December No Buy: To help us survive the holidays

So not a good start to the month... Oh well, such is December.:cutie:

No Buy Days : 1/10
Gas : 30$ (max 90$)
Groceries : 75$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 68$ (max 150$)
Non-necessities : 201$ (max 250$)
Christmas : 4$ (max 200$)

01/12 : 10$ (food delivery)
02/12 : 0$
03/12 : 49$ (dinner)
04/12 : 101$ (clothes)
05/12 : 92$ (groceries + dance show tickets)
06/12 : about 30$ (gas)
07/12 : 9$ (candy apple and chocolate)
08/12 : 87$ (groceries + first perfume ever)
 
Virgderon, that score is really great, good for you!!! I love bowling. My DH and I always said when the kids were old enough to leave them we'd join a league (for fun, not cause we are good :rotfl: ) Unfortunatly now that we can leave them his job has him too much and we can't commit to anything like that, but we will someday, it just seems so fun!

I will report for yesterday in a bit. DH met for a dinner date (he was stucak at work and didn't have dinner with him, he had a B1G1 coupon so we decided to meet for dinner.) And after I did some Christmas shopping and got boots for everyone!!! Have to getthe kids off to school (they are ALL finally going today) and then I will go though the receipts. :eek:
 
Virgderon, that score is really great, good for you!!! I love bowling. My DH and I always said when the kids were old enough to leave them we'd join a league (for fun, not cause we are good :rotfl: ) Unfortunatly now that we can leave them his job has him too much and we can't commit to anything like that, but we will someday, it just seems so fun!

I will report for yesterday in a bit. DH met for a dinner date (he was stucak at work and didn't have dinner with him, he had a B1G1 coupon so we decided to meet for dinner.) And after I did some Christmas shopping and got boots for everyone!!! Have to getthe kids off to school (they are ALL finally going today) and then I will go though the receipts. :eek:

I do love bowling even tho I am terrible. I like the social aspect, being that I am new here in Florida and still making friends. When we started, we did an every other week league, which are usually on Saturday or Sunday. I know how busy your DH is , so maybe that would work. ;)

I like how your DH always finds a way to see you no matter how busy he is at work. You guys know how to make it work.
 
I'm going to adjust my expectations and go for 11 no buy days this month. I'm done shopping, but we have a ton of activities in the month of December that I'll need to pay for. I'm so thankful for this thread and its ability to keep me on track; what a difference it's made!


December 1 :cool1: $0! Hopefully this a good omen for the month!
December 2 :cool1: $0! Took the boys to see Santa today. We went to Bass Pro Shops where they have a great Christmas area set up with tons of activities and you get a 4x6 print for free. It was great!
December 3 $105 groceries, $9 orowheat outlet, $9 Kohls, $6 Lowes, $43 Target, $41 printer ink
December 4 $9 groceries, $30 Took the boys to the Parade of Lights in Downtown Denver. The parade is free, but I paid for parking and food. We had a fantastic time, well worth the money!
December 5 :cool1: $0! We went to a community sing along today and had a great time for zero dollars spent.
December 6 Was in town today, so I ran a few errands. $20 medical, $16 lunch, $30 misc. Target, $27 Joann's.
December 7 Took the boys up to the mountains to cut down a Christmas tree. The tree was only $10, but we had to put gas in our big truck so $56 for that. And we had to get lights because in the past we've set up artifical pre-lit trees, so $10 there. Finally, I ordered my Christmas cards, $5 for 50 photo cards.
December 8$10 extension cord, $23 Christmas gifts for our dogs, $23 ornament painting, $59 groceries for a cookie exchange and holiday party we're throwing, $30 gas, $30 dinner and a movie for DH and I.

3/11 no buy days
 

Spending the day studying for finals. I can not wait for this semester to be over.

