Can anyone explain the challenges and....

[Ashlncle]

what the no spend days are?
Thanks

[guest7]

Personal challenges that you sign up for- you just have to say.. I'm IN!! and report in on the thread whenever you want. I usually update weekly as to how I'm doing.
The no spend days.. means how many days in the month you don't spend money. You don't have to count your bills, your grocery or gas purchases. Everything else is a spend day.. like if you went out for lunch, or just bought a bunch of things on sale.. that's counted as a spend day.
It's a personal challenge. and you try to beat your previous month. It's been a real incentive to keep the discretionary spending down- helps to save money.

[homesteadmamma]

The no spend challenge - you also don't count medications of any sort. All you count is the discretionary spending.

The challenges are just for fun. Don't feel guilty if you don't meet the challenge. They are just there to help encourage you to spend less, pay down debt more and save what you can.

[tlenad]

Okay this may be a bit silly...but I have to take my cat's into the vet tomorrow. So do I count that as a no spend day if I don't spend any other money?

They got into a fight with each other and need to be checked out. Gandalf has torn out a few claws and of course those claws were embedded in Samwise's fur. Guess I know what I'll be using my emergency fund for huh? Hopefully though I'll get of of this for less than $100 which I'll just take out of business savings.

I swear if it's not one thing it's another.

Does this count as medical?

[homesteadmamma]

In my books, it sure doen't count as discretionary spending. It counts as medical. It's something that happened and you need to take care of your pet. Hope it turns out okay and it isn't too costly.

[tlenad]

Thanks for the well wishes.

It wound up costing me $42 thus far. Gandalf is running a fever so I have to dose him with anitbotics (spelling?) and keep an eye on both he and Samwise to make sure neither of them develop and abess. So far not too costly just really stressful.

They are still growling and blustering at each other but we didn't have another out break of violence last so I left both of them with full run of the apartment hopefully I'll go home tonight and this will have blown over. If not, I guess we'll be starting over from square one with introductions. You'd think they'd get along just fine they've been living together for two years without any problems.

[Libby]

Ok so Im still new at this - my second post actually.
I see that most users post their debts, successes and goals under their signatures which is great motivation to me but Im having a hard time understanding what some of these challenges are:

* Grocery Challenge

* Debt Reduction Challenge

* Change Jar Challenge

....and a few other challenges that werent listed in this thread....can someone help decipher these for me please?

[frugalfarmwife]

With the grocery challenge you pick an amount to try to stick to for the month and not go over. My amount is very low (($100.00) but I have an advantage as we raise our own beef and veggies so I have two freezers full. I also shop at a bread thrift store and save a FORTUNE on bread. There are just two of us and I cook from scratch and shop at Aldis so can usually keep the bill under $100.00 even with our ice cream habit, lol!

The debt reduction challenge is a challenge to try to come up with an extra set amount to pay off on bills over and above the minimum payment for the month such as medical bills, CC's, mortgage. For this month the "set" challenge is $35.00 but you can set any amount of your own.

And welcome, you'll really enjoy it here, everyone is very friendly, helpful and supportive!

kj

[Libby]

Thank you very much! I had all these ideas playing in my head how these challenges took place but wanted confirmation.

I look foward to reading more and more from this site and learning great new tips! I was tooling around last night and saw more signatures...we gals got dreams and goals I can see!

Wishing y'all the best!

[frugalfarmwife]

You're most welcome and glad to see you've jumped right in on the no spend challenge! Great job so far!

One thing a lot of us also have are onling (ING) savings accounts, right now they're paying 4%! I see you're saving for a vacation, I"m saving for a HUGE vacation in 8 years for our 20th anniversay, that'll probably be the first chance we get away from the farm!

kj

[Libby]

Fanks!

Doesnt hurt that I've been sick for a week and a half now does it? LOL But alas, Im finally feeling better each day...now to get back into the swing of getting chores done and new tasks accomplished now that I'm not working. Need to use my free time more effectively - ugh!

Plus I cheated, I got a ride up to my bf's place over the weekend and back and I didnt pay for any gas or food while I was there

But I can do it!!!

[SAHW]

Staying out of Grocery Store Challenge - Day 6 of 30

No Spending Money Days - 5 of 30 (ate lunch out, Chinese buffet at least so very cheap, last Sat with DH)

Days I went walking - 2 of 4

Hard to know what to challenge myself to do or not do. I cook every night without fail. I stay at home so I couldn't spend money if I wanted to do - well, I guess if I was hooked on QVC, etc. I could. I will try to come up with challenges for myself and will report.

[EskieMom]

I am new here.
Nice to see a online cheering section for everyone.
Ok.. anything anyone wants to fill me in on go right ahead.
like .. how to be involved in challenges etc..
I find that the money challenges seems the most fun here so far that I have read.
Nice to see all the encouragement everyone has for eachother.
In my sport of "dog shows" it is called Sportsmanship. Not much of it anymore it seems so it is refreshing to see so much of it here.

[SaraNZ]

Thanks for the explanation about the no-spend days not including bills, groceries or gas, I had been counting those and was getting worried!