MAY we interest you in a month of No Buy???

[figaromeetsmarie]

Groceries $300/$217.02
Eating Out $75
Gas (for my car only) $100/$70
Misc. $150


May 1st-$0 so far....
May 2nd-$22.98 Target
May 3-$30 Gas $60 groceries

Coupon Savings $2.00


Goal: 9 no buy days!

Not sure if I am going to make my gas budget

 

[richmond282]

Monthly Budget:
Groceries- $0
Eating Out-$0
Gasoline- $200

5/1- $51 gasoline
5/2- $0
5/3- $0

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Hi everyone, Would love to join but my reason for no spend May is not that i don't want to spend but that i would like to try to have our flights nearly paid of by the end of May I hope that is ok? I am aiming for 12 no spend days but my spend days will be big I am in Australia so some of my prices will differ greatly to yours.

grocery's- $500-$148
Fuel/gas - $800
football fees -$200-$60
Tyres -$220
flights $5000 left
happy to get as much of as possible but would love them to be paid.

Do you add your bills to this?
The kids and i are on a lets see if we can spend $100 a week on grocery's our normal bill would be between $200-$250+

May 1 $0
May2 $148
May 3 $60

A tank a week?! Times 2?

That sounds like a FANTASTIC trip you have coming up! Well, at least you got a good deal on the plane tickets! 38 USA days and only 6 are at Florida theme parks! That leaves just over a month to do other travel! I live in the States and have never traveled around for a month! That sounds like it would be a great experience. I'd love to hear about it! Is this your first USA trip? I'm guessing not since you know about the plane prices, but maybe it is.

I have been doing the $400 for the month as a whole, and I'm going to try something different this month just to see how it works. I'm going to try a limit of $40 for each 3 day period. $400/30 days is the same amount as $40/3 days over the month, but mentally it's a very different approach. I only have $40 to spend, but I only have to make it last 3 days! I have no idea if this will work or not, but it's worth a try.

1 - $0!

2 - $0 of cash - spent on gas
3 - $23.50 Winn-Dixie
4 -
$40-$23.50=16.50 left

GAS:
2 - $21 (3.68/gallon)

TOTAL: $44.50

So i worked out we are paying the equivalent of $5.51 a gallon minimum
This is our 2nd trip to the USA we were there last July/Aug for 24 days we went to DL last time we are extremely blessed to be able to do 2 trips within a year but we have been dreaming of them for over 15 years . 6 days is probably not enough at the theme parks but we will make the most of it. I am posting my itinerary for you hope everyone else doesn't mind.
The flights are a really good deal as we live on the opposite side of the country to where they fly out to the USA. So $3000 of that is just to fly to Sydney and back.

July 30 Arrive Dallas start driving to New York
we are stopping at Graceland and Washington
Aug 1 New York will arrive very late
Aug 4 Niagara Falls Canada side
Aug 5 Indianapolis DH doesn't know we are going to the speedway here
Aug 6 St Louis Ironman 55 (sprintcars)
Aug 7 Moline John Deere headquarters
Aug 8 Knoxville Iowa staying here until Aug 15
Aug 9 Oscaloosa speedway
Aug 10-14 Knoxville Nationals (sprint cars)
Aug 15 Iowa State fair
Aug 16 Nashville Grand Opry and Jack Daniels distillery
Aug 17 Byron GA somewhere other side of Atlanta will spend half day there
Aug 18 -19 Orlando Nick resort going to either Kennedy Space center or Universal
Aug 20-25 POP DW
Aug 25 Daytona Nascar track tour on way to Charlotte
Aug 26 Charlotte lots to do and see
Aug 27 Nascars Bristol have to drive back to Charlotte 3 hours
Aug 28 change of plans unsure what we are doing probably Atlanta
Aug 29 on to Slidell LA
Aug 30 spend half day at New Orleans then on to Houston
Aug 30 to Sept 4 Houston Space center and other tourist things planned for us
Sept 4 Dallas
Sept 5 Fly home
Sept 7 arrive Perth

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $188.10
$0 Days:2/14

Groceries ($186-$6/day)- $46.03
Eating Out ($217-$7/day)- $0
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($713-$23/day), Broadway Tickets, 1st Month Tuition for preschool $100
Gas $300- $42.07 (5/3-$4.44/gal)= $42.07

1- $22.82 (Walgreens-Groceries), $15.03 (Dominick's-Groceries), (Meijer-Groceries), $8.18 (Meijer- Groceries), $100 (Fry's Electronics-Hubby's Birthday)
2- $0
3- $0


Budget: $1416....13%
Month: 2/31: 10%
No Buy: 2/14: 14%

My savings from coupons and sales: $223.12

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

 

[Debbie]

Rainy and cold....again.

