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

[wlake]

Not off to a strong start!

Here are my goals:
no buy days: 0/10 (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: 0/4 (not counting traveling)
current no dinners out streak: 1
longest no dinners out streak: 12

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

 

[aprilfoolwed]

I think I am going to try joining in this month, although I know I won't be the best at it!

We just got back from WDW, so now we need to pay the bills!

So far, we're off to a decent start. Just a trip to Aldis and Sam's Club for a few groceries. I did send DH for take-out tonight, which was $23 for the 5 of us.

I am trying to tackle one area of our spending at a time. I'd like to start with non-food items - so clothing, toys, etc. Kohls takes way too much of my money! The kids, DH and I should be set for clothes and shoes through the end of the summer. I was noticing the boys will both need new socks soon, but I hope to wait until school starts for that.

So - I did go to Kohls tonight to return a pair of shorts that DH wanted for vacation (but they didn't fit) - and I didn't buy anything! Just did the return and came home.

Tomorrow we are going to my inlaws for a picnic, so it should be a no-spend day entirely. I am bringing fruit salad, and I bought the fruit at Aldis the other night, so no need to buy anything.

Happy 4th of July to those in the USA!

 

[roelongo]

First time doing this but it is definately necessary- I'll have two kids in college starting August. This month will be so hard, vacation planned and DS graduation party. Plus I need a new grill.

So here it goes:

July 2011 Budget
Expense Amount alloted Actual spent +/-
Groceries/Household- $400
Dog Supplies- $20
Car/Gas- $30
Eating Out- $200
Grad. Gifts- $300 150
Misc $100
Total- $1050

Goal of 10 No Buy Days


7/2- $37.17 grocery
7/3- $0
7/4-
7/5-
7/6- Lake George
7/7- Lake George
7/8- Lake George
7/9- Lake George
7/10-Lake George
7/11
7/12
7/13
7/14
7/15-
7/16-
7/17-
7/18-
7/19
7/20
7/21
7/22
7/23
7/24
7/25
7/26
7/27
7/28
7/29
7/30
7/31

1/15 No Buy Days

 

[Debbie]

I think I am going to try joining in this month, although I know I won't be the best at it!

We just got back from WDW, so now we need to pay the bills!

So far, we're off to a decent start. Just a trip to Aldis and Sam's Club for a few groceries. I did send DH for take-out tonight, which was $23 for the 5 of us.

I am trying to tackle one area of our spending at a time. I'd like to start with non-food items - so clothing, toys, etc. Kohls takes way too much of my money! The kids, DH and I should be set for clothes and shoes through the end of the summer. I was noticing the boys will both need new socks soon, but I hope to wait until school starts for that.

So - I did go to Kohls tonight to return a pair of shorts that DH wanted for vacation (but they didn't fit) - and I didn't buy anything! Just did the return and came home.

Tomorrow we are going to my inlaws for a picnic, so it should be a no-spend day entirely. I am bringing fruit salad, and I bought the fruit at Aldis the other night, so no need to buy anything.

Happy 4th of July to those in the USA!

I think targeting just one area is a good way to ease into any kind of budgeting. And not buying anything at Kohls? You are on your way!

First time doing this but it is definitely necessary- I'll have two kids in college starting August. This month will be so hard, vacation planned and DS graduation party. Plus I need a new grill.

Good luck! Just getting a record of how I spend my money helps me become aware of where I can cut back....and post secondary is EXPENSIVE!

 

[aprilfoolwed]

I think targeting just one area is a good way to ease into any kind of budgeting. And not buying anything at Kohls? You are on your way!

Yes, NOT buying at Kohls was a major victory for me! I can never do that! LOL

This month I want to target that spending, and hopefully tackle eating out next month.

 

[Virgderon]

Welcome to our new friends! I saw Larry Crowne today. It was very good, altho not quite what I was expecting.

