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

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
1/7: $4 lunch
1/8: $102.60: CVS, lunch, Rouses, Winn-Dixie
1/9: $0!
1/10: $0!


$0 Buy Days: 4
Total Spent: $161.30/$395=41% :eek:
Month Over: 10/31=32%

$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

I think I might run an errand or two after work tomorrow, so I don't think it will be a $0 day, but hopefully the rest of the week will be.

I'm trying to get the total spent more aligned with the amount of month that has passed!
 
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 groceries and $58.47 for misc
1/9 $0
1/10 $75 - $66 on dd's gymnastics class, $9 on monthly rx (these are not counted in $100 for extras)

6/10
$195.95/$400 - $204.05
$67.81/$200 - 132.19
$58.47/$100 - $41.53



I am really having fun challenging myself. Hoping come December 2011 I'll have a huge pad in savings to boot!:thumbsup2
 
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 :eek: edit to add: $3.51 on Blizzard from DQ

No Spend:
3/10
 
MickeyMomof3, don't you love those Lowe's workshops? I have a hard time believing that they'll continue to be free, but the workshops do bring in traffic -- we needed salt for the water softener and just grabbed it while we were there. However, I am tired of the fortune teller game already! :rotfl:

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: :cool1: (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: :cool1:
1/6: :cool1:
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
1/9: $60 groceries, $26.50 x2 for school lunches
1/10: :cool1:

no buy days: 4/10
meals out: 2/5
longest streak: 3!
 

No Buy Days : 6/15
Gas : 31$ (max 100$)
Groceries : 0$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 36$ (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)
08/01 : 10$ (dinner)
09/01 : 0$
 
Well, I am back in with a new plan. My goal 365 days ago today was to do this for a year. Never thought I'd make it, sure as heck didn't think I'd write down every penny I spent for a year, but I did and while I thought this would only be a one year thing to teach myself, it not only did that but I also like so many people here so much that I don't want to leave.

OK, I gave it some thought. Not to say DH wasn't supportive of this last year, cause he is the most supportive man you could ask for, but something that really bothered him last year was when we'd go without something like milk cause I was trying to strech a no buy day to the next day or something, or let my tank get low cause I didn't want to blow a day on gas. To him groceries and gas are necessities and he said he'd like to see me alter it this year not not include those things. However, I want to continue to record them to keep track cause I think seeing it helped me, so I will continue to record everything but no buy days will now be no extra buy days. We'll see how this works. Also, I recorded every penny spent last year, so I have totaled up each month and my goal for this year is to come under that. Anything I have left over at the end of the month I will put into our savings account.

