No Buy February

[Tiggerish]

Budget is a generous $525 for a short month.

Automobile $50 / $6 left
Eating Out/Entertainment $25 / $5 left
Insurance $75 / $7 left
Giving $50 / $42 over
Groceries/Household Goods $200 / $39 left
Medical $25
Misc. $100 / $17 over
Running total of coupon savings $37.65
-------------------------------------------------------------------

2/1 Groceries $25; Misc. $30 (to do two state income tax returns online)
2/2 Entertainment $5 - bought a ticket to my niece's school talent show (she is singing in it).
2/3 Misc. $21 - postage, ink cartridge and paper for printer
2/4 Insurance $68
2/5 $0
2/6 $0
2/7 Misc. $26 - birthday present for bil and liquor for Super Bowl party
2/8 $0
2/9 $0
2/10 Groceries $8; Eating out $15
2/11 $0
2/12 Groceries $40; Giving $10 to March of Dimes (neighbor collecting for them)
2/13 Misc. $18
2/14 Giving $20 (church collection)
2/15 Groceries $29
2/16 Auto $23 for gas
2/17 Auto $17 for gas; Groceries $12; Misc. $6 for Easter basket stuff; Giving $40 for supplies for kids group
2/18 $0
2/19 Misc. $16 (printer ink); Giving $12 (stuff for food pantry basket for Lent project); Groceries $35 (after approx. $11 off from coupons and $21 off from sale prices)
2/20 Groceries $12
2/21 Giving $10 (church collection); Auto $4 (car wash)

 

[Debbie]

Week 3: Budget $300 for groceries, gas and car maintenance

$181/$300
$0 days 8/10

Feb 15: $0 (Thank heavens for holidays!)
Feb 16: $11
Feb 17: $0
Feb 18: groceries $51 + gas $27
Feb 19: groceries $30
Feb 20: $0
Feb 21: $0

Week 1: $9/$225
Week 2: $3/$300

 

[PeytonSdiz]

Goals = Spend $600 (or less) and have at least ten $0 days. Also...to not eat out at all this month.

February 1st = $0
February 2nd = $20 (ordered a bunch of mailing labels because I'm almost out.)
February 3rd = $47 (groceries)
February 4th = $0
February 5th = $0
February 6th = $122 (Costco)
February 7th = $13 (Toys R Us gift), $29 (groceries)
February 8th = $38 (more groceries)
February 9th = $0
February 10th = $0
February 11th = $98 (Target/Walmart), $22 (movie tickets/soda)
February 12th = $0
February 13th = $34 (groceries)
February 14th = $11 (espresso beans)
February 15th = $0
February 16th = $6 (groceries - bread/milk)
February 17th = $0
February 18th = $0
February 19th = $35 (groceries)
February 20th = $19 (more groceries)
February 21st = $0

Total so far = $494

$0 Days so far = 10/10

Reached my $0 Day goal!

 

[erikawolf2004]

January totals:
12 no buy days
Eating Out $316
Groceries $565
Shopping $427
Misc./Entertainment $69
=$1377

Goals for Feb:
12 no buy days
Eating Out $250/$150
Groceries $450/$428
Shopping $200/$159 (have a $17 credit from LeapFrog coming)($100 ebay sells)
Misc./Entertainment/Haircut&color $160/$249-over by $89
=$1050/$986

2/1 $154, $105 Haircut/color, $16 cookbooks, $33 groceries
2/2 $13 pizza
2/3 $19, $23 dress, $13 lunch, ($17) return to LeapFrog awaiting credit
2/4 $154, $109 Trader Joes, $20 Fruits & Veggies, $25 dress off ebay
2/5 $14 Whole Foods
2/6 $119, $ 54 laundry soap & dryerballs, $65 Turbotax
2/7 $0, 1/12 I'm doing this early to keep me on track-I need at least one $0 for the week
2/8 $40, $11 lunch out, $13 dress, $16 CNY supplies
2/9 $0 2/12
2/10 $68, $44 Whole Foods, $24 Michael's CNY/Valentine's day supplies
2/11 $0 3/12
2/12 $34, $4 Starbucks, $30 Dinner Out
2/13 $13 invitations, $10 Gap shirt/tights, $5 drinks at CNY, $5 Donuts
2/14 $0 4/12
2/15 $0 5/12
2/16 $133, $15 lunch, $15 Target, $103 Whole Foods, $25 Gas
2/17 $69, $12 lunch, $57 Whole Foods
2/18 $0 6/12...actually have a shopping credit of $100 for items sold on Ebay
2/19 $58, $33 Trader Joes, $25 Dinner out-TGIF[/QUOTE]
2/20 $153, $75 Gymboree, $61 GenMarie, $17 Dinner...didn't do great today, but had a fun time shopping and getting ready for spring
2/21 $0 7/12

