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

[Virgderon]

We're supposed to get some more snow and sleet tonight and tomorrow (what a surprise...) so I will just go to the stores today to get the groceries we need to get through till Friday when DH gets his next check. I'm also registering for a cake decorating class at Michaels which starts next week (have a 50% off coupon).

And you are in New Jersey? Maybe you can work for the Cake Boss after you learn the cake decorating!

 

[3goofyboys]

I'm in again this month!

Welcome new faces, hope you love the thread!

I've shooting for a goal of 12 no-buys for the shorter month. This month both DH and I have birthdays, plus v-day so that ads some extra expenses. Thankfully, we aren't having major birthdays this year so no big parties and we never do anything big for v-day. We are planning on buying a new house in March or April, so we need to do some saving to prep for the extra moving expenses.

Feb 1 I like to start the month with a no buy, but no such luck today. $70 had to register the boys for soccer and swimming, but I found out I had a big credit on my account (yay for found money!) so that took care of half the bill, $60 groceries.


0/12 no buy days

 

[thebeesknees]

I'm in! Aiming for 12 no-buy days. Last month was a bust with some unexpected expenses, so hopefully this month will be better. I know today will be a $0 because they cancelled school due to the extreme cold, and DH took the car, so I am stuck at home today!

2/1 - $0

1 of 12 no-buy days so far.

 

[parith1114]

Newbie here as well...I'd love to try this. If for no other reason than to chart my needless spending. I will set a goal of 10 days, and hope for more. I have most of my valentine gifts purchased and just got groceries yesterday...so I may look like I'm doing better than I actually am...lol
The great ice and snow storm has started, so that should help.

Feb.1 - $0
Feb.2 - $.99 (oops, bought an app for my son's ipod touch, it's the little things you forget that add up)
Feb.3 - $16.77 (tips for luggage handling and breakfast and dinner while away for work)
Feb.4 - $16.75 (more of the same...work, I do get a per diem...so not sure I should count this)
Feb.5 - $shopping w/ a friend...OUCH!
Feb.6 - $
Feb.7 - $0
Feb.8 - $
Feb.9 - $
Feb.10 - $

 

[QVCshopper]

We are planning on buying a new house in March or April, so we need to do some saving to prep for the extra moving expenses.

Me too! Do you have to sell your current house? I'm a little scared to attempt this, but want to get into a better school district (trying for the 4th best in PA) and bigger house. I recently found out that my taxes are as high if not higher than the better school district, so it's probably a good move.

Appreciate your input. I know you have younger kids like me...

 

[lattemomof3]

Hi everyone! I'm in for Feb. It will be a really short month for us, as I won't record next week while we're in Orlando. We are renting a house, so we don't have the dp, and even though we'll make some meals at the house, I'm sure we'll eat at least 1 meal out each day. There are only 3 fast food places & 2 restaurants in our small town, so I'm really looking forward to variety!

The rest of the month will be a little leaner, because of vacation spending, & that dh will be taking a week off of work (we're self-employed), so I really need to stay within our cash-budget. So, the goals are 10 no-buy days, and to stay on budget. Good luck everyone!

Feb 1 - Subway tonight, we have dance, wrestling, & haircuts this afternoon & evening, and no place to picnic w/ negative 10 degree weather.

 

[EKW]

Well, I fell short of my goal last month, but did make it through the month with money left in the bank, which was my main concern since I went almost 7 weeks between paychecks, so I'm not writing it off as a total loss.

This month I'll allow myself a little more freedom, since it is a much shorter month. I'm going to aim for 19 no-buy days. I still need to be careful this month since I have to get my front brakes done.

No buy days: /28

 

[charming23]

Thanks for starting the new thread. I am in for this month. We have a few added expenses like my Birthday and car registration. Luckily I am getting an unexpected refund due to the American Opporotunity Act Credit. So it should help out with the added expenses.

I did a stock up last month so I should stay under budget for groceries and household this month.

February Budget-
Groceries/Household- $300
Car/Gas- $50
Eating Out- $50
Misc/Entertainment- $100

Total-$500

Goal of 14 No buy days

Week One
2/1- $0- Snow Day
2/2
2/3
2/4
2/5
2/6
2/7

1/14 No Buy Days

Coupon and Store Savings- $0

 

[ronnmel]

I'm here again.
Smaller month, so smaller no-buy days goal. Let's try 12.

No Buy Days : 0/12
Gas : 0$ (let's try 100$)
Groceries : 0$ (250$ is a good max)
Eating out (and snacks) : 0$ (100$ is a tough max, but I want to try keeping it again. This is really my big weakness)
Non-necessities : 0$ (200$ max I guess...)

01/02 :

 

[bigmama67]

2/1 - $21.13 on groceries today, and $4.16 on a shirt for DS to be a "Sneetch" (it's Dr. Seuss week at school) - he rarely wears yellow so I won't put the star on it yet in case there's no school tomorrow (which is likely) - then I could return it.

Also, I signed up for a cake decorating class but will be paying for that out of a separate account I keep which doesn't get included in our budget. I bought supplies for $8.99 and paid the registration fee of $22.50 though. (More supplies still to get).

Lastly, I spent $10 on a Shari's Berries voucher from Mamapedia - will also use my other account for this. It'll be a present for DH. (We are celebrating the 17th anniversary of our first date this month and will actually go out to dinner - THANK YOU RESTAURANT.COM!)

I hadn't thought of this last month, but I guess it's OK not to include bills so I won't.

 

[thebigkahuna]

Because there is a holiday love: Valentines Day ) and a 3 day weekend (President's day weekend) I'm going to make a goal of EIGHT no $pend days in February.

