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

[KBazzel]

My goals for this month are:
2 dinners out this month
1 lunch out each week
$150 groceries each week
15 days of not buying anything outside gas, groceries and bills
$100 mad money - anything that's a want not a need

Kira

1/1 - No buy
1/2 - Bought groceries but nothing extra. Did go over budget by quite a bit but I needed to restock lots of staples we haven't bought for the last 2 weeks. Also bought dog and cat food for the month. Hoping I can make up for it the rest of the month. $225
1/3 - No buy
1/4 - my 1 lunch out for the week ($9.08, although it is tax deductible because I plotted a book with my friend). I also bought a cage set for our sugar glider but I ordered it last week so I'm not going to count it ($25).
1/5 - No buy...well, we went out to eat but DH's family paid so that doesn't count.
1/6 - Fell off the wagon. Darn VS semi-annual sale ($75 VS $13 B&N for calendars) Also went out to lunch and bought a carmel apple ($13.00)
1/7 - bought several Christmas presents at Hallmark 75% off sale $48.00
1/8 - went out to lunch & dinner for a meeting. Paid for some of it with a leftover rewards card ($12.00 OOP) Bought some more presents @ 75% off ($29.00)
1/9 - Stocked up on groceries for the snow ($150.00)
1/10 - no buy thanks to being snowed in
1/11 - no buy thanks to being snowed in
1/12 -
__________________

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

MickeyMomof Three... Try www.sparkpeople.com. It has nutrition and activity trackers like WW, but it's FREE!!

Wow, never heard of it, thanks. I will go check it out! I really appreciate it.

 

[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 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)
1/11 $0

7/10
$195.95/$400 - $204.05
$67.81/$200 - 132.19
$58.47/$100 - $41.53


I am kind of ticked....my gas budget is going to be over. My husband had to go help a new store opening that was 71 miles away from here (we both drive 6 miles to and from work) and he didn't get reimbursed for gas - and our suv's guzzle! oh well...I'll get over it.

 

[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

 

[charming23]

Totally OFF TOPIC---

Charming, Good Luck with the WISH goal. I have thought about joining, but haven't. I'd love it if it were like on here, you come and tell what you ate and how much you exercised, but I don't track pounds lost. I had some issues in HS where I got obsessed with the numbers and made a clean break from scales in the house. I like to know that I have lost based on how I feel and look (and my clothes fitting better.) I lost about 20 pounds last year, but I know those numbers because of going to the doctor. I am a healthy eater, but got out of the practice of exercise but got it back somewhat last year. I now exercise 5 days a week but haven't lost much more and it is frustrating. I was a size 4/6 when I got married, way too thin actually (I am 6'1") but would like to drop a size, or even 2.


My Dh is doing South Beach right now, I wish him luck but there is no way I could do it. I've been thinking about WW, but don't really want to commit money to it so I am just working out for an hour each morning (I am on my bike right now) and trying to cut back on what I eat.

Anyway, long story short, good luck. I'll be pulling for you!

Thanks MickeyMomofThree. I get what you meazn about getting obsessed with numbers on a scale. I was the opposite in that I figured if I ignored what I weighed I did not have a problem. Well I stepped up last year and finaly weighed myself. It was the best thing I did because it really motivated me to start eating healthier and exercising more.

MickeyMomof Three... Try www.sparkpeople.com. It has nutrition and activity trackers like WW, but it's FREE!!

I just joined and love it. I can't afford WW right now but love sparkpeople.



Went out this morning during a break in the snow and got my grocery shopping done. Mom and I also stopped at Walgreen's where we got some cute ornaments on clearance and a new rice cooker on clearance as well since ours died. Also had breakfast out.

We should be good on groceries except a few little things for the nest two weeks.

Groceries/household- $300/ $89.32 left
Car/gas- $50
Eating out- $50/ $17.26 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/ $73.64 left

Total- $500/ $230.12 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
1/14

8/15 No Buy Days

Store and coupon savings- $38.15

 

[Virgderon]

Thanks for the good thoughts! The interview went very well, and I'm sure I am going to get an offer. Something felt off to me tho, and I wish I could tell you what it is. I have this wierd ability to read people, which is probably why I am a recruiter, and a couple of the people that interviewed me were either holding back or not being truthful, not sure which. I need to do some serious thinking about this one. I have a job, so no need to take this if I am not sure.

