January No Buy: Let's Start the Year Right!

[nunzia]

Jan. 1: $33.00 Walmart (groceries and 75% off Christmas)
Jan. 2: $80.00 (2 shelving units from Lowes. 1 was a facebook deal..79 down to 43)
Jan. 3: $0
Jan. 4: $0
Jan. 5: $0
Jan. 6: $22.69(groceries..stuck to the list!) $18.62 (dinner out with friends) $9.60 (Christmas pictures printed)
Jan. 7: $0
Jan. 8
Jan. 9
Jan. 10
Jan. 11
Jan. 12
Jan. 13
Jan. 14
Jan. 15
Jan. 16
Jan. 17
Jan. 18
Jan. 19
Jan. 20
Jan. 21
Jan. 22
Jan. 23
Jan. 24
Jan. 25
Jan. 26
Jan. 27
Jan. 28
Jan. 29
Jan. 30
Jan. 31

 

[lattemomof3]

Woo hoo, I love fresh starts, and a new year is a big one! Hello No Buy friends, and welcome to the new ones. Think I will shoot for another 10 no buy days, both dd4 and dh have January birthdays, and we leave for our trip the 1st week of Feb, so I may need to buy a few things for that. Good luck everyone!

Really great to see lots of new no-buyers- welcome everyone! Dh and I went on a movie and dinner (gift card!) date yesterday, I took our budget notebook, so we had our annual budget meeting on the way to town and listed our goals for 2011.

I use the envelope system (actually mine is an small accordian file folder). Using cash for everything (started last Aug) has been a great help (that and writing down everything I spend). I would really like to get our grocery and household goods spending down, I was lumping them together but I think I'll seperate them so I can see where the leaks are. I do meal plan and we eat out once a week, usually, but I think we could be spending less . I buy a lot of fresh veggies, fruit, lean meats, greek yogurt, cheese and almond milk, but I won't compromise on that- I think I'll try to menu plan from the adds more consistently and stock up when the things we use are on sale.

Jan 1 - Movie w/ dh, popcorn

Jan 2 - clearance t-shirts for trip, shelf for ds8's finished Lego masterpieces

Jan 3 - groceries

Jan 4 - $0

Jan 5 - dh's b-day gift from the kids

Jan 6 - Groceries @ Wal Mart, lunch w/ mom & dd4

Jan 7 - movie rental for kids, dh took kids out to dinner

 

[DCbride]

ok my first month is working pretty well- I am not counting grocery and gas

Jan. 1: mc Donalds $10- traveling home had to eat..
Jan. 2:
Jan. 3: grocery
Jan. 4: $0
Jan. 5: textbooks for college kids- I can't count this
Jan. 6: $45 dinner out with college kids before they go back
Jan. 7: $64 in Target, mostly 2 birthday party gifts
Jan. 8
Jan. 9
Jan. 10
Jan. 11
Jan. 12
Jan. 13
Jan. 14
Jan. 15
Jan. 16
Jan. 17
Jan. 18
Jan. 19
Jan. 20
Jan. 21
Jan. 22
Jan. 23
Jan. 24
Jan. 25
Jan. 26
Jan. 27
Jan. 28
Jan. 29
Jan. 30
Jan. 31

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

1/1: $0!
1/2: $0!
1/3: $11.10 Popeyes
1/4: $6.25 Subway
1/5: $23.16 Gas
1/6: $14.19: $3.75 lunch, $10.44 Rouses (got my king cake! )
1/7: $0!

$0 Buy Days: 3
Total Spent: $54.70/$395=14%
Month Over: 7/31=23%

$395 breakdowns:
grocery: 200.00-10.44=200.00
eating out: 50.00-17.35=32.65
misc: 70.00-0=70.00
gas: 75.00-23.16=51.84

I keep fussing with things. I realized my budget did not match my $100/week of cash, so I was thinking I could do $75/week. That matches the $300/month in cash (the $75 budgeted for gas goes on the credit card so I can pay at the pump; it gets paid in full each month.) But, the ATM doesn't spit out $75, so I am rounding it to $80/week. This gives me an extra $20/month over the budget as it was, so I'm adding it to miscellaneous for now.

Today will not be a $0 Day. We are planning to go to the supermarket and also I want to go to CVS. They had something on sale through 1/8 last time I was there, but they were sold out. I'm going to try again.

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 5/15
Gas : 31$ (max 100$)
Groceries : 0$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 26$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 0$ (max 200$)


01/01 : 0$
02/01 : 0$
03/01 : 0$
04/01 : 9$ (breakfast + lunch)
05/01 : 0$
06/01 : 0$
07/01 : 48$ (gas + dinner)

 

[charming23]

The weather here is cold and snowy so I am staying in and destashing. So far this week I have taken four bags to goodwill.

