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

[Beezle2]

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
1/10 $0
1/11 $2.50 for gum and diet coke. Stopped at Aldis and spent $32 from the grocery budget so $75 left there.
1/12 $0
1/13 $1.49 for a diet pepsi
1/14 Spent $99 at the grocery store though and am now over the budget I had wanted for that. Saved $39 with coupons and sales. Also $50 for dogfood and $50 to gas up the van.
1/15 $0

1/16 $27 to take the family to the movies. Dh, dd, and I saw Season of the Witch. We thought it was a stinker and wish we had the money back At least the popcorn was good, and free. I used my free coupons for that and points from the loyalty card to get sodas. My older dd and grandson saw Green Hornet and they said it was pretty good but not great.

1/17 $0 no school for me so I stayed home and did homework all day.

1/18 $0

1/19 spent $2.00 on gum. I just love that new Key Lime Pie gum and Walgreen had it on sale for 50c. Today made the 19th day with no sugar and the gum helps after dinner when I would usually want dessert.

1/20 $2 at Wendys because I had a carb attack on the way home from school last night. Tried their new french fries -meh- didn't eat them all. Need to vow to bring a better snack for the ride home.

1/21 Carp, am I over budget on groceries! Spent another $133 to bring me up to $157 over! What was I thinking at $150 for the month?! I'm really going to try and make it the rest of the month on what is here plus some milk but this is hard! My usual monthly bills for food are around $400 for our family of 4 and I'm having a tough time getting under that. I at least "saved" $65 with coupons and sales. Also spent $54 for gas.

1/22 $0 Should be a no buy day because I'm staying home to do housework and my homework. Yes, it was a no buy day

1/23 $8.50 for dd and I to see Tangled. That was a cute one and we enjoyed it.

1/24 $0

1/25 $0

1/26
1/27
1/28
1/29
1/30
1/31

 

[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: Took dd, dgd and dgs to IHOP for lunch $35.00 ( plus I had a 20% off coupon I took with me and forgot to use! argh), watch battery, $5.00
Jan. 18: AT
Jan. 19: DISNEYLAND
Jan. 20: DITTO
Jan. 21: DITTO
Jan. 22: DITTO
Jan. 23: DITTO
Jan. 24: $19.15 (groceries)
Jan. 25: $10.00 gas..and I should have noticed this and and bought yesterday It's clear I won't meet goal this month..birthday dinner for DD BF tomomorrow (need gift and bringing a dish) and then other planned things other days. February will be easier since we aren't going to Disney (although not near as fun)
Jan. 26
Jan. 27
Jan. 28
Jan. 29
Jan. 30
Jan. 31

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

Wow. I was looking at some of your no buy lists and some of you go weeks without buying hardly any groceries! How do you do that? I guess you have a lot stockpiled in the pantry?! Anyway, good for you! I wish I could do that!

Yes stockpiling and buying in bulk helps me alot. It's really not that hard to do. Start out slow. If you see something you buy often on sale, instead of buying the one or 2 why not buy 5 or 6. You will save money in the long run on the cost of the item plus gas from not having to go to the store all the time. Watching the sales and nowing your prices is key. Each time you go into the grocery store pick up a couple extra of something you always buy, The next time you go in stock up on something else. Before you know it you won't have to go to the store every week.....And your saving money!!!!

Here's an example. Last winter there was a great sale on Tide at CVS that also gave you back ECBs. We purchased enough Tide to last us until last week. Over the last 2 weeks Arizona Ice Tea has been on sale fro $1.99. We usually pay $3.49 or higher. So, while it was on sale I purchased approx 25 bottles. (thank goodness for gc's from Christmas.) Some weeks may cost you more in grocerys when you stock up, but, again if you break it down as to what you wouldn't have paid when it's not on sale. You save alot.
I hope this helps.

 

[bigmama67]

Great explanation about stockpiling! I am waiting to do this next week with the February grocery budget...Acme has meats 4/$20 and we can get a whole chicken for $5 (oven stuffer roaster, BIG) and turkey tenderloins for $5 (usually $7.99). I can't wait to stock up! They do this every 3 months so I plan to get about $100 worth of meat.

