July 2011 No Buy Thread - Let the savings sparks fly!

[charming23]

Another $0 day to end the month. I felt like it was a good month and hope to do this well next month.

July 2011 Budget

Groceries/Household- $300/$17.47 Left
Cat Supplies- $30/-.18 left
Car/Gas- $70/$45.43 Left
Eating Out- $50/$12.24 left
Misc/Entertainment- $100/$53.76 Left

Total- $550/$128.72 Left

Goal of 15 No Buy Days

7/1- $84.72 Grocery/Household, $15.18 Cat Supplies, and $24.57 Gas
7/2- $0
7/3- $0
7/4- $18.06 Giant Eagle/Groceries
7/5- $0
7/6- $22.33 Target/Misc and $8.06 lunch at Wendy's
7/7- $16.89 Groceries and $9.27 Lunch
7/8- $0
7/9- $0
7/10- $0
7/11- $0
7/12- $3.15 Starbucks and $15 Groceries
7/13- $0
7/14- $14.52 Lunch Out and $23.91 Consignment shop (4 bottoms for me, 1 for my mom and a new bathrobe for her)
7/15- Kelley's Island
7/16- Kelley's Island
7/17- Kelley's Island
7/18- $48.08 Aldi's and $15 cat supplies
7/19- $0
7/20- $0
7/21- $0
7/22- $0
7/23- $0
7/24- $8.55 grocery
7/25- $0
7/26- $2.76 Donuts from bakery
7/27- $0
7/28- $0
7/29- $0
7/30- $91.23 Groceries
7/31- $0

18/15 No Buy Days

Coupon/ Store Savings- $20.20

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 13/8 (new goal 15)
Gas : 132$ (max 140$)
Groceries : 122$ (max 200$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 245$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 470$ (max 400$)

01/07 : 5$ (greeting card)
02/07 : 113$ (DH's gift, snack)
03/07 : 16$ (movie)
04/07 : 178$ (dinner + movie)
05/07 : 41$ (gas)
06/07 : 12$
07/07 : 0$
08/07 : 43$ (haircut)
09/07 : 0$
10/07 : 0$
11/07 : 0$
12/07 : 46$ (groceries)
13/07 : 0$
14/07 : 189$ (shoes + gas + ice cream)
15/07 : 0$
16/07 : 46$ (walmart + dinner)
17/07 : 0$
18/07 : 0$
19/07 : 38$ (food + gas)
20/07 : 16$ (ice cream + exercise tank top)
21/07 : 5$ (greeting card)
22/07 : 0$
23/07 : 33$ (lunch + snacks)
24/07 : 0$
25/07 : 0$
26/07 : 86$ (gas + cat stuff)
27/07 : 0$
28/07 : 25$ (groceries)
29/07 : 66$ (walmart)
30/07 : 0$
31/07 : 10$ snacks

 

[wlake]

Not many of us still around this month! . Still, we made it! I didn't quite meet my goals but it looks like the rest of you did!

Here are my goals:
no buy days: 9/10 (it's always harder when I'm home full time!)
longest no buy streak: 3 (I really want to extend this to 4!)
dinners out: 4/4 (not counting traveling)
current no dinners out streak: 2
longest no dinners out streak: 14

7/1: $35 gas
7/2: Oh my. We were visiting my MIL, so... $9 bagels, $46 Trader Joe's, $17 IKEA, $10 dinner on the road home
7/3: $27 groceries
7/4: $8 ice cream
7/5: $12 Kohl's, $19 Walmart, $130 Princess Half registration
7/6:
7/7:
7/8: errand day, so too much to remember numbers for at the moment: haircuts for the boys, lunch out, new sunglasses, fabric, gas, Target
7/9: $25 Lowe's, $8 blueberry picking, $200 deposit for our Feb. WDW trip!
7/10: $60 at the town's fair. Why are country fairs so expensive?
7/11: errand day for the week, so $51 groceries, $82 Target, and $9 Staples as well as I-can't-remember Land's End
7/12:
7/13:
7/14:
7/15: $10 ice cream
7/16: $7 blueberry picking, $32 Children's Place, $50 photos, $35 Christmas Tree Shop
7/17: $10 JoAnne's, $12 Walmart, $29 dinner (all good streaks must come to an end sometime!). Edited to add $50 gas and $5 Tupperware
7/18:
7/19:
7/20: $8 dinner, $9 boogie board, $80 new shoes
7/21: $6 ice cream, $9 groceries, $7 blueberry picking, $2 fabric
7/23: Lowe's and Target
7/24: dinner out, clothes for me
7/25: Target, BJ's, pharmacy
7/26:
7/27: groceries and clothes for me
7/28: dinner out (to celebrate finding out who the boys will have as teachers next year!)
7/29: $8 berry picking (actually I've reversed these two days, but oh well!)
7/30: minor league baseball game $24
7/31: A surprise no buy today!

