Hey all!
In spirit of The Great CC Payoff Challenge, DBF and I decided to make this month a 'no spend' month, in which we will pay for our rent, utilities, car payments, insurance premiums, gas, and groceries ONLY. No dinners out, no new clothes, no discretionary spending whatsoever. Only absolute neccessities.
Just putting this out there for those of you who are also struggling to reduce spending and lower util.
I have a simple spreadsheet going to track our success (and know who to blame if we fall off the wagon 
and 3 days in, the only things we've spent money on are rent and groceries, so we're doing well so far.
Hoping everyone else is also working on better financial planning for 2014!
@alyssamarie wrote:that's a great idea, good luck!
I might try the same thing next month, we don't have cc debt but we're trying to save and cut back on extra spending and this sounds like a really great way to start!
This month is out of question because of Valentine's day and our first wedding anniversary is on the 17th! I want to give this a try in March though!
Makes sense! We decided to give up Valentine's Day this year (I'm going to cook a nice meal at home), but if it were my first anniversary, I certainly wouldn't be doing that.
Happy anniversary!
In my quest to reduce debt and right my financial ship I have pretty much eliminated all superfluous spending.
I can't imagine living on $50 food for a month though, that is serious business! That is the one thing I will not cut corners on.
Good luck to all who take this challenge. Once you actively seek ways to spend less money it becomes almost competitive and fun. At least it did for me. 
We donated the Feb pay for a good cause. Living off of savings and what is already here.
We have actually spent more on groceries this month than planned, but it's buying the odds and the ends to complete a unique meal to use up what we already have. And the odds and the ends are being used up too. Almost nothing goes to waste around here.
By default, we are doing the same thing. It's not a perfect thing, but we are in a holding pattern of a property. So I imagine that it will be like this for a few more months to come.
@k-s wrote:
@alyssamarie wrote:that's a great idea, good luck!
I might try the same thing next month, we don't have cc debt but we're trying to save and cut back on extra spending and this sounds like a really great way to start!
This month is out of question because of Valentine's day and our first wedding anniversary is on the 17th! I want to give this a try in March though!
Makes sense! We decided to give up Valentine's Day this year (I'm going to cook a nice meal at home), but if it were my first anniversary, I certainly wouldn't be doing that.
Happy anniversary!
thanks!
Good luck! My discretionary spending is virtually 0 already, but last month I also attempted a low grocery budget. Was shooting for $0, ended up getting sick on jan 1,so I had to go out and buy some orange juice... Monthly total was approx $26 on orange+apple juices 
Pantry was successfully cleaned out & I didn't have to make too many weird meals ( only had stuffing & marshmellows once!). This month I get to have fun cooking again, need to think of something similar to do for march though..