 April's Challenge: How Low Can You Go?
"April savings bring May dollars!"
During the month of April, we are going to issue a challenge: "How Low Can You Go?" (And we are not talking about personality here - hee hee).
This is a challenge to see how LITTLE we can spend during the entire
month of April. We are going to give our credit cards a holiday and
our savings accounts a bit of breather space. It is going to take
some planning and thinking ahead. The retailers are not going to like
us LOL. This month we are going to focus on OUR economy instead of
THEIR economy.
Before you read any further, quick, go grab your credit cards, debit
cards, and checkbooks. Bring them over to the computer. Now, on a
piece of scrap paper or memo paper, write the words "How Low Can I
Go?" Wrap this paper around your credit cards, debit cards, and check
book (you may have to write out a few piece of paper). Leave any
credit cards that you have no intention on using this month at home.
Put the rest back into your wallet with the paper still attached.
This will serve as a gentle reminder of your goal for the month of
April.
"How Low Can You Go?" Need some ideas to get the planning in motion?
- Dig out your calendar for April: There are thirty days in this month. Look at the things you have planned for the month of April. On my calendar, I see Easter, a couple dentist appointments, a few meetings, a couple business trips for my husband, two family birthdays, one kid's birthday party, and the rest of the month is an open canvas just waiting to be filled.
Now look at those activities. How Low Can You Go? I have a birthday party to plan for one of my kids. With a little planning, a little SHOPPING at home FIRST, and a lot of creative thinking, we are going to have a party that will be fun, memorable, and it won't break the bank. Look at your activities. Do get-togethers with friends typically cost a bunch of money for food, drinks, and other things? Put your heads together and see if you can come up with PLAN-D (for "DO"). Get others involved in the challenge. Share your tips and ideas.
- There are also four weekends during the month of April: What are your plans for these weekends? Talk it over with your family. See if you can come up with four activities that are DO instead of BUY. Activities that won't cost a dime. Do you have movie passes or gift certificates for dinners, bowling, swimming or other activities? Plan how you can use them up this month. Consider other activities such as spring yard work, a family hike, a trip to the local playground, tennis or basketball at the local courts, a community or volunteer activity, family game night, fancy family supper night, a Saturday baking session, or invite neighbors over for coffee and snacks. Mark your ideas on the calendar. If you have kids, put them in charge of choosing a family weekend activity. The only rule; it can't cost a dime. You will be amazed with the ideas they come up with.
- To avoid paying late fees or other penalties, mark in when you taxes are due, when bills must be paid, and when library books (or movie videos) need to be returned. Think about your life, home, and vehicle insurance. Are any of these due this month? Keep library books away from little white dogs so that they won't chew the corner of a book off and you end up having to buy the book for $31.80 (big sigh - Charlie found a book about mice that must have tasted good).
- Think about your utilities this month: Can you figure out a
way to use less power/hydro, gas, and water this month? How low can
you go? Go to your local utility company website. They are always
filled with tips on how to lower your bill. If you have kids that are
allowed on the Internet, let them do the research. We have a natural
gas fireplace in our home. This weekend it is getting turned off for
the summer.
- Think about your gas consumption in your vehicle(s): Our gas
prices went up a couple times last month. YIKES! Every time you get
into your car, ask yourself if there is a way to DO instead of BUY.
Can you walk? Can you bike? Can you take the bus or train? Can you
catch a ride with a friend and split the cost? Can you wait until
later so you can run two errands instead of one? Do you live near
someone who makes the same daily commute as you? Can you carpool? Are
your kids getting too used to being driven to friend's houses? Can
they walk instead? Walk with your kids. Take the dog. Enjoy the time
together. How low can you go? My bike is ready to go. I just have to
convince my legs that they are ready to go LOL.
- Meals: Plan on cooking at home this month. That includes
making your own coffee for breakfast (instead of the latte drive
thru), making lunches for the family, and of course supper. If you
work out of the home, or you have busy days ahead, dig out the
Crockpot ™/slow cooker. Let this guy do the cooking while you are
away. If you don't have a cookbook with Crockpot recipes, look online
or sign one out from the library. Again, get your families involved.
- Groceries: I keep hitting on groceries because there is a lot
of money to be saved when grocery shopping. Remember, SHOP at home
FIRST. Use up the foods you have already paid for. Plan your meals
for the month. Use the flyers to see which fresh veggies and fruits
are on sale for the week. Be prepared to be flexible so you can take
advantage of loss leaders and other opportunities. Use a shopping
list.
- Make use of the things you have already paid for such as:
memberships for gyms or other clubs, season passes for skiing,
golfing, swimming, museums, zoos, or other activities. Visit the
library and sign out some new books about gardening, cooking,
finance, or other things that interest you. Do you have a favorite
author, or you want to read the latest bestseller? DO instead of BUY.
Put these books on hold at the library. You may have to wait a few
weeks, but the savings add up. While you are at the library, take a
few minutes to enjoy the latest magazines. It doesn't cost a dime.
- SHOP at home FIRST: Check your stash of office supplies,
bathroom supplies, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, pantry supplies, and
other supplies. Do you have enough for the rest of the month? If yes,
add these items to you ANTI-SHOPPING list (stuff you don't have to
buy).
Take a peek in your wardrobe and your family's wardrobes. Are there
enough coats, shoes, and other clothes to last the month of April? Is
anyone going to have to leave the home naked? After I ironed and
mended all my summer clothes, I found out I have enough clothes to
last until September! Instead of shopping for new stuff, I am going
to enjoy MY stuff.
- Do a little "spring-cleaning" around your home: Three great
things happen when you do this: First, you get rid of stuff you don't
want anymore and you discover space that you never knew you had.
Second, you rediscover the things in your home that you use and love
(and it makes it easier to SHOP at home FIRST). And third, when you
love the home you live in, you are less likely to "invest" in IMPULSE
purchases that turn out to be shopping mistakes. When you love the
home you live in, you PLAN your purchases and your home improvements.
You SHOP SMART.
- PROCRASTINATE: Retailers, marketers, and advertisers know
that many of us are currently getting "windfalls." Our tax refunds,
insurance rebates, and other bonuses are being targeted by many of
the ads currently on TV, the radio, and newspapers. Have you noticed
the increase in advertisement for big-ticket items such as new
vehicles, furniture, and appliances? They know we have some extra
cash right now, and they want it.
- This is NOT a chore. Marketers, advertisers, and
retailers have poured a lot of dollars into their campaigns to
convince us that BUYing, using credit cards, and having consumer debt
is more fun than DOing, paying off credit cards, and saving. It is
time to change that attitude. It is OK to be thrifty. Make the "How
Low Can I Go" challenge fun! Make it a game. Involve your family and
friends.
"This is not about doing without. This is about DOing within."
Celebrate your big successes and your small successes. Plan a
pampering night just for you. Use up those bath products and candles
that you have been collecting over the years. Enjoy the things that
are already paid for.
This is a challenge that won't cost you a dime!
|
