What do you consider a spend day

**MyMelody** · 01-02-2011, 09:42 PM

I'll participate and shoot for 15 no spend days. I'd previously aimed for 20, but I'm going to make this a bit more realistic on myself given that I've never tried to do this before.

1/1 - spend day
1/2 - no spend day

**mzpepper** · 01-02-2011, 11:58 PM

This is what works for me:

I count as no spend the things that are paid automatically. These items come out of a separate account. I have my bills, utilities, insurance, church contributions paid from here.

Food, gas and other spending comes from "cash" money so I count it as spend. Even when these items are budgeted I count them. My purpose in this challenge is to stay out of the stores (I tend to buy more than I should) and to try and stay organized in my spending.

Just what works for me. Everyone is different.

**thesightofoneself** · 01-03-2011, 12:06 AM

a day in which the green is passed over to someone else

**madjen** · 01-03-2011, 12:22 AM

I count every single time that $$$ leaves my hands... bills, groceries, gas, etc.

**NikoSan999** · 01-06-2011, 07:55 PM

The only things I don't count is paying bills or giving the kid money for school. However, if it is money that I, myself, give to the school then it is a spend for me...don't know why, just do.

Agree with madhen...there is no option to the bill paying.

Neither is gas really but count it as a spend. Count doctor, prescriptions, groceries, post office, eating out.

**acidcookie** · 05-02-2011, 01:46 PM

I count every single purchase, even groceries, household items, gas, etc. If cash or my card comes out of my wallet, it's a spend day. I buy everything using my CC for the rewards, so I count it on the day I purchased it, but I don't count again when I pay the balance each month. The only bill paid automatically out of my account is the cell phone and I count that the day it's charged to my CC.

**MsMarieH** · 05-02-2011, 05:08 PM

I don't count bills that I have set up on autopay (vehicle payments, mortgage, utilities, etc.). I also don't count gas, as I do very little driving other than to and from work or my association meetings, both of which are required. Most of my errands can be done along the route on the way home, not taking me more than a few miles out of the way. I also don't count my association meeting expenses, which are reimbursed.

Although I count things like groceries, errands (postage, pet supplies, haircuts, etc.), I'm not super concerned with them. After all, if I'm out of kitty litter, the money needs to be spent!

My primary purpose in participating in the no spend days is to restrict my spending on lunch/takeout (far and away my worst bad habit for frittering money), and other truly frivolous things like vending machines or magazines. That's what I really want to curb.