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

[SunnieRN]

Thanks. She woke up at 6:15 DEMANDING to nurse, so I gave her a little. She kept that down so I gave her some Pedialyte which also stayed down. Then at 9:15 she came down and had a Pedia pop and a couple of crackers. Now she's sleeping (and she NEVER naps during the day). I think we're over it but it will take her a couple of days to get her strength back...and she LOVES to eat so she will be frustrated soon enough at not being allowed to chow down.

DH and DS are at bowling and I have a play reading to go to this afternoon so I'd better get back to working on the kitchen. For some reason DH can't get much done while he's home with both kids... At least I can go without stressing too much about DD though!

I am so glad she is doing better!! I hope you enjoy the reading this afternoon!

Wow, Where's Piglet, you did fantastic!! Every time you use your table and chairs, it will be that much sweeter due to the bargain you got!!

 

[Tiggerish]

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

Auto $70 / $40 left
Eating Out/Entertainment $85 / $46 over
Giving $10 / $0 left
Groceries/Household Goods $250 /$194 left
Medical $25
Misc. $75 / $42 left
Set bills $335 / $84 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 / 10
Coupon savings $39.48
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)
2/7 $0
2/8 $0
2/9 $3 Eating out
2/10 $0
2/11 Groceries $12; Eating out $13
2/12 Groceries $35
2/13 Set bills $20 (church); Giving $10 (the Gideons were at church today); Groceries $6
2/14 Eating out $38 (took my nieces and my sister out for V Day); Set bills $40 (cell phone and newpaper)
2/15 $0 (Rt. eye cataract surgery today)
2/16 $0
2/17 $0
2/18 $0
2/19 $72 Eating out - I took my parents and my sister, brother-in-law and two nieces out for dinner. But I did save $12 using coupons and think we did well feeding 7 people at a sit-down place with desserts and tip.

Where'sPiglet? - I like Big Lots, it was my go to place when I was doing care boxes to my nephew-in-law in Afgansten (sp?) because of their inexpensive DVDs, baby wipes and packaged snacks.

 

[charming23]

Another no spend here. I was suppossed to go out for drinks with friends but two of them have the flu so we are rescheduling. I did however find $15 today. My dad used to put all of his loose change into a tin on his desk. Well I had completely forgotten about it until this morning when I was filing some papers and he had $15 in there.

February Budget-
Groceries/Household- $300/$30.13 left
Car/Gas- $50/$27.42 left
Eating Out- $50/$14.10 left
Misc/Entertainment- $100/$28.07 left

Total-$500/$94.78 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- $0

Week Two
2/8- $6.30 Walgreen's and $5.58 Drugmart
2/9- $71.96 Grocery and $4.49 lunch
2/10- $37.38 Grocery, $14.01 lunch, and $46.25 Fashion Bug
2/11- $0- My Birthday
2/12- $0
2/13- $22.58 Gas and $11.51 Grocery
2/14- $23.43 Grocery/meds

Week Three
2/15- $0
2/16- $0
2/17- $55.46 Groceries
2/18- $0
2/19- $0- Found $15
2/20
2/21

11/14 No Buy Days

Coupon and Store Savings- $112.11

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 14/16
Gas : 102$ (let's try 100$)
Groceries : 80$ (250$ max)
Eating out (and snacks) : 31$ (100$ max)
Non-necessities : 608$ (200$) Ouch!

01/02 : 0$
02/02 : 0$
03/02 : 35$ (gas)
04/02 : 0$
05/02 : 0$
06/02 : 0$
07/02 : 0$
08/02 : 111$ (gas + groceries)
09/02 : 0$
10/02 : 0$
11/02 : 41$ (dinner + clothes)
12/02 : 0$
13/02 : 0$
14/02 : 0$
15/02 : 12$ (scarf, mittens + snack)
16/02 : 0$
17/02 : 0$
18/02 : 622$
19/02 : 0$

I feel like that some days! Well, if you wear this pair for 4 year, and got a BOGO on $200 glasses, that means each pair costs you $25 per year. Besides, since glasses are a need and you want to feel confident while wearing them, you really need to get glasses you LIKE. And being so frugal the rest of the month allowed you the option to choose the ones you liked best!