I also get "Manager Specials" meat when they have something. I've learned, though, that even if it's dated a day or two later than when you buy it, it's best to freeze it right away unless cooking it that very same day.

Also bulk warehouses are helpful for some things. I buy a 10-pound bag of boneless, skinless chicken breast at Costco for $19.99. That lasts the whole month! Organic carrots are $6.99 for a 10 pound bag at Costco; then I cut them up and make about 8 quart-size freezer bags. That's less than $1 per pound - even the non-organic can't be much cheaper!

Lastly - I'm finding it's SO helpful to have the month's menu planned. About to start putting together the shopping list and coupons for February. I haven't even been tempted to eat out all month! Very happy about that.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

I've been off the Boards for a few days. I know to busy for the Boards 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 $49/$50
Misc. $170./$100

No spend days goal is 13/10. No Spend goal met.
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)
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.
01/24 $2.00 Soup for lunch. Went home on lunch break to eat and instead I took a nap. zzzzzz
01/25$150.00 funeral flowers and a rememberance lamp.

 

[fairyprincess1]

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
Jan 24 spend
Jan 25 $0



12/14 no buy days

 

[charming23]

Wow. I was looking at some of your no buy lists and some of you go weeks without buying hardly any groceries! How do you do that? I guess you have a lot stockpiled in the pantry?! Anyway, good for you! I wish I could do that!

I have been using my stockpile from the freezer and pantry this month. Over the summer we got some really great deals on meats and froze then into portions for dinners to save us money.

Calling today a no spend. We are going out to dinner for my Grandma's 91st birthday tonight but we have a giftcard to the place we are going.

Groceries/household- $300/ $42.14 left
Pet Supplies- $30/ $0 Left
Car/gas- $50/ $27.52 left
Eating out- $50/ $7.81 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/ $57.95 left

Total- $530/ $105.32 left

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

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- $17.68 Aldi's and $9.45 Jersey Mikes
1/26- $0
1/27
1/28
1/29
1/30
1/31

17/15 No Buy Days

Store and coupon savings- $48.09

 

[Tiggerish]

kelcoppens- mine is low because I am a one person household and I do the stockpiling and menu planning.

This was a major change for me. I used to be a lets decide on the way home from work what to eat for dinner and stop and buy it. That leads to alot of eating out and unnecessary buying because I was in the the grocery store almost every day.

Virgderon - I forgot to thank you for the kinds words about my giving so thanks. It was a unique experience. I got to the train station very early so started looking around for some place to get coffee. There was a young lady with a little boy who approached me asking for money for food. I asked her where to get coffee and she told me where the MacDonald's was. I then asked her if she and her little boy wanted to have lunch with me and they did. We had a very interesting conversation during lunch and when I got up to leave I thought she was going to ask me for money again but instead she said thank you and not just for the meal but "because you treated me like a real person". I think because I am using a rolling walker and it is an apparent struggle for me to walk, many, many total strangers has been kind to me with opening doors, getting stuff off store shelves, etc. so I try to do what I can also.

 

[Tiggerish]

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 12/13
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
1/25 $0
1/26 $0

 

[bigmama67]

Spent $34.46 at Staples yesterday on a new handset for our multi-cordless set (I put one through the washing machine...ARGH!) and an electric pencil sharpener (I'm tired of having to help DS hunt for them and sharpen them manually every day)...

We are WAY over on household budget this month! Yikes.

Today will FINALLY be no-buy day #5 though...so I'll make my goal! Hoping to get one more in before the end of the month.

 

[Virgderon]

Aww Tiggerish I would have done that too. No child should be hungry.

$12 on gas today and that's it.

Running Total: Spent $837
$950 budget...$113 left
$0 Days: 8
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)
Janaury 25: 0
January 25: 12

 

[Debbie]

Updating between report cards.