Budget: (last month expenses)
Gas: $300($337)
Groceries/Household: $600($675)
Drug co-pays/medicine/lens: $30 ($149)
Misc including gifts: $150( $395)
Pool opening expenses: $600 ($0)

May 1: groceries $60
May 2: $0
May 3: a bit of poor planning-DH bought gas when it could have waited one day and bought in the next city where it is cheaper and DH has to take DS for an appointment gas $45 (does include gas for the lawnmower)


Gas: $45
Groceries/Household: $60
Drug co-pays/medicine/lens: $0
Misc including gifts: $0
Pool: $0

No Buy days: 1/12

 

[Virgderon]

hello everyone and nice to see even more new folks.

I went to Walgreens yesterday because they had Oscar Mayer bacon 2 for $7.00. I also had a $1 register reward, so 2 bacons for $6.00. Great , right? Problem is I managed to spend $18 when all I really went in there for was the bacon. I am a perfect example of why we need No Buy.

Running Total: Spent $76
$948 budget... $873 left
$0 Days: 1
Goal is 9 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 14

May 1 : 76 (Mothers day gift , card & misc.)
May 2 : 0
May 3 : 18 ( groceries, misc)

Groceries budget- $250 -18= 232 left

 

[bigmama67]

Still haven't had the chance to work out my budget for the month, but I had my first no-buy day yesterday (just groceries and bills, which I don't count!) I just got my end-of-April paperwork finished and sent out some job applications, so I'll work on the budget this morning. It's raining, DH is going to some volunteer work before he goes into his job, and he is being a BEAR! Argh. I can't wait till he leaves, LOL.

 

[wifey1220]

I am totally going to try this. But I am not feeling very confident. I love to shop. But I need to stop. Hopefully this thread will give me the support I need.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

05/01:-0-
05/02-0-
05/03 -0- I actually got a script from Walmart for $4.00 but used my flex card. So nothing out of pocket. And that's all I got, never even looked at anything else. In and out. I didn't want to tempt myself.
Auto /$280.00(raised alot due to the prices)
Groceries/Household Goods /$200.00
Eating Out/Entertainment $/$150.00 (raised for Mother's Day)
Misc /$250.00 (raised for Memorial Day plants)
No Buy days 3/10
Coupon savings

April crashed.
March coupon savings $116.00
No buy days 15/15
February coupon savings $124.00
No buy days 15/12
January coupon savings $360.00
no buy days 17/10

 

[bigmama67]

Going for 9 no-buy days this month...fell off the wagon BIG TIME in April and didn't even track the last 11 days, UGH!

Happily, I'm able to lower the utility bill allotment this month but it will be most likely eaten up by the gas increases...


5/1: $25.96 Petco (more stuff for DS' "free" fish); $7.46 CVS; $33.81 Home Depot (new grill cover and play sand).

5/2: $139.36 groceries (aggregate from the weekend but don't know what was when); $5 gas; $12 doctor (but they should have charged $15 so I'm sure that will be resolved); $9.58 for potty training DVD and VHS for DD (Craig's List); $5 overdue fines at library (still owe $9, ugh!).

5/3: $0!
Paid bills and spent $26.65 on groceries/$433.99 left for the month and I don't need too much more meat!

5/4:

5/5:

5/6:

5/7:

5/8:

5/9:

5/10:

5/11:

5/12:

5/13:

5/14: Going to Great Adventure for the first time this season! I've already told DS we will NOT be buying meals there if he wants to go more than once a month (season passes).

5/15:

5/16:

5/17:

5/18:

5/19:

5/20:

5/21:

5/22:

5/23:

5/24:

5/25:

5/26:

5/27:

5/28: Going to Six Flags New England - definitely not a no-buy day!

5/29: Coming home from Massachusetts.

5/30:

5/31:




No-buy days: 1/9

 

[charming23]

Went out this morning to run errands. We picked up mom's prescriptions and got an extra $1.00 off per gallon of gas. Add that to what we had already and we saved $1.50 off per gallon. I paid $2.69 a gallon and filled my tank. We have another coupon that I can use when I get my prescription in a few weeks. We also got a few groceries and drove through McDonalds for a quick bite.

I do not count medical but I count everything else.

