The Money Fast - Update #2

It's been 22 days since we began our money fast. We did great initially - and then a couple of things came up that were of course unexpected.

Animal medicine
Adult medical issues
Registration for sports (children)

We are continuing the fast until the end of the month, but not as vigilantly as we initially wanted to. One thing that is a big negative is that money fasting for even 30 days does not allow us to take advantage of sales for items we need to purchase anyway. For example, school supplies are all on sale this week. I am not so obtuse that I think that not spending the money now will save us in the future because it won't.

So, I'm doubting that we will continue a full money fast in the future. We are contemplating our options. We definitely want to continue the 'no eating out' we are doing. It's been incredibly better on our pocket book and our health. I also like that the money fast got us to thinking about options instead of buying. For example, we wanted to get a monopoly game for our family. I put my request out on freecycle and guess what?! Someone had a brand new, unwrapped game we were able to get (and yes we've played it already).

So many times the things we buy are not urgent to own and finding other methods of obtaining them is important.

Summer Fun

My boys are a precious gift and I love them very much. Today is very hot and they've been out in the yard squirting each other with dozens of squirt guns and pails of water. Summer fun at it's best.

The Money Fast - Update #1

Well, we've made it through the first 3 days of our Money Fast. It hasn't been hard, but it sure has been enlightening! It amazes me how much we've become accustomed to dropping a few dollars here and there. A quick fix when invited over to a friends is to pick up something 'premade' at the store. A quick fix when I'd just rather not cook is to pick up something from the deli.

What I did notice is that my children have started preferring a thing or two premade from the store deli. This is not good as far as I'm concerned. For example, about once a week, sometimes bi-weekly, we purchase a footlong sandwich from our local grocery store and have a 'carpet picnic' and watch a family movie. Well, knowing that is a fun event in our house, I bought hoagie roll bread and lunch meat choices in order for us to replicate this event during our money fast.

I, for one, much prefer the made at home version. I hope to eventually make my own hoagie rolls, but for now, the store bought ones suffice just fine. I love that we can add tomatoes and avocados, fresh onions and sprouts and each sandwich can be customized to our personal desires. The kids will start to love it too.

It has been adventerous too. We have tried 2 new meals this week - both healthy, inexpensive and favored by a majority of the family members. My plan is to try a new meal each week (I'm just ahead of the game this week).

One bummer, I already know I'm going to have to break the fast for something that I forgot to stock up on and it's not an option. We have a cat on medicine and we are going to run out on July 20th. It is not an option for this cat to go without medicine so I will have to buy this. I have made a note to myself to remember this item for future money fast months!