Groceries: $200/ $93.44 left
Household: $50/$15.13 left
Christmas Eve Dinner: $50
Gas/Car: $50
Eating out/Entertainment: $75/$32.04 left
Misc: $75/$57.86 left

Total: $500/$298.47 left

Goal of 12 No Buy days

Week One
12/1- $3.65 Starbucks, $7.45 Jersey Mike's, $17.14 Pat Catan's, $11.19 Walgreen's, and $13.96 Rustic
12/2- $26.89 Househol and $34.71 Grocery at WalMart
12/3- $0
12/4- $0
12/5- $0
12/6- $0
12/7- $0

Week Two
12/8- $68.64 WalMart and $17.90 Lunch
12/9- $0
12/10
12/11
12/12
12/13
12/14

6/12 No Buy Days

Coupon and Store Savings- $16.55
 
12/1 - $1 soda
12/2 - $1 soda, $4 groceries, $22 DD boots
12/3 - $10 lunch, $3 comic, $135 gifts
12/4 - $12 breakfast out, $61 groceries
12/5 - $10 groceries, $3 donuts, $20 gifts, $15 laundromat
12/6 - $6 lunch, $29 Christmas cards, $21 post office, $10 DD dress shoes, $53 cats
12/7 - $52 MetroCard, $11 gifts
12/8 - $30 gifts

Holidays 2010 Total Spending: $1,162

Darn, I haven't had a $0 day yet! I blame online shopping for gifts, I keep doing a little each day instead of doing it all at once. Can I just pretend I didn't buy that soda on 12/1 & call it a $0? :rotfl:
 
Today is a 0. Trying not to spend before our Chicago trip.

Running Total: Spent $154
$800 budget...$ 646 left
$0 Days: 4
Goal is 6 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 37

Groceries budget- $200- 4-14-2-16= 164 left

December 1: 19 ( meds, tea, soda)
December 2: 0
December 3: 39 ( pop, food, VS, shoes)
December 4: 18 ( 8 Wendys, 5 parking and 5 snacks at hockey game)
December 5: 0
December 6 : 0
December 7: 41 (32 bowling, 7 food at bowling, 2 pop )
December 8: 37 ( 11 makeup on sale , 10 gas, 16 Publix food)
December 9 : 0
 
The December budget is $800 with 10 no spend days.

Auto $75
Eating Out/Entertainment $115 / $102 left
Giving $25 /$7 left
Groceries/Household Goods $200 / $148 left
Medical $20
Misc. $75 / $66 left
Set bills $290 / $79 left

No spend days goal of 5/10

Coupon savings = $24.10
Christmas 2010 running total of spending = $1024
--------------------------------------------------------
12/1 $0
12/2 Groceries $3; Giving $1 (SA kettle)
12/3 $0
12/4 Groceries $17; Giving $16 (SA kettle and Angel Tree gift); Set bills $26
12/5 Set bills $25 (church); Groceries $13; Eating out $13
12/6 $0
12/7 $0
12/8 $0
12/9 Groceries $18; Misc. $9 (stamps); Giving $1 (SA kettle); Set bills $160
 
No Buy Days : 2/10
Gas : 30$ (max 90$)
Groceries : 75$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 68$ (max 150$)
Non-necessities : 201$ (max 250$)
Christmas : 4$ (max 200$)

01/12 : 10$ (food delivery)
02/12 : 0$
03/12 : 49$ (dinner)
04/12 : 101$ (clothes)
05/12 : 92$ (groceries + dance show tickets)
06/12 : about 30$ (gas)
07/12 : 9$ (candy apple and chocolate)
08/12 : 87$ (groceries + first perfume ever)
09/12 : 0$
 
I do love bowling even tho I am terrible. I like the social aspect, being that I am new here in Florida and still making friends. When we started, we did an every other week league, which are usually on Saturday or Sunday. I know how busy your DH is , so maybe that would work. ;)

I like how your DH always finds a way to see you no matter how busy he is at work. You guys know how to make it work.


