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

Another $0 again today. My Aunt picked my cousin up about an hour ago and I am waiting for my BFF to come over in about an hour. She is bringing her niece so we will just relax and play.

Groceries/household- $300/ $59.82 left
Pet Supplies- $30/ $0 Left
Car/gas- $50/ $27.52 left
Eating out- $50/ $17.26 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/ $57.95 left

Total- $530/ $132.45 left

Goal of 15 No Buy days--- Goal accomplished 1/23 :cool1:

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- $11.41 Walgreen's
1/19- $0
1/20- $14.44 Groceries
1/21- $0

Week Four
1/22- $0
1/23- $0
1/24
1/25
1/26
1/27
1/28
1/29
1/30
1/31

15/15 No Buy Days

Store and coupon savings- $48.09
 
Thanks everyone for your well wishes. Today is my first day not feeling completely sick. That is a good thing. I am still so dizzy that I can't stand for more then 30 seconds withouth wobbling. We are working on hydrating me via popcicles (the only thing I seem to half way desire) and hopefully that will cure the dizziness. Anyway, thanks for the well wishes. I am a little sad today, it's the last day of Disney on Ice and we missed it, first time in 13 years. BUT, my DH said we could go to Buffalo next weekend to see it. It will cost more, but if I am feeling up to it, and I sure hope I am, I will take him up on the offer!

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
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 :woohoo: 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 :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.
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 :woohoo: Stayed in and cleaned!!!
January 11-$0 :woohoo: 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 :woohoo: 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*
January 13-$0 :woohoo: Tomorrow won't be so lucky. It is my baby girl's 9th birthday. :lovestruc
January 14- My added bonus, surprise baby girl is now 9! Crazy! Anyway, I am lumping one thing as $10, it was just short but I threw the change in the Disney jar. It covered a happy meal for her for lunch, 2 balloons, treeat bag things for her party today and for class and a book to donate to her class. I did very well I have to say. Then we let her pick a restaurant for dinner (last time we all went out was in Disney.) She picked Red Robin. It really is YUUUMMM but I know why we don't take the family out. :eek: $45.67 for burgers. :scared1: I also went to the doctor, that was $40 but I don't count that. It's medical. But for the sake of recording I will write it down. The RX was covered 100%, love those rare times!
January 15-Her party. Spent $150 at Chuck E Cheese. It should have been way less but I am not going to worry about it. I gave my DH the stack of coupons I was going to use (as needed based on who came.) I handed them to him and said can you hold thede for me so I don't lose them? We got to CEC and I was a manic trying to get set up (it was a walk in party) and I didn't realize in his effort to help, he went and ordered all the coupons. That included 2 for buy 100 tokens for $25 get 100 free! So $50 in tokens. I had enought for over 200 free tokens so I had those just in case. He didn't realize, and his heart was in the right place so I didn't say anything. We came home with a whole pizza, 4 colectors cups unused and over 400 tokens so had I paid it would have been about $80 cheaper. BUT, we will never have to buy another CEC tokens again. :rotfl: And still $150 for 15 kids to have all the tokens they wanted, pizza for all the kids and parents and colector cups for everyone wasn't too bad. YEAH COUPONS!!!
January 16- Double date with friends, their turn to pick, so no coupons :( $25 and $11 for chinese for the kids
January 17-$0 :woohoo: Ran to the gas station at 6am cause I had forgotten to grab eggs and milk last night. These are the exact reasons DH wanted me to not count groceries. Anyway, they have a loaf of bread, a half gallon of milk and a dozen eggs for $.99 each, and it's right by the house. Otherwise I spent nothing. I had to cancel our day off from school plans cause DD11 is coming down with something (throat related) and I fell the other night and injured my everything, but mostly my back. I did take my DD9's Brownie troop on the field trip tonight. It was 12.50 a girl but I just didn't pay myself back as much when I paid myself back the deposit I paid. We went to Sweet and Sassy. She was tempted to buy something (with her own money) but they all got the American Girl Manners book and they got their cooke prizes tonight, she got, among other things, a PillowPet (her only one) so she saved her money. She is learning!!!
January 18-$0 :woohoo: Sick in bed
January 19-$0 :woohoo: Sick in bed
January 20-$0 :woohoo: Sick in bed
January 21-$0 :woohoo: Sick in bed
January 22-$0 :woohoo: Sick in bed
January 23-$0 :woohoo: Sick in bed





17/15 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*+1.98
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=$709.78
*(need to redo the math)

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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!
 