I think you did good to put some things back, and really consider each item you were buying. Walmart is a scary place when you're trying to save money! I swear their prices may be cheaper than other places, but since I buy MORE when I'm there, I don't actually save money! I have not yet gone to Walmart in 2011 and I've been to Target only once. That alone is saving me money!

You are totally right. Plus, I had been wanting to buy new glasses for over a year now, so I think I was way overdue and very much entitled to buying ones I love. Now I can't wait to get them.

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!
7: $0!
8: $0!
9: $0!
10: $0!
11: $0!
12: $0!
13: $0!
14: $109.19 Walgreens, CVS, Exxon ($2.85/g), Rouses, RiteAid, iTunes, Work
15: $0!
16: $0!
17: $0!
18: $7.20 Winn-Dixie and a snoball (like a snow cone...yes, in February!!)

$0 Days: 14
Spending: $275.98/$475= 58%
Days Passed: 18/28: 64%

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

My DH and I went to Big Lots yesterday to look at patio furniture. We did not have any, but I wanted a table and chairs at least. I set a budget of $200 before I left. Well, for $197 we got a table, 4 chairs, a BBQ, grill cooking and cleaning tools, a saw, 2 pruning shears, and some light bulbs that I thought were the size I needed. I think we did pretty good.

I am not sure if I will return the light bulbs or find a use for them around the house. They are a smaller size bulb than standard, but the standard size base, so I think I can use them in most light sockets. The lights that burned out that I was attempting to replace are little bulbs with little bases. Then, when I got home and went to unscrew one of the burned out bulbs, the light broke from the metal right at the base.

I am not counting the Big Lots items in the general budget.

You've been doing awesome! 14 no-buy days and that amazing deal buying patio furniture.

 

[SunnieRN]

February goals: No spend days: 12
Food budget: Try for $200 for the rest of the month
Save: $800.00
Medical $150
Cash: $100 for 2 weeks, starting 2/11

Feb 1: $0
Feb 2: $62.50 Groceries
Feb 3: $0
Feb 4: $0
Fab 5: $40.00 prescription
Feb 6: $27.60 Chuck E Cheese, GM #2 birthday party
Feb 7: $0
Feb 8: $10 CEC to have lunch and use leftover tokens. (Money from spendable cash, last pay period. Payday 2/11 start over with $100/2 weeks)
Feb 9: I just got home from working 13 hours. I also have to go back to do it again in 9 1/2 hours. That is why I can post now and be 100% sure this will be a $0 day!! Sleep, eat and clean up for work.
Feb 10: $0
Feb 11: $92.00 groceries and Valentines Day; $90, Credit Cards (used 1 x mo. and paid off each month); $800.00 to savings; $103 to Med cushion; $142 Clothing cushion.
Feb 12: Working tonight so $0!
Feb 13: Working $0!
Feb 14: DMV $11, filed my taxes $22, but, I got a reimbursement check from my glasses purchase, so deposited $120.00! The other $40 I used to take everyone out for breakfast for Valentines day! Happy Valentines Day to everyone! Thank you for the continued inspiration!
Feb 15: $0!
Feb 16: $0!
Feb 17: Have to work again too night and am too tired to spend any money. Sleep, eat and go back to work again. This means I can call this one now!! Nighty night!
Feb 18: Pd 2 bills, not counted, Got $40 out of the bank, in case I need it, but didn't spend it, so $0!!
Feb 19: $0, but tomorrow I am going shopping with my daughter and taking my daughter and Grandmunchkins out to lunch. This is late for Valentines Day, as she couldn't go to breakfast as she was working!

$0 Days: 13!!

