The spending moratorium that I argued against but was persuaded by readers to embrace starts Wednesday. Thanks, guys! But seriously, I think this will be an interesting experiment in saying no to discretionary purchases.
To prepare myself I am:
- buying toiletries like deodorant (I ran out and used an extra of Hubby’s. It’s no fun smelling like a man.)
- filling up my tank (getting through the month on one tank in LA will be a stretch)
- treating myself to a salon treatment with the extra cash I have this month
For those of you who think my spending moratorium is hurting the economy (there were 6 of you at last count), I encourage you to spend more in July to make up for my cutbacks. And please, let me know what you buy! I’ll include it in my regular updates about the moratorium.
If you are joining me on the moratorium, please email me!
Ground rules for my spending moratorium:
Allowed purchases include rent, one tank of gas, groceries, utilities, my Internet and cell phone bill. My automatic monthly savings withdrawal remains unchanged.
Business expenses, such as flyers or postage, are allowed.
During the moratorium I’m allowed to use any gift cards I have currently have in my possession (either previously purchased or received as gifts).
I’m allowed to receive gifts as long as they are a true gift and not a way around the moratorium. In other words, I’m not going to ask my friends to pay for me during the moratorium in exchange for paying them back come August.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
I think that you should allow yourself to purchase gas. You use your car for work and should not place unnecessary limits on your business. Additionally, it is not safe to drive around on an almost empty tank. You could get stuck and have to get towed ($$$$).
I think you should limit your personal use mileage to whatever your average miles per tank is for the month. That way your personal spending moratorium will not affect the growth of Bargain Babe. Don’t forget…. you will need your car to set up for the huge party!
I agree with Dan. If you use your car for business, those miles shouldn’t count against your one tank of gas for discretionary driving. Just log your driving as either personal or business.
Hang in there Julia. The moratorium can be very freeing for the soul if you keep the right attitude. Lots of great movies to be had from the local Library. Good time to experience some bartering too. Think out of the box. Just think of all the new networking you can do also :). Getting back to basics is very humbling and develops finite appreciation of everything. Lots of luck to you. Being of natural frugal mind I will be curious to hear what you find the most challenging during your moratorium. Hey, shouldn’t this be a ‘less’aturium not a moraturium, LOL.
The moratorium is quite timely since it is July 1 when the Sales Tax in LA County goes to 9-3/4%. I for one will be very cautious about needing anything & will visit the surrounding counties (Ventura, Riverside, Kern) that still have 8-1/4% . Enough tax already.
I agree with Dad and Dan!
Good for you for doing this. Be careful on the groceries, though, Ralphs (et.al) sells things that aren’t really groceries and it’s easy to get carried away. Not that you BB would do that though. :>
I agree that you need to be able to buy gas.
This makes Three votes that you should be free to
buy gas to do business and necessities, you are
now officially allowed to do so by majority vote!
Thanks to Dan, Frugal Dad and Jenny for your concern about my business. I was planning on allowing business expenses during the moratorium but I also said I would not re-fill my gas tank, so I see where the confusion came in. I’m going to try to get by on one tank of gas during the July moratorium, but if I’m empty at the end of the month and need to drive for business, I’ll fill up with a clear conscious.
I am going to join you on this spending moratorium adventure for July, but I have two weddings to go to in July, and I want to know what you think about buying wedding gifts. does that count against me, or can I purchase those gifts?
Hey Julia! Is your significant other going to go on this spending fast with you?
I admire you BB!
I think groceries should be on the moratorium…. I once stayed 7 wks out of the grocery stores – but that was in garden season 🙂 Sure saved on the impulse spending tho, and used up some of my surplus storage!
I agree with logging the personal gas miles – don’t go over one tank of personal miles.
Your ‘allowances” are the budget I am already on, so I’m with you! Not hard, once you get used to it!