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 :cool1: 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 :cool1: 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 :banana:.

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 :cool1:

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 :cool1:

January 8 $0 :cool1:

January 9 $0 :cool1:

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 :cool1:

January 15 $0 :cool1: Calling it early because we went to a birthday party and now we're in for the day.


January 16 $0 :cool1: 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.


January 18 $8 bread outlet, $10 Starbucks date with my DS#2, $10 eye doctor, $205 :scared1::scared1: groceries.

January 19 $0 :cool1: I did do the Living Social Amazon deal, but I'll take that money out of my Christmas account and then stockpile the gift certificates for Christmas, so I'm not counting it.


January 20 $47 We went to the Museum (we're members so that was free) and dinner with some dear friends. They're moving soon, so we're trying to spend as much time as possible with them while they're still here.

January 21 $0 :cool1:


January 22 $55 Gas, $19 Subway


January 23 $0 :cool1:


12/15 No Buy Days
 
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 :worried:, 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
1/18 - $0
1/19 - $0
1/20 - $0
1/21 - $0
1/22 - 32 +2 (milk and half and half, and meat that was 50% off and couldn't pass up. And then an extra trip to 7-11 for eggs to make pancakes for dinner).
1/23 - $0



12/15 No Buys!!
 

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!
1/18: $0!
1/19: $0!
1/20: $21.55 Gas
1/21: $43.95 Pre-pay for an event next month, tax fee
1/22: $0!
1/23: $87.77 Cafe du Monde, boots, groceries

$0 Buy Days: 11
Total Spent: $443.27/$395=112% :headache:
Month Over: 23/31=74%

I forgot my DH paid some money for filing the taxes online on Friday. Today was expensive. I bought more groceries than I planned to because everything on my list today was things we use a lot of and it was on sale, so I stocked up a little bit. I am already over budget and there is a week left.

$443 for the month is not bad, but it's over what I was hoping for. I can't decide if my budget was just too low or if I bought too much. I feel like I cut back on my spending (I did), but it's not good enough. It is just me, my DH, and my dog.
 
No Buy Days : 12/15
Gas : 98$ (max 100$)
Groceries : 201$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 75$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 116$ (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$
15/01 : 66$ (cat food & litter)
16/01 : 76$ (groceries + gas)
17/01 : 0$
18/01 : 0$

19/01 : 29$ (Amazon.com)
20/01 : 0$
21/01 : 56$ (gas + snack + book)
22/01 : 65$ (groceries)
23/01 : 0$
 
In most provinces the majority of the classes are in English, and then you will have a French Second Language (FSL) teacher teaching several groups. I have no clue how much French these kids get.

In the province of Quebec you have the exact opposites at French schools : everything is in French, except for ESL, which is taught by a different teacher. The amount of English varies between school, between 1 hour a week to 1 hour a day. Then, again in Quebec, you have English schools, which get more FSL than anywhere else, because Quebec is a mostly French province. This varies between 1 hour a day, to 50% of the time (in these cases, other subjects like social studies and arts will be taught in French).

Except in rare cases, no single teacher will teach both in French and English. Which is actually what I would love to do myself, as then I would get to keep my own students the entire day instead of switching around all the time.

Very interesting information. Thank you for explaining it. The 50% model is known as "Dual Language" in the States. We have at least one French/English Dual Language program here in New Orleans.

Do you teach in English or French? I'm assuming you're fluently bilingual/bi-literate?

I would love to visit Quebec sometime. I grew up in Washington State and we had a Western Hockey League team. Most of the other teams we played were from Canada (Kamloops, Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, and some others). At the beginning of all the games where we played a Canadian team (most games!), they would play the national anthems of both USA and Canada, so growing up I knew both equally well. :lmao:

I have been to Canada a few times but the farthest east I've been was Calgary. We went to Banff and some of the other national parks that are in the same area. I've also been to Victoria. I would like to visit Toronto and Quebec. My French is terrible though. It's limited to things like good morning, where is the exit :confused3, where is the bathroom, thank you, fat Tuesday, and let the good times roll. :rotfl:

Rats.

