June 2011 No Buy Thread- Keeping our summer spending in check

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

QVC and Where'sPiglet.....Thanks for the kind words. It wasn't something we had to even think about. There were many people doing the same thing. I just wish there had been more. Most were looking to get paid to help.:. We live about 5 miles away from all this destruction and it could have so easily been us. It was really nice to see many church groups of different Faiths coming together. We have promised to stay with these families until it's all done. We have made some wonderful forever friends from this experience. Our family has been Blessed in so many ways.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I'm new to this thread, and hoping I post ok the first time as I can't completely understand the process... so if it's wrong, sorry!!

I'm a out of control with shopping and eating out. I have got to get our credit cards paid off and more cushion in our savings, and honestly we eat out so much anymore that nothing sounds good (which is pitiful).

I am not going to include household bills or co-pays/medicine because those can't be helped.

I have a few exceptions:

• We are going to Branson this weekend, my parents are paying for everything but kids spending money and lunches
  
• My son leaves for Europe on the 17th and anything I forgot to pack for him will need to be purchased before he leaves... we will also be eating out that day since I have to take him to St. Louis and we're spending the day out there.
  
  
• I am buying a laptop as soon as Apple runs their free ipod w/mac purchase. I have the $ in a bank account for it, just waiting for the sale

Ok, gulp, here I go... remember first attempt so if it's way out of line, feel free to correct me.

Gas: $25/wk (dh & I each get 1 free tank per week, this is for ds' truck when we use it or overages in ours)

Groceries: $150/wk (This is a rough estimate, we haven't ate all our meals at home in at least a year, if not more)

Household Products/Pets: $100/month

Kids Activities: $200/month (camps and gymnastics)

Eating Out: 2 times a week

Entertainment: $25/wk

Beauty Salon: $50/month (I can color my hair pretty darn good with a box, thanks to a trick my mommy taught me.. and I'm going to try and pluck my own brows - yikes)

Child Care: $88/wk

My main goal right now is to eat at home at least 5 times a week (dinner), if I can do that, I will be thrilled.

I already have dinner prepped for tomorrow night, dd just needs to throw some shredded cheese on it and pop it in the over. I am psyched that I got it done tonight and we wont have to eat out tomorrow since it's a busy evening for us too.

You did it right! Since we all make up our own spending goals on this thread, it's pretty hard to do it wrong!

Personally, I find that too many categories becomes cumbersome to track, while others prefer having many categories. You will find what works best for you as you go along. I don't track regular bills, only "point of sale" transactions. The goal is to just keep trying different methods and getting ideas from others on here until you find the method that works best for you! Good luck!

Just try not to get discouraged if you don't do as well as you envision at first. It takes time and practice. The real success comes by sticking with it over the long term and seeing the little decisions you make on a daily basis add up to changes in your spending habits and a healthier financial picture for your family.

The best thing about this process, is there isn't a process We just confess our spending and go woohoo when we don't buy junk.

The way you worded this made me laugh, but it's true!

QVC and Where'sPiglet.....Thanks for the kind words. It wasn't something we had to even think about. There were many people doing the same thing. I just wish there had been more. Most were looking to get paid to help.:. We live about 5 miles away from all this destruction and it could have so easily been us. It was really nice to see many church groups of different Faiths coming together. We have promised to stay with these families until it's all done. We have made some wonderful forever friends from this experience. Our family has been Blessed in so many ways.

See, this is the kind of thing that you don't really hear in the news. They show the destruction and then the move on to the next disaster. They'll show large organizations helping out, but very rarely any individuals. In fact, the news usually tells people to stay away unless they are "official". This really discourages what you are doing and the friends you are making from even happening.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Stick a fork in me....

I'm actually getting concerned with how expensive this month is becoming, and with no end in sight.

I think my mortgage is going to go up - by about $100/month - soon because my property taxes are messed up in the system and it is taking a ridiculous amount of time to get them straightened out.

CASH ($400):

1: $2.00 snoball
2: $31.00 school uniform shirts (yes, for me!) and lunch out with colleagues
3: $7.01 Popeyes
$40.00-40.01=$-0.01

4: $0!
5: $100.79 Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid
6: $13.14 lunch
$39.99-$113.93=$-73.94

7: $55.44 Notary, parking, groceries
8:
9:
-33.94-$55.44=-89.38

CASH Subtotal: $209.38
CASH $0 Days: 1

GAS ($75):

3: $14.11 ($3.45/gallon)

GAS Subtotal: $14.11
GAS $0 Days: 6

 

[MissBritt]

I'd just like to keep my non-bill spending under $1000.

