Spending freeze?

[steelergal]

Does anyone else go on a 'self impossed' spending freeze to help get their spending under control or to 'jump start' their frugalness? Usually after the holidays (when I find a few good deals for next years Christmas), I always seem to get flustered and fed up with a lot of spending that I just quite buying things!

I was ok with buying a few things that past week or so, but after today I am sick of spending money! I had to pick up a few items from the grocery store, all needed items (the basics, milk, eggs, bread, noodles, celery, carrots, chicken, and a few packages of jello, pudding, and fruit snacks- the last 3 being because DH had a tooth pulled and had a great coupon for my kids lunch boxes) and spent $45! I am so over spending so much money on the 'necessities' and am in a use it up mode, especially with me working now, I don't have the paitence or time to shop around for the best deals.

Does anyone else get like this too? My DH thinks I am nuts that I am on a 'spending freeze' out of a want instead of a need (like the ones who truly need to control their spending). I know I will get back to 'normal' after I am done with work and realize that my girls Birthdays will be here soon and the same with back to school.

[Spirit Deer]

We go into financial lock-down now and then but usually it's triggered by some dire situation, like last summer when our stupid politicians shut the entire state down, so my husband was laid off for three weeks without pay.

Lately I've been participating in the Use It Up challenge here at FV. The idea is to use up stash items of all kinds and not buy anything not needed to finish a UFO that's already laying around the house. I'm really enjoying this because it's inspiring me to get some of the clutter around here used up as well as saving us money by putting to use what we already own rather than going out to buy new things. It's forcing me to get creative which is the fun part.

We do call a halt to spending sometimes just because we both are able to recognize when it's time to slow it down and watch the money a bit more closely. Not that we overspend but sometimes even needed things add up, and then we make up for it later by passing up things we might otherwise buy. It's not that our spending is out of control, more like nipping the spending momentum in the bud so it doesn't get out of control.

[brenda67]

I'm right where you are..I will join you on this challenge if you like? I really only need to buy some milk for the whole month..Now, I'm very anal about stockpiling "Every Month" even though I have everything I need..I'm alway's looking to add more to my foodstorage/hba stash and can't resist looking through the store flyers every week to see if there is another "GOOD DEAL" I can add..sooooo this will be a challenge for me no doubt..

[frugalwarrior2]

not exactly a freeze but I am very tough about what I'll pay right now.
DD is going to learn to so. I passed up the $1.99 sale on pattern (usually $6.99-16.99) and waited for simplicity to be .99 but tonight I found used/never been used pattern for .40

75% on clearance is my number.
I am buying cookbooks for my collection for .20-$1.00. And thread for .99.
I bought lotions from bed and bath at 75% off and then got $10. more off for spending $40.

Just have to jump through hoops to make me buy it right now.kwim?

[steelergal]

I am definately in a using it up mode, I will have to look into the challenges and try to join one. I just get so disgusted with how much money we "need" to spend, and it's funny that it happens while I am working that I do this to myself (maybe it's one of those situations of I had to work this many hours to pay for this).

I did spend $7 after my 'self imposed' spending freeze though- mainly to gear up for non spending besides the necessities (and also the few birthday presents for the upcoming 2 months)- I made my youngest DD pick out her Valentine's Day cards for her classroom, a small gift for DH for our anniversary gift, and a few little craft projects for the long cold winter days/nights to help ease the boredom factor with the girls.

[hmcart]

we are not spending much right now at all. In fact we were at the grocery tonight and DH was about to get a bag of pretzels and put them back because he said they cost too much. He turned and asked me what have I done to him because he is not usually the one to be so frugal! Muahahahaha!

[sunflowers*8890]

We set a goal to not spend on anything unneeded this year. We have so much debt that we need to get it paid down before it spirals out of control. I like the term "Spending Freeze", I think I'm going to call it that!

When I'm at the grocery store I remind myself that I am not poor, I'm only pretending to be. I look at it in a positive way: during some very memorable times in my life, I was poor. When I was a kid and my Dad lost his job, when I was a young bride, when my kids were small and we had nothing... We managed just fine.

Spending Freeze 2012! Thanks, Steelergal!

[my4littlebuffaloes]

We are currently having what I call a "No spend month". I limited myself to $250 for groceries, toiletries, etc. No extra spending at all. I am trying to use up what is in my house, but I refuse to go without milk, fresh produce, etc. It has been a challenge but so far we have gotten what we needed, used up a ton of food from around the house and are only at $137 for the month.

It is so freeing to choose not to spend money for awhile and at the beginning of the month I was able to go 6 days without spending a dime. I have had to pass up a lot of great sales, but that's ok, they will come again. We did have to cave and get shoes for 3 of the kids, figures they would grow or shoes would fall apart right at the beginning of the no spend month. I didn't take it out of my $250, but pulled from our clothing envelope which had some cash in it. 3 pairs of shoes for $30 at Famous Footwear this weekend! I am glad we went ahead with getting them, because I likely wouldn't have been able to find that good of a deal later on.

[shoiji]

There are times where I ban myself from the thriftstore. Sometimes I can get some really good buys at the thriftstore and go a couple of times but then I have to tell myself I do not need anymore and ban myself from them.

Right now I am watching what I spend. Unfortunately I do need a couple things one being a new litterbox. Good thing they are inexpensive items.

[peanut]

Yes, we do. We went on one the first half of January...where we only bought necessities like medication and food. It was successful.

I am also on the Use it Up Challenge, and am finding that great at focusing my energies on using what is in the house around me.

I am also on the Pantry and Menu Challenge which does the same thing with food in the house. It's like being on a permanent grocery exile. It has cut my food costs quite a bit the last two months.

[MysticEagle]

We aren't buying anything that isn't necessary for at least a few months. Tackling debt is our goal right now and spending on wants isn't going to bring our debt down.

It hasn't been hard so far but I am going to miss the thrift store. I have a few things on my list like more measuring cups. But no spending means no spending even if it is thrift prices.

Good luck with your goal.

[Rhiamon]

I am on a spending freeze. I have only been shopping 3 times this month so far and only for groceries and once to get DD some clothing which then her dad payed for. I have been avoiding malls, book stores and art stores. I really feel I need to get back to my old frugal ways. Plus I really want to get my CC payed down.

[steelergal]

Well- I kind of fell off my self imposed spending freeze- but it will start up again tomorrow !

I went to Justice to pick up a few little birthday gifts for my DD's 3 friends (yes she got invited to 3 birthday parties within a few days time!). They are having a good sale (40% off store wide and an additional 40% off the clearance) so I figured I would hit a few of the clearance sales to see what I could get for inexpensive prices. I stumbled across the Xia Xia crabs- for $1.79, so I bought ahead for my youngest birthday party for her friends (which will be in May) so they will have 1 decent gift bag present instead of a bunch of dollar store items! The original price was $14.99 so I could not pass it up (I could of but I failed!).

[oheoh's momma]

I also like that term spending freeze I guess we have been this month our electric bill was ikes. it will be paid but I have not shopped much at all. Starting to feel a little house trapped. went shopping 1x for stockpile and to visit 1 friend.
But not spending nearly as much... Hopefully next month it won't be as hard..except for grocery shopping and house it will be a no spend month on nothing but house, food, and personal.

[frugal.lass]

I used to do self-imposed spending freezes all the time when I had debt to pay off. Now that I only have my mortgage I find it a little harder to motivate myself to do them. To be honest though, this thread is making me wonder if I still have what it takes to go on a spending freeze...