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

[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)
Jan. 3: $0
Jan. 4: $0
Jan. 5: $0
Jan. 6: $22.69(groceries..stuck to the list!) $18.62 (dinner out with friends) $9.60 (Christmas pictures printed)
Jan. 7: $0
Jan. 8: 18.65 WalMart, groceries, $1.07 McDonalds sausage bisccuit, $19.75, Dh and I went to see Tron, plus got a medium popcorn.
Jan. 9 : $0 (used a $20 Staples Reward card for packing tape, travel tissue and bandaids..I've had a dilemma on if I should count what DH spends..he doesn't spend much..but still. For the sake of this experiment I will only count what I spend since I do the majority of the shopping and all the budgeting..I don't like having to tell him he can't pick up his prescription until a Buy day But I also vow I won't cheat by having him spend money so I don't have to count it )
Jan. 10: $0
Jan. 11: $0
Jan. 12: ack...13.00 lumber for DH project, 10.00 DH gas (so now I'm tracking DH?? dunno) 25.60 Walmart (groceries and upcoming trip stuff) 14.45 (Lowes Pay and Save..small local grocery since we only have that and Walmart and since I'm trying to make a new recipe each week and needed capers which, naturally WalMart does NOT have and then also got mini wines for trip and chicken breasts on sale)
Jan. 13: Well, had planned for a no buy day. BUT..75% off stuff at my second job (Hastings) but had a $16.80 GC so only spent $2.00), then. DD asked me to join her and DGD and another DS and DDIL and another DGD..got taht? at our new IHOP for lunch...$7.49..then..I read that KMart had 75% off toys so went out there..no big sale at my KMart, but my Hallmark had 75% off Christmas so got a couple things...$9.45)
Jan. 14: 11.79 for gas and a package of Jalapeno Cheetos..love those! Then 9.00 for a book of stamps and since I picked up grandkids from school we go to Dollar Tree for toy and snack and they had my DH favorite cookies, so 9.45
Jan. 15: $0
Jan. 16: $0
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

 

[annsteere]

My goal was NO impulse/unnecessary spending.

$10 of soda pop for the football games the weekend. I got 6 12 packs so it was a good price, but hardly a necessity. Bears vs Packers coming up!!

$3 McDonalds at the airport. I'd already eaten Cheerios but smelled the yummy got grease and got in line. (On the other hand, I made money on the trip that we weren't planning on, so I'm not gonna beat myself up over 3 bucks.)

$15 (allowance) on jeans that are a size smaller than the ones in my closet and that I hope to need by March. Otherwise, they can be returned.

Pretty good so far.

The Mickey carry on suitcase featured on another thread may unravel my whole "no spend" plan. It's been a long time since something looked that fun to me. I travel a good bit and an entertaining carry on would be a treat. I do have birthday money stashed. . . .

 

[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
1/12 $40 gas
1/13 $0
1/14 $25 - signed up for better budgeting class
1/15 $100.79 groceries
1/16 $9 fresh produce
1/17 $0

9/10
$296.74/$400 - $103.26
$107.81/$200 - 92.19
$92.47/$100 - $7.53

didn't end up going to disney today = pretty crummy out, so no spending!!

 

[charming23]

I stopped at a grocery store on my way back from picking up my cousin this morning. We got snacks for our movie day.

Groceries/household- $300/ $74.26 left
Pet Supplies- $30/ $0 Left
Car/gas- $50/ $27.52 left
Eating out- $50/ $17.26 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/ $69.36 left

Total- $530/ $158.30 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
1/19
1/20
1/21

11/15 No Buy Days

Store and coupon savings- $47.19

 

[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
Jan 13 spend
Jan 14 $0
Jan 15 spend
Jan 16 $0



8/14 no buy days

 

[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
1/13 No spend!

1/14 Gas $32

8 No spend days so far!!! I can't believe it!!"

1/15 No spend

1/16 $53 Facial products, $38 Target (Shampoo+Razers) Used $6.00 in coupons!

 

[disneyofcourse]

I estimate I have saved at least $700 so far this month by not going to Target on a whim and not eating out!

