No Buy April- come join us!

[anna08]

Count me in! I am a newbie and feel like I must confess that I really love shopping. I am disappointed in my spending for the past few months and really need to change my behavior. I spend money when I am bored and when I am blue. I want to spend more time working in my garden this spring and less in stores. I want my credit card to stay hidden in my wallet. I am looking for daily inspiration from some friendly voices .

 

[annsteere]

I am sorry if I sounded harsh. I didn't mean to imply that the number of zero days shouldn't matter to any of you.

April will be so unusual here that I need to make up new targets for myself.

Staying out of stores helps keep desires and spending low. This month I'll be in stores a lot, and am bound to see things that appeal to me. I've also got things on my list to buy that I don't really know how much they will cost so a budget is pretty hard to set.

So a "don't buy it if it isn't already on the list of intended purchases" seems like the best target.

Usually no buy month means NO buy for me--30 days when I don't buy ANYTHING that isn't a need. I try to do one of those every 3 or 4 months. But, carry out food or a trip to Starbucks might be an excellent investment in mental health this very intense month. So, my allowance can cover those surprises rather than get saved for a future trip to Disney.

Good luck to each of you.

 

[magpie889]

Hey guys!!! I am going to join your no buy April!! I am going to try and make atleast 4 to 5 days out of the week without sprending money on silly things! Such as going out to eat and the hardest one...BUYING COFFEE!! I know I waste so much money buying them all the time! So this month im going to try and cut back on them. My goal is only buy tops 2 a week and then hopefully buy the end of the week ill get it down to one! It may seem silly, but if you are like me you buy them a lot!My next goal is to try and not buy pointless things like clothes or something if I do not need it! GOOD LUCK TO US ALL! and I know we will all do great

 

[VirataMama4]

This is my first shot at a "No Buy" month! I'm going to use April to figure out where all the $$ is going and build a budget from there. I know we, my DH and I, do alot of boredom shopping so that is what I'd like to cut out. My goal for this month is 10 no buy days, but if I can get more I'm going to try... Now, unfortunately today is not going to be a $0 day as I have to go grab some things to finish Easter baskets. But I'm going to try and get it ALL done so tomorrow can be a $0 day.

Good luck to Everyone!

 

[fanamama]

Hi to All!
I'm completely new to it all! I've been lurking the past few weeks trying to decide if we can swing a quick trip to WDW over our late April Break. Then, I saw this...I have always been an emotional eater and even bigger emotional spender until...1 1/2 yrs ago, I returned to grad school which gave me no time for spending! Success!
Unfortunately, I just graduated so now I need something to replace school to keep me on "no shopping days". I just do better if I'm not at a store and TA-DA - I find this group! Yipeee!
So...count me in and count my "no spending days" to be 15 or more for April. To this I pledge...
BTW, my name is Lisa and I am a single Mom to DD,16, DS,14 and DD, 10 along with 4 little rescued kitties and 2 rescued schnauzers (bear w/me, I'm working on a sig...)
Thanks for being here - I know we will all support each other and find SUCCESS! Hugs, Lisa

 

[thebigkahuna]

Im in! (again!) This is my 3rd no buy month, and in March I got as close as ever , 9 out of 10. My goal for April is still going to be 10, because I'm not going to change my goal until it has been met.

I have a new goal to add to my 10 days of no spending. Even though my budget is EXTREEEEEEMLY tight this month, I have decided that for every 4 days that are "no spend" days, I will put $20.00 in the Disney bucket. ($5.00 per day, but only in 20 dollar "bursts" - no single 5's for one day of no spend - have to get 4 to be able to put away a $20 bill)

Does this defeat the purpose of "no spend" days? Not in my eyes....the point of this (for me, YRMV.) is to keep track & be aware of where my money goes. I also want to save more, and I think that a goal of no spend days plus a bonus for getting a few under my belt is a good idea!



So.....


