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

[Where'sPiglet?]

1/1: $0!
1/2: $0!
1/3: $11.10 Popeyes
1/4: $6.75 Subway
1/5: $23.16 Gas
1/6: $14.19: lunch, Rouses
1/7: $4 lunch
1/8: $102.60: CVS, lunch, Rouses, Winn-Dixie
1/9: $0!
1/10: $0!
1/11: $2.07 Rouses
1/12: $0!
1/13: $31.94: Rite Aid, Burger King, Winn-Dixie
1/14: $0!
1/15: $94.69: Po boy, Winn-Dixie, Target
1/16: $0!
1/17: $0!
1/18: $0!
1/19: $0!
1/20: $21.55 Gas
1/21: $30 Pre-pay for an event next month

$0 Buy Days: 10
Total Spent: $341.55/$395=86%
Month Over: 21/31=68%

So I unexpectedly got an email at work; they are doing an event at a painting place next month. It's a place I've been a few times and have had fun, so a friend and I decided to sign up. It's supposed to be a fundraiser for the school I guess, but it was presented to us as a "night out" for the staff. Well, I had a coupon for the painting place and it expires a few days after the event, so I was able to take $5 off. The lady kind of tried to guilt trip me into not using it since my school will get less money, but I can't afford to go twice in two weeks (like the lady suggested!) and $5 is a lot of money right now! I do feel a little cheap and guilty though.

I think I am going to loosen up my budget just a smidge next month. We are trying to be gazelle to pay off some credit cards and rebuild savings, but this is just a bit much. I need to buy some "shrimp boots" for a school field trip we are taking next month (oddly, same day as painting night) to a swamp. I also want to get the school spirit shirt from the school and there's not enough in the budget for it. $80/week + gas money is just not quite enough to cover the little things that pop up.

Don't remember if I ever said it on a previous month no-buy thread, but I'm a teacher too. Grade 1 and 4.

Cool! Do you do grades 1 and 4 at the same time, or do you rotate between them? How does that work out?

Yeah, I can kind of see a pattern- stockpiling, then using everything and spending much more the next month. I think part of the problem is that I don't want to have a high grocery budget for 2 people- some people here are feeding 4 people on $100 a week, and my budget is $250 a month for 2 people.

We stayed at the Hilton on International Drive. We paid $40 a night for 2 nights thanks to a friend of DD's. I can't recommend it- the free breakfast was nice, but the rooms need work and it was wierdly humid in the room considering it was not humid outside.

You are fit enought to run a Marathon? That is awesome. Good for you!

We budget $200/month for grocery food for 2 people, plus $50 for eating out, which usually ends up being fast food.

I don't like rooms that are humid/musty inside when it's not humid otherwise.

Thanks, but don't get too excited! I did the Princess (trip report is in my signature if you are interested) and the Disneyland Half Marathons last year. I alternated walking and jogging, and my time wasn't fabulous, but I FINISHED both of them, which was my goal. I don't think I could do one at this time, I have gotten lazy and out of shape, and I don't see myself ever running one!

WHEW! Since DH got paid today filled up the tank and got more groceries. So yes, I'm over my planned budget on everything (will need to adjust groceries to $600 per month and gas to $200 per month from $500 and $150 respectively)...but the huge relief is that apparently we have a bit more to work with in each of DH's paychecks than I realized, so I can adjust the budget without worrying!

See, last year we were doing flexible spending deductions because DD was in daycare and DS was in extended care. Now that I'm not working, we didn't take the money out this year (though hopefully I will be soon)...so in addition to getting a raise in November, we have that money in the check every two weeks, and I hadn't been aware of just how much it would be because this was his first paycheck that was entirely for this year (hope that makes sense!) So we are going to be OK...now I just have to remember that an extra $400 per month doesn't mean we can go nuts, and it should be fine!

I'm just so happy and relieved...and also this means my tuition shouldn't be a problem next semester.

That is great news!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

January 18-$0 Sick in bed
January 19-$0 Sick in bed
January 20-$0 Sick in bed
January 21-$0 Sick in bed

On the $0 Days, but sorry you have been so sick! I hope you feel better soon!