 

[Debbie]

Finishing up the month....with a $0.

Unfortunately, this is going to be an expensive month for me.

1. DD will be home (I think) from Egypt for the last week or two.
2. I'm off for the summer, and my sanity is sending DH (SAHD) out to shop
3. Need to get the garage door replaced.
4. House needs repairs: painting, carpet, blinds etc.
5. Changing classrooms means updating some things.
6. I'm going 'over the river' to a Daily Café workshop with "The Sisters"

Oh, well, here's the budget as it stands.

Budget: Actual (last month expenses)
Gas: $600 $381 ($535) Allowing for some vacation driving
Groceries/Household: $600 $706 ($512)
Drug co-pays/medicine/lens: $40 $0 ($75)
Misc including gifts: $500 $357 ( $816 ) Not counting the garage door, or the hotel/expenses for the Daily Café workshop that I'm going to
Pool expenses: $200 $50 ($0)
Dining: $200 $126($81) Upped this for our 'vacation' mode
University incidentals expenses: $250 $158 (N/A)

July 1: $0 (Thank Heaven's for HOLIDAYS!)
July 2: gas $33, groceries $38, market (more groceries!) $15
July 3: gifts $43, household wasp spray/foam stuff $25 (really want to get rid of those suckers!)
July 4: gas $10
July 5: gas $40, groceries $33
July 6: Worked in the classroom with DD and DNephew all morning, so I bought them Subway $14, and paid DN $10, Anniversary dinner out $60
July 7: Gas $32
July 8: University stuff $120, vet $63, Christmas Shopping (great sale + $25 'gift' cards to reduce the amount to...) $74
July 9: $0
July 10: $0
July 11: Pool supplies $41, groceries $45, gas $46
July 12: groceries $61
July 13: DH topped up the gas $24, groceries $114
July 14: $0
July 15: Drumsticks (ice cream) and whipped cream (for my raspberries) $8
July 16: Picked up a gorgeous summer bedspread for my bedroom at the second hand store. No more yucky, old, fraying, polyester backing for ME! $17, MORE groceries $55, chinese food $28
July 17: $0 (still eating the Chinese food!) And although my 'goal' is 10, I said I'd be ecstatic with 5 no buy days....and I made it!
July 18: Holy Cow! ANOTHER $0
July 19: gas $46
July 20: gas $15 (that DH loves to top up!), drugstore items $63, lunch for DDs who sweltered and worked in my classroom $24
July 21: school stuff $35 groceries $34
July 22: gas $43.45
July 23: groceries $168
July 24: $0
July 25: University stuff $38
July 26: $0
July 27: gas $41, groceries $40
July 28: groceries $20
July 29: Costco run! YIKES! $175, but I had my yearly rebate, bringing it down to $75, wine $13
July 30: gas $51, pipe for pool cleaner $9
July 31: $0


No Buy Days: 8/10

 

[Debbie]

August No Buy/Track My Spending Thread HERE!

 

[ariamac]

Ok... so I did not do very well in June... but it was my first time keeping track of what I spend day by day.

Here's to a better July!