Awww, that is so nice of you to say. I am shockingly lucky. I started dating him when I was 15, engaged when I was 16 and married at 17. People told me I was insane but he is one of a kind. I knew if I didn't hold onto him someone else would. I love that he always makes time for me (us) even when it's tough cause there is no one in the world I'd rather spend an evening with then him. I just mentioned the twice a month bowling league to him and he said sounds good, look into that. :woohoo:
 
I'm not counting Christmas gifts in here as it only encourages me to procrastinate on buying them, and that's sure not going to work!

12/1::cool1: Off to a better start this month!
12/2::cool1:
12/3: after school $161 (I thought I had paid for the past two weeks, but I forgot to! Oops! The two half days the boys had this week bumped the total way up too.), $7 books for my students, $6 DS's book order
12/4: Legofest day! I bought tickets last month, so today was $25 on lunch, $12 on dinner (but I'm not counting it as a dinner out as it wasn't the entire family), $35 on gas, $9 on parking, $16 on an extra ticket (long story!).
12/5: $23 on a teacher book, ? on groceries as DH is at the store right now.
12/6: $8 dinner (just two of us), $36 Walmart, and Christmas shopping
12/7: $8 groceries
12/8::cool1: (Calling it early as I have to finish writing report cards, and that will keep me busy for the rest of the night!)
12/9: $30 dinner, $55 on fish oil for the kids/husband (not as terrible as it sounds, I promise!)

no buy days: 3/8
dinners out: 1/5
longest streak: 3
 
No Buy Days : 2/10
Gas : 30$ (max 90$)
Groceries : 75$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 99$ (max 150$)
Non-necessities : 201$ (max 250$)
Christmas : 94$ (max 200$)

01/12 : 10$ (food delivery)
02/12 : 0$
03/12 : 49$ (dinner)
04/12 : 101$ (clothes)
05/12 : 92$ (groceries + dance show tickets)
06/12 : about 30$ (gas)
07/12 : 9$ (candy apple and chocolate)
08/12 : 87$ (groceries + first perfume ever)
09/12 : 0$
10/12 : 121$ (Gifts + Christmas staff party)
 
Stopped to get gas after my study session at school this morning.

Groceries: $200/ $93.44 left
Household: $50/$15.13 left
Christmas Eve Dinner: $50
Gas/Car: $50/ $23.02 left
Eating out/Entertainment: $75/$32.04 left
Misc: $75/$57.86 left

Total: $500/$271.49 left

Goal of 12 No Buy days

Week One
12/1- $3.65 Starbucks, $7.45 Jersey Mike's, $17.14 Pat Catan's, $11.19 Walgreen's, and $13.96 Rustic
12/2- $26.89 Househol and $34.71 Grocery at WalMart
12/3- $0
12/4- $0
12/5- $0
12/6- $0
12/7- $0

Week Two
12/8- $68.64 WalMart and $17.90 Lunch
12/9- $0
12/10- $26.98 Gas
12/11
12/12
12/13
12/14

6/12 No Buy Days

Coupon and Store Savings- $16.55
 
Ahhh, I got suckered into Kohls cash (my own fault). I have a hard time spending a certain amount if I get something free at a higher amount. Oh well--at least I got the kids some warm PJs for these cold nights! Not sure when I'll get another no-buy; maybe Sunday or Monday? Oh, and I only went 1 mile since I was shopping at Kohls... At least I'm almost done with XMas shopping!

4/10 No-buy days

12/1-$0; 6 miles!
12/2-$1 library; $6 Cookie Co.; 2 miles
12/3-$0; 7 miles!!
12/4-$40 Charity Sale; $13 QVC; $12 Breakfast with Santa; $5 Toys for Tots; $36 Various Stores at Mall/B&N
12/5-$0
12/6-$7 Burger King; $29 Wegmans; 7 miles
12/7-$95 Target (iTunes gift, helmet, cat litter, hats/gloves); $12 CFA dinner; $2 Dollar Store
12/8-$0; 8 miles
12/9-$23 Wegmans; $30 B&N; 2 miles
12/10-$18 Wegmans; $37 Kohls; $1 Bagel; $18? Chuck E Cheese; 1 mile
 