 

[wlake]

I'm glad everyone (and their small children!) seem to be on the mend and that so many people like the idea of editing memories! It's too late for me to "save" that picture of my boys, but it's worked on others!

I was going to try to tally up the coupon savings this month, but I think I'm going to let it go -- I'm too far behind to make it worth catching up.

We're tossing around the idea of another WDW trip this summer since DH found good airfare and the Kids Stay and Play is a good deal for us, but I think I may do the responsible budget board thing and suggest waiting until next year. The airfare has already climbed from the low point, so we have to decide soon!

2/1:
2/2:
2/3:
2/4: $40 Lands' End (sheets for DS and pants for me), $21 after school, $4 Amazon ebooks
2/5: Target, Walmart, AC Moore, and something else?
2/6: groceries
2/7:
2/8: $41 things for school
2/9: gas, $12 bagels, $120 for Little League registration (actually paying it tomorrow, but as I'm writing the check and filling out the forms tonight so I can just drop it off tomorrow, I'm counting it for today.)
2/10: $20 pharmacy, $2.50 snacks DS needs for school for tomorrow (I thought they were due Monday and was going to roll them into the weekly grocery shopping. Good thing the pharmacy is at a grocery store!)
2/11: $39 after school, ? take out
2/12: a surprise one, but I'll take it!
2/13: ? groceries (all DH will say is that he overspent -- oh well!), $3 Amazon book
2/14: ? more groceries while DH was at the pharmacy, ? pharmacy, $150 for the furnace visit when the pipes were frozen
2/15: ? cough meds and soda for me, $1 Amazon for a Kindle book
2/16:
2/17: (although we got take out using gift cards for dinner, I'm not counting this as either -- it was my first day back at work and DH was out of town, so I knew I wouldn't have the left over energy to cook after being so sick)
2/18: (had the wrong checkbook to pay after school)
2/19: $3 thread, $6 Walmart (includes Valentines for the boys to give to their classmates next year at 61¢ a pack!)

no buy days: 8/11
longest streak: 3
meals out: 1/5
days without dinner out: 8
longest no dinners out streak: 10

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I have missed my No Buy friends again the lsat few days. I think it has been half me trying to catch up from being sick and half that I subbed all this week, but I was just so overwhelmed this week. I am going to try and post daily again, it gets hard to keep everything straight when you go a few days. Especially when you are spending money.

My kids are all off this week, so I envision a lot of recording of funds I'm afraid.

Hope all is well, as bad as it is when we are sick, it is so much worse when the kids are.

Oh, and we bought our first set of patio furniature at Big Lots and it lasted years and years and years.

 