 

[msmama]

I'm aiming for 15 No Buy Days, but hoping for 20!

1/1 - $0
1/2 - $89.30 (for 2 weeks worth of groceries - this meal planning stuff really works!)
1/3 - $0
1/4 - 37.00 (Darn kid and the stuff he likes. I HAD to get tickets to take him to a Dinosaur Train exhibit.)
1/5 - $0
1/6 - 49.29 (saved due to Amazon Mom and Subscribe and Save, and (fingers crossed) this could be the last pack of diapers I ever buy)
1/7 - 111.41 + 10.95 (groceries and McDonalds for lunch)
1/8 - -- Alright, this may be cheating, but I'm not counting today. Money was spent, but it came from a special fund that I've been saving up for (Ikea) so it isn't money that came out of my regular budget. But I won't count it as No Buy.
1/9 - $0
1/10 - 110.59 (Big Costco shop. Feeling discouraged. I'm only $40 away from my grocery budget for the month and I know there's a handful of things I still need. Crap).
1/11 - 27 + 505 (Amazon to get the CORRECT size diapers since I bought the wrong size on 1/6 - will get a refund though whenever the snow lets up to get the UPS man here. Also had to write a check for the kids preschool tuition for NEXT YEAR already - big budget buster there).
1/12 - $0 Thank you snow!
1/13 - 33 + 5 on GC (Was doing well until the darn gas light came on! I would've waited 'til tomorow but with a couple feet of snow and a temp of 7 degrees overnight I decided it best to ruin my No Buy day).
1/14 - 95 + 15 + K cups (Books for my first class back in school after a decade , Birthday present for Dad and still to buy Kcups - waiting on my buy 2 get 2 code, lol. Would've been more buy my house and the ice and snow conspired to keep me out of Target.
1/15 - 37+13+16 (DSW, Target and Outback - so all the spending is on top of 100+ in GC's. But DSW has been my ONLY splurge so far this month - and I really did need new snow boots).
1/16 - $0
1/17 - $0
1/18 - $0
1/19 - $0
1/20 - $0
1/21 - $0



11/15 No Buys!!

WhooHooo!!! Even if I don't make my goal, I'm thrilled by my 6 day streak!

 

[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, $12 book orders for the boys
1/8: $8 Lowes, $28 gas, $12 things for school
1/9: $60 groceries, $26.50 x2 for school lunches
1/10:
1/11:
1/12:
1/13: $3 groceries
1/14:
1/15: soccer shoes for both boys (we've tried 5 stores with luck for only one boy and they were $30 ), $40 Target, $16 Walmart (because Target didn't carry everything I needed), $13 Dick's Sporting Goods (a sock indulgence), $29 Lands' End clearance for next winter for the boys and $34 Staples for things for school (I refuse to function any longer without working staplers and tape dispensers and there's no money in the school's budget. I hate the fact that I got everyone's broken leftovers -- including desks and chairs for the students -- when I transferred to this school.). Finally, $8 dinner out (the rest was a gc) after the headaches of the day.
1/16:
1/17: $12 lunch (owed to my friend still though!), $76 groceries, ? Walmart (as I had to call DH and give him the list to get the things on his way home tonight!)
1/18: $14 Lands' End (great clearance right now -- this is for a $50 rain jacket with a zip in liner for DS5!)
1/19: This is technically a no buy day -- we spent $6 at the craft store and $17 on dinner but it was all gc money. I'm not counting it as a no buy day, though.
1/20:
1/21: $7 photobook for my MIL

no buy days: 9/10
meals out: 4/5
longest streak: 3!

 

[charming23]

MickeyMomofThree, I hope you feel better soon. The flu is no fun.

So I lied. I did end up going out today but spent no out of pocket money. I went to happy hour at a bar with my BFF and he paid for our drinks and snacks. (It was an early B-day present for me as he will be out of town for it next month). We also stopped at WalMart but I used a giftcard there for a few items.

 

[Virgderon]

MickeyMom! You poor thing! I'm so sorry for you. You do so much and I know how it is when you just don't have time to be sick. Hope it improves quickly.

