March No Buy..Rolling Into Spring!

[wlake]

MickeyMomofThree, what a great party! I'd probably skip the salads too -- those are what always seem to be leftover around here.

h2oophelia, we had the same no buy downfall today! We had a fundraiser lunch for a little girl at our school with cancer. It was for a good cause!

3/1:
3/2: $26 groceries
3/3:
3/4: $35 after school care, $540 brakes (ouch!), $12 dinner, $16 skate night
3/5: $13 Christmas Tree Shop (candy for basket raffle, cupcake liners, and replacement garden clogs), $23 Yankee Candle (candle!), $24 Michael's (gifts for parties the boys are invited to), $51 gas and $16 Walmart (groceries and a dry cleaning kit I have a rebate for)
3/6: $35 dinner out to celebrate DS8 scoring two goals in his indoor soccer game today (he's not terribly athletic, so this is huge!) and the end of indoor soccer season (DS5 played too, but he's very athletic and usually outscored the other team) as well as $49 on groceries. A little more bragging here: I saved $30 on that grocery bill between sales and coupons AND walked out with coupons for a free box of frozen fish and a free gallon of milk. I'm pretty proud of myself!
3/7:
3/8: $6 groceries (well, ice cream after a tough couple of days) and $5 books
3/9: $10 lunch, $26.50 x2 for school lunches for the boys

no buy days: 3/12
longest streak: 3
meals out: 2/5
days without dinner out: 3
longest no dinners out streak: 10
non-consumable items purchased: 2/0 (2 books)

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

March 1-$0
March 2- Met my wonderful hubby for lunch. He needed a break, and we had a $5 off coupon. My lunch was only $7, so we figured $2 for me to eat and I brought home enough for us both to have lunch tomorrow. Then I spent $4 on new gloves (8 pairs) for the kids, they seem to lose them like crazy. Hubby and I went to a prescreening of a movie tonight, it was awful, but he liked it. It was called Cedar Rapids. We didn't buy anything there. I did buy groceries as well. Will record those tomorrow cause I need to dig out the receipt. I got a call while we were at the movies that I don't have to work tomorrow after all. So happy about that, have lots to do in the morning tomorrow.
March 3-$0 Have a busy evening ahead, but made dinner in the crockpot this morning so we are good there. My DD9 has a field trip with Brownies to Bruster's ice cream, but if I report a no spend day I won't get an ice cream. And that will be good for my wallet and waistline.
March 4- DH told the kids we'd go out to dinner. It was kids eat free, but still was $23 with tip. I also had to go get DD16 tights for Model UN and some meds, $20ish
March 5-$0 Went to the gym with DH, he is allowed to bring a guest for free. Then spent the day massively cleaning, more to be done but made a big dent.
March 6-$6 dinner for the kids, $15 dinner with hubby (B1G1coupon) and $24 bowling. Starting the week on a good note...priceless!!!
March 7-$0 Can't catch up now, DD11 has a "surprise" band concert tonight. They said it was a possiblity in September but never mentioned it again and I forgot. Apparently a note came home back when I saw sick but it is MIA. My DD forgot about it too, she said the band teacher never said a word till today. So I have been scrambling to get her clothes together. We are headed out in a few, will catch up tonight. Hope all is well...
March 8-$0 I did have to go pick up DD11's allergy meds, starting early this year. But I don't count meds. $13
March 9-$0 I was taking the kids to Family Night tonight cause DH was working really late, but I found a gift certificate that had expired a year and a half ago in an old purse. I asked if they would take it and they said sure! I got back $.69 too!!!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

No Buy Days- 6/18

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Groceries- $60ish $19 $8.44
Gas-

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Back in 2011 cause I'd miss you all so much!
January-25
February-15
Longest Streak-19 (but I was sick)

Joined No Buy as a New Years Resolution in 2010 and did pretty well-
January-14 Days
February-13 Days
March-17 Days
April-15 Days
May-15 Days
June-8 Days
July- 6 Days (only in town and only recorded half the month, probably had about 7-8 no buys while away)
August-15 Days
September-15 Days
October-13 Days
November-6 Days (only kept track till November 16th cause we were in Disney the rest of the month)
December-10
Longest Streak-4 Days in a Row

 

[A.Mickey]

MickeyMom, sounds like the makings of a very good party! It is fun just to hang out!! We went to a graduation party for a friend in November and they just had pulled pork and buns, pasta salad, pretzels, and cookies. Don't worry about the food. Sounds like you will have more than enough .

