Save money fast with this 30 day money saving challenge!
Saving money is really a lot like dieting. When you first start, you are pumped! You’re ready to finally get control of your spending and SAVE! As the days wear on, though, you become less and less motivated and your willpower starts to slip. You might even start to feel deprived and splurge — it happens to the best of us.
That is precisely why I love money saving challenges, especially challenges that have a set time limit. They are a great way to ease into a more frugal lifestyle.
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A few months ago, I shared a weekly spending challenge that my family often does. It really works for us and a lot of other families too. It was really popular, so I wanted to expand on that with a 30 day money saving challenge. 30 days may seem like a long time, but don’t worry, it’s not too hard. It can even be fun. Promise!
For this challenge, you will commit to not buying 10 things for 30 days. What you choose to give up for 30 days will be different for each family — look back through your bank statements and see where you are overspending to make your own list of what not to buy.
If you have kids, get them involved and make it fun! Before you begin this money saving challenge, brainstorm ways you can spend time together and have fun without spending money!
Related Post: 11 Money Saving Challenges to Boost Your Savings Big Time
30 Day Money Saving Challenge
Here is my family’s list of things we stopped buying for 30 days to help get you started:
Eating Out
It’s no secret, eating out is expensive! It’s also really fast and convenient, which make this a hard thing to give up especially for busy parents.
Meal planning is the key to success here. There are two options when it comes to meal planning – you can do it yourself or you can try a service, like The $5 Meal Plan, that sends you meal plans and shopping lists every week. Both are great options, pick the one that works best for your family.
Read: How to Meal Plan With Kids
Or Try: The $5 Meal Plan – Use this link and get a 14 free trial!
Convenience Meals
Frozen meals are expensive and pretty unhealthy too. Try homemade freezer meals instead. They’re cheaper, healthier, and just as easy to pop in the oven on busy nights.
Sign up for the How to Make Homemade Freezer Meals – Free Workshop
Coffee/Drinks
Spending a few bucks on a cup of coffee in the morning seems pretty harmless, but it really does add up over time. My neighbor was actually just telling me that she added up her coffee purchases from the last year. She had spent close to $1000 for the year! It sounds crazy but that means she only spent $2.84 per day.
My big weakness is those $1 sodas. It is so hot here in Phoenix, a cold soda is super tempting in the afternoon. But that adds up as well (and it’s not very healthy), so I’ve got to let that go to.
Snacks On The Go
Just like drinks, stopping for snacks when you’re out is another way to spend without thinking. If you have kids, you know as soon as you get into the car, they are going to be hungry. Be prepared — pack a couple of granola bars, fruit or nuts to keep everybody satisfied until you get back home.
Clothing/Shoes
This one is pretty simple. For the next 30 days, don’t buy any new clothes or shoes. It’s actually pretty fun to “shop” your closet and see what new outfits you can come up with. My daughter and I do this all the time!
Makeup/Hair Products
Making your own beauty products is not only cheaper, it’s better for you too (you know exactly what’s inside).
Try these great DIY beauty recipes:
Homemade Lip Balm, Homemade Moisturizing Soap, and DIY Facial Cleansing Wipes
Entertainment Purchases
Instead of going to the movies or playing mini golf, try to find free things for your family to do together. Here in Phoenix, we love visiting the library (they have so many great programs for kids), going to the splash parks, camping in the backyard, and swimming in the community pool. When you look, there are usually quite a few free things for families to do in most communities.
Extra Stuff/Toys for the Kids
This is actually a great way to get the kids involved in this money saving challenge and talk to them about responsible spending. Get them excited about saving! See if they can find new ways to use their toys or different ways to have fun without spending money.
For example:
My daughter loves to dress her dolls up like her favorite cartoon characters. She uses her crafts supplies to make costumes for them and has a ton of fun!
Amazon Purchases
Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping at Amazon. The convenience of having Prime makes it so easy to overspend though. With just a click of a button, you can have almost anything shipped to your home in 2 days or less. It can be so tempting! For this 30 day money saving challenge, just say NO to Amazon purchases.
Movies and Books
Okay, I know I just told you to stay away from Amazon, but if you already have Prime take advantage of the FREE stuff they offer. You can watch movies for free, and read books for free too! No need to spend money on this stuff!
30 Day Money Saving Challenge Worksheet
If you are a visual person like I am, try this money saving challenge worksheet ! Just click the picture below and then print it out. You can easily track your progress as you work through the month.
If your family tries this 30 day money saving challenge, I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or send me and email and let me know what you gave up and how it went!
For more money saving ideas, check out these other great posts. They are full of important information to help you take control of your finances!
How to Easily Save $10,000 in One Year: Step by Step Plan for Success!
Knock Out Your Debt With This Awesome Debt Snowball Spreadsheet
8 Things to Buy to Today That Will Save You Money Tomorrow
The 40 Best Frugal Living Tips for Beginners
How to Save Time and Money at the Grocery Store (Without Clipping Coupons)
Awesome Little-Known Secrets for Saving Money Online
The Top Secret Tricks to Saving a Bunch of Money on Amazon
18 Super Creative Ways to Save Money Every Month!
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