No Buy April- come join us!

[CherylA]

Welcome to April's No Buy thread. I am again borrowing the "no buy intro" from a previous thread starter

"I expect to see some familiar "faces", as well as many new people this month. Please feel free to join in, regardless of if you've joined us in the past or not.

The point of this thread is to keep track of your discretionary spending on each day of the month. The goal is to have as many $0 days as possible.

The beauty of this challenge is that each person gets to set their own spending goals and choose how they would like to post their results. Most people choose to post their spending for each day on a daily basis, as well as keep a running total of the monthly spending. Some people break it into categories, while other people do not. You can also list exceptions to your spending, such as gift purchases or vacations. It is entirely up to you!

Good luck to everyone!"

Spring brings a fresh start so even if you've been struggling for the winter months maybe this is the month you will hit your "no buy" goal. Good luck!

 

[Suellen]

Woot! Thank you for starting it early! I work on Thursdays and know it would be hard to get on here ~ but I really wanted to start it on the first day of April!

Here are my goals for this month:

Groceries ~ 500$
Gas ~ 400$
Misc ~ 300$

I would like to have 15 no buy days for April!

 

[bas71873]

Newbie to the "no buy" thread, but I need to get a grip on my spending and I'm hoping this will be a good way to do it. So after reading through March, I'm getting a plan together on how I'm going to track my own "no buying", but honestly, April is going to be my guinea pig month so I can actually see what I'm spending and then hopefully by May I can actually budget for things and see if I stick to it.

See everyone tomorrow

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Well, I still need to wrap up March but I want to ht Walmart tonight for the rest of my Easter stuff, so I am holding off for now.

My Goal For March was 15 $0 days and I got 17!!!

My goal For April is going to be the same, 15. But we are going to be away for Spring break and though it is only to grandma and grandpa's, I want the kids to be able to do some fun things during break so 15 may be tough, but I'd rather try and not succeed then not try at all.

Hi Newbies and Oldies, oh , that's not good...VETERANS! That better!

 

[Mickey1Fan]

I am in. I am going to attempt 10 no buy days for April. I did not make my no buy days in March so hopefully I'll make 10!

First two weeks of variable spending looks like this:

April 2 to 15

Transportation 32.19
Food/Household 100
Entertainment 18.46
Pets 13.84
Clothing/Gifts 18.46

 

[QVCshopper]

I'm in again, but I'm making a few changes. Not tracking gas anymore; not including our overnight stay in Baltimore; and whatever I spend at the after Easter sale is between me and Target (unless I don't spend a lot--but I sure do love those after holiday sales).

I'll try for 15 no-buys (had 11 in March)--but that seems like a lot. My reasons for doing the no-buy are to cut down on my discretionary spending and to reduce my kids' give-mes. It's working!

 

[KKB]

DS14 is in select baseball & DS9 joined 2 weeks ago...We will be traveling nearly every weekend for the next 3 months...YIKES! And DS14 is looking into sports camps nearly every week this summer, ranging from $24/wk-$375/wk! HOLY COW!
SO I am bound & determined to NOT eat out during the week--even taking snacks, there will be some dining out expenses on the weekends. Luckily my freezer is full and my panttry is stocked..for now!
Gas--I don't even know what to budget here...I'm sure at least double what we have been paying.
Luckily there won't be time for much discretionary spending....!

 

[LuLuO]

Hi all. I am so excited that April is here and I can join in. Here are my reasons for wanting to join the 'No Buy' club:

- Pay off cc debt.
- Save more.
- We have too much stuff.
- We want to travel more.

My goals for this month:
13 'No Buy' days - It doesn't sound like a lot but I have a feeling it will be harder than it seems.
$500 for groceries- Grocery shopping is so hard for me. I tend to go in without a plan and just toss things in the cart. But, since I want to start feeding my family better I figure April is as good a time as any to get a handle on my grocery budget.

Here we go.

