March Update | Low Buy Year 2024 | Low Spend Challenge 

Congrats for fixing the dryer and all the more so for dyi'ing it. A constant for frugal people is that they do what they can for themselves rather than pay someone else.

We shop our local Grocery Outlets; there are multiples in the area. In our area many of the items are not that c,ose to date. We use Grocery Outlet primarily for stocking our larder (fridge, freezer, pantry), speciality items for parties and gifts, and always keep our eye open on perishables close to date at excellent prices tomeat right away or freeze. We are on a stay out of debt journey and often scope prices out at Grocery Outlet, assess how many we might want of something plus budget, then return on a targeted buying run to stock the larder. On that return buying run, we often scooe oit what else might be at a good to excellent price and a future, targeted buying run.

Great job with the low spend, so far so good!

If you havnt already, consider doing a waste stream audit; landfill and also recyling destined items. Consider each and every item for an alternative. Consider means expllre what if any alternatice exists, would an alternative meet your current goals (right now being cheaper) , how much work and effort would an alternative take, and is it even worth the cost and effort to attempt. Optionally, reduce the search field to hone in on specific types of items such as disposables, boxes and mixes, snacks and drinks, what you see a lot of, etc... Then pick one to a few to try an alternative(s). Dont make a finial decision until youve given the alternatices a fair test run. Give yourself permissiin ti decide against the alternatives in the end. Once youve made your decision, its time to repeat the process. Realize that you may need to make skme "investment purchases". For example of packed lunches or reduced paper towels are on the list, you're going to need pack and go food storage or likely some additional cloth towels. Go slowly so that you get the returned vslue in savings from your investment purchases.

Motivated me to do a low spend for the next two weeks. I just pay myself first so I haven’t really been budgeting but going to get back on the wagon. Good luck this month!