Feb 1 - $$ money spent $$ (I'm going to miss my work friend after they move away. So, I have been doing lunch out a little more often. Pretty soon that opportunity will be gone. )
Feb 2 -
Feb 3 -
Feb 4 -

WEEKEND! (Valentines Day shopping, and some bill paying)
02-05
02-06

Feb 7 -
Feb 8 -
Feb 9 -
Feb 10 -
Feb 11 -


WEEKEND! (more bills to be paid - where do these keep coming from!?!? )
02-12
02-13

Feb 14 - Happy Valentines Day!
Feb 15 -
Feb 16 -
Feb 17 -
Feb 18 -

WEEKEND!
02-19
02-20
02-21 (Monday, but a Holiday)


Feb 22 -
Feb 23 -
Feb 24 -
Feb 25 -


WEEKEND!
02-26
02-27

Feb 28 - LAST DAY!!


ZERO of EIGHT No $pend day$

 

[Darkfirewolfe]

THANKS to A.Mickey for our new monthly thread

Count me in! I really need to do this for so many reasons.
1. our fridge/freezer/pantry are all full. need to clean them out and eat what we already paid for.
2. need to save $$ for our trip.
3. need to replenish the savings account. had to replace the blower motor on the furnace last week. $813 - OUCH!!!

My pantry is awfully full too - I need to start using some more of what's in there. I struggle with that - since I have a touch of that crazy survivalist mindset to have 3 weeks of food in the house. But I need to use up what we have and store fresh.

Saving for a down payment on a house in April!

Congratulations!! There are few things as fun as a new house in my book.

Never joined one of these threads, hope you don't mind a newcomer.

------------
I was able to make most of my goals last month.

FEB GOALS:
1) Continue to write down all spending in budget book.
2) Save at least $100 in comparison to Jan 2011 (since I don't have a complete record of Feb 2010)
2a) Cut at least $50 out of the food budget in comparison to January

3) 5 No-buy days and 10 <$5 days

I count all spending (automatic bills, rents, my own spending and my husband's), so the $0 days are hard for both of us to coordinate. Hence the <$5 days if he gets a coke at work or I forget to pick up bread for lunch.

What I Am Saving For:
1) Trip to Disney this year
2) My next tattoo
3) Overall savings for future (house, car, etc.)

 

[3goofyboys]

Me too! Do you have to sell your current house? I'm a little scared to attempt this, but want to get into a better school district (trying for the 4th best in PA) and bigger house. I recently found out that my taxes are as high if not higher than the better school district, so it's probably a good move.

Appreciate your input. I know you have younger kids like me...

We're moving to a better district too. The district is where DH and I went to school and it's closer to my parents and Dh's mom. Right now we're driving into the district every day because it's where my boys go to preschool. The gas costs are killing me!

We aren't selling our current house. Right now the rental market in our area is very strong so we're renting out our current house at least until the market turns around. If we like the rental process, we'll probably keep the house as an investment property. I have a friend with kids the same age as mine and she just sold her house. It was very hard for her to keep the house show ready and to find something for everyone to do during showings. On a plus note, it only took her 58 days to sell her house. She did take a $20,000 hit on it though.

Good luck! I hope you find a new house you love and sell your old house quickly and easily!

 

[Macduffy]

This will be my first ever No Buy month!!! I'm already having cold sweats and nausea but feel good about the decision!
No "extras' for us this month - only bills, groceries and gas!

 

[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 1/12
(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.

 

[PaulaSue]

I am jumping in again. Even though I didn't post much in Jan this thread has really helped me rain (?) in my spending.

Jan 1st I started writing every expense and started working on a budget and we are trying to stick to it. (still needs tweaks)

I FINALLY saw my CC bill drop (I pay every month, just for points.) YAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tiggerish]

I am in again also. Even though it has just started snowing steady, everyone is hunkering done for a big storm here in SW MI with lots of things already cancelled for tonight and tomorrow. I took my Dad to the local Meijers and all 29 lanes were open with lines of people every where - absolute craziness.

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

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


No spend days goal of 12 / 1
Coupon savings
Christmas '11 running total = $8
---------------------------------------------------------------------

2/1 $0

 

[rnorwo1]

I joined last month for the first time but failed miserably, so can I just say I'm a newbie this month for a fresh start?!?

I faced the music this morning by adding up everything I spent and categorizing everything for last month, and I was horrified... I've been down all day about it. DH and I will sit down tonight to plan for this month so we're going to try very hard to do better.

My goals for this month are to:
1.Check this thread every day and not stick my head in the sand
2.Write down everything I spend every day
3.Look at my budget/account balance before spending... we have just been spending and dealing with consequences later
4.Come in at or under budget (to be set tonight)
5.10 no-buy days... this is not as important to me as staying under budget, but they probably go hand in hand.

Thanks everyone for the support in advance!!

 

[ceemys]

I'm in! I am on a very strict budget this month. I went about 20 days in Jan with no spending. I know I can do it again this month. Good Luck everyone!!! Paying all bills on one day so I can meet my goal. hehe I realized last month that stopping all the insane trips to the market, REALLY helps on decreasing the spending. And not taking the kids! lol

Running total $ 0
__________________

2/1 - $0 (ice storm - stuck at home helps!)
2/2 - $0 (ice storm - stuck at home helps!)
2/3 -
2/4
2/5
2/6
2/7
2/8
2/9
2/10
2/11
2/12
2/13
2/14
2/15
2/16
2/17
2/18
2/19
2/20
2/21
2/22
2/23
2/24
2/25
2/26
2/27
2/28

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I'm in again!

I am going to go for 10 no-buy days. Like last month, I am not going to track gasoline or dog food. Everything else is fair game! Also hoping to top my coupon savings for February.

2/1 - $0

Goal:
1/10

January coupon savings: $58.50