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

[callaghan0416]

OK , I am in. Closing on a house this week and want to spend more time painting and less time shopping. Today was shot, had to buy cleaning products for the house. I will have 15 no buy days this month.

callie

 

[#1hoosierfan]

OK. I am going to give this a try. I am going to start with 10 days this month. I really have no idea of what to expect. Today should have been been a no-spend day because it a national holiday for goodness sake, but I did the Group-On special for our area. That cost $6.00. Tomorrow is my weekly grocery run, so I guess I will shoot for Monday!

 

[charming23]

Good to see so many new people here. Welcome to everyone!

Charming, so sorry you aren't feeling good. I completly believe in the power of chicken soup (and gingerale is good too!) Hope that helps you and you are feeling better very quicky. I imagine classes start back up Monday? Hope you are 100% back in time for them.

Thanks for the well wishes. I am feeling a lot better at the moment. We figure it was a quick bug or something I ate. But you are right chicken noodle soup, especially my mommy's, heals everything. I am lucky and my classes do not start until the end of the month as the 2 I need are 14 week ones rather than 16 week ones.

 

[Virgderon]

Welcome to all our new participants! Nice to see you. Charming, I hope you feel better fast.

Running Total: Spent $25
$900 budget...$875
$0 Days:
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 2

Groceries budget- $250

January 1st: 25 (12 parking at hockey game, 5 pop at game, 8 Walgreens)

 

[arkansas mom]

Ok, I'm new, and I'm in.

2011 is going to be a difficult year for us. About 3 weeks ago, I found out that my salary for the first 6 months for 2011 would be cut by approx. 45%. After a 48 hour pity party, I re-worked our monthly budget and determined that we can do it and get by just fine if we cut out the unnecessary spending. So that brings me to the No Buy plan of action.

DH is on board and has committed to cutting his expenses (all of his out-of-budget spending goes toward cycling). DS14 is on board. And I'm all over it.

I want to spend no more than $100 outside of my budgeted expenses this month. I hope to make this thread my place to keep myself accountable and to be inspired by like-minded DISers. I know that next month we need to buy new tires for DH's truck, so that will give me even more incentive to keep my debit card in my wallet this month. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Keira1387]

I'm in! First timer, but I think this would be a very helpful thread. My goal will be 15 no buy days.

Jan 1st $0
Jan 2nd -spent
Jan 3rd - went out to dinner
Jan 4th - lunch out
Jan 5th - Ice cream

No buy days/ 1

 

[PaulaSue]

I'm in. I really have been thinkining I have been doing baby steps but my cc says otherwise.

Today was hard but good. I so wanted to go and look at furniture for our family room with all the sales, trying to figure a budget to save for, but I don't trust myself.

Also I talked dh out of running to the store for salad knowing with out check ahead I would be bringing much more than that and I want to match up the sales since it is so far to go just to the store.

Jan 1 -0

Also tomm I am starting a notebook to record ever purchase and the coupon savings. Thankfully I have a huge stockpile and I promised dh I am going to cut it down and reclaim some space in the basement. (use it up thread)

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $94.95
$0 Days:0/10

Groceries ($100-$3.22/day)- $38.99
Eating Out ($200-$6.45/day)-$10.42
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($500-$16/day) $45.54


Decided to start a weekly budget, maybe this way I won't get too discouraged

WEEK 1:
Eating Out- $41.18 left
Misc.- $82.46 left

WEEK 2:
Groceries- $9.31 left
Eating Out- $45.15
Misc.- $112


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- No Buy?
3- No Buy?
4- McDonald's
5-
6-
7-
8-
WEEK 2 BEGIN:


Budget: $800....12%
Month: 1/31: 3%

My savings from coupons and sales: $230.45

 

[Feistygirl916]

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

1/1: $0




No buy days: 1
Money spent: $0

 

[mickeyschickie]

I guess I am going to give this a shot for 2011...will try for no buys on M/W/F to start...will start packing lunches again too. I will not count gas since I must drive a lot for work, but they give me an allowence for that. I am also going to budget $100 a week for my spending.
Thanks for the encouragement and ideas!

