It's No Spend August. For several years I have observed "No Spend" August where I live on a tight budget each week and allow minimal expenses in addition to monthly bills, gas, and meds. Usually by August it is a necessity as I get a little too carefree with money in the summer. It is a great way to rein in my spending and get caught up. My rules include a minimal fixed cash budget for anything outside of bills, medicine, doctors, and gas. Mainly this cash is for fresh foods. It means no Amazon, Thrift books, Thirty-One, Natural Life ,and other on line shopping unless it is a refundable school purchase. Oh I can use gift cards and obtain things for free of course. And yes quite a few on line and store purchases were made July 29-31 to make sure I was ready for August. It is also a great way to use what's in the freezer and pantry.
Honestly, it is a bit of a game to me to see how resourceful I can be. Yesterday I "shopped" with a birthday gift card at Hobby Lobby's 75% off sale. I got all of this for free using my gift card. Can't tell you the rush I got!!
Then last night mom and I had a "free outing." First we went to Long Street Cafe, a local cafeteria with home cooked food. We ate free because a friend recently gave me a generous gift card. Then we went to my house and as the rain storm was calming down, we stood on the corner waiting for the trolley. Hall County Transportation has 2 trolley's that run from downtown into two neighborhoods Thursday - Saturday Evening. This summer it did a mid-day route as well. My house is on one of the routes and all summer I have watched the trolley go by. I even got to ride it when it came to my preschool this summer and Mr. Steven took the kids around the church parking lot. Every time it goes by I think, Mom and I should go for a trolley ride. So last night we picked up the trolley on the corner by my house. We road the 30 minute route that includes my house. Then we took the trolley to the down town stop where we picked up the other trolley and road that route. While waiting down town for Mr. Steven to come by with the trolley that would take us home, we grabbed a barbeque sandwich from a food truck. The Inked Pig is owned by the parent of one of my former students. The smell from the truck was intoxicating and we wanted to be supportive. It was offered to us for free which appealed to my No Spend August heart but then that wouldn't have been supportive. So I let mom pay for it!!!
Crazy enough, I don't have a picture of the trolley itself. I will have to snap a picture next time it goes by the house. But here are a few from our adventure!
