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

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Oh yeah...forgot to mention it seems like there is something EVERY month that comes up and that's frustrating!! For example...this month we have DH birthday, mother-in-law's b-day, and a WEDDING...ahh! That's the worst and will cost us $100. Oh well...I"m gonna do the best I can!!

 

[YukiPhnx]

Welcome to the thread Amy and Blessed with Triplets!!

I'm new to no buy too, so we can all help each other stay on track!

So far, posting my spendings online have been much more effective than just keeping a notebook of the stuff. With the notebook, I just record my spending and try to stay within budget, but with this thread....well, I'm broadcasting to the internet, so I try to do a bit better!

Packed my dinner for work last night, so I have another $0!! Hooray!

Overall budget: $75.44/400
Gas: $46/70
No buys: 3/10
Eating out: 2/6

I'm going to try to limit how many times I can shop for certain items
Clothing: 0/5
The Body Shop: 0/4
Gifts: 0/4

1-$10.98 (groceries)
2-$2.09 (Burger King)
3-$0
___
$40-13.07=$26.93 (so far, so good!)

4-$5.37 (Second Cup)
5-$20.91 (an iced cappuccino and lunch at Spring Rolls)
6-$28.53 (groceries)
___
$40-54.81=$-14.81

7-$7.56 (an iced coffee and box of bandaids for the blisters I got from a bad choice of boots...)
8-$0
9-$0
___
$25.19-7.56=$17.63

10-
11
12-
___
$40-

I'll be spending the weekend with DBF and he usually pays for my food, so it should be easier to get more $0 days!

 

[charming23]

I went and got my hair cut today. I used the last of a giftcard I recieved for my birthday so no out of pocket money there. We did however go see Kung Fu Panda 2, I loved it.

ETA: Ended up going out to get gas for the car after dinner. I am meeting a friend tomorrow and volunteered to drive to our destination so it was easier to go tonight rather than have to get up early and do it.

June 2011 Budget
Groceries/Household- $350/$204.65 Left
Cat Supplies- $30/$13.07 left
Car/Gas- $70/$20.22 left
Eating Out- $50/$38.55 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/$53.31 Left

Total- $600/$285.32 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- $53.69 Marc's, $2.98 Pat Catan's, $2 McDonald's, and $7.95 Jersey Mike's
6/9- $9 Movie tickets (2) and $20 Gas
6/10
6/11

4/14 No Buy Days

Store and Coupon Savings- $78.05

 

[Virgderon]

Hello and welcome to our new No-buy friends.

Today is a 0.

Running Total: Spent $181
$1100 budget... $919 left
$0 Days: 3
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 57

Groceries budget- $350-54-1= 295
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)
June 8 : 28 ( 23 Walgreens, 4 Chick - Fil-A, 1 Publix)
June 9 : 0

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I typed a huge post here yesterday and as soon as I was listing my days my computer crashed! So - here is a condensed version of my story. We haven't been on a budget in a long time. We all of a sudden had a ton of huge bills come at once (2X ER, dentists, taxes, tires, camp, etc) and we are also trying to save to buy a house. This past weekend I went on a Girl Scout overnight trip and came home to realize we had somehow managed to spend over $900 in 5 days!! And that's not including the overnight - it was free, I didn't even have to pay for food.

Welcome! That's a lot to hit at once! Good luck!

Hi everyone! I'm new here and really need to join!! After three years with no car payments, we just got a new vehicle so that payment really changes our budget and I really need to watch things and try to figure out how/where to SAVE money so there will be a Disney trip in the future!!

I may need some hand holding! Thanks!

Welcome! A car payment really does take up a nice chunk of a budget. I am ready for mine to be gone! Unfortunately, it might be awhile. I'm 2 years into a 5 year car loan.

We'll be here!

Oh yeah...forgot to mention it seems like there is something EVERY month that comes up and that's frustrating!! For example...this month we have DH birthday, mother-in-law's b-day, and a WEDDING...ahh! That's the worst and will cost us $100. Oh well...I"m gonna do the best I can!!