No Buy Days - 6/6 - woohoo, I did it, with 2 more weeks to go, let's try for another 3 No buy days! 3/3
Under $10 Days - 4/6
Eating out/Delivery/Fast Food - 12/6
Total Budget for this month - $700 (combined with BF)
Running total: $1282.44

My birthday is at the end of the month!!! Yay!!! and I want to have a themed "UP" party, so I will be spending some money on decor, plates, cups, etc. I have a friend's birthday close to mine as well so, I need to buy a gift towards the end of the month... besides that, there are really no exceptions.... except, I purchased a DSLR camera on Canada Day!! lol (I've wanted one for a while and finally found a pretty great deal so I jumped on it!!) I am not including the purchase in my daily breakdown.

We are also saving for our September Disney trip that we just booked two weeks ago

I'm gonna keep track of both BF and I's spending this month.


July 1 - $0 (BF bought $8 McDonalds though!!)
July 2 - $20 (farmer's market), $28 (Pizzaza for dinner), $25 (BF bought us Lunch), $74 (BF bought headphones)
July 3 - $0 (BF $25 traditional Sunday Breakfast)
July 4 -$48.82 (hot dog - lunch, groceries)
July 5 - $0 (BF $15 for his lunch, yogen fruz and slushie after dinner)
July 6 -$10 (coins for laundry), BF spent $7 at McDonalds for lunch grr
July 7 - $1.60 Tea (yeah I know I blew a no buy day :'(.... though I was under the impression I was gonna spend more throughout the day so that's an accomplisment )
July 8 - $60 (lunch, dinner, camera bag)
July 9 - $24.50 (air conditioner foam, ice team, mango drink for bf, hamburger buns), (BF spent approx $20 on lunch)
July 10 - $84 (groceries), (BF $21 lunch)
July 11 - $0
July 12 - $0
July 13 - $1.60 Tea (yeah I know I blew a no buy day :'(.... though I was under the impression I was gonna spend more with BF after work... so good news, I only spent $1.60 ) (BF spent $4.52 on gatorade)
July 14 -$24 (ordered pizza for dinner)
July 15 - $95 (lunch, Winnie the Pooh movie tickets, grocery store, Ratatoullie Blu Ray & ice cream snack)
July 16 - $0
July 17 - approx $50 (Sunday breakfast, some groceries)
July 18 - $9.76 (gelato, ice cream)
July 19 - $115 (Vicky's birthday gift, keyboard, dinner date - I spent approx $65, BF spent the rest)
July 20 - $7 (ice tea, mailing supplies) plus BF went to the grocery store, I don't know how much he spent
July 21 -$16 (lunch, glue, tissue paper) I sold my first thing on Etsy so I earned 18.50 from it
July 22 - $26
July 23 - $126 (lunch, Medieval Times (friend's bday celebration) BF bought me a Disney book for my bday)
July 24 -$124 (birthday supplies, ice cream, more birthday/baking supplies... and let's just say I went a little over board! I was also a sucker for the glass bottle Grape Soda, cause I finally found some and I'm having an UP themed bday party)
July 25 - $75 (groceries, pharmacy - prescription, dollar store)
July 26 -$0
July 27 - BF spent $45 on dinner for us, $0 for me
July 28 -$30 baking suplies, groceries & $20 South St.
July 29 -$50 BF - my birthday dinner, $0 ME
July 30 - $47 lunch & puzzle/game store, $42 BF lunch, towels, mug
July 31 - $23 grocery store


CONCLUSION:
While I went over my no-buy day goal(s)....(YAY!!!) I still spent way too much money! What contributed the most was going out to eat (no surprise there) and I also bought a bunch of party supplies for my bday... (thankfully my bday only comes once a year!!) I have no birthdays in August and I need to buckle down as we're going to Disney World in September and we need to save, save, save.... but also my 1 year of 'carefree-ness' is up. What I mean by this is.... I graduated last summer, and got my first full-time job last August. I told myself I have a year to be a little care-free with money as I worked so hard while I went to school, especially in terms of earning my degree without earning ANY debt!!! So I've had some fun over the past year.... which explains 2 trips to Disney World lol... but now I need to get strict, budget appropriately and start saving for a home )

Here's to an awesome August!!!

