Frugal February 2014

[Dave Gray]

Last year I did a Minimal March, which was basically down-sizing/spring cleaning. 

A great way to save money is to open a change jar.

I do have a change jar, but it's taking forever to fill up.  I just don't run across change much anymore, as almost everything I do is on a debit card -- easier to track, less to carry around.

Anyway, just out of curiosity, why was February chosen and not another month?

It's short.  It's alliterative.  It's after the die down of the holidays where many people are spending more/traveling, etc.

[Dolphster]

I'm out of the running for the winner of Frugal February.  We just returned from a 2 week vacation.   

[Brian Fein]

Frugal February is almost over and I've done better than I expected. 

The month started off rough with a few residual events from January, but it settled down the last 3 weeks.  I have brought lunch to work every day and cooked at home every night (except for last Saturday).  I haven't gone out to any bars or happy hours.

I gotta say, although I'm having a fiscally responsible month, it is completely boring.  There's not enough shows on the DVR to keep all these "not allowed to go out anywhere" evenings going all year.

[Dave Gray]

^ I'm with you.

I have done a pretty good job, but took the wife out for V-day, met a couple for a pre-planned lunch, and took my kid to McDonalds for breakfast (to play at the playground, but still an expense).

I brought food every day to work and didn't get takeout of go out to dinner, except what was mentioned above.

I did have some other expenses, though, like vet bills and stuff.  I've been working the budget as I go.

It's not too boring, since I have family in town, which is taking up a lot of time.  I've also been working a lot, which takes up time and mental energy.

[Brian Fein]

After finally updating my records and reconciling my fiscal month of Frugal February,  I can confidently state that this February was my lowest spending month since January 2013, by over $1000. A success,  I'd say...

[Dave Gray]

Sweet.  Congrats.  I did pretty well, also. 

I spent money on some things, like vet expenses, but in my normal spending categories like entertainment and food, I did very well.

[Brian Fein]

Something I started doing again...  I am using a "prepaid cash card" to give myself a bi-weekly allowance for frivolous spending.  I give myself $50 every paycheck and I allow myself to use that on anything I want.  When its gone, you have to wait till next paycheck.  This way there's no endless supply of spending power on all the credit cards in my wallet.

[Tenshot13]

Something I started doing again...  I am using a "prepaid cash card" to give myself a bi-weekly allowance for frivolous spending.  I give myself $50 every paycheck and I allow myself to use that on anything I want.  When its gone, you have to wait till next paycheck.  This way there's no endless supply of spending power on all the credit cards in my wallet.

Isn't there a $5 surcharge on those?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

^ Miserly March?

Meager May

Got nothing for April. Borrowing from Tenshot, that's gotta be Ass-cheap April.

So we got

Frugal Febuary

Mininamlist March

Ass cheap April

Meager may

Just enough to live June

judiciously budgeted July

Affordable August

Simple September

Nothing November

AND

Dime store December

[Brian Fein]

Isn't there a $5 surcharge on those?

The commonly-available ones, yes.  However, the one I have is a reloadable card from American Express which is available from Walmart and there is no up front fee. 

[Tenshot13]

The commonly-available ones, yes.  However, the one I have is a reloadable card from American Express which is available from Walmart and there is no up front fee. 

Makes sense.  I was thinking the $5 surcharge would negate the point of getting one.