How do you count your "no spend days"?

**IntlMom** · 02-04-2007, 11:25 PM

Ok, so I've couponed, refunded, and price matched and mystery shopped for years..but you gals have taken me to the next level (and my dh too, he's totally on board!!). What do you count as a "no spend day?" Is it just no "extra spending - you know coffee, or pop while you are out kind of spending? How about grocery shopping, is that a no spend day? How about when I sit down at my computer to pay the household bills, is that a spend day or a no spend (my logic says grocery shopping is spend, but bill paying is no spend). How about when we put a check int he offering plate at church?! Things that make you go hhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Ok, so I will wait and see what you all say!
btw - we had 55 people in our house for SB, it was fun - but I'm glad it over!

**Neeley** · 02-05-2007, 12:21 AM

Different people do it different ways. Some concider a "no spend day" a day in which no money is spent in any way. Others say that paying bills does not count, only things like getting gas, groceries, clothes, a soda from the soda machine. It really just depends on the person/family. I have never thought of church offerings or making donations as to how that would be classified.
Maybe someone else can tell you how they count donations and offerings.

**Amanda W** · 02-05-2007, 01:28 AM

Personally, I don't count bill paying, gas for the car, or tithing/donations as spending.

**mcphlips** · 02-05-2007, 06:33 AM

I count a no spend day as any day I don't spend money. Usually I always lose out on Sunday because it is a day that I grocery shop.. but I also get gas that day, and tithe at church. I try to get as much necessary spending done on this day as possible, and then I really try not to spend the rest of the week.
Everyone has a different take on a no spend day.. remember it is challenging yourself..

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 02-05-2007, 06:50 AM

I count it as a day that I don't open my wallet. If the gas is already in the car and I use it that doesn't count. Only if I actually spend funds. And that includes a soda out or anything. Tyr just not to leave the house.

LAurie in BRadenton

**monkeywrangler71** · 02-05-2007, 09:49 AM

What I count:
-any shopping (including groceries, or online)
-buying gas
-atm withdrawals
-eating out

What I don't count
-bill payments
-regularly scheduled charitable donations
-husband spending cash during day (counted when he took the money out)
-daughter shopping (her money, doesn't affect household finances)
-anything my husband will be reimbursed for at work

I usually do all my shopping on Saturday, so I thought the no-spend days would be easy. I just started keeping track last month and didn't do nearly as well as I expected. Seems that something always seems to come up. I had 13 in Jan, so far none in Feb.

**FrugalMomof3** · 02-05-2007, 10:18 AM

I count a no spend day as spending money other than on: Groceries, gas in car, tithing or bills.

Things like clothes, shoes, snack at the store, eating out, etc are to me considered as a spend day.

**IntlMom** · 02-05-2007, 10:32 AM

OK, so it looks like some of you think like I do....Tracy and monkeywrangler (?!

) that's how it makes sense to me.....thanks for the input......counting today it will be 3 no spend days so far.......this is a fun game!!!!

**kaykwilts** · 02-05-2007, 01:49 PM

I count is as a day I don't yield to the temptation to buy something no in the budget.

**Cricketlegs** · 02-05-2007, 02:48 PM

Anything that keeps the house running for me doesn't count. If I have 3 loads of laundry and no soap that is a neccesary itme therefor a household item.

To me it is spending money on what you WANT but don't need like shoes or a cookie or whathaveyou.

Gas, groceries, medicines,dogfood,TOLIET PAPER don't count for me! LOL

**Jill B.** · 02-28-2007, 08:22 AM

I have just been reading a thread about the number of no spend days per month people have and I realized we all define it differently. I thought we could post our definitions of what a no spend day is. (May have been done before?)

I define a no spend day as a day I did not spend money outside of my personal allowance. DH and I get $40 a month to spend as we want. If I buy a cup of coffee at work, I use that money. But it is still a no spend day if I don't use any household money to spend on anything else. If I pay a bill that day, I still call it a no spend day. I do not include grocery shopping and gas as not spending money. If I buy gas on the way to work, than it is a spend day.

So, what is your definition?

**Grayce** · 02-28-2007, 08:53 AM

I don't count paying regular bills like hydro or water as spending. Most of those are debited out of my account automatically. For me spending is when I go out an buy something, or order something. If I place a Sears order I would count that as spending. If I buy groceries, gas or a chocolate bar I would count that as spending. If I give my DD money for a field trip I count that as spending.

**zasoror1** · 02-28-2007, 09:17 AM

My definition of a no-spend day, is a day in which no money is spent outside of my recurring bills.

**AmyMCGS** · 02-28-2007, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by Grayce

I don't count paying regular bills like hydro or water as spending. Most of those are debited out of my account automatically. For me spending is when I go out an buy something, or order something. If I place a Sears order I would count that as spending. If I buy groceries, gas or a chocolate bar I would count that as spending. If I give my DD money for a field trip I count that as spending.

Pretty much the same here.... any money spent other than regular bills counts for me. I don't count gas, though, as it's a necessity for us. If I go in the gas station and buy a soda, though, I'd count that.

**cara-lynne** · 02-28-2007, 10:48 AM

I try to spend on Sunday's (pay the bills, gas up the car and buy groceries and supplies for the week), after that if I spend ANY money aside from auto deductions for bills, I call it a spend day!