Running Total: Spent $957.29
$0 Days:3/14 Got 13 no buys last month, trying to up it to one more.

Groceries ($279-$9/day)- $86.90
Eating Out ($217-$7/day)- $92.68
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($806-$26/day) two trips by train, Great America season pass installment, 2nd half of our airplane tickets for October $688.02
Gas $250- (3/1-$23.69), (3/6-$28.55), (3/8-$37.45 $3.64/gal)= $89.69

WEEK 1 BEGIN:
1- $15.76 (Dominick's-Groceries), $31.02 (Target-Pictures), $23.69 (Gas)
2- $0
3- $9.26 (Walgreens-Groceries), $2.85 (Meijer- Groceries), $3.97 (Dominick's-Groceries), $26.58 (Jewel-Prescription), $12.46 (McDonald's-Eating Out)
4- $0
5- $11 (Zoo Admission), $16 (Eating Out), $37 (Chinese- Eating Out-we bought food for 5 people), $3.91 (Home Depot- Misc.)
6- $196 (Spring Awakening Tickets-Misc. Weren't expecting this, but we are sitting 2nd row center and it is our 7 year anniversary of knowing each other and it is the last performance of the show in Chicago...I forgot that my husband wanted to see this, he wanted to go to two shows and sit in the cheap seats, but for the price of sitting in the 2nd to last row for two nights it is the same as sitting in the front row for one performance, so we opted for sitting close, since our broadway series shows are for the cheap seats), $149.41 (Cedar Point Hotel-Misc.), $31.75 (Driver's License Renewal),
$126.11 (Sears Essentials-Misc. husband wanted a Logitech harmony remote forever! and it was more than half off in liquidation sale), $20.63 (Culver's-Eating Out), $2 (Dollar Tree-Papers), $6.96 (Dominick's-Groceries), $12.50 (Meijer-Groceries), $82.73 (Printer Ink), $27.51 (Amazon.com-Veggie Cages and hiking book)
7- $5.18 (Trader Joe's-Groceries), $24.33 (Joe Caputo-Groceries)
8- $.59 (Dominick's-Groceries), $5.04 (Meijer-Groceries), $6.59 (Chipotle-Eating Out)
9- $0
10-


Budget: $1552....62%
Month: 9/31: 29%
No Buy: 3/14: 21%

My savings from coupons and sales: $492.48

 

[Orangewolf]

March 1st: (Gas)$61.90 - (Groceries) $60.13 - (Household - vitamins, shampoo etc) $28.59

March 2nd - $0

March 3rd - Tickets To WDW $1243 RT for 5 people from MSP.
(Groceries) $38.02

March 4th - (Pharmacy) $9.17 - (Groceries)$4.14

March 5th - (Groceries) $119.29
(Household) $13.05

March 6th - $0

March 7th - Post Office - $8.80 - book of stamps

March 8th - $0 -

March 9th - (Groceries) $7.63 - needed bread, milk and eggs..had DH stop to get it on his way home from work cause if I would have gone to get it, I would have gotten some junk too....

$229.21/$425 Groc.
$61.90/$150 Gas
$48.04/$75 Household

 

[charming23]

I have already been out this morning as we are expecting some huge storms and yet more snow later today. I got the laundry detergent that was on sale and with my coupons I got two bottles for $.99 each. I also grabbed some eggs, they were on sale. Plus a few more sale items I had coupons for. We are set for the next two weeks save fresh bread, milk, and fruit. We have plenty of frozen veggies as we restocked our freezer yesterday.

