Challenge: Bills, Bills, Bills

This week I want you all to get out those bills...all of them. Take a sheet of paper and divide it into two sections: fixed costs and non-fixed costs.

Here is what we're going to do:
Go through each bill and see what you are spending on all of your monthly fixed costs (meaning costs that you MUST have each month -- insurance, utilities, rent/mortgage). Think of it as things that are a need vs. things that are a want Note that some "fixed" costs are only fixed in the short term and can be adjusted or lowered over time. List all of these under fixed costs. This section will score you 10 points.

Next do the same with the rest of your non-fixed costs (pretty much everything else). This will score you another 10 points!

IMPORTANT: SAVE THIS LIST FOR THE FOLLOWING CHALLENGE!!!!!

Challenge: Speed

Today isn't just about saving money now, but also avoiding a big expense.

Slow down folks! Obey the speed limit over the weekend. The speed limit is set at an optimal speed for saving fuel (on the freeway). Therefore when we obey the speed limit we are saving fuel and therefore saving moola! And we all know it would cost us an extra pretty penny if we got caught going too fast.

So lets slow down and save!

Points:
If you legitimately try and slow down when you notice you are speeding you can get 5 points for the weekend!

Challenge: To the DARK AGES

So to our Dark Ages bright idea challenge.
Here you go:
Keep a light off today. Of all the lights you use in your home everyday, pick one designated light and keep it off ALL DAY.
But wait, THERE'S MORE! The more lights you choose to keep off all day, the more points you will earn.
Here's the breakdown:
1 light off all day=5 points
2 lights off all day=10 points
3 lights off all day=15 points
There's the possibility of 15 points next to your name should you keep 3 lights o-double-f ALL DAY!
HINT: Put some tape on them if needs be. Good Luck!

Challenge: Name Brand-Shame Brand

Okay, I need some reports on last weeks challenges, or are you all out of the game already?

On to our next challenge:

Get your shopping list ready. This week when you go to the grocery store, leave the name brand on the shelf and go for the cheap stuff. I saw on CNN last week that you can usually save 30% by purchasing non-name brand items. Think of what you spend on grocery for the year and take off 30%...that is some serious savings.

I realize that there may be some name brand stuff you won't bundge on...pathetic...so you have one freebie. You may only buy one item with a name brand. This, my friends, will earn you 5 points.

Be sure to check back more frequently this week so you can stay up on the challenges.

Challenge: Put on your socks

With the weather warming up, we frugal people should start saving. Bring out the socks because the heat is going down! Whatever you keep your thermostat at, drop it down. Here is the point scale:
Drop it down
1 degree= 1 pts
2 degrees= 2 pts
3 degrees= 3 pts
you get the idea. But I just turned mine off completely and if you do the same you will score yourself the max points of 10 points. If you already keep your temp at 60 or below...you deserve 8 pts, unless of course you turn it off.
Now let's go to nights. We should all make a habit of turning the old heater down at nights, I'll let you pick the temp, we stay around 62 (Ty tries to go to 58 and I refuse). If you turn it down tonight, you'll earn 5 additional points. From this challenge you could earn up to 15 points and some serious moola from your heating bill.

Good Luck! Hope you are all still recording your expenses.

Your First Week Challenge: Write it down

Sorry for not posting yesterday. It was a busy day. Anyway, it seems you are all feeling frugal or maybe even cheap after last weeks challenges. Today's challenge will last all week, including the weekend!
Sometimes I find myself thinking, we spent that much or where did my money go? Well, this week we will know forsure! That's right, we are writing down EVERYTHING we spend money on this week. You can either keep your receipts and write it down at the end of the week or keep track as you go. Now, when I say everything, that includes your drive through $1.20 coke. It doesn't matter if you use cash or credit...write it down.
Don't worry, I won't ask for the list, I just want you to see the list.

Now, if you successfully complete this task through Saturday night you will score yourself:
15 POINTS

But, if you choose to continue this challenge you will get an additional 15 points for each week you do so, up to 4 weeks.

It is likely that there will still be a day challenge or 2 this week still, so be sure to check back!

Gardening

The whole family worked in the garden today. Mostly we did stuff that should have been done last Fall, like clearing out the leaves and dead plants. We weeded, cleared pavers (I paid the boys 5 cents a paver, which cost me $4.00), and raked the area we want to use for the garden. We're doing a bigger area this year, because we're going to try to plant a lot. Each of the boys gets to choose a couple of things they want to plant, and they'll each have their own section to be in charge of. We'll see how that goes. We still have some work to do to get the garden ready. Then we have to buy the seeds and get started. We're part way there. Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Good Luck!!