My mom reflects on her No Spending Month!

I am so pround of my mom and asked her to send me her thoughts about her No spending Month. Here is what she had to say:

Now I am excited to tell my story of what I have gained and learned from Jamie's challenge at the end of Jan to have a no spend month in Feb. Probably the most challenging day of Feb was Valentine’s Day, it was the first one in our married life of nearly 55 years that we didn't go out to eat either for lunch or dinner. I was proud that I could keep my promise to myself and was creative in fixing a very special dinner at home. I am also excited to say that I filled my car with gas on the 31st of Jan, and by March 3rd I still had a 1/4 of a tank left. When you don't go anywhere to spend money, you don't spend the gas and it was amazing. I found an inner strength that has given me the ability to know that I can do anything if I want it bad enough. I have been trying for many years to complete my husband’s life story and have been spending my days at home accomplishing so much in the goal. It is March 20th today and I feel like by the end of this month I will have completed the biggest part of his story. The first part of March I committed to exercising at the local Rec. Center in Bountiful, 5 days a week. I have been consistent in walking 30 minutes on the treadmill each week day of this month and will be doing it until the 30th. (And she plans on continuing after that too!) Along with eating the proper food choices I am seeing a slow weight loss that has been a plus. I tell myself every day, that it doesn't matter if I am loosing, what matters is that I am taking care of my health.

In regards to our financial budget, I have to say that the biggest decision to not have my American Express Costco card was a difficult one, but I knew that it was too easy to use the card and have that debt to pay out of the next month’s money. There is truly a freedom without owing later what you thought you needed and couldn’t do without. When I traveled a lot, I would benefit with 2 nice refunds at the beginning of each new year, but when I realized how much I had to spend to be getting checks for over $100 each, it wasn't worth the debt stress each month, for it never was the same amount and I bought more than I would have if it had been cash. Believing in a principle is one thing, but to live it is another. I am so appreciative and grateful to my daughter Jamie for her challenge and her example, you really can teach an 'ole dog new tricks'. I still don't have any desire to go shopping or spend needless gas each week. I am looking forward to eating out soon, but only when I can afford it.

Yesterday when I picked up my prescription at Smith's, there was an offer of $25.00 credit for transferring a prescription from another pharmacy. So along with saving on my prescriptions, each one gives me 50 reward points towards money off gas. In Jan, I got 30 cents off per gal. The credit of $ 25.00 will be used when I go grocery shopping next time. I won't be running off to Costco very often because I will be without my membership I won't be charging my gas there either. I regularly shop at Smith’s and now with prescriptions adding to the total, buying gas at Smith's will be cheaper too.

Thank you Jamie for your love and support. Mom

Organizing School papers

Having five kids means having a lot of paper coming into our house. I had to find a way to organize the kids school papers, special cards and momentoes. One year the boys came home from school with these boxes that they decorated in school. They are the perfect size for papers (12.25x9.25x3), close and stack nicely. These boxes are from Tharco (M-419), but you can purchase them at Xpedx for $2.59. I use these for more than just my kids school papers. I have one that I have all the recepts, paint cards, carpet samples and contacts that I used when we finished our basement, and past tax papers.

No spending month

So normally February is our "no Spending Month", the month that we don't buy anything extra or anything that we don't need. Unfortunately this year it just didn't work out. I had a bunch of lab work that needed to be done, doctor visits for me and the kids and my focus just wasn't there. We will have a "No Spending Month", but it will have to be later. I did challenge my mom to take February and see what she was capable of. I was not too hopeful that she would do it, or even stick with it. I was surprised to find out that she had made a commitment to me and herself to do it. She would call me every few days and keep me posted on her success and struggles. She would let me know where she was struggling and I would give her ideas and suggestions on how she could save money. (She called and found out she can get her prescriptions for a lot cheaper than she was getting them, which is going to save her a LOT in the months to come!) She never called to complain, and in fact, would thank me for giving her this challenge ever time. She decide to stop using her AM EX, (I had been telling her that for years, but she had to figure it out on her own, which was great!) and even chose not to renew her Costco membership. I gave my mom $20 with a note on it in the beginning of the month that said it was for an emergency. She said she wasn't going to use it and was going to stick to her plan.
Yesterday my parents came out and my mom gave me my $20 back. I am so proud of her and what she has FINALLY learned about herself. One, she can do anything she puts her mind to. Two, she has very few needs that can easily be met with the money she brings in and a little planning. And best of all, don't give up on yourself. Believe in yourself and don't give up! My mom said she had so much fun doing the challenge that she is now challenging herself in other areas. I could not have asked for a better outcome. What a wise woman to listen to her youngest daughter. ;)
I would challenge everyone to see what you are capable of. Have a "No Spending Month". You will quickly find out that it is not just about the money. You will feel more empowered in your life and look at things much differently. The little pain you may feel in the beginning, will be worth the reward in the end. And hey, if anything, you will have a bunch of extra money to spend at the end of the month. :)