 

[smiller]

2/1 - $31.84 GoPicnic
2/2 - $0
2/3 - $0
2/4 - $29.85 GoPicnic
2/5 - $25.82 Portillo's
2/6 - $21.85 Whole Foods
2/6 - $6.17 Jewel
2/7 - $1.06 Aldi
2/7 - $13.09 Village Marketplace
2/8 - $0
2/9 - $0
2/10 - $0
2/11 - $12.30 Whole Foods
2/11 - $17.00 Out with Friends
2/11 - $1.35 CVS
2/12 - $0
2/13 - $17.00 Out with Friends
2/14 - $0
2/15 - $0
2/16 - $0
2/17 - $0
2/18 - $1.39 Staples
2/18 - $34.98 Whole Foods
2/19 - $0
2/20 - $8.55 Trader Joe's
2/12 - $0

Total: $222.25/$260.00

 

[lougoofy]

2/20/10: $2.00 drink after work, $13.65 dollar general (groceries, air freshener and stuff) and $6.70 7 drinks for at home

2/21/10: $3.14 Hardees and $2.52 Wendy's

 

[Debbie]

Week 4: Budget $300 for groceries, gas and car maintenance

$300/$300
$0 days to date 8/10



Week 1: $9/$225
Week 2: $3/$300
Week 3: $181/$300

 

[thebigkahuna]

Feb 1st - $10.00 gas , $4.23 Michael's
Feb 2nd -$15.65 lunch, $20.00 Misc.
Feb 3rd - $10.00 gas
Feb 4th - $8.23 CVS, $43.85 Avon , $30.00 gas
Feb 5th - $35.00 lunch (don't ask LOL )
Feb 6th - $2.88 Target, around $9 on food.
Feb 7th - ZERO SPEND DAY!!!
Feb 8th - ZERO SPEND DAY!!!
Feb 9th - $7.84 dinner out
Feb 10th - ZERO SPEND DAY!!!
Feb 11th - $11.74 food (never leave home hungry unless you are going to a restaurant!) around 12 or 13 $ at CVS for dishwasher soap and paper goods.
Feb 12th - $36.00 gas, $43.43 Auto parts
Feb 13th - NO SPEND DAY!!
Feb. 14th - around $30.00 at Petsmart
Feb 15th - $10.00 tolls
Feb 16th - $13 lunch (edited this line, the post office expense was actually a budgeted bill, so it really doesn't count. doesn't make it a "no spend day" but the only unexpected expense was lunch)
Feb. 17th - $8.50 Breakfast (for me & a co-worker) $27.89 pizza delivery
Feb 18th - $12.50 movie ticket
Feb. 19th - around 7$ for breakfast, $14.91 Sephora, $53.25 Nordstroms
Feb. 20th - $152.08 car stuff - oil change, "S" belt & such. (sounds like I know what I'm talking about doesn't it?? ) $25.93 groceries & paper products @ Target, $4.53 Starbucks (who ever had the idea for a Starbucks IN a Target is my best-est friend! ...and probably a millionaire.)
Feb. 21st - $1.70 CVS, $3.20 misc., $20.24 Sephora ( I gotta stay OUTA there!) $4.53 Starbucks
Feb 22nd - $17.17 lunch

Good lord, this weekend was a wash for no spend days, but I'm not upset at all.
A huge chunk of the spending was stuff that _had_ to be done (car stuff), and the Sephora & Nordstroms purchases weren't vital, but sure did my well being good

I've got another 7 days for 5 "no spends" - to be honest, I don't know if I will make it! But, I'm pleased with 5 for my first try & will be doing it again in March! It sure did help to keep track of my spending - and I like reading what everyone else spends money on too!

 

[casper_jj11]

I'm trying to sell a bunch of baby/kids stuff that the kids don't use anymore. Last year I did great on kijiji and sold a bunch of stuff for asking price. This time, people are driving me nuts! I've had a crib and change table in my front porch for weeks now. People make me an offer on kijiji, I accept it, they set up a time and JUST DON"T SHOW UP! What is it with people? If I arrange to meet someone, I at least call if I won't be coming. Instead, I change plans with the kids and wait for people that are just too inconsiderate to bother calling. I hate this! I've given up selling clothing because of this and just bring it to consignment. I really don't want to give it away because I'd like to use the money to pay back some of our loans but this is just getting ridiculous. The change table has been 'sold' four times now and all of them were no shows. Is this new or was I just lucky last year?

