March No Buy..Rolling Into Spring!

[Debbie]

Darn! The week is over, and I'm more tired than when it started! DD has an audition (voice) to one of her favoured universities tomorrow, so I can say bye-bye to any thought that it be $0 day. Today, I went shopping for myself.....another "I never do that !"moment....bought over $400 worth of pants/tops/skirt/capris. . . for $126. I'm especially pleased with the pants and jeans!
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
Mar 11: vet charges for tests/visit $250 definitely not planned for, and only the beginning. My poor fur baby!
Mar 12: Medicine for $28, plumbing repair $80, groceries $55
Mar 13: $0
Mar 14: Costco-gifts plus a steam mop $241 (but gifts for DH are DONE for birthday AND Father's Day), tea from Timmy's $2, vet $147
Mar 15: Groceries $89 Mostly for Mom. So excited to actually find Hot Cross Buns! Last year, I didn't have one serving.
Mar 16: Tea from Timmy's $2, pretzel at the mall $2 It could have been a $0, but playing chauffeur when I hadn't had any supper....
Mar 17: Parking fees $20, gas $48, Dinner at Denny's FREE but the tip $10.
Mar 18: Cotton Ginny $126, Parking $1, Tea and Croissant $3


NO BUY DAYS: 6/10

 

[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!!!
March 10-$0 I got free movie passes again last night for Batle:LA. It wasn't my thing so I offered to watch DH's friends kids so the boys could go. His friend declined cause the kids would be up so late so I went with him. Would have rather played with the kids, the movie stunk, but as always, I did love the company. DH agreed with me this time, the movie was bad. BUT, we didn't pay so NBD.
March 11-$0 Calling it early. Dh had his card league tonight, DD16 is out with friends, and I might be tempted to take the kids out. BUT, we have food here and they need to clean their room so going to stay in tonight so we can enjoy the rest of the weekend.
March 12- $110 baby gift (DH's half sister is having a baby. We are not close, at all, and I am 8 hours away so I am not going to the shower, so I ordered a gift and had it shipped so she will have it for the shower.) $6 for DD to go to her best friend's basketball game. It was an hour away, that covered the game and the bus. $5 food for her and her friend before the game. $25 dinner out with the famly (this was a bad weekend for cooking for some reason.) $20 gas to hold me over.
March 13- DH and I went out. There is nothing better then his company I tell you. We started at the gym, but that was free. Except I don't want to go only as his guest so I think I am going to join so I can go when I want. So it will wind up costing but I'm OK with that. Then we were starving so we went to use a B1G1 coupon at a habatchi place. It didn't open till 4. So we got B1G1 free greek salads and jyros and went on with our day. That was $10 with tip. Then we ran errands. We spent $50 to fill my tank. We spent $180 at Sam's on groceries, paper goods, etc. Then my DH said he still wanted habatchi so we got the kids Subway $10 and we went back . Dinner $20. We were bad, but I don't care. I love his company more then anything and it was worth it. (Love my kids, but love a break too.)
March 14-$0 I did spend $40 copay at the doctor today, but don't count medical. It was a follow up from my 3.5 week flu. They did blood work to see if my liver is OK. I am sure it is, but they wanted to be sure. Now I am off to sub this afternoon. Have a good day everyone!
March 15-$0
March 16-$0 $10.80 copay for RX, don't count meds though.
March 17- $3 shamrock shake for the kids. $10 Groupon for the Shutterfly book for DH's b-day.
March 18- $16, DH was craving pizza. He's doing the gym 2 times a day now and said he earned it. I actually like that, it means he is balanced. I don't want him to be miserable, and I think if you deprive yourself you snap. So we got an olive oil , garlic and tomato pizza on whole wheat crust. It was so good! My kids had off today. DD16 spent the day at the mall and the other 2 and I spent the day working on the book.

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

No Buy Days- 10/18

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

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

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Sunnie, I won't turn away any help. My DH has lost 32 pounds and I haven't budged.

 

[wlake]

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
3/10:
3/11:
3/12: $3 JoAnn's (sprinkles and cupcake liners), $40 gas, $? Target (drinks, cat litter, health and beauty type stuff), $25 birthday gift for my aunt, $25 birthday gift for my sister
3/13: $27 groceries
3/14: $30 dinner (DH is out of town, so my mom suggested going out -- I was all too happy to go and pay for dinner!), $38 sneakers for the boys
3/15:
3/16:
3/17:
3/18: $2 bake sale at my school

no buy days: 8/12
longest streak: 3
meals out: 3/5
days without dinner out: 4
longest no dinners out streak: 10
non-consumable items purchased: 2/0 (2 books)

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $1460.11
$0 Days:7/14 Got 13 no buys last month, trying to up it to one more.