[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.)
February 7-$0 I didn't leave the house today, but I did spend most of the day out of bed and even got some house work done. Crasy as it seems, I have missed it. Well, maybe not the work but the satisfaction of getting something done.
February 8-$0 I cooked dinner for the family today, I may even try and eat some, it smells good. (Chili and jalapeno cheddar cornbread, might skip that for tonight.) And I scrubbed the heck out of the bathroom, DH did a great job maintaining the house but things like the bathroom were not cleaned well. ICK! And I vaccumed, that wore me out but I feel very accomplished!!! Tired, but accomplished!!!
February 9-$0 Just groceries today, $88. It needed to be more, but I got worn out and gave up, so I will have to go back again soon.
February 10- This was a non-stop day. I had planned to put dinner in the crockpot early, but got a FB message from my BIO-father. It has been about 20 years since I last saw him, I have seen him 3 or 4 times in my life. He is sick, dying I guess, and wants to see me again. I am struggling with this. I am trying so hard to get over my childhood and feel this would make me regress, at the same time I know people can change and maybe he has and how do I deny someone their dying wish? Anyway, I was so flustered I left withouth putting dinner in. There was no time at all for dinner, so takeout was $16.20. I also went and got the kids a little Valentine, DH's card, some groceries, etc. That was $36.37. This also included decorations and paper goods for our GS V-day dance, it was supposed to be reinbursed but some people didn't pay.
February 11-$0
February 12- $168.10 Sam's, uggg. We needed everything! And $3 for the kids to eat there while I shopped. Then I did something crazy!!! I bought myself some new clothes. I havn't done this is forever, but told DH I would. So that was $133.92 but I am taking back one shirt, it looked OK there but not at home.And I got gas $48.08
February 13- Went on a date with hubby. We went to the movies, we saw Just Go With It and it was soooooo goooood!!! That was $10. After we went to Outback, but we used a coupon and a GC so nothing was spent there. The I went and got a few things at Walmart, all food except for $9 for a shirt to wear under a shirt I got the day before.
February 14- Lunch with Hubby . I had a coupon so our meal was $10, we tipped $3. Then I ran to Sam's and got the few things I forgot the other day, since I was there. $35 and spend $5 on flowers to take to DH at work.
February 15-$0
February 16- (groceries $23) and $4 for a snack for the kids between snowshoeing and dance. I am so annoyed cause I forgot to grab something, but I used a coupon so OK. And I won $50 today!!!
February 17-$0 (bought some groceries, need to find receipt.)
February 18- Was a no spend day till while I was making dinner, Dh's best friend called. He was having a bad day. He had been in court arguing custody of his kids. Anyway, he had the girls (they are 3 and 4) and he wanted company, so we met at Chuck E Cheese. We had tokens out the wazzoo, but we ate there. $26.
February 19- Was again supposed to be a $0 day, but it wasn't. Our friends called to meet, we said sure, so we got all ready and then they had to turn around cause of weather. Hubby and I went out instead. We went to have Thai food. I never had it, and I hated it, but hubby loves it and is always raving about it so I wanted to try. DD16 liked that I hated it cause she got my leftovers. Thaat was $22. Then we went to see The Delimma, we loved it. That was at the cheap theater, so $4. Then we went to his office and I watched him work for a while. I washed his coffe cup, and organized some papers and just chatted while he worked. The we got some groceries (about $70.) Came home and made dinner and are relaxing.

Money Spent this Month-$

No Buy Days 11/18 Number of no buys is up cause I am no longer counting groceries towards no buy, my new for 2011 rule for myself.

Groceries



$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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

 

[Debbie]

Hooray! I made another $0.

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
Feb. 6: DH bought some gingerale for DD who isn't feeling well $4, so I had him top up the gas $35 since we'd need it tomorrow anyway
Feb. 7: $0 Finally, another one!
Feb. 8: DH's 'shopping day' and it was only $60. That, in itself, is an accomplishment!
Feb. 9: groceries....stocking up $83
Feb 10: gas $43, pharmacy $25
Feb 11: DD's birthday so she went wild with spending-close to $200 that Mommy forked out, but I'm not going to count that since it will come out of a different budget. Just the same, let me say it was well over (say 4 times!) what I would have sent her if she were still in Egypt. OTOH, she was excited to get her birthday wish....an end to the protests...and will likely return shortly, so I spoiled her some. I spent (for the house/family) about $50, including a trip to Tim Horton's for hot chocolate for her "birthday surprise visitor". (another wish that she got)
Feb 12: still stocking up groceries $100
Feb 13: gas $36
Feb 14: DH bought me strawberries for Valentine's Day....that and a St. Patrick's Day card $5
Feb 15: DH's shop $35 gas $39
Feb 16: FINALLY! $0
Feb 17: Had to take DD to Toronto to return to Egypt today, so ended up spending $48 in gas. Went to Costco for my staff 'store' for Cancer Research, and, for me, bought ink cartridges $70 and snack food $8. THEN DH and I went to Denny's. We had entrées gift cards, so spent less than $10 ($6 tip and $3.44 for the meal ) Maybe tomorrow.
Feb 18: $0
Feb 19: groceries and McD's biscuits (new here in SW Ontario) $20
No Buy days this month: 4/10

 

[QVCshopper]