groceries $700 $165.67left
gas $500 $379.65 left
cat food $95 $54.05 left
Mom's bday $50 $14.93 over DONE
boys hair cuts $40 $2.72 left DONE
quick tax program for income tax $50 $34.64 left DONE
valentines $50 2.43 over DONE
remaining things for DS2's new bedroom (need shelf and some books) $60 $7.96 left DONE
disney ressies $400 $220 left DONE
car registration $100
car emission test to get registration $80
motorcycle registration $70 (hate to pay this since its still in the garage from when DH crashed it back in Sept)
my spending $150 $168.47 over ... but $81.53 left if don’t count kids clothes budgeted for April (purchased: book/gymboree/hair conditioner/gap/ storage containers ... kids clothes were in upcoming Apr budget for $250 ...spent 255.90 this month instead )
DH spending $150 $15.35 left (purchased: contacts/ pic frames for his mom/liquor store/hockey game/skating on canal)

Total: $2495 $1003.66 left

Feb 1 - $20 books for DS2's room; $10 book for me; $4.49 toilet paper; $60 DH contact lens
Feb 2 - $0
Feb 3 - $0
Feb 4 - groceries 67.76 (incl meds/pedialyte for DD)
Feb 5 - groceries 85.18; mom's bdaycards 16.95
Feb 6 - groceries 61.03
Feb 7 - groceries 13.50 (superbowl snacks); gas $60.35; gymboree 116.90
Feb 8 - flowers for mom’s bday 47.98; valentine stuff $50.17; rug for DS bedroom $6.78; pic frames for MIL $5.65;
Feb 9 - lunch lady for DS7 $18.00; groceries 20.05;
Feb 10 - hair cuts for boys 37.28; conditioner for me $20 ; coffee 13.99; val card for dh 2.26
Feb 11 - $0
Feb 12 - groceries 32.56
Feb 13 - groceries $95; gas $60; reservations for CRT at WDW $180 (I have four of these actually but since we’ll be cancelling three once the Wish foundation confirms our dates, I’ll only count it once ... and it turns out you don’t need to pay upfront for BBB)
Feb 14 - pizza for kids $19.20; sushi for us $10 (mom and dad gave us $50 for valentines so we used that towards the sushi)
Feb 15 - $0
Feb 16 - groceries $14.20; storage containers $33.47;
Feb 17 - shelf for DS’s room $20.32; tape $4.94;
Feb 18 - summer clothes for kids (planned to do this in April but huge sale at Gap) $139.00; cat food $40.95
Feb 19 - groceries $79.37; liquor store $35; quicktax $15.36
Feb 20 - skating on rideau canal: sleigh rental and fries $29
Feb 21 - DH and DS7 at hockey game: tix and snacks free; parking $5 ... but DS lost his mitts so I expect I’ll be out buying new ones this week
Feb 22 - need to get gas ....

 

[PixiePlanner]

2/01 $12.37
2/02 $0
2/03 $0
2/04 $0
2/05 $4.10
2/06 $0 discretional spending but $115.99 at the grocery store
2/07 $0
2/08 $0
2/09 $0
2/10 $8.62
2/11 $0
2/12 $0 but $106.32 at the grocery store
2/13 $26 on Valentine's Day stuff
2/14 $20 Donation for highschooler's fundraiser
2/15 $15.62 Took my kids to lunch
2/16 $0
2/17 $0
2/18 $0
2/19 $0
2/20 $0
2/21 $26.51 & $132.58 at the grocery store! Yikes!
2/22 $0

I blew my grocery budget out of the water this week. I admit it. I went to the grocery store with only 3 things on my list and walked out $132 later! I was completely unprepared-trying to remember the meals I had planned. I believe that next week will be VERY well planned and minimal purchases.


total groceries: $354.89/350
total $0 days: 15/12

 

[charming23]

Stopped at the grocery after my morning class for a few items and I also filled up my gas tank.

Budget:
Grocery/Household: $200/$47.25 Left
Gas: $50/$8.80 Left
Eating Out/Entertainment: $50/$20.00 Left
Emergency/Misc: $75/$60.62 Left

Total: $375.00/ $126.65 Left

2/1- $50.53 Grocery and $10.08 Misc
2/2- $0
2/3- $0
2/4- $0
2/5- $10.47 Five Guys, $12.58 Giant Eagle, and $20.60 for gas
2/6- $0
2/7- $14.30 Save-a-lot
2/8- $0
2/9- $0
2/10- $0
2/11- $19.53 b-day lunch at Harry Buffalo
2/12- $0
2/13- $18.28 Groceries and $4.30 at Marshalls
2/14- $0
2/15- $0
2/16- $15.50 Groceries
2/17- $0
2/18- $26.61 Groceries
2/19- $0
2/20- $0
2/21- $0
2/22- $20.60 Gas and $24.67 Groceries

14/15 $0 days so far
Coupon and store savings: $35.02

 

[Tiggerish]

Budget is a generous $525 for a short month.

