2023 Fiscal Fast #1 – Coming May 1

Well, here we are 2 years after our last official fiscal fast, and a TON OF CRAP has happened. We moved twice, got married, bought a new car, had another car totaled, bought another (used) car, started two new side hustles, and one of us retired from our day job. So you could say that we need this fiscal fast now more than ever.

We will start our next no-spend and use-it-up month on May 1, 2023. Please follow along and see what we’re spending, what we’re gutting from the budget, and what tubes of stuff we’re cutting into to dig the very last dregs of gunk out of the bottom before we buy more!

The Prep Work

Usually, prep work for our fiscal fasts involves taking stock of what’s in the pantry and freezers to make sure we’re using up old cans of whatever or bags of frozen whatever in our meals during the month. However… we have moved houses twice in the past 18 months, (NOT FRUGAL… DO NOT RECOMMEND) and don’t have much in the way of old pantry/freezer reserves. There’s not much to take stock of there.

So this time I’ll be taking stock of toiletries, self-care products, and cleaning products. I know we have a butt-ton of these things tucked away into various corners of closets and those shelves above the washing machine. One of my current weaknesses is facial moisturizers and serums. Typically… from Ulta or Sephora. These are not cheap! But I live in the USA desert southwest, where moisturizer is imperative if you don’t want to end up looking like the Crypt Keeper.

Follow along this month as I try out some Dollar Tree dupes and see if I can replace an expensive habit with a cheapo one.

On Monday, May 1, we’ll start posting our spending reports each day for one month. The goal each day is to have a $0 day and to lean hard into the use-it-up philosophy.

You can also join us over at the Fiscal Fasters Facebook group to post your own wins and struggles!