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

[living20057]

I'm pretty excited that I made it through the weekend I only spent $75 for groceries and $55 for gas. I think I should be good for the week.

 

[superme80]

I'm in. I am going to shoot for 5 No Buy days. I am due next week with #2, so I know eating out will take place a lot this month. I did stock up on lots of premade stuff at Trader Joe's this last week, so hopefully that will help. I am going to try and make this month about MY spending and then talk to DH about his later. So far
1/1-$16.50 went to Chik Fil-A
1/2-$0!!!! Paid a bill, but I am not counting that.
DH has already made his 7-11 run for the night and I resisted, so go me! Off to reheat some frozen pizza and chow down on some shaved ice! My friend is a genius and bought DH and I an ice shaver for our wedding gift 3 years ago.

 

[Mermaid02]

Okay- here is how it's gone so far"

01/01- $0
01/02- $24.24 [400.00] Grocery items

 

[mickeyschickie]

I'm the one trying NoBuy M/W/F...so this is my first official day so far...but I did pack my breakfast and my lunch!
1/1-$0
1/2-$0
1/3-????? The day is still young!

 

[tinkarooni]

Hello, new no-buy friends.

Let's see. Last night I set a goal of spending no more than $100 over my fixed/budgeted expenses. Little did I know that when I put that in writing here on the budget board, I had already blown it!

DS had a date with his GF, and of course I had to drive them to the movie which gave me a perfect opportunity to walk down the plaza and spend my Christmas giftcard. Plus $8.40.
Then I went to Target and spent $25.95.
And the took DS to dinner. $20.10.
Went to WalMart for $43.86.
And thanks to the budget board spent $15.66 at snapfish.com.

Crap. On day two I'm already $13.97 in the hole--I've spent $113.97 outside my budget.

So, how to recover? I can't seriously expect not to spend another penny for the rest of the month. (and when I say spend, I mean anything not budgeted like bills, gas and groceries.) I think I'll take this as a warning to myself that I can not do this if I think one little trip here or there won't hurt. EVERY PENNY COUNTS.

I wanted to sign up for the grocery game today. Not gonna do it now--I'll just do the legwork myself. I wanted to run to Kroger to pick up something for tomorrow's dinner. Not gonna do it now--gonna change my menu and use what I have.


So, the ugly truth...
M.I.S.O.O.B. (money I've spent out of budget)

12/1--$98.31
12/2 (technically my snapfish purchase was after midnight)---$15.66

Where that leaves me for the month--$113.97, or $13.97 over my no-buy limit

I often defeat myself with spending....I feel like I've already slipped up if I have overspent so I might as well spend more. I'm trying to give myself a pass and get back on the horse if I make a mistake.....if I were you I would re-adjust where possible and get back on that horse. The trick for me is to stay out of the stores.....not surf the web for deals....and stay away from threads on the Budget Board where they talk about their great deals....Good Luck!

 

[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)
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[hulagirl87]

Well, it's definitely helping that I'm sick and don't feel like leaving the house, therefore I can't spend money Today would be my normal grocery shopping day but don't even want to leave the house. I did go out yesterday morning to get the paper (coupons!!!) and grabbed some milk and orange juice while I was there in the thoughts that I wouldn't get out today. Spent $24 on that stuff and a few other things. Good start to the year. Now if only I could start feeling better......

 

[QVCshopper]

Welcome to all of the new no-buyers. The month is a journey, so I like to pace myself. Take it one day at a time and find your patterns, e.g. I almost always spend on the weekend and make up for it during the week.

1/12 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

 

[charming23]

Spending today taking down the Christmas decorations and doing some cleaning. My goal this year is to get rid of the junk and getting rid of the junk I am.


Groceries/household- $300/$285.77
Car/gas- $50
Eating out- $50
Entertainment/Misc- $100

Total- $500/ $485.77

Goal of 15 No Buy days[/QUOTE]

Week One
1/1- $14.23 Groceries
1/2- $0
1/3- $0
1/4
1/5
1/6
1/7

2/15

Store and coupon savings-

 

[bridget]

I need to join!

My goal this year is to stick to my budget and not go over!

I use mint.com

I can see how No Buys will keep you within your budget!

Groceries are a constant struggle. My daughter cannot have gluten, so any mixes (pancake, cookie) are super expensive (but worth it)!!!!

 

[Figment1990]

Thanks to everyone who does this thread. It has totally inspired me and DH at the perfect time. We started the last week in December, and are pretty proud to have had some no-buy days between 12/25 and now.

Here's my January goal: 10 No buy days.