Groceries/household- $300/ $196.61 left
Car/gas- $50
Eating out- $50/ $32.37 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100

Total- $500/ $378.98 left

Goal of 15 No Buy days

Week One
1/1- $14.23 Groceries
1/2- $0
1/3- $0
1/4- $0
1/5- $88.96 Groceries/household and $17.63 dinner at Loco Leprechaun
1/6- $0
1/7- $0

Week Two
1/8- $0
1/9
1/10
1/11
1/12
1/13
1/14

6/15 No Buy Days

Store and coupon savings- $10.00

 

[3goofyboys]

My goal for January is 15 no buy days.
Christmas is done, my DS's birthday is done. We have a few birthday parties to go to, but other than that, we don't have any big expenses coming up in January. I'm ready to get back on track after all the crazy holiday spending

January 1 $0 We're in for the day, so I'm calling it early. Hoping the $0 for today is a sign of good things in 2011!

January 2 Plans changed and I ended up going out for dinner tonight instead of tomorrow. So $50 for dinner and I went ahead and filled up with gas today $50 gas.

January 3 $0 Took the boys to the library and McDonalds, but we were given coupons this summer that allow one free Happy Meal per kiddo once a month, so we used those .

January 4 $25 got my hair cut- I haven't had it cut in over a year. I was ready for a new cut. $100 groceries. $28 DH and I went out to dinner for our date night.

January 5 $0

January 6 $80 presents for upcoming birthday parties/misc. at Target (but ONLY what I went in for, no impulse purchases), $40 gas, $15 to refill my freezer with bread, $10 local bounce place

January 7 $0

January 8 $0

5/15 No Buy Days

 

[Beezle2]

1/1 $0
1/2 $0
1/3 $0
1/4 $43 from grocery budget $107 left. 2 gals milk, eggs, strawberries, blackberries,pears,apples,cherries,mushrooms,avacados,coleslaw,tomatoes,
soup,diet coke,pancake mix. Almost perfect, lol
1/5 $10.50 to see True Grit with DH and $3 for a box of screws to make a play table for DD's Playmobil
1/6 $0
1/7 $0

second day of my personal weekend challenge! We went sledding today, I did some scrapbooking, and later we are going to watch a couple of movies. I had to resist going to get a diet coke this after noon. I really,really, wanted to!

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 5/15
Gas : 31$ (max 100$)
Groceries : 27$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 26$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 8$ (max 200$)


01/01 : 0$
02/01 : 0$
03/01 : 0$
04/01 : 9$ (breakfast + lunch)
05/01 : 0$
06/01 : 0$
07/01 : 48$ (gas + dinner)
08/01 : 35$ (groceries + rent game)

 

[lillygator]

Goals:
10 $0 Days
$100/week on groceries
$200/gas
$100 for extras

January 2011
1/1 $0
1/2 $97.37 groceries
1/3 $0
1/4 $0
1/5 $67.81 in gas but hope to last a while
1/6 $0
1/7 $0
1/8 $$97.58 grocery and $58.47 for misc

5/10 - maybe I should change it?
$195.95/$400 - $204.05
$67.81/$200 - 132.19
$58.47/$100 - $41.53


I had a great shopping trip and still came in under budget!

 

[Feistygirl916]

Budget (for items that are "wanted" vs. "needed"): $300
Goal for "no-buy days": 15

1/1: $0

1/2: $0

1/3: $12 (Coffee, dinner - which we could have ate at home!)

1/4: $29 (Lunch and a DS game for DD)

1/5: $5 (Lunch - I can't learn!)

1/6: $6 headache:)

1/7: $0

1/8: $0 (I am not leaving the house today! )




No buy days: 4
Money spent: $52

 

[Tiggerish]

he January budget is $1200 with 12 no spend days.

Auto $70
Eating Out/Entertainment $50 / $32 left
Giving $10
Groceries/Household Goods $200/ $187 left
Medical $100 / $25 over
Misc. $50/ $21 left
Set bills $420/ $395 left
Semi-Annual Neurology eval in Chicago budget is $300

No spend days goal of 12/ 4

Coupon savings $21.90
-------------------------------------------------------
1/1 $0
1/2 Set bills $25 (church)
1/3 Groceries $13; Misc. $29 (birthday present for niece)
1/4 Medical $104 (dentist)
1/5 $0
1/6 $0
1/7 $0
1/8 Eating out $18; Medical $21 (OTC drugs)

 

[bigmama67]

January 8: $53.49 at Lego Store (DS had saved up $39 for this set he wants and we lent him the rest); $13.52 at Borders (but DH returned a book for which we paid $12.99 plus tax so that's probably a wash).

Not one of our best days but we are all sick except DD and now everyone's happy. Tomorrow I'm going grocery shopping so hopefully Monday will be No-Buy Day #2.

Off to make "breakfast for dinner."

