Let's have a challenge. This one is called the "I didn't buy it this summer" challenge.

This is the place where we're going to share success stories of things we really really wanted to buy and came very close to buying but didn't. Celebrate your success here! This is where you can get some positive reinforcement for making a difficult choice.

Anyone have a story for the "I didn't buy it this summer challenge" (It even counts if you did buy it and then returned it for a full refund.)

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We were waiting for the bible store to open today and walked into a shoe store, oh all the shoes! I saw a pair or two that I really like for dd and myself. I reminded myself that we didn't have the extra cash and we were out to buy a cover for my bible (they didn't have the right size for mine). So long story short we went home and did yardwork without spending a penny, hooray!!!

Today I didn't buy a pretty hutch that would have looked fantastic with my kitchen table. I was tempted, but I stayed strong.

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~Vicki~
Mama to Hailey, 4 and Ella, almost 2

The new Dean Koontz book. We were in the book store had it hand and my DH put it back (his choice). I was ok with it, he was ok with it and chose to put it back!

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

Great challenge!!

Next time I'm tempted to buy something I will think about this and motivate myself with the thought of writting it on this board.

My goal is to stay out of the stores as much as possible this summer but temptation to spend is everywhere.

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MARIE --- MOTHER OF TWO ANGELS (MOST OF THE TIME )

I have been wanting a black shelf to put in my dining room to display knick knacks. I have had an image of it in my head but haven't seen exactly what I had been looking for. THEN we were in target and I saw "THE" shelf. I was so excited. It was the perfect size, the perfect shape and would fit exactly perfectly on my wall! The problem: it was $50. There is NO WAY I was going to pay that for this shelf. I am bummed, but proud that after all this time of looking for the "perfect" shelf, I was able to walk away from it!

We've decided to hold off building a privacy fence to replace our existing chain link fence. We had planned it and had done the pricing on the lumber. We will probably do it next summer but we are really working on building up our savings now so that I can quit my job at the end of the year.

On a smaller scale, yesterday I picked up a bottle of baby wash and lotion for DD because I like the smell and Wal-Mart doesn't usually have both of the products in the same scent (and I had coupons). They were in the cart and I was walking away and decided to put them back. We don't need them right now and won't anytime soon. I managed to get out of Wal-Mart with just the diapers and dry milk that I went in for!

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I went to a woman's house yesterday that was Freecycling her leftover garage sale stuff. I got a nice bag of clothes, teacher gifts, a lazy susan, all things I can really use. She posted today that she put MORE stuff out on her lawn this morning and I stopped myself from going back to see what she added.

It didn't involve buying anything but it did involve not bringing more STUFF into my house, whether I can use it or not!

I was tempted to eat out for lunch today, but opted not to.

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OK, I don't know if this counts, but here's my "I didn't buy it"...Three weeks ago, I saw this awesome dress- it was a summery, perfect dress (the kind that you don't walk away from, because you've been looking for the perfect one for a while now) well, it was $40 and my limit was $30, so I walked away. I learned a huge lesson in walking away- because I received a 40% off coupon from that store a few days ago. I went back AND the dress was on clearence!! I ended up paying $ 6.80 for it! I couldn't believe it! It pays to walk away at times!