Running Total: Spent $428
$950 budget...$522 left
$0 Days: 4
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 94

Groceries budget- $250 -11-36= 206 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: 196 (35 groceries, 25 gas, 136 Disney fun)
January 10 : 0
January 11: 54 ( 21 Steak & Shake, 20 shirt, 13 Walgreens misc)
January 12: 16 ( gas)

 

[Tiggerish]

The 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/ $10 left
Set bills $420/ $189 left
Semi-Annual Neurology eval in Chicago budget is $300

No spend days goal of 12/6
Coupon savings $21.90
Christmas '11 running total = $8
-------------------------------------------------------
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)
1/9 Set bills $20 (church); Misc. $10 (Mom's birthday gift) Christmas $8
1/10 $0
1/11 Set bills $186
1/12 $0

 

[Virgderon]

By the way, Charming I read your blog. I think you have the good habits to do anything you want. If you want to lose weight, you can do it. You do a great job of managing your money.

 

[disneyofcourse]

I'm in! Hopefully I'll visit enough to input my info. I haven't figured out how many no buy days I want to have as my goal. This year I am joining since this will be my "make a difference" year. No more eating out every meal and no more crazy spending at the mall. No more "I just need one thing" Target trips either.

12/26 - 1/2/2011
+Pet store $24.11
+Target $58.18 after Christmas sales/toy & Clothing donation items
+Belk/ Macys $255 for next years gifts at 60% off-75% off
+Starbucks $12? (no receipt)
+Starbucks $8? (No receipt)
+eating out $32.00 on 12/26
+Eating out $28.70 on 12/27 (Last day of eating out!!)
+Gas $31 + $15 + 13
+Grocery about $70 12/28

1/3-
Grocery about $65

1/4 -
Gas - $27
Target $30.82 After Christmas sales/some toy donations for next year.

1/5-1/9 NO spend!

1/10
Grocery $50~
Gas $60~

1/11 No spend

Today 1/12 NO spend

 

[Tiggerish]

Virgderon- go with you gut feeling and trust your instincts. I once took a self defense course and the instructor (retired marine) told us that most people do have that little voice that says "this feels wrong" and that we should all trust it and follow it by getting out of the situation immediately.

 

[fairyprincess1]

Here is what I got...

Jan 1 $0
Jan 2 $0
Jan 3 spend - lunch, groceries, and a small CVS run
Jan 4 spend - but it was just some subway for lunch
Jan 5 $0
Jan 6 spend - going out for dinner with the neighborhood ladies
Jan 7 $0
Jan 8 $0
Jan 9 $0 It's amazing how you spend no money when you have the flu
Jan 10 spend
Jan 11 spend
Jan 12 spend

6/14 no buy days

 

[bigmama67]

OK, so I am staying in today and we have had friends over but I am having the hardest time staying off Kohls.com since I want to order a new skillet! Oh, I have to hang on till tomorrow on using that 30% off code because I want to, I need to, have my second no-buy day...it's the 12th already! Somebody stop me!

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

Auto $180/$240
Groceries/Household Goods $124/$250
(only because I need to buy my bulk meats this month)
Eating Out/Entertainment $50
Misc. $95/$100

No spend days goal of 3/10

Coupon savings $69.00
(I like this one, borrowed from a previous poster)

1/01 $9.00 at Target on Soups on sale
1/02 -0- no plans on going out today.
1/03 -0- brought my breakfast and lunch to work.
1/04 $67 $20 for gas, $42. for groceries, and $5 for MegaMillions...It's up to $330million. I'm planning on winning.
1/05 -0-
1/06 -0-
1/07 -0- Today is going to be a spend day. Stocking up on sale items.Didn't go shopping today.But we did go out to dinner with a gift card from Christmas.
1/08 $40 Gas, $70 groceries (Target and ShopRite) this is a lot for me to spend at 1 time, but, we stocked up on a lot of sale items. Plus, bought a few things not on the list. Note to self again. Leave DH at home when shopping. He always costs me extra.
1/09 -0- Had dinner out. Should have been $60 but had a gift card and bought shelves at Home Depot should have been $40 but had another gift card.
1/10 I was really bad today. Have had a migraine since Friday night. So, today I had no energy to pack anything. I slipped off the wagon. I bought both breakfast and lunch out. Total of $7.00. Bad me Tomorrow will be a better day!!
1/11 $5.00 Milk (2 gal.)
1/12 -0- Major Snow day

 

[wlake]

Three in a row! That's really good for me! I would be able to have 4, but the boys are out of school on Friday so I need to pay for this week's afterschool tomorrow. Oh well.

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:

no buy days: 6/10
meals out: 2/5
longest streak: 3!

