No Spend Challenge Update

Friday morning I decided to take another look through my gift stash and struck gold. I had a stepping stone making kit that would work just great for a girl. I try to not give more "stuff" for gifts, so this also went a long with my gift philosophy. Her mom probably isn't too stoked but that really isn't my problem right? Money saved $15.00.

Friday I washed jeans and found $7 in my pocket! Love that.

Z's birthday party was at McDonalds. When I went to pick him up M requested a chocolate shake. Their shake machine was broken so I ordered a sundae instead. Spent $1.07 from the found money. He didn't eat it and I found it melted a few hours later.

By the end of Friday I was starting to worry that M wasn't going to eat anything at all. Thursday night he had tried a Michelena's Alfredo Lasagna with Broccoli and eaten a bunch. When I asked him what he wanted for dinner he wanted another one of those. So I ran to the store (amazing what a starving child will do for your resolve to spend money). I grabbed 3 plus 2 mac and cheese. I also grabbed 4 Powerades, figuring he'd probably drank a total of 4 oz in the last 24 hours and I was worried about dehydration. I grabbed a pumpkin pie and a package of broccoli cheese soup. Total $23.50.

Saturday my mom called and wondered what she bring M while he was recuperating. I suggested we just head to the bookstore together so I could get something I knew he would like, plus I always buy my kids a few books for Christmas and I wanted to check out the offerings. I found a series that another little boy recommended while I was there. Total $39.51.

Today was a No Spend day. Good for me, I can actually do it.

I need to go fill prescription tomorrow or Tuesday. I can't decide if I should use the one that gives you a $20 GC to Smiths, or the $30 GC to Rite-Aid. I think Smiths is more versatile, but $30 is pretty good. I'll have to think about it overnight.

I am surprised at how hard it is to not spend money. I am realizing I am a convenience shopper. For instance I bought the Christmas books because I don't foresee myself heading to Barnes & Noble again and I didn't want to make a special trip. But I should have checked to see if Costco carries the same series, because if they do and they are cheaper, I will be taking the ones from Barnes & Noble back. Which is an extra trip. Note to self, think things through. It's not like I won't be in the neighborhood in the next month. Observation noted.

I'm hoping by Tuesday or Wednesday M is eating again and a wider range of foods. I don't want to head to the store again. Which reminds me, I should mix up some milk tonight and put it out in the fridge in the garage. Or mix it into the 1/2 gallon we have left to stretch it and mask the taste a bit. I don't foresee needing anything else in the next week, so besides the prescriptions, I should be able to stay out of the store.