I hope your weekend is going well. I hosted a dinner party last night and am about to go to another dinner party tonight. Yep, my year of celebrations is going great. I am loving catching up with everyone solely for the purpose of celebrating our connections. I am also finding that I go through this extremely sociable phase, that the celebrations are also a way of strengthening and deepening those connections. I am feeling more and more comfortable being part of my diverse community!
Now a few weeks ago, I blogged about wanting some new stuff. Anyway, I've decided to go ahead and buy a digital SLR. I want to get this camera before I go overseas, so I've decided that the easiest way to save up for it is to have yet another no-spend week.
Photo by SteffeFor new readers, my no spend week means exactly that - not spend a single cent. That means no cash or debit card will leave my wallet for a whole 7 days. I do have exceptions to the rule though:
1. Medical stuff - I'm not risking mine and my children's health to complete a challenge.
2. The bills that automatically come out of my bank account will continue. Auto-fortnightly payments for my mortgage, utilities etc have been a great way for me to manage my money. I don't want to throw out good practices for a week!
So when will my no-spend week start? It will start as at Friday, 26 March. That's the day when I should have finished paying off my trip overseas later this year and so will have no excuse to withdraw cash to make a payment.
Anyone want to join me in my no-spend week? Let me know and I'll add your blog here and give updates every second day to see how everyone's going.
Oh and if you want to know a bit more about my thoughts re: whether no-spend weeks really do save money, check out my previous blog post here.
I hope the rest of your weekend goes well!
17 comments:
i haven't done any of these sign-on challenges, but this one sounds like a perfect first. i love your blog, and the genuine spirit that shines right through it.
i've been doing "no-frills five" (posted on my blog once in jan) for the last five weekdays of the month. but i'm up for a bonafide seven.
i'm interested in taking it a bit further, and restricting myself from the (previously purchased) luxuries i stock my kitchen with and love to cook, ie: homemade sweets. just a week of simple cheap (high quality but economical) food would be good for me. i'll cut out my second cuppa (coffee) too, though, not that morning cup. can't go that far...
I'm very very tempted to join you....I'll sleep on it :-)
My daughter and I have a B'day that week and we are planning a party.....which may may make not spending a bit hard. Maybe i'll just have a no spend week the following week.
Good luck saving up for your camera :-)
Did you really mean April 26 and not March 26? That is a bit of advance notice, I suppose I could do it, and it would probably be good for me, since I have been over budget every month this year (and not because I have to, but because I want things :)
whooops. yeah, what am i saying. that week won't work for me either. there goes my first sign-up, un-sign. ahem.
maybe i'll do mine next week. darn.
Hmm. I don't know if I could do this-- I don't know what I buy in a week. I do know that having a mini-fridge means I'd probably run out of some things, especially if I started on a Friday. But back to that I don't know what I buy in a week-- I should have a better idea. So, instead of not spending for a week, I'll write down everything I buy in that week. Baby steps!
As a side note, would you be willing to post the "fried chicken" recipe you mentioned in the No Spending Days 1&2 post that's linked at the bottom of this post? It looks really easy, and I've been missing fried chicken. I've looked through the recipes category but didn't see it.
You know what starting March 26th I will join you on a no spend week. That gives me time to go to the grocery store and plan my meals for the week. Let's see how this pays off
oops yes, 26 March I meant!!
And you know, I was thinking I might do it the following week too...hmmm...I wonder if I could buy enough food for a fortnight instead?
I could have sworn I left a comment on this post last night, my mind must really be turning to mush.
Anyway - could you explain sometime why you don't just stop spending immediately? It is a very artificial challenge to buy everything you need in advance & then say you aren't spending anything for a week.
Hey Toria!
The reasons why are pretty much in my previous post here: http://consumption-rebellion.blogspot.com/2009/08/do-no-spend-weeks-really-save-money.html :)
No spend weeks for me means that I cost-shift 50% of my normal spending...but that means that I also save 50% as well. I hope to improve that and cost-shift only 40% this time. So yes, there's cost-shifting involved but also savings.
In addition, it does take time for me to prepare my kids for no-spend weeks. They are very good about it (and I believe its good for them to see me actively save like this), but I find that I can only take them along with me (indeed even actively be supportive and proud of what we do) if I give them time to process it as well.
:) Hope your weekend is going well.
I'm in!
But I decided there is no time like the present and why wait (i.e. we had spent our fortnighly budget already). So we started thismorning and will be finishing on the first of April.
Thanks for the inspiration :-)
I will be joining you! I just spent over $200 on a new suit for job interviews (which was unfortunately necessary) and was just telling myself that I had to not spend money for a while. This will be perfect motivation! Thank you!
(http://eef-ink.com is my blog if you want to see how I do!)
Hi there!
I'm joining in the challenge. I've been blogging on not buying anything new for 2010 at www.nonewfortara.blogspot.com
but 'no spend week' can help me with some of my other kinds of spending like on pubs and restaurants. My challenges during the week include a reunion, a wedding shower, a holiday weekend, and using the transit system to commute. What I like is that 'Earth Hour' falls during the challenge, which seems kind of thematically appropriate. (it's Sat. March 27th at 8:30pm-turn off your lights for an hour). Wish me luck. Or better yet strength and good planning skills! cheers, Tara
Eileen, I've been listening to Radio National and immediately thought about you as you post often on this important and relevant topic. It was on life matters called "Living Dolls: the return of sexism" - and the return of old stereotyping for women.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2010/2854013.htm
It was a good listen.
Hello-I'm visiting the first time here from eco-friendly Seattle...the home of green technology. Sharni Montgomery (one of your links) is a dear blogger sister of mine. I did not spend any money for 45 days in March 2009. I also didn't speak, didn't use internet or anything electronic. Granted, I was on a silent meditation course. My husband, a former Buddhist monk from Korea, and I live a pretty simple life. I like your ideas here and will visit again. Peace to you on your journey, I'm a fan now!
i love your blog, and the genuine spirit that shines right through it.
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Hey Eilleen, nice blog you have! My compliments.
Just want you to know that I really love the no-spending week. I did it myself last year and it went really well. Against all expectations!
It's to late to join in at this one, but I think I'm going to do it again in the near future.
Thanks for reminding me!
Lovely greets from Holland
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