March 2011 Budget
Grocery/Household- $300/$102.93 Left
Car/Gas- $50/$21.25 Left
Eating out -$50/$31.30 Left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/ $66.86 left

Total- $500/$222.34 Left

Goal of 15 No Buy Days

Week One
3/1- $75.27 Giant Eagle and $6.19 Drugmart
3/2- $18.70 Loco Laprachaun
3/3- $0
3/4- $0
3/5- $0
3/6- $10.25 Pat Catan's
3/7- $0

Week Two
3/8- $0
3/9- $95.02 Grocery, $22.89 Misc, and $28.75 Gas
3/10- $20.59 Groceries/household
3/11
3/12
3/13
3/14

5/15 No Buy Days

Coupon/Store Savings- $89.78

 

[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)
Mar 2: Not starting out very well! have to get past these birthdays...$98.34 groceries (bday dinner for 13, dog food, beer..etc), $46.00 DH gas (some will be reimbursed..he has to go to a town 90 miles away for a continuing ed class)
Mar 3: $2.42 for movie rental and a coffee, $9.00 dinner out with friend
Mar 4: DH got $23 reimbursement for the gas, so Plus that..then minus $10 to the church rummage sale (cool pedal car for DGD and really neat vintage desk for DGS), $9.48 Dollar Tree
Mar 5: $0 yea!
Mar 6: $7.43 WalMart (clearance toys..from $6 to $2 for Easter gifts & Sharpies on clearance) $2.19 Dollar Tree...needed 8x8 foil pan for a dessert I have to bring somewhere and got 4 at Dollar Tree for $2 instead of 3 at WalMart of $3)
Mar 7: 24.34 Amazon (2 pop up Harry Potter books and baby gift..had $10 off coupon
Mar 8: $20.00 gas..ack, $3.67 PhotoPass pictures developed at Walgreens
Mar 9: $3.57 movie rental


$528.29/$800.00 remaining


I think your DH party sounds fabulous!!

 

[angierae]

3/1: $1.59 @ CVS
3/2:
3/3: $3.17 for the "free" photo notepad through Walgreens that was advertised here on the Dis.
3/4: $2.60 for a coffee and a donut at Tim Hortons. I really wanted a treat.
3/5:
3/6: (Went grocery shopping, but stayed within my budget ($100 a week)
3/7: $30 for discount Disney on Ice tix.
3/8: $12.57 for clarinet reeds for DD16 while she was at her flute lesson (which was prepaid by Grandma as a Christmas present)
3/9: $1.60 Tim Hortons, $5.05 CVS (mailing supplies for Amazon Marketplace sales) and $37.34 at Target. Upshot of DD16 being 4'10" is that she can still buy jeans in the girls' department, and they were EIGHT DOLLARS. We bought three pair, and I grabbed a new bra ($10.99)
3/10: Disney on Ice tonight, $10 for parking, not buying ANYTHING ELSE.

 

[QVCshopper]

Angierae, my DD6 is 4'4". Aren't genes so strange? Anyway, nice job on the pants for your DD... I've run through clothes like crazy with mine.

 

[angierae]

Angierae, my DD6 is 4'4". Aren't genes so strange? Anyway, nice job on the pants for your DD... I've run through clothes like crazy with mine.

I'm 5'1" and her dad is 5'8", so we thought she'd at least break five foot, but she's got scoliosis and she lost a bit of height with the 29 degree curve in her back.

But she's grown two inches in the last 3 years so she's holding out hope she'll get another one before she completely stops growing. I know I grew an inch between 16-18 so there's hope, I guess.

(It really bugs her that her younger stepsiblings are taller than her, though.)

We were excited, to say the least. Thank you! We were going to go to Kohl's and get stuff from the juniors dept but they're always long on her. She suggested we try the girls' jeans again and the 14Plus ones fit perfect! Score!

