No Buy August 2011 or Tracking Spending Gives Me POWER

[Debbie]

to the August 2011 No Buy thread. Whether you are a No Buy Veteran or just trying it out for the first time all are welcome.

There are no set rules which means you can set up your budget anyway you would like and report as you see fit. No Buy might not even be your goal. Maybe it is just to track what you spend. Whatever your goal is, we welcome you, and will support your successes and failures.

I hope to see the familiar faces and some new ones as well.

 

[Debbie]

And the summer money pit continues. Our AC went on the blink, and it looks like replacing our furnace. Should know more later in the week. Meanwhile: Since DH loves to shop every day, I am not going to aim for the no buys, but rejoice when I get them. Here is the budget for the month.

Budget: Actual (last month expenses)
Gas: $600 $0 ($381) Allowing for some vacation driving, and driving DD to the airport-she returns to Egypt on the 22nd
Groceries/Household: $600 $0 ($706)
Drug co-pays/medicine/lens: $40 $0 ($0)
Misc including gifts: $500 $0 ( $357)
Pool expenses: $200 $0 ($50)
Dining: $200 $0($126) Upped this for our 'vacation' mode
University incidentals expenses: $250 $0 ($158)

No Buy Days: 0

 

[PaulaSue]

I'm in! Got a Magical suprise coming up soon so last week I stocked up on EVERYTHING but meats for the next few months. NOW to tighten the purse strings...

I got to get back into writing down everything.

I am going to a grocery/housewears/back to school budget for $100 a week. (TG for coupons and rebates!)
Stock up freezer meat $200 this month.
Magical suprise things needed, $200 for pre-trip, I like to dress the girls similiar etc spread out over the time till our trip.
I have a benefit I am helping with so I budget $100 for tickets/donation items

 

[ariamac]

I'm in for August! I too need to tighten the purse strings... as my '1 year of care-freeness' is up! I graduated last summer, and got my first full-time job last August. I told myself I have a year to be a little care-free with money as I worked so hard while I went to school, especially in terms of earning my degree without earning ANY debt!!! So I've had some fun over the past year.... which explains 2 trips to Disney World lol... but now I need to get strict, budget appropriately and start saving for a home.

I spent more than I budgeted in July (by a lot)... but I'm still trying to figure out the logistics of a decent, workable budget as this is only my 3rd month participating in the challenge!

August Breakdown

I have my homemade Christmas ideas in mind, so I think I'm gonna start working on them this month, so I will need to allocate some money for this -let's budget $100 (this will buy me the materials to make at least 24 gifts, but 9 main materials... so 9 gifts to start off for now).
I'm also starting to make a Christmas list for when I go to Disney next month, so I need to start saving some US money too.
I also may need to buy some more tape glue, depending on how many Christmas cards I make.
No birthdays for me in August, so no need to worry about urgent gifts!!

No Buy Days - 2/8
Under $10 Days - /4
Eating out/Delivery/Fast Food - /6
Total Budget for this month - $1000 (combined with BF)
Running total: 1487

I'm gonna TRY keep track of both BF's spending this month too.