December 1-$0
December 2-$0 Had to go to Michael's and Walmart for Girl Scouts, there was some temptation but I resisited! :yay: I do need to go do some shopping tomorrow though.
December 3-Christmas Shopping $80 for 2 Wiimotes and Epic Mickey and Super Mario Brothers thanks to Slickdeals! Also, DD8 had a GS thing, it was awful (last year was so nice) and miserably cold so DH bribed the kids, well, her, to go out to dinner if we could leave early (bad parents maybe, but he and I are already sick and it was miserable) so she agrees, we get in the car and she picks Outback. :eek: So, with tip an insane $60 for dinner out but we rarely do that, so it's OK.
December 4- I decided since we cancelled our Thanksgiving dinner in Disney (due to cost) I wanted to make Thanksgiving dinner. I am having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit and thought that would help. My DH's best friend is getting divorced and didn't have his kids on Thanksgiving, so I made dinner for all of us on Sunday. I spent about $125 on groceries. :eek: We had everything though, ham, turkey, salad, rolls, stuffing, brown sugar glazed carrots, green bean casserole, candied yams, baked sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, cream cheese garlic mashed potatoes, cranberries, pie and ice cream. And LOTS of leftovers!!! DD8 had a b-day party for a little boy, we were kind of cheap maybe but gave him 3 Disney Star Wars cars that we got in the girl's Grab Bags in Disney. Was supposed to go to a basketball game with DH but the thought of a 1.5 hour ride each way for that after a long day wasn't fun, so he took a friend. On the way he got a flat. Never made the game and had to get another new tire! UGGG, but that was car repairs we don't reord plus I wasn't with him, don't even know how much it was. He never made the game.
December 5-$0 :yay: Stayed home and cooked and ate! My garbage disposal and dishwaher broke after cooking that BIG meal!!! Thankfully today (2 days later) it is finally fixed (thank goodness DH was able to fix them) and I am finally washing dishes in the kitchen and not the bathroom sink. Eeeewww!!!
December 6- Should have been a $0 day but woke up to a sick kid. Went to the doctor and it was strep. No copay for the appointment or the meds cause of her age. That will end soon. But he did prescribe popcicles, 2 an hour cause she isn't eating or drinking. Went to buy those and decided to get DH boots, we have over a foot and a half of snow in the last 48 hours and he was shoveling in tennis shoes. So that was about $60, pricey popcicles! At the end of last winter I threw out all DH and my boots and coats. They had been though at leat 5 NY winters and we looked pathetic. But now, here we are and no boots or coats. He found a coat at Sam's for $30 and it is super nice, and now I got him the boots, but I wear an 11W shoe (I am 6'1") so far I have not found boots, and coats, forget it...even Walmart ones are $50! So far I haven't bought one though I need to! Took the kittens to the vet. Don't know how much it was, DH said it wasn't worth me stressing over. But they got a clean bill of health and all their baby shots. Christmas shopped for DH at Think Geek, that was about $85! Also ordered 2 gift sets at Walmart, but they were $9 each and have a $10 rebate so spent $18, get back $20, not bad.
December 7- $0 :yay: ETA- A foot and a half of snow, a DH who went into work at 4am, yeah, we stayed in tonight. Made a casserole and called it a $0 day! (From earlier-Well, too early to call. DD8 is still home so that means I am too. I am supposed to be getting lots done this week but with her home I am finding myself to be laying on the couch wathcing a lot of cartoons. (Not complaning.) It is after noon and I am still in my PJs. DH had mentioned going on a date tonight (we have a coupon) but not sure if we will or not, will report later. If we go I will hit Ulta (have some great coupons) to do some Christmas shopping for DD11 and might try to find a coat. BBBbbbrrrrr!!!)
December 8-Target.com 19.43, a new coat for me. Free shipping so I took a gamble, if it doens't fit I will return it, no loss there. Walmart.com 9.22 DS game for the kids for Christmas. Target 101.43 Went for boots, left with some Christmas gofts, but all good finds and deals. Pizza for the kids cause I met DH for dinner. <3 10.26 Our dinner out at Uno 24.61 Didn't need makeup but they were B1G1 plus I had a $5 off coupon so 2 things of mineral makeup at Ulta 9.72 Groceries $38. 3 pairs of boots and a wallet for DH (2 pairs have to go back though) $80.90 Walgreens, a silly splurge but I have wanted that leg lamp from A Christmas Story and decided now was when to buy it cause they were running low $32.39. FINALLY found Advent Calenders for the kids, they were no where to be found this year, 5.13
December 9-Target.com 28.07 for 3 robes (2 for us, one for a gift) Walmart, 2 pairs of boots that actually fit $80.84 Walmart.com $19 for a gift for DH and $6 for 2 pairs of shoes for me YIKES!!!
December 10-$0 So far anyway. Lots of shopping needs to be done so if any deals come up tonight I may change that, but I worked today, substituted for 17 4-year olds and while I wanted to do some tonight I am too tired. Oh, and I made some money today, not much, but about $50.