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 11/15
Gas : 98$ (max 100$)
Groceries : 136$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 75$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 116$ (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)
09/01 : 10$ (dinner)
10/01 : 0$
11/01 : 0$
12/01 : 39$ (movie + dinner)
13/01 : 55$ (game)
14/01 : 0$
15/01 : 66$ (cat food & litter)
16/01 : 76$ (groceries + gas)
17/01 : 0$
18/01 : 0$
19/01 : 29$ (Amazon.com)
20/01 : 0$
21/01 : 56$ (gas + snack + book)

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $864.46 ~336.65 food and groceries the rest could possibly be cut or unexpected like car and good deals on clothes.
$0 Days:7/10

Groceries ($340-$11/day)- $237.33
Eating Out ($155-$5/day)-$95.33
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($930-$30/day) $531.80
Gas for Tracking- 1/5 $20, 1/5 $50, 1/8 $35, 1/13 $17, 1/14 $7, 1/17 $30 = $159
BIG PURCHASES: Annual DVC Dues: $494.09

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), $8.48 (Taco Bell-Eating Out), $20 (Target-Shopping)
10- $0
11- $6.30 (Wendy's-Eating Out), $10.13 (Foot Doctor-Misc.), $7.33 (Walgreens-Groceries), $6.18 (Dominick's-Groceries), $12 (Target-Cat Food, Groceries), $92 (Great America Season Pass-Misc.)
12- $4.92 (CVS-Groceries), $4.98 (McDonald's-Eating Out)
13- $10.56 (CVS-prescription), $14.52- (Target-Clothes), $25.83 (GameWorks-Eating Out), $-10.00 (Dave and Busters (free game play)), $71.83 (Target hoping toys go to 75% and get my free boxes of Kashi
14- $37.81 (Target-Clothes) $16.34 (Dominick's-Groceries)
15- $34.92 (Meijer- Bought a new winter jacket for $13! and got lots of groceries), $12.24 (Jewel-Groceries), $3.10 (Dollar Tree-Newspapers and Balloon for son)
WEEK 3 BEGIN:
16- $10.35 (McDonald's-Eating Out); $16.85 (Old Navy- Awesome clothes sale 40% off clearance-bought two pairs of pants and two shirts, shelf price was $93.00!!), $5.05 (Target-two pairs of pajama pants for DH)
17- $21.94 (Walgreens-Groceries); $10 (Dominick's- Groceries), $15.30 (Jewel-Groceries), $10.76 (Old Navy-more clothes, 4 shirts and winter hat for son)
18- $11.00 (McDonald's- Eating Out), $11.85 (Walgreens-Groceries)
19- $8.65 (Postage for Mailing out tickets to Les Mis that I sold on Ebay for a $90 profit), $6 (Wendy's-Eating Out-running to preschool night)
20- $0
21- $0
22- Meijer, Dominick's, Dollar Tree
WEEK 4 BEGIN:
23-
24-
25-
26-
27-
28-
29-
30-
31-


Budget: $1405....62%
Month: 21/31: 68%
No Buy: 7/10: 70%

My savings from coupons and sales: $1507.48

 

[ronnmel]

Hope you feel better soon MickeyMom!

Cool! Do you do grades 1 and 4 at the same time, or do you rotate between them? How does that work out?

I rotate, I have 3 different groups. Start with grade 4 in the morning, then grade 1 after.

 

[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 (coupon/sale savings $37.52) adding this idea from another poster because I like it!

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
1/8 $0
1/9 $0
1/10 $0
1/11 $2.50 for gum and diet coke. Stopped at Aldis and spent $32 from the grocery budget so $75 left there.
1/12 $0
1/13 $1.49 for a diet pepsi
1/14 Spent $99 at the grocery store though and am now over the budget I had wanted for that. Saved $39 with coupons and sales. Also $50 for dogfood and $50 to gas up the van.
1/15 $0

1/16 $27 to take the family to the movies. Dh, dd, and I saw Season of the Witch. We thought it was a stinker and wish we had the money back At least the popcorn was good, and free. I used my free coupons for that and points from the loyalty card to get sodas. My older dd and grandson saw Green Hornet and they said it was pretty good but not great.

