Go Green 'Money cometh my way"

Its a funny thing how God works!! Yesterday I had put the last of my go green challenge money into the gas tank, all $13 dollars. The day before I had spent $20 bucks on a new outfit and the plan was to not eat out for the next 7 days! Well low and behold yesterday I recieved $80 dollars!!! It was totally unexpected but perfect timing. I ended up using half of the $80 to take my 2 girlfriends to dinner and I do have plans for the other $40 bucks but im going to try to be as wise as possible with it.

So over the last couple weeks I have received a total of $125 semi extra dollars!! Getting all this money has reminded me a lot of the old days when I use to budget and what Dave Ramsey would refer to as "found money" when you have a plan for your money, you always end up with extra or more some how. When I use to budget that was always proven to be true so its nice to have the feeling back. So with the help of loving people my go green challenge just may be a success!! stay tuned!!

Still Going Strong on The Go Green Challenge!

I have $50 dollars to my name and a friend wants me to buy knives on sale, arggggg!!

This week I haven't done any huge spending but it still adds up.

$11 contribution to baby shower gift
$5 mail off papers for the sale of my home
$20 gas
$6 hair care items


I have been doing a great job eating in, which has now become the easy part. There is a softball game on Wednesday I have to pay $6 for, and the baby shower/potluck on Thursday which I have no idea what my food contribution will be.




Im trying to be veeeeeeeeeery careful with what I have left, does anyone believe I can make it 2 whole weeks on $50 bucks? assuming I don't spend any this weekend! Oh and I have to get my news paper for my coupons!! *goes to change jar*

Go Green Day 13 ***Update***

Yesterday I dipped into the gas budget for a graduation party yikes!!! I took $25 dollars out of it and I promise it won't happen again!

So here is what the rest of the weekend looked like

$20 to take 2 children and myself to see karate kid, great movie by the way!
$12 dollars at Mcdonalds - They had happy meals and I had some salads which I brought extra for later.
$5 at the hallmark store for a hoops and yoyo graduation card (I love hoops and yoyo everything)

$1.50 for a Sunday paper so I can start my couponing adventure.

Go Green Day 11 ***Update***

I ask everyone to send up prayers regarding my house for sale in Detroit. There was a showing yesterday for a potential purchase. I would really love for this weight to be lifted from me and it would be super great news if they put in an offer so keep your fingers crossed!

Go green is still strong, I think I have about 30 buck in spending money and 30 bucks in food money. Plenty gas money!

I almost went to the atm today to get 10 dollars to give for some tamales I had purchase and I didn't bring the food envelope to work obviously. So I asked my co-worker to front me the money and she agreed. So the challenge is still in tact, almost busted it but im staying strong!!!

Go Green Day 5 What have I learned?

Saturday is day 5 and I have $36 dollars left over in my blow account. Yesterday I went to family dollar, and purchased cleaning supplies, soap powder, and floor rugs for the bathroom. Its amazing how quickly you can blow through funds when you aren't paying attention. I have to admit though spending cash really does hurt. Makes me wish I had done this a long time ago. The good news is, there is good news!

I returned something I brought from target 2 weeks ago and got $10 credited to my debit card. A friend from church needed me to do her hair yesterday which it was all good until it rained (it frizzed back up) she is suppose to pay me on Sunday for at least attempting but if she doesn't its cool. My co-worker also asked me to do some data entry stuff for her business which I have been working on this weekend which should yield me a good $50 bucks.

Its pretty interesting how when I set a goal not to spend, the Lord provides me opportunities to actually make money.

Some other great things is I am spending a lot of time getting organized at home and planning more things out. The area that has improved greatly is the eating/cooking department. I have been making all of my meals and honestly it feels great. I feel better when I have planned out what I am going to cook for dinner, instead of wasting gas driving around town trying to find decent fast food. Im also finding cooking very relaxing. Because I actually plan time to cook in my day, its no so rushed which gives me time to experiment and also have snacks and lunch through the day so that while im cooking im not starved.

I am looking forward to the next few weeks to see a change in habits and progression. Its yet to early to say if I will fully adopt this plan in the coming months but its hopeful!

Go Green Day 2

Wow yesterday was interesting, I purposefully asked for small bills at the bank so that if anything random came about I wouldn't constantly be breaking bills. God is good and he has worked things out. Its amazing what you find to spend money on! None the less the show must go on.....

