Very quickly...I'm very sorry for not updating everyone on my initial 30 Day Challenge. Between work and family life obligations and zooming in on my spending habits, I found it hard to write.

Please know that I was successful in my endeavor to save an extra $500 for the past two months (February and March). I'm attempting to make this 30-day challenge a part of my ongoing financial behavior. I need to build up our emergency savings and create several strands of savings for travel, kid's schooling, etc. Therefore, I will report back on how successful I am for the 3rd month (April).

As to how I did it, I budgeted everything on a biweekly basis (almost to the penny), carefully monitored our family's spending habits and brought lunch in and ate breakfast at home and was just really mindful about how I spent my money.

I'm so glad to be associated with people like this group! You inspire me and for that I thank you!

Day 4- 30 Day Money Challenge

Isn't it funny how things can come up and interfere with your plans to stay on course?!

I recently came across $170 that we didn't use during our anniversary trip to Cancun last week. Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining about having extra money. Finding extra money is always a great thing! However, in this case, I don't want to use it towards my "30 Day Money Challenge" goal of $465. It's important for me to be more conscientious about saving on a daily basis as opposed to a weekly/monthly basis.

I appreciate how I'm less cavalier about packing my lunch for work now. I also make sure to eat breakfast at home. I make myself very accountable for all incidentals that might come up and carefully determine whether I truly "need" them before deciding to purchase, or not. The amount of energy required to do this, will determine whether I will continue this trend after the challenge is over.

I like that this challenge offers me the opportunity to truly consider what I can give up in order to achieve my goal. Sometimes, everything we think we need, we already have! Anyway, 26 days to go!

Day 2 of 30 Day Money Challenge.

Wow. As I press toward my goal of saving $465 in 30 days, I'm already experiencing how this challenge, is impacting my financial behavior.

Today my family and I went to Costco's to cash in on recyclable water bottles. It's a way for my kids to earn extra cash and I'm hoping it teaches them that generating money isn't easy. Besides, I really think they thought ATMs were all channeled into some sort of relentless money-giving God! Smh.

Anyway, while they went to the recycling area, I returned an unopened cereal brand that no one in my family wanted to eat. My refund was $9 and I immediately thought about spending it on a treat at Starbucks. As I gleefully envisioned myself drinking my White Hot Chocolate Mocha, thoughts of the 30 Day Money Challenge, abruptly interrupted my fantasy! To spend these nine bucks or use them towards my savings became my instantaneous struggle! I really want to accomplish this proposed goal...so today, I chose to save!

I now have $12 and 28 days to work towards my $465 goal! I don't know how I'll behave tomorrow, but today I chose to save!

http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2015/01/06/1031761_30-day-money-challenge.html