GOAL: 10 NO $PEND DAYS

DISNEY BUCKET MONEY: $0.00



Good luck everyone!!! And thank you CherylA for getting us started!

 

[bisone]

I'm a newbie, but I have followed the no buy threads for a couple of months. We have a trip coming up in June so I would like to take the next couple of months to save up a little extra. We do our household budget weekly(fri-thurs), so I will plan weekly here(it will be easier on me). I would like to shoot for 10 no buy days for the month. My first week will be 4/2-4/8. Here is the plan for the week:
25 - gas
125 - groceries/household
25 - dog
50 - misc

 

[conachan14]

I am very impatiently holding out for free dining in August. I need to start paying down our vacation just so I see no better way than to pay attention to what I spend.

I am not going to give myself no buy days becuase there are many days I don't buy, but I will give myself a budget.

Groceries/gas $400 (not including DH gas for work)
Weekly lunch with hubby $100
Activites with kids (including dinner out) $200

Total $700

I know it seems like alot but we have plans for the fair this weekend and it will cost $16 for myself and husband to get in free for my 3 kids and rides will be $1 a piece and I assume that we will eat there also.

 

[Ava]

I am jumping back in this month. I was tracking my budget/spending on an excel sheet for a while last year, but stopped back in Nov. I need to start again so we can get a handle on a workable budget for us. We've been struggling a little lately and have had to pull $ out of savings to pay some bills, so I'd like to get back to a point where we don't need to do that. We're getting almost $4000 back from taxes so I'm going to use that to get a "leg up" and then try to do one of Dave Ramsey's rules - spend last month's $ on this month's bills. We've been doing the opposite, not really keeping close track on what we spend & then scrambling or pulling $ out of savings when the bills come in.

This month is going to be a little off, since we're traveling twice - once for Easter this weekend (train tickets already bought) & once at the end of the month for DD's birthday (will use points for the tickets) - but I'm just going to see how I do. Planned spending for next couple days:

4/1 - Cat food/litter ~$15
4/2 - Lunch to eat on train ~$10
4/3 - going to Inner Harbor in Baltimore but will try hard not to spend any $!
4/4 & 4/5 can definitely be $0s

 

[hmack]

Count me in again.

I just finished tallying up March and "wow" - I was surprised. If you had asked me how much I spent on groceries, I would have said, "maybe $500". Come to find out, it was $645. This tread is a great way to find out where my money goes. Groceries being just one example.

Goals for the month - 11 no spend days - only made 9 in March

Lower overall spending from $1,494 to $1,350 or below. That's spending $144 less than I did in March. I include - groceries, eatting out, gasoline, gifts, household purchases and the occasional misc. item (like buying something from a school fundraiser, or a book).

Should be interesting.....

 

[wdwfan16]

Welcome to all the first timers.

 

[hmack]

Im in! (again!) This is my 3rd no buy month, and in March I got as close as ever , 9 out of 10. My goal for April is still going to be 10, because I'm not going to change my goal until it has been met.

I have a new goal to add to my 10 days of no spending. Even though my budget is EXTREEEEEEMLY tight this month, I have decided that for every 4 days that are "no spend" days, I will put $20.00 in the Disney bucket. ($5.00 per day, but only in 20 dollar "bursts" - no single 5's for one day of no spend - have to get 4 to be able to put away a $20 bill)

Does this defeat the purpose of "no spend" days? Not in my eyes....the point of this (for me, YRMV.) is to keep track & be aware of where my money goes. I also want to save more, and I think that a goal of no spend days plus a bonus for getting a few under my belt is a good idea!



So.....


GOAL: 10 NO $PEND DAYS

DISNEY BUCKET MONEY: $0.00



Good luck everyone!!! And thank you CherylA for getting us started!

I LOVE that!!!! Your Disney Bucket Rewards plan is awesome!!!

 

[kinntj]

Skipped last month and now will join again for April.

