April 2011: Springing into No Buys

[ronnmel]

Forgot to stop by the drug store to get my pump renewed today, but it's so fricking cold that I don't want to go out again. I'm torn because I want to stay in, but I know my cough will get worse if I do that... For now I'm calling it early as a no-buy day.

No Buy Days : 9/12
Gas : 40$ (max 120$???)
Groceries : 20$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 40$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 134$ (max 200$)

04/01 : 0$
04/02 : 7$ (snack)
04/03 : 20$ (lunch + purse)
04/04 : 0$
04/05 : 0$
04/06 : 0$
04/07 : 15$ (gift bag + dinner)
04/08 : 0$
04/09 : 0$
04/10 : 0$
04/11 : 67$ (books + gas)
04/12 : 20$ (groceries)
04/13 : 2$ (breakfast club)
04/14 : 0$
04/15 : 103$ (baby shower gift, swimwear for me, dinner and snack)
04/16 : 0$

Well, I've learned in my years that I count for something. In fact, I have, in the past six months declined invitatations to showers because the timing didn't work. I, personally, would be upfront and say, sorry but I can't attend that weekend. And, I'd let my sister-in-law know too. Some people don't understand how fatiguing travel is!

I talked with my sister-in-law today. Actually, she's the one that brought it up, saying I won't be able to attend her baby shower since it's the day I come back. I said I felt bad about it, but she said "don't, I can't even attend your wedding" (since she's almost 8 months pregnant and thus can't travel to Cuba). So it's all good. Phew, one less stress. Now I just need to try and contact her mom to ask about how to give the gift.

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $431.50
$0 Days:7/13

Groceries ($240-$8/day)- $73.22
Eating Out ($210-$7/day)- $156.36
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($780-$26/day) $54.73
Gas $250- 4/2 $54.17 (3.89/gal), 4/5 $28.02 (3.89/gal), 4/15 $65 (4.02/gal) saw gas prices are up to $4.25 at some stations, so filled up with cash for $4.02= $147.19

1- $0
2- My son's 4th bday. $8.06 (Games-Misc.), $16.10 (Target-Misc.), $6.38 (Dollar Tree-Misc.), $11 (Dairy Queen-Eating Out)
3- $0
4- $0
5- $0
6- $16.81 (Walgreens-Groceries), $9.80 (McDonald's Eating Out)
7- $19.09 (Burger King- Eating Out-Our son really wanted to go here for some reason...maybe one too many commercials on TV during American Idol last night. I remember why we don't go here...yuck!), $7.89 (Meijer-Groceries...actually left my receipt there so I have no idea how much I saved off of sales, just know I saved $8 with coupons)
8- $2.88 (Dairy Queen-Eating Out), $6.40 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $7.91 (Doggery-Eating Out)
9- $10.44 (Panera-Eating Out), $35 (Maggiano's-Eating Out)
10- $2.88 (Dairy Queen-Eating Out), $8.29 (Au Bon Pain-Eating Out), $4.83 (McDonald's-Eating Out)
11- $21.03 (Portillo's-Eating Out), $20 (Video Game-Misc.), $4.61 (Target-Groceries)
12- $0
13- $16.05 (Walgreens-Groceries), $9.81 (Wendy's-Eating Out) $7.16 (Meijer-Groceries)
14- $0
15- $0
16- $7 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $4.19 (Dollar Tree- Misc.), $14.71 (Joe Caputo-Groceries), $5.99 (Trader Joe's-Groceries)


Budget: $1480....29%
Month: 16/30: 53%
No Buy: 7/13: 54%

My savings from coupons and sales: $569.61

Next Month: 6 month insurance premium ($300)....First month tuition for preschool ($203)....Broadway in Chicago Tickets ($318)

August: $300 Hotel Room for Cedar Point, October: ~$250 Rental Car

 

[QVCshopper]

I bought myself my mother's day gift today: the Disney Store has some adorable stuff for Earth Day. Yay!

