I've heard many times that it takes only seven days to start a bad habit, but 21 days to break it. Lately, I've been spending way too much time and money shopping. It started with purchasing wedding-clothes and wedding-items, but all the extra time spent in stores and shopping online has lead to the acquisition of new shoes, clothes, and small household items that are definitely NOT wedding-related. To nip this in the bud, and help me break my bad spending habit, I'm going on a 21 Day Saving Spree! It's going to be as much fun, if not more, than a shopping spree (really!). I'll get started with a few ground rules, which may need to be adjusted as I go...
1. Day 1 of the Saving Spree is today, July 11th and day 21 is Sunday, July 31st. The "week" starts on Monday.
2. I will allow myself one lunch out a week with my coworkers; all other meals must be brought from home. No purchased snacks!
3. In addition to the one lunch, Fiancé and I can eat out once a week.
4. No shopping online or in a store unless it's for something I specifically need. In the case of a necessary purchase, there is a three-day waiting period, during which I must post about my anticipated purchase on the Savvy Saver. If at the end of three days, I still think the purchase is a good one, I will be allowed to go ahead and make the purchase. The purpose of the waiting period is to weed-out all impulse purchases.
5. The only purchases that are exempt from the three-day waiting period are groceries, gas, and personal care items that are replacements of existing items (no new makeup, lotion, shampoo, etc., but I can buy replacements for items that run out).
The only place I anticipate having problems is this coming weekend, and this is where I need advice. We are planning a camping trip in the Wisconsin Dells with friends, and will likely eat out a couple times, as well as visit some attractions and go shopping. I will do my best to only eat out once (breakfast on Sunday), but if the group wants to eat out, we may eat out more. I know already that I won't be purchasing anything at the little touristy emporiums (this will be so difficult!), and we'll have to be very choosy about the attractions we visit so we don't spend too much. I'm wondering if it wouldn't make sense to just take a certain amount of cash for the weekend, and let everyone know that we have a budget and when it's spent we are done.
I'm open to suggestions and additional rules, as well as additional participants!
Update: additional rule
6. Due to a personal weakness for almost everything sold at Target... under no circumstances am I allowed to go to Target, Target.com, nor Slave to Target. I will be removing Slave to Target from my blogrolls.
1 comments:
Hi Savvy, Here is my 2cents on this post. Before you think of buying anything maybe it would help to ask/think 1) Is it because I think it's cute? But cute wears out and sometimes ends up in the garage.(from Calif) 2) Is it the advertising? Is this to fill an emotional void in my life? How did my parents manage without this product? Once I purchase a product my "lust" factor towards it goes way down. As for your vacation trip, I think pictures with friends are the best for memories of the trip. And I suppose you can purchase a magnet,spoon or shot glass of your trip if you are a serious magnet collector,spoon collector,or shot glass collector. Or you could save that money up for a romantic vacation in Tahiti for your 5th wedding anniversary. Good luck. I look forward to reading more of your blogs. P.s. They are building a Target right across the street from where I live. Yikes!
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