1/1 - $0
1/2 - grocery shopping, bought some new towels for the family at kohl's, placed an online order, and RETURNED some stuff to Target.
1/3 - I caved and stopped for breakfast on the way to work.
1/4 - Will probably stop at Starbucks in the AM with DS on way to music class and have I dinner plans with my friend so I'm not even aiming for No buy.
1/5 - Potential NO BUY
1/6 - Potential NO BUY
1/7 - planned dinner out
1/8 - possible errand day, including finishing my christmas returns

NO BUY Days so far: (1)

2nd Goal: 18/20 packed lunches (during work week)
Progress so far: 1

 

[Tiggerish]

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

Auto $70
Eating Out/Entertainment $50
Giving $10
Groceries/Household Goods $200/ $187 left
Medical $100
Misc. $50/ $21 left
Set bills $420/ $395 left

No spend days goal of 12/ 1

Coupon savings $10
Semi-Annual Neurology eval in Chicago budget is $300

--------------------------------------------------------
1/1 $0 :A good start to the month.
1/2 Set bills $25 (church)
1/3 Groceries $13; Misc. $29 (birthday present for niece)

 

[ronnmel]

Great start! Sure helps that I'm still on vacation and spending the day at home in my PJ.

No Buy Days : 3/15
Gas : 0$ (max 100$)
Groceries : 0$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 0$ (max 100$) (got gift cards, should use them)
Non-necessities : 0$ (max 200$) (trying a lower max, to offset what I spent in December)

01/01 : 0$
02/01 : 0$
03/01 : 0$

 

[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 .


2/15 No Buy Days

 

[tinkarooni]

I personally don't set a goal of no-buy days.

1. My goal for January is $400. in groceries.
2. No clothing purchases except, need one outfit for DS for a christening we are attending. (Khaki pants, brown shoes should suffice)
3. Gas $100.00
4. My Allowance $100. for all extras.
5. No eating out this month unless it is utilizing a gift card we received as gifts.

We are a family of four, DH, me, DS12, DD10, one dog, two cats and 12 chickens.

Jan 1 $0.00
Jan 2 $47.27 Groceries / $352.73 remaining
$24.00 Gas / $76 remaining
$27.91 Pet smart dog food
$50.34 Target (I bought quicken...I consider that an investment) :teacher
Jan 3 $0.00 No buy

I will say that I did actually spend money today but it was a planned purchase for our farm and not anything that comes out of discretionary spending. This is FYI for new folks asking about how some of us do things.

Biggest thing for me is no grocery shopping, no allowance spent, ate at home and no frivolous shopping. That's a good day in my book.

 

[Virgderon]

Ouch. Spent a lot today, but I had a reason. DD is coming to work at Disney ( she needs to work every 6 months to maintain her job status, and she is going to London for Study Abroad, so she has to work before she goes) . She will have my car for almost 2 weeks, so I needed to get stuff. Almost everything I got was buy one, get one and some I had coupons for, so I spent $65 but saved $58.

We also have my stepdaughter coming in for a 5 day visit.

Check this out tho- DD is getting us ( 3 people) into Disney for free one day, her friend is getting my stepdaughter into Sea World for free, I have a friend who is getting my stepdaughter into Busch Gardens for free, we are doing the Disney mini-golf for free, and her friend got us $100 a night off a suite room at the hotel she works at. I added it up and we are saving $558.

Running Total: Spent $101
$900 budget...$799
$0 Days:
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 60

Groceries budget- $250

January 1st: 25 (12 parking at hocky game, 5 pop at game, 8 Walgreens)
January 2nd: 11 ( groceries at Flea market)
January 3rd: 65 ( Walgreens, cleaning supplies, vitamins, etc.)

 

[annsteere]

I don't have goal setting complete yet. But so far:

1/2 $3 cheese for the traditional New Year's Day stuffed mushroom caps
1/2
1/3 $2 papers for the coupons

 

[Debbie]

I'm in, but this month, I am tracking ONLY the $0 days. My goal is 10 days without buying gas for the car, going to the grocery store, hitting the drugstore or discount store etc. And, with a DH who can't stand a day without shopping, that will be a challenge in itself!

Jan. 1: $0
Jan. 2: $0
Jan. 3: $0

3/10

 

[reginaastralis]

Boy are we in. I've done these threads before, but I'm always bad at the middle of the month. This month *year* I am really hoping to do better.

However, I'm starting tomorrow so that I can work on our budget tonight. Yesterday my daughter turned six ... so that was a major spend day. I wan to do a lot of traveling this year, so we need to start somewhere.

My main goal is 10 No spend days this month, and I'll figure out the rest of my budget after bedtime tonight.

 

[msmama]

Anyway... I was going to go for 20, but don't think that's realistic so I'll go for 15 No Buy Days. I'm hitting January hard!! And since it's just after Xmas there really is NOTHING we need. And I'm not counting regular bills.

1/1 - $0
1/2 - $89.30 (for 2 weeks worth of groceries - this meal planning stuff really works!)
1/3 - $0
1/4 -
1/5 -
1/6 -
1/7 -


So far - 2/15[/QUOTE]