1/17 $0 no school for me so I stayed home and did homework all day.

1/18 $0

1/19 spent $2.00 on gum. I just love that new Key Lime Pie gum and Walgreen had it on sale for 50c. Today made the 19th day with no sugar and the gum helps after dinner when I would usually want dessert.

1/20 $2 at Wendys because I had a carb attack on the way home from school last night. Tried their new french fries -meh- didn't eat them all. Need to vow to bring a better snack for the ride home.

1/21 Carp, am I over budget on groceries! Spent another $133 to bring me up to $157 over! What was I thinking at $150 for the month?! I'm really going to try and make it the rest of the month on what is here plus some milk but this is hard! My usual monthly bills for food are around $400 for our family of 4 and I'm having a tough time getting under that. I at least "saved" $65 with coupons and sales. Also spent $54 for gas.

1/22 Should be a no buy day because I'm staying home to do housework and my homework.

1/23
1/24
1/25
1/26
1/27
1/28
1/29
1/30
1/31

 

[Beezle2]

1/16 - $0
1/17 - $0
1/18 - $0
1/19 - $0
1/20 - $0
1/21 - $0



11/15 No Buys!!

WhooHooo!!! Even if I don't make my goal, I'm thrilled by my 6 day streak![/QUOTE]

That really is awesome msmama! Good job I keep ruining a perfectly good no buy day with something small like pop or gum!

 

[Debbie]

So close! So close! We were at a $0 day. DH went into the city to drop of DS....and bought 8 bottles of pop! He knows that I am shopping today (Saturday), but did this FRIDAY NIGHT. GRRRRRR

Jan. 1: $0
Jan. 2: $0
Jan. 3: $0
Jan. 4: gas $46; groceries $97; postage for registered letter to Cairo $15
Jan. 5: DH hit up the pharmacy for some iron tabs...$7
Jan. 6: $0
Jan. 7: DH hit up the local grocery. Didn't spend much but it was $12
Jan. 8: I did a Costco run for school. DS bought a pair of jeans ($100 ), but not my money. I did spend $40 on Flavour-Seal rolls but it is the first I've bought since I've had the thing. Also some chips and a magazine.....total $50 for me. I wasn't thinking, though. I need to go BACK to Costco tomorrow to pick up my ColdFX. So tomorrow will not be $0 either. Oh, and DH put gas in the car. Goodbye $41
Jan. 9: Costco...got vitamins, ColdFX, more vitamins, chips and salsa $110. DH drove DS into the city, and...thoughtfully....bought some soup for my cold. $7
Jan 10: $0
Jan 11: DH does grocery shopping.....While he spent $66, we had a gift card for $50, so we really only spent $16
Jan 12: There's that gas again! $36 And, DH bought the new winter tires that the car needed....another $421 (which includes 1 can of Pringles . Luckily, my mom gave us money for Christmas that will cover that expense.)
Jan 13: $0
Jan 14: $0
Jan 15: Costco $42 gas (again!) $43
Jan 16: prediction: $35 for brunch tip/gas/Timmies to get there (It's a theatre brunch [Joseph! And the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat--one of my fav's] and the tickets were paid for last year--just the tip today ) Actual $25
Jan 17: $0
Jan 18: DH's usual shopping was limited to $30
Jan 19: DH picked up the green tea that the store didn't have last night....$21....either that was REALLY expensive tea, or he bought more than the tea He DOES like to shop! Also, another registered letter to DD in Egypt $13; gas $28 (added this-DH gave me the receipt this morning)
Jan 20: $0
Jan 21: pop $8
9/10 no buy days!

I did first grade for four years and it would not be my first choice if I went back to homeroom teaching. I think I would want grade 2 or 3. They are still young, but they are more independent.

I realized I didn't say what I taught! I do pull-out ESL for grades K-8.

Love ALL the primary grades. DD is teaching JK (4 year olds) in Egypt this year, so is hoping to get back to Canada and teach ESL, eventually.

