I decided, a week or so ago, to start the 100 day challenge, in an attempt to level out and stabilise my finances, which are getting dire. (This is mostly due to my extortionate train fare to work, living on my own and having a sports car. In that order. The last is entirely non-negotiable!)
I came across it via a Twitter post from Sophia at the Tattooed Tealady blog, and having decided it wouldn’t be a bad thing for me to have a go at, settled down to write my list of things I can spend on, absolute “no” items, and exceptions during the period of the challenge.
Here they are:
| Spending allowed (“yes” items) | Spending not allowed (“bad squishy” items) | |
| Food essentials (grocery shopping, work lunches, etc) | Books | |
| Essential toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste) | Cards & giftwrap | |
| Reasonable sweet treats | Magazines | |
| Postage (personal or business) | Stationery | |
| Non-alcoholic drinks out | DVDs | |
| Birthday & anniversary presents | Alcoholic drinks out | |
| Bills | Dinner out more than 3 times a month | |
| Existing debts to people | Makeup | |
| Essential underwear | Technology | |
| Petrol & travel | Clothes | |
| Listing fees (Etsy, Ebay, etc) | Jewellery | |
| Craft fair entry fees | Non-essential toiletries (perfume, random products) | |
| Reasonable amounts of Pepsi Max | Craft supplies | |
| Medicine/tablets | Mods for Poppy | |
| Burlesque classes | ||
| Baking ingredients | ||
| Experiences (like the photoshoot, Alice bike ride, etc) |
I know, the “yes” list is longer than the “no” list – but the “no” list is full of the things that chew my money without me really noticing.
Exceptions include eating out while in Jersey for Julia’s wedding, makeup & other things I need for the wedding, and investment in stock if my ventures come to fruition during these 100 days.
I started the challenge on 16 June and will finish on 23rd September. Taking inspiration from other bloggers I’ve seen doing this, I shall take photos of things I want to buy, and perhaps create a wishlist page here to showcase them – and we’ll see how many I feel I can’t live without at the end of the challenge.
I wouldn’t say I spend money madly, but I do have a tendency to fall in love with things and feel my life would be incomplete without them – so wish me luck, I think I’m going to need it!
Best of luck! I should do something similar with food! Yes to one cake a day, no to stealing the kids’ chocolate!
Best of luck! I should do something similar with food! Yes to one cake a day, no to stealing the kids’ chocolate!
If you are serious about it … there is no room for Pepsi Max or reasonable sweets, they will only make you want more… The darkest chocolate you can buy is the best treat to have when you really need it… Good luck with it all..
If you are serious about it … there is no room for Pepsi Max or reasonable sweets, they will only make you want more… The darkest chocolate you can buy is the best treat to have when you really need it… Good luck with it all..
Essential underwear?! how can one need essential underwear EVERY month!! :-p
Lol! I don’t – but I might need tights and such 🙂
Essential underwear?! how can one need essential underwear EVERY month!! :-p
Lol! I don’t – but I might need tights and such 🙂