I’ve commited to not spending any money from last Sunday, July 25 until payday, August 6.  Iit’s not a month like other brave blogging souls do, but it’s nearly two weeks.  A marathon for 10 people, especially because I didn’t plan to do this ahead of time.  I didn’t do a special shop or stock up any more than I usually do.  In fact, we decided to do the No Spend Weeks after my weekly grocery shop.

I will be going to the store once, though, but I have WIC so it will not be any money out of pocket and I’ve committed to getting only things on the WIC list, no other shopping.  Maybe that’s cheating.  Maybe it’s just using my resources.

I resisted temptation twice yesterday.  First the newspaper people came around with the deal I’ve been coveting – $1 a week for the Sunday paper.  I get Sunday only and my subscription ran out last week.  I hate our paper but I like the coupons.  I had planned to simply purchase the early edition (full of coupons) at the dollar store, which would save me 1/2 off the newstand price, but if I could get it delivered for that price it would be wonderful!

But, I committed to not spending.  And the boy said he was only in the area for the day blah blah blah.  I’ve worked door to door sales and I know what that means.  They’re out-of-staters who work the magazine/newspaper circuit with teens on roadtrips.  Anyway, he couldn’t come back so I just said no.

But, that was a little bit selfish.  Because I also know that the best newspaper subscription deals are usually given by those people manning the little tables at the store when you walk in.  They get deals that not even the circulation office can offer, and here in Houston they’ll often offer you a $10 giftcard if you subscribe.  So maybe if I keep my eye out I can get my paper and a gift card, too.

My second temptation came Thursday night.  I’m attempting to teach Mr R the basics of the kitchen, and the menu plan was cheeseburger mac.  He’s still getting the hang of pasta, so first he undercooked it, so we put it back on the stove, then he overcooked it.  It was wheaty, pasty mush.  So, so nasty.  (The kids gobbled it up, though.)  But I resisted the siren call of Chruch’s fried chicken or even sneaking out for some Boston Market sliders and found something to fill me up from the pantry, instead.

See?  No spend week is making me healthier, too.

This weekend should be interesting.  I will be using WIC to buy milk, but I don’t get my new list until Aug. 1 (Sunday).  We’re down to about a third of a gallon, which I’ll save for Baby A.  Normally I’d run out and pick up a gallon but not this week!  I think we’ve become too accustomed to not planning and just buying what we want when we want it, and it will be a good education in making do, flexibility, and preparedness.

I want my children to be mindful of their consumption, and not just eat and drink whatever is there because it’s there.  I think practicing with small, inconsequential things, like learning to take just a little less in the glass so the milk lasts to the end of the week, will be a useful life skill.

Besides, a day without milk isn’t a big deal at all.

Also, I made banana bread today for a snack.  Normally I wouldn’t bake in July, and I actually haven’t made banana bread in months and months.  But there were three squishy, brown bananas on the counter that I knew no one would eat, and we’ve run out of our normal daily snack of apples.  Waste not want not!  It was really good.

I might bake tomorrow, too.  I have a ton of pumpkin in my pantry and I make a famously delicious pumpkin loaf (well, I double it and make it in a Bundt pan).  It will be a healthy snack, too, since I use applesauce instead of canola oil and add wheat germ for nuttiness.

I think I could get used to shopping every two weeks, truth be told, except for maybe the milk issue.  I remember reading on Starry Sky Ranch where she (the mother of eight) did once a month shopping.  Now that’s some serious storage!

How often do you shop?