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

[annsteere]

I print alot of my coupons from the internet and also save money on the Sunday paper by buying the paper for $1.00 at DollarTree, so I really only spend $104 dollars a year on Sunday papers (I buy two copies), not even since alot of the holiday weekends don't have coupon inserts, then those weekends I just don't buy the paper .

In late December at www.Duncansdeals.net I read a code to get the Sunday Tribune delivered for 26 cents a week, $12 for the year. Then, I buy extras at the Dollar Tree if there is something I really want coupons for.

Might be worth seeing if you can still do it.

You help me, I help you

 

[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- $0
6-
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2/12

 

[Jennia]

Feb 1: $15 at Walgreens
Feb 2: $0
Feb 3: $15 on gas and parking in Seattle
Feb 4: $0
Feb 5: $0

 

[Debbie]

Here's the update!

Feb. 1: Groceries $30, summer conference for me....$295 (luckily, I've saved for this and it is not really a part of the budget )
Feb. 2: $0 Snow day!
Feb. 3: $20 at DD's Talent night. $10 for my admission, and $10 for draws. I won a really nice Lavender hand cream/soap/shower gel set from Crabtree and Evelyn.
Feb. 4: gas $45, 2 pair special "loop" scissors for school $7, and a renewal for Scholars Choice which nets me 10% discount, $10 in free goods, AND a huge mug/warmer + notepads $10 (seems like a deal to me ) Hmmmm. So far, I can't put the finger on DH for spending (but tomorrow is another day....one of his 'shopping days!"
Feb. 5: DH shopped in the city in the morning-groceries $45 and I shopped Costco-groceries-$32, tax software-$37 and in our village in the afternoon, another $45 on groceries. After a Church dinner that he worked at, DH brought home buns, snacks, pie etc, so we gained there

No Buy days this month: 1/10

 

[#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.
2/5 - $50 for oldest ds t-ball sign-ups. $53 for dinner. We got AWESOME seats to the Louisville game last night from dh's CEO. Had lots of fun, and our team won! Parking, snacks, and beer at the game.... $42.


Goal:
2/10

 

[thebeesknees]

We have been snowed in since Friday, so no shopping. But I need to get out soon - we are out of milk and bread!

2/1 - $0
2/2 - $0
2/3 - $0
2/4 - $0
2/5 - $0
2/6 - $0

6 of 12 no-buy days so far.

 

[charming23]

No Spend day today. We are heading down to my Grandma's for a superbowl party in a little bit and do not have to stop for anything.

February Budget-
Groceries/Household- $300/$241.75 left
Car/Gas- $50
Eating Out- $50/$32.60 left
Misc/Entertainment- $100/$74.32 left

Total-$500/$398.67 left

Goal of 14 No buy days

Week One
2/1- $0- Snow Day
2/2- $0- Snow Day
2/3- $0- Snow Day
2/4- $49.82 Grocery and $12.74 Misc
2/5- $17.40 Lunch, $12.94 Jeans, and $8.43 groceries
2/6- $0
2/7

4/14 No Buy Days

Coupon and Store Savings- $39.05

 

[Tiggerish]

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

Auto $70 / $40 left
Eating Out/Entertainment $85 / $80 left
Giving $10
Groceries/Household Goods $250 /$247 left
Medical $25
Misc. $75 / $42 left
Set bills $335 / $144 left

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 / 3
Coupon savings $30.58
Christmas '11 running total = $8
---------------------------------------------------------------------

2/1 $0
2/2 $0
2/3 Auto $30 (gas); Groceries $3; Eating out $5
2/4 $0
2/4 Misc. $33 (birthday present for my brother-in-law)
2/6 Set bills $191 (Church, hosp., dr. and dentist)

I am headed to Chicago on the train early tomorrow morning. I found a sale on the train ticket ($51) and pricelined a hotel ($59) so very much a budget trip. Even though my expenses are being reimbursed, I try to keep them low which makes the probate court judge who approves me being paid happy.

 

[Darkfirewolfe]

FEB GOALS:
1) Continue to write down all spending in budget book. as of 2/6

2) Save at least $100 in comparison to Jan 2011 (since I don't have a complete record of Feb 2010)

I am on good track for getting there

2a) Cut at least $50 out of the food budget in comparison to January

I am on good track for reducing our food expenses so far.


3) 5 No-buy days and 10 <$5 days
I have not been very successful at this for the first week of February. My DH had both a dental appt and a doctor's appt, so we've had to spend $$ every day this week. I was only 0.34 away from a <$5 day today - but no luck. Hopefully next week will be easier on our wallets

 

[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 $nack$ this time, LOL!)