 

[SunnieRN]

February 25-March 11:

No buy goal: 7
Cash: $100
Medical:$180/-20 /-75
Groceries:$200/-92

Feb 25: $92 groceries
Feb 26: $0
Feb 27: $0
Feb 28: $0 ( do not count medical costs, just try to contain them )
March 1: $0 have to go to a meeting at work.: they usually put out coffee.
March 2: $12 Subway, picked up my med refills, which I track, but don't count.(I keep forgetting to add that I had $20 cash from something so this didn't come out of my $100/cash).
March 3: $0, I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.
March 4: $0, was going to buy fruit at work last night, but someone bought it for me!! She said, well, I can afford it. I notice you haven't been spending any money lately. I explained about no-buy, then she wanted me to have a no-buy day!
March 5: $0 This was not planned as I really wanted to go to Target, as I need a couple of items, but my punky feeling is a horrible chest cold.
March 6: $0, was going to go buy medicine, but too achy and sneezy. So being lazy, in bed. Maybe tomorrow.
March 7: $0
March 8: $712, can you say shop from home?! I have been telling my Dad I wanted a MacAir. Really Bad, but didn't want to spend that much money. HE PAID 1/2!! Gigantic for my Dad, made me cry!! So, it's on order. This is the man who doesn't believe in Christmas presents and gives us each $20 for our birthdays. Shocking, to say the least!!
Mar 9: $0
Mar 10: $0 And I am on my MacAir!!!!!!

No buy goal: 7 / 11 accomplished! Tomorrow, I start anew!!

 

[SunnieRN]

Debbie, thanks SO much for understanding!! I got a pm from someone who stated I need to stop bragging. It wasn't the present or the price that mattered to me. It was the fact that my Dad wanted to do it for me! I will say that it IS something I really wanted and was saving for! And Happiest of Birthday wishes for your daughter!!!!

Virgderon. I unfortunately think your attitude is wise, but I believe in miracles and really hope and pray this will be one for you!!

MMOT, you are smart!! Not having him tell you the day he is jumping, would keep me sane also!

 

[rubato]

Budget:$800
Total spent so far: $518.51


1: $171.00 on phone and baseball tickets

2: $18.28 in groceries

3: no buy 1

4: no buy 2

5: no buy 3

6: $173.89 spent $33.30 on gas, $14 museum, $126.59 groceries

7: no buy 4

8: no buy 5

9: $155. 34 spent: $10 lunch, $4.25 adult beverage, $20 shirt for DS, $96.09 on baby gifts for a friend (couldn't help myself), $25 gift card for DS friend bday

10: no buy 6

I am going to have to watch it. I've probably spent $250 on stupid stuff I don't need to be buying.

 

[Tiggerish]

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

Auto $50
Eating Out/Entertainment $100 / $78 left
Giving $10
Groceries/Household Goods $250 / $223 left
Medical $25
Misc. $75 /$21 left
Set bills $205 / $175 left

No spend days 12 / 5
Coupon savings $15.55
Christmas 2011 $8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2/1 $0
2/2 $0
2/3 $0
2/4 Misc. $27
3/5 Groceries $22
3/6 Set bills $30 (church); Eating out $4
3/7 Eating out $18
3/8 $0
3/9 $0
3/10 $27 Misc. (copying, faxing and printer ink)

 

[Virgderon]

Good grocery run! Spent, 47, saved 27.

Running Total: Spent $172
$900 budget... $728 left
$0 Days: 4
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings :70

Groceries budget- $250-3-52-47= 148 left

March 1: 22
March 2 : 0
March 3: 52 ( groceries)
March 4: 0
March 5: 11 ( Walgreens pop, cooking supplies)
March 6 : 22 ( cleaning supplies )
March 7 : 0
March 8: 18 ( 13 Walgreens, 5 snack at bowling)
March 9 : 0
March 10: 48 ( Publix)

 

[Virgderon]

Debbie, thanks SO much for understanding!! I got a pm from someone who stated I need to stop bragging. It wasn't the present or the price that mattered to me. It was the fact that my Dad wanted to do it for me! I will say that it IS something I really wanted and was saving for! And Happiest of Birthday wishes for your daughter!!!!

