This will be a good step! I've been tracking (most) expenses since Jan 1 and I'm trying to anticipate expenses each month. I've been doing pretty well with our joint expenses, so yay for me!

DH and I don't add in things we spend with our "own" money each month (money in our own checking accounts for lunches out, little splurges), but that's been allowing us some freedom.

FT Jones is a GREAT project for the year. Thanks, Kim!

This one is good is a good one. we are not putting in to many wants yet. but it does make you think before you buy things.

I have stayed Home since last Sat.!! I made my modified list, and I have been wanting the Couponizer, Its a great system for organizing coupons, everywhere I looked it was $19.99 but I found a site where it would only cost me $18. and that included shipping! SoI did what you said, I thought about it for the last 2 days, and decieded that it IS something I will use a lot, so I bought it today! Here is the link if you want to look!
The Couponizer

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If you tell your secrets to the wind... Don't be mad if it tell's the trees.

This is a really helpful step for me. I am so bad with impulse purchases. It is usually small $$ amounts, but they really do add up - a magazine here or there, quick trips to Goodwill, SA, etc.

I, too, am finding that just by staying home, I typically lose the urge to go shop. I had thought about going to Fred's yesterday (they double coupons up to 70 cents on Saturday). But there was really nothing that I NEEDED, so I just didn't go. I am proud of my self because if I had gone, even if I didn't buy anything, it would have cost me a couple of dollars in gas money.


Kim

This is a big realization! WTG!

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I probably won't ace this test, but if sure sounds way easier than the first one. Luckilly, DH and I aren't big shoppers, we're rarely in a store for other than grocery shopping.

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Chopey

I am going to continue with the Freeze. I did pretty well last month, but could do better!
This month I need to re-stock our groceries because we are close to empty!!!! I had a pretty nice stock from Christmas.

I try to only buy groceries that are on sale. I love the bogo sales because I then stock up on the things we use a lot of!!

I have trouble with the "wants". I really like the idea of having to think about it a couple of days before buying it. I usually loose the desire for the item or find an alternative. Sometimes if I tell my husband about the "want" he might even remember something else I can use that we already own or have a less expensive way of retrieving the item.

My DH's birthday is this month and we are starting the modified spending freeze today. I am worried that if we have an approved dollar amount he'll know what I'm getting him!

So I decided that I'm going to take out an approved maximum from the ATM, buy the gift and after his birthday deposit the rest back into our account.

Has anyone else come across something like this? What did you do?

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