Can I Avoid Paying Full Retail Prices for 30 Days?

Last night, on the way home from dinner with my family, my husband issued me a challenge. He asked if I could avoid paying the full retail price for everything I purchase over the next thirty days. I’m always up for a good challenge and this one has really peeked my interest.

There are three ways I can meet the challenge requirements. First, I can purchase items that are on sale. Second, I can purchase items that are full price, but use a coupon to receive the item at a discounted price. Third, (and the best option of all), I can purchase a sale item using a coupon.

The challenge applies to every single item I purchase with the exception of gasoline. That means food, cleaning supplies, clothes, items for the home, etc. cannot be purchased if they are not on sale and/or I do not have a coupon. Also, shopping at discount stores, like Marshalls, will not fulfill the requirements of the challenge unless the item I purchase is on sale there.

Workarounds are permitted for this challenge. For example, a few days a week I typically purchase lunch in the cafeteria. Clearly, I can’t receive discounts on those lunches, so rather than purchasing lunch at work, I’ll need to search the sales circulars and begin packing a lunch for myself. Throughout the challenge I will also keep track of alternatives to spending. For example, modifying something I already own in an effort to avoid purchasing something new.

I plan on starting the challenge tomorrow and I’m really looking forward to it. It will certainly force me to monitor my spending habits more carefully.