Its gonna be a rocky week if I don't find time to grocery shop which is a key element in this program. I could go before bible study today, even though it might be a little rushed. I would have to get my grocery list done at work. I don't want to go in the store without a game plan otherwise I will end up forgetting things, and needing to return multiple times during the week which I would like to avoid.

I am going to (today) make a meal plan so I will know exactly what I need from the store to make the meals.

Here is how money was spent yesterday

$5 - A group of us co-workers brought flowers for my old boss who lost her mother over the holiday.

$3 - side salad and baked potato at wendys

$7 - A book I have been wanting to purchase that was on sale for half off!!

Grand total spend on day 1 $15 dollars

This isn't bad considering what a normal day looks like which would be like $20 bucks on fast food alone.

I am already making progress because this could have EASILY BEEN 3 debit card transactions. Im loving cash already!!!!

Go Green Day 1 ***Update***

Alright the budget is finished!!!


Young Mogul from Mogul In Training was SOOOOO brave enough to join me on this challenge and I am super excited about having a partner in this!!! Its not to late to join in on the excitement. For all of you who think this is something just as simple as not using credit/or debit cards its not. Its about planning ahead, budgeting and exploring ways to have fun on a budget.

I pulled out my old Dave Ramsey envelope system to help me track my spending.

Rules :

1. No atm or bank transactions (except for emergencies *gas*)

2. No using the debt card

3. No co mingling of funds (basically once the blow money is gone im hit!)

I have taken out $450 dollars and the break down is this





$150 for gas

$200 food - I plan to cook this entire time with a couple of exceptions for traveling

$100 Misc - This includes any randomness which the day has just begun and already shelled out 5 bucks for something to do at work and also my co-worker is talking about a baby shower so I have to buy a gift (might make one lol)

I purposefully padded the gas and food budget, because I tend to travel on whims to cities 45 min to an hour away at times usually its back home to Detroit. Hopefully there will be money left over, which means most of my time is being spend cooking my own meals and hanging out at the clubhouse pool entertaining myself.


Im going to try to do updates daily here and on facebook.



Here we Go!!!! (got my go green t-shirt on)

Go Green Day 1

Today will be my first day with cash only. I haven't done my budget yet but soon as Its finished I will post it here. I will do a day to day check up of what I am spending as well.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday!

The Go Green CHALLENGE!

Its challenge time again!!! Yes I know, when have I EVER completed a challenge right?? Hey Im trying to motivate myself and some reason the word challenge motivates me so whatever works!

The Entire MONTH of June is going to be a month of transformation as I prepare to turn 28 which is a big deal, as is everything in my life because I enjoy making every bit of life about me (kidding). I am going to be working on better health better body and total make-over so to speak. In my 28th year I WILL be debt free so I just want to prepare to look as good as a DEBT free woman can look and feel!! As I was looking at my budget I realized June will be the first month that I have full paychecks to work with. Im down to 1 final debt (Student loan) and its important that I get serious and not be so whimsical with my budget to make sure Im staying on track.

So I thought it would be fun to go DEBIT CARDLESS for a WHOLEEEEEEEEEE MONTH and just use cash. This should 1. keep me from always having to balance my checkbook register, and 2. help me pay better attention to the budget, knowing I don't have access to a debit card on a whim.

I noticed that when my paycheck got deposited I had more money than I have had in a LONG time that has NO BILLS tied to it. It would be easy for me to splurge here n there knowing I only have one debt (other than my house) to pay on and I do NOT wanna go down that path. I could see myself easily saying "oh mikki everybody has student loans" but NO, I have worked way to hard to make it to the end of my debt freedom so I can't stop now!!

So after I grocery shop, and pay all my monthly expenses I am going to LITERALLY FREEZE THE DEBT CARD. You know how you always see in the movies "break glass incase of emergencies" Yes I am gonna do that to my debt card. Im excited about it and can't wait to see how accurate my spread she has been over the last 6 months.

On June 1st I am going to post my budget, allow readers to see if I am being realistic about it, and to hold me too it.

If anyone else wants to go GREEN let me know, maybe I will include a prize for the person who actually can use cash all month!!!