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The 7-Day Buy Nothing Challenge: Day 4

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The 7-Day Buy Nothing Challenge: Day 4

Read the Entire Series: Day 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Four days of frugal living are complete! Amidst the sweltering heat of the Midwest summer and dwindling food supplies, I continue to spend $0 per day. My Mint.com account continues to show zero transactions and my monthly budget is quite happy with me. I’m well on my way to completing, “The 7-Day Buy Nothing Challenge.”

Throughout the day I participated in medical research studies and wrote for a variety of online sites. I took a free, local bus and walked everywhere. Ironically, I found $0.50 while walking. It pays to be frugal.

Coffee Shop Temptation

I popped over to a local coffee shop with my girlfriend. She was eager to enjoy an iced coffee on this sweltering day. I tagged along for the ride, but soon wondered what I’d do once I got there. 

It’s genuinely awkward walking into a business and not buying something. There are scripts that people seem to follow – engrained in our society. Once you enter a place of business, you follow a line to a counter and hand over a payment. Instead, I grabbed a cozy spot to work, write, and talk.

I was tempted to bargain with the cashier to get a coffee or pastry. Funny how quickly my mind jumped to negotiation and convincing. In the end, I bought nothing and felt better for it.

Meaningful Moments

I chose an open, colorful picture to begin this article because that’s what truly matters. Meaning isn’t found within a shopping mall or theme park. It isn’t in the impulse purchase or empty calories. The important moments surround us.

These have been the most productive writing and reading days I’ve ever had. A variety of articles will be published this week and next, and I’ve truly enjoyed the creativity that has resulted. Somehow, by not rushing to spend, I found more time to reflect and write. I want this more often.

Risky Relapse, Spend

Many commenters on Reddit have criticized me for not buying food or other staple necessities while on this spending cleanse. For the most part, I completely agree that I wouldn’t be able to maintain this lifestyle much longer without some resupply. But, I really did want to get down to zero – true zero.

While not a complete lifestyle shift, the Buy Nothing Challenge is/was meant to be a brief experiment, foray to learn where my money was going; more importantly, where it shouldn’t go. Some people have argued that this significant purge can result in a relapse to heavy spending upon completion.

I can’t predict my feelings after the adventure, but I’ll keep you posted if these nefarious effects kick in.

Day 4: $0 spent.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s report and follow along!

Read the Entire Series: Day 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

New Article at PTMoney.com: Privacy v. Frugality

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My third article was just published on PTMoney.com. This latest post is on the debate over privacy versus frugality. What privacy sacrifices do you make to stay frugal?

This site, PTMoney.com, was founded by Philip “PT” Taylor in 2007. His blog and financial pursuits led him to found FinCon (“A peer conference for the financial blogging community”). Now, his website attracts 350,000 pageviews per month.

Please comment, click, and share widely!

-S.

 

 

Addicted To Air Conditioning?

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Air conditioning is one of the most expensive utilities to run. Oftentimes, air conditioning is run throughout the day. Rarely does the buzz cease.

The Heat Is On

Outside my apartment, I hear air conditioning buzzing along, dripping condensation on the concrete walkway. Neighbors are pumping the cool air at high volume. These popular window units line my housing complex, and some never cease to hum.

It’ll reach about 88 degrees today in the Midwest. The heat is paired with a jarring humidity. For some, the moisture in the air can feel heavy and burdensome; others, like me, prefer it to the dry climate of places like Colorado. My skin feels healthier and more vibrant in the humidity. But the reality is that it can lead to hefty beads of sweat traveling circuitously down foreheads, backs, and weighing down clothing.

Climate Control

Because of this inconvenience, many people blast their air conditioning. Office spaces, hotels, and movie theaters can be notorious for their abundant air. The climate control aims to keep people in work clothes, comfortable.

Strangely enough, this refusal and resistance to acclimatize with seasonal changes hampers your body’s ability to adjust to the heat. Our body needs time to get used to the winter and summer, but when we blast the heat or air conditioning, we actually prevent our body from self-regulating properly.

Staying Frugal

Amidst the biological considerations of this hearty air conditioning consumption are the consequences to your frugal goals. Air conditioning is one of the most expensive utilities to run. Oftentimes, air conditioning is run throughout the day. Rarely does the buzz cease.

The coolest points in the day are at night and early morning; yet, people that run air conditioning keep the windows closed – keeping the world out. It’s hard to even realize that you may not need the climate control when the windows are shut.

Critical consumption starts at home with basic utilities. Sweat is natural; albeit, sometimes uncomfortable. But turning off/down your air conditioning can make powerful financial implications over time, and benefit the environment, too!

How often do you use air conditioning? Do you wait to turn it on until a certain point in the summer? How much could you save by turning it off?

The 7-Day Buy Nothing Challenge: Day 3

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THE 7-DAY BUY NOTHING CHALLENGE: DAY 3

Read the Entire Series: Day 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

I’ve just completed my third full day of living and breathing without spending a dime. After becoming fed up with my spending habits, I decided to try an experiment. I called it, “The 7-Day Buy Nothing Challenge.”

Tuesdays are always an early start, as I have to be into work at 8 AM. I’m not a morning person, and my 6:30 AM alarm is relentless. Between catching the bus, packing my lunch, and showering, there’s hardly enough time to eat. Thankfully, I resorted to a healthy, backup breakfast of mine, “Banana Nut Oatmeal.”

While today offered some new challenges due to my busier schedule, it was an incredible learning opportunity. If I were not abstaining from spend, I would be in serious trouble. I’m beginning to wonder if I should do this more often. The cleanse really does feel rejuvenating and enlightening.

Success On The Horizon

Over the last 24 hours I thought, “This is easy.” But then I wonder, “Why didn’t I do this sooner, earlier, before? Why did I have to wait until I was nearly $40,000 in debt to change my course?” Regret and confusion abound, as I question the decisions that led up to this breaking point. The stark reality is that it doesn’t matter how I got here. I’m here and in debt. Where do I go from here?

As I approach the half-way point for my little challenge, there’s a brewing feeling of success. After this 7 days, I look forward to feeling that. Similarly, I feel confident that I can make it. There’s an importance in setting small goals and recognizing the accomplishments that occur.

First The Fresh Food

Refraining from any and all spending quickly leads to a dearth in fresh foods. Salads, fruits, etc. – they all have a relatively short shelf life. Knowing this, I bought a few Mandarin Oranges because they might last longer. Stupidly, I only bought three.

I know, I’m a graduate student and supposedly capable human being; yet, I didn’t buy at least seven oranges. There’s only one apple left. While I still have some salad, I know that I’ll run out before the week is done.

With any serious spending cleanse or lower-income, fresh fruits and vegetables are always the first to go. Often the unhealthy, prepackaged, processed products take their place.

The Importance Of Time

Spending freezes necessitate strong organization and planning capabilities. The bus comes at 7:35 AM. There is no such thing as missing it. Later, I have a short break for lunch, and then I need to be at my other job at 1 PM. My watch holds a greater importance.

My breakfast was squeezed short this morning due to waking up a bit late. If I was any later, I might not make breakfast, and then I’d be starving – eager to find a meal wherever I could get it. This casual, lackadaisical approach is trouble. It’s where I’ve erred many times before.

Day 3: $0 Spent.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s report and follow along!

Read the Entire Series: Day 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

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