No Spend Month Challenge: July 2011

Last July, I did No Spend Month Experiment, and I am planning to on doing it again this year, hope you can join me in my adventure. We have reduced our wants and simplified our life a little but there is always a possibility of meeting our budget or not.

I will post my spending for the week, every Monday sometimes to calculate and write up a post about it.

What is No Spend Month Challenge?

Family: 4 people: Me, Zenguy, 6 Year Old R, and 2 Year old P

Budget for July: We can only spend $300 whole month

What is Included in $300.00 Budget:

  • Groceries
  • Eating out
  • Entertaining Guests and Friends
  • Clothing
  • Gas for cars
  • Any entertainment such as books, movies, dvds, museum etc
  • Household cleaning and toiletry items
  • Household repairs
  • Credit card bills
  • Any want items such as books, toys, snacks, magazines, gadgets
  • Gardening supply (if any)
  • Any Household items

What is not included in $300 budget?

  • Rent/Mortgage
  • Savings and investment (if any)
  • Health and doctor’s visit and medicines
  • Gifts, Charities (we do not want to skimp on it too much)
  • Job related expenses
  • Any unforeseen life emergency situation
  • Utility bills
  • Kids education related expenses
  • Any gifts card and cash gifts from family or friends
  • If we sell any household items on craigslist, it can be used for expense if needed.

No Spend Month Challenge Plan:

  • I have no set plan. Either I have become too lazy or too comfortable that I am going to take one step at the time.
  • No pre flling of gas in cars
  • No buying groceries from June budget

No Spend Month 2010 Challenge Recap:

If you want to check out the last year’s experience, see below;

No Spend Moth Challenge: Introduction $0

No Spend Month Challenge: Update 1 Money Spent 1st week: $104.73

No Spend Month Challenge: Update 2 Money Spent 2nd week: $33.72

No Spend Month Challenge: Update 3 Money spent 3rd week: $97.15

No Spend Month Challenge: Update 4 Money spent4th week: $18.50

No Spend Month Challenge: Take Away: Total Money Spent: $299.66

Would you like to Join the Challenge?

In past, I know many people who have done no spend month challenge in past such as Rachel, Sharon, Kait and Carla. I am not sure who else other than myself are going to do No spend month challenge. You are more than welcome to join and let me know, so I can add it to the post and more the merrier! Join in.

See Updates and Progress here:

No Spend Month Challenge Update 1

No Spend Month Challenge Update 2

No Spend Month Challenge Update 3

No Spend Month Challenge Update 4

No Spend Month challenge Take away (2011)

Zengirl

11 comments

  1. Glenn@gijoh.com says:

    No spend month?

    My income has greatly increased these past few months. I wouldn’t want to try that. I want to spend a lot.

    Well, I could try it as a challenge after a few months

  2. ZenGirl says:

    Glenn,

    I am happy for your success! You surely deserve to have fun and spend money. You can help some homeless person with bit of food next time, if you have plenty to share.

    I am doing this experience because I choose to. Thanks for your comment though.

  3. Betsy Bargain says:

    Zengirl,

    I know you can do it. You did a great job with your No Spend Challenge last year. I can’t wait to read about how you met your challenge!

  4. Sibyl says:

    Preeti: I was fascinated by this challenge last year and am looking forward to watching you do it successfully again:) I really appreciate all the discipline and commitment it takes.

  5. Carla says:

    I can’t wait to see how you do this month! I’m currently doing a “Fiscal Fast” that ends in 2 days… I’ll be updating tonight on how Day.5 went! I dont think ill be doing a “no spend month” however because I’ve promised my girls a couple summer activities that will cost $$, (that ive already saved or that purpose), so maybe I could? Hmmm…. Good luck this month, I’ll be following!

  6. ZenGirl says:

    Betsy,

    Thank you for vote of confidence. I am looking forward to this month, although it might be easy, as things are expensive. But, I am going to try for sure.

  7. ZenGirl says:

    Sibyl,

    Thanks, I think this time, it might be bit more challenging but I am up for the challenge. No matter what happens, I would have learn something.

  8. ZenGirl says:

    Carla,

    I am going to check out you fiscal fasting posts! I can imagine if you plan any summer activities or travel, this budget sure is tough to meet. We have so far no plan to travel but hopefully still do things around locally. Thanks for showing support.

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