Day 6: Do Gift cards count in this fast?

So Cathytalks brought up the whole gift card idea.  Should you use them while doing 30 days of nothing?

I’ve gone back and forth on this one and have currently rested on “NO” with two exceptions.  Exception number 1:  We were given a very nice gift card from good friends for a very nice resteraunt. It was given to us, we did not buy it. It will be used for our anniversary dinner.  We cannot go over the limit of the card so no wine this year.

Exception number 2:  Gymbucks.  My daughter is growing like a crazy weed.  I had many Gymbucks from various shopping adventures (mostly Christmas gifts though that hardly justifies the expense I paid) that are redeemed next week.  That is a savings of over $150.  So I saved in December, purchased a gift card to the store and will be buying the necessary clothing to keep my child clothed come Spring and Summer.

I have found that so far (and I do realize it’s only been six days) this challenge is okay.  I look around my home and have so much.  My freezer is still bursting with frozen meals for “another day” (those days have arrived!) and my pantry is plentiful.  There are so many people who don’t even have the luxury to take such a challenge as this.  I am humbled and very convicted.