Christmas is behind us and although we didn’t “overspend”, it does take a toll on the family budget.  I am committed to some goals in 2017.  To achieve them I need to cut the budget.  So this January I am not spending any money on extras.  I will cook meals from the pantry.  No internet shopping.  None of it.  31 days.  Who wants to join me?

Here are my “rules”, but you can modify these to fit your own lifestyle:

1. Grocery budget of $120 a week ($20/person). This will wind up being milk, produce, meat and GF bread (mostly).  Our Pizza Wednesdays will come out of this $120.  We have a well stocked pantry of dry goods.  This gives me the chance to rotate that as well.
2. My amazon order will be the things we need only. The diapers for my special needs daughter and my dog’s food, but not K-cups of hot chocolate for the kids.
3. I am budgeting $100 for Kid #3’s birthday dinner for her friends. We are hosting a dinner for her hockey friends after practice.  Her gift was purchased in December.
4. We can spend holiday gift cards and money during this time as long as the purchases do not exceed the gifted amount.
5. The kids that have a hot lunch option at school can eat hot lunch 2 days a week, if they want, but no more.

I will be presenting this list to the family.  There may be a few more “rules” based on feedback.  I will be checking in once a week here and post to discuss how the No Shopping thing is going.  I would love for you to let me know how it goes for you too.   I will also be on Instagram with #noshopjan with pictures of my progress.

You can join me.