365 day challenge: $500 total in discretionary spending

[jnw]

I am challenging myself to spend no more than $500 for an entire year, in the discretionary expenditures category.

I am going to do this starting Feb 15, 2023 and ends on Feb 15, 2024.

My discretionary expenditures include the following subcategories:
Clothing (discretionary as opposed to non-discretionary clothing)
Coffeehouses
Convenience Store Food
Dining
Fast Food
Gifts
Hair, Salons & Spas
"Health" (does it really help or is it just a waste of money.. questionable items here)
Hobbies
Home Upgrades
Landscaping
Movies & TV Shows (cinema, movie rentals, streaming subscriptions)
Museums & Zoos
Music & Concerts
Outdoor Recreation & Parks
Performing Arts
Political Contributions
Subscriptions (all other discretionary subs)
Travel

I just finished a $0 spend on discretionary food (coffeehouses, convenience store, fast food, dining) this past year from Feb 8, 2022 to Feb 8, 2023.  Was a great experience for me -- I really don't crave fast food anymore.

But I don't need to refrain from fast food / dining this coming yearly challenge, I just need to make sure I spend no more than $500 total discretionary which includes fast food, hobbies, etc.. (I will definitely will be taking my BF to the fancy restaurant downtown on his birthday -- will be $125 for that meal.)

I am not planning on traveling this year so I should be able to do this, to spend only $500 in discretionary for a full year.   Even though I spent $0 on discretionary food this past year, I spent nearly $2000 in discretionary expanditures, so if I can cut discretionary down to $500 that will be a 4X improvement in discretionary spending.

If anyone else wants to do a similar thing it'd be cool. Whenever :)  Whatever set amount you like.

EDIT: Examples of some of my non-discretionary items:  necessary household items including towels, non-stick fry pan, replacing a broken dish, repairing/replacing broken appliances; house/auto repairs/maint; needed clothing.  Anything that is absoulutely necessary is not discretionary.   I do try and DIY all I can and buy everything used if possible.  Some other non-discretionary items: upgrading very old or broken smart phone with a used newer model. Upgrading a very old computer or replacing a broken one, with a used newer model. Same with iPad. iPhone, iPad and Computer are all fixed assets for me and necessary so I don’t consider them discretionary at all, but I don't upgrade them until absolutely necessary or if batteries are getting to be too old (because they cost a lot to replace).

[Dee18]

Wow!  I'm impressed. You are definitely in the running for Mustachian of 2023.

[JAYSLOL]

Wow!  I'm impressed. You are definitely in the running for Mustachian of 2023.

+1

I’m ashamed to admit I probably have some months where I’d go over that lol.  I am attempting to do the buy (almost) nothing thing this year, but I was only including physical things not eating out or entertainment spending in that.  I am being a bit more strict on packing lunches this year though, I put together a meal plan and I’m trying to stick to it

[jnw]

Wow!  I'm impressed. You are definitely in the running for Mustachian of 2023.

+1

I’m ashamed to admit I probably have some months where I’d go over that lol.  I am attempting to do the buy (almost) nothing thing this year, but I was only including physical things not eating out or entertainment spending in that.  I am being a bit more strict on packing lunches this year though, I put together a meal plan and I’m trying to stick to it

Here's an idea, if you forget to pack a lunch one day, don't eat any lunch.  You'll learn quick to pack it each day so you don't starve every day :) Just thought of that idea.. I bet that would do the trick :)  Or maybe put a little $50 mini fridge under your desk if they let you? :)

Btw, I have no problems buying physical things, as long as they are non-discretionary; necessary really.

[JAYSLOL]

Wow!  I'm impressed. You are definitely in the running for Mustachian of 2023.

+1

I’m ashamed to admit I probably have some months where I’d go over that lol.  I am attempting to do the buy (almost) nothing thing this year, but I was only including physical things not eating out or entertainment spending in that.  I am being a bit more strict on packing lunches this year though, I put together a meal plan and I’m trying to stick to it

Here's an idea, if you forget to pack a lunch one day, don't eat any lunch.  You'll learn quick to pack it each day so you don't starve every day :) Just thought of that idea.. I bet that would do the trick :)  Or maybe put a little $50 mini fridge under your desk if they let you? :)

Btw, I have no problems buying physical things, as long as they are non-discretionary; necessary really.

For me it’s usually that I’m out of one thing to make a lunch if I don’t pack one, and I work long days doing physical work outdoors and driving around to various sites, so it’s tough not to stop somewhere, but I have done that a few times where I just won’t eat lunch if I haven’t packed one.  Trying to just buckle down and make a lunch every day though

[Serendip]

@JenniferW --impressive goal! I wish you all the best.