2/5 - Planned a "no-buy" day but that went out the window! $8.50 Johnny Rockets, groceries - $16.85 on Amazon and $14.41 at Stop & Shop; $8.01 for beer; $7.48 for LED lights and $40.79 for clothing at Kohls! So much for a "no-buy" day, huh? LOL.

2/6 – Groceries $62.48, coupon savings $70.20! $372.40 left for the month. Also $4.00 for DH and DS to bowl a couple of games.

2/7 - Planning for no-buy day #2

2/8 - Finish monthly shopping at Costco so after this we should only need milk and fruit. Need to get birthday gfts for DS' (twin) friends (party is Friday 2/11).

2/9 - Planning for no-buy day #3

2/10 - Monthly Board Meeting at my synagogue so I'll need a Rita's gelato to get through that...lol...also may go to lunch with a friend today (if not Tuesday 2/8).

2/11 – DS buys lunch on Fridays at school.

2/12 - Circus Science Day at the museum so even though we're members there will be parking and other $$ needed.

2/13 – Planning for no-buy day #4

2/14 - hope for no-buy day #5

2/15 – hope for no-buy day #6

2/16 – hope for no-buy day #7

2/17 – hope for no-buy day #8

2/18 – DS school lunch, groceries

2/19 – DS starts his bowling league

2/20 – going out to dinner, so food and babysitter…

2/21 – DS is off from school all week, I’ll have to keep them occupied…today we’re going to get our taxes done and then to some Presidents’ Day events so we're having lunch out, not sure what else we'll spend.

2/22 - ?

2/23 - ?

2/24 - ?

2/25 - ?

2/26 - DS bowling league

2/27 - ?

2/28 - ?







Coupon savings so far: $198.76!! (If ONLY I could bank that…sigh…)

No-buy days: 1/8

 

[Virgderon]

Tiggerish, safe travels and hope all goes well .

Saw Tangled today ( super cute!) but had free movie passes and candy in my bag. We picked up a couple cleaning supplies today but DH had to pay because Dollar General won't take a Mastercard debit card, only Visa. DH saved my 0 day by paying, but I don't understand why a store like that won't take a Mastercard debit card..

Running Total: Spent $343
$1200 budget... 857 left
$0 Days: 2
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings :32

Groceries budget- $250-25-14-45= 166 left

Feb. 1 : 45 (groceries and laundry detg, snacks for hockey game tonight, 10 for parking at hockey game tonight)
Feb. 2 : 0
Feb. 3: 24 (10 shipping DDs e-bay stuff, 14 pop and bread)
Feb. 4: 23 (Cracker Barrell)
Feb. 5: 250 (205 car repair, 45 groceries)
Feb. 6: 0

 

[weluvdizne]

1. $43.00 toiletries and medicine
2. 0
3. $28.00 groceries to go with what we already had in the house.
4. $8.00 check order $63.00 printer ink
5. $30.00 lunch out for entire family $2.50 groceries
6. 0

no buy days 2/18

Tomorrow I have a dr. appt., and to get the kids to behave, I will bribe them with lunch out. Should be less than $15 - a cheap price to pay for a nice quiet dr. appt. Also need to stop for groceries. I have spent less this month on groceries, but I'm not reaching my no-buy days because we keep buying neccessities more often, in smaller increments. Maybe tomorrow while we are out, we'll stop and get everything we will need for a few days, but really stick to the list and then stay out of the stores for a few days, hopefully making for more no-buy days.

 

[A.Mickey]

In late December at www.Duncansdeals.net I read a code to get the Sunday Tribune delivered for 26 cents a week, $12 for the year. Then, I buy extras at the Dollar Tree if there is something I really want coupons for.

Might be worth seeing if you can still do it.

You help me, I help you

That's funny, I follow that blog too, but she hasn't really posted much anymore because she is moving to Georgia.

Thanks, but unfortunately I tried subscribing to the Trib, but we live in an apartment and our papers were constantly getting stolen, so Dollartree has to do for now! Hopefully soon we can actually afford to buy our first home.

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $523.48
$0 Days:2/10

Groceries ($252-$9/day)- $94.09
Eating Out ($196-$7/day)- $31.54
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($1008-$36/day) $397.85 $530 Planned left= $81x2 Class Registration, $60 Preschool Registration, $92 Great America, Have $208 left for Ohio Hotel, $14 Metra to see Musical[/COLOR]
Gas $200?- $25 (2/3), $48 (2/6) = $73

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- $9.97 (CVS-Groceries), $5.99 (Dominick's-Groceries)
WEEK 2 BEGIN:
6- $2 (Dollar Tree-Papers), $6.37 (Meijer-Groceries), $3/bag, probably got over 50 kids books (Library Book Sale-Shopping), $12.95 (Walgreens-Groceries), $13.98 (Wendy's-Eating Out), $291.60 (Hotel for 2 nights St. Louis in July, staying right next to the arch and we can walk to Busch stadium for the U2 concert), $101.25 (Car Registration-Misc.)
7- Joe Caputo, Jewel
8- Eating Out
9- No Buy?
10-
11- No Buy?
12-
WEEK 3 BEGIN:


Budget: $1456....36%
Month: 6/28: 21%
No Buy: 2/10: 20%

My savings from coupons and sales: $350.66

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I'm in, with my own twist. Recording groceries but not couting them towards no buy days, but also raising my no buy days to 18. Hoping to get a real feel for the difference from this month last year, since January was a bust.