Nicki

 

[Beezle2]

I'll join in too We are saving to go to Disney next December so I really need to be serious. My goals are no eating out, a $150 food budget since our house is really stocked up and we will just need milk and fresh produce. Also no spending outside of bills this month.

I have been on a no clothes buying for a year challenge and have done fairly well, I did buy a few outfits for each person at Christmas and couldn't resist a Lands End clearance on shorts for my 9 yr old. I bought her 7 pairs of shorts for $3 each and now I am sure she will have plenty of clothes until next Fall.

Good Luck everyone!

1/1 $0
1/2 $0
1/3 $0

 

[JaymeC]

I'm in for the first time. We're going to shoot for 15 no buy days. We're on a new paycheck (mine!) for the first time and losing dh's (this was planned, but still hurts a bit!) So we're shooting for spending as little as possible this month and then adjusting the budget accordingly

Edit to add: 1/1 $0

 

[hlkeck]

I'm new and in too! I suppose a lot of newbies join on Jan 1st! Okay, I have no idea how this is going to go, but here is the plan: 10 No Buy Days and buy nothing outside of the normal budget bills for this first month. Well, except I have some Gymboree Gym Bucks and I planned on buying spring clothes for the kids. Other than that - nothing! No lunches out that are not paid by the office, either.

I'm going to start a new thread on "How to" do a no-buy month, since I have no idea of the hints, tips, and tricks that might help. That way, the people who don't want to read through all the tips can just stick to this thread.

Thanks for the idea! Wishing you all luck.

 

[MiniGirl]

I've been thinking about this and trying to decide how it is I want to define "no buy" for me. I think I am going to keep it as simple as possible and define it as any day that no money goes out as a ""NB" day. I think that will force me to pay bills and run errands all on the same days. I'm also hoping it will deter me from going to the store "real quick" to just get one thing that somehow turns into 5 or 6 or more.

So, yesterday was a "no buy" day, but today will not be. We will give our tithe at church. I also need to get some groceries, and I told my girls they could have McD's for lunch. I'm not going to remind them, but I will get it for them if they remind me. We went all week with no fast food, so I don't feel too bad about letting them have it today.

 

[jessica52877]

I want/need a newspaper today but hate to kill a no buy day for just that. I know the savings in coupons far outweighs the cost, but hmm?

 

[thebigkahuna]

I'm in!
Here's to a fresh start in 2011.
Time to stick with the budget! More bringing meals to work, less eating out!

January goal is no 10 $pend days - shouldn't have a problem meeting this goal -

Good luck to everyone!

01-01-11 Spent money what the heck? LOL
01-02-11


0 of 10 days

 

[Sunshineanddaisys]

Alright, I've watched these threads for a while and I'm going to give it a try. I need to figure out my "rules" but I'd like to try for 15 no buy days. I'll update this post once I figure the rules out.


No Buy January Goal - 15 Days
1/1/11 - $0
1/2/11 -



Total - 1 No Buy Days

 

[Mermaid02]

Alright, I've watched these threads for a while and I'm going to give it a try. I need to figure out my "rules" but I'd like to try for 15 no buy days. I'll update this post once I figure the rules out.


No Buy January Goal - 15 Days
1/1/11 - $0
1/2/11 -



Total - 1 No Buy Days

I think we each make our own rules. I'm new, but that is how it seems. My goal is to not buy anything we don't NEED. Today I have to take my son to the doc, I will have to pay a copay and probably get some prednisone or nebulizer solution but I won't count that because it's a necessity. If I leave the store with any grocery items, I will deduct them from my $400 monthly grocery allowance.

 

[julirina]

I want/need a newspaper today but hate to kill a no buy day for just that. I know the savings in coupons far outweighs the cost, but hmm?

LOL -- I cheated. I just called my mom and asked her to pick one up for me. I'll get it from her and pay her for it one day next week when I'm in town anyway.

 

[nunzia]

OK..I didn't start out too well.
1/1: Walmart 33.00 (I did need a few things, but darn it, Christmas is 75% off) At least I used cash and not my debit card..I tend to never bring enough cash and have debits I didn't plan for piling up.
1/2 DH and I are redoing our pantry area and there is a big deal at Lowes for shelving..darn it..day 2 may be a bust also..
This is hard! At least it makes you more focused on spending which I guess is the point