Some of us were JUST talking about stuff like this upthread. It gets very frustrating when you're on a tight budget. It's a shame that instead of the celebrations being, well, joyful celebrations, they are shadowed with financial anxiety.

$40-13.07=$26.93 (so far, so good!)

$40-54.81=$-14.81

$25.19-7.56=$17.63

$40-

I'm curious here....you had $26.93 in the first set that you didn't carry down to the next set. But you DID carry down the -$14.81.

40.00-13.07=26.93 (+40=66.93)
66.93-54.81=12.12 (+40=52.12)
52.12- 7.56=44.56 (Which is 29.93 more than the 17.63 you have listed as your current balance.)

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Well, I went and took care of the recall. That was free, and I turned down any other offers (their oil change). I plan to take my $9.99 coupon in tomorrow to the other place.

Unfortunately, it was not a $0 day because the recall service took longer than I expected it to and we HAD to eat by the time it was done! I was literally feeling sick by the time we were done in the car place.

I also had set aside an additional $100 this month for the car service, and an additional $100 for the dentist, and an additional $300 for the friend visit. So at some point, I will add this cash in to my budget. I had not added it yet because I had not done those things yet, and all this stuff so far has been out of my general fund. Fortunately the dentist was $0 so I am glad for that! Especially because it looks like we are going to be over on the $300 tourist budget.

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: $0!
9: $6.77 Burger King
$-33.94-$62.21=$-96.15

10:
11:
12:
$-56.15-$0.00=$-56.15

CASH Subtotal: $216.15
CASH $0 Days: 2

GAS ($75):

3: $14.11 ($3.45/gallon)

GAS Subtotal: $14.11
GAS $0 Days: 8

 

[YukiPhnx]

I'm curious here....you had $26.93 in the first set that you didn't carry down to the next set. But you DID carry down the -$14.81.

40.00-13.07=26.93 (+40=66.93)
66.93-54.81=12.12 (+40=52.12)
52.12- 7.56=44.56 (Which is 29.93 more than the 17.63 you have listed as your current balance.)

Well, I wanted a 3-day budget of 40, so I started with that. I only carried the negative dollars from the 2nd 3-day because then I would be spending more than what I allotted myself...so minusing the 14.81 over-budget for the next 3-day, I could balance myself out. If I made it within budget for those 3-days, then my next 3-days can go back to being 40.

Instead of constantly adding up and carrying over my savings from the 3-days before. That way, I don't make some sort of big splurge purchase just because I HAVE the money, or I won't be saving anything.

Does that make sense?

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Well, I wanted a 3-day budget of 40, so I started with that. I only carried the negative dollars from the 2nd 3-day because then I would be spending more than what I allotted myself...so minusing the 14.81 over-budget for the next 3-day, I could balance myself out. If I made it within budget for those 3-days, then my next 3-days can go back to being 40.

Instead of constantly adding up and carrying over my savings from the 3-days before. That way, I don't make some sort of big splurge purchase just because I HAVE the money, or I won't be saving anything.

Does that make sense?

Yes, it does! I was just wondering why you had chosen to do it that way.

Last month, when I did have "extra" out of the $40, I did tack it on to the next set. I tend to run a set of errands all at once, costing more than $40, so ideally I can do it towards the end of the month when I know how much money I have to work with. I split the month up to pace myself (it's not working so well this month ), but I'm really looking at the month as a whole.

That's one of the things I love about this thread....everybody has a different way of doing their budget and I've gotten a lot of different ideas and perspectives!

 

[YukiPhnx]

Yes, it does! I was just wondering why you had chosen to do it that way.

Last month, when I did have "extra" out of the $40, I did tack it on to the next set. I tend to run a set of errands all at once, costing more than $40, so ideally I can do it towards the end of the month when I know how much money I have to work with. I split the month up to pace myself (it's not working so well this month ), but I'm really looking at the month as a whole.

That's one of the things I love about this thread....everybody has a different way of doing their budget and I've gotten a lot of different ideas and perspectives!