 

[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

I'm calling today since I don't plan on leaving the house.

7/15 No Buys!!

 

[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

Tomorrow will definately not be a no-spend, heading to a larger town an hour away for much needed jeans for dd4 and I, and some things for dh's 40th b-day on Sunday.

 

[wlake]

Disneyofcourse, good for you! Trying not to get as much take out was a reason I joined in the first place, too.

Funny story for today: my friend and I decided to take the kids sledding and out to lunch. In the chaos of making sure I had extra gloves and hats for everyone, I forgot my tote that carries my wallet and my phone. I didn't realize it until we arrived at lunch, so I sheepish go to ask my friend if I can borrow some money for lunch. It turns out she had forgotten hers too! Luckily she had an extra credit card stashed away that didn't fit in her wallet. I may need some friends that are less like me....

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!)

no buy days: 8/10
meals out: 3/5
longest streak: 3!

 

[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
Jan-13 $0
Jan-14 $3 (popcorn and candybar and water for kids at DD basket ball game)
Jan-15 $35 groceries
Jan-16 $0
Jan-17 $0

 

[bigmama67]

Today I spent $3.40 at Dunkin' Donuts (bagel twist and coffee) because I had an early job interview...first time I went all month, at least! And used $15 in Rewards bucks at Babies R Us so for $2.57 out of pocket I got an 18-pack of organic milk which DS takes in his school lunches, and 2 cans of Earth's Best Elmo Pasta/soup.

No-buy days: 3/5

 

[tinkarooni]

Ugggg, we had to travel this weekend for a family function.....spent time doing laundry and cleaning the house before we left so that we wouldn't come back today to a mess, we all had to take a day off of work and school and than we are right back tomorrow. It is so hard to give up your whole weekend when everybody works. So I have lost track of daily expenses. I know that I have been doing well though except for this weekend when we were forced to stay in a hotel and do some eating out, but that was an exception for me this month anyway.

WIll try to get things worked out and post better later. I know to be a good family member you have certain obligations but this one cost me a lot of $$$$ that I so would have rather used elsewhere.

 

[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/ $150 left
Medical $100 /$25 over
Misc. $50/ $10 left
Set bills $420/ $121 left
Semi-Annual Neurology eval in Chicago budget is $300 / $134 left

No spend days goal of 12/9
Coupon savings $30.90
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
1/13 Set bills $68; Groceries $8
1/14 $0
1/15 Groceries $29; Chicago trip $166 (pre-paid for a train ticket ($51) and pre-paid hotel ($115)
1/16 $0
1/17 $0

 

[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!

$0 Buy Days: 8
Total Spent: $290/$395=73%
Month Over: 17/31=55%

 

[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

January 13 $13 groceries

January 14 $0

January 15 $0 Calling it early because we went to a birthday party and now we're in for the day.


January 16 $0 Calling it early because we're in for the day.

January 17 $40 gas, $15 PJ party at Panera, $40 dog food, ect at Target. Plus I had to write a HUGE check for DS#2's speech therapy, but that comes out of a different account.


9/15 No Buy Days

 

[3goofyboys]

I estimate I have saved at least $700 so far this month by not going to Target on a whim and not eating out!

Good Job!!

 

[#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.

No Spend
6/10

Well today was an expensive day. Dh was off for the holiday, and my mom watched the boys for us, so we spent the day shopping and eating! Our microwave died, so we had to buy a new one, and we needed a wireless printer, so we got that at Big Lots for a really good price. Feeling kind of guilty about the money that we spend eating out, but it included a stop at Cheesecake Factory, so I am not toooooo remorseful!

 

[Virgderon]

Not a zero, but I knew it wouldn't be, so thats okay. Found out today that I have ridiculously high blood pressure and now they want to do a bunch more tests to find out why. Lovely.

Running Total: Spent $527
$950 budget...$423 left
$0 Days: 5
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 96

Groceries budget- $250 -11-36-11= 195 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)
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)

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 9/15
Gas : 66$ (max 100$)
Groceries : 136$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 65$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 73$ (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$
14/01 : 66$ (cat food & litter)
15/01 : 76$ (groceries + gas)
16/01 : 0$