Well, I am starting the challenge today, all ready it's been tested!!! We woke up late, and normally, I would swing thru the donut shop for the kids to eat. But, I stuck to my guns, and they had to swig down some rice krispies for breakfast. I am also going to add personally to my challenge to not eat out this month. I sat down and was amazed at how much I spent this past week on eating out ($46.00 ) I could have fed us for an entire week on that or made a CC payment. The madness has to stop.

I have got to get threw the stuff in freezer. We have so much. alot of stuff i forgot about. some I hope I can do this.

Great challenge ladies!..I'm gonna try and use up what I have. I'll only take cash - 20 bucks or less- to the grocery store, and won't use a cart so I won't stock up anymore. it's gonna be a looong month and I need you guys to hold my hand!

Each day we should post what we did/didn't do for the challenge. That way we can support each other.

This am I went to the discount bread store. I wanted to stop at Stuff, ETC but I didn't. Just kept on driving!!!!!

We worked late at the office last night, until after 7:00, it was sooo tempting to run thru Mickey D's, but I didn't. I already had ground beef thawed so I made stroganoff with canned biscuts and green beans in less than 30 minutes. I figured it up that I saved $19 yesterday by not going thru the drive thru. Yea Me :D

Last night we went to the circus and got home much later than anticipated- needless to say we were all dragging our feet this morning. Instead of making her buy a lunch- I sucked it up and made her a lunch. We were almost late for the bus, but it made me happy that I saved $1.75!

I'm so happy to see others doing this too.... DH and I had "The Big Talk" last week, which scared us both half to death. We have so much debt, purchased a house last year during the big "boom" which has now "Bust"... and our spending exceeds our income every month by nearly $3,000. We can't drain our savings any longer to close that gap each month and have become desperate for fear of losing our house.

So, we decided to see if we could go 2 months without spending ANYTHING that isn't absolutely necessary.. just to see if it's even feasible to try to stay in this house. Soooooooo hard to do, as I spend mindlessly and never know prices of anything.

We were running late for school this morning and my "auto-pilot" was about to steer me to the McD's drive-thru....but I managed to stay strong and find some scraps in the house for the 3 little ones to eat. I feel like I am hiding in my house.. like a bomb shelter or something... and the bomb that could go off at any moment is my uncontrollable spending. EEEEK!

So far I am doing very well though.... I only spent $1.72 that was not necessity... and that was in 6 whole days!!!! There may be hope for me after all...

Kelly

[QUOTESo far I am doing very well though.... I only spent $1.72 that was not necessity... and that was in 6 whole days!!!! There may be hope for me after all...[/quote]

Good for you!!! I spent 5.45 yesterday at a thrift store, but that was for two wal-mart sacks stuffed full of winter clothes for the kids. My poor son looks like Jethro from the Beverly Hill Billies with his pants so short, he grew at least 4 inches since last winter.

Still hanging in here... this is day 7 for me of not spending anything other than that $1.72. It was so tempting to stop for a coffee today though. I actually like McD's coffee (and it's easier zipping through their d/thru than hauling kids out of the car and into a Starbuck's!!!) so I am missing their coffee's. BUT that's $1.39 each stop that I am saving... must keep focused! I have found that I have more TIME this week, without all my excess stopping and shopping everywhere. That's a good thing. I even found some extra time to do some phonics with my 4 year old ((he loves this, it's not a punishment lol!!)) so I'm feeling that I've had a little more time with the kids than usual.

I am enjoying reading everyone's posts, comments, tips etc... what a great site.

Kelly

I am doing pretty good so far, I had to go to Costco to pick up a prescription and I left with just that! That is a miracle for me-I always get so tempted by the other foods, movies, books etc. I made a plan for the weekend with the kids that involved playing games, watching movies we already own so that way I won't be tempted to spend.