No spend days 5/15 I don't expect to make 15 but I will be happy with as many as I can this month.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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)
August-15 Days
September-15 Days
October-13 Days
November-6 Days (only kept track till November 16th cause we were in Disney the rest of the month)
Longest Streak-4 Days in a Row
 
The December budget is $800 with 10 no spend days.

Auto $75
Eating Out/Entertainment $115 / $67 left
Giving $25 /$6 left
Groceries/Household Goods $200 / $145 left
Medical $20
Misc. $75 / $54 left
Set bills $290 / $79 left

No spend days goal of 5/10

Coupon savings = $24.10
Christmas 2010 running total of spending = $1041
--------------------------------------------------------
12/1 $0
12/2 Groceries $3; Giving $1 (SA kettle)
12/3 $0
12/4 Groceries $17; Giving $16 (SA kettle and Angel Tree gift); Set bills $26
12/5 Set bills $25 (church); Groceries $13; Eating out $13
12/6 $0
12/7 $0
12/8 $0
12/9 Groceries $18; Misc. $9 (stamps); Giving $1 (SA kettle); Set bills $160
12/10 Groceries $3; Misc. $12 (new checks); Giving $1 (SA kettle); Entertainment & eating out $35 (three movie tickets and Starbucks - saw Narnia, Dawn Trader)
 
Went to the movies- saw Burlesque. I enjoyed it for the most part- it was a little too long. Stopped on the way home and got some bacon, fruit and other stuff- DH makes me breakfast every Saturday and Sunday. :-)

Running Total: Spent $197
$800 budget...$ 603 left
$0 Days: 4
Goal is 6 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 41

Groceries budget- $200- 4-14-2-16-25= 139 left

December 1: 19 ( meds, tea, soda)
December 2: 0
December 3: 39 ( pop, food, VS, shoes)
December 4: 18 ( 8 Wendys, 5 parking and 5 snacks at hockey game)
December 5: 0
December 6 : 0
December 7: 41 (32 bowling, 7 food at bowling, 2 pop )
December 8: 37 ( 11 makeup on sale , 10 gas, 16 Publix food)
December 9 : 0
December 10: 43 (6.50 movie tix, gas 11, groceries 25)
 
12/1 - on my way to the post office to send my secret santa gift to my coupon train buddy... so it is obviously a spend day... think I will also go out & finish up my secret santa gift for Bunco group so I can have a no spend day tomorrow... well at least it is a plan

12/2 $0
12/3 $0
12/4 $0
12/5 Spend - know I am going out for a lite dinner with friends, Kohl's to spend my Kohl's cash, and I am sure I will stop at the store to pick up stuff for DS lunches this week...
12/6 spend more Xmas shopping
12/7 spend - I was too late for a breakfast meeting so I had to go out & get my breakfast... Have a few other errands to run too, so we will be spending some more cash...
12/8 spend - Bought a gift online today... I was being so good too... oh well - I did bring my lunch & I didn't stop after work... Tomorrow perhaps
12/9 spend - ended up buying a shop vac tonight because ours died... was so close too...
12/10 $0 Hurray!!! and I had planned to spend some money on dinner tonight but my son couldn't get his act together so we had sandwiches at home instead...

