Have you ever left home and not spend a single cent?
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
June 25, 2008 10:25pm CST
Have you ever leave home and never spent a dime from the time you step out of the house till the time you come home?
I do not mean going down stairs to collect the mail or some mundane stuff like that.
I mean, really go out to the shopping area, the supermarket or even to the park. Some where outside of your home, even your home town. And walking to all these various places, not spend a single dime.
For me, unless the shopping area is withing walking distance, the travel to the place already we are spending money. Cos I rely on the public transport, getting there already incurs transport cost. So it is near impossible not to spend a single cent when I go out.
So, have you ever gone out a whole day and not spent a single cent?
8 people like this
21 responses
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Jul 08
Well, that counts for not spending a cent too.
Hmm... guess I have been a spendrift ain't I?
Must relook at my outings already.
Thanks for sharing sdas86. It is good to be able to go out and not spend a cent. At the same time, relaxing yourself to clear your mind. A walk is good. I should do that more often! 
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
3 Jul 08
I do that sometimes. In fact when I was single, I used to love to go to a toy super mart just to look at what is available.
But the nearest shopping center to where I live, I have to take a public transport to reach. That already broke the "not spend a single cent" condition.
So, cannot really say that I could do that without spending a dime.
@sdas86 (6076)
• Malaysia
2 Jul 08
Hi,
If you have free time, you could try to go out and walk around in shopping malls. I am enjoying my time walking around in shopping mall, looking around without buying anything.
I spend most of my time sitting at the benches provided in shopping malls and listen to the sound around me. It is a good way to clear my mind.
Sometimes, I will go to bookstores to read books too.
Sometimes, I will go to bookstores to read books too.
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
27 Jun 08
i guess this is mission impossible for me. i rarely leave home without purpose. or maybe i should say i try not to leave home as far as possible. i'd only leave home for work, meet friends or have a meal. all these will cost money. i don't even leave home to collect the mail. i'd just pick them up when i come back from elsewhere. if not i'd just wait till i go out for something else. don't think there'll be any urgent mail waiting for me. :p
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
27 Jun 08
well I guess I'll never be able to do it. If I were to walk to compass point I'd most likely end up with treats for my pets. Or probably I'll be there for a meal.
Wait I think there might be a chance afterall. I totally forgot about the library. Maybe on a particularly boring day I'd walk to the library and borrow some books. It might not be mission impossible afterall. ;p
@youless (112371)
• Guangzhou, China
3 Jul 08
Yes, I have such kind of experience. Before I decided to buy the bread maker via the net, I still doubted whether it worked well and how it actually looked like. The seller suggested me to go to the department store to see it in person. And therefore I went to a department store which is nearby my home for about 4 minutes on foot. I looked at the real bread maker and then I decided to buy it via the net because it looked the same. And at that time I didn't spend a cent because I went there to "look" only:)
I love China
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
3 Jul 08
Ah... window shopping for something before committing to getting one else where counts as well.
So now with the new bread making machine, you could now also go out to the bakery store and not buy a single thing. Just go there for some inspiration for your next baking session!
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Yes I have. Especially on days that I have no money at all. I will admit that it is hard not to spend, but I have gone without spending one penny for the entire time that I am out. Have a Great day.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
26 Jun 08
We live in the country so we have to drive to get anywhere but we love it here. Have a Great day.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
3 Jul 08
I drive so I suppose I spend in gas when i go out. I have a lot of entertainment here at home, but I suppose you are spending for that too. If I could walk to the park or whatever, then I could go out without spending anything. I'd just pack a small backpack of snacks and bottled water and take my daughter's bike.
I don't usually go to the store without spending because who goes to the grocery store when they don't need anything? I have browsed other places, like bookstores or Target or clothing stores, second hand stores, and not purchased anything though. I like to browse, it's just harder to do with a small child because they get bored.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
3 Jul 08
I know what you mean about kids getting bored easily.
When I visit my grandma, the little cousins that are around, gets bored easily. And then they become restless. Even with a nice show on TV, they will still become restless.
Then the racket will begin. All of them will be playing and running and screaming. Phew~! Instead of having a relaxing weekend at grandma's, it became even more tiring.
@aryajayaprakash (1643)
• Japan
3 Jul 08
Many times. I just go outside and walk around and around and around and never like to come back, still not spending even a single penny.
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
27 Jun 08
Only if you don't count the cost of gasoline to go three or four miles to a park by the river. We go there in the evenings to read where it is cooler and pretty and outside the house.
I often go to the library and to recycle, but both require the car. I can't walk for even a block, so the only way I could go "out" without driving would be to go out to the yard and sit in the swing.
I often go to the library and to recycle, but both require the car. I can't walk for even a block, so the only way I could go "out" without driving would be to go out to the yard and sit in the swing.@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
27 Jun 08
In that case, other than going to the yard to spend time on the swing, you are spending money every time you go out.
Using gas that has to be bought is considered a form of spending too.
I top up my bus card with a stored value every week. And each time I use the bus, I spend from that value. It is still spending.
Topping up the gas to a car is the same logic. You top up the gas in the car so that it can travel. So it is like buying store value on a bus card. You use the gas each time you travel. It is using that "value" that you topped up earlier.