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

Boy I am so far behind. Guess time does fly when your having fun. lol

07/01 -0-This should have been an expensive day. We went to the beach and stopped at the casino on the way home. We won enough money to cover all expenses today...And even had a little extra.
07/02 -0-cheer2: Stayed home and did yard work. And swam in the pool -0-
07/03 -0- Another day at home.
07/04 $27.00 groceries. Nice day by the pool with DH, DD and a couple of friends.
07/05 -0- Spent the day on the lake tubing. Used all our left overs from yesterdays mini picnic. What a great way to end our 5 days off. Tomorrow is back to work.
07/06 $50.00 gas
07/07 $52.00 Costco's. Really spent $68.00 but my office will reemberse me for $32.00
07/08 $30.00 Sonic for 4. This was a money saver. We were actually on our way to a local fair when it started storming.
07/09 $25.00 tokens for the local "Taste of Our town". $2.00 for a bottle of water.
07/10 -0-Money maker today..Had an awesome lia party.
07/11 -0-
07/12 $87.00 $57.00 goceries. Stocked up on sale items. $30.00 gas.
07/13-0-
07/14$53.00 2 $25.00 gift cards and a birthday card for DNephew
07/15 $15.00 Target. Saved $12.00 in coupons
07/16 $80.00 in gas $40.00 for my van and $40.00 for the boat.
Spent the day with family celebrating my DNephews birthday.
07/17 -0- Went to church and then back home. Relaxed for the whole day by the pool
07/18 $30.00 $24.00 Walmart and $6.00 Subway broke down and bought lunch out today.
07/19 -0- To hot to do anything. Work and pool.
07/20$12.00 eat out at a jewelry bingo party.
07/21 -0- Another hot day.
07/22 $60.00 $12.00 at Target, but, saved $23.00 in coupons $48.00 btwn Costcos and Shop Rite.
07/23 $34.00 $24.00 eating out with DD. We actually went out to go shopping for Sr. picture outfits,but couldn't find anything she liked. So, we saved money really. lol And treated ourselved to DQ later in the night.
07/24 -0- Church and the back home for the day.
I failed in keeping track for the last week. But, I know I didn't spend anything big. I'll try to do better for Aug.

Auto: $120.00/$200
Groceries/Household Goods:$208.00/$200.00
Eating Out/Entertainment: $107.00/$100.00
Misc:$65.00/$200
No Buy days10/10 reached my goal
Coupon savings $93.00

 

[ronnmel]

CONCLUSION:
While I went over my no-buy day goal(s)....(YAY!!!) I still spent way too much money! What contributed the most was going out to eat (no surprise there) and I also bought a bunch of party supplies for my bday... (thankfully my bday only comes once a year!!) I have no birthdays in August and I need to buckle down as we're going to Disney World in September and we need to save, save, save.... but also my 1 year of 'carefree-ness' is up. What I mean by this is.... I graduated last summer, and got my first full-time job last August. I told myself I have a year to be a little care-free with money as I worked so hard while I went to school, especially in terms of earning my degree without earning ANY debt!!! So I've had some fun over the past year.... which explains 2 trips to Disney World lol... but now I need to get strict, budget appropriately and start saving for a home )

Here's to an awesome August!!!

First, I think it was an awesome idea to allow yourself 1 year of "carefree spendings" as a reward for not only graduating, but graduating with no debt. Congrats!

And even though you may have spent more money than you intended to, at least you kept track of it all, which will make coming up with a reasonable budget that works for you much easier. Plus, it's summer so it's normal to spend more.



No Buy Days : 13/8 (new goal 15) Gas : 132$ (max 140$, 8$ under)
Groceries : 122$ (max 200$, 78$ under)
Eating out (and snacks) : 245$ (max 100$, 145$ over)
Non-necessities : 470$ (max 400$, 70$ over)
Total : 969$

Conclusion:
I didn't quite make my second no-buy goal, but I knew it was a long shot. Plus, I went waaaayyyyy over my first goal, so I'm happy.
I was right on the money with gas.
I was way under for my goceries, but it's easy to see why : I ate out all the time! It was just too hot to cook. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Though really, if you take away the very expensive birthday dinner, I actually was within budget.
Non-necessities I went over as well, but I always spend more in the summer. Plus,DH's birthday is in July and I love to spoil him with gifts.