It’s #NoSpendSeptember week 2! I don’t know about you, but I am LOVING the cooler weather fall is bringing in. It’s such a treat to be outdoors! 🍂
Also, Jasper’s video of him trying a carrot for the first time has been our most popular Instagram post to date. I suppose people love watching dogs do cute things, even if it’s just eating a vegetable. 😂
More BOGOs
Last week I mentioned that the buy one, get one free deals at Publix were fabulous, and that I saved $48.96 on a $58.69 purchase! Well, this week Sprouts also had some amazing BOGOs. I saved $54.28 on what I believe was around $100 in purchases.
An emergency expense
We sadly had to buy something that was unexpected. Our dog chewed through TWO of his harnesses on the way to the park! We used to attach them to the seatbelt, but no more — crate-only it is. (Sorry buddy.) Hopefully there will be no more of these emergencies!
Eating dog food to save money?!
Yup, I caved. Jasper was getting tired of his puppy food and to add a bit of variety, I looked up how to make your own dog food. (After our cat passed away this year from lymphoma, I began to wonder how much of it had to do with what we were feeding him. I am determined to do better!)
This first recipe I made with ground chicken, rice, peas and sweet potato with a bit of olive oil cooked all day in a crock pot. It was pretty darn affordable!
And did I try it myself? You bet I did! Though I have dabbled in veganism, (I was vegan for a year in my 20s and tried it again during the month of June), I realized it was not very doable for me due to the high amount of soy one needs to eat to get enough protein. I don’t eat very much meat, however.
The verdict? I can totally eat whatever I make for the pup, especially if I’m concerned about using it all before it goes bad. And the fact that his food is human-grade makes me feel better knowing it’s healthy — so long as it’s within the guidelines of what dogs can safely eat. For now, we are mixing his remaining puppy food with the new food. If you’re considering doing this, it’s best to talk with your vet, however. Here are a few vet-approved homemade dog food recipes.
Our progress
All in all, for the first full week of the challenge, I am sticking to my guns about not spending any money on unnecessary expenses, including not buying anything at Amazon and eating every meal at home. However, since it was our week to pay the mortgage and our insurance payments were due, our expenses were a bit above average. I’m looking forward to this being much lower over the next few weeks!
Remember to stay inspired
When you’re working toward a goal, it’s important to stay inspired. Here were some of the quotes we posted this week as a part of the #NoSpendSeptember challenge:
- “Choices are the hinges of destiny.” -Edwin Markham
- “Comparison is the thief of joy.” -Theodore Roosevelt
- “Don’t look too far into the future, just look at tomorrow. One day at a time. Can you win tomorrow? Can you make progress? The answer is yes, you have a choice and tomorrow you’re going to win.” -Joe Wicks
- “It’s choice – not chance – that determines your destiny.” -Jean Nidetch
- “The strongest principle of growth lies in the human choice.” -George Eliot
You’ll also find daily tips on our Instagram page!
If you are doing the challenge, how is your #NoSpendSeptember going? 💸