Monday, August 15, 2022

Money Monday-September Challenge Idea

     


     I've done a couple challenges that were fun, but not necessarily walloping successes. There was the Dollar Tree Challenge, back when things were still all $1.00. I did a $3 meal challenge. I got a few prickly comments, but a couple even ruder emails. I don't take the criticism too much to heart. These challenges were for experiment and entertainment. I've got too much going on this month, but come September, my home life does a pretty big turn, and I have head space to be creative, and challenge myself fiscally. 

     I could try Kim's chart, and see how long it would take to save $1,000 in envelopes based on change and loose bills. Problem though, I rarely deal with cash. I could do a progressive meal challenge. $2, $3, $4 etc. meals. DH already thinks I'm kooky after trying to feed him lentils, so what's another trial for the sake of learning something new? 

     Here's a few I've seen on blogs and YouTube and Newsweek had an article that captured a bunch of challenges. I could combine a few into say a utility or series of grocery challenges. I could see how little gas I use or how few miles I drive challenge. 

  • Pantry Challenge: Stretching out shopping as long as possible without shopping in September. Only shop once I've truly exhausted options and am forced to feed DH lentils. 
  • Extreme grocery budget challenge: Sort of the same, but rather than stretch out, create a super low target, like 50% or less of normal grocery and household budget. I'd need to decide this early and divide by weeks.
  • No eating out challenge
  • Free entertainment for a month challenge ( not including streaming/cable services already paid for) 
  • No using my clothes dryer at all ( exception, bath towels perhaps)
  • No heat or AC challenge (September is a crap shoot in Minnesota)
  • $10 meal challenge- how many meals can I make that are well balanced, protein, carb, two servings fruit and veg, type meals, not just beans and rice type.
  • Only shopping loss leaders/ walking to my local store. This would save gas, possibly grocery funds, push me to be creative, and push more walking steps. 

     I'm open to ideas. This would just be for fun and personal challenge, but I have real goals and ambitions to apply any savings towards as well, that I'll share in future blog posts. I have access to warm clothing, a full kitchen and appliances, and have the luxury of working from home, and stores in walking distance. Those in itself take away any risk. I won't do a challenge that tells anyone else how budgeting is to be done, but if it gives ideas to stretch a budget, that'd be a win. I'd share the good, the bad, and the ugly,  failures and waivers. What would you like to read about? Have you thought to do a monthly fiscal challenge? What might you try with me? 

49 comments:

  1. Hi Sam, We tried a "Food Stamp Challenge" where we limited ourselves to the government-set food basket allowance, which for the two of us was $340 for 4 weeks. Our normal budget was $440 in 2019. This is for food only. Our current average is $550 CDN! My current challenge is to select a few items we love but are offensively high-priced, stop buying them, and find acceptable substitutes!

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    1. I've done this myself Dar. Was good to acknowledge how tough things could be

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    2. I have read through comments as I filter first and this came up frequently. I wanted to acknowledge that we do have fully equipped kitchen, freezer, spices so shouldn't be as hard as people that might have limitations to where they can prepare meals. I also won't have busy kid life come September so have time. Thank you both for the suggestion

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  2. Sounds fun! I'm in for a challenge! I never carry cash either, so couldn't do Kim's savings charts or envelopes though. Maybe a grocery challenge of some sort? Or a list of basic ingredients and see what meals we might come up with for a week? I need some new ideas anyway.

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    1. I think cooking on limited ingredients is a fun one, brain teaser and sort of a puzzle
      I might combine several challenges.

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  3. I like the no eating out challenge, and that's pretty easy for me. I rarely do it.

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    1. That would be a hard one with my husband. If I do that, he'd be excluded at lunch. I'd fail week one.

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  4. I like Dar's suggestion to find replacements for some of the higher priced items. I also like a freezer, fridge or pantry challenge, where you are focused on using up, say 2 items/week. It then leads you to meal planning around those items, and has the side benefit of clearing space, & hopefully reducing your grocery budget, but is mostly focused on the reducing waste side. I need one of those myself!

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    1. Both are good ones! Anything that ensures we don't waste something is a good challenge.

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  5. I am doing eat from the pantry except for a small list that covers dairy and a few veggies/ fruit. Budget is set for $50 a month starting Sept. I am STOCKED Lol.

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    1. We would be literally eating beans and rice daily, not that it's a bad thing, as I'm not nearly so stocked. I like challenging myself to some sort of pantry challenge.

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  6. Hubby just mentioned he thought of how long can we go before turning on the furnace.... Daughter 1 doesn't turn it on until Nov and doesn't turn AC on until June (we are in northwest Ohio)

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    1. I am for November 1 for furnace, but if we get a cold October, I lose that battle with DH. June is probably my sim for AC too.

