Feb No Buy! Short Month! We can do this!

[MickeyMomOfThree]

YES, welcome to all the newbies and hello to all our friends!

Glad you're slowly feeling better, MickeyMomOfThree! Welcome to the newcomers and my longtime no-buy pals.

Thank you QVC. I actually made dinner tonight for the first time in over 2 weeks. It was a simple crock pot dinner, but I did it! I even ate a small amount of it. I am actually really looking forward to cooking again once I can stand up again. And good thing, our well stocked freezer is very empty from hubby having to cook. Which is fine, glad it was there, but I will need to replenish for sure!

 

[bigmama67]

MMo3, glad to hear that! You are really on your way! Yay!

 

[weewuvvdisney]

After reading so many of these posts, I have finally decided to join in.

I have been keep track of the majority of our purchases for a long time. Not sure what DH spends at work on snacks though. He does bring his lunch but likes to hit the vending machine.

I just looked through the amounts/dates and realized that we had 10 no buy days in January. YAHOO!

Haven't set up any goals or a budget as yet. Just trying to pay down some bills and keep things going. This month is rough as we will be spending $500.00 on transportation to a family member's 50th birthday. In advance, we have 9 birthday gifts to buy for Feb. & March.

Just found out that we will have a 75th birthday party to attend in March and I think it will be in a restaurant so more $$ there (not counting the gift).

Our next few months will be tough but we are off to a good start. Today was a no buy day.

Thanks for the inspiration!


Jan

Edited to add my name as it seems my signature has disappeared!

 

[wlake]

Well, we had a snow day I'm not sure we really needed, but it kept us home and I managed to avoid the online shopping! I think I'm going to keep more exact track of our spending this month and see what we can reign in a bit more.

2/1:

no buy days: 1/11
meals out: 0/5
longest streak: 3

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $40.06
$0 Days:0/10

Groceries ($252-$9/day)- $27.38
Eating Out ($196-$7/day)- $12.68
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($1008-$36/day) $928 Planned= $81x2 Class Registration, $60 Preschool Registration, $92 Great America, $500 Hotels Ohio and $168 St. Louis, $100 Liscense Registration, $14 Metra to see Musical, $3 Bag of Books at Library Book Sale
Gas $200?-

WEEK 1 BEGIN:
1- $12.68 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $21.04 (Walgreens-Groceries), $6.34 (Meijer-Groceries)
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WEEK 2 BEGIN:


Budget: $1456....3%
Month: 1/28: 4%
No Buy: /10: 0%

My savings from coupons and sales: $51.57

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

CHARMING, I just noticed you lost 5 pounds. Good for you!!!

 

[figment3258]

I am jumping on for this month

We have 190.$ a week for gas,food and coal. I hope we can make it!

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[Where'sPiglet?]

to all the new posters!

to all the returning posters!

to all the posters that aren't totally new, but are coming back to try again!

to all the posters who made their goals last month!

1: $20.89 gas ($2.86/gallon)

Totals:
$0 Days: 0
Spending: $20.89/$475= 4%
Days Passed: 1/28: 4%

Goal: To keep spending to within $475 for food, gas, and miscellaneous. I do not track bills; I only track "point of sale" transactions.

I do not have a goal for $0 Days. I have found that I start to make silly decisions when I focus on the $0 Day amount rather than the total $ amount.

 

[Beezle2]

I'll be in again! I was happy with my January totals and want to stay focused.

My goals are $300 for groceries
$150 for gas
and 15 no buy days


Feb 1 spent $57 on stuff I didn't need to

Feb 2 $0 calling this one in advance because we are staying home having a snow day. Will be a homework and hang around the house day.

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[GinnyEmma]

Yesterday had to grocery shop. Did ok, bought healthy food, but didn't overbuy. Today I have to order some study material for my son. If I can make it through an amazon order with no fluff, it will be a biggie!

Working on simplifying our lives in general.

 

[KBazzel]

Well, I fell off the wagon last month. Darn the after Christmas sales and VS semi-annual sale! But I stocked up on some things I needed and got a great price so I suppose I can't get too upset. But, I'm back this month to try again.

Goals:

1 lunch out a week
3 dinners out a month
$150 in groceries each week
15 no buy days
$150 mad money for wants not needs

Feb 1 - Went out to dinner and lunch (but I got an advance check I've been waiting on so it was sort of a reward)
Feb 2 -

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

I'm back on board. Feb should be a money maker for me. I make/sell Valentine's Day candy. I'm readjusting my goals from last month
Auto $240.00
Groceries/Household Goods /$150.00[/COLOR]
(dropped this one because I stocked up on meats,storage and spices last month.)
Eating Out/Entertainment $100.00[/COLOR]
(I raised this one because we are taking DD out to dinner after her theater performance).
Misc. $125.00
(also raised this to allow for DD's performance flowers)
Money Made

No spend days goal is 2/12
(raised this one as well because I did so well last month. Had 17 out of 10
Coupon savings.

