Minimal Spend Month

Imagine how much money passes through your hands` a year? Have you ever looked at your savings account at the end of the year and thought "Where did all my money go?". Well I have, and the majority of my income goes towards dining out! It’s crazy, $7 breakfast, $10 lunch, $10 dinner, that’s $27 a day, it’s crazy! To be honest, I don’t realize it until I am looking at my bank account a week after being paid and so much money has "mysteriously" vanished. I no longer want to spend money frivolously, and I am looking to save money by cooking at home and spending less money on food and other random items.

I am going to challenge myself to not spend more than, get this people, $30 a week. That might sound really low for some, but as I mentioned I can easily find myself moseying into Starbucks and paying $5 for a Grande Vanilla Soy Latte, not that I have a preferred drink or anything. Lol In all seriousness, right now I spend close to $27 a day on meals and coffee, making that approximately $540 a month and that’s just during the work week (insert mortified face). That's not including the days where I'm "treating myself" to Amy Ruth's (they have great soul food BTW) or those busy days where I need an extra latte. That estimate also does not include dinner or weekends meal splurges, I have hit my breaking point. I know I am definitely breaking the bank. Lol So much money is wasted per month on things I either don’t truly need or want.

Minimal Spend Month!!!Rules:

1. When you have decided to join me on this journey purchase all of the items you need to use in March. (toiletries, groceries, cleaning products, beauty items (males you know you have your favorite facial creams and moisturizer)you might be running low on.

The goal is to retain as much of your paycheck as possible. Purchasing these items in advance allows you to do so.

1. Plan your meals! If you are anything like me and you find yourself ordering takeout every other meal, just because you’re too lazy to meal prep. Cooking/Meal Prep will be essential during the Minimal Spend Month. Best practice is to pick a day during the week where you can block out an hour or two to meal prep. Sunday works for me and I usually plan breakfast, lunch, dinner from Monday to Friday. Try YouTube for meal ideas, tips and tricks.

2. Plan stuff to do! If you find that a lot of your “free time” is spent at restaurants with friends, you will have to switch it up - or you will not have a 100% successful month. I’m preaching to myself here. Any who, find other things to do like workout at home or at the gym, volunteer (I use NYCares), write and read more-check to see if there are any book clubs near you or you can start your own, clean the closet you’ve been putting off, learn a skill (YouTube), find something that will cost you $0 to do! Got it? Great

I’m excited to have a month where I can retain some of my income and put the excess cash in my savings account or toward my very hefty student loan debt.

I will be writing my progress in the comments section. I look forward to conversing with you all during this journey.