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  7. Good ideas. I’ve been spending too much- just bought some $150 shoes that were $30 off, an artificial Christmas tree 50% off, 4 bags of pecans, and printer ink. Ugh. I need comfortable shoes snd I like this brand, pecans were on sale too, and … also I have 2 expensive trips planned- to SF to see my new GS and DD has just told me they’re moving to Brooklyn next month instead of Palo Alto. Ca so I want to visit before or maybe for Christmas. I never eat out- last time was February when my brother was visiting. I don’t get take out ever so cook or eat leftovers 7 days a week unless I’m invited somewhere. It does get a bit tedious. I’m anxious to see what you come up with- I’ve noted every purchase and meal this year in my planner so it’s all written down!

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    1. I think budget challenges are great after or before an expensive month. August is expensive then we move into Holiday season. This might be several challenges.

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  8. Oops forgot to say Nan! I’m hungry!

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    1. Funny, we get to know each other and I had already thought it sounded like you, Nan! Thanks for confirming.

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  9. I decided to reduce my grocery spend for the whole year. Last year I spent £2271.92, i.e. £6.22 per day. (It had crept up a little during the pandemic.) My daily average so far this year has been £4.39. That is similar to the national average spend for a single person household which is £4.41 but the national figure is just food and does not cleaning materials etc which I include in my grocery figures. As the national figure is based on 2020 it is a little out-of-date. I am avoiding eating out and my figure for that is less than 15p per day, i.e. a very occasional cup of coffee. I am not exactly challenging myself but I am tracking every penny.

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    1. You're doing phenomenal! I try to seperate food from household, but dip between budgets.

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  10. I admire you for constantly challenging yourself, Sam! I'd have no problem with the no heating (we don't have A/C) in September or the no tumble drying, us Brits love to line-dry our washing. The $10 challenge sounds like fun - not eating out or not spending money on entertainment sounds like our lives during lockdown, it was okay at the time but I wouldn't choose to go back to it! xxx

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    1. I really think I'll add something with the dryer. Clotheslines seem to be for sheets and blankets. I hang all my skirts, dresses, and nice shirts as I want them to save shape but could do more with better organization. We'll do entertainment, but if I go that route, I'll sim for free. But, free might mean having friends over for beer and homemade pub food, poker nights with a bottle brought along from our stock and dessert, walks with friends followed by a gathering at our homes, ( all good and beverage through my grocery budget), and other things that are local, fun, and at no cost or covered through another fund. I agree- I don't want to not much with people.

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  11. I have full faith in you that you will succeed with this.

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    1. Thanks,Spo. It'll be fun and I clearly have good ideas from people.

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  12. Not good related but about three years ago my daughter then 31 did a year of no clothes buying except good pair tennis shoes and a yoga pants she needed/got at the start of January. This is when she was full time in the office. She’s always been a very stylish well dressed person and found she had plenty! To some clothes shopping wouldn’t make much of a dent but she (and I love clothes shopping). I’m thinking of doing this. I have clothes to last a lifetime.

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    1. I like that challenge too. I did that in 2019, (maybe 2020) sort of, allowed myself I think no more than $80 for all clothes for year. In 2021 I challenged myself to nothing but thrifted, with the exception being needed shoes and dress for weddings we were attending.

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  13. This past weekend I went through our pantry and realized we have a LOT of beans and pasta. Nothing close to expiration and I'd like to keep it that way. So I'm doing a bean dish and a pasta dish weekly for the next month or so to get the stock down a bit.
    I'm looking forward to what you come up with and maybe I'll join you.

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    1. I'm excited to read what you make. I'm doing more cooking with dry beans and now love them compared to canned.

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  14. Since the pandemic and we were subjected to the "vaccine pass" not eating out has been easy for me to adopt, even though though the pass has been dropped for a few months now. Also, I will never get that it's difficult to not use a dryer. I have one but haven't used it in maybe 15 years. I get that it might be a pain to have wet washing hanging around on drying racks but apparently the dryer is one of the biggest energy sucks out. I don't know anyone who uses one here. Different strokes for different folks I guess!

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    1. It's DH. He loves eating out so I'd need to exempt his lunches. Clothes lines are just so limited here and having laundry hang about just doesn't seem to be a Minnesota thing. Personally, many of my clothes are hung up to dry, but that's more about conserving the clothing not economy. That might be a good challenge for me.

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  15. I enjoy reading about & doing different challenges. I always learn something. In 2007 I did a buy no clothes or shoes for a year, and it really changed my spending habits for the long term, I got back to mending & using what I had, I put clothes away for a year or so & then get them out again, remake them etc. I don't use a dryer, they cost so much to run & the sun is free, a bit like Treaders most people hang their washing here. Look forward to seeing what challenge you decide on.

