Goal Reached and exceeded!!! Granted I scaled back my normal goal to enjoy the month with the kids, but I reached it half way though the month so I am pleased.
I am happy to be back for the whole month after missing half of July! I am scaling back my goal since I want to do things (while inexpensive, not free) with the kids before they go back to school. I will try for 10 but won't be too upset if I don't reach it as long as I am good at keeping the costs down.
August 1-$0 
August 2-$0 
I needed a break from the kids tonight and hubby said let's go out for a banana split (we have been talking about how I have had many ice creams in my life but never a banana split.) So we were going to go but then I remembered I had my coupon from Coldstone for my free b-day ice cream, plus it was raining out so we went for the free ice cream and will have a banana split later in the week on a nicer day.
August 3- $157 Groceries We had NOTHING in the house. Plus $15 at the bread outlet. $1 Redbox for the kids, it was so hot today I wanted to stay in. I know that is awful, but it is the truth. $15 Japanese snacks for DD15 and her friends for their anime convention this weekend. (Somehow I am the only mom who ever buys it.
) $35 Home Depot yard/driveway stuff. $7 DH and I went out and shared a banana split. It was yummy! TRYING for a $0 day tomorrow. We have plans with friends but I think I may be able to pull it off. We are going to the free kids movie then lunch at Chuck E Cheese but I have coupons for free pizza and tokens so I may be able to pull it off. Course their salad bar calls me, it is so good, but I am going to try to resist!
August 4-$0+$17 in returns I did seriously good today! I am so happy I have to share. I took my girls to the free movie. It was Aliens in the Attic. It was soooo funny! The we went to Chuck E Cheese with friends. I had coupons and was able to get a large pizza and drinks and 30 tokens for free. The with other coupons and report cards I got another 100 tokens free and put half away for next time. They ate and played for 4.5 hours. Then we came home and made dinner. Then we went to family night at the local restaurant and they played and had fun and had ice cream with free coupons I had. So, we had an amazingly fun day and it cost me a big fat $0! (Oh, and I returned a couple things and got back $17 that was added to our Disney jar (the money was already spent so it goes in the jar.)
August 5- $60 co-pay (on it's own I wouldn't have counted it as I don't count medical, but for my own purposes I record it to remember where it all goes. That will also be $60 more towards our Disney jar as I save all flex pay checks and put them in the account.) Good news is, patching DD8's eye has worked and while we need to continue it, she doens't appear to need the eye surgery!
Back to school make up and hair die for DD15 and make up for me and DD11 too, $65 at Ulta. Killer, but it will last them all yer and me several months. Then, $48 Goodwill, gotta love my DD15, she actually ASKS to go to Goodwill. This also included 2 Disney photo frames for me. One that is ceramic and all the Disney Dogs for $3 and a 2010 Disney World frame (I always buy one every trip anyway) for $2!
Oh, and a brand new Disney World t-shirt for DD8. No, she didn't need it, but it was $2, and we were celebrating! Plus, the kid gets almost all hand me downs, not that this wasn't exactly, but close to new. Took the kids out to lunch, $9. Haircut for DD15, $14 with tip (I had a coupon.) DD8 had a laydate at the park and the kids were begging to go for ice cream but instead we went to
Walmart and got a huge box of fudgepops for $350 (20 in a box) and they each bought a pack of $1 silly bandz, they said they'd pay for them but they were so good all day with all the running around that I let it slide, so total was $6 at Walmart. ETA- Ran back to Walmart. Forgot a few things I needed. DD has a wart, so needed meds, needed more hangars, needed Car Air Fresheners (see my fly in house thread!) and bought 6 of those, yes, our house smells good. And saw a complete Micky Mouse scrapbook set (only one left) on clearance for $10---uggg, oh and cheese, I always buy cheese when I go there, it is so much cheaper! Total, $41.
August 6-$0 I worked my buns off today and soooo wanted to not cook tonight. But, I made pancakes and they were easy and delicious and I didn't break the $0 day!
