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

[MickeyMomOfThree]

The same thing happens every time I do a no-buy for a few months in a row. I'm out of everything! Really, I have a whole shelf empty in my freezer, and the fridge is equally bare. The cats are out of food... Oh well. Time to stock up on the necessities.

I'm going to try to commit more to coupons, especially at Wegmans b/c they double up to .99. Did good at Genuardis--save 62% and got a lot of stuff, including five lbs of meat and 5 lbs of clementines.

2/14 no-buys
* Used coupon

2/1-$0
2/2-$35 Wegmans*
2/3-$0; 1.5 miles
2/4-$5.75 Target* (shorts, chips, and sponges), $4.50 Michaels*, $4.25 PetSmart*, $22.50 Genuardis*, $18 Chinese Food, $1 Library (for used Alladin and Beauty & the Beast CDs), 2 miles

OK, jealous again. Wegman's doesn't double coupons here! I guess cause it is new by you, maybe?

 

[QVCshopper]

OK, jealous again. Wegman's doesn't double coupons here! I guess cause it is new by you, maybe?

Really? I don't know why. Maybe they do it to keep up with the other stores? (Although they just ran an ACME out of town.) I'm just so lazy with coupons. Like, I use them to eat out and buy stuff, but not when I grocery shop... usually I just get my two free items.

Keep feeling better and sorry about missing the Globetrotters.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Really? I don't know why. Maybe they do it to keep up with the other stores? (Although they just ran an ACME out of town.) I'm just so lazy with coupons. Like, I use them to eat out and buy stuff, but not when I grocery shop... usually I just get my two free items.

Keep feeling better and sorry about missing the Globetrotters.

Could be, they really have no compition around here. There is Super Walmart and Tops and that is it. They are far behind Wegman's in quality so really not compition.

Thanks about the Globetrotters, feeling a little down tonight but reminding myself that it is temporary. So many are sick for much longer or for good or much worse. I am just sick of it but need to stop feeling sorry for myself. Tomorrow is another day.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

1: $20.89 gas ($2.86/gallon)
2: $0!
3: $0!
4: $0!

$0 Days: 3
Spending: $20.89/$475= 4%
Days Passed: 4/28: 14%

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 decided to wait until next week for the shirts from work. There are two; one is $15 and the other is $12. Last month I was always way ahead in spending percent versus the days passed percent, and it was not motivating. So I'm waiting a few more days before I spend the money.

I'll probably buy the cookies tomorrow. I think my DH and I have decided on 2 boxes of Tagalongs for $7. I love the Tagalongs and can ration them for myself; he said he doesn't want any. (Remember this )

Same here, I am not tracking bills (though of course they are in the budget) and also not tracking medical expenses...today I was really good and bypassed Dunkin' Donuts even though it's RIGHT by DD's music class. DH had to get a prescription filled tonight ($3) but I'm not counting that.

I don't count medical bills in this, even point of sale ones. The way I see it, I only count spending I have reasonable control over. Yes, I have control over health spending, but I don't want this thread to be a deterrent to buying something that would be beneficial to my health at the time it's most needed.

Now as for Dunkin Donuts.... Let me tell you...I used to live in NYC. There were FOUR Dunkin Donuts within a 2 block radius of my apartment. (Why? I don't know...) but I loved when they switched their menu to the oven style cooking. On my way to the bus stop on Fridays, I would get the sausage egg and cheese on a croissant with a coffee "light and sweet". We have 1 DD in the NOLA area, but it's NOT THE SAME. I went there precisely one time. They did not have the oven yet...still the old microwave, and something was just not the same about the coffee. Maybe I should visit again and see if they've updated their menu yet.

As for coffee, I make my own at home and I only make Community Coffee, New Orleans Blend.

I have 4, but it looks like 2 because were basically just an add-on to my very first tattoo. This new one will be another add-on as well. I got a flower for me and one for my grandma, then a hummingbird for my grandpa, and now a new flower for my mom. When I have kids I want to keep adding to that tattoo.

Cool! I like that it has meaning and they go together. I bet it's very nice.

What resolve around Girl Scout cookies?

I can't WAIT until the Brownies harass, errr advertise, their cookies at the entrance to seemingly EVERY store in the area! Ask me about resolve then....

Add teacup pig to the list .