11/14 no-buys
* Used coupon

2/1-$0
2/2-$35 Wegmans*
2/3-$0; 1.5 miles
2/4-$5.75 Target*, $4.50 Michaels*, $4.25 PetSmart*, $22.50 Genuardis*, $18 Chinese Food, $1 Library, 2 miles
2/5-$31.75 Pottery Barn Kids, $29 Disney Store, $2.50 Chuck E Cheese
2/6-$24.50 Genuardis*, $47.50 Wegmans*
2/7-$0, 6 miles
2/8-$0
2/9-$0, 6 miles
2/10-$0
2/11-$28 Wegmans, $70 Target, 1.5 miles
2/12-$22 Great Clips, $7.25 Wegmans, $25 Genuardis, $1 Borders, $6 Auntie Annes, $9.50 Chinese Food, $1.50 Sears
2/13-$0
2/14-$0
2/15-$50 deposit for DS's 5th b-day party, $27.50 Target, $18 Wegmans, $10 Five Below
2/16-$0, 6 miles
2/17-$0
2/18-$0
2/19-$22 panera, $24 target, $10 wegmans, $18 mall; $37 LLBean

 

[#1hoosierfan]

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. 2.32
2/6 - $2.14 McDonalds; Meijer $91.12 saved $4 in coupons; Walgreens $27.97 saved $19 in coupons and received $17 in register rewards
2/7 - $0
2/8 - $0
2/9 - $0
2/10 - $0
2/11 - $20 deposit into my lunch account at work; $22.13 Walmart; $2.49 book for my Kindle
2/12- $20 basketball pictures; $5.33 Toys R Us cute Mickey shirt for Disney; $156 Chuck E Cheese party and cake
2/13 - $15.70 Walgreens saved $24.50 in coupons and received $15 in register rewards; $104.70 Kroger, saved $5 in coupons; $121 Target after $20 gift card. Save $3.25 in coupons
2/14 - $36 dinner at local Mexican restaurant ; $75 cleaning lady
2/15 - KMart - $29, they have their clearance kids clothes 40% already reduced price.... I got the boys' several sets of warm pjs for next year and fall jackets for next year.... all of it was Disney or Thomas the Train; $16Arby's dinner drive-thru.
2/16 -$5.30 lunch; $27 Meijer iXL book for ds's birthday
2/17 - $12 Mary Kay order; $132 Disneystore.com..... Free Shipping was REALLY expensive.......
2/18 - Walmart - $27; dinner out $75
2/19 - $50 - had our furnace serviced today.


Goal:
6/10

January coupon savings: $58.50

 

[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!
7: $0!
8: $0!
9: $0!
10: $0!
11: $0!
12: $0!
13: $0!
14: $109.19 Walgreens, CVS, Exxon ($2.85/g), Rouses, RiteAid, iTunes, Work
15: $0!
16: $0!
17: $0!
18: $7.20 Winn-Dixie and a snoball (like a snow cone...yes, in February!!)
19: $0!

$0 Days: 15
Spending: $275.98/$475= 58%
Days Passed: 19/28: 68%

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 ended up not going to the workshop today. I am hoping tomorrow is a $0 Day again, but I might need to get a few things.[/QUOTE]

Wow, Where's Piglet, you did fantastic!! Every time you use your table and chairs, it will be that much sweeter due to the bargain you got!!

Thank you!

Where'sPiglet? - I like Big Lots, it was my go to place when I was doing care boxes to my nephew-in-law in Afgansten (sp?) because of their inexpensive DVDs, baby wipes and packaged snacks.

I forgot about Big Lots. The one we have here is not on a street I usually go on. I was mentioning to someone that I saw a table set in the Lowes ad for $140. Two people said to check Big Lots, so we did! We got what appears to be a nicer table set for $5 less than the ad, plus all that other stuff that I'm sure would have been way more at Lowes.

When I lived in Colorado, I used to shop at Big Lots all the time for school and organizer stuff.

