Thanks!

[4islandgirls]

Greetings - I'm new here and have spent the last week lurking and absorbing soo much information...I feel like I have been brainwashed (in a really good way!) The concept of "no spend days" just blew my mind, I have probably not had one no spend day in the last 8 years. And the only times before that that I had any were days spent at sea (I'm a biologist and worked on fishing boats). Another time, as a very young adult, I was travelling with a family and got stuck in Laredo TX for a week and I had not a penny (food and lodging were provided). After thinking, could I really not spend something for one whole day?, I began to think about that week in Texas, it was wonderful. I went to the library, walked a lot, and played cards and games with the kids. Also, at sea, I loved it and one of the reasons was because I was not spending money. It made me realize how much stress is created by spending money. Everyday, I have to "get out" and I always spend at least $2 on a pop and something else. I also would look for reasons to run to the store. So, instead of seeing it as deprivation, which would never work, I decided to look at it as liberating, freeing myself up from something which causes stress and guilt. So, the last 4 out of 6 days have been no spend and it has been wonderful. I still have gotten out, I have taken the kids hiking 2X, to the beach 2X, to the park 3X (all within walking distance). I have been making lists and planning around Thursdays, my shopping day. We have had wonderful family times and I really do feel liberated! So, thanks for this wonderful group, you really are a village and I look forward to spending more time with you on the frugal journey!

Jo

[Mom23boys]

Hello and welcome! I am glad the site has helped you, as it has me too! I have found so much wonderful information here....and friends too.

[frugalfarmwife]

HI and welcome to one of the nicest places on the WHOLE net Doesn't it feel great to get in control of the situation? I also used to be one to spend daily, stopping daily on my way home from work for things, running into town all the time to pick up something extra, always on the run and broke, lol.

Hope to see you around the village a lot, it is a fun place

kj

[dwallyfam]

Welcome ot the village.

Kellie

[Darlene]

Welcome to the Village Jo! Sounds like you & your family are living the good life!

[slowtypinwoman]

Welcome to Frugal Village!

[AmyMCGS]

Welcome! I've learned many of my frugal habits right here at the village. It's a great place- I'm glad you're enjoying it!

[PrairieRose]

Welcome Jo! Glad the ideas are catching on for you and working big time. It's really kinda fun to see "how low you can go", don't ya agree?

[ironmaiden]

Yup, it's a different mindset. And you're right, if you think of it as empowerment and not deprivation, then it works. If you take a step back and think about the current attitude toward shopping and then think of how even one generation back thought of shopping - a chore to obtain things that were needed - mostly groceries, OCCASIONALLY clothes and other purchases were planned for and saved up for. I remember in the 70's every thursday my friend and her family going shopping for the week once her dad came home with the car.


Now we shop for different reasons - boredom, hobby, to "reward" ourselves, because we deserve it.

This is why I'm floored that people would sell out their neighbors to put a shopping mall in their backyard - people would rather shop than help out their neighbors by saying "no". Just 6 years ago, the same community ALL came together to say no to the state moving the highway.

[4islandgirls]

[QUOTE=ironmaiden]Yup, it's a different mindset. And you're right, if you think of it as empowerment and not deprivation, then it works. If you take a step back and think about the current attitude toward shopping and then think of how even one generation back thought of shopping - a chore to obtain things that were needed - mostly groceries, OCCASIONALLY clothes and other purchases were planned for and saved up for. I remember in the 70's every thursday my friend and her family going shopping for the week once her dad came home with the car.

Your are so right. We are "Little House on the Praire" fans, and their entire existense was basically "no spend" days. I'm not a huge shopper, partially because I live on an island in Alaska and to do any "real" shopping, it's a $300 airfare. However, I found myself pidling money away everyday...mostly at the grocery store of all places!

[Daisygirl]

Hi, and wlecome -- I was the same as you -- no spend days did not exist in my world at all.my current goal is to have fewer days in a month that I spend money than days I do not spend money (That makes sense in my head, not sure if it makes sense aside from that!)

This change of lifestyle is the greatest thing I have ever done for myself and my family! Good luck!

[tervsforme]

Welcome! I'm with you on the no spend days. When I joined up here, that was definitely one of the most important tips I picked up. Now, I find I can have money in my wallet all week and I don't "have" to spend it!

[lilk]

Welcome! I have learned so much from the village. I'm trying to see how many no spend days I can have this month. Last month I didn't keep track very well. So far I have 2 no spend days this month. It is mind blowing to think of the money that we piddle away on junk!!

[miss_thrifty]

so far its been the last 2 weeks of the month but hubby has to change that its too hard to go two weks in arow with no money for groceries. 2checks going directly towards the rent and truck payment. So huby is going in this week to make appointment to change the date on the truck payment, otherwise Ill never see a cent on my family allowance and will certainly get behind on getting the necessities in the house.