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Groceries: $604.36/$500 (4/1) (4/4 ice for party)(4/6 snacks)(4/10 milk, gerber graduates)(4/11 went for produce but some of my regular items were deeply discounted so I stocked up.)(4/14 $51.47 lunchmeat and fixings for playdate)(4/19)(4/21)

No Buy days:

4/2, 4/3, 4/5, 4/8, 4/9, 4/15, 4/17, 4/18, 4/20, 4/22

Tracking other expenses:

4/1 - Target - toiletries and household stuff $46.06
4/1 - Gas - $46.36
4/6 - Target - makeup, clothes for kids, stickers $65.86
4/7 - WalMart - allergy medicine, diapers, card for DH, toilet seat, misc $109.88
4/10 - Target - Sandles for me and the kids, insulated bag $63.44
4/10 - Gas - $30.00
4/12 - Clothes for family photos - $84.22
4/13 - Target - Bows for DD, finger paints, grow pots with flowers - $21.67
4/14 - Vet for dog food and meds- $90.99
4/16 - Home Depot - $91.47 flowers, garden snips, window well cover, black plastic, chicken wire
4/16 - AutoTire - Oil change $26.73
4/19 - Gas - $52.33
4/21 - Toys R Us - $55.00 (Disney Princess Story Alarm Clock for DD)
4/21 - Home Depot - $27.61 (gardening stuff)
4/22 - ER visit - $50 (still considering this a no buy day but wanted to track the expense)


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[bas71873]

OK, here’ s my first go at a “no buy” month. As previously posted, I need to get a grip on my discretionary spending and my “boredom shopping” . So, I don’t have a budget for this month as I am going to use April as my guinea pig month so I can actually see what I'm spending and then hopefully in May I can actually budget for discretionary things and see if I stick to it.

Some other reasons for joining is our wanting to pad our emergency savings a little more and of course do more traveling. We also have a laundry list of household improvements we want to make. We bought a foreclosure last summer and there are still things I want to change…i.e. countertops, new stove, would like a new TV and living room furniture, DD could use “big girl” furniture, deck expansion and adding a screened in porch, and I’d love to hire a landscaper ).

My household consists of myself, a stay-at-home mom of just 1 year (that in and of itself has been a huge adjustment, both financially and mentally), my DH who travels most of the month for work. He is usually only home every other weekend, and my DD who is 6. We also have 1 dog and 3 fish.

I am not going to track our “living” expenses because they are already budgeted for and there’s no getting away from them. These include our mortgage, 1 car note, insurance (auto & life), utilities (power, gas, water, phone, cable & internet and 1 cell phone), automatic deposits into 2 IRA accounts, DD’s 529 plan, and auto deposits into DD’s savings account and a vacation savings account, DD’s dance tuition, fitness center dues, Netflix and Lifelock.

I also have a 36 month no interest payment I make monthly for the new floors for the entire house (bought a foreclosure last summer and had to replace all the flooring), and a 12 month no interest payment I make to Lowe’s for new appliances (although this one will be paid in full come July of this year). But again, these are all already budgeted for.

OK, so my goal for my first month is going to be 10 no buy days. This may prove to be a toughie for my first go round as Spring Break is next week and we are taking DD to Baltimore to see Phantom of the Opera (tickets already purchased) and spending 1 night in the city. Not sure what other plans we may have for the week. I am also flying (already purchased) to Alabama at the end of the month to visit a girlfriend who just had a baby. But, all I can do is try right.

I''m looking forward to the fun this month

 

[annsteere]

I'm making up my very own version of no buy this month.

Number of zero spend days does not matter. Spending $75 on Monday and then being excited that Tues was a zero spend day is not helpful for me.

I've created a list of items that I want to purchase this month. DD is getting married in May so the list is relatively long-- Easter dinner for the family, new bra and slip for my wedding garb, blue jeans for the wedding weekend, a shower gift, and something for my 35th wedding anniversary, etc.

Anything that is not on the list must be covered out of my weekly blow money or else reported as a failure on the no-buy board.

Good luck to all of you.

 

[MommyBell08]

Goals for the month of April.

20-No buy days
0/80-Eating out and Entertainment
0/75-Non-Necessity
0/230-Groceries(first month with REAL couponing, wish me luck)
-Spent for Gas
-Spent for Other
+Coupon Savings​

 

[QVCshopper]

Number of zero spend days does not matter. Spending $75 on Monday and then being excited that Tues was a zero spend day is not helpful for me.

True... but I think the point of the no-buy days is that everytime you step into a store, you're tempted to buy something extra. So, by not shopping you aren't tempted and therefore save money. Anyway, best of luck to you--just wanted to offer a different viewpoint to the no-buy days. And happy wedding to your DD!

 

[Suellen]

Number of zero spend days does not matter. Spending $75 on Monday and then being excited that Tues was a zero spend day is not helpful for me.