I'm with @JAYSLOL in the low-buy year challenge but my goal this year is focused on eliminating purchases which bring "things" into my life...so food & travel are allowed.

However I am AIMING for $0 spent on clothing, sporting gear, books, un-absolutely-necessary household items, etc.

[jnw]

@JenniferW --impressive goal! I wish you all the best.

I'm with @JAYSLOL in the low-buy year challenge but my goal this year is focused on eliminating purchases which bring "things" into my life...so food & travel are allowed.

However I am AIMING for $0 spent on clothing, sporting gear, books, un-absolutely-necessary household items, etc.

Awesome, I wish you the best as well.  Sounds like a good challenge :)

[JupiterGreen]

This is fantastic. Even if you can't hit it exactly, this is going to keep your discretionary income down just by doing the challenge. I'll be interested to see how you do at the end of the year. Good luck!

[jnw]

Wouldn't it be something if I could spend $0 on discretionary for an entire year?  So $0 instead of $500 :)
Eyeing it and thinking about it.. if it would be possible :)

[jnw]

Okay I've decided I am going to try hard to spend $0 discretionary the entire year; I think I can do it.  But no guarantees, my challenge is still to spend $500 or less.   I'll share my progress every so often :)

EDIT:

I want to clarify regarding the “subscriptions” subcategory under discretionary spending:

I do have a Subscriptions (Non-Discretionary) category outside of my Discretionary category. There are some mandatory subscriptions I need, although few.

E.g. Google drive for $1.99 per month.  (I use it to share files with friends, have access to files out and about, store images for forum posts like these.)

Also my yearly journaling software subscription… $32.99 for that – allows me to share my journal on mac/ipad/iphone, so I have access to it on the go etc… It’s also very fast and well designed… I don’t like any other software.  The journal is an extension of memory; I can search on anything and bring up important journal entries.

My VPN subscription… 6 months for $15.

That’s about it.

P.S. I do have a monthly $10 Patreon donation I gift a friend and since I’ll never stop donating it, I leave it out of the discretionary spending. I have it under my non-discretionary subscriptions category. This is my only expense like this.

[Serendip]

Good Luck @JenniferW
You seem to have a real handle on spending-- beyond what most of us can even aspire to! :)

[jnw]

It's been one month as of today.  $0 discretionary spend so far.  I'll update after 2 more months.

I bought two used Emeco 1006 Navy 100% brushed & annodized aluminum chairs for $50 a piece -- retail for $720 a piece for some crazy reason.  But we needed them since our old dining chairs were falling apart -- and actually unsafe.  So not a discretionary spend.  Good thing is they will last us the rest of our lives and can probably get $100 a piece for them many years down the road.

[jnw]

It's been 2 months and still at $0 discretionary spending. Here's a breakdown so far.  I'll update at 6 months in.

[rmorris50]

Why do I feel like this goal is akin to going without sex for a year.


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[jnw]

Why do I feel like this goal is akin to going without sex for a year.

Hrm, I don't pay for that lol.  It's free and in the budget lol.

[jnw]

So I am still at $0 discretionary, and I think I'll just aim for $0 just because I'm up for the challenge.  I am disabled and cannot skydive or rock climb, so I am doing is challenge -- something I physically can do.   So far I've felt zero deprivation -- I just haven't had any desire to buy anything. I have everything here already.

I think one of the biggest challenges of this goal will be not being able to spend money on gifts for people for Christmas etc..

But.. I have recently started a couponing hobby in the past couple weeks and have already gotten several hundreds of dollars in sundries for free, plus some extra cash as well.   So I think I am going to give boxes of sundries as gifts for Christmas.   Like a gift to one person will consist of perhaps some razors, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, body wash, package of laundry detergent pods, some deodorant, nail files, cosmetics, few rolls of tp,  etc.. All the stuff I have gotten for free.  That way it's still a $0 discretionary spend for the year, yet each person will get over $100 in stuff :)   I'll try and pick stuff from my stockpile which I know they'd like.. I might observe which sundries they use throughout the year and record it, and try and match it up.

[jnw]

Okay so I'm almost 4 months into this challenge and I had my first discretionary expense:  $40.14. It was for a water flosser for my nephew and niece, especially my nephew whose gums are receding.  I believe this will halt the gum recession.  Anyways, their gum health is more important than my silly stretch goal of $0 in this $500 discretionary challenge.   I'm still going to keep it as close to $0 as possible, and not go over $500.  62% savings rate on net income so far in this challenge.