@alindahaw (1219)
• Philippines
26 Jun 08
Yep! We live in a quite suburb and I work at home. There's a park about a few blocks away from us so I usually just walk there with my laptop when I get tired working inside the house. Not a single cent spent during the trip! LOL
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Jun 08
Sure I have!
That is not really so hard.
I can walk to the nearest library and spend some time reading books there... then walk back.
Not a single cent spent.
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
27 Jun 08
Well, I also use public transport so that's already spending money when i go out. However, the thing is, I really try not to go out unless totally necessary these days. So I usually go out only when i need to buy something.
so then it means that when i go out i definitely spend money cos the reason for going out was to get something! :)
I suppose if I lived near to a park, I could walk there, pack sandwiches and then spend a whole day relaxing without spending money. :)
Although recently I did go on a long 5km walk from my home and back for exercise and didn't spend a cent!
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Only days I go to work and return home having not gone shopping for the day. Actually I buy my lunch so i guess there ins't a day really.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
27 Jun 08
Yea.
It happens once in a while. I do hope it will happen more often.
The last time it happened, my friend happened to be nearby so he came to pick me up to go work. Then lunch, my boss gave us a treat. During appointment, my client (who is also my friend) gave me a treat as he just got his bonus. At night, I was driven back home.
Of course, there are days when I spend a lot of money. 
(ie. today, I spent over $300 on clothes)
It happens once in a while. I do hope it will happen more often.
The last time it happened, my friend happened to be nearby so he came to pick me up to go work. Then lunch, my boss gave us a treat. During appointment, my client (who is also my friend) gave me a treat as he just got his bonus. At night, I was driven back home.
Of course, there are days when I spend a lot of money. (ie. today, I spent over $300 on clothes)@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Jul 08
ha ha ha ha... I do get days like those once in a while. But that is like RARE!
I know what you mean about the spending on clothes. Especially near the end of the year, or nearer to chinese new year, the expenditure on clothes can be really scary.
The last time I did shopping for new clothes, it was to replace some worn out work clothes and shoes. One simple shopping trip, and I spent hundreds! 
But there are days when I go pak-tor with my wife, we only spend money on transport and drinks.
Now, the goal is to not spend a single cent at all. heh heh heh...
But there are days when I go pak-tor with my wife, we only spend money on transport and drinks.
Now, the goal is to not spend a single cent at all. heh heh heh... 
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
26 Jun 08
I think thats practically impossible.
I've tried it some years ago walking around the city park determined to keep the money I had in my own pocket. Then a food vendor got to me. The temptation was too great. I bought food and then a drink and then the money was mostly gone.
If the actual cost of doing whatever you're doing doesn't do it a temptation will.
The only way is to leave home with a hard mind or no money at all to spend.
See if that works.
@roxanne271 (2034)
• Trinidad And Tobago
26 Jun 08
Actually yes. On many occasions.
Recently those occasions have been more of when I go out with my boyfriend. He does all the spending, from traveling money to food to games/movies, etc. I do admit, even though he is my boyfriend I always ask him if he has enough because I always make a point of asking him if he has enough to save and spend for the coming week (he is a great saver even with all the spending he does, wow)
If I go to the park to walk my dogs I usually don't have to spend a cent. I got to say I'm pretty lucky!
@meeandnotyou (2548)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Back in 1993 I was paralized and as a result when I regained the use of my legs I swore that I would walk EVERYDAY nomatter what. Since I am married with children I am usually broke and do not have money so I go out walking all of the time without spending a dime.
Have a great day!!!
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I've done it before. Sometimes I go out with full intentions to buy things and I end up coming home with nothing. Sometimes they don't have what I'm looking for, sometimes they do but when I get to the store I realize it's too expensive for me and I decide not to buy it. It's rare though for me to go out and not buy anything unless I'm just going out to shop to look around.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
26 Jun 08
That happened to me before... i went to work without spending a single cent... my office is very near my home so i sometimes just walk... and i sometimes pack leftover dinner for lunch... and bring with me some water... so it happened i did not spen a single cent... an i realized it when i was in bed recalling my day... it is possible for me... and i hope i can do it more often...
@surveygrrl (1270)
• United States
26 Jun 08
I have a few times. I take mall walks with my friend and smetimes I even pack our lunch to save money.
Sometimes the only thing I will buy will be a drink and that is only a couple dollars.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
27 Jun 08
Well, like I said, other than going downstairs to collect the mail where I do not spend, most of the time I go out, I have to travel. And that means bus fare.
Packing lunch is a good thing to do. Maybe I should look at that when I go out with my wife on shopping trips.
Thanks for sharing surveygrrl!
@LouieWpHs04 (4555)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Where i'm currently located, that's just not possible. I'm not near any malls, supermarkets, little gas stations, anything really. The only way that I can get anywhere without it taking me hours is driving! *siigh*, and well. it's safe to say that it costs a lot more then a single cent!
@shiri73 (38)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Yes I take walks a bunch and don't spend a cent, in fact, I often find a couple of coins on the ground.
I also go the library occasionally and do not spend any money (unless of course I have late fees :( )
Everytime you will find a couple of coins?
Wow, you should take a container and start collecting those coins. Then start a Double Your Way to a Million fund with those coins!
I rarely find money on the floor when I go out. If I do, it would be GREAT!!! 