May 2011 Budget

Groceries/household- $300/ $177.92 Left
Car/Gas- $50/$23.17 left
Cat Supplies-$50/ $44.31 Left
Eating Out- $50/$44.93 left
Entertainment/Misc- $100

Total Budget $450/ $290.53 Left

Goal of 15 No Buy Days


Week One
4/30- $99.35 Groceries/Household and $5.69 Cat Supplies
5/1- $0
5/2- $0
5/3- $0
5/4- $22.73 Groceries/Household, $26.83 Gas, and $5.07 Eating Out
5/5
5/6

3/15 No Buy Days

Store/Coupon Savings- $45.82

 

[dizluvah]

Gas $500 ($417 left)
Groceries $250 ($157.99 left)
Dining Out $200 (170.64 left)
RX Copays $150 (97)
Misc $300 ($70)

But I commit to 15 no buy days for May.
2/15 No Buy Days so far

5/1 $155 ticket (MISC), $39 Gas, $25 breakfast (Dining Out) $219 total spent
5/2 $0
5/3 $0
5/4 $52.87 (RXs), $58.54 (Market Basket), $21.77 (Shaw's), $2.18 (McDs), $43.29 (Gas), $25 (MISC -Doc visit copay)
5/5 $47.97 (DDs photo session), $11.70 (baby food), $2.18 Breakfast
5/6
5/7
5/8
5/9
5/10
5/11
5/12
5/13
5/14

 

[bigmama67]

Going for 9 no-buy days this month...fell off the wagon BIG TIME in April and didn't even track the last 11 days, UGH!

Happily, I'm able to lower the utility bill allotment this month but it will be most likely eaten up by the gas increases...


5/1: $25.96 Petco (more stuff for DS' "free" fish); $7.46 CVS; $33.81 Home Depot (new grill cover and play sand).

5/2: $139.36 groceries (aggregate from the weekend but don't know what was when); $5 gas; $12 doctor (but they should have charged $15 so I'm sure that will be resolved); $9.58 for potty training DVD and VHS for DD (Craig's List); $5 overdue fines at library (still owe $9, ugh!).

5/3: $0!
Paid bills and spent $26.65 on groceries/$433.99 left for the month and I don't need too much more meat!

5/4: $0!
$108.26 groceries (stocked up on a LOT, decent coupon/sale day too!)/$325.73 left for the month
(Edited upwards - we were at dinner when I realized the kids were out of milk boxes, which involved another grocery store run!)

5/5:

5/6:

5/7:

5/8:

5/9:

5/10:

5/11:

5/12:

5/13:

5/14: Going to Great Adventure for the first time this season! I've already told DS we will NOT be buying meals there if he wants to go more than once a month (season passes).

5/15:

5/16:

5/17:

5/18:

5/19:

5/20:

5/21:

5/22:

5/23:

5/24:

5/25:

5/26:

5/27:

5/28: Going to Six Flags New England - definitely not a no-buy day!

5/29: Coming home from Massachusetts.

5/30:

5/31:




No-buy days: 2/9

 

[Virgderon]

Its okay that you did not post a few days BigMama. We are glad to see you!

Today is a 0 day. And tomorrow my baby turns 21 . Holy cow. I am getting old.

Running Total: Spent $76
$948 budget... $873 left
$0 Days: 2
Goal is 9 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 14

May 1 : 76 (Mothers day gift , card & misc.)
May 2 : 0
May 3 : 18 ( groceries, misc)
May 4: 0

Groceries budget- $250 -18= 232 left

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I have been doing the $400 for the month as a whole, and I'm going to try something different this month just to see how it works. I'm going to try a limit of $40 for each 3 day period. $400/30 days is the same amount as $40/3 days over the month, but mentally it's a very different approach. I only have $40 to spend, but I only have to make it last 3 days! I have no idea if this will work or not, but it's worth a try.

I'm tracking groceries, eating out, and miscellaneous only in this top part.

CASH:
1: $0!

2: $0!
3: $23.50 Winn-Dixie
4: $0!
$40-$23.50= $16.50 left

5:
6:
7:
$40-$0= $40 left

GAS:
2 - $21 (3.68/gallon)

TOTAL: $44.50

So i worked out we are paying the equivalent of $5.51 a gallon minimum
This is our 2nd trip to the USA we were there last July/Aug for 24 days we went to DL last time we are extremely blessed to be able to do 2 trips within a year but we have been dreaming of them for over 15 years . 6 days is probably not enough at the theme parks but we will make the most of it. I am posting my itinerary for you hope everyone else doesn't mind.
The flights are a really good deal as we live on the opposite side of the country to where they fly out to the USA. So $3000 of that is just to fly to Sydney and back.

