March No Buy..Rolling Into Spring!

[SunnieRN]

Always!!

welcome!!

 

[portocall]

Another newbie joining in. I can use the accountability. My goal is to track my spending and have 10 no buy days. I do think that is doable.

Today was not a no-buy day
$40 school lunches for three children
$20 two lunch bags from a friends fundraiser (previously promised)
$32.76 gas (3.11 a gallon OUCH)

This week is going to be a little rough. Thursday I have to buy $25 worth of raffle tickets for my son's club. We are hoping to then be able to sell at least some of them to defer the cost.

Then we have Mardi Gras break so I know there will be some fast food in there too.

 

[beansmom]

I'm in. I'll shoot for 10 $0 days. We are going to Disney for 2 wks so that will pretty much kill any chance of really budgeting...and in April, we have a wedding in Texas so we'll be spending tons of money on hotel, welcome baskets for our guests, etc. I'll be glad when it's all over so our life can settle down.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

New people always welcome. You wil enjoy it here. Everyone is so great. Really supportive and wonderful. It is harder then it seems, butso worth it! I am called back in to sub again tomorrow. DOn't want to, but any extra money is helpful. DH's 40th b-day is coming fast and I am hoping to make it special.

 

[A.Mickey]

I am back, been doing this since October of 2009 and loving every month of it! I especially love the beginning of the month!

And to all you newbies welcome, don't get discouraged...I still haven't got my budget figured out yet, but I am getting close.

Running Total: Spent $70.47
$0 Days:0/14 Got 13 no buys last month, trying to up it to one more.

Groceries ($279-$9/day)- $15.76
Eating Out ($217-$7/day)- $0
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($806-$26/day) Ohio Hotel, two trips by train, Great America season pass installment, 2nd half of our airplane tickets for October, ink for printer $31.02
Gas $250- (3/1-$23.69)

WEEK 1 BEGIN:
1- $15.76 (Dominick's-Groceries), $31.02 (Target-Pictures), $23.69 (Gas)


Budget: $1552....5%
Month: 1/31: 3%
No Buy: 0/10: 0%

My savings from coupons and sales: $63.19

 

[superme80]

I'm back! I skipped February, but did January. We are moving this month, so I know there will be some slacking in eating at home and no buys. This month I am shooting for 7 no buys.
01/03 $22.65 on lunch. Would have spent more, but DS decided to spread smoothie all over my car and himself. Had to cut our errands short to get him cleaned up.

 

[hmack]

I didn't expect yesterday to be a no-buy day but it was after my hairdresser called me and said, "wait, did I tell you to come in Tuesday or Wednesday?" She some how had her days mixed up - so no haircut for me yesterday.

03/01 - $0 spent



1 down - at least 9 to go.

 

[Debbie]

to all of our members, new, old, and those to come! I love the 'accountability of this thread', although every now and then I remember to update here, and forget the Quicken.

I don't count buying groceries as spending $ though I do keep track of my grocery spending...so I will aim for 10 no-buy days. My birthday is March 11th and whatever I feel like that day (coffee, Pepsi, Dunkin' Donuts, whatever) I will get, darnit!

Yep, birthdays are for something! (I'd have a lot more no buys if I didn't count my groceries, since going to the grocery store is DH's therapy-daily, but I'm trying to work with him on that, so we'll continue.

to all the new people! This is harder than it looks, so if you get frustrated, don't give up, just adjust your goals and stick with it! This is definitely a journey and not a destination. Awareness in your spending is an empowering thing and well worth the effort!

My Goal: To keep spending to within $475 for food, gas, and miscellaneous. I do not track bills; I only track "point of sale" transactions.

I am hoping with the higher prices of gas and just about everything that I can stay within this. This week is going to involve a lot of eating out. I am hoping to go to parades on 6 of the next 7 days.

I am once again not setting a $0 Day goal. I am focusing strictly on the $ amount for the budget. The $0 Days are just lagniappe!

So true, on the bolded. I am going to follow some of your guidelines when I post below, so I moved them closer.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...

Happy March 2nd (Dr. Seuss' birthday!)

 

[Debbie]

Here's my plan:
1. I will only track PoS transactions-cash, cc, or debit-usually, groceries and gas, although this month there will be a couple of birthday gifts, and my running shoes need to be replaced [there goes $200]
2. Bills paid regularly, including all charity, not included, nor all items that are budgeted for (eg. DD's music trips....money is already set aside-I'll note them, but they don't count)
3. Whatever 'fun' money DH spends i.e. junk food, on himself....not counting
4. I anticipate some eating out this month-birthday and March Break
5. Gas....there is no telling!
6. I would like to aim for 10 No Buy days. Something to shoot for.

Great start.
Mar. 1: DH took the car in for a needed oil change. Found other issues (I knew there was something) Maintenance $434, gas $0

NO BUY DAYS: 0/10

 

[nunzia]

Thanks everyone for your good thoughts, but especially you Tiggerish for this very good advice. Unemployment is having me fax copies of my last 3 years of W-2, and the agent told me my employer "would be dealt with".

Its just very shocking- I don't even want to know what kind of desperation would lead you to mess with state and federal government agencies. I also don't understand why the state did not catch this for all these years.

Wow..this is awfull! best of luck in sorting this out and I sure would not want to be that company whent eh feds knock on their door.

 

[nunzia]

Here we go:
Mar 1: 56.07 Birthday gifts for DBIL and DN, $12.20 for Amazon peanut butter (seemed like a good deal)


$741.73/$800.00 remaining

 

[Mom of 3 Princesses]

03/01 8.45 cents - Coffee, Muffin and a Mocha.. Not a good start

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

Wow page 4 already and I'm just posting.

