I just finished up my third 4-Week No-Spending Challenge. I am so thankful it’s over, too! While I love painting our family into a monetary corner occasionally. I love that we spend even less than our frugal selves normal spend. We always try to eat frugally, but during a no-spending challenge, we especially hunker down and eat through our pantry.
You can go here to read the exact parameters of the four week no-spending challenge. But I really only allowed myself to buy perishables for four weeks. We were to “shop” out of pantry and freezer for the month. I was a GREAT exercise, but it’s sure nice to be done.
What I learned:
We STILL could have spent even less. If you read my “Real Numbers: Weekly Grocery Snapshot,” you’ll see we normally spend just over $100 a week for a family of five (kids ages 10, 8, and 6). As we entered the lean month of August, I started with $105 for the four weeks. I made a little money with piano lessons. We also had access to our debit card, but I HATE using the debit card on groceries-cash is king. Anyway, we spent $149.02 for the whole 4 weeks combined!
That was fabulous for us. But like I said, we could have spent less. You know why? Because I had to throw out some veggies that went bad. Practically killed me inside. So I’ve learned to buy a little less produce than I think we’ll actually eat. We really aren’t a wasteful family and we are pretty proactive about using up leftovers. I still haven’t been able to avoid the veggies going bad at the bottom of the refrigerator.
What makes this so hard for me:
I can’t go buy the backup when I finish something. You see, when we finish something like a jug of honey, I already have the next jug in the pantry. That way I don’t get stuck buying something at an irrational price. And as soon that new jug comes into my house, I’m putting honey on my to-buy list ASAP. Without buying pantry staples, I actually ran out of cumin, chili powder, and a few other spices. I was so excited to refill my stashes this past weekend!
For your viewing pleasure, here are the real numbers, where I bought perishables, and how much we spent. I think it’s fun to see the weekly totals go down. The VERY last night, my husband had to go buy meat for a church men’s BBQ cookout, otherwise we would have even spent less.
| Store | Date | Amount Spent | Weekly Total | 4 Week Total |
| Week 1 | ||||
| Costco | 8/2/2015 | $7.48 | $42.67 | $149.02 |
| Coop | 8/3/2015 | $19.43 | ||
| TJ | 8/3/2015 | $12.50 | ||
| Coop | 8/3/2015 | $3.26 | ||
| Week 2 | ||||
| Fm | 8/4/2015 | $23.51 | $51.35 | |
| Albertsons | 8/4/2015 | $27.84 | ||
| Week 3 | ||||
| Snow Goose Produce | 8/11/2015 | $3.26 | $31.83 | |
| Trader Joes | 8/15/2015 | $14.10 | ||
| Costco | 8/16/2015 | $14.47 | ||
| Week 4 | ||||
| Fm | 8/18/2015 | $4.92 | $23.17 | |
| Fm | 8/18/2015 | $10.80 | ||
| WinCo | 8/24/2015 | $7.45 |
The Cheat:
I’ll admit, I cheated just a wee bit. I did stock up on 64 ounce apple juice containers ($0.99 each) and 2 pound cheese blocks ($2.99/2 pounds). I haven’t seen those price for YEARS, so I had to splurge. That was my Alberton’s expenditure on August 4. So there you go. I could’ve spent even less if I wouldn’t have done that. We actually could’ve spent about $120 for the four weeks, but I guess that gives me a goal for next time. And there will be a next time, as long as God gives me more days on His green earth. So do you forgive me for my little cheat? You would’ve done it too, right??
What I Learned:
This time it was very apparent to me that I overspent in the produce category. You see, I hate running out of stuff, but it also means we have to use the stuff too. Going forth I am going to be even more mindful of our produce spending, because I don’t want to be throwing money into the compost week after week.
This challenge has also encouraged me to go deep and clean out the freezer. I am trying to be more purposeful in using what we already have. And we ate stuff out of the freezer too, and guess what? It looks like we’ve hardly made a dent in the freezer. We are blessed! Thank you, Lord.