Groceries ($279-$9/day)- $142.05
Eating Out ($217-$7/day)- $166.88
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($806-$26/day) Great America season pass installment $1026.49
Gas $250- (3/1-$23.69), (3/6-$28.55), (3/8-$37.45 $3.64/gal), (3/17-$35 $3.52/gal)= $124.69

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-$0
11- $107.50 (Signed up Hubby and I for 5K in October), $3.39 (Dominick's-Groceries), $2.86 (Meijer-Groceries), $1.73 (Walgreens-Groceries), $3.23 (Aldi's-Groceries)
12- $14 (Train-Misc.), $65 (The Berghoff-Eating Out), $4 (Dollar Tree-Misc.)
13- $13.42 (Walgreens-Groceries)
14- $205 (Airplane Tickets for October-Southwest), $9.20 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $15.94 (Joe Caputo-Groceries)
15- $0
16- $7.97 (Deal Woot-Shopping), $14.58 (Meijer-Groceries)
17- $0
18- $0


Budget: $1552....94%
Month: 18/31: 58%
No Buy: 7/14: 50%

My savings from coupons and sales: $772.95

Next Month: Get car fixed...

 

[3goofyboys]

I'm in for the month! This should be a good month. No birthdays, baby showers, weddings, ect! I am hopeful that we will be spending a bit extra on moving, but we'll see if our current house rents soon. We did move back our move date to May 1st, so we have a bit more time.

I'm going for 14 no buys this month.

March 1

March 2 $31 groceries, $40 gas

March 3 $20 groceries (why is there always one more thing to pick up?)

March 4

March 5

March 6 $273 groceries- that will hopefully keep us in food for the next 2 weeks and it includes a baby shower gift (apparently I spoke too soon when I said we didn't have any this month) and dollar bills to play a shower game.

March 7 PLUS, I actually won all my dollar bills back plus $36 at the shower last night. That was enough to cover my baby shower gift. Hooray!! I did pay tuition for my guys today, but that comes out of a separate account, so I'm not counting that.


March 8 $40 gas, $11 landfill run. I also got my hair cut, but I paid for that out of my shower winnings!

March 9


March 10 $16 ticket to the local children's museum

March 11 $17 groceries-it was my turn to parent help in DS's class and I didn't read until this morning that I needed to bring a special snack. Nothing like an early morning grocery run. $40 gas AGAIN!


March 12 We were going to run the St. Patricks day run this morning (first run of race season, YAY!!), BUT there was a huge SNAFU where DH and I got seperated and once we finally found each other, we were too late to register (note to selves, never attempt race day registration again). The boys did run in the kids race, which was really the point anyway. Not racing saved us $60. We did spend $1 to park and $4 on doughnuts after the "race". Plus I decided to have everyone over tomorrow for corned beef and cabbage, $25 groceries for that. Tomorrow should be a no buy day.


March 13 I always jinx myself when I say "tomorrow should be a no buy day"! $65 car maintenance-oil change with some additional work. $25 packing supplies-ran out of packing tape. $30 dog food.

March 14 $30 packing supplies, $55 dinner out after a tough day of packing, $15 supplies for a garage sale to get rid of all the stuff we don't want to move.

March 15 $50 gas, $50 moving supplies (bubble wrap and tape are crazy expensive!), $8 beer for the hubby to keep him happy while he hauls boxes around the house.

March 16 Holy cow am I behind!! I have good news and bad news: the good news is we found a renter for our house. Through a great accident, I got to meet the tenants (we are dealing through property managment company and we really aren't supposed to deal with the tenants at all) and they are wonderful. The bad news: moving is EXPENSIVE!! Just moving supplies alone are adding up, plus I am always running out of something, so I'm not scoring any no buy days. On a plus note for my budget, we're moving in with my MIL between our move out date and the time we close on a new house. So, we'll be mortgage/utility free (my MIL insists we not pay rent and if I did pay her, she would put it right back in my bank account) for about 2 months. That adds up to big savings on my end. Now if we can just find a house!
$3 moving supplies, $50 medical bills, $40 Target-we had to take the boys house hunting b/c all our normal sitters were out of town or working. We promised them if they behaved like gentlemen through all the houses, we'd let them pick a new toy. We very, very rarely reward good behavior with material items, so this was a real treat for them and it was fun for us to provide the treat.