 

[#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

No Spend:
4/10

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

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 Actually, not totally 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 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 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 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
January 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)
January 6-$0 The weekend it won't be so easy. I NEED a date with my hubby!
January 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.
January 8-$0 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.
January 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
January 10-$0 Stayed in and cleaned!!!
January 11-$0 Did some cleaning and a good work out this morning, now back to sorting old clothes. I have an embarassing 9 large garbage bags to be sold/donated. And I am not done! Going to finish till I have to take DD8 to sance, but not going anywhere else so not spending anything today.
January 12-$0 Took the kids to Family Night after dance, but convinced them to wait for the dinner I had in the crock pot. We will proably have to eat there next time. I feel guilty when I don't for too many weeks. $62.14 groceries*


9/15 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+62.14*
Total gas for the month- $0 *Hate to even count this. DH sent me for a bunch of stuff for his diet. It is all for his meals, not the family, but he is the family so I am counting it but he said his fun money, which is his disability money, will be a lot lower cause he won't be going out at all so we will be saving that as well.

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!

 

[growinupdisney]

Things are going GOOD still!

Jan-1 $20
Jan-2 $0
Jan-3 $50(dd tumbling class)
Jan-4 $0
Jan-5 $26.36(groceries for kids lunches)
Jan-6 $5.75 (vac and washed car)
Jan-7 $1.06 (thanks to $20.00 staple rewards, school supplies)
Jan-8 $20.00(dd16 cheer comp. ticket and food)
Jan-9 $0
Jan-10 $0
Jan-11 $0
Jan-12 $69.76 groceries(some things are going in WDW vacation box)
$5.98 lunch out first time this month

 

[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

January 9 $0

January 10 $106 groceries, $30 gas, $15 new wiper blades, $12 McDonalds for lunch--this is twice this month, unheard of, but I had a looooooong board meeting this morning and I didn't even have the energy to make PB&J.

January 11 $28 new winter coat for DS #1, $29 eye doctor for DS#1 (this will be reimbursed, but I'll record it anyway).

January 12 $12 prepay for preschool pancake breakfast later this month, $30 gas, $25 dinner with friends, $20 doctor for DS (this will be reimbursed as well), $13 treats after the doctor

6/15 No Buy Days

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

SimplyPiglet, I joined today. Thanks for telling me about it. It is a little overwhelming but I am interested in learning from it.

Virgderon, go with you gut. The beauty of having a job is you can be more picky.

Wlake, great job on 3 in a row!!!

Charming, you have to do what works for you. Most people do well weighing in, I am just odd. My biggest problem is that I have endometrosis. When it first was getting really bad I was avoiding having surgery so the doctor put me into a chemically induced state of menopause. Basically they were using strong contraceptives to trick my body into thinking I was in menopause. It did work, while I was doing it, but having a dose of DepoProvera every other week (as opposed to one every 3 months for BC) made my body a mess, and it made me gain a ton of weight. In the end I had another surgery so I did it for nothing. It has returned and now I can't wear jeans or fitted pants cause of the pain, so wearing strechy pants (yoga pants and pajamajeans) is what I have to wear and that makes it hard to FEEL when pants are getting tighter or looser, so it is hard to really know mby my pants. But I am trying, and will be ahppy when I feel better, so that is my goal. To FEEL bestter about myself. But that is a hrd goal to join a team with. But good luck, it is still in the challenging stage for me, I am hungry and I hate that feeling, but hopefully it will pay off.

 

[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
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!


$0 Buy Days: 5
Total Spent: $163.37/$395=41%
Month Over: 12/31=39% At least my spending and the month over are becoming much more aligned! At one point I think it was 41% spent and 24% month over!

$395 breakdowns:
grocery: 200.00-85.72=114.28 left
eating out: 50.00-33.59=16.41 left
misc: 70.00-17.15=52.85 left
gas: 75.00-23.16=51.84 left

After seeing how much money some of y'all spend on gas, I am becoming more and more thankful for my fuel efficient car and my reasonable commute! I drive about 10 miles (15-30+ minutes depending on traffic) each way. I have been budgeting $75 for months but usually was spending $40 or $60 (2 vs 3 fill ups). I'm glad I had the higher number budgeted; since now it will likely be more like $50 or $75!

Wow, never heard of it, thanks. I will go check it out! I really appreciate it.

You're welcome!

I just joined and love it. I can't afford WW right now but love sparkpeople.

I think I joined Sparkpeople at the beginning of 2009. I only have about 350 Spark Points, so I'm not doing so hot. I found it difficult to navigate and would just not follow through. I'm trying to get better with it. I have gotten better about logging in and spinning the SparkWheel. After cruising around on the site for a little bit, I found it's not all that difficult to navigate. I still am not consistent with using it, but I'm still trying. I'm really good on the weekends but I'm having a hard time keeping up on the weekdays.