I spaced out on the no-buy goal for today and spent $4.14 on an Amazon order. Not much, I know, but I have to count it. Also found out our PSE&G bill for this month will be higher than expected. And DH bought more salt for the snow (well, we need that at least!) So hopefully Tuesday...because tomorrow I need to get detergent. Tuesday is supposed to be snowy anyway so maybe we'll all be home. ;)

Our gas bill is higher than I was expecting for next month. Well, I wasn't totally sure what to expect, just that it was going to be high, but it was more than double the month prior. It's just been cold here. We've gotten below freezing several nights. This means my water bill will also probably be higher; we drip the faucets on nights below freezing because our house is raised and I don't want to deal with frozen pipes.

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. Today is my first day not feeling completely sick. That is a good thing. I am still so dizzy that I can't stand for more then 30 seconds withouth wobbling. We are working on hydrating me via popcicles (the only thing I seem to half way desire) and hopefully that will cure the dizziness. Anyway, thanks for the well wishes. I am a little sad today, it's the last day of Disney on Ice and we missed it, first time in 13 years. BUT, my DH said we could go to Buffalo next weekend to see it. It will cost more, but if I am feeling up to it, and I sure hope I am, I will take him up on the offer!

I am glad you are starting to feel better. I hope you get your strength back soon and the dizziness goes away. That is a rotten feeling!

I also hope you get to go to Disney on Ice!

msmama - Way to go on your $0 Days streak! It's impressive! :woohoo:
 
I'll put my answers inside the quote. :)

Very interesting information. Thank you for explaining it. The 50% model is known as "Dual Language" in the States. We have at least one French/English Dual Language program here in New Orleans.
We call it "Bilingual school" here. It's my favorite model. I used to teach at a school like that last year, and I loved it!

Do you teach in English or French? I'm assuming you're fluently bilingual/bi-literate?
I teach FSL (French second language). I'm francophone, but went to University in English and am now fluently bilingual. :goodvibesPlus, I'm about to marry a full-on anglo, so I speak more English than French these days. :cutie:

I would love to visit Quebec sometime. I grew up in Washington State and we had a Western Hockey League team. Most of the other teams we played were from Canada (Kamloops, Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, and some others). At the beginning of all the games where we played a Canadian team (most games!), they would play the national anthems of both USA and Canada, so growing up I knew both equally well. :lmao:
I'm not a hockey fan (shocking, I know :rotfl2:), so you probably know both anthems more than I do. ;)

I have been to Canada a few times but the farthest east I've been was Calgary. We went to Banff and some of the other national parks that are in the same area. I've also been to Victoria. I would like to visit Toronto and Quebec. My French is terrible though. It's limited to things like good morning, where is the exit :confused3, where is the bathroom, thank you, fat Tuesday, and let the good times roll. :rotfl:

The furthest West I've been is Toronto (well, Niagara Falls), and that includes both Canada and the states. I usually travel straight south. :)
Well obviously Toronto is fully English. If you want to visit Montreal, you should be ok getting around speaking only English, as the city is about 50-50 French/ English and most tourist places will have bilingual people. If you venture east of Montreal, say to Quebec City, then you'll need to learn more French. If you can manage to travel with someone who's okay in French, I strongly recommend visiting Quebec City. It's gorgeous, and the perfect mix between European and American. :goodvibes
 
I've been off the Boards for a few days:rolleyes1. I know to busy for the Boards:eek: What am I thinking. So I'm updating now.
Auto $140/$240
Groceries/Household Goods $186/$250
(only because I need to buy my bulk meats this month)
Eating Out/Entertainment $47/$50
Misc. $20/$100

No spend days goal is 13/10. No Spend goal met.:cool1::yay::cheer2:

Coupon savings $326.00
(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
01/13 -0-
01/14 -0-
01/15 $74.00 $40 gas. $11.00 Walgreens , but got $7 back.Went CVSing did 4 transactions x2 (DH and I, 1 each) Between us we spent less than $20.00 oop but got atleast $200 worth of stuff. And I still have $20 in ECB's Shout out to the CVS tread This is all out of grocery allowance.
01/16-0- Had dinner at DIn-laws.I made my goal of 10 No Spend Days
01/17$14.00 groceries. Picked up milk and a few things before the BIG ice storm tonight.:
01/18-0- I'm calling this one now. Don't think we will be leaving the house in the ice!
01/19 -0- ACCIDENT DAY!!! STUPID DRIVER (NOT ME)
01/20 $3.00 McD's Doubles. DD had drama rehersal. No time to cook
01 21 -0-
01/22 $69 $40 for gas, $18 grocery (Arizona Ice Tea was on sale for $1.99 stocked up), $11 for CVS (but got $21 ECB back:cool1:)
01/23 $55.00 $40 went out to breakfast after church and DD had a friend over for the weekend. $15 girls shopped at the flea market.
 