No Buy Days : 14/16
Gas : 102$ (let's try 100$)
Groceries : 80$ (250$ max)
Eating out (and snacks) : 31$ (100$ max)
Non-necessities : 608$ (200$) Ouch!

01/02 : 0$
02/02 : 0$
03/02 : 35$ (gas)
04/02 : 0$
05/02 : 0$
06/02 : 0$
07/02 : 0$
08/02 : 111$ (gas + groceries)
09/02 : 0$
10/02 : 0$
11/02 : 41$ (dinner + clothes)
12/02 : 0$
13/02 : 0$
14/02 : 0$
15/02 : 12$ (scarf, mittens + snack)
16/02 : 0$
17/02 : 0$
18/02 : 622$
19/02 : 0$

You are totally right. Plus, I had been wanting to buy new glasses for over a year now, so I think I was way overdue and very much entitled to buying ones I love. Now I can't wait to get them.

You've been doing awesome! 14 no-buy days and that amazing deal buying patio furniture.

You are also doing awesome with your $0 Buy Days! We have the same number!

How long does it take to get them? A year is a long time to wait already!

I was going to try to tally up the coupon savings this month, but I think I'm going to let it go -- I'm too far behind to make it worth catching up.

We're tossing around the idea of another WDW trip this summer since DH found good airfare and the Kids Stay and Play is a good deal for us, but I think I may do the responsible budget board thing and suggest waiting until next year. The airfare has already climbed from the low point, so we have to decide soon!

no buy days: 8/11
longest streak: 3
meals out: 1/5
days without dinner out: 8
longest no dinners out streak: 10

I thought it would be cool to count up the coupon savings too, but I find it more tedious than I am curious. On this thread, I also used to add up my spending by category, but that got too tedious too. I do, however, add it up by category on my personal budget sheets. I just don't post it all.

Good luck deciding on a trip! I don't know how old your kids are, but keep in mind Fantasyland is under heavy construction for this year and I think most of next. Hmmm....maybe this explains the timing of Disney's special for young kids.

Good job on the dinners out! It is so hard to cut back on that! I keep saying I am going to cut way back on eating fast food. I am not sure what happened this month, because I stopped thinking about it and I have not had a meal out all month! I HAVE had a snack (Twisted Frosty) at Wendy's, and a snoball at the local snoball stand, but no other meals out! The impact on my spending has been incredible!

I have missed my No Buy friends again the lsat few days. I think it has been half me trying to catch up from being sick and half that I subbed all this week, but I was just so overwhelmed this week. I am going to try and post daily again, it gets hard to keep everything straight when you go a few days. Especially when you are spending money.

My kids are all off this week, so I envision a lot of recording of funds I'm afraid.

Hope all is well, as bad as it is when we are sick, it is so much worse when the kids are.

Oh, and we bought our first set of patio furniature at Big Lots and it lasted years and years and years.

Oooh...a week off! I hope you can find a lot of free and low cost things to do!

I'm glad to hear their furniture holds up well. It seems sturdy!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Feb 19: groceries and McD's biscuits (new here in SW Ontario)
No Buy days this month: 4/10[/COLOR]

I do not like McDonald's. Their sausage biscuits are about the only thing I will eat on their breakfast menu!

2/19-$22 panera, $24 target, $10 wegmans, $18 mall

I love Panera. It is one of the few places I wish we had here. We have AWESOME food here, so I can't complain! I'm going on a trip out of town later this year and they have a Panera. I've already planned my dinner for a day in April. Smokehouse turkey panini with the broccoli cheddar soup with the baguette to dip in the soup. Mmmmmmm

 