It's SO CUTE! In a strange sort of way....

So I asked someone at work today if they had a sugar glider. Lo and behold, she has TWO!

Thanks! Her area isn't too close to the Square, but there were neighbourhood watch guys (and when I talked to her I could hear some gunfire). She is SOOOOO sad. All she wants is for this to be over, so she can go back to her kiddies (and her kitty). THAT is when I will be really nervous!

The scene on TV looks so volatile and unpredictable. I know you are glad she is out of there. What an abrupt and huge change for her though.

 

[wlake]

We heard from the boys' school district today -- it's looking like no Feb. vacation for them either. From a budget standpoint -- whew!

The Lands' End sale! The $40 and some odd cents I spent on sheets and pants would have been $143 without the coupon and free shipping! I'm going to try the whole keeping track of coupon/sale savings, mostly because I'm off to such a great start!

2/1:
2/2:
2/3:
2/4: $40 Lands' End (sheets for DS and pants for me)

no buy days: 3/11
meals out: 0/5
longest streak: 3
coupon/sale savings: $103

 

[#1hoosierfan]

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
2/2 - 75 cents on fritos at work to go with my leftover taco salad.... highway robbery! Walgreens - $6.30, coupons $4.20 and got $6 in register rewards.
2/3 $0
2/4 - $14.51 at Jimmy Johns and 99 cents for Angry Birds on iPhone.

I did make $90 tonight today. I teach 1st grade, and every few months I do a "Kid's Night Out" for my students. I do a combination of academics, art acivities and a movie at my house. The students pay to attend. Usually I make twice that amount, but I have lots of students out sick right now.

Tomorrow will be an expensive day.....

Goal:
1/10

January coupon savings: $58.50

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I did make $90 tonight today. I teach 1st grade, and every few months I do a "Kid's Night Out" for my students. I do a combination of academics, art acivties and a movie at my house. The students pay to attend. Usually I make twice that amount, but I have lots of students out sick right now.

That's a cute idea! I bet they love it, especially seeing that you don't actually live at the school!

Do you teach at a public or private school? This does not sound like something a public school would like the idea of, but I know some areas are more open to creative ideas than others.

 

[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 - stocked up on meat and cereal, $516.84 left for the month.

2/3 - $0

2/4 - $50.70 groceries/$466.14 left for the month (crossed a bunch of things off my list for the month though); $20.65 household (salt at Home Depot - MORE SNOW COMING, ARGH! and batteries); also paid some bills but I don't count that. $6 to see a movie with my friend (didn't buy snack$ this time, LOL!)

Coupon savings so far: $79.77

No-buy days: 1/8
________________

 

[#1hoosierfan]

That's a cute idea! I bet they love it, especially seeing that you don't actually live at the school!

Do you teach at a public or private school? This does not sound like something a public school would like the idea of, but I know some areas are more open to creative ideas than others.

Oh, yes! They LOVE it! I teach in a middle/upper middle class public school district. I invite all of the students in my class. Usually 1/3 to 1/2 attend in any given month. I live in the school district, so it is convenient for the parents. My "only children parents" and my "twins parents" especially love it, because they get a safe place for their child for 3 hours on a Friday night, and they get a date night.

 

[parith1114]

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.

Feb 2 - $0

Feb 3 - a quick trip to Walmart for snacks for the trip, camera batteries, & a leapster game for dd5.

Feb 4 - traveling
Feb 5 - traveling- and Disney for the Electric parade
Feb 6 - Harry Potter @ Universal
Feb 7 - Disney
Feb 8 - Disney
Feb 9 - Disney
Feb 10 - Disney
Feb 11 - Disney
Feb 12 - flying home

JEALOUS!!!!!!!
Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[A.Mickey]

A. Mickey, how do you determine how much you save from coupons and sales? I think I'm pretty good with coupons and very good with pinching pennies, but I don't get totals that are anywhere near as good as yours. Some months your savings are over $1000. You are over $100 in just three days.

Are you a coupon genius with secrets to share?

Well, yes you could say I am a coupon genius!

I just look at my receipt and add my savings and coupons, I usually save 80% off of the total on average.

