I may not be the world’s best credit card user (shouldn’t have them) but I am one of the world’s best at finding amazing free goods and services. Seriously. So, I thought I would launch an ongoing challenge to help my readers find money, rethink what goods and services they use, and connect with the abundance that is out there. I would like to introduce my signature program: 5 Days to $500 in Savings. It’s free!! And, I created it to help you cut the existing fat in your budget and attract money into it.
I’m Not Naturally Frugal
In fact, I’m the girl who seems to like the most expensive thing consistently. If we’re in a store I will gravitate towards the most expensive item…even when the price isn’t displayed. I love taking yoga, dance classes, and traveling abroad. Even when I shop at Magical Goodwill…I find the expensive stuff. Hey, what can I say? I have expensive taste!
I had to hit rock bottom-supporting my mom during an extended period of unemployment in order for me to really connect with the latent frugal genes that seem to exist in my body. Here is a list of my likes and dislikes so that you have a better idea of where I’m coming from.
My Likes:
- Organic food-Eat it all the time
- Travels to far-flung places
- Bugattis
- Prada-And, no, I don’t have any
- Yoga
- Snowboarding
- Weekends in the Mountains
Dislikes
- Debt
- Bad food
- Bad quality..anything…
- Waste
- Label dropping (surprising)
- People who are cheap. If you’re splitting your 2-ply toilet paper in half and could be on Extreme Cheapskate I may like you as a person but your practices would make me crazy.
- Not being mindful about money
I get it if you’re not naturally frugal and it is with this experience and mindset that I created this challenge. My goal is to help you find at least $500 in your current budget. With that freed up (or saved) $500 you can pay off debt, save money, take that epic trip, and live your epic life.
Mindful Substitutions
I practice a system of mindful substitutions. I look for goods and services that match the quality of what I would typically purchase. I do realize that I’m able to do this partly because my town has a lot of amazing free stuff, but, I’m convinced that most cities have similar resources and that it’s possible to substitute some of your paid services to free services that are the same quality.
Yes, it’s possible.
I now recognize opportunities to save money ALL THE TIME and it’s awesome. But, it required a pretty substantial mindset shift on my part. That mindset shift took several years but during that time I was able to:
- Travel for free (or at a HIGHLY discounted rate)
- Learn Spanish for free
- Take fitness classes
- Take free Mixology Classes
- Find hundreds of dollars-I just found $800 about a month ago
You can attract abundance to you as well…or at least spend a hell of a lot less on those things I would consider the “icing on the cake.” Let’s be honest you only really need: shelter, food, transportation, and a job.
The Icing on the Cake are the things that aren’t necessary…but, make life oh so wonderful.
Things such as:
- Trips
- Coach Bags
- Spanish Classes
- Cruiser Bikes
- Weekends in the Mountains
I want you to have that but substitute free or seriously discounted options whenever possible. This is where the 5 Days to $500 Dollars Challenge comes in. For the next five days you will begin rethinking what you pay for and what you don’t and hopefully saving money along the way!
Let’s Get Started-Sign Up Below!
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😀 I like your post, is true sometimes is hard to change some spending habits, there are people that have radar for EXPENSIVE things:P….however since I understood that I needed a budget in my life, I started to do some changes and now that I’m trying to save more I am readjust and doing some changes…I’m trying to use a lot more bike instead car, use dog sitting income for weekly expenses, do a weekly meal planning choosing healty, seasonal and local food…thankfully summer offers best choice for fruit and veggie!!!
I always find the expensive stuff and definitely have a radar for that LOL! I’ve learned how to do mindful substitutions and it has really made a big difference to my expenses. I think a lot of people get used to doing things a certain way and for get to look for other options.
I have to really fight this tendency. But, it’s part of who I am LOL! Have fun with the Challenge. Only 5 days. I won’t ever do a 31 Day Challenge for my communities again.
I just signed up for the challenge. I like free stuff, especially this time of the year. My money is either going to debt or hotel rooms right now lol.
It took me a long-time to figure out a good signature program. But, helping people find free stuff and free up cash is a win win AND it’s free!