Now what about you? Are you up for a 4 Week No-Spending Challenge, or have you ever done one before?
For the No-Spending Challenge #1 parameters, go here. For the No-Spending Results #1, go here.
For the 4 Week No Spending Challenge #2 parameters, go here, and for the No-Spending Challenge Results #2, go here.
I am inspired to try not spending and shop out of my cupboards and refrigerator. I struggle with having too long days and making excuses to buy out. I am glad to see there is a community for help and we are here to strengthen each other.
I do have a few questions though, how do you account for items you need to purchase that are not grocery/perishable( like feminine products or house hold cleaners). Do you give yourself a budget for food or just say you have this much and use it up until it is gone ?
Thank you in advance for the advice and wise counsel.
Take care
It’s easy to make excuses to eat out, but I really try to keep the kitchen clean so I’ll use it, and I use the crock-pot a lot, too.
As far as feminine products are concerned, I use reusable homemade pads (http://practical-stewardship.com/2013/06/22/diy-panty-liners-tutorial/), so that’s a zero bill. Cleaners-I haven’t needed to buy for years. We are using up the last of our stock and also using homemade vinegar-based cleaners (http://practical-stewardship.com/2013/01/03/diy-green-all-purpose-3-ingredient-citrus-cleaner-recipe/)and I buy the 13 pound bag of Costco baking soda to clean also. It takes me a few years to get through that. Hope this helps! You can do it!!
I am so inspired by all of these no spend challenges! I WAS trying to do this for September, but…we’re needing to move and since this is the third time we’ve had to move in 2 years (thank you ratty Landlords! GRR!) We’re purchasing an RV to live in, to give our children some stability. Now, no matter where we go, our home looks the same. YAY!
I too hate throwing away produce, yet we do it, too! Yeck! So I’m going to have to cut back on that, too.
Hi Mandy. Sorry to hear about the abrupt move. Lord willing you’ll be able to get your no-spending challenge rolling soon. I hope you love it as much as we have!
I love this. I’ve always gardened, canned and shopped sales and stayed as stocked-up as I’m able. It really saves a lot. We raised 6 children. Back in the 90’s, when they were all still young, I was spending about $90 a week on food and other things (i.e. toilet paper, shampoo, etc.) We had a big garden, chickens and milk goats. I still have those things and the children are grown. Now, 20 years later, with all the children grown, married about out of the house, I probably spend about $50 a week for us. We eat very healthy, but I don’t go crazy with it. I buy real butter, but not the super expensive kind from organic grass-fed cows (although I wish I could!) We do eat meat, but sparingly. I make all of our bread. In fact, I make everything. 🙂
Hi Yolanda. I make a lot, but I wish I made everything like you! Congrats! What a blessing too, that your kids are married. You are right in that gardening, shopping sales and staying stocked, etc…can really save. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Stacy! Challenge accepted! I do have some questions though. Are you just tracking grocery items or spending as a whole? I mean what if you need to purchase something non-grocery? Do you count that too? Also what if you know you have something coming up that you’ll need to spend for like a meal outside the house? Do you set that money aside before the challenge or do you add this into you calculations too? I have a meal coming up in a week, but it’s for work and I will be reimbursed for it…. so that probably won’t count against our total, right? I have posted your challenge on FB asking if anyone else wants to join me, hope that’s ok. If not, let me know and I will take it down. 🙂 – Tierney
Share the challenge. Awesome!! I just track all grocery items. Anything else is on debit, so it’s already tracked, but honestly we don’t spend a lot on non-food items. Since it was August, we did buy school supplies. Those totals weren’t in my grocery totals above. If you are a spender, and need the parameters, I would say track it all. It’s REALLY interesting to see how much you spend. I wouldn’t count anything you’ll be reimbursed for. We had to eat out on a retreat and trip, and I didn’t count that from the grocery total, but again, if you need to count it for your sake, by all means do. It’s really flexible.
Blessings on your frugal endeavors!!