March 17 $60 supplies to fix some things at the house, $40 gas-house hunting is burning gas like crazy, $9 car wash


March 18 $4 Starbucks. I feel bad about this because we blew the chance for a no buy day.

5/14 No Buys

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I just wanted to check in! I have been in meetings all day this week and have not had a chance to tally up my spending or post. I'm still around, though!

I did win a $25 gift card to Starbucks today.

I'm hoping to catch up with this thread on Sunday.

 

[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
Mar 10: $18.00 dinner out with friends
Mar 11: $0
Mar 12: $20.33 Walmart groceries..didn't even LOOK in the toys clearance aisle
Mar 13: $20.53 Walmart AGAIN...DH needed stuff that he forgot to write down.
Mar 14: $0! End of the pay period, so I put the remaining $40 cash in my Trip cash box.
Mar 15: $0
Mar 16: $10.23 Amazon for durum flour
Mar 17: $16 gas, $63.44 groceries (Walmart & Lowes...$11.84 coupons), 18.00 dinner out
Mar 18: $20.00 gas, $9.45 lunch out, $7.15 Dollar Tree

$285.88/$800.00 remaining
This is eye opening...I can't believe I budgeted in so much more and it is going so fast..yikes

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

Virgderon

 

[charming23]

Staying in today and decluttering a bit. Finally getting my mom to go through all of her books and cookbooks and get rid of what we no longer need.

March 2011 Budget
Grocery/Household- $300/$66.35 Left
Car/Gas- $50/$21.25 Left
Eating out -$50/$26.42 Left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/ $41.22 left

Total- $500/$155.24 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- $0
3/12- $0
3/13- $23.43 grocery
3/14- $19.42 Walgreen's Misc

Week Three
3/15- $0
3/16- $13.15 Grocery and $4.88 Dairy Queen
3/17- $0
3/18- $6.22 JoAnn Fabrics
3/19- $0
3/20
3/21

10/15 No Buy Days

Coupon/Store Savings- $93.87

 

[ronnmel]

March is getting more and more expensive as we go, and April won't be much better. For those two months I have : 1 bridal shower, 2 bachelorettes, 2-3 baby showers, 2 birthday dinners, 1-2 dinners with friends, and lots of wedding stuff. Luckily 1 bachelorette and 1 bday dinner are for me, so I won't have to pay for those.

Last night DH was treating to a very nice dinner, partly as a wedding gift for one couple, and just to say thanks for always being there for me all these years. I helped him pay.

No Buy Days : 6/12
Gas : 110$ (max 120$ Raising the max due to higher gas prices)
Groceries : 134$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 154$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 570$ (max 500$)

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 : 55$ (cat litter & food)
03/11 : 22$ (breakfast, envelopes, groceries)
03/12 : 59$ (gift for baby shower + snack)
03/13 : 0$
03/14 : 38$ (gas)
03/15 : 0$
03/16 : 287$ (salsa class + fast food)
03/17 : 79$ (groceries)
03/18 : 100$ (dinner)

 

[Tiggerish]

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

Auto $50 /$12 left
Eating Out/Entertainment $100 / $28 left
Giving $10 / $9 left
Groceries/Household Goods $250 / $66 left
Medical $25
Misc. $75 /$19 left
Set bills $205 / $100 left

No spend days 12 /10
Coupon savings $15.55
Christmas 2011 $8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3/1 $0
3/2 $0
3/3 $0
3/4 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)
3/11 $0
3/12 Groceries $76 (k-cups and the cheese store); Set bills $25 (credit card); Misc. $2 (Easter cards from the dollar store); Eating out $20 (took niece to lunch); Auto $38 (gas - which is now $3.65 a gallon)
3/13 Set bills $30 (church); Groceries $5; Giving $1 (person begging in the grocery store parking lot)
3/14 $0
3/15 $0
3/16 $0
3/17 $20 Set bills (newspaper delivery); $10 eating out.
3/18 $0
3/19 $76 Groceries (including the cheese store and the girl scout cookie table in front of the grocery store); $10 Set bills (cell phone); $40 Eating out (Chinese food with my sister and two nieces)

 

[SunnieRN]

March 11-25:

Goals:

Groc: $200 / -$93
Medical: $260
Cash: $100 / -$31.25

March 11: $0
March 12: $0
March 13: $31.25 on PB2 and chocolate PB2. Not a grocery necessity, but a want, so put it under cash?
March 14: $240, Target, YEP, you read that right. $33 on 6 mos of zyrtec' Mobigo and 1 extra game for EACH of my grandsons, so $140 there. New cookie sheets, as my son in law refuses to NOT put the non stick ones in the dishwasher and they now stick BAD, $25, nice cephalon, big ones. Also some misc. stuff I needed, plastic containers etc. The whole time going through the store, I kept saying, 'I am going to have to confess this on Dis boards". My daughter laughed and told me to get over it. I can't believe I spent that much $$$.n: Tomorrow, I'm stayin' home!!!
March 15: $0 stayed home, lol
March 16: $ 0, work!
March 17: $0, worked again
March 18: $0, Too tired to spend money and have an OT shift tomorrow, with a bonus, so makes up for my spendthriftiness. (Hmmm, just made up a new word)
March 19: $91, my litman steth. literally broke in 1/2 at work Thursday night, since I missed last weekend I have to work tonight, so had to get it today. Torn whether to call this a $0 day, as I have $$$ set aside for clothing and work expenxes, but decided to go ahead and count it.

No Buy Goal: 8 / 6 accomplished! Phew! Seems like HARD work this time!

Sunnie, I won't turn away any help. My DH has lost 32 pounds and I haven't budged.

I will be more than happy to tell you about what I am doing and suggestions!! I will be off work tomorrow, so after I sleep, I will shoot you a pm!!

Have a wonderful night fellow No Buyers!!!

 

[wlake]

Weekends are expensive around here. I live and work too far from stores to be able to go after work! Tomorrow we have to get the weekly odds and ends, groceries, and donations for each boys' class basket for the basket raffle (just spent a fortune on my class' basket too! Too bad the raffles aren't the same night -- that would have saved me some money!)

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
3/10:
3/11:
3/12: $3 JoAnn's (sprinkles and cupcake liners), $40 gas, $? Target (drinks, cat litter, health and beauty type stuff), $25 birthday gift for my aunt, $25 birthday gift for my sister
3/13: $27 groceries
3/14: $30 dinner (DH is out of town, so my mom suggested going out -- I was all too happy to go and pay for dinner!), $38 sneakers for the boys
3/15:
3/16:
3/17:
3/18: $2 bake sale at my school
3/19: $100 cut and color, $39 gas, $30 Target (snacks and a gift for a birthday party), $18 pharmacy (time to start buying the OTC allergy meds!)


no buy days: 8/12
longest streak: 3
meals out: 4/5
days without dinner out: 0
longest no dinners out streak: 10
non-consumable items purchased: 2/0 (2 books)

 

[Debbie]

And the week continues.
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
Mar 11: vet charges for tests/visit $250 definitely not planned for, and only the beginning. My poor fur baby!
Mar 12: Medicine for $28, plumbing repair $80, groceries $55
Mar 13: $0
Mar 14: Costco-gifts plus a steam mop $241 (but gifts for DH are DONE for birthday AND Father's Day), tea from Timmy's $2, vet $147
Mar 15: Groceries $89 Mostly for Mom. So excited to actually find Hot Cross Buns! Last year, I didn't have one serving.
Mar 16: Tea from Timmy's $2, pretzel at the mall $2 It could have been a $0, but playing chauffeur when I hadn't had any supper....
Mar 17: Parking fees $20, gas $48, Dinner at Denny's FREE but the tip $10.
Mar 18: Cotton Ginny $126, Parking $1, Tea and Croissant $3
Mar 19: DS (that'd be dumba$$ son ) broke his tooth last night and it couldn't be saved. He has no coverage, so $339 out the window. DD had her university music audition, $22 for lunch/supper, groceries $41, gas $25, DH is taking the script for DS (again, no coverage, so Mommy has to pay.) $27


NO BUY DAYS: 6/10

 

[A.Mickey]

Well my car getting fixed cannot wait until April........check engine light came on and needed a major turn up! So far costing $800...it was coding for 3 things, don't know if it is completely fixed yet or not....sometimes I just hate cars.
But the positive, I won't have to pay for it til I pick it up, so it is a $0 day.

Running Total: Spent $1460.11
$0 Days:8/14 Got 13 no buys last month, trying to up it to one more.