6/10 no-buys

4/1-$23 Wegmans, $2 McD
4/2-$19 Wegmans, $5 Charity, $5 Amazon, $64 Lowes, $14 Target
4/3-$19 Chinese food
4/4-$0
4/5-$18 Mall food (+ Lego build), $21 Wegmans, $13.50 ACME
4/6-$0
4/7-$0
4/8-$24 Wegmans
4/9-$13.50 ACME, $21 Wegmans
4/10-$5 Tag Sale, $5 Subway, $3.50 Sonic
4/11-$8.80 Stamps, $84.80 Pepsi/Hershey Park deal, $23 Lands End
4/12-$0
4/13-$0
4/14-$70 Wegmans (food/Easter event), $9 PetSmart, $2 Doctor, $5 BK, $5 DD
4/15-$0
4/16-$11 Wegmans, $25 PetSmart, $4 Book Store, $5 Five Below, $11 Gertrude Hawk, $5 Subway, $4 Auntie Anns, $53 Disney Store
4/17-$60 Food

 

[charming23]

Went to the library today and came right home. I have a bunch of movies I picked up to watch so I am spending my afternoon doing that.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

April Budget (3/30-4/29)

Grocery/Household- $300/$855.56 Left
Car/Gas- $50/$17.30 Left
Eating out- $50/$26.80 left
Misc/entertainment- $100/$44.04 left

Total- $500.00/$160.48 left

Goal of 15 No Buy Days

Week One
3/30- $0
3/31- $54.53 Grocery, $26.62 Gas, $3.32 misc, and $13.75 eating out
4/1- $15 Haircut and $13.05 Walgreens
4/2- $0
4/3- $10.21 Grocery and $6.59 Misc
4/4- $0
4/5- $0

Week Two
4/6- $18.44 Grocery and $9.45 eating out
4/7- $0
4/8- $2.99 Pepperidge Farm and $5.45 Walgreens
4/9- $0
4/10- $14.95 Grocery and $9.70 Misc
4/11- $0
4/12- $0

Week Three
4/13- $8.60 Lane Bryant, $30.72 Marc's and $52.66 Giant Eagle
4/14- $0
4/15- $4.49 Giant Eagle
4/16- $19.50 Gas and $20 Walmart
4/17- $0
4/18
4/19


10/15 No Buy Days

Store and Coupon Savings-$111.16

 

[Virgderon]

It was an amazing, perfect weather day so off we went to do some shopping and take a look at the new coaster at Busch Gardens. It's called Cheetah Run and it looks crazy good. Can't wait to ride it.

Running Total: Spent $397
$800 budget... $403 left
$0 Days: 7
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 64

Groceries budget- $250-19-7- 69-7-11-25-42 = 70 left

April 1: 19 ( groceries)
April 2: 0
April 3: 26 ( pop, razor, cleaning supplies, soup)
April 4: 0
April 5: 43 (14 Walgreens, 23 bowling banquet, 6 dinner at bowling)
April 6: 0
April 7: 69 ( Publix groceries)
April 8: 0
April 9: 41 ( 23 lunch, 11 Publix, 7 pop)
April 10 : 0
April 11: 0
April 12 : 12 ( 5 dinner at bowling, 7 at Walgreens)
April 13: 0
April 14 : 14 ( misc including People magazine. Couldn't help it. )
April 15: 45 ( groceries and chinese food )
April 16: 61 ( 42 groceries, 7 books at the flea market, 12 misc)
April 17: 67 ( 46 old navy, 20 Busch gardens lunch, 1 newspaper)

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 9/12
Gas : 81$ (max 120$???)
Groceries : 91$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 40$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 163$ (max 200$)

04/01 : 0$
04/02 : 7$ (snack)
04/03 : 20$ (lunch + purse)
04/04 : 0$
04/05 : 0$
04/06 : 0$
04/07 : 15$ (gift bag + dinner)
04/08 : 0$
04/09 : 0$
04/10 : 0$
04/11 : 67$ (books + gas)
04/12 : 20$ (groceries)
04/13 : 2$ (breakfast club)
04/14 : 0$
04/15 : 103$ (baby shower gift, swimwear for me, dinner and snack)
04/16 : 0$
04/17 : 141$ (gas + medication + groceries + swimsuit for DD)

 

[SunnieRN]

April 8-22:

Goals:

Medical: $200
Groceries $200 / $111
Cash: $100 / $35
No Buy Days: 9 (going out on a limb here. 9 of 14 sounds rough!)

April 8: $0 (off to a good start anyway!)
April 9: $0
April 10: $0
April 11: $$ may be in the thousands, as we are car shopping today. Didn't buy a car today, so $0
April 12: Well, got DeeDee today! Dodge Durango, big enough for the whole family AND the ADHD dog!! Has more stuff in it, then I know what to do with. I will probably need to up my no buys now. Ended up getting dinner out after I posted this, so $35.00.
April 13: $0!! Eating out of the freezer!
April 14: $0, but have to grocery shop tomorrow or the next day.
April 15: $0 wasn't planned,
April 16: $0
April 17: $111. Huge grocery trip, including Easter dinner, a coffe for my
dd and an icee for my Grandson.


