I was going to wait until the end of the chalenge to do the final financial update, but I thought it was pretty relevant today.  Although the financial implications of the no shopping challenge were not a driving factor in starting the challenge, it’s been a nice benefit.  The funny part of it is that I haven’t changed my standard of living, I simply changed how I achieve it.

First, let me share the numbers.  Please remember from the last update a few months ago that this isn’t the entire picture, it’s just comparing my shopping off my bank statements.

My bank records didn’t go back as far as June so I had to start this one month later than the challenge.  By the time all is said and done, it will be around $3,000.  That might not seem like a lot for a year, but it doesn’t include other areas of savings by changing my habits, areas like eating, dining, entertainment and and cash transactions.  You also have to keep in mind that this is on one salary… a salary that is not anywhere close to the norm for this area.  

There’s really no way for me to calculate all of the savings into a nice, neat little number, but I can feel the impact on our family finances and the stress that has been relieved from that over the past several months.  At one point I was actually looking to see what I forgot to pay.  There was too much money available.  All was paid.  I had more money available to give and save.

Yes, I plan to keep living like this.  It just makes good sense.  I can’t imagine going to back to my old ways of shopping.  If I do buy something in a retail store, it will be well planned, and of course, on sale.