July 30 Arrive Dallas start driving to New York
we are stopping at Graceland and Washington
Aug 1 New York will arrive very late
Aug 4 Niagara Falls Canada side
Aug 5 Indianapolis DH doesn't know we are going to the speedway here
Aug 6 St Louis Ironman 55 (sprintcars)
Aug 7 Moline John Deere headquarters
Aug 8 Knoxville Iowa staying here until Aug 15
Aug 9 Oscaloosa speedway
Aug 10-14 Knoxville Nationals (sprint cars)
Aug 15 Iowa State fair
Aug 16 Nashville Grand Opry and Jack Daniels distillery
Aug 17 Byron GA somewhere other side of Atlanta will spend half day there
Aug 18 -19 Orlando Nick resort going to either Kennedy Space center or Universal
Aug 20-25 POP DW
Aug 25 Daytona Nascar track tour on way to Charlotte
Aug 26 Charlotte lots to do and see
Aug 27 Nascars Bristol have to drive back to Charlotte 3 hours
Aug 28 change of plans unsure what we are doing probably Atlanta
Aug 29 on to Slidell LA
Aug 30 spend half day at New Orleans then on to Houston
Aug 30 to Sept 4 Houston Space center and other tourist things planned for us
Sept 4 Dallas
Sept 5 Fly home
Sept 7 arrive Perth

WOW! That is some itinerary! You are really covering a lot of ground in that time period! I bet you will sleep well on the flight home!

 

[midnightlouise]

Well you guys have inspired me! There's not a feasible way to bring in more $ just now, but I can definitely make better choices with what we've got!!

So my goal is as many no buy days as possible...shooting for 10

Plus shaving $100 off grocery bills a month so $300 a month for groceries.
Gas $200 per month
Misc. including meds, pet supplies, eating out, etc. $300

Now if I can just get DH on board, too...

 

[QVCshopper]

It's so easy to fall behind... catching up right now. Not sure if 12 no-buys is an attainable goal; I might not reach it b/c it's getting into crazy end of school year time, but I'll do my best!

1/12 no-buys

5/1-$23 Mother's Day gift, $15 Learning store, $10 McDs
5/2-$1 Kohls, $17 Target, $2 DD, $__ Wegmans
5/3-$18 CFA, $9 VS, $2 Library, $12 Wegmans
5/4-$0
5/5 and on-Ack! Throwing in the towel for this month.

 

[wlake]

Wow -- how'd I lose three days?


5/1: $110 for DS6's birthday party (so worth it!)
5/2:
5/3:
5/4: $30 dinner out

no buy days: 2/10
longest no buy streak: 3 days
meals out: 1/5
days since our last meal out: 0
longest no meals out streak: 10

 

[Debbie]

Adding dining to our budget. We don't usually dine out ever, but, we did today, so I'm going to add a second one, too.

Budget: (last month expenses)
Gas: $300($337)
Groceries/Household: $600($675)
Drug co-pays/medicine/lens: $30 ($149)
Misc including gifts: $150( $395)
Pool opening expenses: $600 ($0)
Dining: $60 ($0)

May 1: groceries $60
May 2: $0
May 3: gas $45 (does include gas for the lawnmower)
May 4: groceries $60, supper $30, Mother's Day gift $23


Gas: $45
Groceries/Household: $120
Drug co-pays/medicine/lens: $0
Misc including gifts: $23
Pool: $0
Dining: $30

No Buy days: 1/12

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $205.48
$0 Days:2/14

Groceries ($186-$6/day)- $63.41
Eating Out ($217-$7/day)- $0
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($713-$23/day), Broadway Tickets, 1st Month Tuition for preschool $100
Gas $300- $42.07 (5/3-$4.44/gal)= $42.07

1- $22.82 (Walgreens-Groceries), $15.03 (Dominick's-Groceries), (Meijer-Groceries), $8.18 (Meijer- Groceries), $100 (Fry's Electronics-Hubby's Birthday)
2- $0
3- $0
4- $2.03 (Meijer-Groceries), $10.96 (Walgreens-Groceries), $3.82 (Jewel-Osco-Groceries), $.57 (Wal-Mart-Groceries)


Budget: $1416....15%
Month: 4/31: 13%
No Buy: 2/14: 14%

My savings from coupons and sales: $262.70

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