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

[3goofyboys]

MickeyMomofThree, I hope you're feeling better soon. Being sick is the worst and you've been such a trooper!

 

[QVCshopper]

MickeyMom, your illness sounds so much like what my DD had last year. She had the stomach thing for two rounds, dizzy, fever, etc. At one point, I was on my knees praying for her to get better. She was that sick. Pretty sure it was H1N1 or some type of flu. It lasted at least 10 days, but she didn't get dehydrated because I kept giving her Popsicles and pedialyte. She lost a lot of weight for a five year old. Anyway, here's hoping for a quick mend for you! Glad you went to the doctor, or it could have gotten worse.

 

[Virgderon]

January 18-$0 Sick in bed
January 19-$0 Sick in bed
January 20-$0 Sick in bed
January 21-$0 Sick in bed
January 22-$0 Sick in bed
January 23-$0 Sick in bed
January 24-$0 Sick in bed, but finally starting to feel more normal!
January 25-$0 Still sick
January 26-$0 Took a turn for the worse. $40 copay, $150 ER copay (dr sent us right there) and $5 RX copay, but I don't count medical. Spent the entire day and night in the ER and feel no different. BUT, I had 2 bags of fluids in me so hoping tomorrow is a better day.

Wow. This is such a long time. Sending my best thoughts that you will be better soon.

 

[charming23]

Awww, thanks so much everyone for your wel wishes.

I thought I was feeling better (and was flu wise) so my DH asked me if I would please try and eat a little for him. This was Tuesday night. He made me a couple perogis. Very bland, nothing on them. Within a half hour or so they were not staying in. The stomach part was back, actually probably never left. I had not eaten anything for 8 days at that point. It was then that I realized I needed to go to the doctor. When we got there, they couldn't find a BP on me. They had me lay down and could get a weak one, but sitting up nothing and my heart would race, so they said I was dehydrated and sent us to the hospital. When we got there hey couldn't get a vein cause I was so far dehydrated. So I got 2 bags of fluids and an anti-nausea med in and IV and then came home. I still can't eat, I am taking a sip and hour to try and not get dehydrated again. So, in the end while I got the flu (or some sort of respitory thing) in the middle, it's the stomach virus that is keeping me down. I have to say I slept all night last night (they said the meds would do that, and I am so thankful they did.) I just got my youngest DD off to school and I am going to go back to bed. I am still dizzy but not nearly as much as I was before. Safe to say today will be another no spend for me. Bummer too, DH has a B1G1 dinner coupon and we havne't been on a date in a week and a half (an yo uall know how I like those dates!) But today it isn't meant to be. Hopefully soon, but staying in bed again today.

Thank you again, you are all sooooo sweet!!!

You poor thing. It sounds like so much more than just a flu. I hope you can start keeping fluids and food in your system.

 

[bigmama67]

So far today I got a 2-year subscription to PARENTS Magazine for $6 (hopefully the Amazon diaper coupons alone will cover that!) And I got DD a really cute wooden stroller from JC Penney (originally $49.99) for FREE! I just got a $10 rewards coupon in the mail the other day and there wasn't really anything I wanted...then I saw this and it was marked down to $9.99. I'm having it shipped to the store 15 minutes away for pickup, so it won't cost me a cent. YEAH!

So I would say this is a good budget day, if not a no-buy one!

 

[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 12/14
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
1/27 $0

 

[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
Jan 27 $0 - I'm calling it since dinner is in the slowcooker & I have no reason to spend I made my goal!! THis is the best I have done in the 3 months on the No-Buy group... I am super excited!! And I am sure that I will have a day or two more before the end of the month


14/14 no buy days

 

[Tiggerish]

MickeyMomOfThree, here is some extra pixie dust for you. You might want to try popsicles to help get liquids. I have even made homemade ones out of gatoraid so I could sneak in some electrolics.

fairyprincess1 - Congrats on making your goal and having a good month.

 

[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 15/10. 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.
01/26 -0-
01/27 -0-Another snow day kind of. Spent the day at a funeral. Home now and later out to attend yet another wake.
Tomorrow will be a big spend day. I'm picking up my bulk meats at the wholesalers. But this meat will last me for a few months.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

Fairyprincess - Way to go!!!

MickeyMomOfThreeHope you are the mend soon!!

 

[Virgderon]

I see a lot of people making their goals. Congratulations! I am glad I made my goal so easy, because I am struggling a bit to get them.

