For the past few years, I've done some sort of money saving challenge for the month of February. When I'd first graduated from college, my roommate/hetero-life-partner and I challenged each other not to eat out at restaurants for the entire month of February in an attempt to save money and learn to cook for ourselves. This soon expanded to not making any unnecessary purchases, and eventually became known as superfrugality month. Although Amy no longer participates (to my knowledge), I soon convinced D to join in on the fun. Mainly so that he wouldn't tempt me with wanting to go out to eat so often, but partially because I really needed a partner to keep me honest. Last year, despite some transgressions made when D was out of town, I saved about $330 by abstaining from non-essentials. So, *brisk clap*, Superfrugality Month 2012 starts tomorrow!
The rules:
1. No unnecessary purchases. At all.
2. Coffee from Starbucks, eating meals out (even lunch), and emergency gelato runs are all classified as "unnecessary purchases." Sadly.
3. The money that remains in our accounts at the end of the month will be pushed over to savings and the trip fund.
4. Seriously, no unnecessary purchases. NO coffee.
January was kind of rough on the finances, what with an un-saved-for trip to DC and the CHUNK of change I had to fork over for new glasses (someone suddenly has astigmatism, blerg), but my hope is that February's austerity measures more than make up for that deficit. Superfrugality month is ideally positioned after the holidays so that abstaining from non-essential spending is actually possible, and it's during the shortest month of the year so that it doesn't feel as though it drags on too too much (although this time around I've been foiled by the leap year, drat). The key, I've found, is to seek out free things to do on the weekends and to meal plan like your life depends on it. We've been slowly stocking up on cupboard and freezer meals for "emergencies" when we don't really feel like cooking and would rather order a pizza, and I've made a list of free things to do and museums that we're going to visit during February. I've even been stockpiling giftcards to get me through if I feel the need to shop. So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to enjoy this Starbucks before I go out to eat for the last time for a whole month. Anyone else want to join in? Or am I totally crazy for these self-imposed Spartan levels of frugality?
5 comments:
I am sooooo joining in! I was just thinking about it this morning, hoping that I'd remembered correctly that it's February. So, yay! :)
I'd love to join! Although I think I'm going to have to tweak my rules since I already have a few dinner plans for next month :/
Maybe I'll try no eating out for lunch, and no unnecessary shopping. :)
haha, i tooottally do not have the willpower for this. and i'm taking a trip to florida in february that will be very unfrugal. i abstain! :)
I would like to do this one month this year, but am not sure February is the right month, as it's my birthday month, which inevitably means birthday meals and such... But I do want to see how little I can spend one month this year!
I have been really cutting down on eating lunches out and buying coffee from Caribou or Starbucks. I actually haven't bought a coffee since my trip to Chicago - so 2 weeks ago. That's pretty good for me!
This is such a great idea!
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