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 ), but not my money. I did spend $40 on Flavour-Seal rolls 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. 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
Jan 11: DH does grocery shopping.....While he spent $66, we had a gift card for $50, so we really only spent $16
Jan 12: There's that gas again! $36 And, DH bought the new winter tires that the car needed....another $421 (which includes 1 can of Pringles . Luckily, my mom gave us money for Christmas that will cover that expense.)
Jan 13: $0
Jan 14: $0
Jan 15: Costco $42 gas (again!) $43
Jan 16: prediction: $35 for brunch tip/gas/Timmies to get there (It's a theatre brunch [Joseph! And the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat--one of my fav's] and the tickets were paid for last year--just the tip today ) Actual $25
Jan 17: $0
Jan 18: DH's usual shopping was limited to $30
Jan 19: DH picked up the green tea that the store didn't have last night....$21....either that was REALLY expensive tea, or he bought more than the tea He DOES like to shop! Also, another registered letter to DD in Egypt $13; gas $28 (added this-DH gave me the receipt this morning)
Jan 20: $0
Jan 21: pop $8
Jan 22: a biggie....groceries at 3 stores (but food to last the next week or two, and with 1 teen, 1 "adult" (+GF) son, and 1 "eat anything/everything" DH, that's a GOOD thing) $127 and gas...again $37
Jan 23: $0 SUCCESS!
Jan 24: $0
Jan 25: prescription $1, groceries $41 Unfortunately DH didn't buy gas (he always does on Tuesday), so that will be on today's or tomorrow's. Won't add today's until I know for sure.....back to reports!
Jan 26: gas $37

11/10 no buy days!

 

[fairyprincess1]

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
Jan 24 spend
Jan 25 $0
Jan 26 spend


13/14 no buy days

 

[Beezle2]

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
1/10 $0
1/11 $2.50 for gum and diet coke. Stopped at Aldis and spent $32 from the grocery budget so $75 left there.
1/12 $0
1/13 $1.49 for a diet pepsi
1/14 Spent $99 at the grocery store though and am now over the budget I had wanted for that. Saved $39 with coupons and sales. Also $50 for dogfood and $50 to gas up the van.
1/15 $0

1/16 $27 to take the family to the movies. Dh, dd, and I saw Season of the Witch. We thought it was a stinker and wish we had the money back At least the popcorn was good, and free. I used my free coupons for that and points from the loyalty card to get sodas. My older dd and grandson saw Green Hornet and they said it was pretty good but not great.

1/17 $0 no school for me so I stayed home and did homework all day.

1/18 $0

1/19 spent $2.00 on gum. I just love that new Key Lime Pie gum and Walgreen had it on sale for 50c. Today made the 19th day with no sugar and the gum helps after dinner when I would usually want dessert.

1/20 $2 at Wendys because I had a carb attack on the way home from school last night. Tried their new french fries -meh- didn't eat them all. Need to vow to bring a better snack for the ride home.

1/21 Carp, am I over budget on groceries! Spent another $133 to bring me up to $157 over! What was I thinking at $150 for the month?! I'm really going to try and make it the rest of the month on what is here plus some milk but this is hard! My usual monthly bills for food are around $400 for our family of 4 and I'm having a tough time getting under that. I at least "saved" $65 with coupons and sales. Also spent $54 for gas.

1/22 $0 Should be a no buy day because I'm staying home to do housework and my homework. Yes, it was a no buy day

1/23 $8.50 for dd and I to see Tangled. That was a cute one and we enjoyed it.

1/24 $0

1/25 $0

1/26 $0

1/27
1/28
1/29
1/30
1/31

 

[MommyBell08]

Haven't posted on this thread in a few months.. Time to start again Christmas got me all out of my good spending habits. I'm gonna start now, sorry its only 7 days...I need to get on board while I'm feeling motivated!

25th-$24.74-Groceries
26th-$13.34-Birthday Party stuff...
27th-
28th-(DS turns 3yo today!~)-
28th-
30th-(DS birthday party!~)-

 

[QVCshopper]

Another snow day means another no-buy day!