Virgderon. I unfortunately think your attitude is wise, but I believe in miracles and really hope and pray this will be one for you!!

MMOT, you are smart!! Not having him tell you the day he is jumping, would keep me sane also!

Thanks Sunnie. I did not take you telling us about your gift as bragging at all. My mom just sent me $500 so I could come home for a visit before I started my new job. She has never done that before, and I did not ask. As you said, she wanted to do it for me. Your dad sounds lovely.

 

[ronnmel]

Got to try on my wedding dress for my fitting today.
I was a bit nervous about it, seeing as I gained 15 pounds since I bought it (I'm small, so 15 pounds is a lot on me), but it fits perfectly. All they need to do is adjust the strap and shorten the dress. It should be ready in 3 weeks, just in time for a photoshoot with my mom (she can't make it to the wedding anymore because she is sick).


No Buy Days : 6/12
Gas : 72$ (max 120$ Raising the max due to higher gas prices)
Groceries : 0$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 40$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 225$ (max 300$)

03/01 : 45$ (gas + pharmacy)
03/02 : 0$
03/03 : 0$
03/04 : 0$
03/05 : 0$[
03/06 : 95$ (canadian tire + dinner)
03/07 : 0$
03/08 : 118$ (dinner, passport, and a few little things)
03/09 : 79$ (gas + long overdue windshield wipers)
03/10 : 0$

 

[QVCshopper]

I'm 5'1" and her dad is 5'8", so we thought she'd at least break five foot, but she's got scoliosis and she lost a bit of height with the 29 degree curve in her back.

But she's grown two inches in the last 3 years so she's holding out hope she'll get another one before she completely stops growing. I know I grew an inch between 16-18 so there's hope, I guess.

(It really bugs her that her younger stepsiblings are taller than her, though.)

We were excited, to say the least. Thank you! We were going to go to Kohl's and get stuff from the juniors dept but they're always long on her. She suggested we try the girls' jeans again and the 14Plus ones fit perfect! Score!

She sounds lovely and the perfect size! I've always wanted to be petite. My DD will probably stop growing around the 7th grade; as she says, she grows early.

 

[QVCshopper]

Debbie, thanks SO much for understanding!! I got a pm from someone who stated I need to stop bragging. It wasn't the present or the price that mattered to me. It was the fact that my Dad wanted to do it for me! I will say that it IS something I really wanted and was saving for! And Happiest of Birthday wishes for your daughter!!!!

Yikes! It didn't sound like you were bragging at all... I'd be happy as well. Enjoy the gift.

Yay, ronnmel, enjoy your gown and how nice to take pictures with you mom. Sorry she's sick.

 

[Virgderon]

Got to try on my wedding dress for my fitting today.
I was a bit nervous about it, seeing as I gained 15 pounds since I bought it (I'm small, so 15 pounds is a lot on me), but it fits perfectly. All they need to do is adjust the strap and shorten the dress. It should be ready in 3 weeks, just in time for a photoshoot with my mom (she can't make it to the wedding anymore because she is sick).

I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. I love the idea of doing a photoshoot with her. How fun to try on the dress. When is the wedding? It seems like it is getting close....We are all going to want to see a picture.

 

[Debbie]

Yuck! Rain all day, threatening to turn to snow.
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 $40
Mar. 2: $0
Mar. 3: $0
Mar. 4: $0
Mar. 5: Mom paid for the hospital parking and supper, but went to Costco: $90 for DD's gifts (birthday), $20 for odds and ends
Mar. 6: groceries $98, gas $47 Music trips that are b$5udgeted for: $125
Mar. 7: medical co-pay , groceries $16
Mar. 8: $0
Mar. 9: Happy Birthday to my baby, who asked for pizzeria pizza (a rare treat) $25 and ice cream cake $24. (and for me-Buster bars while I was at DQ $10), fundraiser World's Finest Chocolate almonds for DNiece $20, gas $44
Mar 10: $0

NO BUY DAYS: 5/10