If you are from Wheaton, Illinois, here are some awesome coupon blogs that I highly suggest you check out. www.mashupmom.com, http://savemoresharemore.com/, and http://www.jillcataldo.com/
I even started a blog too, the post I did yesterday could help you see how I am saving so much, http://buck-free-moneymakers.blogspot.com/

I have been super couponing for the past year. I have my price points for things ad I won't buy them unless they are at or below.

Jewel takes as many Walgreens Register Rewards, as do some Dominick's but Dominick's only takes one per order. So that also really helps for the savings. But with savings you have to shop alot! To get all the good deals.

Hope this helps! If you have any other questions I will be happy to help!

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $76.37
$0 Days:2/10

Groceries ($252-$9/day)- $58.81
Eating Out ($196-$7/day)- $17.56
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?- $20 (2/3) = $20

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- $31.43 (Meijer-Groceries), $4.88 (McDonald's-Eating Out)
4- $0
5- CVS, Dollar Tree, Meijer, Dominick's
WEEK 2 BEGIN:


Budget: $1456....5%
Month: 4/28: 14%
No Buy: 2/10: 20%

My savings from coupons and sales: $134.33

 

[KBazzel]

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 ($21) and lunch ($17) (but I got an advance check I've been waiting on so it was sort of a reward)
Feb 2 - No buy!
Feb 3 - Lunch out ($9) Bought some supplies at Walmart ($15) Bought sugar glider food ($15) Groceries ($200 - saved $99 in coupons and sales)
Feb 4 - Groceries for Super Bowl party ($24 saved $22 in coupons and sales) B&N Groupon ($20 - I will use these as I have a Nook and all of my book purchases are tax deductible) Children's Place ($34 - hit their $2.99 sale and got 7 items for girls)
Feb 5 - No buy! I have to write 10 pages and watch 12 hours of NCIS so shouldn't be going anywhere.

Kira

 

[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
2- $0 (even New Mexico was snowed in today)
3- took a friend visiting from Florida out for lunch $22.87, went to Dollar Tree for hash browns but got my DH his favorite cookies instead since they had no hash browns $5.00, ended up at Lowes for hash browns $1.99
4- $12.00..out for lunch with another friend
5-
6-
7-
8-
9-
10-
11-
12-
13-
14-
15-
16-
17-
18-
19-
20-
21-
22-
23-
24-
25-
26-
27-
28-

1/12

 

[Jennia]

Feb 1: $15 at Walgreens
Feb 2: $0
Feb 3: $15 on gas and parking in Seattle
Feb 4: $0

 

[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 - stocked up on meat and cereal, $516.84 left for the month.

2/3 - $0

2/4 - $50.70 groceries/$466.14 left for the month (crossed a bunch of things off my list for the month though); $20.65 household (salt at Home Depot - MORE SNOW COMING, ARGH!) and batteries; also paid some bills but I don't count that. $6 to see a movie with my friend (didn't buy snack$ this time, LOL!)

2/5 - $0 (I'm taking DS to lunch at Johnny Rockets unless it gets bad - so far just rain - but that's a Secret Shopper gig so I'll get reimbursed. Not sure we can go anyway.)

Coupon savings so far: $79.77

No-buy days: 2/8
________________

 

[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.


Feb 2 It was errand day today, so $$$! $170 groceries, $40 gas, $25 filed my taxes. Hopefully this will take care of any spending through early next week.


Feb 3 We got caught out unexpectedly at lunch time, so we had to hit Subway. I could have waited, but DH gets very cranky if he isn't fed on schedule ! $15 Subway.

Feb 4 $6 dinner with my parents, $23 gas


0/12 no buy days

 

[Debbie]

$0 Days: 3
Spending: $20.89/$475= 4%
Days Passed: 4/28: 14%

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 decided to wait until next week for the shirts from work. There are two; one is $15 and the other is $12. Last month I was always way ahead in spending percent versus the days passed percent, and it was not motivating. So I'm waiting a few more days before I spend the money.

I'll probably buy the cookies tomorrow. I think my DH and I have decided on 2 boxes of Tagalongs for $7. I love the Tagalongs and can ration them for myself; he said he doesn't want any. (Remember this )

I only count the PoS purchases, too. The bills are budgeted and paid for automatically. I also don't count the $$ that I spend at Costco. I sell candy to the staff and the "profits" go to cancer. I average about $300 profit a year, and every little bit helps.