14/15 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; $22 Wegmans*; [-$36 Target returns]
1/11-$0
1/12-$0
1/13-$4 DD*, $21 Wegmans*, $37 Target toys
1/14-$1 Goodwill, $26 Gymboree*, $1 Disney Store, $16 Borders for 4 bags of Seattle's Best Coffee!
1/15-$0
1/16-$3.75 Target*/Car Wash/Redbox; $30.50 Wegmans*, $4 Maggianos*, $28 Gymboree*
1/17-$0
1/18-$0
1/19-$60 Wegmans*/Giant; $16 Target*; 3 miles
1/20-$0; 3 miles
1/21-$0
1/22-$0, 2 miles
1/23-Haircut: $9; Car wash: $2; Edible Arrangements: $21; Target: $44; Trader Joe's: $19; DD: $3
1/24-$18 Chinese food; $21 Genuardis
1/25-$26 Wegmans*
1/26-$0

 

[3goofyboys]

My goal for January is 15 no buy days.
Christmas is done, my DS's birthday is done. We have a few birthday parties to go to, but other than that, we don't have any big expenses coming up in January. I'm ready to get back on track after all the crazy holiday spending

January 1 $0 We're in for the day, so I'm calling it early. Hoping the $0 for today is a sign of good things in 2011!

January 2 Plans changed and I ended up going out for dinner tonight instead of tomorrow. So $50 for dinner and I went ahead and filled up with gas today $50 gas.

January 3 $0 Took the boys to the library and McDonalds, but we were given coupons this summer that allow one free Happy Meal per kiddo once a month, so we used those .

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.


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

January 19 $0 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


January 22 $55 Gas, $19 Subway


January 23 $0


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


January 25 $19 Beer...DH had a bunch of "honey do" items to get done today and he enjoys a beer while he's working. It's cheaper than a handy man!

January 26 $0


13/15 No Buy Days

 

[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
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!)
Jan 24: $0
Jan 25: $0
Jan 26: $13 on diapers (stockpiling now while there are great sales/coupons coming up before baby comes in May)

 

[wlake]

So many people are so close to their goals! We're almost there, everyone!

Where'sPiglet?, thanks for the well wishes! The pipe finally thawed out last night so not only do we have heat upstairs again, the pipe is in one piece! Still, I cringe to think of how much oil we burned through keeping the downstairs at 75 for 2 days. Thank goodness we prebought our oil last summer when it was cheaper!


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!)
1/18: $14 Lands' End (great clearance right now -- this is for a $50 rain jacket with a zip in liner for DS5!)
1/19: This is technically a no buy day -- we spent $6 at the craft store and $17 on dinner but it was all gc money. I'm not counting it as a no buy day, though. Edited to add: gas too!
1/20:
1/21: $7 photobook for my MIL
1/22: $3 Christmas Tree Shop (packs of Christmas shrinky-dinks were 14¢!), $150 BJ's (ouch), $11 gas, ? haircuts for the boys (DH has just taken them, do I don't know how much yet).
1/23: $ groceries (can't remember!)
1/24: (not counting the furnace bill until we get it! If the pipe is broken, we'll need another visit and it'll be one big bill.)
1/25: ? take out for dinner -- we felt like we deserved it since the pipe was still frozen!
1/26:


no buy days: 11/10 (I made it on 1/24!)
meals out: 5/5
longest streak: 3!

 

[ronnmel]

Wow. I was looking at some of your no buy lists and some of you go weeks without buying hardly any groceries! How do you do that? I guess you have a lot stockpiled in the pantry?! Anyway, good for you! I wish I could do that!

I don't write what my fiance spends, so if he's the one paying for groceries that day then it doesn't appear in here.

I want to start stockpiling, but I don't have a freezer (besides the small one in the fridge), so I can't freeze too much meat. I do buy other things in bulk, like toilet paper, and buy huge bottles of shampoo. I'm hoping to finally get motivated enough to at least start making a menu for the week and sticking to it.


No Buy Days : 14/15
Gas : 98$ (max 100$)
Groceries : 201$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 75$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 182$ (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$
24/01 : 66$ (books for my class)
25/01 : 0$
26/01 : 0$