Spending Challenge and Possible Giveaway
I think I’ve been using “summer” and “vacation planning” as an excuse to spend. My credit card statement just closed on the 23rd and I paid the balance in full the next day. However, between the 23rd and today, I’ve managed to charge another $1,800. That’s about 2 weeks.
$1,800 in TWO weeks.
Whoa! None of the charges were for necessities or bills - just stuff. Fun stuff, cute stuff, fabulous stuff, house stuff, like to have stuff, interesting stuff, etc. But all “stuff” nonetheless.
So here’s my plan.
I just made a $1,200 payment, simply to make the balance look normal for this time of the month. Now, I am going to…uh…this is going to be hard, but umm…I gotta do it. *exhale*
Unless I am on vacation (two more trips this month), I will not spend another dime in this place or either of these stores:
- Bath & Body Works - me luvs the smell good (especially cucumber melon and sweet pea) and the spa scrub for my feetsez. *daydreaming*
- Nordstrom - how can I resist a shoe sale when the friggin store is less than 5 minutes from my house? It’s a set up!
- Macy’s - went in for a few spring/summer suits, but the lined suits were 60% off.
- Target - make a list, go in for 5 things and come out with 30. *sigh*
- Ross - see, what had happened was…
Shoot, I won’t even try to explain. These are my favorite stores and I can’t deny it. But you know what? I am banning myself for the month of July! Even while I’m on vacation, my entire “shopping” limit is $100 $200 $300 for each trip the rest of this month. The thought is funny to me too. Ha!
Do you think I can do it? If I can’t, I’m going to give away a $50 gift card to one of the stores.
My crime vacation partners read my blog, so I’m gonna need both of you to keep me focused. M’kay? I can’t afford to give away money, especially when I’m banned from spending. And I sure as hell don’t want to someone else shopping in one of MY favorite stores on MY dime!
I feel the pain already. LOL
~*~*~*~*~*~Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And as always, BE FABULOUS!
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Hey S.M.!!!! You can do it gurl!! But Save your money for Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale!!! THE BEST SALE EVER STARTS JULY 18th!!!!
Good luck to you !!!
Mi$$ Money
Nah you will be able to do it or else I will be able to enjoy Bath and Body Works on you. You wouldn’t want that to happen so you will save your money!
So where do I need to go to sign up to receive one of these gift cards.. I’ll take mine at Ross! Oh wait, I’m supposed to say I believe that you can do it huh? Well shoot, I don’t. So I need to be in the lottery for the gift cards.. LOL
wow that’s some serious willpower. well for my sake i hope you don’t succeed because that gift card to Ross sure would come in handy for me! just kidding. if reading your blog has proven anything, you succeed more times than you fail!
We don’t have Ross where I live, but any of the other retailers will work. I’m a hard-working single mom who rarely treats herself and while I truly want you to succeed in your goal, I’d love to be the recipient, should you succumb to temptation.
OMG did you say 1800???? good googly moo.. I see you Gina.. like Serenity.. I believe you have faith BUT JIC go head add my name to the drawing
I’m just saying I will need to buy some new clothes with me dropping some more of this weight!!! woohooo belly fat be gone!
I’m not even going to think that someone is winning that $50 gift card! If you put your mind to not spending any more in those places, then I know that you won’t. You might as well have put *PSYCHE!!* at the end of this post! Got people thinking they gonna win some money, PSYCHE!
gift card to bath and body please. love the juniper breeze. actually not sure if they have it anymore. but sweet pea and cucumber melon are really nice too.
hope you make your goal though !!!
I like all those cross-outs! And yeah, why is there a prize if you fail??? Ok, I guess a prize for a reader could be considered a penalty you have to pay! But still… If you succeed in being good all through July, you should give yourself a little prize, and reward the reader who sends you the most inspiring encouragement to succeed.
I am pretty sure you’ll be able to do it! All that summer stuff won’t be going on sale until next month anyway, so hold out!
I think I agree with Madame X! You need a prize if you succeed. My sister recently hipped me to a sight http://www.mint.com. It’s a finance tracking site and It told me that in the last 30 days I had spent 563 on eating out when I usually only spend 160. It told me I’d spent 711 on shopping when I usually only spend 363(and that’s high too). So I packed my breakfast and Lunch this morning. I do not know what it is about summer that makes me spend. I don’t want to be in the house cooking for one, and another I’m a summer girl so I need cute things to wear, don’t I? Any way I’m with you for the remainder of July. I have my 25 yr class reunion at the end of July in Vegas so I will spend some money on vacation but I’ll go with your 300.00 cap! Does this include food? Good Luck!
I have no doubt you CAN do it - now whether or not I believe you WILL do it is another story LOL -
Steph
$1,800 in two weeks … on stuff? Hmph.
As long as you have a non-spending plan, I’m sure you’ll succeed.
I think Miss Money’s subtly trying to sabotage you with that Anniversary Sale plug! Good luck with the challenge, lady, I know you have the willpower …. errr… I think!!
A reward for yourself might be in order, but that seems like it’d defeat the purpose of the whole plan not to spend.
I agree with Stephanie.. I definitely believe you can do it but $300 for the rest of the month?? It so warm… I am to tempted to eat out too much!!!
Go Single Ma!!!! I am cheering for you!!
I don’t think you can do it. I know you can do it - if that’s what you want to do!
You can do it!!!
(I want a GC for Ross)
I believe in you!
(making a list of things to buy @ Ross)
GO GIRL!!!!
(mail the GC to 1234 Gimmeyo Monay Drive…….)
I truly feel your pain, SM. Gawd knows I love me some Ross. And recently somehow the little gremlins at Lord & Taylor got my email address and have been sending me sale coupons for 50-75% off. Wishing you luck and sending you strenf for the trials to come!!
PS: lvnnlfe, thanks for the tip on http://www.mint.com!
I’m sure you’ll do fine. Bath and Body Works and Vicotira’s Secret semi-annual sale this past month had my spending a little over too! I just can’t resist smelling like freesia or apple blossom! Go SM! I’m cheering for you!
You can do this, girl. If it helps, add $50.00 to the price of any “stuff” you might be tempted to buy. Or, break down the $300 per week, so you create a weekly budget. Whatever trick works for you!
LOL. I don’t know about this SingleMa. You know how much you like to shop and there are still three weeks left in this month. I am rooting for you but I have my doubts.
P.S. I hope you are using a credit card that gives you some kind of rewards. With that kind of spending, you may as well earn something for it.
Where is single mom ?? Is she hiding cuz she blew through her $300 and doesn’t want to face us. Or is she sleeping away July to avoid temptation ?? Hurry back I need the words of encouragement i get from your site !!!!
oh look out cuz Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale starts next week!!!
Pssst, SM! The Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale is coming up! How are you gonna resist?
MsLindiwe don’t you just love MINT.com! I’m obsessed. Single Ma I’m on my way to financial fitness! Thank you!