I love spending and saving too. I would suggest giving yourself an allowance every month that you can save and let that add up and then when you have to spend. You spend it with no guilt. It allows you to spend within confines. It fulfills that desire without overdoing it.
This is what we do. We budget a specific amount for each of us as “spending” money for each check…it’s never a lot but it allows us to stop for that quick little item we want without messing up the budget…a coffee, a candy bar, a quick drive thru item etc etc… we budget $20 each
I started on Nov 2, 2022 and I'm actually ahead of savings. I'm also doing a separate challenge where I put money in envelopes and put it in a safe. My sister has the keys and she comes over once a week. I have all my envelopes stuffed and she opens the safe,and I put them in and she locks it and leaves. This is getting easier as the days are moving. Good luck to everyone doing a challenge
I also shop way too much, but thanks to you and your channel, I was able to save up for a home. My first Christmas in a real house! I will continue to do challenges with you so as to buy a car that fits all my grandchildren. Thank you so much for all your hard work with this channel. You've been an amazing influence on me.
Hi Lisa, I am doing all 4 coin challenges for my down payment for a house. By the end of the year I should have $10,000 saved. I have a ways to go but I am motivated more than ever to get my family and I a house of our own. Wishing you much success. You got this !!!!
Remember that budgeting and saving is a process. So, don't bear yourself up about making mistakes. You acknowledge and learn from them. I've seen it! You need to find some spending money for yourself in your spending budget other than the cleaning ladies. I'm worried that by not giving yourself a little bit is, as you said in general terms, too restricting. You have to be able to go out once in a while and just spend a little something on yourself, even if it is just to buy an ice cream on a warm day. Perhaps, once a month, set aside a little of the leftovers from going to Walmart for yourself. It isn't cheating. It is considered an award for finding a way to save during the month. I agree with you about all that change. It looked like a lot more. Those darn piles of coins are deceptive buggers. You've come a long way and are doing a great job! Keep it up! I'm in your corner.
I agree with this! I feel like budgeting is very similar to trying to lose weight. If you completely restrict yourself from the things you enjoy, that's when you binge and eat 6 cookies or a whole bag of chips in one sitting. But if you don't restrict yourself, and allow yourself the things you enjoy in moderation, you can still reach your goals. It's the same with money. If you don't allow yourself to have anything that you want, that's when you start spending more than you intend to and go on a shopping spree. Small things in moderation are good! It helps you stay on track with your goals without restrictions.
Thank you. I decided l “needed” a few more ceramic baking dishes because I really love the pattern. Was headed to Amazon to add them to my cart when I remembered this post and realized it was a total impulse spend. I don’t need any more casserole dishes! I barely use the ones I already have. I truly needed that nudge. Enjoy the rest of your well earned vacation and thanks again for your wisdom. We can do this.
I'm a lot like you in that I have a very bad problem of wanting to shop and spend money, even when I don't need most of the stuff I buy!! A few days after seeing your announcement that you cancelled your Amazon Prime, I went and cancelled mine as well lol. I started out for the first 3 or 4 months of 2022 on a major saving spree and was doing soooo good!! But then I dipped into my funds just once and it was all over lol. I have already decided on some savings challenges I'm planning on starting with the new year and hope to get back into saving money again instead of spending. I seriously need to pay off some debt and build my savings account back up. You have always been a huge inspiration to me. Even when you "fail" you always get yourself right back up and start again 😊
I saw a meme about 10 years ago that has really stuck with me. I think about it at least weekly. It was: People trade what they want most for what they want right now. I use that statement to determine if I really want to make a purchase. Happy savings!
Love the video! Thank you so much for linking the printable! I just printed one for me and my brother-in-law. He’s going to try it to start saving for Christmas 2023! 😊
I did this challenge and it gets tedious after a couple of months. Your coin counting would have gone much faster just putting them into coin wrappers. Been there, done that. It's so much easier to set a flat $5 or $10 a week. Plus banks don't want to deal with change any more. The way you save money is to do what you can rather than paying someone else to do it, your cleaning lady for example. Don't pay for a service you can do yourself. That $200 is a month is $2400 a year; $2400 more that you could be putting on your house down payment or spend on yourself. Also in your desire to purchase a house, don't forget to figure in that you will be responsible for lawn cutting, snow shoveling etc,, replacing a roof possibly, replacing appliances. A house needs more cleaning. Be sure that you want to do these things and have the money to cover these costs or you will end up in bigger debt than you were.
Thanks for the tips and reminders. I’ve been a homeowner before (just not in the last 7 years). I do remember the maintenance and upkeep costs. I’ll definitely have a home maintenance fund!
Admitting a problem is a step in the right direction.. Especially on here..so public...wrote my goals, no spend list, etc last night...we can do this!!
I’m so far ahead in the penny challenge I need to slow down lol I think I might be in April 2023 now, I have to go back and count cause I figure that out by Monday! Definitely doing the penny challenge over here too. I did it this past year for 2022 to add to my Christmas fund ding and it worked out amazingly.
I’m doing both those challenges. I started them 2 months ago. I want to make myself proud because I start a big challenge and I don’t finish it. I love to shop as well but I have learned to be content with what I have. We got this! 💪🏻
I am going to do this challenge I have a big pig with change I am going to see how far I get from the pig. Great start Lisa hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Unfortunately today banks have found a way to make money on your mindful savings... Many do not accept rolled coins. You have to put the coins in their coin changer where they get anywhere from 5 to 11%. 🤬
Great video! On Tuesday, I was planning to deposit my change into an account I rarely use. I received a Penny Challenge for Christmas, saw your video, and decided to just start it now with the change I have instead of waiting till January. Like you, I started with the largest amount. Don’t know what I’ll do with the money just yet. I’ve got plenty of time to think about it.
I laminated my challenges so I can do them over and over. I also ask my daughter to get me challenges for free on face book, goggle. She just pays for paper. Cheap grandma presents
way to go on canceling the purchases you didin't need. After all with Chrristmas coming , you never know what gifts might come your way (like the Erin Condren Gift Certificate you said you got for your b-day)
Good for you Lisa for canceling those Amazon orders! That's not easy to do sometimes! I'm looking forward to seeing you save up for that house! But seriously, savings challenges help SO much. I just recently paid off my car because of my challenges, so they do work! It's amazing how much coins add up, so this is a great challenge to do! 🖤🤍❤🎄