Running Total: Spent $854
$950 budget...$96 left
$0 Days: 8
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings :114

Groceries budget- $250 -11-36-6-11-19-17= 153 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
January 26: 17 ( Walgreens- totally bad on me. I bought pop , cracker jacks, donuts and bread. Not a healthy thing in the whole pile. )

 

[bigmama67]

OK so totals for today:

$6 for Parents Magazine 2 year subscription;
14 cents for 4 lollipops at Staples (used Rewards coupon!) - after-dinner treat
$0 for JC Penney order (toy stroller for DD); and
9 cents for 3 pound bag of cat food at Shop Rite (used $5 off and $1 off coupons)!
Total for today: $6.23!

Definitely one of my better savings days!

Now off to try a new pizza dough recipe for dinner.

 

[fairyprincess1]

fairyprincess1 - Congrats on making your goal and having a good month.

Fairyprincess - Way to go!!!

Thanks... This is the most No buy days I have had, so that makes me so happy If I can squeeze 2 more in, I will be happy because that means I didn't spend for half the month...

This month I have been tracking my spending so I can find the holes for what I am spending on that I can cut back on...

 

[#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.
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
1/24 - $30 deposit for ds's bday party at Chuck E. Cheese
1/25 - $75 for cleaning lady
1/26 - Walgreens - $15.32 - saved $15.30 in coupons and received $7 in register rewards.
1/27 - $0


No Spend
10/10

MMoT - I hope you are feeling better soon. Brings back memories of my first pregnancy when I was admitted to the hospital for dehydration because my morning sickness was so bad. I wouldn't wish that on anyone!

 

[charming23]

I met a friend for coffee this morning and then ran a few errands. I did pick up some food items at Walmart along with toilet paper and paper towels. I also drove through Wendy's used a valentine coupong for a free drink and got a jr hamburger for cheap.

Groceries/household- $300/ $17.24 left
Pet Supplies- $30/ $0 Left
Car/gas- $50/ $27.52 left
Eating out- $50/ $3.09 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/ $57.95 left

Total- $530/ $75.70 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- $3.65 Starbucks, $24.90 WalMart, and $1.07 Wendy's
1/28
1/29
1/30
1/31

17/15 No Buy Days

Store and coupon savings- $49.09

 

[ronnmel]

Today won't be a no-buy day. We had some meat out of the freezer for tonight, but we both don't feel like cooking so we ordered out. Oops.

I hope the pizza is good though!


No Buy Days : 14/15
Gas : 98$ (max 100$)
Groceries : 201$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 85$ (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$
27/01 : 10$ (pizza - sharing the cost)

 

[wlake]

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:
1/27: (waking up to a foot of snow in the driveway helps!)


no buy days: 12/10 (I made it on 1/24!)
meals out: 5/5
longest streak: 3!

 

[QVCshopper]

Yet another s[no]w day!

15/15 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
1/27-$0

 

[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
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
1/24 - $0
1/25 - $0
1/26 - $0 (So wanted take out for lunch, but wasn't about to risk life and limb on the snowy roads. But I got my goal!)
1/27 - $0
1/28 -
1/29 -
1/30 -
1/31 -

OMG I want to get out of my house and don't CARE if I have to spend to do so. I'm so sick of being snowed in!!!

16/15 No Buys!!

 

[thebigkahuna]

January goal is no 10 $pend days

01-02-11 no $pend day #1.
01-03-11 no $pend day #2.
01-07-11 no $pend day # 3!
01-10-11 no $pend day # 4!
01-11-11 no $pend day # 5!
01-16-11 no $pend!! # 6
01-18-11 No $pend day # 7 !! I'm so proud of me! I spent my lunch hour paying bills, and ate what I brought! YEAH!
01-19-11 spent money today *whoops!* LOL
01-20-11 spent money today too - (I did eat the lunch I packed tho ) will need gas in the car before the weekend (I'm using more gas than I used to, I need to adjust my budget) and have run out of a few things at home, so need to stop by the grocery store. (that's the ONLY budgeted purchase today!)
01-21-11 spent money today old habits die hard!
uh oh, it's the weekend...wish me luck!
01-22-11 spent money on breakfast
01-23-11 No spend day # 8!!
lets pack those lunches!
01-24-11 packed lunch, but spent the day at the auto mechanics. Unexpected spend, but could have been much worse. (and I used a $10.00 off coupon!!)
01-25-11 packed breakfast & lunch today - but went out to lunch. will need gas soon too -
01-26-11 money spent today
01-27-11 spent money again today too - my friend at work is moving far away soon, and I've been saying yes to lunch more often. Pretty soon, we won't have the chance to have lunch together at all.
01-28-11 budgeted spending today - bills, gas, groceries. the normal stuff!
01-29-11
01-30-11
01-31-11

8 of 10 days