IF FRUGALITY WAS A MUSCLE GROUP, I’D BE AHNOLD

I’m flexing my frugality muscle this month, and it’s got me feeling pretty pumped!  In fact, I think it’s starting to go to my head. For the uninitiated, I decided to kick off 2018 with a no-spend month.  For the second straight year, I’m not spending a dime on non-essential items during the month of January.

I’ve titled it my Month of Zero.

My first go around in 2017 was a success, but it never felt easy.  Last January, there were several days where I had to summon enough willpower not to make exceptions, or break the rules.  I’m an extremely frugal person by most people’s standards, but it was tough.  My weakest points came when I had to confront my routines.  For example, those moments when my norm was to break up a stressful day with a latte from the Starbucks by my office.

But somehow, I made it through to the end of the month. My first ever no-spend January was a success!  I developed some great habits in the process, and proceeded to take my frugality to higher level.

Apparently so.

Because this year feels a lot different.  Twenty two days in, I haven’t spent a penny, and I’ve given my Month of Zero almost no thought.  That’s right, I’m crushing my no-spend to the point where it’s getting boring.

There has been some planning required, and I have deferred a couple of small purchases, but otherwise, it’s been somewhat anti-climactic.

I was feeling so good about this the other day, that it occurred to me; if frugality was a muscle group, I’d probably be built like Ahnold.

Yes, I said it.

In fact, I may have also said it to Mrs. Mystery Money, and she may have laughed pretty hard.

(Not as hard as when I also let it slip this week that I asked for, and received, a Whitney Houston tape cassette for Christmas when I was 10).

She’s still chuckling about that one.

LESSONS FROM A NO-SPEND MONTH

All joking aside, I would recommend a Month of Zero to anyone, even the most thrifty of people.  Not only does it tone your frugality muscle, it promotes self discipline, healthy eating, and good time management, all great habits. Not to mention that it’s a highly effective exercise in self gratification.

If you are interested in trying a no-spend of your own, whether it’s a week or a month, or longer,  Ahnold, er…I would love to hear about it!

ANNOUNCEMENT UPCOMING

If you’ve been following my journey to ‘climb down the corporate ladder’, I’ve got some exciting (blog related) news coming later this week!  I won’t spoil the surprise, but will say this.  If you are someone who wants to escape the 9-5, or you simply want to find a way to earn more money, this will be of interest to you.  So stay tuned, I’ll have more details in a few days!

GRATEFUL

Lastly, as always, I want to thank all of you, my readers, for being a part of this community.  Over the past few months, this site has experienced new levels of growth, and the momentum is very exciting.  I feel as though our journey together has just begun, and I’m very grateful for your support.  So I thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

love,  

-MMM