Running Total: Spent $146
$1100 budget... $954 left
$0 Days: 2
Goal is 7 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 13

Groceries budget- $300-7= 293 left
Wedding shower budget - $600 -100= 500 left

July 1: 77 ( 25 to check DDs bag at airport, 17 gas, 35 misc stuff for DD)
July 2: 0
JUly 3: 0
July 4: 69 (26 shoes for my MOTB dress that ended up not matching, 17 Walgreens for pop and laundry detg, 10 gas , 16 movie)

 

[braysmommy]

New to this but want to figure out where the money goes so here I am! It is me and my DS5 plus my mom lives with us. So my goals for this month will be:
7 no buy days
2 nights eating out
Keep track of every penny spent!

So far:
7/1 gifts 38.93, grocery 18.84, pencil sharpener 11.41
7/2 0
7/3 21.06 groceries
7/4 0

Will need to buy groceries and gas tomorrow. My per diem hours were just cut back for this coming weekend....one less night away from home but less
money too I'm off during the summer so this is bonus vacation money, school tuition and winter oil money....noticed I listed them in order of importance

 

[neatokimmo]

July 4: 69 (26 shoes for my MOTB dress that ended up not matching, 17 Walgreens for pop and laundry detg, 10 gas , 16 movie)

Did they dye your shoes?

 

[charming23]

Happy 4th of July everyone! I hope everyone has a safe and fun day today!

This morning my grandma treated us to brunch and a movie, Larry Crowne. I stopped off at the grocery to get a few items we needed for some dinners this week.

July 2011 Budget

Groceries/Household- $300/$197.22 Left
Cat Supplies- $30/$14.82 left
Car/Gas- $70/$45.43 Left
Eating Out- $50
Misc/Entertainment- $100

Total- $550/$407.47 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
7/6
7/7
7/8
7/9
7/10
7/11
7/12
7/13
7/14
7/15- Kelley's Island
7/16- Kelley's Island
7/17- Kelley's Island
7/18
7/19
7/20
7/21
7/22
7/23
7/24
7/25
7/26
7/27
7/28
7/29
7/30
7/31

2/15 No Buy Days

Coupon/ Store Savings- $16.85

 

[charming23]

Welcome to our new friends! I saw Larry Crowne today. It was very good, altho not quite what I was expecting.

I saw that today as well. I enjoyed it but it was a little different than I expected.

 

[neatokimmo]

I spent $32.80 on gas today. BUT I drove right past mcdonalds and made some eggs for my dinner! It's so tempting to eat out on a 13 hr work day.

Balances: Grocery (118.43/150) Eating out (67.88/75) Biz (196.23/200)

7-4 $32.80
7-3 $21.26 ($104.24)
7-2 $66.71 (82.98)
7-1 $16.27[/QUOTE]

 

[hardingk]

Rough day today! 1/2 my budget is gone already and it's only the 4th! Groceries, Gas & DHwent to Movies to see Transformers 3 w/my cousin.

July
Overall budget: $265.08/$500
Groceries:$136.57/$250
Gas: 60.83/$100
Misc: $29.68/$50
Eating Out: $38/$100
$0 days: 2/15


July 1 $77.25 BJ's for Groceries & Cards/ $5.43 Target for items for our FE Exchange on the Dream/ $38 for Dinner at Red Robin
July 2 $0
July 3 $0
July 4 $60.83 for Gas/ $59.32 Groceries/ $24.25 Movies

 

[aprilfoolwed]

Happy 4th to you all!

I was hoping for a No Buy day, but did spend a little.

I had a few returns to make at Target, and since we had to pass one on the way to my inlaws, we stopped. I did return $15-worth of stuff. But they had girls jeans marked down to $2.48 and boys to $3.33 - so I picked up two pairs of girls and 3 of boys. So I spent $16 for 5 pairs - and that means I have almost NO SCHOOL SHOPPING to do in August! Worth spending the $16 now!

We also picked up a few soft pretzels and Icees for the drive to my inalw's house - $6.

So not a Zero Day, but not too bad.