We are getting sooo off topic... :rolleyes1

I think the dual language approach is the best; the problem is finding qualified people.

I'll put my answers inside the quote. :)

The furthest West I've been is Toronto (well, Niagara Falls), and that includes both Canada and the states. I usually travel straight south. :)
Well obviously Toronto is fully English. If you want to visit Montreal, you should be ok getting around speaking only English, as the city is about 50-50 French/ English and most tourist places will have bilingual people. If you venture east of Montreal, say to Quebec City, then you'll need to learn more French. If you can manage to travel with someone who's okay in French, I strongly recommend visiting Quebec City. It's gorgeous, and the perfect mix between European and American. :goodvibes

My parents went to Quebec a few years ago. They speak even less French than me. I do know a few more words, like alligator and fish and welcome and "do you speak French" although I think knowing "do you speak ENGLISH" might be more helpful! :rotfl:

Their pictures from Quebec City are great. After I saw them, I wanted to go. I guess I can work on my French while I save up money. :rotfl:
 
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.
1/18 $0
1/19 - $0
1/20 - $7.02 lunch
1/21 - $42.96 at my friend's 31 party
1/22 - $7.42 breakfast; $115.03 Meijer/coupons $1.75; $11.48 Olive Garden; $2.99 Couch to 5K app for my iPhone
edit to add: $6.99 Amazon... bought a new book for my Kindle right before bed.
1/23 - $0

No Spend
9/10

I am so excited. Today I was able to get our 7 day minivan rental down from $368 to $302 using a Travelocity code posted on another thread. Then the guy who we are going through at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for our WDW trip e-mailed to say that he got our rate down to $120 a night for our 2BR 2BA condo. :banana: That was a savings of $620 today!!!!
 
Soo... I woke up with a horrible headache and I can't take Ibuprofen because of the high blood pressure thing. I went to Publix to get Tylenol and ended up spending $26 . This is a perfect example of why you should never go to the store without a plan. :-) My day got worse with the Bears losing, but then much better at night. We saw Rock of Ages. If you like 70s and 80s music, and this show comes anywhere near you, you should see it . It was great.

Running Total: Spent $789
$950 budget...$161 left
$0 Days: 7
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings :105

Groceries budget- $250 -11-36-6-11-19= 170 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: 296 (35 groceries, 25 gas, 136 Disney fun, gave DH $100 for hotel room that a friend got for us)
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)
January 18: 68 (48 bowling, 20 medications co pay)
January 19: 0
January 20: 0
January 21: 13 ( random stuff at Walgreens)
January 22: 55 ( 36 haircut , 19 Publix)
January 23 : 26 ( Publix, 5 for Tylenol, 21 groceries)
 
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
Jan 12: $0
Jan 13: $0
Jan 14: $0
Jan 15: $0
Jan 16: $0
Jan 17: $0
Jan 18: $20 on gas (have to drive into the city for work tomorrow, wanted to make sure my tank was full using a cheaper gas station by the house vs paying 20 cents more a gallon once I got up there!)
Jan 19: $10 for the Amazon gift card deal
Jan 20: $16.33 at Motherhood Maternity (had a $100 gift card to use, so I ended up paying the shipping/tax out of pocket)
Jan 21: $0
Jan 22: $0
Jan 23: $0 (though I did "buy" a mobile for the new baby's room using Amazon gift cards, yay!)
 
$19.06 today on groceries. $23.52 left for the month. I'll still need laundry detergent (which I count as "Household"), more milk, and fruit. I think we'll make it! :thumbsup2

No-buy days: 4/5
 
Here's my update on how I'm doing:

My Goals:
1) Write Down everything - :thumbsup2 as of 1/24
2) Save at least $100 each month - :thumbsup2 as of 1/24
3) 10 No buy days - I got another one on 1/23, so now I'm up to 5/10 days.

If I count days under $10, I've got 8 days. I think I like the under $10 days, so that if I forget an ingredient for dinner, I haven't completely lost a no-buy day.

You're welcome! Yes, bringing lunch saves me a TON of money. It's so boring, but the school lunch for adults is $3.75. Some teachers buy it daily (it's actually good) but that is almost $20/week! I bring oatmeal for breakfast from home and the big jar of it is $2.50 and it lasts at least a month. I think the teacher breakfast costs that much for a day.