01 - easily over $200 between me and BF... he coaxed me into buying Disney Trivial Pursuit, i also bought 2 purses for the price of 1 as my current one is pretty much in shreds... hmm what else, bought socks and underwear... and BF bought me a crystal tiara (it was 50% off and I have been going on and on about wanting one for halloween and for fun)
02 - $0
03 - $47 lunch and scrapbooking paper
04 -$3 my breakfast
05 - $52 lunch and dinner (out and takeout with BF)
06 - Festival, we spent approx $15 combined on food and drink
07 -$65 groceries
08 - $2.50 iced tea
09 - $2.50 tea, $20 - BF bought lunch at work
10 - $70 (BF dinner for me and a friend)
11 - $40 groceries
12 -$57 drug store, $15 (BF - taxi to work since the bus didn't show up!!)
13 - $48+30 = dinner out @ korean grill, grocery store
14 - $20.87+18 = grocery store and lunch, $5 Bf bought snacks at work
15 - $4 tea and ice tea
16 - $30 paid for a lunch out with a friend (which was kinda spur of the moment), $35 BF paid for dinner night out with friends, $7.50 I paid for gelato
17 - $16 grocery store
18 - $35 - dinner - pizza
19 - $66 - the Ex (surprised we didn't spent $100+) this was a great thing!
20 - $22 (BF - lunch for us), $52 (glass christmas presents for me to etch!)
21 - $7.50 - gelato, $21 - BF grocery store
22 - $44 drug store - bought some stuff for our trip
23 - $5 - tea, ice tea, muffin, $4 dollar store
24 - $5 - tea, ice tea, muffin
25 - $2 - tortillas, $60 groceries
26 - $26 - BF (haircut), $5 my lunch
27 - $20 - grocery store, baking supplies stock up, $8 breakfast for BF and I
28 - $0
29 - $5 lunch. $200 clothes for me and BF
30 - $20 BF dinner
31 - $8 lunch, $41 BF groceries, $30 medication

Here's to an awesome August!!!


**CONCLUSION***
WOW! I did not do well at all this month... but also, I wasn't updating everyday, unlike my other months. I feel if I actually make a habit to post every day, I'm a lot more conscious of how much I'm spending and how it's affecting me.

Anyways... September is tomorrow! 18 more days until we're back in Disney World Leading up to it... I definitely need to tone down on my spending... so I can bring some extra spending money on vacation!! I'm planning on getting some Christmas gifts while I'm there.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

I'm in again. My goal is to actually stay on top of recording here. Time just seems to get away from me alot lately.

08/01





Auto: /$200
Groceries/Household Goods:/$200.00 (raised, having a large family picnic 08/06).
Eating Out/Entertainment:/$200.00(up'd both DH''s and My B'days.)
Misc:$/$300.00 (up'd for back to school)
No Buy days/15 (shooting for 1/2 the month
Coupon savings

 

[annsteere]

Choosing an easily measured goal this month: 10 days no purchases made by me. (DH and automatic withdrawals do not count. Grocery or gas purchases that I made do).

I will continue to try to spend wisely: avoid impulse or indulgent buys.

 

[thebigkahuna]

Hi all! I'm back for August. I got very caught up the last few months in some care free spending, some over spending, and some general sillyness.

HOWEVER!! I'm in for a NO SPEND August.

I have set a goal of 11 no spend days. And I have a savings goal. I paid off a bill that will free up $100 each month, and I could not be more pleased about that
I'm also working on a budget to include a fall trip to the world. (I may not deserve it, but I sure need it!!)

Good luck to us all!

 

[ronnmel]

This month my budget will be a little different as I'll be spending 2 WEEKS in Disney.

Since I'm leaving in just 9 short (long) days, and start teaching the day after we get back, I'll just aim to "do my best" this month. No goals, just keeping track of everything.

No Buy Days : 0
Gas : 0$
Groceries : 33$
Eating out (and snacks) : 0$
Non-necessities : 0$

01/08 : 33$ (groceries)

 

[Virgderon]

Hello everyone! I will be taking August off, because realistically with my daughters wedding all I would be doing is writing down how much I spend, not really trying not to spend. ( Does that make sense LOL? )

I am going to try to be conservative during the non wedding days, but this will be one expensive month and I am not going to fight it. I have 2 daughters, so this is twice in a lifetime event.

I'll post a picture, and I will be around. I'll start tracking again in Sept.

Good luck everyone!

 

[PaulaSue]

Man, I didn't enjoy shopping today. I felt guilty the whole time.

$66 for 8 shirts for our suprise trip (I might return some, once the girls find out and see shirts)

20 C for pencils (household budget) darn I missed the sale paper.

 

[charming23]

I'm in again for August. This month should be good as there is nothing big planned. I am doing a Stroll the Zoo for SIDS event at the end of the month, but that is the only extra.