1- $32.99 Amazon
2- $59.27 Publix (saved $37.29)
3- $11 Red Lobster, $14.69 Target (saved $2.75), $26.16 Mother Earth, $52.00 Gas
4- $0
5- $53.61 Gymboree
6- $0
7- $6.25 Post Office, $21.83 Deli, $8.35 Pharmacy

Sale&Coupon Savings: $40.04

 

[Virgderon]

Running Total: Spent $153
$1100 budget... $947 left
$0 Days: 2
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 39

Groceries budget- $350-54= 296
Wedding dress budget $1100
Disney weekend budget $550

June 1: 33 ( 20 post office, 13 gas)
June 2: 54 ( groceries)
June 3: 0
June 4: 20 ( 13 lunch, 7 Target)
June 5 : 24 ( 20 shorts, 4 hot pretzel & drink)
June 6 : 0
June 7 : 22 ( 19 gas 3 post office)

 

[Virgderon]

Stick a fork in me....

I'm actually getting concerned with how expensive this month is becoming, and with no end in sight.

I think my mortgage is going to go up - by about $100/month - soon because my property taxes are messed up in the system and it is taking a ridiculous amount of time to get them straightened out.

CASH ($400):

1: $2.00 snoball
2: $31.00 school uniform shirts (yes, for me!) and lunch out with colleagues
3: $7.01 Popeyes
$40.00-40.01=$-0.01

4: $0!
5: $100.79 Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid
6: $13.14 lunch
$39.99-$113.93=$-73.94

7: $55.44 Notary, parking, groceries
8:
9:
-33.94-$55.44=-89.38

CASH Subtotal: $209.38
CASH $0 Days: 1

GAS ($75):

3: $14.11 ($3.45/gallon)

GAS Subtotal: $14.11
GAS $0 Days: 6

Somtimes life catches up with us. Being here will keep it at the "scary" level and not the outrageous level. You will be fine.

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 4/12
Gas : 0$ (max 120$)
Car : HOPEFULLY 0$
Groceries : 99$ (max 200$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 11$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 0$ (max 200$)

01/06 : 0$
02/06 : 0$
03/06 : 0$
04/06 : 5$ (fries)
05/06 : 88$ (ice cream + groceries)
06/06 : 17$ (groceries)
07/06 : 0$

 

[charming23]

Stayed in today and did some housework. So a $0 for me. Tomorrow will be grocery shopping. I am going to up the grocery budget this month though because we have to restock our freezer with meats for summer.


June 2011 Budget
Groceries/Household- $350/$258.32 Left
Cat Supplies- $30/$13.07 left
Car/Gas- $70/$40.22 left
Eating Out- $50/$48.50 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/$65.29 Left

Total- $600/$380.94 left

Goal of 14 No Buy Days

Week One
5/29- $36.93 Grocery, $7.76 Cat Supplies, and $29.78 Gas
5/30- $3.79 Cat Supplies, $18.55 Misc, and $1.50 McDonalds
5/31- $0
6/1- $54.75 Marc's (groceries)
6/2- $7.30 Starbucks
6/3- $16.16 Clothing for me, and $11 dinner with a friend
6/4- $5.38 Petco

Week Two
6/5- $0
6/6- $0
6/7- $0
6/8
6/9
6/10
6/11

4/14 No Buy Days

Store and Coupon Savings- $62.78

 

[neatokimmo]

Okie I am not counting building supplies since that is a totally different savings account thing. But just to confess, I did spend $404 at Home Depot. Darn that SAC 12 month promo! You should see my buy list for there, it is super scary. But anyway, I am way behind on the house projects so a pile of landscaping and building materials outside should get me moving!

What I am counting is my taco bell food, $2.19 for dinner. I almost made it!

(my check engine light is on again boo!)