No Buy Goal 9 / 8 accomplished!

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $476.27
$0 Days:8/13

Groceries ($240-$8/day)- $79.99
Eating Out ($210-$7/day)- $175.36
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($780-$26/day) $73.73
Gas $250- 4/2 $54.17 (3.89/gal), 4/5 $28.02 (3.89/gal), 4/15 $65 (4.02/gal) saw gas prices are up to $4.25 at some stations, so filled up with cash for $4.02= $147.19

1- $0
2- My son's 4th bday. $8.06 (Games-Misc.), $16.10 (Target-Misc.), $6.38 (Dollar Tree-Misc.), $11 (Dairy Queen-Eating Out)
3- $0
4- $0
5- $0
6- $16.81 (Walgreens-Groceries), $9.80 (McDonald's Eating Out)
7- $19.09 (Burger King- Eating Out-Our son really wanted to go here for some reason...maybe one too many commercials on TV during American Idol last night. I remember why we don't go here...yuck!), $7.89 (Meijer-Groceries...actually left my receipt there so I have no idea how much I saved off of sales, just know I saved $8 with coupons)
8- $2.88 (Dairy Queen-Eating Out), $6.40 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $7.91 (Doggery-Eating Out)
9- $10.44 (Panera-Eating Out), $35 (Maggiano's-Eating Out)
10- $2.88 (Dairy Queen-Eating Out), $8.29 (Au Bon Pain-Eating Out), $4.83 (McDonald's-Eating Out)
11- $21.03 (Portillo's-Eating Out), $20 (Video Game-Misc.), $4.61 (Target-Groceries)
12- $0
13- $16.05 (Walgreens-Groceries), $9.81 (Wendy's-Eating Out) $7.16 (Meijer-Groceries)
14- $0
15- $0
16- $7 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $4.19 (Dollar Tree- Misc.), $14.71 (Joe Caputo-Groceries), $5.99 (Trader Joe's-Groceries)
17- $19 (Parking-Misc.), $19 (Gene and Jude's-Eating Out), $6.77 (Walgreens-Groceries)
18- $0


Budget: $1480....32%
Month: 18/30: 60%
No Buy: 8/13: 62%

My savings from coupons and sales: $635.59

Next Month: 6 month insurance premium ($300)....First month tuition for preschool ($203)....Broadway in Chicago Tickets ($318)

August: $300 Hotel Room for Cedar Point, October: ~$250 Rental Car

 

[bigmama67]

Another spendy weekend but we got some things we needed for the house, had DD's pictures taken (2 and a half!) and got the Cars & Incredibles Blu-Ray combos for $17.xx and we get 2 tickets to Cars 2 so that was a zero-loss deal!

4/15 - paid BILLS! And my state taxes (we got our Federal refund though!) Groceries $33.40, Harry Potter Discovery Exhibition tickets $49.98.

4/16 - $32.25 for the above-mentioned Blu-Rays and also bought TANGLED from Borders for $16.25. $13.67 CVS; $19.35 groceries.

4/17 - $10.65 pictures of DD; $29.20 groceries; $39.33 gas (DH filled up)/$50.61 left for month; $11.10 AC Moore (markers for DS and paint and brushes for DD - ALL CRAYOLA HALF PRICE THIS WEEK! ); $42.96 Home Depot (DH got some ideas about fixing things...looks good...).

0-BUY DAYS: 3/12 - not gonna happen. Better luck in May!

 

[QVCshopper]

Sick day here, so we're saying home.

7/10 no-buys

4/1-$23 Wegmans, $2 McD
4/2-$19 Wegmans, $5 Charity, $5 Amazon, $64 Lowes, $14 Target
4/3-$19 Chinese food
4/4-$0
4/5-$18 Mall food (+ Lego build), $21 Wegmans, $13.50 ACME
4/6-$0
4/7-$0
4/8-$24 Wegmans
4/9-$13.50 ACME, $21 Wegmans
4/10-$5 Tag Sale, $5 Subway, $3.50 Sonic
4/11-$8.80 Stamps, $84.80 Pepsi/Hershey Park deal, $23 Lands End
4/12-$0
4/13-$0
4/14-$70 Wegmans (food/Easter event), $9 PetSmart, $2 Doctor, $5 BK, $5 DD
4/15-$0
4/16-$11 Wegmans, $25 PetSmart, $4 Book Store, $5 Five Below, $11 Gertrude Hawk, $5 Subway, $4 Auntie Anns, $53 Disney Store
4/17-$60 Food
4/18-$0

 

[annsteere]

Not posting this month, but enjoying stopping in most mornings and seeing how the rest of you are doing. (And, getting a scoop of motivation to do the best I can this spendy month).