August 7- $22 Babysitting Course for DD11, she's now a certified babysitter. While she was there all day and DD15 had plans and DH had to work I had the day alone with DD8 and that is rare so I said we could do what she wanted. We built the free project at Home Depot. Had lunch at Taco Bell $5 (she had 3 things off the value menu and I had 2 and we both had water) and then we went home and watched Disney Channel and cuddled. Then we wrapped our coins ($120, we just did it a couple months ago so I didn't expect there to be so much!) Then we got a slush $1.50 and went to the park. Tonight we (DD11 and DD8 and me and DH) went bowling, with coupons it was $2 for all of us, but DH wanted "bowling alley" fries so those were $3.50. Then I wanted a sluch since DDslurped the whole one earlier up so my DH went to one of his restaurants (that he works at) and got me one for free tonight. Could have been a $0 day but since I rarely get time alone with DD8 I wanted her to do whatever she wanted. Turns out she's a cheap date like her momma!
August 8- Not a no spend day, but a full day of deals! Staples, I spent $70.75 on school supplies and will be getting back $60.80 in rebates. I also bought the kids eaach new MP3 players. 2GB ones for $10 each, not planned but DD15's is broken and the younger 2 don't have them. These wil be given to them for our car ride to Disney. Call it PEACE of mind for $32.40.
Went to Ulta and got 2 full size OPI nail polishes and the free 3 pack of minis plus had a coupon so those were $14.50. Putting them away for DD15's b-day. Also for her b-day got her noise cancelling headphones on clearance for $21.79 with tax! Got snacks for DD15 and her friend who were out at a festival all day $9.96 and gave her $3 for whatever, and yes, she spent it. Also got gas, can't remember the exact and didn't get a receipt, but it was $43 and change. Took the kids for lunch at Sam's. We spent a whole $3 and change! Finally, took DH crazy bread up at work, $2. Overall a pretty good day even though it wasn't a $0 day. Got a lot of stuff for a very little bit of $$.
August 9-$0 Today was an eh day. I tried to take the kids to the park, it rained. After we went to play outside, the mosquitos attacked. We gave up and were going to go to the movies but they decided to watch a DVD. They decided on Ariel 2, it was broken! We were going to make Snickerdoodles for National Snickerdoodle day, we didn't have enough butter. The good news is it is getting better. We were all just laying here in my bed cuddling and listening to the storm, and now I am off to make Mickey waffles for dinner. (Today is 100 days till Disney. We have Mickey waffles for dinner at 100,90,80 etc days every countdown to a trip, so it is exciting to start tonight!) BUT, we are going to go do something tomorrow to make up for an eh day. So this is a one day no spend streak.
August 10-$0 + $3 in returns (technically) 
I took the kids to the free movie and packed snacks for it and a lunch to go to the park after. When we got out of the movie it was dreadfully hot and looked like it ws going to storm. So, we went to CEC instead. We wern't hungry for lunch before we went in so we were going to just play with the leftover tokens from last week. The girls, however, got hungry and wanted something to eat. They shared a salad and an ice cream. However, I spent $9 and took back $12 worth of craft supplies I didn't really need. I told my DH this and he said well, you didn't spend anything did you? Then you are still ahead $3. Love that man.
He got concert tickets today, but that is his spending money. If I were going it would be different, but he and his friend are going. And, get this, though of you who read last month know we went to Cleveland last month to see Bon Jovi
and now, guess where he is headed??? Yep, Cleveland.
It is going to be good for him, he's been working like crazy and his friend (more like a brother) is going though a rough divorce so a little road trip to chat will be good for both of them.
August 11- The girls and I spent the day with friends. We went to lunch $6, went bowling $3. Then I came home and saw the Mickey Christmas train yard thingy on BB and ordered that, $12. Dinner and ice cream out at Family Fun night, $8 and finaly groceries $71. We went out for lunch, dinner and ice cream but toal for 3 of us (DD15 was with friends, DH was at work then out with a friend) was $14 for all of it, so not too bad. Got to love coupons!!!
August 12-$0 Hubby is coing home ON TIME for the first time in I don't kow how long. We are having a nice dinner and just relaxing so it is safe to report early.
August 13-$0 I had to take DD8 to a b-day party and didn't have a gift but thankfully I have a stash of deals and we found a gift perfect for the little girl.
August 14-$0 I have a sleepover with the girls tonight for Girl Scouts. Normally I would go buy some junk food and we'd have dinner there but we are having dinner at home and I am making some treats so I think it is safe to report for today.
