If you’ve been following along on our no spend (well really low spend) September you might be wondering how we did (if not you can catch up here and here). Well September is over and we outspent the $400 budget we gave ourselves by $12.49. All in all we’re calling the month a success for re-setting our spending and, more importantly, our goals and values. Since I last checked in we only spent money twice: Groceries $11.12 and I bought a month subscription to inLinkz so I could make those little lists at the end of my posts showing you what supplies I used. That may seem random but going over our finances I was once again reminded that blogging can be a bit of an expensive hobby. I do use affiliate links, though they rarely get clicked on. I’m hoping that a list of supplies at the end of posts will be helpful for you and me (with affiliate links you don’t get charged anything extra, and I get a tiny percentage of whatever you buy on the site).
So here is how the month totaled out:
lawn mowing $10
dance clothes $50
food (including produce for canning) $132.82
canning accessories (lids, jars, gauge) $94.18
haircut $11
comedy tickets $47.50
girls night out $20
gas $42
inlinkz $4.99
Total: $412.49
I think I’m most proud of the gas amount. We still have 1/3 of a tank left, and we started the month 2/3 full 65 miles from home. I got my bike out and dusted it off after two years of not riding. And not only did I haul my ass around but I loaded up my two munchkins and hauled them around as well. We went to dance class, the store, and the library.

(Tuesday pretends to sleep and Bennet has a fit because she hates the trailer)
I am determined to keep this habit up. I mean if I could take the girls the library in this crazy storm I should be set (though I am buying or making rain pants ASAP) Coincidently I lost five pounds this month. Hmm, I’m trying to decide if there is a correlation between no fast food/eating out and biking around town…
I think we had a lot more family time this month, I loved that we were not running out to “run errands” or “shop” vague terms that usually equal a money and time suck. I made some amazing meals. I cooked almost every one, some I just assembled or we ate leftovers. I am happy with how we ate, it was very healthy and I loved canning, or course. However I still have not come to love cooking. I will do it because I know it’s best but I just don’t have the love for spending all day in the kitchen. I think it will grow on me and I’ve learned a lot this last month. I even browned ground beef last night for the first time (mmm 13 bean chili). I’m trying to do things that make it more exciting for me in the kitchen, like render my own lard (oh yes I did), put up fresh fruits and veggies when they are in season and can. If you have any other tips about learning to love cooking I will take them!!! Having Tuesday measure out the olive oil and fastidiously level flour helps for sure.
Bj and I have new goals now for our family’s financial future, and I’m excited to see how this jumpstarts our savings. In addition to saving, being less consumer driven and more environmentally conscious are also goals. We are looking into LED lights, solar panels, maybe even an electric car! Have you thought about a no/low spend month? Have you done it before? I’d love to hear about it!