 

[charming23]

QVCShopper, I hope you feel better soon.

Today is a rainy, cold, miserable day so we are staying in.

April Budget (3/30-4/29)

Grocery/Household- $300/$855.56 Left
Car/Gas- $50/$17.30 Left
Eating out- $50/$26.80 left
Misc/entertainment- $100/$44.04 left

Total- $500.00/$160.48 left

Goal of 15 No Buy Days

Week One
3/30- $0
3/31- $54.53 Grocery, $26.62 Gas, $3.32 misc, and $13.75 eating out
4/1- $15 Haircut and $13.05 Walgreens
4/2- $0
4/3- $10.21 Grocery and $6.59 Misc
4/4- $0
4/5- $0

Week Two
4/6- $18.44 Grocery and $9.45 eating out
4/7- $0
4/8- $2.99 Pepperidge Farm and $5.45 Walgreens
4/9- $0
4/10- $14.95 Grocery and $9.70 Misc
4/11- $0
4/12- $0

Week Three
4/13- $8.60 Lane Bryant, $30.72 Marc's and $52.66 Giant Eagle
4/14- $0
4/15- $4.49 Giant Eagle
4/16- $19.50 Gas and $20 Walmart
4/17- $0
4/18-$0
4/19


11/15 No Buy Days

Store and Coupon Savings-$111.16

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Hi Everyone. I am embaassed to comeback.

I don't know what has been wrong with me this month. t isn't just here, I am still so tied. Falling asleep all the time. I have dropped off the kids at dance and fell asleep in the van while I waited, I have fallen asleep at the movies with m y DH. The thing is I have been healthier lately then ever, going to the gym everyday doing cadio, drinking only water, eating almost no carbs and when I do they are good ones. The doctor an a bunch of tests and said they didn't find anything but it's almost like he said that's it. I think I need to find a new doctor.

Anyway, I miss you all but everytime I say I am going to get caught up I get overwhelmed. Now my kids are on Spring Break and so I am just going to start over in May.

I do want to try and catch up with everyone, but for now I just wanted to say hello.

FTR, other then an insane amount of gas, I am doing really well spending wise! 15 months with you guys taught me well!!!

 

[SunnieRN]

April 8-22:

Goals:

Medical: $200
Groceries $200 / $111
Cash: $100 / $35 /63
No Buy Days: 9 (going out on a limb here. 9 of 14 sounds rough!)

April 8: $0 (off to a good start anyway!)
April 9: $0
April 10: $0
April 11: $$ may be in the thousands, as we are car shopping today. Didn't buy a car today, so $0
April 12: Well, got DeeDee today! Dodge Durango, big enough for the whole family AND the ADHD dog!! Has more stuff in it, then I know what to do with. I will probably need to up my no buys now. Ended up getting dinner out after I posted this, so $35.00.
April 13: $0!! Eating out of the freezer!
April 14: $0, but have to grocery shop tomorrow or the next day.
April 15: $0 wasn't planned,
April 16: $0
April 17: $111. Huge grocery trip, including Easter dinner, a coffe for my
dd and an icee for my Grandson.
April 18: $63, Grandmas day with the grandmunchkins. ChuckECheese, TRUs, park with ice cream. It was a blast!!


No Buy Goal 9 / 8 accomplished!

 

[bigmama67]

MickeyMomofThree, I don't want to freak you out, but is there any chance you could be pregnant?

$3.50 today for snacks at DS' b'ball game, $9 pizza lunch with DD, $10 at Costco, $8 groceries...I think that's it.

OH...nope, it's not...about $30 at Kohls (I got a platter because mine broke, and I got DS a nice pair of Arrow pants and a shirt/tie set)...I had a 30% off coupon and then a "$10 off $20 in kids' clothing". I was a bit bummed that they took the $10 off BEFORE the 30% discount but I still think I did well. (The platter was already 50% off, it's really pretty!)

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

MickeyMomofThree, I don't want to freak you out, but is there any chance you could be pregnant?

$3.50 today for snacks at DS' b'ball game, $9 pizza lunch with DD, $10 at Costco, $8 groceries...I think that's it.

HeHe, No. QVCShopper sent me a PM asking the same thing. My DH had a vacetomy 10 years ago, and while I know sometimes things do "grow back" or whaatever, they ran a huge series of bloodtests and everything came back clear. I would totally FREAK OUT though, you are right about that!