[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- $0
7- $0
8- $0 ( to be fair..I did buy a plane ticket for DH's trip to join me after Expo next year, but that wasn't an optional purchase and money came from trip account..I'm only counting optional things, food and gas, not things that are locked in stone)
9- Big spending day! DH medicine and gas: $20, groceries: $39, Leapfrog site,,they still have some DIDJ stuff on clearance and I bought DGS a Didj for Christmas and he loves it so needed to get stuff before it totally disappears, plus a charger to save on batteries, so $53, and DH had to buy materials to replace the pad to our bedroom carpet that got ruined during the big stupid freeze/thaw we had, so $166 ACK Coupons, $2.50 (PS edited to *** $4.90 to ship Valentines stuff to out of state grandkids..forgot to yesterday)
10- $0
11- $9.00, lunch out with a friend, $9.00 grandkids to Dollar Tree after school
12- $20.45 at my second job, Hastings, for frappe, bagel, magazines for grandkids and part of a wedding shower gift, $45.75 WalMart, rest of the wedding shower gift, a few groceries and WHOOP toys on super clearance put away for future events, $30.00 Bingo night out with son and DIL
13-$0
14-$0
15-$1.74 movie rental, $10.00 gas, $4.50 berries on sale
16-$26 Walmart..groceries and did I mention the great Toys clearance?
17-Took a day off from work today. At my other job spent $1.00 for a bagel (started feeling shakey..low blood sugar issues) and rental clearance Sorcerer's Apprentice for $4.99, then went to Penny's because I had overpaid my CC and got some stuff for a baby shower and grandkids, but cost nothing, down the mall past Hallmark, who had all their left over ornaments on sale for $2.00 each, bought 2..Kmart to finish getting stuff for the baby shower, $16.96, then tacos for lunch $4.80. We also went out to dinner with friends, but used a GC
18-Dang, blew it with $6.89 at Dollar Tree with the grandkids...
19- $0
20-
21-
22-
23-
24-
25-
26-
27-
28-

9/12

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $1327.32
$0 Days:7/10

Groceries ($252-$9/day)- $179.14
Eating Out ($196-$7/day)- $157.33
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($1008-$36/day) $859.85 Not Planned (Snuck up on me): $215 Southwest Tickets...I think I will take the money from the Ohio Hotel and pay for the Ohio Hotel next month. $330 Planned left= $92 Great America, Have $224 left for Ohio Hotel, $14 Metra to see Musical[/COLOR]
Gas $200?- $25 (2/3), $48 (2/6), $28 (2/8), $30 (2/14) = $131

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- $35 (Joe Caputo-Groceries)
8- $200 (Registration for Spring Classes for our 3 year old son and preschool in the fall)
9- $6 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $23 (Post Office-Misc. Needed to send in a DSLR lens that broke on our trip in December, it is still under warranty though, so hopefully this will save me money in the long run, and also bought a book of stamps)
10- $0
11- $0
12- $6.82 (Jewel-Groceries), $2 (Dollar Tree-Shopping Newspapers), $9.80 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $13.15 (Eating Out-Subway)
WEEK 3 BEGIN:
13- $31 (Zoo-Eating Out, bought a refillable mug for $10 that will be good til the end of the year, now we just have to remember to bring it), $19 (Meijer-Groceries), $6.77 (Super Target-Groceries)
14- $3.81 (Joe Caputo-Groceries), $16.58 (KFC-Eating Out and Hubby's Valentine's Day present...he loves Hot wings and last week he wanted them, but he couldn't justify getting them when we have so much food in the house. He works 3rd shift so I lined them up on a pan to make them spell out I "heart" U. I can't wait til he sees it. He loves his hotwings and hasn't had them for a long time)
15- $0
16- $215 (Southwest-bought two one way tickets for our trip in Sept/October), $1.65 (Walgreens-Groceries), $7.26 (Wendy's-Eating Out)
17- $0
18- $0
19- $12 (Dollar Tree-Groceries (bought alot of stuff to start a container garden), $8 (Parking-Misc.), $27 (foodlife-Eating Out), $15 (Culver's-Eating Out), $14 (Justice-Shopping)
WEEK 4 BEGIN:
20- Meijer, Justice?!?


Budget: $1656....80%
Month: 19/28: 68%
No Buy: 7/10: 70%

My savings from coupons and sales: $661.94

Next Month: Pictures, Ohio Hotel, two trips by train, Great America season pass installment, 2nd half of our airplane tickets for October, ink for printer, laptop...

