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
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