Frugal February has been around online for a couple of years but SmartCanucks has never done an official challenge. Would you be interested in joining a Frugal February challenge.
For some people, Frugal February means trying not to buy anything, they stock up before Feb 1st and spend money only on bills and essentials like getting to work etc but that is a little extreme for most people. The true essence of Frugal February is about shopping only for essentials and not all the extra consumerism that our society has become.
You would buy only groceries, brown bag it rather than buy lunch out, have fun at home rather than go to the movies etc. Frugal is about trying as many money saving ideas as you can, such as spend-free days, not eating out, etc., and live as cheaply as possible. Try to eliminate all non-essential spending and only spend money on necessities and put the money you do not spend towards debt or savings – not blow it all on March 1st.
So who is in on this challenge? It is only 28 days, you can do it! We will be sharing tips throughout the month.
Yes please! I’ll try it!
I’m in. It’s a great lesson to learn as many people over spend. It should be fun!
I’m up for the challenge!
Sounds fun! I am in.
I would do it but my husband would sabotage me!
This is my New Years resolution. I have budgeted $120 a month for ”spending”…. Which, is not a lot!!! Would we have daily posts? Weekly posts? How would we see how others are doing?
Jen, yes we would have regular check in posts and tips like planning a cheap night in or creative lunches etc
I am already doing Frugal January. My goal has been to spend very little this month to get caught up on my December credit card bill. So far so good.
Like Jennifer said… my husband and kids would sabotage me too! I don’t think I would have any problem!!
Jennifer & bekki3 check out our tips on getting your family onboard savings etc
http://smartcanucks.ca/getting-your-family-onboard-with-money-management-saving/
I’ll give it a shot!
Sounds like a great idea – i’m in!
I would so love to try this.
This sounds great! Hubby would not make it – he buys lunch everyday (more cheaply now but still out). Other than that I rarely go out for lunch, maybe once every three months and we spend lots of time at home or the local skating rink and snow hill.
Would you have to buy birthday gifts and valentine gift in advance?
In the original challenge they did meals at home for Valentines etc and the birthday mentioned was a friend of the child and she made them homemade gifts, but the rules would be up to you. It is just about cutting spending to what is needed not just consumerism
Every month is frugal to me…eating out…what’s that? LOL
Sounds fun! Would love to do it… would be interesting to see everyones frugal ideas!
I tried it. It’s easier than it seems, but it doesn’t work out as I had hope.
The whole point is fugal, but instead I spent more on groceries in January and March to make up for it, average end up being the same. And it’s usually Chinese New Year, so buying gifts and going out to eat became essential to me.
But if you do participate. You’d find that it easier than it sounds. You can always find free stuff, redeem points for things you want. And it is a great excuse for not celebrating Valentine’s Day.
I’m in all year long. I go out for dinner only when I have a coupon that pays half of it!
I’m in!
Sounds interesting, I’m up for it!
We are definitely on board. I love a challenge. Making up the rules now!
This is my everyday. Firstly, when we had a young family and not much income, we learned that if you want the “extras” – movies, eating out, extracurricular activities for the kids, vacation trips,you have to find the money from somewhere else. This is when we got into the habit of trying not to buy anything we didn’t need, of cancelling magazine subscriptions when we didn’t read the magazine. Horrors – cancelling cable TV!!! because we would have more “quality time” together as a family and not merely tolerate each other until we can get back to our program or game or whatever. It is difficult, but it is rewarding. When you calculate the money you spend on coffee out, it’s amazing how much you can save over a period of time. The important thing is to have a goal e.g..a trip to Europe, which would normally be way out of your budget. You would be amazed at how much of your spending goes towards non-essentials. Have fun and don’t punish yourselves, but you will be amazed at what you can “afford” once you get rid of the barnacles on your budget! After awhile it will become automatic – and the planet will thank you for cutting down on the waste and the garbage!
That is my everyday life. Not like I can’t afford to enjoy luxuries but I am so busy taking care of my parents inlaw and kids (while hubby’s away) that my only luxury is spending some me-time on the Internet. I am so pressed for time that when I am shopping it is mostly for essentials
I’m in big time!!
Me! I wanna join! how about running the challenge for a year? Or 6 months!
Challenge accepted, great idea!
February is a bad time for this challenge…. store clearances happen, and I do a large part off my birthday and Christmas shopping for the year! March, April, May, June, no problem, but Feb. and July are bad months for this!