January 1-$0 :woohoo: Actually, not totally :woohoo: but good for the budget, we were going to go out today while DH worked, but the kids were having fun playing at home so that was good, but we were going to go to Cosmic Bowling tonight when he got off work but he's stuck there, it will be an all nighter, so we decided to hang out here and go with him another time. It isn't as much fun doing those things without him. So, a little bummed we are in but we are going to back some cookies here in a bit and they are having fun playing with their new games. Right now they are building forts for the kittens. :)
January 2-$0 :woohoo: Today was a wonderful day AT HOME! My DH finally didn't have to go into work. He worked till 4am so we slept in. Then we got up and snuggled on the couch and watched football. This afternoon we sampled our candies that we brought back from each country in EPCOT, we took photos for our scrapbook and the kids recorded what they thought of each one and ranked their favorites and least favorites. That was fun. Then tonight I made a nice roast for dinner. Now DH is working (but from home!) I am Dising and the kids are playing Truth or Lies on the Wii. It is a nice way to end vacation, wish it wasn't already over, but looking forward to getting the house back in order.
January 3-$0 :woohoo: I do need to get a few groceries, but they wouldn't count anyway, but I worked really hard today and never got out for them and now I am tired. I will have to go tomorrow. We are out of milk but have pleanty of eggs so we are good for breakfast and pleanty of bread so we are good for lunches. (One of this years resolutions is to declutter a bit (not too much, I did a huge declutter a few years ago and missed my stuff, but halfway would be nice, I worked all day on the kitchen. It isn't done but I made amazing progress!)
Now, I do have to do some shopping, we will see if I do it tonight or tomorrow. DD16 and DD11 need jeans so badly, I didn't realize how bad and I am actually a little embarassed and DD8's b-day is next week and all she wants is for me to replace The Little Mermaid 2, ours broke so I am watching a couple on eBay. Guess it doesn't matter if I do it tonight or tomorrow, but as of now it is a $ day. ETA- I am totally craving a date with my hubby, maybe I can buy jeans, a movie and meet him for lunch tomorrow...hhhmmm... ;)
January 4-$0 :woohoo: I did buy a copy of The Little Mermaid 2 off eBay for DD's b-day, it was $18 but I returned the Perfect Brownie Pan and a game I had bought for DD's b-day. The game I thought was on clearance but was not and the pan, she wanted it but then after I bought it, it looked like a headache to clean and we rarely make brownies so I got back $32.23 so I am calling it a wash. I traded for what she really wanted and saved $15. I also bought groceries but with my DH's system I won't count it, though I am going to record it. ($66.12 groceries) I also paid for dance which I never counted against a no spend day, we consider it a bill but I record it since it is the ony bill I pay-$86
December 5- Target (sympathy card, socks for DD8's b-day, she needed them and anframe on clearance of Kitty's first Christmas) $14.82 Dinner for the kids at Family Night $4.50 (I got a burger, fries, 2 cookies, a rootbeer float and a slush that they shared all of it.) Then we came home and had the dinner I had made, meatloaf, garlic cream cheese mashed potatoes and broccoli.) So under $20, not too bad. Dollar Tree (b-day invites) $4.32 (forgot these)
December 6-$0 :woohoo: The weekend it won't be so easy. I NEED a date with my hubby!
December 7- Dinner date with hubby. I was craving a good burger, he said Red Robin, but being budget minded we went to 5 Guys. It was still good and we sat and talked while munching on peanuts. It was nice. After we got dinner for the kids to bring home. Total $21.
December 8-$0 :woohoo: I took the kids out to Lowes for the free project, then Home Depot for their projext, then we went home for lunch and I took DD11 to her b-ball game. After I came home and cleaned/reorganized all day. It would have been easy to say yes when they asked for pizza, but I made dinner and saved the ppizza night for a day I (and dad who wasn't home) would also enjoy it.
December 9- 4 pairs of jeans for the kids 29.16, groceries-Wegman's $70.35, groceries-Sam's $129, Restaurant.com certificate $3, Movie for DD11's b-day in May (cause it was a deal) $4.50 Groceries are going to be higher I'm afriad. DH has started a new diet and it is going to be a bit more expensive. DH and I went out for a date but used a GC for the whole thing, but we did buy the kids a pizza $5
December 10-$0 :woohoo: Stayed in and cleaned!!!


7/15 No Spend Days This Month Looking at making this number higher since I am not counting groceries at least for this month. Not sure what to set it for, this is a trial month I guess.

Total groceries for the month-$66.12+70.35+129
Total gas for the month- $0


My new goal for myself is to come in under the $ amount I spent last January. Here's how I'm doing.
$1278.99 spent last January minus money spent=$941.45


$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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
Back in 2011 cause I'd miss you all so much!
:hug:
 
Wlake, I do love Lowes and Home Depot kids projects. They are great. We have been going to HD for, has to be 10 years so they are here to stay I think. I too am surprised they are free. We are signed up at Lowes for Feb 12, did you see that one? Its a music box! So cute, and it really works. I actually am taking my Brownie troop there. Free project, free patch. We have done HD as a troop but never Lowes. I thought the music box would be great!

Virgderon, glad you had a great time in Disney and with your daughter. (I have just caught up reading.)
 
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 -
1/14 -
1/15 -

so far - 5/15
 
This month is going well so far... Maybe the snow that's coming will help me get more no-buy days! But at only at about $170+ for the month, which is pretty good for a family of four; $106 of which is good-ole Wegmans!

PS-don't feel discouraged, msmama. Maybe your original goal didn't have enough money in the budget for food. You can always adjust. Keep trying! If you live close to a food store, I've found I save more by shopping in smaller, more frequent trips. I waste less, too. Just a thought...

