza mix, but I think we did buy some flour during the month. The flour can be so expensive that gluten-free muffins and the like are a treat and not a diet staple. We eat more rice and potatoes instead to help balance the meat and produce. It’s been a year since we started eating gluten and dairy free, and it was expensive while we experimented with different foods and brands. Thankfully I’ve started to see our grocery bill come back down some now.

By: Blair

Blair — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:55:29 +0000

I am so happy that I found your blog! I think what you are doing is a wonderful. After my daughter and I were diagnosed with gluten intolerance and diary intolerance I have seen over grocery bill sky rocket! I noticed that you mentioned making pizza and that your husband has a dairy intolerance – what did you use for cheese on the pizza? Also, do you buy gf flours during your no spend month, or do you buy in bulk and thus have them already at your disposal?

Thanks!

By: Vicky @ thecitycradle

Vicky @ thecitycradle — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:00:45 +0000

Thanks for posting so much great information about this topic. Our family is going to follow your example and do an August “no spend month” starting next week! We have been talking about doing something like this for a while and your inspiration/ideas were just what we needed to get going.

I am nervous and excited as we jump out and sacrifice this coming month.
Vicky @ thecitycradle´s last blog post ..Sunday snaps

By: Danielle

Danielle — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:39:33 +0000

I am inspired by your post. We live in San Francisco and sometimes I feel like we’re just hemoraging money, and consider moving. But I LOVE this city. We’ve made this place home and have so many friends we love here. I am going to talk to my husband about trying this. Thank you!

and ps – would love the kombucha recipe!

Danielle
author at
http://www.milkshakesandmargaritas.com
Danielle´s last blog post ..The Sweet Side of Allison Krongard, Founder of WallCandy Arts

By: Krista

Krista — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:29:08 +0000

We always make home made waffles. I like to try little changes to spice things up. Some are more healthy than others, but we like them all the same. I have added an over ripe banana, frozen berries, frozen strawberries, and chocolate chips. So far the favorite is the banana waffles (and the child the loves them the most is the boy that will not eat fresh bananas).

By: Joan

Joan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:19:03 +0000

Yes, please post your kombucha recipe! Did you have to buy mushroom cultures? My husband goes through it like crazy, and we’ve already had the discussion about how much of the food budget it takes up. BTW Whole Foods gives a case dscount if you buy 12 bottles at a tiime (and you can mix flavors as long as you are buying the same brand)

By: charis

charis — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:12:41 +0000

we did no spend month last year with great success — i was SHOCKED at the savings that resulted!! we are starting no spend month today — middle of the month, yes, but starting none the less. just needed to say it out loud for accountability’s sake! thanks for the inspiration!!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:25:41 +0000

I love this idea! When I was getting out of debt I had plenty of ‘No Spend Days’ and aimed for 10 or so every month, but the idea of stringing 31 of them together? Scary! Although I’m going to be a student again shortly so it’s a skill I might try to cultivate!

Congratualtions on your achievements, we live in such a ‘convenience society’ where almost anything can be bought and made for us, your experiment semms to have let you discover new skills and that sometimes doing it yourself (aka the ‘hard way’) can actually be more satisfying and fun!
Lindsay´s last blog post ..Starting Out ‘Starting Out Simple’

By: Dana @ Letters to Elijah

Dana @ Letters to Elijah — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:20:01 +0000

Rachel.. Congrats, once again this year!

Here are some crazy questions…

If you only end up spending $200 this month – would you spend it on a night out? or save it? would you reduce your no spend next year because of it?
How come you don’t include inflation in your budget – it was $250 last year too, right?
Have you noticed a difference this year b/c of the price of gas? I know here in WI – we are about $1.50/gallon cheaper then last summer.

Dana
Dana @ Letters to Elijah´s last blog post ..Satisfying 186 Calorie Breakfast!