I think I’m in. We have such a crazy stockpile and really I want to limit the amount of “stuff” in our house, so this is a great way to widdle down the stockpile to something more reasonable and replace it with reasonable quantities later.
I am in.
We usually call January and February eat the freezer months. It’s a good time to sort through all the meat saving we have made when we have bought meat on sale and frozen it into smaller packages. When the weather is bad I also get the summer fruits out of the freezer and make jam. I give a lot of jam as gifts to people and this also saves money.
When we need a treat we can eat the pork or beef tenderloin with mushrooms that I have bought in bulk and then frozen.
Let me add that our children are grown now and so we do have a bit more spare money, but we never forget the days and years that we rolled pennies to buy groceries, and we couldn’t use Pampers coupons as Pampers were still too expensive.
I can’t because my birthday and valentines day is in february…
I guess we could try and do it with groceries. :3
I am the same as Andra–Jan and Feb are freezer months–makes sure I don’t lose anything to freezer burn. And I so dislike carrying grociers into the house is the snow icy conditions that we often have in those winter months! So, I am already there–except I have two ‘road’ trips in Feb. for work, and that always costs $$.
I am up for your Challenge,
I will try my best!
My bday is in February too and with Valentine’s day and the “yearly-have-to-trip” to Toronto, this will be challenging but we’re in!!! Let’s eat what’s in the pantry/freezer yay!
We always do a frugal January. Our wedding anniversary is February and our treat to ourselves is one movie night out. We don’t do much on the eat out side of anything anyhow. Our goal is to live off of our stockpile and freezer for January, February and March and only buy the fresh stuff we need. I will tune in to see what everyone is doing to see if I can get any ideas for us for next year. Hard to cut back when most has already been cut. Would love to see how everyone is doing.
I am in. I always try but don’t always do it. But if it is a true challange…..I may fair better. Game on! 🙂
oh gosh i can’t do this. i can’t skip a good sale! lol. but i will try for next month 🙂
Why not!!! I’m up for this challenge
I used to go out alot until I started to mark down every single penny on my own created monthly spending template every single time I spent since 1/2 year ago. By 1st day of new month, I would take a look how much I spent per categories( i.e. Gas, dine out, groceries), which allow myself (or force) myself to spend less (but wisely !). I used to dine out alot or fast food, but after what I did, I still rewarded by end of each month to dine out just once, on how much $ I saved for the entire of month = Balance our soul on our daily life.
I’ll give it a try, will be interesting.
I’ll try it. I can’t lose anything but I can save momey.
I’m in too!
Frugal February?
Hehehe.
We started in January : )
Using rip and stick coupon on meat at Metro. We don’t pay full price for expensive beef, for starters.
http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/336882-metro-wheres-beef-brag-rip-stick-coupon-christmas-kinder-oop-1-07-a-canada/
I’m in! :+)
Game to give this a try! Interesting seeing the “I can’t, Valentine’s day is there.” How about making this the year you show you love by the things you do rather than what you buy? It’ll mean more and, quite possibly, be more fun 😉
BTW – where do you people get coupons to dine out? We do not do fast food (like Macdonalds, etc.) so am hoping these coupons are for real restaurants. Always checking on-line in London (Ontario) but never come across any deals 🙁
I agree with Sue! Valentines day is a poor excuse. You can make a gift, or card, especially if it is for your a member of your family, as you could explain to them, you cannot afford to spend alot this year. i am sure they will understand as according to the news, the debt for people this year is worse than in the 80s!!! Unless we all change our attitudes about money, and stop trying to keep up with the JONESES we will all be doomed.
I’m in! What do I do? it would be nice to read how everyone else is doing along the way, will keep me on track too.
I’m in! I’d planned to do this anyway – December and January were expensive months. 🙂
I’m in!
I’m in! Sounds fun!
Yeas Please….. I’m in!!! 2013 is all about getting my finaces in check, and I can use all the tips I can get!
I’d like to have a go at ‘er…count me in! We haven’t been making any head way trying to save and I think this might be it…its all the little extras that add up.
Sure, why not?
That is a great idea!
A few of us over in the UK decided to do this, some set strict rules for themselves, others, like me, just decided to be very conscious of every penny spent. The mantra “do I need it?, can I afford it?”