Here's my advice:
--Write down a list of what you "think" you need. Then give yourself a break from the list, come back to it, and cross of anything you really don't need.
--Go shopping with this list and only buy what's on the list
--Avoid stores that you have impulse buys in (I'm staying away from the Dollar Stores, book stores, and consignment stores)
--Avoid the clearance racks if you or your family really don't need new clothes--- it's just a temptation that is hard to say no to for some.
--Menu plan and stick to it.

Anyone have any other advice?

Great advice!

Another one is to be willing to return something if you've messed up and spent during the freeze.

And don't be discouraged when an unexpected need arises and you have to spend the money. I'm telling myself this today after just filling a $204 prescription for myself and $324 for immunizations for my dh (who is traveling overseas soon) all in one day!!!! What a stress on day 3 of the spending freeze but both were needs and not wants.

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Perhaps taking my husband's debit and card cards away from him! Plus changing the password on our eBay account! Agh!!!

Can you tell I just got off the phone from him?

--cut up 2 store credit cards--Kohl's and Belk
--have remembered the purpose of this challenge, and that it came at a needed time for me
--I have also thought of it as a game--kind of like the Survivor mentioned in the original challenge, I believe

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Heather

Great ideas!

My idea is to gather up all family members and plan free entertainment!

My kids got some boardgames for Christmas, we have a few movies at home that they like watching over and over, my daughter loves to just play house or dolls and is always asking me to play them with her. Between all of these things, we should be able to enjoy each other's time and company without shelling out money on entertainment during the freeze.

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Carly
SAHM to:
DS Levi (9)
DD Abbey (7)

They are all great ideas! I like deemoms advice about making the list and coming back to it!

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I am on day 6 of my own freeze, and the most helpful things I have so far are:

Stay away from the stores! Better yet even, stay home or at least at meal times! I've made myself wait to go to the store until I REALLY needed it!

Made some fun food that I don't normally make, as a little treat to myself. Simple things such as banana bread and lemon cake. I had the ingredients on hand and they make me feel as though I'm being extravagant.

Stay away from eBay and my shopping blogs that list the good deals. I've been deleting the online store sent sale flyer emails before even reading them.

Telling my family and close friends what I am doing, so they don't make suggestions that tempt to me that I'll have to turn down.

Half way through DH and I have planned a special treat if we can stick to our goal of no cheating -- dinner out ON A GIFT CARD we got as a gift over the holidays! :D

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Carrie
SAHM Momma to 2 sweet boys and a baby princess

Plan as many dinner menus as possible and when you make something big- make it with a plan of what you can make with the leftovers besides freezing it (ie from our pork roast yesterday, I took some of the leftovers and made pull pork sandwiches for dinner tonight- I froze the rest of the leftovers). Not only you can stretch what you have on hand and using it up- you also save yourself some time from thinking of what you are going to make for dinner!

I'm not doing my usual "get out of the house" routine. I always end up at some store.

I'm also going back to bed when my son gets on the bus in the morning. If I'm in bed, I can't do any damage on line or in the stores, plus I get some extra beauty sleep.

I'm guilty of the clearance racks, I'll buy just because it's a good deal and I know I'll need it later! So I'll be avoiding every store right now!!!!

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If it wasn't on a clearance rack, it's not in my house!