• Home
  • About
  • DIY
    • Easy Diy’s
    • Simple Table Settings
    • Holiday Diy’s
  • Fashion
  • Budget
    • Wedding
    • Travel
    • Money Saving Tips
  • Interiors
    • Decorating Tips
    • Makeover Inspiration
    • Room Reveals
    • Shop the Room
  • Contact
  • Workshops

A Plentiful Life

Money Saving Tips

Spend Challenge | 5 Things We’ve Learned

May 23, 2019
Why I love thrifting.

We are over the 3 week mark in the spend challenge. So far so good. A few things have shifted during this money experiment. I thought I’d share what Mark and I have been discussing, how our relationship with money has shifted in such a short time, and what the future looks like.

After the first week Mark created a simple budget sheet for us to tally our weekly spend amounts. After I asked if anyone wanted the excel spreadsheet for themselves I had quite a few YES responses. If you want to try your own budgeting you can use the Spend Challenge sheet and set your weekly amount, we chose $100 so that is what is currently in the spreadsheet.

I think the lessons we’ve learned and how we are thinking about money is different, we also both have VERY different salaries so I think this could influence where we are at in this process. I decided to interview Mark and get his opinion as well. Obviously I have been on this money journey for a while and looked at a few different topics and am always curious to learn more.

Shopping on a budget, burgundy wrap dress

Tijana’s Spend Challenge Check In

I think I mentioned in my initial article how in a short time I already had a better relationship with money and there was a freedom in being able to spend $100 per week.

5 things I’ve learned in 3 weeks

  • Having a set amount to spend every week released the guilt I felt around spending money.
  • I’m more conscientious of what I purchase and how I spend my money.
  • I don’t spend even close to $100 per week. The items I purchase I actually need or want for a specific purpose.
  • I’m not simply buying things to spend the $100, which I totally thought would happen.
  • Mark is really pushing me to use this money for personal expenses, for example our recent May long trip, we used our weekly spending money. At first I was upset and felt like he was taking this whole spend challenge next level, but afterwards I felt really good.

Mark’s Spend Challenge Check In

I mentioned in the first article that this spend challenge was something I wanted to do for myself to help set a budget and also know the max amount I could save every week. After I spoke to Mark about the idea he was FULLY on board.

5 things Mark has learned in 3 weeks.

  • I’ve been asking myself, do I truly need this or truly want this? It’s teaching me the value of a dollar. For example a $3 coffee, do I really need it or want it or am I spending the money because everyone else is?
  • Never really been on a budget or needed to budget, that it’s teaching new lessons. I’m really embracing the delayed gratification and working towards something. What am I willing to sacrifice in order to reach my goal.
  • Taken stock of my bank account and where my money’s going. Is what I’m spending my money on meaningful to me.
  • It’s kind of fun. Nice to check in with Tijana to see how we are each doing every week.
  • Even if I go to zero or into the negative, I’m only in debt to myself. I like the way we are doing it with the spend sheet. I can’t spend extra and not be accountable, because it carries into the next week.
A Plentiful Life photoshoot Seattle

Although our relationship to money is very different. I’ve been a contractor pretty much my entire adult life and Mark has been in a union career for 10 years now. I think what we are each learning from this spend challenge is valuable. I have less guilt around money and actually have the desire to save. Mark realized with a spend limit each week he can easily breakdown how much he can save, which has created a positive shift. Plus for our relationship its opened up an even bigger discussion about money, life and our future.

Whether you are able to set a $20 or $50 or $100 limit each week, I would HIGHLY recommend trying out a set budget and challenge yourself to follow it for a set amount of time. What has started out as an experiment will be a lifelong journey for us now.

A Plentiful Life money challenge money goals My Money Journey On a Budget personal expenses Saving Money spend challenge weekly budget

Previous Spend Challenge: Creating a Weekly Budget
Next Consignment: Tips on How to Consign Clothes

Related Posts

DIY Floral Table Garland

4 Decor Pieces You Can Find at the Thrift Sto...

Meal Planning – It Works!

Primary Sidebar

Tijana Popovc

A frugalista who hunts for great deals, try's her best to budget and navigates life as honestly as she can. I love thrift shopping, do it yourself projects, exploring the trails by our house, all the flowers, and spending time with the love of my life Mark.
Find out more

Newsletter

Categories

Pinterest

  • DIY dining room chairs, a makeover with paint and velvet.  Check out these black cane back dining room chairs. An easy DIY using Rust-Oleum flat black paint.
  • DIY side table.   Paint can transform, these side tables are proof.
  • DIY Upcycled Side Tables  With a few tools, a little bit of time and some time, these side tables were transformed.
  • DIY side tables.  See how these side tables were upcycled with a piece of wood and spray paint!
  • Create whatever look you want with this DIY leaf printed tea towel.   All you need is some paint and leaves!
  • An easy floral crown.  Want to make a floral crown for a party or baby shower or girls weekend? It's easier than you think.
Follow Me on Pinterest

Archives

Categories

About

About

Hi I am Tijana and my mission is to show you how to live your best life on a budget to create A Plentiful Life!

Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 A Plentiful Life
Theme by SheShoppes

Copyright © 2022 · Avondale for Genesis on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in