No Spend Challenge is ON

I'm terrified. I can't move. I'm stuck.  My children glance over at me as they walk by and they are not quite sure what to say because they can see something is happening on my face, but they are not sure what. 

It must be none other than that strange wrinkle in time called the week between Christmas and New Years.

So what do you do when you feel paralyzed?  

Open a new tab, of course. 

There was a button to click that said, "New Post", so I clicked that.  And here I am.

This tab is way more fun than the other 2 tabs I have open....

...because I have 2 YNAB tabs open.  That stands for "You Need a Budget".  It is a GREAT budgeting tool that George and I have been failing miserably at for several years now!  Honestly, though, it is the BEST budget app to use. I highly recommend it. YNAB is basically an electronic envelope system. It is so user friendly and I have found that the help section, YouTube videos and in app prompts and explanations are extremely user friendly and helpful. 

I also recommend you pronounce it clearly when you tell people you have YNAB (Pronounced WHY-NAB)  Usually people think I am saying that I have a WINE APP and the way I talk about it sounds stressful, but they are like, "why is it stressful if you have a WINE APP?  A WINE APP sounds fun!"  And I say "NOOOO, I said Y-NAAAAB, not WINE APPPP!" (in a very angry tone).

And then we laugh really hard.  

And then I want wine.  

Sooo with me resigning from my teaching position, my family's finances will change, of course.  In the spirit of self denial and fiscal responsibility, I have called my family to a No Spend Challenge for the month of January.  Have you ever done one? Do you want to join me?  PLEASE JOIN ME!  I challenge you!

At the very least you are welcome to join me hear during the month of January to follow along with my updates and reflections about what it is like to NOT spend money.  

That slice of Benny's pizza? That trip to Bath and Body works? That gadget from Amazon?  It will ALL have to wait.  And I will have to find some way to fill my time and stay sane in the process. 

In other words, it will be quite entertaining for you! So be sure to check my Instagram stories in addition to checking back here at the blog for some real time updates that may include my varied emotional reactions to all these changes I am experiencing at once!

We will overcome.  We will prevail.  In the famous words of Gloria Gaynor...We will survive.

My goal for January is basically just not to end up a contestant on Squid Game.  Seeing as how the whole premise of Squid Game is that hundreds of people in financial trouble compete in a series of deadly children's games for a gigantic cash prize, my goal is a worthy one.  

See you soon.  Happy NEW YEAR!  

Comment on the blog or message me to join/follow me in on the No Spend Challenge for January!

I'll leave you with something that I can enjoy in January without spending money
...the view.