No Buys: 4/10
 
Hi everyone, jumping on board, even though Dec. is a tough month to budget. I'm hoping to finish up all Christmas shopping this weekend with my mom, so hopefully, aside from baking supplies there won't be too many extra expenses (and it's a good thing I live 30 miles from Starbucks, because the holiday peppermint mocha & caramel brulee are!, I WILL need one to get through the mall this weekend, though!)

Setting a goal of 10 no buy days.

Dec. 1- face cleanser & lotion

Dec. 2 - tea w/ a friend, groceries, mailed a package

Dec. 3 - 3 things @ grocery store, having mom over for taco soup, watching the Huskers play football, and making our 2 month countdown to DW chain!

Dec. 4 - Groceries, Boy Scout popcorn

Dec. 5 - gifts, coffee, lunch @ sandwich shop while Christmas shopping, & the Eclipse movie for me - from the entertainment fund.

Dec. 6 - ordering my LAST 2 gifts online today, and then I'm officially DONE! So hoping to start (finally!) wracking up some no-buy days! Good luck to everyone, and cut yourselves a little slack, it is the most difficult time of the year, budget-wise.

Dec. 7 - wow - no, no-buy days yet. Had to stop at Dollar General for pop I'm supposed to bring to a Parent-Child center volunteer dinner, & I let dd4 choose a $5 gift for her brother & sister. She has been making tons of gifts (pictures, paper tree ornaments) & using up all of my saved gift bags to wrap them-lol. She was so excited to wrap up gifts she'd picked out for them. Tomorrow- planning on a no-buy, going to my mom's to wrap everything while dd4 is 2 preschool.

Dec. 8 - $0 , finally! Got the gifts wrapped, that's a job! Especially the jumping through hoops to hide them in the garage attic w/ pull-down stairs! I would REALLY love to rest this evening, as we finally have no where to go, but I MUST get some laundry done. Something had to slide this week to get the gifts bought & wrapped! "The Middle" is on tonight, though, and it WILL be watched, clean socks or not!

Dec 9 - groc's, and ordered the photo Christmas cards from Shutterfly.

Dec 10 - tickets to the Christmas play that dd11 is in (3 performances and a cast party-busy weekend). DH and ds8 are at a hockey game w/ boy scouts, so I'm sure they are buying something to snack on there;).

Dec 11 - lunch from Subway (dh brought it home for the kids, I ate leftovers, it is their special thing to do after basketball practice, so I guess I won't complain;)), face wipes for dd11 - to remove the stage makeup, our regular cleanser was'nt cutting it.
 
Went to a class this morning to learn to make my own Christmas cards (was free) and then helped my Grandma get her decorations up I did go out to lunch but she treated as a thank you for helping her.

Groceries: $200/ $93.44 left
Household: $50/$15.13 left
Christmas Eve Dinner: $50
Gas/Car: $50/ $23.02 left
Eating out/Entertainment: $75/$32.04 left
Misc: $75/$57.86 left

Total: $500/$271.49 left

Goal of 12 No Buy days

Week One
12/1- $3.65 Starbucks, $7.45 Jersey Mike's, $17.14 Pat Catan's, $11.19 Walgreen's, and $13.96 Rustic
12/2- $26.89 Househol and $34.71 Grocery at WalMart
12/3- $0
12/4- $0
12/5- $0
12/6- $0
12/7- $0

Week Two
12/8- $68.64 WalMart and $17.90 Lunch
12/9- $0
12/10- $26.98 Gas
12/11- $0
12/12
12/13
12/14

7/12 No Buy Days

Coupon and Store Savings- $16.55
 















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