WHEW! Since DH got paid today filled up the tank and got more groceries. So yes, I'm over my planned budget on everything (will need to adjust groceries to $600 per month and gas to $200 per month from $500 and $150 respectively)...but the huge relief is that apparently we have a bit more to work with in each of DH's paychecks than I realized, so I can adjust the budget without worrying!

That reality check on costs is one thing I like about this thread. You really DO learn where your money is going.

Well, I haven't done as good a job cutting out the coffee/fast food stops as I would have liked, *but* I have not made a scrapbooking purchase yet this month, *and* this thread has made it much easier to just delete gymboree, bath and body works, etc etc etc sales emails so I haven't spent $ on unnecessary junk.

Keep up the good work!

I can not believe that it is three weeks into the month and I still have a half tank of gas left from last month.

Lordy, THAT is what I hope for next year, when DD doesn't have to be driven in to school each morning. I used to go in with her at 6:30, but that made for a toooooo long day for me, so now we double run it. (DH drives, I sleep). Ahhh. Only 5 more months!

I am back to record after missing 4 days. But, easy to record, they were all no spend days. Course I haven't been out of bed, let alone the house. I have been sick. I don't know what it is but I have never been this sick before. We suspect it is either the flu, I had a flu shot but when I had it it made a pop sound and the nurse said she had never heard that before, so it is possible that I never got the meds. Ir, I started a new medicine on Saturday, it is possible I am having a reactin to it. I have stopped it to see if that is it. Whatever it is, I hope I never feel this way again (and hope it ends soon!) I missed Disney on Ice with my girls, had to cancel Brownies last night, tonight I am missing family fun night at their school. OK, pity party over. I did get a new record of 5 no spend days in a row. Should be more, at this rate I am in for the weekend.

So sorry you missed those things MickeyMom.

 

[charming23]

Calling it early again today as it is soooo cold outside today. I am waiting for my Aunt to drop my cousin off for a sleepover. He and I will make some cookies, watch movies, and play games. We have everything we need in the house so I am staying in.

Groceries/household- $300/ $59.82 left
Pet Supplies- $30/ $0 Left
Car/gas- $50/ $27.52 left
Eating out- $50/ $17.26 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/ $57.95 left

Total- $530/ $132.45 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- $12.78 groceries
1/10- $0
1/11- $0
1/12- $15.11 Denny's breakfast, $54.11 Marc's, $40.50 Giant Eagle, and $26.36 Walgreens
1/13- $0
1/14- $22.48 Gas, $29.55 Giant Eagle, and $4.28 Disney Store

Week Three
1/15- $0
1/16- $0
1/17- $15.51 groceries
1/18- $11.41 Walgreen's
1/19- $0
1/20- $14.44 Groceries
1/21- $0

Week Four
1/22- $0
1/23
1/24
1/25
1/26
1/27
1/28
1/29
1/30
1/31

14/15 No Buy Days

Store and coupon savings- $48.09

 

[Jennia]

Jan 1: $0
Jan 2: $0
Jan 3: $0
Jan 4: $121 on necessary items for the new baby, all purchased at the Target baby clearance (mattress, bottles, towels, etc) plus some grocery items
Jan 5: $12 on a valance for the baby's room
Jan 6: $0
Jan 7: $12 for a day at the mall with dd (whoo hoo for free play area!)
Jan 8: $70 groceries
Jan 9: $0
Jan 10: $0
Jan 11: $0
Jan 12: $0
Jan 13: $0
Jan 14: $0
Jan 15: $0
Jan 16: $0
Jan 17: $0
Jan 18: $20 on gas (have to drive into the city for work tomorrow, wanted to make sure my tank was full using a cheaper gas station by the house vs paying 20 cents more a gallon once I got up there!)
Jan 19: $10 for the Amazon gift card deal
Jan 20: $16.33 at Motherhood Maternity (had a $100 gift card to use, so I ended up paying the shipping/tax out of pocket)
Jan 21: $0

 

[#1hoosierfan]