February 1-$0 I am doing better but still not eating more then a few bites so no stregnth to go anywhere. I am going to attempt to cook dinner for the first time in over 2 weeks, but just an easy crock pot dinner. It's something.
February 2-$0 Kids had the day off. We didn't get as much snow as they called for, but they had alreayd called school. They have never done that, caled it too early, and I am sure they won't soon again.
February 3-$0 Was really hoping to be better by today and able to grocery shop. That was not the case. Maybe tomorrow.
February 4-$0 A little bummed. We had tickets (free!) to see the Globetrotters tonight. I was really hoping to be able to go, especially since we missed Disney on Ice. I am still not eating, so very weak. I feel a lot better but just too weak to go. So the family is out to dinner and the show and I am at home in bed. A little sad, but really happy they are getting to go.
February 5-I actually spent money today. $21 on a baby gift for a shower I am supposed to go to tomorrow. I probably won't make it, but I wanted to get a gift either way. My DH took me out tonight. We thought I needed some frsh air. It was nice to get out. It was snowing and so beautiful. We went to Babies R Us. I used the shopping cart as a walker and it went OK. We wern't in there long but it felt good to be out. Then he said since we were there and he needed some things at Sam's did I mind if he ran in. I got overly confident and went in with him. My legs felt like they were going to crumble under me so I went and sat down while he got what we needed. After he bought me a soft pretzel. $1
February 6-$0 I even made it to the shower today. I decided to just sit, not eat, and chat, but I made it! DH drove us cause I don't think I am ready to drive yet. After he was headed to get some groceries, not much but for tonight and tomorrow and the kids lunches, so I went with him. Didn't make it too long before I went to sit and wait for him, but it was nice to see Wegman's again. I haven't grocery shopped in almost a month! He spent almost $100 but that included premade food for tonight (usually I'd cook but not up to that.)

Money Spent this Month-$122

No Buy Days 5/18 Number of no buys is up cause I am no longer counting groceries towards no buy, my new for 2011 rule for myself.



$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Back in 2011 cause I'd miss you all so much!
January-25
Longest Streak-Currently 19 (but I have been sick)Joined No Buy as a New Years Resolution in 2010 and did pretty well-
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)
December-10
Longest Streak-4 Days in a Row

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Thanks, but unfortunately I tried subscribing to the Trib, but we live in an apartment and our papers were constantly getting stolen, so Dollartree has to do for now! Hopefully soon we can actually afford to buy our first home.

I used to live in an apartment building in NYC and got a free 2 week subscription to the New York Times. I signed up and they said there it would be a little bit of time before it started. Well, one day I got a notice/bill in the mail to continue my subscription since I must have enjoyed the two weeks. I called them and asked what they were talking about since the two weeks had already happened. Not once in 14 days did I actually receive a paper. I told them absolutely not am I going to pay for a subscription for someone else. To this day I still get occasional "subscribe again!" notices.

And incidentally, the neighborhood market never had any New York Times...only the cheaper tabloid versions, the Post and Daily News. I would buy the Daily News on some Sundays to get coupons.

 

[ronnmel]

GREAT start of the month, but I doubt my streak will continue for long.

No Buy Days : 5/12
Gas : 35$ (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 : 0$
02/02 : 0$
03/02 : 35$ (gas)
04/02 : 0$
05/02 : 0$
06/02 : 0$

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

1: $20.89 gas ($2.86/gallon)
2: $0!
3: $0!
4: $0!
5: $138.70 Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, SaveALot, Rouses, Winn-Dixie, Wendy's
6: $0!

$0 Days: 4
Spending: $159.59/$475= 34%
Days Passed: 6/28: 21%

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


Some of you are off to an amazing start!

 

[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

Feb 5 woo hoo! Finally a no buy day!


Feb 6

2/12 no buy days

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

Groceries $250/$216.86
Impluse Buying $100/80.00
Dining Out $50
Entertainment $50


Feb 1-$0
Feb 2nd: Whole Foods $20.10
Feb 3-$0
Feb 4-$1
Feb 5-Walmart $20.00 (school supplies)
Feb 6- Kroger $13.04

Coupon Savings $87.09