Going Spartan for a month (Long, rambling post.)

**Nishu** · 03-25-2011, 02:50 PM

I'm going to be single for the entire month of April, and during these times I like to go broke and pay down a bunch of debt because it's a lot easier to do without the man around. (He's not spendy, but when he's gone he's not using gas or money to buy lunch and I don't have to plan meals with him in mind.)

I've already:
-Cancelled cable
-cancelled all our online games
-netflix is going to get canceled in a couple days. :'(
-My van is going in the garage and we'll be cutting insurance on it. This won't show up on this months bill, but my husband's car gets twice as many mpg.

The only bills we have to pay that aren't directly related to debt are the phone/internet for $100, and insurance for $128. We also pay about $19 a month for credit monitoring but I'll probably cancel that too for now. And I'll be paying $114 for art lessons for the kids, but that's not getting cut.

BEF if funded and I'm planning on putting another 1k in it by the end of the month.

We get paid on the 1st and the 15th. In what's probably an overly optimistic plan for the next month, I have scheduled all our savings transfers and bill payments in order to leave a little over 300 each paycheck for food, gas, and anything else that pops up. Ideally, I'd like to use about a hundred of that 600 to pay down the very last of my chase card, so I'm shooting for even less than what I'm leaving.

Things in my favor:
-Kids are homeschooled, and only go to school on Wednesday so that's the only day I have to pack them a lunch.

-I'm stocked on frozen meats and veggies. Stocked non perishables will probably last me most of the month. Aside from milk and eggs, I won't have to buy any breakfast foods.

-I buy my groceries at the commissary, which is super cheap.

-My husband's ugly little car gets almost 40 miles to the gallon.

-No utilities since we live on base, so no surprises there.

Things that aren't so great:

-Have a cracked filling I need fixed. Will probably cost about 50 bucks plus about 10 bucks to get the kid watched. This is going to come out of my 300 bucks.

-I'm not so great at avoiding fast food or soda. I don't think I've ever gone a month without it.

For the month of April and for the rest of the month of March, we're banning any purchases of:

Candy (with the exception of a few for Easter)
Soda (*sob*)
Movies, books and nook downloads, music downloads. (*cry*)
Any premade foods that I can make at home within reason
Fast food, eating out, coffee shops
Clothes (no needs at the moment)
Toys (have these coming out our ears anyway)
Entertainment (we have a membership to a local kids museum plus a lot of events and movies on base.)

So, I'm putting this up for two reasons. One, because I would like some input on whether this is reasonable, and two, because I need to tell someone about my plan so that I'll be too embarrassed to mess up.

If we stick to this for the month, we'll put 1100 in savings and pay off 4000 in debt.

What do you think? Any advice for me?

**imagine** · 03-25-2011, 02:58 PM

wow you are going gazelle or spartan or intense any way you want to say it.

No advice just cheering you on

I look forward to hearing all about it the bumps, the trials, and your success.

**khaski** · 03-25-2011, 03:02 PM

Good for you! To soften the blow on the cable/netflix, check out your local library- even if -they- don't have dvds you want, ask if they can get some to borrow from other libraries within their network. Our library has a great dvd selection, but for those they don't carry that we wish to see, they can 'borrow' from others within their network- for FREE. Watching 'The Fighter' this weekend, will have Harry Potter and Black Swan in the next month or two as they come out (there's sometimes a 'wait list' for popular new releases, but we don't mind 'cuz it's FREE!).

**Nishu** · 03-25-2011, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by khaski

Good for you! To soften the blow on the cable/netflix, check out your local library- even if -they- don't have dvds you want, ask if they can get some to borrow from other libraries within their network. Our library has a great dvd selection, but for those they don't carry that we wish to see, they can 'borrow' from others within their network- for FREE. Watching 'The Fighter' this weekend, will have Harry Potter and Black Swan in the next month or two as they come out (there's sometimes a 'wait list' for popular new releases, but we don't mind 'cuz it's FREE!).

We're planning on renting from the library. Since it's spring break, there's also free kids movies every single day next week at our on base theater.

**Russ** · 03-25-2011, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Nishu

Soda (*sob*)
Movies, books and nook downloads, music downloads. (*cry*)
What do you think? Any advice for me?

You haven't started and you're already whining? Suck it up and tell yourself you will survive without these "luxuries". It's only 30 days.

If it helps, I'll watch an extra movie for you and drink a beer for you.

**Nishu** · 03-25-2011, 03:10 PM

Haha. Thanks Russ. Please do that, because although I didn't say it specifically, beer is going to be off limits too. Maybe you should have an extra two for me.

**FrabjousDay** · 03-25-2011, 03:12 PM

Sounds doable to me...good luck!

**AnW819** · 03-25-2011, 03:26 PM

Way to go!! You can do it!! What an awesome feeling you will have when you accomplish this!!

**MsMarieH** · 03-25-2011, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by Russ

You haven't started and you're already whining? Suck it up and tell yourself you will survive without these "luxuries". It's only 30 days.

If it helps, I'll watch an extra movie for you and drink a beer for you.

What icon do we use to kick someone in the shins???

Nishu, you will TOTALLY be able to do this.

I would give you one bit of advice and the library was certainly a good start on it. Rather than focusing on all these things you are going to be giving up, how about thinking about some things you can ADD that will bring some fun and spirit to your month?

Like watch for a warm spring day and be prepared to do a semi-impromptu picnic in the park.

Look around for free easter concerts and events to go to.

Plan a day of making colored easter eggs with your kids (how old are they?) and other inexpensive easter crafts (like bunnies out of paper plates and a cotton ball if they are younger).

Watch for spring flowering shrubs and flowers and go for a picture taking outing.

Host a tea party with your kids.

If you have the supplies or can get them very inexpensively, consider starting some seeds with your kids to grow their own vegetables - even in containers if you don't have a place to plant in the ground.

**Ramona** · 03-25-2011, 04:22 PM

I think it's perfectly doable, I admire you.

**Daisygirl** · 03-25-2011, 05:54 PM

I'm going to follow your lead when my kids are away this summer! What a great idea!

**NikoSan999** · 03-25-2011, 06:01 PM

Might be tough but I think you can do it. If you keep the thread going it's going to be an interesting read. I'll follow it.
I've always thought you sound like a strong woman....yeah, believe whole heartedly you will succeed.

**wanderlusting** · 03-25-2011, 06:06 PM

Good luck! I know when the military takes DH away for a while, we always save money too!

**Russ** · 03-25-2011, 06:11 PM

Nishu.. When the husband returns, do you think any of the changes will become permanent?

ps.. working on your beer.

**Nishu** · 03-25-2011, 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by Russ

Nishu.. When the husband returns, do you think any of the changes will become permanent?

no

We'll get cable when college football starts up again and I'm sure when my husband comes home we'll both start playing WoW together again. We'll certainly need clothing. I suppose I hope to keep my grocery budget down but I'll definitely ease up at the end of the month. Plus I'll be going through my stockpile so I'll have to restock a little.

Maybe I'll learn something though.

I'm already second-guessing my strategy. Because of this thing that's going on with the budget in congress, I'm not real confident in getting a paycheck for May. Our current budget is going to expire on April 8th, and if it's not replaced with a permanent one I think we might see a government shutdown. Sooooo, I think what I'm going to do is cancel the payments I had planned to put on the credit card and instead put that money into savings. When the budget gets worked out on the 8th, I'll take it out of savings and put it to my credit cards. Any objections?