For me ~ if I am counting on a day being a no buy day ~ that it will be more of a deterrent for not stopping and say getting a coffee ~ or stopping at the convenience store for a bottle of iced tea and a bag of cashews.

At least these things are not things I will just stock up on on a different day. It will just be an extra $5.00 I didn't spend.

Also when home with the girls I tend to do little things I don't need do. Like going to the bouncezone for 14.00$ for an hour ~ when we have a Y membership and we can go swim for an hour for free. It really is about encouraging me to make better decisions!

Of course this is my first month... so talk to me at the beginning of May

 

[britfish]

I am in too! I've never done this so I really need to figure out my budgets and how many no buy days I think I can do. I need to stop blowing $10 here and $20 here, I just realized I forgot to pay daycare last week so now I have to dip in to my savings....I really need to do this no buy April!

 

[kayleesmomxo]

I read all the way through your "March No buy " thread! You guys are great!!! I really need to cut back my spending habits as well! So, I'm in for April! I guess I will start with a goal of 10 no buy days! I sure hope I can do this!!! I'm going to give it my best shot anyways Hopefully I won't fall off the wagon by April 10th

 

[jmartinez1895]

Well, I guess I've have watched your guys long enough and it's time to join you. I just did my big grocery trip so maybe other than dairy and bread items I can get through the month with little money spent there. I have never really thoguht about how much I spend in gas a month so this will be new for me and I hope to have almost every day spend free. I am a stay at home mom and i have found that I when I get cabin fever I head to Walmart and buy junk I don't need instead of going to a park or some place that I can't spend. Wish me luck as I do the same for each one of you.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

True... but I think the point of the no-buy days is that everytime you step into a store, you're tempted to buy something extra. So, by not shopping you aren't tempted and therefore save money. Anyway, best of luck to you--just wanted to offer a different viewpoint to the no-buy days. And happy wedding to your DD!

For me ~ if I am counting on a day being a no buy day ~ that it will be more of a deterrent for not stopping and say getting a coffee ~ or stopping at the convenience store for a bottle of iced tea and a bag of cashews.

At least these things are not things I will just stock up on on a different day. It will just be an extra $5.00 I didn't spend.

Also when home with the girls I tend to do little things I don't need do. Like going to the bouncezone for 14.00$ for an hour ~ when we have a Y membership and we can go swim for an hour for free. It really is about encouraging me to make better decisions!

Of course this is my first month... so talk to me at the beginning of May

Agreed. For me it is the not blowing a $0 day on "can we stop for Frosty's after dance?" and stuff like that. It has really taught me and now my kids not to spend the extras that we don't need and save it for something more important to us. They have really cut back on all the asking even if it wasn't a $0 day. You may be surprised if you give it a try that it can really cut down on things. Or maybe it won't work for you, but it really has worked for me and my kids.

PLUS, I find that I do go into the stores less and combine my shopping more which saves on gas and temptation, so there is a bonus!

 

[charming23]

I'm in again for April. I started doing the budget board in September of last year and I have noticed a difference in the way I spend. I am still not perfect but it is so much better.

April's Budget:

Groceries/Household- $250
Gas/Car- $50
Entertainment/Eating Out- $75
Misc/Emergency- $75

Total- $450

0/15 No Buy Days

 

[estherhead]

Hi guys! I've joined you before but I keep my expenses in a spreadsheet and found it a double step to record it there & here. So this time I'm going to join to read your posts to be inspired and I'll post if I do something really great and occasional updates. But I'm not going to keep the record of what I spend here so I don't get frustrated.

And just a back story, I did AWESOME in Jan & Feb and then March we got our tax return & had two bills to pay. We paid one off & blew the rest of the money! So April is time to get back to my thrifty ways.

 

[A.Mickey]

I love the freshness of a new month!
I have been here since October and have paid alot to credit card debt! Hoping these next two months to be completely out of cc debt and starting to work on our DVC loan debt.

Welcome to all the new faces! And Hi to all the vets!

My Birthday is this month so adding another $50 to the eating out category, but taking $50 away from groceries, lets see what happens!

Running Total: Spent $0
$600...$600 left
$0 Days:0
Goal is 15 or more!

Groceries- $250...
Eating Out- $150...
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) $200...
I always round up to the nearest dollar.


$0 Days: 0: 0%
$600 Limit: $0: 0%
Month: 0/30: 0%

My savings from coupons and sales: $0