An Experiment in Spending Less – Maternity Leave
I’ve always known that my biggest spending weakness happens during the day when I’m at work. But I never was able to test it for more than a couple of days in a row. The lure of lunches out and afternoon snacks was too strong.
After being on maternity leave these past three months, I’ve been able to see what it would be like if I nearly eliminated spending during the day. My husband and I share one car which he uses to go to work everyday. Therefore if I want to go anywhere during the day I have to walk and I have to take my son with me. Since we live in a fairly residential area, it’s a real hike to any exciting shopping options.
So waht have been the results of this unintended experiment? A big change in my spending habits. Typically, I spend into my ING Direct overdraft before my paycheck arrives. On maternity leave this doesn’t happen. It’s even more impressive when you factor in that my income has decreased 20% during my leave.
When I go back to work in June, you can bet I’ll be bringing my lunch to work and watching the snacks. I know I can do it now and have witnessed the huge impact it can have on my finances.
Trent at The Simple Dollar wrote a far more comprehensive post on Trimming the Fat from Your Work-Related Spending.
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