1/1 - $6.00 -Group On
1/2 - $141.75 Meijer Coupon Savings - $4.75
1/3 - $0
1/4 - $15 special order needle felt book character
$8.50 toothbrushes and toothpaste - donation to retirement home
1/5 - $0
1/6 - $5.30 for Chinese take/out
1/7 - $109 - $75 for cleaning lady, $27 for dinner and $7 pre-pay for a
luncheon next week.
1/8 - Target - $40 and Kroger $104
1/9 - $0
1/10 - $5.90 fine at the library edit to add: $3.51 on Blizzard from DQ
1/11 - $0
1/12 - hair/eyebrows $47 ; Walgreens - $12.54 received $7 in RR
1/13 - $0
1/14 - Wal-Mart $54.55. Dinner out /$51
1/15 - Ben Franklin - fabric $19.24: Kroger $98.32
1/16 - $0
1/17 - eating out - $45; Big Lots $56.11; Best Buy $180; Walgreens $17.75---- saved $10.35 in coupons and received $8 in register rewards.
1/18 $0
1/19 - $0
1/20 - $7.02 lunch
1/21 - $42.96 at my friend's 31 party

No Spend
8/10

 

[lattemomof3]

Virgderon, yes. I do hope yo uare feeling better soon.

Thanks Lattemom, I am unfortunatly sick, hence not returning your PM yet. When I fell I really messed up my back and neck this time, and I still have a sore back of the head so I am thinking I hit it harder then I realized. Then last night I got the stomach bug, I have been violetly sick and was finally feeling better tonight and then I started getting a headcold. My DH and 2 of the kids stayed home today thinking they were getting sick but they never did, just felt lousy. We didn't spend anything today, but I don't have it in me to look back for my posts so I will record tomorrow. I only got on casue I am waiting for my DH to get home, the alarm went off at work and he had to go meet the cops.

Gotta get better, Disney on ice tomorrow!!! (Hopefully.)

Oh my goodness, I hope you are feeling better! I'm just catching up on the no-buy, I haven't been online in a few days, the flu is awful, and can make you feel lousy for a good 10 days or so if it's a bad one, hope you arefeeling back to yourself soon! It's so hard when mom is down and out of commision!

 

[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

Jan 8 - groc's for teaching Sunday School, Mcd's for kids

Jan 9 - $0

Jan 10 - $0

Jan 11 - groc's, ice cream cones for dd4 and her friend (they're crazy, it is 3 degrees here!), pizza - sigh, I need to do some cooking for the freezer, it helps so much on nights like tonight, parents night at dance for 2 dd's, and a cubscout meeting for ds8. I really wanted to make something quick but got outvoted by my gang- especially dh.
__________________
Jan 12 - $0

Jan 13 - hoodie for dd11, and a few t-shirts for ds8 and dd11. I went through their closets & most of their shirts from last summer are too short, they're for vacation, woo hoo! It's been so cold here, I love snow, but I have to say I'm looking forward to some sun next month!

Jan 14 - ice cream for dd & her friend (do you see a pattern here?, I'm going to buy a gallon of ice cream, & some cones, so next time, I'll be ready for friends!), movie rental for kids, groceries

Jan 15 - $0

Jan 16 - bananas & sandpaper for ds's Cub Scout pinewood derby car, 2 kindle books

Jan 17 - $0

Jan 18 - Did'nt make it to town today, I'm waiting for dh's watch to be fixed, it's one he got from playing in the Orange Bowl in college, it has'nt worked in ages & I took it to a watch repairman to be fixed up. The watch guy called & is having trouble fixing it, I REALLY hope it can be fixed as this was my special gift to dh for his 40th. Dh did pick up some groceries though, and I ordered dd11 a new swimsuit & pair of jeans- It's bad that I can spend $ without even leaving the house!

Jan 19 - $0

Jan 20 - ate lunch out, got myself a jacket for DW, 2 Mickey t-shirts for dd's @ Target- man, are they cute!! Turquoise blue w/ a big Mickey sillouette, filled w/ rainbows, little sayings, etc., got dh's watch! Hooray!, household items, Valentine cards and candy (as it will be V-day 2 days after we return).

Jan 21 - $0

Jan 22 - ds8 has a friend over, so dh took all 4 kids sledding on a big hill in town, they had to buy a sled (we just had 1, our other one blew away last winter), dh picked up a few groceries, making cheeseburger soup tonight, we'll probably get some more snow today.