We have Easter and our Anniversary on Sunday. My birthday is on April 15th. Soccer will be starting for my 6 year old and golf will start for my oldest. Just some of the expenses we'll have. During spring break, we'll go shopping for sofa and chairs for the living room.

4/1 - $0
4/2 - shopping

 

[thebigkahuna]

I LOVE that!!!! Your Disney Bucket Rewards plan is awesome!!!

Thanks! I realized last month that although I was getting to know where my money went, I wanted to start actively saving the money I didnt spend! Now, I get to see actual results (cash!) in addition to the pride of no spend days!

 

[PrincessBelle09]

I'm excited about doing this! The budget is very tight this month. DH is about to graduate and is working on getting a "real world job," so no extra spending! We also did all of our grocery shopping at the end of March with Harris Teeter Triples.

Budget
Groceries - $25.00
Dining Out - $20.00
Household - $20.00
Personal - $20.00
Pet - $25.00
Entertainment - $10.00
BLOW - $20.00

TOTAL = $140.00

No Buy GOAL - 20

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I finally finished March after some shopping last night with DH. Not a good way to end the month but we needed some things (Easter Basket things, shoes and swimsuit for DD, etc.) So, my final for the month was 17 $0 days and spent$1867.29 . Do keep in mind I record EVERTHING that is not required for the running of the home, so in March I not only paid our usual dance tuition for my 2 kids, but all their costumes, tights and new shoes and undergarments for their dance classes.

I do want to get that down a bit more though. I have made tremendous changes in the last few months but there is still room for improvement.

I will not be having a good start today. It is our school's fundraiser at Chuck E Cheese tonight so we will be there, but I am armed with piles of coupons, our refillable mugs and am ready for a fun night with the family. Tomorrow DD8 has an eye doctor appointment. I am unsure if I want to count this towards regular bills. I am thinking yes, I mean, she needs her eyes to be healthy, so I may record it but not count it if it is all I spend (though with the kids out of school we may wind up doing something.)


Here's To APRIL!

 

[scrappyjae]

I'm a newbie too. Want to save so that I can take a trip next year for the big 40 birthday. I wanted to take one this year, but $$ is a little too tight. I want to try and do 12 no spend days. This will be hard, love to shop, even if it is just in a grocery store. I don't have a budget done, but basically I know that most of the problems I have is that misc. spending I do. So, that is what I am trying to cut out. I am hoping to spend no more than $200 for groceries this month, I am pretty stocked up on meat right now and as a single mom with a DS that is such a picky eater I only have to worry most of the time about me and my DD, so portions tend to be smaller.

So here's to 12 no spend days!

 

[CherylA]

Well I tried so hard to not to overspend on my grocery budget for March that I ran to the Grocery store as soon as April started! We have a Disney trip planned this month, 3 days in the parks, 4 day cruise. I have money saved to pay for anything we spend that week so i won't be counting that here. I am aiming for 7 no buy days this month. I'll add my budget numbers later, for now heres todays spending

Grocery
- 50.00 Trader joes 4/1
-15.00 CVS 4/1
-3.70 xtra mart eggs 4/1
-45.88 Stop and Shop 4/1
-30.15 M&M farms 4/1
-4.70 ALDI 4/1

Clothing

House Upkeep

Misc Spending

Gifts

Entertainment
-21.00 Starbucks 4/1

 

[wdwfan16]

I'm excited about doing this! The budget is very tight this month. DH is about to graduate and is working on getting a "real world job," so no extra spending! We also did all of our grocery shopping at the end of March with Harris Teeter Triples.

Budget
Groceries - $25.00
Dining Out - $20.00
Household - $20.00
Personal - $20.00
Pet - $25.00
Entertainment - $10.00
BLOW - $20.00

TOTAL = $140.00

No Buy GOAL - 20

You are going to eat for an entire month on $25? WOW!!!

 

[rentayenta]

I am going to try this month. Wish me luck!