I have finished week 1 of my 90 Day Goodbye Plastic, Hello Cash Challenge. I already want to quit. Just kidding. I don’t. I just threw that in there because I knew you would love watching the unraveling of a public crash and burn.
Instead, I am feeling energized and optimistic.
I suspect I will not share a weekly update of my progress, but there have already been a few things I have learned that I wanted to share with you. There are a number of you on the fence about this so authentic sharing is imperative.
Lesson #1:
When it is physically laid in front of me, there is less money to spend than I thought. How is this energizing? I don’t know. Somehow it is. I recognize that this may be the reason that the credit card bill is always paid, but our savings goals are not always met. Just a thought.
Lesson #2:
You can exist on less than you think. Even food. I have used a budget and cash for groceries for awhile. However, it feels different this time. For the first time, I calculated my bill through Aldi. It forced me to put things back on the shelf. Even a few things on my list. A salad is a salad without croutons. Really. It is. The most amazing part? Once home I didn’t wish I had bought any of the extras. Oh happy day for staying in my $100 budget for the week. Without the calculations, I would not be dancing.
Lesson #3:
Communication. A cash budget forces you to think, plan and communicate. My husband and I are fabulous friends with an over abundant quantity of communication. Yet, we often avoid discussing money. We don’t always see eye to eye. This cash challenge has forced us to share healthy discussions on our finances. We may even develop a financial plan. (Neither of us are planners).
7 days of the 90 Day Goodbye Plastic, Hello Cash Challenge are completed. So far, no one has starved died or denied themselves into non-existence. I am curious. If you are on the fence, are you ready to try it?
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Well, I failed this week. Hubby didn't get our new budget made last week nor did he go to the bank for cash so... I used my debit card. :) See how I put it all on him? Never mind that I DRIVE RIGHT PAST OUR BANK EVER TIME I GO ANYWHERE. That's an irrelevant detail. Hopefully this week will be better. :)
ReplyDelete:) It's ok. Brush yourself off. Trust me. This is just week one for me. You will find me brushing at some point in time:)
DeleteHi! Found your blog while over at Money Saving Mom. Love your challenge! I have bookmarked you and I will be back! Love me some flamingos!
ReplyDeleteGlad to have Debby!! Flamingo's are fun aren't they? :)
DeleteIt was fun to read your thoughts on your experience.
ReplyDeleteThanks Abbi...it can be fun in my head sometimes:)
Delete#3 is so important! It's where my dh and I struggle a bit. We're definitely a work in progress, and here's to a new year of making progress. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Barb! We both have the same ideals about money but rarely ever are 2 people on the EXACT same page. Yes...it is always a work in progress, but I guess marriage and relationships are in general:) Great to meet you!
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