Back to the grind tomorrow.... I am going to plan our weekly meals and head to the grocery store at night. Hoping to keep it under $100!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Thanks i did read it and thought i would come back and reply later but some days time just slips away

25 sleeps till we hit the USA this month needs to be a big saving one

Goals VS actual spent
US Dollars $4000
grocery's $500($157.58)
fuel $600($295)
Travel insurance $500
miscellaneous $100
8 no spend days
5 Under $20 days
July 1 $25 fuel $30supermarket
July 2 $260 fuel $127.58 supermarket
July 3 $0
July 4 i spent $201.07 at the Disney store on things for our trip i might have to make another category for this as i will be doing a fair bit of online shopping this month for stuff to be delivered to us during our trip
July 5
July 6

 

[annsteere]

I spent $32.80 on gas today. BUT I drove right past mcdonalds and made some eggs for my dinner! It's so tempting to eat out on a 13 hr work day.

Good one! Making that choice after a 13 hour day is a major accomplishment.

Virderon, your definitions of "stupid stuff" made me, and lots of other people laugh. You are part of what makes this board fun and motivating.

Everybody draws their own lines.

For me, going to McDonalds because I don't have any fresh lettuce in the house and it's easier than going to the grocery store means I lost the Battle of the Budget that day.

Going there on the road to visit my in laws might fall into "the best I can muster." I carry my own water which is better for my body and my wallet. But, I figure the stop is just a cost of being faithful to people who raised a great husband for me.

We've had company for 5 days. They were out for the day Sunday. On the way home from church I stopped at McDonalds for a slushie that I sipped on our deck alone, in the sunshine. That is a "good spend" and what my allowance is supposed to be for.

So far, no stupid buys for me this month.

 

[wlake]

Welcome to all of our new friends!

We ended up spending the evening at an urgent care center having DS6's chin glued back together. Both boys were terrific, so we took them out for ice cream afterwards as a treat. Worth giving up a no buy for!

Here are my goals:
no buy days: 0/10 (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: 0/4 (not counting traveling)
current no dinners out streak: 2
longest no dinners out streak: 12

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

 

[YukiPhnx]

I hope my American DISers had a good 4th of July yesterday! I celebrated by watching the movie, Independence Day. Ahhh, brings back memories

Yesterday was a $0 day! DBF surprised me by showing up to my school today! We pretty much live in 2 different cities and he took a "sick" day to visit me, so today's a $0 day too! Woohoo!


July
Overall budget: 30.07/400
Gas: 0/80
$0 days: 3/10

Misc.
Eating out: 0/5
Clothes: 0/4
The Body Shop: 0/2
Gifts: 0/2
U.S shopping: $50 (Since I can't declare any MORE than that)

1-$0 (Off to a good start!)
2-$1.05 (McDonald's iced coffee)
3-$29.02 (groceries)
___
$40-30.07=$9.93

(This will be longer cause of the "uneven-ness" of days)
4-$0
5-$0
6-
7-
___
$40-

8-
9-
10-
___


11-
12-
13-
___


14-
15-
16-
___


17-
18-
19-
___


20-
21-
22-
___


23-
24-
25-
___


26-
27-
28-
___


29-
30-
31-
___[/QUOTE]

 

[charming23]

I am calling it a $0 day so I am not tempted to go out and buy anything. I am spending the day gathering up clothes to sell at our local consignment shop this weekend.

July 2011 Budget

Groceries/Household- $300/$197.22 Left
Cat Supplies- $30/$14.82 left
Car/Gas- $70/$45.43 Left
Eating Out- $50
Misc/Entertainment- $100

Total- $550/$407.47 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
7/7
7/8
7/9
7/10
7/11
7/12
7/13
7/14
7/15- Kelley's Island
7/16- Kelley's Island
7/17- Kelley's Island
7/18
7/19
7/20
7/21
7/22
7/23
7/24
7/25
7/26
7/27
7/28
7/29
7/30
7/31

3/15 No Buy Days

Coupon/ Store Savings- $16.85

 

[YukiPhnx]

I am calling it a $0 day so I am not tempted to go out and buy anything.

