Spending freeze?

[my4littlebuffaloes]

Frugal.lass - think of a goal you want to meet and have a spending freeze to help you reach that goal. That can be very motivating too - especially if you can reach your goal during a 1-month spending freeze.

[Emjo]

We are on a spending freeze here...DH hasn't had work in his field since November. I worked a seasonal job at Christmas and DH found a temp job that he starts tomorrow that should get us through, but we need to be careful for sure. We have been blessed and haven't had to touch our emergency fund yet, I hope it stays that way!

[steelergal]

Even in times of strife and necessity, I try to think of it as a spending freeze opposed to 'OMG I can't spend any money on things I need and want because there is none to spend' in a way it is as if you are in control of your money and not that money is controlling you. To me it relieves a little bit of the stress that money does to us. Believe me there are times when I think the other way but I want to control my money, not have the money rule my life (the constant numbers going through my head, if I buy this I only have so much left til payday, and etc.). Kind of empowering!

[NikoSan999]

Your spending freeze is what I call "lock down mode". I'm very familar with it. We spent about 2 1/2 years in it. It's not totally necessary to be in "lock down mode" now however there are times I still do it. Things still aren't stable and I want to make sure we have back up money but there are still things that need to be done to have a place to live. So it's kind of split 70/30. I'll go a couple weeks out of the month on a semi-freeze.

It's hard to be like this when you don't have everyone making the effort or everyone's idea of freeze/lock down is different.

[craftypam]

First I want to say we just got back from vacation and I had already decided to quit spending; I too like your name for it.

Steelergal; I also want to say about your spending that was too good to pass up; it's not good to pass up a great deal (even though you are on a spending freeze) and then pay double for it later. I don't mean to give into every deal; just the great ones that will cost you alot later.

[gmarie]

We are on what you could call a spending freeze for the year, or until our debt is finally paid off!

Other than our bills and gas, we have a $150/ mo food budget for two adults, $20 for household/personal care, and $10 for entertainment.

We do budget $88 mo for gifts, so my only shopping fun is buying small gifts for our soon to be 12 nieces and nephews.

We are not making excuses for ANYTHING off-budget this year, and the gift cards we got for Christmas (amazon and target) are being put toward our budgeted amounts.

I got a great deal on cat food and litter in January, so should not have to buy again for about 5-6 months.

I want to try to see how long I can go without spending any money at all!

[Lady_V]

Lock down? YES!

I'm usually rather tight on the purse strings, but when I feel as if something major is about to happen (I know Murphy is lurking) I make every single penny tell me exactly why it must leave my possession - and it's not allowed to take friends with it!

[banana]

I've started my spending freeze this week. It generally is easier for me to do during the winter months since we really don't go anywhere. We have to make 2 large purchases this year we need a newer car and to add a secondary heat source to our home any pennies I could save now is less that I need to pay later.

[newstudent]

I am right there with you all. I don't call it a freeze but certainly
very carefull shopping. To be honest there is not that much we need right now and probably for weeks. I have been going sorta crazy with deal and coupon shopping the last few month of the year. Toiletpaper, pasta, shampoo and some more things. This year so far I have just spend money on fresh stuff. I want to get the stockpile smaller.
It has taken over my home office already - no more room in the pantry