January coupon savings $360.00
no buy days 17/10

02/01 -0- Snowing AGAIN. stayed in and prepared and froze all the chicken breast I bought on Friday. Tomorrow I'll do all the ground beef. For $90 I got 11 different chicken dinners and will have at least 18 meals from the beef.
02/02 -0- Calling it for the day. Not leaving the house again. We're still getting storms. Today is ice and sleet :eek

 

[nunzia]

Feb 1- Gas $20, Walmart shopping trip during a snowstorm..ack: $106.89 (more than I expected to spend, but dogs have to eat and DH needs his beer) coupons: $8.45
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[bigmama67]

2/1 - $21.13 on groceries today, $4.16 on a shirt for DS to be a Sneetch (it's Dr. Seuss week at school), $10 on Shari's Berries voucher (gift for DH).

2/2 - $61.98 on groceries (saved $53.07 with sales and coupons) - stocked up on meat and cereal, $516.84 left for the month.

 

[thebeesknees]

No school again today, and DH took the car, so that means another $0 day here!

2/1 - $0
2/2 - $0

2 of 12 no-buy days so far

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

OK...my first no buy. I was lurking last month and I'm really trying to reign in my spending to save for our trip in October! I'm shooting for 12/28 no buy days this month. I'm setting budget numbers for groceries, gas and eating out.

Groceries $250 (-12/$238)
Gas $150...I maybe way off on this, my gas budget is high b/c we have to make 2 6 hour round trips to take the kids for their every other weekend visits with their dad
Eating out $150...higher b/c my birthday is this month

2/1: $12 on last minute groceries for snow
2/2: $46 on a new coffee pot, old one bit the dust the day before. I'm not exactly starting off gangbusters here.

I'm also setting up my checking account this month to take out a certain amount to go into our Disney fund...

 

[DisMomme]

Ok Another newbie here. I'd like to give this a try. I'll make 10 no buy days my goal. My huge goal will be no Dunkin Donuts coffee for the month.

1-125.00 Groceries $350.00 Propane
2-0.00 - snow day (also my sons birthday, hence yesterday's groceries - big birthday dinner planned and birthday cake for dessert)
3-0.00 - Bag Lunch and Coffee from home
4-63.00 - I spent nothing. Bagged lunch and coffee from home but DH went shopping
5-0.00 - So far so good. Kids & I spending nothing. DH is at work. Hopefully he doesn't spend any.
6-97.66
7-176.00 - DH is really screwing this no spending thing up. He went skiing with the guys.
8-86.00 - bills
9-32.44 - gas
10-0.00
11-39.43 - DH bought groceries
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Huge budget buster - the propane bill! In the winter my company delivers every 2 weeks. I pay them and they are here the next day with a new $350 delivery Another goal for the month will be to keep the heat down a degree or two to save fuel.

No buy days - 4/10 40%

 

[Tiggerish]

It is snow day here - have about 16 inches and the service has yet to show up to plow (and not expecting them any time soon) so definitely not going anywhere today.

The February budget is $850 with 12 no spend days.

Auto $70
Eating Out/Entertainment $85
Giving $10
Groceries/Household Goods $250
Medical $25
Misc. $75
Set bills $335

I have two exceptions to my budget this month - - everything related to my cataract surgeries and an over night business trip (legal stuff) to Chicago.

No spend days goal of 12 / 2
Coupon savings
Christmas '11 running total = $8
---------------------------------------------------------------------

2/1 $0
2/2 $0

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $40.06
$0 Days:1/10

Groceries ($252-$9/day)- $27.38
Eating Out ($196-$7/day)- $12.68
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($1008-$36/day) $928 Planned= $81x2 Class Registration, $60 Preschool Registration, $92 Great America, $500 Hotels Ohio and $168 St. Louis, $100 Liscense Registration, $14 Metra to see Musical, $3 Bag of Books at Library Book Sale
Gas $200?-

WEEK 1 BEGIN:
1- $12.68 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $21.04 (Walgreens-Groceries), $6.34 (Meijer-Groceries)
2- As much as I would like to go out, to get a few items at Dominick's before they are off sale, it is not happening. We got 22" of snow! Only emergency and medical vehicles are allowed on the road.
$0
3-
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WEEK 2 BEGIN:


Budget: $1456....3%
Month: 2/28: 7%
No Buy: 1/10: 10%

My savings from coupons and sales: $51.57

 

[bigmama67]

I just totaled up and we saved $301.89 in coupons and store discounts in January...and I know there were a few missing. Not bad! It's inspiring me to work more on clipping coupons now...I cut out a bunch last night and just finished re-doing my organizer so I can put them in.

Edited to add: A. Mickey, I hear you! I went to Acme this morning after dropping DS at school because they have a great meat sale going only through tomorrow. (I may try to go again tomorrow but we'll see.) I was glad it was doable as they only do this sale every 3 months. Be safe, everyone!