You are doing great so far with holding off buying. What are Tagalongs? Sound like something I shouldn't learn about, since my willpower is non-existent.

We heard from the boys' school district today -- it's looking like no Feb. vacation for them either. From a budget standpoint -- whew!

Always nice when it is someone else who puts the stumbling block up.

I did make $90 tonight today. I teach 1st grade, and every few months I do a "Kid's Night Out" for my students. I do a combination of academics, art acivities and a movie at my house. The students pay to attend. Usually I make twice that amount, but I have lots of students out sick right now.

Cool, but that is something that wouldn't happen in our district. And if we did do an after hours thing, monies would go to charity, not the teacher(s).

That's a cute idea! I bet they love it, especially seeing that you don't actually live at the school!

Do you teach at a public or private school? This does not sound like something a public school would like the idea of, but I know some areas are more open to creative ideas than others.

The kids WOULD love it, wouldn't they??

Well, yes you could say I am a coupon genius!

No grocery store couponing here in SW Ontario. (But then, I don't have to buy a newspaper, either, so I save money that way )

Feb 5 - No buy! I have to write 10 pages and watch 12 hours of NCIS so shouldn't be going anywhere.

Good luck!

$23 gas

Sooooooo envious of your gas prices! Ours range between $1.10-$116 a litre right now.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I only count the PoS purchases, too. The bills are budgeted and paid for automatically. I also don't count the $$ that I spend at Costco. I sell candy to the staff and the "profits" go to cancer. I average about $300 profit a year, and every little bit helps.

You are doing great so far with holding off buying. What are Tagalongs? Sound like something I shouldn't learn about, since my willpower is non-existent.

Cool, but that is something that wouldn't happen in our district. And if we did do an after hours thing, monies would go to charity, not the teacher(s).

The kids WOULD love it, wouldn't they??

No grocery store couponing here in SW Ontario. (But then, I don't have to buy a newspaper, either, so I save money that way )

Thanks! Tagalongs are Girl Scout Cookies. Apparently there are two bakeries that the GS use for their cookies, and they both carry a different line of cookies. Some of the cookies are baked by both bakeries, but they go by different names with the exception of the Thin Mints. Tagalongs are the Peanut Butter Patties in the red box. Caramel deLites are called Samoas but they are both in the purple box. Confusing, no? I've lived in 4 states and have had cookies from both bakeries over time.

My bills are budgeted, but I only have a couple on autopay. I don't count them here though because I didn't want regular bills to be a stumbling block to the spirit of this challenge, which is the same reason why I don't count most health care purchases.

I can't see my public school allowing something like the night out either. It's a really cute idea but I would never do it even if it was allowed. There is so much concern about liability these days. Also, I personally try to keep work and home life separate. I can see how something like this would probably strengthen the intangible "community" aspect in the classroom.

On the same token, I did have a Christmas party at my house with some of my friends and their kids. The kids enjoyed it, but it wasn't my school kids and I wasn't babysitting. They made holiday crafts, decorated cookies, and watched movies while my friends and I chatted.

I don't have to buy a paper for my coupons. I get a free newspaper delivered on Sundays and Thursdays - the days the coupons and ads are included! It's not the full newspaper; it's just the local section, the classifieds, and most ads. People that pay for regular delivery get all the sections and sometimes more ads than the free version, but I can't complain! And the coolest thing about the local section is that the schools will send in photos for publishing and my school usually has a photo or two each edition. I was even in a group shot one day!

 

[msmama]

I'm going to go for 14 No Buys - half the month.

I'm also going to track spending this month:
Groceries: 292/300 - 8 left
Car: 33/47 - 80 left
Dining out/Entertainment: 22/100 - 78 left
Gifts/Valentines: 60/100 - 40 left

(My grocery budget is actually 100 less than my actual grocery budget but I'm going to see what I can do). I also have a minor surgrey scheduled in the middle of the month so I'll have extra medical expenses, but hopefully a few no-buys while I'm at home recovering.

2/1 - 5 -met friend for coffee
2/2 - 0
2/3 - 0
2/4 - 97+8 - Target and Taco Bell
2/5 - 55 - Hot Dogs (on sale) for DS's birthday party in April, lol, and other sale meat products. :
2/6
2/7
2/8
2/9
2/10
2/11
2/12
2/13
2/14 - SURGERY
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

Running total:2/14