 

[Debbie]

On this thread, I also used to add up my spending by category, but that got too tedious too. I do, however, add it up by category on my personal budget sheets. I just don't post it all.

Yep, lucky to separate groceries and gas. One of these days it'll be just DH and me, so the both will go down considerably.

I do not like McDonald's. Their sausage biscuits are about the only thing I will eat on their breakfast menu!

I rarely go to McD's (or anywhere else for that matter. Too, er, frugal). I do like an egg mcmuffin with hash browns, which I have maybe twice a year-when DD has to be at school at 6:00 for a trip or something. The biscuit was good, but I probably won't make a special trip to get them very often.

 

[thebeesknees]

2/1 - $0
2/2 - $0
2/3 - $0
2/4 - $0
2/5 - $0
2/6 - $0
2/7 - $22 Dollar Tree, $66 Target, $13 Walmart, $3 McDonald's
2/8 - $200 Sam's Club
2/9 - $19 Walmart, $1 Dollar Tree, $17 Thrift Store
2/10 - $0
2/11 - $0
2/12 - $14 Safeway, $35 gasoline
2/13 - $0
2/14 - $0
2/15 - $0
2/16 - $0
2/17 - $65 - groceries.
2/18 - $0
2/19 - $0
2/20 - $40 gas, $28 Amazon for diapers, $31 LL Bean backpack for DD

14/12 no-buy days this month

 

[ronnmel]

You are also doing awesome with your $0 Buy Days! We have the same number!

How long does it take to get them? A year is a long time to wait already!

Thanks!

The lady said I should have my glasses in a week, 10 days top. The clip-on sunglasses is what is taking the longest.

 

[charming23]

Another no buy day today. I am doing some destashing as the weather is cold again. I am almost done with our storage closet. So far I have taken out 4 bags of trash and have 3 boxes to donate to goodwill.

February Budget-
Groceries/Household- $300/$30.13 left
Car/Gas- $50/$27.42 left
Eating Out- $50/$14.10 left
Misc/Entertainment- $100/$28.07 left

Total-$500/$94.78 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- $0

Week Two
2/8- $6.30 Walgreen's and $5.58 Drugmart
2/9- $71.96 Grocery and $4.49 lunch
2/10- $37.38 Grocery, $14.01 lunch, and $46.25 Fashion Bug
2/11- $0- My Birthday
2/12- $0
2/13- $22.58 Gas and $11.51 Grocery
2/14- $23.43 Grocery/meds

Week Three
2/15- $0
2/16- $0
2/17- $55.46 Groceries
2/18- $0
2/19- $0- Found $15
2/20- $0
2/21

12/14 No Buy Days

Coupon and Store Savings- $112.11

 

[Tiggerish]

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

Auto $70 / $40 left
Eating Out/Entertainment $85 / $46 over
Giving $10 / $0 left
Groceries/Household Goods $250 /$194 left
Medical $25 / $14 left
Misc. $75 / $42 left
Set bills $335 / $54 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 / 10
Coupon savings $41.48
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)
2/7 $0
2/8 $0
2/9 $3 Eating out
2/10 $0
2/11 Groceries $12; Eating out $13
2/12 Groceries $35
2/13 Set bills $20 (church); Giving $10 (the Gideons were at church today); Groceries $6
2/14 Eating out $38 (took my nieces and my sister out for V Day); Set bills $40 (cell phone and newpaper)
2/15 $0 (Rt. eye cataract surgery today)
2/16 $0
2/17 $0
2/18 $0
2/19 $72 Eating out
2/20 $30 set bills (church); $11 Medical (Vit. D supplements which is a new thing, am supposed to do 2000 mg a day but I did get a bogo and two coupons)

charming23 , I am impressed with your destashing and decluttering. I have stuff in boxes from moving 12 years ago that has never been unpacked but I never get around to getting rid of anything.