Groceries ($279-$9/day)- $142.05
Eating Out ($217-$7/day)- $166.88
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($806-$26/day) Great America season pass installment $1026.49
Gas $250- (3/1-$23.69), (3/6-$28.55), (3/8-$37.45 $3.64/gal), (3/17-$35 $3.52/gal)= $124.69

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-$0
11- $107.50 (Signed up Hubby and I for 5K in October), $3.39 (Dominick's-Groceries), $2.86 (Meijer-Groceries), $1.73 (Walgreens-Groceries), $3.23 (Aldi's-Groceries)
12- $14 (Train-Misc.), $65 (The Berghoff-Eating Out), $4 (Dollar Tree-Misc.)
13- $13.42 (Walgreens-Groceries)
14- $205 (Airplane Tickets for October-Southwest), $9.20 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $15.94 (Joe Caputo-Groceries)
15- $0
16- $7.97 (Deal Woot-Shopping), $14.58 (Meijer-Groceries)
17- $0
18- $0
19- $0


Budget: $1552....94%
Month: 19/31: 61%
No Buy: 8/14: 57%

My savings from coupons and sales: $772.95

Next Month: Get car fixed...

 

[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
Mar 10: $18.00 dinner out with friends
Mar 11: $0
Mar 12: $20.33 Walmart groceries..didn't even LOOK in the toys clearance aisle
Mar 13: $20.53 Walmart AGAIN...DH needed stuff that he forgot to write down.
Mar 14: $0! End of the pay period, so I put the remaining $40 cash in my Trip cash box.
Mar 15: $0
Mar 16: $10.23 Amazon for durum flour
Mar 17: $16 gas, $63.44 groceries (Walmart & Lowes...$11.84 coupons), 18.00 dinner out
Mar 18: $20.00 gas, $9.45 lunch out, $7.15 Dollar Tree
Mar 19: Naturally I forgot things I needed: $1.38 margarine, $1.98 potatoes

$282.52/$800.00 remaining

 

[Virgderon]

Aaah...lost the 18th... have to go back and see if I posted that day. It's tough when you are out of town.

Running Total: Spent $394
$900 budget... $506 left
$0 Days: 6
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings :97

Groceries budget- $250-3-52-47- 8= 140 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)
March 11: 43 ( 15 dress, 28 gas)
March 12 : 0
March 13 : 0
March 14: 60 ( meds, toiletries, cleaning supplies, pop)
March 15 : 32 ( 11 make up, 16 bowling, 5 food )
March 16: 9 ( magazine and snack at airport)
March 17: 27 ( shirt )
March 19 : 41 ( 15 Jewel, 9 take out, 17 lock for storage locker )

 

[ronnmel]

I thought yesterday was going to be a buy day because I had a bridal shower and bachelorette.
Only learned about the shower at midnight the night before, so didn't have time to buy a gift. It was at a restaurant, but the parents were paying for everyone's meal, so that was a nice surprise.
Later that evening I went to a girl's house for drinks, then we went out to clubs. Made it downtown, but I was alone in my car (hate walking alone at night), was very tired and couldn't find parking, so I decided to turn around and go home (yes, I did call her to say I was going home).

So, no money spent yesterday!

No Buy Days : 7/12
Gas : 110$ (max 120$ Raising the max due to higher gas prices)
Groceries : 134$ (max 250$)
Eating out (and snacks) : 154$ (max 100$)
Non-necessities : 570$ (max 500$)

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 : 55$ (cat litter & food)
03/11 : 22$ (breakfast, envelopes, groceries)
03/12 : 59$ (gift for baby shower + snack)
03/13 : 0$
03/14 : 38$ (gas)
03/15 : 0$
03/16 : 287$ (salsa class + fast food)
03/17 : 79$ (groceries)
03/18 : 100$ (dinner)
03/19 : 0$

 

[charming23]

Another day of staying at home. We are getting a ton of stuff sorted out and have three boxes of books to take to sell at half-price tomorrow or tuesday.

March 2011 Budget
Grocery/Household- $300/$66.35 Left
Car/Gas- $50/$21.25 Left
Eating out -$50/$26.42 Left
Entertainment/Misc- $100/ $41.22 left

Total- $500/$155.24 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- $0
3/12- $0
3/13- $23.43 grocery
3/14- $19.42 Walgreen's Misc

Week Three
3/15- $0
3/16- $13.15 Grocery and $4.88 Dairy Queen
3/17- $0
3/18- $6.22 JoAnn Fabrics
3/19- $0
3/20- $0
3/21

11/15 No Buy Days

Coupon/Store Savings- $93.87