August 2011 Budget

Groceries/Household- $250
Cat Supplies- $30
Gas/Car- $70
Eating Out- $50
Misc/Entertainment- $100

Total- $500

Goal of 15 No Buy Days

8/1- $0


1/15 No Buy Days

Store/Coupon Savings-

 

[thebigkahuna]

August is not starting as well as I had planned!

GOAL: 11 days
0 of 11 No Spend days

8-1 - ran out of the house late for work without grabbing breakfast or lunch.
6$ spent for Breakfast.
8-2 - running late again today! BUT remembered to grab my lunch bag! Hoping for a N/S day today.

 

[wlake]

I've been debating what to do this month. No buy really helps me think before I spend money, so I hate to sit out a month. However, with a FL trip and the start of school (supplies for the boys not to mention a new grade and classroom to set up for me), I think it might be too stressful. So I'm just going to have a dinners out goal: no more than 5, not counting traveling. I probably won't update often, but I'll come cheer you guys on!

My goals:
dinners out: 0/5
current no dinners out streak: 3
longest no dinners out streak: 14

 

[superme80]

I have been so lazy this summer! I need to step it up! I am shooting for 10 No Buy Days. So far 1/10!!!!!

 

[Hellothemouse]

I would like to join for this month.

I put together a list of monthly amounts of what I can spend on what. (without the normal bills, etc) Things like clothes, pet supplies, piano/dance lessons are all in our normal budget. We really only try to eat out twice a month. We are getting a cow soon so that should cut down a lot on our grocery budget.

Budget What I really Spent
Groceries $560
Eating Out $100
Makeup/Hair $30
Fun Money (Movies, Putt Putt, etc) --Whatever is left from the grocery money each week
Me Money $120

Trying for 10 no buy days in this month!

 

[YukiPhnx]

Hey guys!!!

I've had a great time getting to know you guys in the last two months.

This month is too weird for me...I'm graduating, I won't be making any money in the last two weeks, I'm going to NYC for 4 days, and I'm moving too. I won't be able to set a budget and I'll be making a LOT less money this month too, so I don't think I'll be joining in for August.

I hope to get a job for September, so maybe I'll come back then! See you guys in a month

 

[diznee25]

I'd like to join!

My goal is to eat out only twice this month. (That will be tough!)

Spending goals for August:

Groceries $75 - $100 (per week)
Target $100 (for the month)

Eating Out 0/2

diznee25

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 1
Gas : 0$
Groceries : 33$
Eating out (and snacks) : 0$
Non-necessities : 0$

01/08 : 33$ (groceries)
02/08 : 0$

 

[charming23]

I had to run out for a few items at the grocery to fill in dinners this week.

August 2011 Budget

Groceries/Household- $250/$227.74 left
Cat Supplies- $30
Gas/Car- $70
Eating Out- $50
Misc/Entertainment- $100

Total- $500/$477.74 left

Goal of 15 No Buy Days

8/1- $0
8/2- $22.26 Groceries


1/15 No Buy Days

Store/Coupon Savings- $5.59

 

[Debbie]

The AC guys were out and did a make-shift job for the time being. They will send the bill, so I don't even know how much it was. DH was in charge, can you tell?

Budget: Actual (last month expenses)
Car: $600 $26 ($381) Allowing for some vacation driving, and driving DD to the airport-she returns to Egypt on the 22nd
Groceries/Household: $600 $95 ($706)
Drug co-pays/medicine/lens: $40 $0 ($0)
Misc including gifts: $500 $0 ( $357)
Pool expenses: $200 $41 ($50)
Dining: $200 $0($126) Upped this for our 'vacation' mode
University incidentals expenses: $250 $0 ($158)

Aug. 1: $0
Aug. 2: groceries $95, oil change $26, pool supplies, $41

No Buy Days: 1