::shudders:: I remember my school's lunches and I would not want to eat that no matter what the cost. Does your school have good food?

What I'm most surprised at is how satisfied I am with the lunches I'm packing and how little I miss eating out. Last year, we ate out ALL the time - several times a week for dinner. And I don't even really miss it - only the things I can't cook (yet).


Thanks again for the support - seeing how well all of you are doing is very inspiring! Just 8 more days in the month - KEEP IT UP :)
 
MickeyMomofThree, I am glad you are on the road to recovery. Hopefully you can get to Disney on Ice :goodvibes

Today is yet another $0 for me. It is cold and snowy and I honestly just feel like staying in.

Groceries/household- $300/ $59.82 left
Pet Supplies- $30/ $0 Left
Car/gas- $50/ $27.52 left
Eating out- $50/ $17.26 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/ $57.95 left

Total- $530/ $132.45 left

Goal of 15 No Buy days--- Goal accomplished 1/23 :cool1:

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- $11.41 Walgreen's
1/19- $0
1/20- $14.44 Groceries
1/21- $0

Week Four
1/22- $0
1/23- $0
1/24- $0
1/25
1/26
1/27
1/28
1/29
1/30
1/31

16/15 No Buy Days

Store and coupon savings- $48.09
 
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
Jan 17 $0
Jan 18 spend
Jan 19 $0
Jan 20 spend
Jan 21 $0
JAn 22 spend
Jan 23 $0



12/14 no buy days
 
The January budget is $1200 with 12 no spend days.

Auto $70
Eating Out/Entertainment $50 / $6 left
Giving $10 /$0 left
Groceries/Household Goods $200/ $150 left
Medical $100 /$116 over
Misc. $50/ $30 0ver
Set bills $420/ $41 left
Semi-Annual Neurology eval in Chicago budget is $300 / $95 left

No spend days goal of 12/11
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
1/18-19 Set bills $40 (newspaper and cell); Chicago trip $39 (food & taxis) Giving $10 (bought food for people begging in the train station)
1/20 Eating out $6
1/21 $0
1/22 Eating out $20 (took niece out for her birthday); Medical $91 (two new prescriptions)
1/23 Set bills $40 (church); Misc. $40 (niece birthday present)
1/24 $0
 
Wow. Just wow. I forgot my parents anniversary, and scrambled today to get a card and gift card so I can get it there on time. Luckily remembered in time.

I'm feeling weepy and sorry for myself today. Looks like the IRS is not going to be kind for the 2nd year in a row. It feels like everything I am doing to save a nickel here and there is just going to the IRS. I'll get over it, but today I am just wallowing in self pity. :-)

Running Total: Spent $825
$950 budget...$125 left
$0 Days: 7
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings :108

Groceries budget- $250 -11-36-6-11-19= 170 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: 296 (35 groceries, 25 gas, 136 Disney fun, gave DH $100 for hotel room that a friend got for us)
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)
January 18: 68 (48 bowling, 20 medications co pay)
January 19: 0
January 20: 0
January 21: 13 ( random stuff at Walgreens)
January 22: 55 ( 36 haircut , 19 Publix)
January 23 : 26 ( Publix, 5 for Tylenol, 21 groceries)
January 24: 36 ( Anniversery gift and card, couple random things at Walgreens)
 
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 :cool1: 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 :cool1: 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 :banana:.

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 :cool1:

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 :cool1:

January 8 $0 :cool1:

January 9 $0 :cool1:

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 :cool1:

January 15 $0 :cool1: Calling it early because we went to a birthday party and now we're in for the day.


January 16 $0 :cool1: 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.


January 18 $8 bread outlet, $10 Starbucks date with my DS#2, $10 eye doctor, $205 :scared1::scared1: groceries.

January 19 $0 :cool1: I did do the Living Social Amazon deal, but I'll take that money out of my Christmas account and then stockpile the gift certificates for Christmas, so I'm not counting it.


January 20 $47 We went to the Museum (we're members so that was free) and dinner with some dear friends. They're moving soon, so we're trying to spend as much time as possible with them while they're still here.

January 21 $0 :cool1:


January 22 $55 Gas, $19 Subway


January 23 $0 :cool1:


January 24 $72 Target, $19 lunch, $9 to wash my horribly dirty car


12/15 No Buy Days
 














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