This summer was hot and dry, dry and hot. Thinking about it makes me want to drink water and apply a thick layer of chap stick. We talked about the drought a lot because it affected our garden, yard and animals. I was a little scared that our well would run dry. This week, that fear came true. We turned on the faucet and nothing came out, not even a sputter of liquid.
Crap. Did the well run dry?
We called the repair man and he came out to take a look. You can’t imagine the relief when he said, “You’ve got a busted pipe. I’ll have it fixed today.” Phew! Dry well averted once again!
In celebration of our very close call to reverting back to an outhouse and schlepping buckets of water from the river, Clay and I have started Drought Week.
What is Drought Week? It has nothing to do with water, unless you’re talking about purchasing a bottle of water.
We started Drought Week in an effort to survive through September, which is heavy laden with large once-a-year payments like; school expenses, property taxes and our garbage pick-up. Those bills hit us hard and then we don’t see them for another 12 months. We can gauge the cost for most of it, but it’s still a very tight squeeze and rather painful to get through the month. Now we’ve decided to try a few more drought weeks to help boost our debt payments.
So, here’s what we do, ready? Get a pencil and jot this down.
We don’t spend any money for a week.
That’s it.
Many of you have probably experienced a self-induced money drought. It’s kind of fun and really makes you stop and think before you go do ANYTHING. This means we eat the food that’s in the house which can get a bit tricky by the end of the week, but luckily we had stocked up on necessities the week before and our orchard is full of apples and pears. I didn’t run out of milk or produce which are usually the first to go.
I’ve taken to keeping a snack bag in the van so nobody is tempted to stop and get something to eat. I remind the boys that when those crackers/cookies/candy/muffins or whatever lovely treat are gone there is no more. I’ve noticed that during drought weeks they will savor things much more than if they know that Mom will replenish the stock next time she goes to the store.
We have had to purchase gas, which was a bummer, but otherwise we would have been stranded on the highway.
I don’t read sale flyers during drought week, so I’m not tempted to go get that really great deal or feel remorse that I missed it. A sale will come around again, it always does.
We almost ran out of grain for the pigs, so we relocated them into a moveable pen and started rotating them around our garden plot. They are eating everything and tilling the garden area for me. This made it possible for me to cut down on their grain rations and get through the week without purchasing more feed.
But, there are exceptions, because some things can’t be helped. We had to repair the well and I had to make photocopies for a class.
I scrounged around the house for change to pay a parking meter and make photocopies. So, technically I did spend money this week, but I didn’t go to the ATM and get any cash out of our account. Give yourself a break is some emergencies pop up, just don’t make a craving for Starbucks an emergency.
Drought Week can help you build up an emergency fund if you don’t have one or if you’re needing to save for something. Maybe you’re worried you won’t have any extra cash for Christmas, try a drought week in October and November to see if you can put aside a little shopping money.
Things to give up during a Drought Week
1. Eat at home and pack your lunch. Use up all those cans of beans and soups that are just sitting in the cupboard.
2. Car Pool to work, or avoid extra trips that you can do the next week.
3. No entertainment. No renting movies or partying with friends this week. Go to the library and check out a book or movie.
4. No purchases of clothing. Everyone can make do with what they have for a week. If they need something for school (like the dreaded dress shoes that seem to be required for music concerts) ask around and see if they can borrow from a friend.
5. Get creative. Use your brain to solve a problem and don’t panic. There is usually a cheaper option to almost everything, so take a moment and figure out if you can solve the problem for free before you lay out your hard-earned cash. I like to think of the people who lived through the depression as my role models. They made do or did without.
Give your family plenty of warning that a drought week is coming so they know not to ask for anything during that week. I heard my youngest say to his brother, “Don’t ask mom to take us out to eat! This is Drought Week!” which made me swell with pride, because they get it. They really do understand that we are working together to be successful.
Let me know if you’ve tried a Drought Week and what worked best for you and your family.
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Good advice as usual, thanks April
This is such a good idea! I’m going to share it with my friends too
OOoh, I like this one. I think I’ll try it myself before I mention it to my family. Something tells me panic will ensue from the little people.
Hi April,
So many families are experiencing really tight times these days and to have these issues discussed openly and unapologetically is such a generous and constructive thing to do. I think the more we can share what we do to manage our respective budgets the more we expand the idea of ‘community’ and take comfort in each others’ creativity and practical ideas. This is also true when facing illness, childrearing issues, aging…all the common experiences that may make us feel vulnerable.
So thanks again for letting us all peek in your windows.
We had the well scare this week too. Luckily it was just some sort of power supply box for the well, but with the drought, we were seriously concerned that the well had ran dry.
I’ve wondered if I could do a drought summer. We live out in the middle of nowhere so going a week without spending money is kind of normal. I love the idea of growing feed for the animals and getting your garden worked up in the meantime.
We are perpetually waiting for the star of our one vehicle family to act up. It’s nearly 12 years old and we’ve asked so much of it.
We’ve survived some forced drought weeks, but never intentionally enforced one. Since the rest of this month is shaping up to be another forced drought, I think we’ll have to wait and schedule a drought later. In the meantime, I’ve got the hedge clippers out and we’re trimming extras right and left!
I actually do this every week; I only allow myself to spend money on the weekend (except for gas, which is bought whenever the tank reaches the half-way point). And I only allow myself to spend money at two places (Walmart & 2 local thrift stores). The exception is if there is an awesome deal in the sale flyer for something I’ve been waiting for. It really works for me.
I’m so grateful for your perspective. Thank you!
This is such a great idea. I was going to start a contest with Cowboy and I to see who can spend the least money next month…
If you have any Christmas tips I can use them. I really have trouble staying on budget for that one holiday..
I’ve done drought MONTHS before. I make exceptions for milk and produce, but I have made it through without buying anything else at the store. We do buy gas during that month, but since you’re not shopping we don’t use as MUCH gas. It is SO lovely to open the credit card bill the next month!
Your ideas are great. Because we are self employed, we have to make quarterly tax payments — so you might try that too — every 3 months set aside one-quarter of the bill you think you will owe so when it comes due it is not such a hardship.
All through the post i was pondering the gas/vehicle equation but you got around to answering that. Preparation helped you through it looks like. I may have to suggest this to the wife! Greatpost!
I really appreciate hearing how you put into practice some of the D@mn Ramsey advice in realife, with a real family. It’s easy to write books about how it should be done, and shout at people on the radio or TV about it. But actually putting it into practice with a family can be alltogether different. Thanks for sharing with us.
As far as a drought week, well, I decided last month to have a drought year. I’ve set myself a goal of paying off a major portion of debt, and the only way I’m going to make it is by having a drought. My paycheck will cover the larger payment I want to make on the debt and my basic living expenses and that’s it. Soooo if I want anything else, I have to earn the extra money through my Etsy shop or from selling at flea markets.
But, I don’t think about not buying anything for a whole year, I just tell myself I can’t buy anything today. And then mark another day off the calendar that was spending free, and one day closer to being debt free.