 

[Ava]

Goal: Spend no more than $100 per week (not including set bills)

1/1 - $17 grocery/paper products
1/2 - $0!
1/3 - $2 postage, $2 grocery, $17 DP's knitting supplies
1/4 - $0!
1/5 - $27 grocery
1/6 - $20 laundry
1/7 - $0!
Week 1 total: $85

1/8 - $84 grocery

Week 2 total: $84

Monthly total: $169

 

[QVCshopper]

4/12 no-buy days
* Used coupon

1/1/-$2 TRU*, $7 CFA*, $2 Coldstone*, $31 Wegmans/redbox*
1/2-$6 mcd*, $14 Dollar Store
1/3-$0; 8 miles
1/4-$0; Lego* free build
1/5-$0; 3 miles
1/6-$4 DD*, $24 Wegmans*, $14 Target (no store tempts me like Target, but this time it was DH who went...); 2.5 miles
1/7-$46 target, $29* wegmans, 3 miles
1/8-$0

 

[dissybroad]

Howdy! Goal is to pay for 12/2011 trip before departure. Total trip budget is $12,000 for four adults, two kids, 10 days. That includes accommodations, tickets, food, flights.

Writing down everything I spend has helped me identify where my money is going and eliminate "leaks".

I'm jumping on this wagon! Hard part will be not buying clothes for grandkids but DD does wonders for them at the thrift store and I'll watch Freecycle. She'll buy into my plan since she and the girls will be going on the trip.

Thanks for all the inspiration and support. Good luck to everyone.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

1/1: $0!
1/2: $0!
1/3: $11.10 Popeyes
1/4: $6.25 Subway
1/5: $23.16 Gas
1/6: $14.19: lunch, Rouses (got my king cake! )
1/7: $4 lunch
1/8: $102.60: CVS, lunch, Rouses, Winn-Dixie

$0 Buy Days: 2
Total Spent: $161.30/$395=41%
Month Over: 8/31=26%

$395 breakdowns:
grocery: 200.00-83.65=116.35
eating out: 50.00-33.59=16.41
misc: 70.00-17.15=52.85
gas: 75.00-23.16=51.84

The challenge this week is going to be eating from the food we just bought at the supermarket, and NOT eating out!

If I go by the $80/week cash, I have $21.86 left to spend this week...as in, the week that starts tomorrow!
(Gas is on credit card so I can pay at the pump.)

 

[wlake]

1/1: groceries (but I forgot how much and don't want to get off the couch!)
1/2: $42 gas, $20 pharmacy, $28 JCPenney, ? Home Depot (again, don't want to get off the couch!). I also returned to Lands' End and Kohl's today, enough to cover what we spent! Edited to add: $65 on registration for open swim time. Hopefully we'll get there more often this session than last and I can get some exercise!
1/3: (although I feel a bit guilty about it -- the only reason it's a $0 is because I forgot to take the checkbook to pay for after school care.)
1/4: after school care $31.50, take out for dinner ?
1/5:
1/6:
1/7: $35 after school, $35 dinner, ? book orders for the boys (I haven't done them yet tonight)
1/8: $8 Lowes, $28 gas, $12 things for school

Tomorrow is grocery day and I'll need to write checks to pay for school lunches.

no buy days: 3/10
meals out: 2/5
longest streak: 3!

 

[Jake & Crew]

I'm late but I am in and am starting tomorrow!

Since there is very little money left in the bank account this should be
easy.....

Seriously, DH and I have made the commitment to get our finances under control and eliminate all debt as well build our savings back up so this will be
a great thread for me

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $360.72
$0 Days:4/10

Groceries ($100-$3.22/day)- $97.31
Eating Out ($200-$6.45/day)-$22.39
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($500-$16/day) $225.54
Gas for Tracking- 1/5 $20, 1/5 $50, 1/8 $35
BIG PURCHASES: Annual DVC Dues: $494.09

WEEK 2:
Eating Out- $65.88
Misc.- $12.46

WEEK 3:
Eating Out- $45.15
Misc- $112

WEEK 4:
Groceries- $2.69
Eating Out- $58.05
Misc- $144


WEEK 1 BEGIN:
1- $3.98 (Artscow.com-Misc.), $2 (Dollar Tree-Papers), $38.99 (Ultra Foods-Groceries-most I have spent on one grocery trip in a long long time, but got lots of stuff we eat at stock up prices!), $9.56 (Target-Clearance stuff for next years stocking and son's bday present), $30 (Walmart-balance after giftcard for 2 TB hd), $10.42 (Ikea- Eating Out kids eat free and only bought one pop-it's a start for this family)
2- $0
3- $0
4- $9.80 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $20 (Joe Caputo-Groceries), $9.55 (Dominick's-Groceries), $180 (Midas-Getting Car Fixed)
5- $1.63 (Walgreens-Groceries), $16.45 (CVS-Groceries-but got $17 back in ECB's), $20-Gas
6- $0
7- $2.05 (Walgreens-Groceries), $8.46 (Jewel-Groceries), $2.17 (McDonald's-Eating Out)
8- $0
WEEK 2 BEGIN:
9- $2 (Dollar Tree-Newspapers), GameWorks (using restaurant.com coupon), Dave and Busters (free game play), $8.48 (Taco Bell-Eating Out),
10- CVS, Foot Doctor, Walgreens
11- McDonald's
12-
13-
14-
15-


Budget: $800....45%
Month: 9/31: 29%
No Buy: 4/10: 40%

My savings from coupons and sales: $433.30