6-7 taco bell $2.19
6-6 zumba, shoes, tea, leotard & phone
6-5 zero
6-4 $93.54 (bug killer, pool, sprinkler, flowers, lunch & groceries)
6-3 $1.10 for tea
6-2 $105 for heat pump repair
6-1 $35.33 + 5.57 (car repair and mcDs)

 

[QVCshopper]

We keep running out of food! I haven't done a big order in months... Hubby went shopping for me with the kids while I went to work. He's the best, although they conned him into junk they don't need. I'm a mean mom! Maybe a no-buy tomorrow?

6/1-$0
6/2-$0
6/3-$0
6/4-$44 Wegmans, $2 Target
6/5-$7.50 Zoo, $12 Wendys, $12 Trader Joes
6/6-$0
6/7-$1.50 Pool snack, $4 Work dinner, $5 Target, $3 AC Moore, $31 Wegmans, $5 Pizza dinner

 

[wlake]

6/1:
6/2:
6/3:
6/4: $20 sunglasses, $2 baseball concession stand, $28 gas, $58 clothes for DS, present for DH, and shoes for me, $37 garden supplies, and a few more things I'm too lazy to get off the couch to remember!
6/5: $100 DS9's roller skating birthday party, $43 dinner
6/6:
6/7:

no buy days: 5/12
longest no buy streak: 3
meals out: 1/5
current no dinner out streak: 2
longest no dinner out streak: 12

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Stick a fork in me....

I'm actually getting concerned with how expensive this month is becoming, and with no end in sight.

I think my mortgage is going to go up - by about $100/month - soon because my property taxes are messed up in the system and it is taking a ridiculous amount of time to get them straightened out.

:

So i totally failed on the grocery front last month but am so happy to have achieved what i did so i will change my expectations this month!
This month it is a juggle between do i finish paying the flights or do i change cash so it will be a week by week thing for us happy with either or both depending on DH's overtime which is a bit lacking at the moment but we are praying it will pick back up.

goal for the monthVSactual money spent
Grocery's $700($228.02)
Flights $2500 left to pay
US cash$2500 ($800)
Fuel $700$70
Miscellaneous $100($38.00)

June 1 $0 not leaving the house so it's a good start
June 2 $867.75( $800US cash costing$781.23 phone for DH$24.50 $62.02 grocery's)
June 3 $13.5 drinks at bbq tea
June 4 $196 ($30 fuel $166 grocery's)
June 5 $0
June 6 $0 it is helping that we have limited $ till Thursday
June 7 $40 fuel
June 8 $0 calling today really early not leaving the house
June 9
June 10
June 11
June 12
June 13
June 14
June 15
June 16
June 17
June 18
June 19
June 20
June 21
June 22
June 23
June 24
June 25
June 26
June 27
June 28
June 29
June 30


No buy days 4/12

 

[robind]

I didn't keep track at the beginning of the month but lets start w/ today:

6/7 $6 - fan for my desk at work

I'm supposed to be moving next week so I know I'll be having a lot of extra costs this month, but hopefully I can save some extra since the apt is less than my current mortgage.

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $213.85
$0 Days:5/13

Groceries ($150-$5/day)- $35.71
Eating Out ($210-$6/day)- $70.14
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($390-$13/day) $0
Gas $250- $65 ($4.08/gal 6/4), $43 ($4.29/gal 6/6)= Total $108

1- $0
2- $0
3- $0
4- $40 (Eating Out-Stray Dog); $15 (Eating Out-Portillo's); $7 (Eating Out-Ice Cream), $9.28 (Groceries-Meijer)
5- $0
6- $0
7- $26.43 (Groceries-Meijer); $8.14 (Eating Out-Wendy's)


Budget: $1000....21%
Month: 7/30: 23%
No Buy: 5/13: 38%

My savings from coupons and sales: $94.16

August: $300 Hotel Room for Cedar Point
October: ~$250 Rental Car1

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

Boy am I late at getting started here. Page 7 already.
May was another failed month for tracking. As was April.. Although I stayed within my budget. Just no time to get on the computer....So, here I am trying again.