Tiggerish.....good luck. Hope all goes well!!

Virgderon. Sending you good vibes and hope all works out for your real soon.

to all the newbies.:

wave2: to all our regulars, glad to see everyone back.


Auto $30.00/$240.00
Groceries/Household Goods /$150.00
Eating Out/Entertainment $10.00/$150.00 (raised DMil's Bday)
Misc. /$200.00 raised this one due to Prom

Coupon savings $10.00

January coupon savings $360.00
no buy days 17/10
February coupon savings $124.00
No buy days 15/12

03/01 $40.00 $30.00 gas already!!!!, $10.00 Pizza.. Mom's on strike day. Atleast I had a $10/20 purchase.

 

[bigmama67]

I'm in. The tricky thing this month will be that I have to figure out where I'm getting daycare $ from, as I now have some part-time tutoring but that decreases my unemployment. I'm starting to figure that out though.

I was under budget in February! I still have a bill to pay though...I'm mailing the check tomorrow.

I don't count buying groceries as spending $ though I do keep track of my grocery spending...so I will aim for 10 no-buy days. My birthday is March 11th and whatever I feel like that day (coffee, Pepsi, Dunkin' Donuts, whatever) I will get, darnit!

3/1: Between yesterday and todaoy, spent $63.18 on groceries from March's budget/$536.82 left (we budget $600 but then again, I need to trim this because of the daycare issue.) DH doctor $15.
I don't count medical or groceries so... $0

3/2: $4.74 on groceries (GREAT deals at Acme!) $15 for some LeapPad cartridges for DD (brand new off Craig's List). $7.41 at A.C. Moore (T-shirt for DS for his show, PipSqueak markers, stickers).

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3/31



No-buy days: 1/10

 

[Tiggerish]

The March budget is $700 with 12 no spend days.

Auto $50
Eating Out/Entertainment $100
Giving $10
Groceries/Household Goods $235
Medical $25
Misc. $75
Set bills $205

No spend days 12 / 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2/1 $0
2/2 $0

Thanks every one for the well wishes on my cataract surgery. It went very well and I have been released today to start driving again without restrictions. Since Sept I had been restricted to day time only. Its not that I do much driving but it is nice to have the limitation removed.
"
bigmama67 - My birthday is March 11th and whatever I feel like that day (coffee, Pepsi, Dunkin' Donuts, whatever) I will get, darnit!" Go for it!!

I have been looking online at a Vera Bradley bag for two weeks now and I WANT it. But I need to find a justification to spend the $30 it will take to get it. I look at it every day, it is in the sale section and I put it in my cart and take it out every other day. I continue to check ebay to see if I could do better but am probably just tormenting myself since I am unlikely to actually buy it since I do not need it, I just WANT it.

 

[bigmama67]

Tiggerish, glad the surgery went well! My mom just had cataract surgery and now she has almost 20/40 vision! (I'm jealous, hee hee).

It's OK to treat yourself sometimes. In fact, it's important...because just like with dieting, if you deny yourself TOO much you are likely to end up "bingeing" on spending money, no?

 

[bigmama67]

01/03 $22.65 on lunch. Would have spent more, but DS decided to spread smoothie all over my car and himself. Had to cut our errands short to get him cleaned up.

I have a 2 year old too...I feel your pain! Good luck with the move! Did you buy a house?

Yep, birthdays are for something! (I'd have a lot more no buys if I didn't count my groceries, since going to the grocery store is DH's therapy-daily, but I'm trying to work with him on that, so we'll continue.

I think it's mine too...I started out in January not counting grocery-only days as no-buy, but I quickly realized that won't work for me. Also I view groceries as a necessity and when I see a good deal on something we actually need (especially if I have a coupon) I want to be able to pick up and get it right then. Case in point, the Acme Market near us does meat 4/$20 every 3 months so I load up and go back several times. I don't think I'll have to buy ANY meat this month as a result!

I guess I feel better if I can spend SOMETHING most days and food is a necessary expenditure. So I decided to track purchases and entertainment...things that are discretionary.

 

[rubato]

Thanks for all the welcomes. I am already feeling at home!

3/1: $38.00 on a replacement cell phone because stupid me dropped mine and broke it!!!! $198 on season tickets to minor league baseball team (couldn't help it, it was a good deal.)
3/2: No buy (I'm not leaving my house, just to make sure!)

I hope for no more unexpected purchases!

 

[Virgderon]

Today I found out that my company never actually sent my 401k contributions to the 401k fund since Sept. of last year. This just keeps getting more crazy! I do feel better tho. We have taken a close look at the finances, and we may have to ask a couple of our creditors to work with us, but we will be okay. I'm ready for a new beginning and will keep interviewing until I find the right fit. My mom says I should take some time off, but that is not my personality. I like to work. Thanks everyone for your support. There is not a better group of people than the people in this group.

Running Total: Spent $22
$900budget... $878 left
$0 Days:
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings :8

Groceries budget- $250-3= 247 left

March 1: 22
March 2 : 0

 

[fairyprincess1]

Virgedon,

So sorry this is happening to you... Guess you are lucky that at least your checks were coming in... I have a friend who her paychecks bounce from time to time... Here's hoping that they get this straightened out for you!!!

Today is going to be buy day too... Bunco is at my house tomorrow so I need to get supplies... Maybe I'll put my money in the kitty tonite so I can count tomorrow as a no buy day

Here's hoping that I get back on the wagon soon!!!