The FF Pesach budget challenge: three women tracked their Pesach expenses — then slashed them
Do I already have something similar? If not, do I need it right now? Will it be available in six months, when money isn’t so tight?
“I don’t buy into the idea that unplanned purchases are always wrong,” says Mara. “Sometimes they really do make sense. But if you notice that impulse buying is a major budget buster for you — or that it’s masking some other emotional need — it’s good to try to get a handle on it. Asking yourself these questions questions is a good way to remind your brain to be intentional before you spend.”
Housewares & Disposables
Tamar
Pesach 2018: $190
Pesach 2019: $270
“I went to the store, and they had the cutest paper goods for the Makkos,” says Tamar. “But I realized I didn’t need the plates, napkins, and cups.” In other words, Tamar found a balance between beautifying her table l’kavod Yom Tov and not buying unnecessarily. She did spend more in 2019, though, because of an unanticipated expense: a tablecloth. Her usual Yom Tov one fell victim to a few too many grape juice spills over the first days, and she needed to buy a replacement on Chol Hamoed.
Chaya
Pesach 2018: 600 shekels ($170)
Pesach 2019: 200 shekels ($56)
Other than a new, larger hot plate for Yom Tov, Chaya bought barely any housewares for 2019.
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