I am laying in bed here trying to catch up. I miss you all and will be working on catching up over the next day.

 

[Virgderon]

I miss you Mickey Mom. If the doctor ran blood tests and everything came back okay, maybe it is just stress, and sleep is your way of escaping the stress. My way of escaping stress is an afternoon nap and /or eating Crackerjacks.The whole bag. Or ice cream. Or People Magazine. Or Youtube. Looking up old high school friends on Facebook to see if they are more broke or have gained more weight than I have is fun. Sometimes I will sit on my balcony and watch my neighbors kids scream and whine and congratulate myself on how well my kids turned out. Sorry , this is probably not helpful.

We are going to have a spendy week. The Chicago White Sox are playing 4 games in Tampa this week, and we are going to 3 of them. We also have Easter and a birthday party this weekend.

Running Total: Spent $444
$800 budget... $356 left
$0 Days: 7
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 64

Groceries budget- $250-19-7- 69-7-11-25-42 = 70 left

April 1: 19 ( groceries)
April 2: 0
April 3: 26 ( pop, razor, cleaning supplies, soup)
April 4: 0
April 5: 43 (14 Walgreens, 23 bowling banquet, 6 dinner at bowling)
April 6: 0
April 7: 69 ( Publix groceries)
April 8: 0
April 9: 41 ( 23 lunch, 11 Publix, 7 pop)
April 10 : 0
April 11: 0
April 12 : 12 ( 5 dinner at bowling, 7 at Walgreens)
April 13: 0
April 14 : 14 ( misc including People magazine. Couldn't help it. )
April 15: 45 ( groceries and chinese food )
April 16: 61 ( 42 groceries, 7 books at the flea market, 12 misc)
April 17: 67 ( 46 old navy, 20 Busch gardens lunch, 1 newspaper)
April 18: 47 ( 25 Target food, 12 food at ball game, 10 parking)

 

[charming23]

Glad to "see" you MickeyMomofThree. I hope they figure out what is going on soon. I know when I workout more I get tired easier.

 

[angierae]

No buy days: 8/10
Groceries: $154.38/$240
Fuel: $60/$48
Eating out: 44.90/$44
Entertainment/Hobbies: 24.67/$52

Coupon running total for April: $16.24

4/1: $0
4/2: $0
4/3: $0
4/4: $2.10 (CVS. Got $50 worth of stuff between sales, coupons and Extrabucks, though.)
4/5: $14.90 @ Subway $8.67 @ 7-11 $20 @ Mobil
4/6: $10 @ Panera $51.34 @ Meijer
4/7: $0
4/8: $0
4/9: $41.92 groceries (3 different stores)
4/10: $0
4/11: $20 @ Mobil, $16.37 @ Kroger, $16 @ Amazon
4/12: $9.31 @ CVS during a walk with DH - cleaning supplies
4/13: $3.20 @ Kroger because I forgot my lunch so I stopped in on the way to work for a frozen dinner and a thing of apples and caramel
4/14: $0
4/15: $20 Gas (officially overbudget for the month, but I knew that was coming)
4/16: $10.22 groceries $20 dining out
4/17: $7.52 CVS (papers and a few little things)
4/18: $0

 

[charming23]

Calling it a $0 day today as well. It is still cold and rainy out so staying indoors and catching up on my DVR.

April Budget (3/30-4/29)

Grocery/Household- $300/$855.56 Left
Car/Gas- $50/$17.30 Left
Eating out- $50/$26.80 left
Misc/entertainment- $100/$44.04 left

Total- $500.00/$160.48 left

Goal of 15 No Buy Days

Week One
3/30- $0
3/31- $54.53 Grocery, $26.62 Gas, $3.32 misc, and $13.75 eating out
4/1- $15 Haircut and $13.05 Walgreens
4/2- $0
4/3- $10.21 Grocery and $6.59 Misc
4/4- $0
4/5- $0

Week Two
4/6- $18.44 Grocery and $9.45 eating out
4/7- $0
4/8- $2.99 Pepperidge Farm and $5.45 Walgreens
4/9- $0
4/10- $14.95 Grocery and $9.70 Misc
4/11- $0
4/12- $0

Week Three
4/13- $8.60 Lane Bryant, $30.72 Marc's and $52.66 Giant Eagle
4/14- $0
4/15- $4.49 Giant Eagle
4/16- $19.50 Gas and $20 Walmart
4/17- $0
4/18- $0
4/19- $0

Week Four
4/20
4/21
4/22
4/23
4/24
4/25
4/26

12/15 No Buy Days

Store and Coupon Savings-$111.16