August 15- I really thought today ws going to be a lot more expensive, we did so good! I soent $50 at Staples but I will get it all just about back, all I will have paid is 6 cents for 6 notebooks and a penny each for 2 packs of photo paper and 2 packs of printer paper, and the tax on everything. We went to the corn fest, it was mostly cancelled due to rain but by the time we got there it ended and we spent the day there with out friends. We spent $2 on corn. The kids each spent $1 on goat feed, but they brought that money themselves and didn't ask us for any. We decided to go our for dinner but went for "happy hour" to Brewesters/Nathan's and we all ate and had ice cream for $15. Not to shabby. Oh, I also gave DD15 $10 cause she went to her friend's b-day get toghter (not really a party, but we gave a card and the $10.)
August 16- Uggg, it was a no spend day till about 5:00 and dinner was planned and ready to start. But then DH and I were talking that it's Kids Eat Free night at Moe's. We all like it there but once the school year starts Mondays are out (dance night) so we had said we were going to enjoy it over the summer but we only have gone once, so we put dinner on hold till tomorrow and went to dinner. $15. The DH was going to Sam's to get gas and I decided to top off my tank too, $30. We needed some things at Sam's so we went in and trouble hit. I got $120 worth of fall clothes. Now they were needed but I hate buying all at once, but I liked them and I know if I don't buy they will sell out of my size so DH said just go for it now. He also needed a new office chair (he has leg issues, he had surgery earlier this year and it was uncessful and he needs it again, but the new chair was a necessity.) So he found one he liked but there goes $100, we spent another $75 on meat and produce and also food for him (he runs the cantina at work, he doesn't make money he breaks even but that money, about $20 worth will come back to us.) So actually only about $55 on meat and produce. Then I figured I might as well do my grocery shopping while we were out, and that was $75. Should have stayed home but would have just bought it all tomorrow when I ws planning on going out, so oh well. Shooting for a $0 tomorrow now...
August 17-$0 I had plans to take my DD11's good friend with us, but we saw Kit Kitterage, An American Girl at the kids free movie (it was so cute!) and had a picnic at the splash park and spent all day there. Now we are home, making dinner and after we are going to bake some cookies and make ice cream cookie sandwiches out of them for dessert. A perfect day and it was all FREEEE!!!!
August 18-$0 Took the kids to another free movie, it was kind of lousy. It was called Shorts, not nearly as good as yesterday, glad it was free. I had planned on taking them our for free Frosty's and then to ACMoore for the free craft but they were arguing so I told them forget it, they could come home and count their blessings. One fell asleep, one reorganized her drawers. Both came out and appologized but I told them thank you but the rest of the day we were staying in to ensure tomorrow won't be full of arguing. So while it was going to be a free day anyway, it wasn't a very exciting free day.
August 19-$0 Jon Bon Jovi tempted me today with his t-shirt sale from the concert I jsut went to, but I didn't order. I was good. I did however send the link to my DH as a possible Christmas idea.
August 20- So a friend called me and wanted to go see a Bon Jovi cover band last night. (DH called it Non Jovi)
Anyway, she talked us into it, it was a beautiful setting, right on the lake, but the food was awful and the band, not so great. But it was nice to chat and hear our beloved music in the background, I'd go again but skip dinner. Anyway, dinner, drinks and tip $50,
Oh, but DH got a call on the way home from work to fix someone's computer. It took about a half hour, mostly waitinng for the program to run and the guy gave him $75 so the $50 didn't hurt so much.
August 21- $98 Walmart, new shoes for DH and I, socks and stuff for the kids and a wedding gift, $2 Dollar Tree to wrap the gift, $25 cash additional wedding gift, $7 cash bar, $10 pizza for the kids while we were out. ETA- gave DD $20 for her weekend out with friends.
August 22-$0
August 21- $86 Wegman's (groceries) I put off geetting a few things that were cheaper at Sam's casue I knew we were going to be near it tonight when we went to have dinner with hubby at work, but when I dropped off DD11 at Colorguard they said it was half time tonight, so instead of having 3 hours to have dinner with hubby and go to Sam's I had an hour and a half, so I gave the kids dinner that they ate in the car, then they had time to talk with daddy while he ate and we skipped Sam's, so I will have to go tomorrow blowing a $0 day. Oh well, we are going back that way for the last free movie of the summer so at least it won't be wated gas.
August No Spend Days 13/10
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Happy About Record Since Joining No Buy-
January-14 Days
February-13 Days
March-17 Days
April-15 Days
May-15 Days
June-8 Days
July- 6 Days (only in town and only recorded half the month, probably had about 7-8 no buys while away)
Longest Streak-4 Days in a Row!
. but no co-pay!
)
I am at my school tomorrow though I will be having a sandwich from home...gotta stay on budget!