5/12 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; 2.5 miles
1/7-$46 Target; $29* Wegmans; 3 miles
1/8-$0
1/9-$0
1/10-$1 LL Bean dress for DD*; $4.50 DH's lunch b/c he forgot his at home; $22 Wegmans*; [-$36 Target returns]
 
Ok I'm back...sadly this baby is still baking!!!! Eviction day is at hand I tell you!!! I can't really remember my week. I know DH did some grocery shopping for me and bought me coffee. We did go to lunch on Friday and Saturday was a No Buy Day!!!! :cool1: Sunday I bought some more groceries and a magazine. So far today we haven't bought anything, but I am waiting to hear if DH wants to pick up dinner on the way home. So far 3/5 No Buy Days!!!!!:yay: For me that is amazing!!!!
 
After a good start....the weekend came. :blush:

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 :scared1: ), but not my money. ;) I did spend $40 on Flavour-Seal rolls :eek: 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. :sad2: 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

5/10
 
Superme80, I must have missed previous posts. You have a baby due any day? If I am reading that right, congrats! I won't tell you how overdue my oldest was, let's just say I know you won't go that long, cause they don't let you go that long anymore. Good luck to you for a safe and soon delivery.
 
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
1/9 - $10 laundry
1/10 - $0!

Week 2 total: $94

Monthly total: $179
 
While I feel like I am not spending...I guess I am just really cutting back.
Jan. 1: mc Donalds $10- traveling home had to eat..
Jan. 2: $0
Jan. 3: grocery
Jan. 4: $0
Jan. 5:$0 then charged 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 $0
Jan. 9 gymboree baby gift and a few items for DD $51 but got $25 in gymbucks, Trader Joes $20, Bath and Body $25 (this was supposed to be going in for lotion...:confused3) And $15 for a massage that I used a gift card on for the majority of the cost. This was my worst day so far.
Jan. 10 $0
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
 
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).

4/15

I feel your pain. In 8 months of doing this, I think I have made my grocery budget only twice. I know that I am saving money on groceries and doing much better than in the past, but I still feel like we spend too much on just 2 people.

You might need a higher grocery budget and maybe cut down another area of your budget. I keep telling myself that, but I am embarrassed to have a grocery budget for 2 people that is equal to the budgets that some people have a for a family of 4. :guilty:

Don't worry, you are doing fine and figuring things out... thats why you are here. ;)
 
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).


Don't be discouraged! This month is kind of a "finding out" month. Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming!
 
Wlake, I do love Lowes and Home Depot kids projects. They are great. We have been going to HD for, has to be 10 years so they are here to stay I think. I too am surprised they are free. We are signed up at Lowes for Feb 12, did you see that one? Its a music box! So cute, and it really works. I actually am taking my Brownie troop there. Free project, free patch. We have done HD as a troop but never Lowes. I thought the music box would be great!

Thanks for the reminder to sign them up for 2/12! Our Lowe's frequently runs out of kits so you have to sign up early. We haven't been to the HD ones as much lately, but I like the fact that they do pins rather than patches. After I filled their Lowe's hats with patches -- that was a lot of sewing! -- I gave up and started to glue them to their aprons.
 
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
 
Running Total: Spent $360.72
$0 Days:5/10

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, Season Pass to Great America: $92

WEEK 2:
Eating Out- $65.88

WEEK 3:
Eating Out- $45.15
Misc- $104.46

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), $8.48 (Taco Bell-Eating Out), $20 (Target-Shopping)
10- $0
11- McDonald's
12- CVS, Foot Doctor, Walgreens
13- Target hoping toys go to 75%
14- No Buy?
15- GameWorks (using restaurant.com coupon), Dave and Busters (free game play)
WEEK 3 BEGIN:
16-
17-
18- McDonald's
19- Preschool Education Night
20-
21-
22- Downtown for Ice Sculptures


Budget: $800....45%
Month: 10/31: 32%

No Buy: 5/10: 50%

My savings from coupons and sales: $437.80
 
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

Wow, I'm really suprised at myself. I still have the same $60 in cash I had last week! Pretty cool :)
 














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