Ohhh, I noticed that!

I guess I took your idea and tweeked it a little! I understand why you did it your way.

Since I live alone, most of my spendings shouldn't be too much and I just really want to learn to save more and spend less.

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 4/12
Gas : 36$ (max 120$)
Car : HOPEFULLY 0$
Groceries : 99$ (max 200$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 30$ (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$
08/06 : 47$ (gas + dinner)
09/06 : 8$ (dinner)

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Welcome to all the new people I love this thread it not only keeps me on track but i have a clear record of what i spent

I m really happy it looks like i might just get in a week under $100 for grocery's

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($274.34)
Flights $2500 left to pay
US cash$2500 ($800)
Fuel $700$80
Miscellaneous $100($45.00)

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 $ 123.32 $46.32 Grocery's bandaids $7 $10 fuel $60 flu injections not budgeted this week but at only $20 each just had to have them
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

 

[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

June 8 $175 groceries, $57 date night


June 9 $0

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

 

[QVCshopper]

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
6/8-$2 Gymboree, $3 Kohls
6/9-$10 Target, $10 Lands End, $9 Wendys, $11 Dance pictures
6/10-$0

 

[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:
6/8: $4 party supplies for work
6/9:

no buy days: 6/12
longest no buy streak: 3
meals out: 1/5
current no dinner out streak: 4
longest no dinner out streak: 12

 

[neatokimmo]

Oh my gosh! check it out!

I haven't been to McDonalds in over a week. A WEEK! I think my next mini goal will not to go out for lunch this weekend. It's so easy on Saturday after running errands to pop into the chinese place. They have awesome tilapia and shrimp...but I can be good!

Today was a zero day

6-9 zero
6-8 $16.53 cats & bath, $400 cruise
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)

 

[robind]

Monthly Total $ 553.12

6/1 0
6/2 59.79 - new t-shirts for summer
6/3 0
6/4 34.99 groceries; 420.00 junk shuttle (forgot that until I saw the check come out of my account - in prep for the move I had them come in and clean out the attic and get rid of all the junk)
6/5 0
6/6 7.34 - OTC meds
6/7 6 - fan for my desk at work
6/8 25 Electric company application and coop fee
6/9 0

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $259.18
$0 Days:6

Groceries ($150-$5/day)- $61.70
Eating Out ($210-$6/day)- $89.48
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)
8- $0
9- $7.73 (Meijer-Groceries); $18.26 (Jewel-Groceries); $19.34 (Mr. Beef-Eating Out)


Budget: $1000....26%
Month: 9/30: 30%
No Buy: 6/13: 46%

My savings from coupons and sales: $153.80

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

 

[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- $11.00 Seafood, $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, $21.01 Pizzeria
8- $0
9- $30.50 Gas, $5.50 Etsy, $12.30 Barbeque

Sale&Coupon Savings: $40.04

 

[MissBritt]

Does anyone else read this all the time just to see where people spend their money? lol! It's fascinating to me.

I'll probably be spending a good bit of $ tomorrow... errands day and stopping by the mall for YC, BBW and TCP sales.

Oh! And our biggest budget score... a brand new 46" LCD Sony TV for $608... down from $1900!

 

[cheap traveler]

Updating my record.

No buy days: 6/15
June 1: $1.00 soda
June 2: $0 spent, made $.40
June 3: $0 spent
June 4: $2.16 for 2 movie rentals
$5.00 for antibiotic eye drops. I know I said I wouldn't count medicines, but since I lost the first bottle I think I should count this.
June 5: $0 spent, and this is pretty good because I was at Walmart for groceries
June 6: $0 spent
June 7: $0 spent
June 8: $9.40 @ McDonalds (lunch for the friend who had the baby)
$22.01 @ Diner - took the kids out to dinner, too hot to cook
June 9: $0 spent
June 10: $205.43 (so far) - bought my kids bunk beds - I have been trying to get this for 4 weeks, and still need 1 mattress. This may or may not be it for today, don't know what I'm having for dinner