Question about no spend days

**kittykatstrong** · 10-25-2008, 10:49 PM

Sometimes I work till 1 or 2 in the morning if I make a stop and spend money do you think it would count on the day before or the day I am on. I think that it sould go on the day before because you have not slept yet and my Dh thinks it should go on the it is on.

What do you think?

**madhen** · 10-25-2008, 11:11 PM

I think it doesn't matter, as long as you are consistent. But if I were counting it for myself, I'd count it on the day it occurred. So I guess I'd agree with your DH.

**Momof3girls** · 10-25-2008, 11:42 PM

I think I would count it on the day it occurs as well.

**monkeywrangler71** · 10-25-2008, 11:50 PM

I consider it to be today until I go to bed, when I wake up it will be tomorrow. So for me, 1AM is still the day before. Also, counting it as the next day kind of gives you a psychological license to spend when you wake up, since you've already blown the no spend day anyway.

**madhen** · 10-25-2008, 11:55 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

Also, counting it as the next day kind of gives you a psychological license to spend when you wake up, since you've already blown the no spend day anyway.

That is funny, because I had the exact opposite reaction.

To me, counting it as the SAME day gives you an excuse to stop and spend more money if you've already spent that day. And counting it toward the next day discourages you from stopping and buying anything, because you don't want to start your new day as a "spend" day.

**monkeywrangler71** · 10-26-2008, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by madhen

That is funny, because I had the exact opposite reaction.

To me, counting it as the SAME day gives you an excuse to stop and spend more money if you've already spent that day. And counting it toward the next day discourages you from stopping and buying anything, because you don't want to start your new day as a "spend" day.

Interesting point, but what if you haven't already spent that day? Then wouldn't it discourage you from stopping because you already made it 18 hours without spending.

I just personally think it would be discouraging to wake up in the morning already having lost the opportunity to strive for a no spend day.

**madhen** · 10-26-2008, 12:45 AM

I guess that is kind of my point. You are correct that if you hadn't spent that day, you would probably be unlikely to spend at the very end of it, if you counted it toward that day. Why blow it at the 11th hour? But the likelihood is far greater that you WOULD have spent that day, as you had all day to spend, and you are at the end of it, and then it would be more of a "well, I already blew my no-spend day anyway" type of situation. The next day, when you woke up, you'd have ALL day again. So you are tacki ng on an expense at the "end" of your day, because it is easier to justify it if you spent already.

But if you count the 1am stop as the next day, and you KNOW that by stopping and spending, you are already blowing your whole day, you will be LESS likely to stop and spend.

**elphie** · 10-26-2008, 08:22 AM

I agree that it doesn't matter how you count it as long as you are consistent so you don't have wiggle room. I am a night owl and stay up past midnight a lot, it is today until I sleep for me. Since you are the one up and out at that time of night it should probably be what you feel comfortable with so you don't find yourself making excuses.

**MisaLady** · 10-26-2008, 01:21 PM

I've had this problem with other things in the past because I have weird sleep schedules (or, at least, used to have - not quite as much anymore). I long ago decided that a "day" was from when I got up to when I went to bed. I think it doesn't matter - pick whichever you think is going to benefit you more (ie which is going to make you spend less). For me, if I was up until one am and, say, went to go grab something at the store, if I counted that as that calendar day, I'd feel like "well, I've blown it, so it doesn't really matter". Whereas if I spent my day trying not to spend, I'd be less likely to do so at the end of the day. But your mileage may vary.

**kittykatstrong** · 10-27-2008, 01:21 AM

Thats kind of why I want to do my way, lets say I buy milk on the way home. Sleep then walk up and go to the libary. I would really want to stop and buy a cup of coffee because I had already ruined that day, KWIM.