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    1. I think it started going by the wayside in the US when many sub divisions said no clothelines, but really patience for waiting and then ironing went by the wayside.

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  16. I am always up for a challenge. I think it is funny that your husband rebelled at the lentils. I am making a big pot of chili to use up all the tomatoes and peppers from the garden. But I will join whatever you guys decide to do.

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    1. He dashed my idea to make them in tacos and pasta dishes! Still, I can use for myself and stretch ground beef. I'm invigorated to try new ideas to challenge myself. I've got ideas as to where to direct any savings too.

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  17. I like reading about all these challenges! I lasted about 3 months at the start of the pandemic with no eating out - then I rioted, lol. I hate cooking, and I was doing every single meal, so we ended up doing Door Dash once a week for a year or so.

    My big spendy area is clothes, of course. I've done a "secondhand only" year, including one-in/one-out, as well as a 30-item capsule challenge over a year (every month had a different 30-item capsule). But I love the Zen aspect to shopping (I find it very relaxing and calming), and the rush of having something new. I also don't spend money on anything else other than groceries, and I don't begrudge my hobby indulgences.

    I really like the idea of singling out "expensive" things and finding alternate/cheaper items to replace them. I have been eating popcorn only as my fancy snack! No more $5.00 bags of chips!

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    1. The thing about fiscal challenges is that money can be directed to what we love. You love your shopping trips, so saving elsewhere makes better sense. I spend too much every where! I will likely try a few different and combine strategies.

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  18. I love a good challenge! I always try to challenge myself to only eating out of my pantry, but I can usually only make it 2 weeks lol. Not that I'm out of food, I'm just craving fresh food (lettuce, spinach, strawberries, etc).

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    1. Two weeks is great, and manageable to most. It ensures you're not wasting food.I agree fresh stuff though really helps the variety.

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  19. It's always good to challenge yourself every so often :). I can easily do the no eat out challenge, haha. No can do on not using a dryer. DH (who does the laundry) would flip his lid if he had to hang dry all the loads of laundry he does each week, LOL. Myself - I'm trying to challenge myself to eat better and cut down on sugar and processed food. I'm making super baby steps progress. Or maybe I should challenge myself not to complain! LOL!

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    1. It's funny that Treader days she doesn't know anyone that uses a dryer, and other than sheets and bedding, I don't know anyone that line dries clothes. I think it's a good challenge though with energy bills high. I grew up with a clothesline, but also a lot of laundry washed in an old hand washing machine. Prior to age of 13, we didn't have a washer or dryer so it was this, is hauling a few loads in town each week to the laundry mat.

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  20. I get rude comments on my blog from time to time. I just delete them as someone needs to get a life. 😂

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    1. These were odd ones. Accusing me of trying to push unhealthy meals on people in my DT and $3 meal challenge. They were experiments, nothing more. I'm sorry you have gotten rude remarks. I love your blog.

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  21. My challenge right now is just making it to the kitchen to put lots of meat in the oven and then freeze whatever we cannot eat in about five days. Tommy washes and dries what I tell him to dry. Otherwise, I hang panties and my clothing in doorways. We have a clothesline, but it is farther than I can walk. We usually eat out only once a week, just at BK when we are out of town and Tommy will not eat a sandwich from home. We are doing the best we can, I think. But, will see what your challenge is.

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    1. You and Tommy have a system. It would be difficult if either of you lived alone but as a team you tackle what needs done.

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  22. I have done the EBT card challenge in 2016. I based it on Alabama's card for 2 adults which was 200 dollars a month at the time. It is very difficult, especially if you start the challenge assuming you have nothing on hand and have to purchase each item. We did it for 2 months and it took about 4 weeks to even have the barest pantry. It might have been the hardest thing I have ever done.

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    1. I'm leaning towards incorporating this challenge into some sort of challenge option. Of course I have all the conveniences of a modern and stocked kitchen. I imagine getting enough fresh food into the shops is the hardest.

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  23. We did a free entertainment challenge a few months ago. We're lucky that there's lots going on around here, and plenty of galleries are free. We also found quite a bit of free to air sport on tv, which was The Chap's idea, and quite enjoyable.

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    1. I think it should be doable too, but not isolating. You've given me ideas of what all could be part of a free entertainment month.

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  24. I am excited to see what challenges you will initiate. I like drying clothes on a line, but the humidity and the typical summer afternoon showers make it hard until about October/ November.

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    1. August was/ is an expensive month. Any challenges will jump start my resolve again to be mindful of where our money goes.

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