 

[wlake]

MickeyMomof3, I hope you're better soon!

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, $12 book orders for the boys
1/8: $8 Lowes, $28 gas, $12 things for school
1/9: $60 groceries, $26.50 x2 for school lunches
1/10:
1/11:
1/12:
1/13: $3 groceries
1/14:
1/15: soccer shoes for both boys (we've tried 5 stores with luck for only one boy and they were $30 ), $40 Target, $16 Walmart (because Target didn't carry everything I needed), $13 Dick's Sporting Goods (a sock indulgence), $29 Lands' End clearance for next winter for the boys and $34 Staples for things for school (I refuse to function any longer without working staplers and tape dispensers and there's no money in the school's budget. I hate the fact that I got everyone's broken leftovers -- including desks and chairs for the students -- when I transferred to this school.). Finally, $8 dinner out (the rest was a gc) after the headaches of the day.
1/16:
1/17: $12 lunch (owed to my friend still though!), $76 groceries, ? Walmart (as I had to call DH and give him the list to get the things on his way home tonight!)
1/18: $14 Lands' End (great clearance right now -- this is for a $50 rain jacket with a zip in liner for DS5!)
1/19: This is technically a no buy day -- we spent $6 at the craft store and $17 on dinner but it was all gc money. I'm not counting it as a no buy day, though. Edited to add: gas too!
1/20:
1/21: $7 photobook for my MIL
1/22: $3 Christmas Tree Shop (packs of Christmas shrinky-dinks were 14¢!), $150 BJ's (ouch), $11 gas, ? haircuts for the boys (DH has just taken them, do I don't know how much yet).

no buy days: 9/10
meals out: 4/5
longest streak: 3!

 

[Darkfirewolfe]

Here's my update on how I'm doing:

My Goals:
1) Write Down everything - as of 1/22
2) Save at least $100 each month - as of 1/22
3) 10 No buy days - I got another one on 1/20 - so I'm up to 4/10 days.

You're doing well! How many days do you have that are under $5 or $10? I don't count my bills, just new spending that I have control over at this time.

Thanks Where'sPiglet! If I look at it that way, I have 3 more days that are under $10.

I can't believe how much money we've cut out of the budget by sending my DH to work with packed lunches. He works at a store that sells food, so you think it would be the same price, but no - It's really made a difference. That and cutting out my facebook game spending and only buying what's on the grocery list.

Thanks for all the support - just seeing what a good job everyone else is doing, is really helping me!

 

[Virgderon]

I finally got a haircut. I now look like a normal person again and not a helmet full of hair. Stopped and got some stuff to make homemade chicken noodle soup, and we are in for the day.

Running Total: Spent $763
$950 budget...$187 left
$0 Days: 7
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings :105

Groceries budget- $250 -11-36-6-11-19= 170 left

January 1st: 25 (12 parking at hockey game, 5 pop at game, 8 Walgreens)
January 2nd: 11 ( groceries at Flea market)
January 3rd: 65 ( Walgreens, cleaning supplies, vitamins, etc.)
January 4th: 61 ( 16 bowling, 5 food at bowling, 20 gas , 20 to DD for an item that she picked up for me using her Disney discount)
January 5th: 0
January 6th: 0
January 7th: 0
January 8 & 9: 296 (35 groceries, 25 gas, 136 Disney fun, gave DH $100 for hotel room that a friend got for us)
January 10 : 0
January 11: 54 ( 21 Steak & Shake, 20 shirt, 13 Walgreens misc)
January 12: 16 ( gas)
January 13: 0
January 14 : 35 (15 gas, 20 Walgreens)
January 15: 14 ( Burger King)
January 16: 19 ( 13 Walgreens, 6 flea market)
January 17: 31 ( 20 dr. copay, 11 Publix)
January 18: 68 (48 bowling, 20 medications co pay)
January 19: 0
January 20: 0
January 21: 13 ( random stuff at Walgreens)
January 22: 55 ( 36 haircut , 19 Publix)