Oh, that's a good idea to keep from spending!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Will need to buy groceries and gas tomorrow. My per diem hours were just cut back for this coming weekend....one less night away from home but less
money too I'm off during the summer so this is bonus vacation money, school tuition and winter oil money....noticed I listed them in order of importance

Rough day today! 1/2 my budget is gone already and it's only the 4th! Groceries, Gas & DHwent to Movies to see Transformers 3 w/my cousin.

July
Overall budget: $265.08/$500
Groceries:$136.57/$250
Gas: 60.83/$100
Misc: $29.68/$50
Eating Out: $38/$100
$0 days: 2/15


July 1 $77.25 BJ's for Groceries & Cards/ $5.43 Target for items for our FE Exchange on the Dream/ $38 for Dinner at Red Robin
July 2 $0
July 3 $0
July 4 $60.83 for Gas/ $59.32 Groceries/ $24.25 Movies

You have 2 out of 4 days as $0 Days!

Your budget is very tight. You have a family of 3 in a high cost of living area. I struggle to stay within $400 for just DH and I (and a dog). Having lived in NYC, I know that New Orleans is not cheap, but it's not as expensive as Long Island!

Have you looked at past bank or credit card statements to see what you have been spending in past months? I wouldn't be surprised if you're attempting to shave your budget down to a half or third of what you're accustomed to spending.

I am not saying this to discourage you. I just know (from my own experience!) that if I am not at least somewhat successful, I will give up. The whole point of this challenge is to find goals that are just challenging enough to be a motivation, but not too challenging that one gets discouraged and gives up. It seems to take about 3 months for people to find their groove with this.

If your current goal is not working to motivate you, I encourage you to either modify it or start fresh from this point in the month. Alternatively, maybe you find that your spending is just timed so that most of it is at the very beginning of the month and you actually are more on track than it appears at first glance.

I've been on this thread for several months, and last month I threw in the towel on about the 10th! I stepped back from the thread, did some recalculations, and came back and finished out the month within the new budget I had created for myself. Every month, many more people start the thread than finish it, so please know that you are not alone!

I had a few returns to make at Target, and since we had to pass one on the way to my inlaws, we stopped. I did return $15-worth of stuff. But they had girls jeans marked down to $2.48 and boys to $3.33 - so I picked up two pairs of girls and 3 of boys. So I spent $16 for 5 pairs - and that means I have almost NO SCHOOL SHOPPING to do in August! Worth spending the $16 now!

Wow! You got a great deal!

Thnkas i did read it and thought i would come back and reply later but somedays time just slips away

25 sleeps till we hit the USA this month needs to be a big saving one

Yes that time does manage to slip away!

25 DAYS! WOW!

Good one! Making that choice after a 13 hour day is a major accomplishment.

Virderon, your definitions of "stupid stuff" made me, and lots of other people laugh. You are part of what makes this board fun and motivating.

Everybody draws their own lines.

For me, going to McDonalds because I don't have any fresh lettuce in the house and it's easier than going to the grocery store means I lost the Battle of the Budget that day.

Going there on the road to visit my in laws might fall into "the best I can muster." I carry my own water which is better for my body and my wallet. But, I figure the stop is just a cost of being faithful to people who raised a great husband for me.

We've had company for 5 days. They were out for the day Sunday. On the way home from church I stopped at McDonalds for a slushie that I sipped on our deck alone, in the sunshine. That is a "good spend" and what my allowance is supposed to be for.

So far, no stupid buys for me this month.

After reading this post, your original goal of "no stupid buys" sounds much more "deep" than at first glance! It requires you to really consider every purchase you make! That alone will cut spending way down for most people.

And I definitely agree with you on your assessment of when McDonald's is and isn't appropriate! I do love getting snoballs in the summer, but some days it makes so much more sense than other days! I'm trying to hold out and go on the days it is the most appropriate, which are the days I appreciate it the most!