06/01 -0- Not a cool day today. Tornados ripped through my hometown and other surrounding towns and city. Only 4 miles from my home, and we got nothing.
06/02$38.00 $12.00 for lunch w/friend. $26.00 supplies for friend that has no electricity. (batteries, extra flash lights, tarp, ice,). Spent the day in town locating family and friends. Thank you God for keeping them all safe. The total loss of life was only 4. I know 4 is still to many, but, this could have been so much worse.
06/03-0- Today was just a numb day.
06/04 Approx. $30.00 on food and water. Spent the day in Springfield volunteering were ever needed. Sadly the town I was born and raised in refused our helpI think they were just overwhelmed. We don't get tornados up here. Today was an AWESOME DAY!! We just picked a house that looked like they needed help. With chain saws in hand we just jumped in.
06/05Approx $60.00 $25.00 fastfood and water. $25.00 Bought some groceries for one of our new friends. $10 ordered pizza for dinner tonight. But I got to use a $10.00 coupon. Back in Springfield for the day.We are very Blessed to have met some increditable people. This experience has forever changed my family and I.
06/06-0- Forgot what a no buy day was like.
06/07 $32.00 at CVS in 2 seperate transactions. But, got $30 back in ECB

Auto /$280.00(raised alot due to the prices)
Groceries/Household Goods $57.00/$250.00(raised for picinics and strawberry picking)
Eating Out/Entertainment $87.00/$150.00 (raised for Father's Day)
Misc /$250.00 (raised for Father's Day)
No Buy days 2/10
Coupon savings $34.00

 

[Darkfirewolfe]

My main goal right now is to eat at home at least 5 times a week (dinner), if I can do that, I will be thrilled.

I already have dinner prepped for tomorrow night, dd just needs to throw some shredded cheese on it and pop it in the over. I am psyched that I got it done tonight and we wont have to eat out tomorrow since it's a busy evening for us too.

I can totally feel you on the "Out-of-Control" eating out. I'm trying really hard to make my meals at home for the next few weeks (hopefully months until October) to try to make an impact. You can Do it!!

The best thing about this process, is there isn't a process We just confess our spending and go woohoo when we don't buy junk.

LOVE THIS!

 

[3goofyboys]

Hello No Buy Friends! After a few months off I'm back. We're in our new house, all unpacked and ready to move forward with this phase of our life. I'm still a little iffy on my budget because I haven't gotten a set of utility bills for the new house yet. We're in a much bigger house in a new city with new providers, so I have no real idea what to expect. For this month, I'm hoping for 7 no buys and 7 days under $10. I'm so glad to be back!

June 1 $20 Dh's PT, $35 groceries, $7 took the boys to the movies- tickets were $1 each and I got us all a water to drink, $15 Subway after the movies.

June 2 $6 took the boys bowling- the games were free but I had to pay for shoe rental.

June 3 $40 groceries- had dinner with my parents, they wanted me to bring a few different things so I had to stop at the store and get a few misc. groceries.

June 4 $55 race fees for DH and both boys, $40 celebratory pancakes after the race.

June 5 $90 groceries. I'm hopeful tomorrow will be a no buy day. Getting back in to the swing of this is tough!

June 6 $25 gas- DH didn't know it was a no buy day and he put in some gas. Oh well! $11 car wash-since Dh ruined the no buy day, I figured I'd get my car washed.

June 7 $56 pet supplies, $40 Target, $20-took the boys to ride a local train, tickets are $.75 each, and then out to dinner

0/7 No Buy Days
1/7 Under $10 Days

 

[neatokimmo]

Random question of the day!

If your car was worth $2500 and you had recently put $600 of repairs into it, how much more would put into it before calling it quits and getting something else? My check engine light is on for the 4th time in a month. It is almost 12 years old with 128K miles on it.

 

[QVCshopper]

Random question of the day!

If your car was worth $2500 and you had recently put $600 of repairs into it, how much more would put into it before calling it quits and getting something else? My check engine light is on for the 4th time in a month. It is almost 12 years old with 128K miles on it.

We're in the same situation, Kim. Our 1998 Civic needs a new catalytic converter and the air conditioner is going. So, sadly, we're giving up on it and getting something else come inspection time in Sept. It's not worth much and we don't want to keep pumping money into an older car.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Random question of the day!

If your car was worth $2500 and you had recently put $600 of repairs into it, how much more would put into it before calling it quits and getting something else? My check engine light is on for the 4th time in a month. It is almost 12 years old with 128K miles on it.

I think I'd be looking to trade it in. It's starting to sound like a black hole.