Automobile $50 / $6 left
Eating Out/Entertainment $25 / $5 left
Insurance $75 / $7 left
Giving $50 / $42 over
Groceries/Household Goods $200 / $39 left
Medical $25
Misc. $100 / $17 over
Running total of coupon savings $37.65
-------------------------------------------------------------------

2/1 Groceries $25; Misc. $30 (to do two state income tax returns online)
2/2 Entertainment $5 - bought a ticket to my niece's school talent show (she is singing in it).
2/3 Misc. $21 - postage, ink cartridge and paper for printer
2/4 Insurance $68
2/5 $0
2/6 $0
2/7 Misc. $26 - birthday present for bil and liquor for Super Bowl party
2/8 $0
2/9 $0
2/10 Groceries $8; Eating out $15
2/11 $0
2/12 Groceries $40; Giving $10 to March of Dimes (neighbor collecting for them)
2/13 Misc. $18
2/14 Giving $20 (church collection)
2/15 Groceries $29
2/16 Auto $23 for gas
2/17 Auto $17 for gas; Groceries $12; Misc. $6 for Easter basket stuff; Giving $40 for supplies for kids group
2/18 $0
2/19 Misc. $16 (printer ink); Giving $12 (stuff for food pantry basket for Lent project); Groceries $35 (after approx. $11 off from coupons and $21 off from sale prices)
2/20 Groceries $12
2/21 Giving $10 (church collection); Auto $4 (car wash)
2/22 $0

 

[Debbie]

Week 4: Budget $300 for groceries, gas and car maintenance

$300/$300
$0 days to date 9/10

Feb 22: $0 (lots of snow, who wants to go out???)

Week 1: $9/$225
Week 2: $3/$300
Week 3: $181/$300

 

[PeytonSdiz]

Goals = Spend $600 (or less) and have at least ten $0 days. Also...to not eat out at all this month.

February 1st = $0
February 2nd = $20 (ordered a bunch of mailing labels because I'm almost out.)
February 3rd = $47 (groceries)
February 4th = $0
February 5th = $0
February 6th = $122 (Costco)
February 7th = $13 (Toys R Us gift), $29 (groceries)
February 8th = $38 (more groceries)
February 9th = $0
February 10th = $0
February 11th = $98 (Target/Walmart), $22 (movie tickets/soda)
February 12th = $0
February 13th = $34 (groceries)
February 14th = $11 (espresso beans)
February 15th = $0
February 16th = $6 (groceries - bread/milk)
February 17th = $0
February 18th = $0
February 19th = $35 (groceries)
February 20th = $19 (more groceries)
February 21st = $0
February 22nd = $0

Total so far = $494

$0 Days so far = 11/10

Reached my $0 Day goal!

 

[lougoofy]

2/21/10: $3.14 Hardees and $2.52 Wendy's

2/22/10: $1.50 bus fare, $2.60 (or so) bill payment fee and potato wedges, $2.52 cafe au lait (at Sunergos), $12.13 groceries (Pic Pac) and $3.25 laundry

 

[erikawolf2004]

January totals:
12 no buy days
Eating Out $316
Groceries $565
Shopping $427
Misc./Entertainment $69
=$1377

Goals for Feb:
12 no buy days
Eating Out $250/$159
Groceries $450/$498
Shopping $200/$159 (have a $17 credit from LeapFrog coming)($100 ebay sells)
Misc./Entertainment/Haircut&color $160/$249-over by $89
=$1050/$1065

2/1 $154, $105 Haircut/color, $16 cookbooks, $33 groceries
2/2 $13 pizza
2/3 $19, $23 dress, $13 lunch, ($17) return to LeapFrog awaiting credit
2/4 $154, $109 Trader Joes, $20 Fruits & Veggies, $25 dress off ebay
2/5 $14 Whole Foods
2/6 $119, $ 54 laundry soap & dryerballs, $65 Turbotax
2/7 $0, 1/12 I'm doing this early to keep me on track-I need at least one $0 for the week
2/8 $40, $11 lunch out, $13 dress, $16 CNY supplies
2/9 $0 2/12
2/10 $68, $44 Whole Foods, $24 Michael's CNY/Valentine's day supplies
2/11 $0 3/12
2/12 $34, $4 Starbucks, $30 Dinner Out
2/13 $13 invitations, $10 Gap shirt/tights, $5 drinks at CNY, $5 Donuts
2/14 $0 4/12
2/15 $0 5/12
2/16 $133, $15 lunch, $15 Target, $103 Whole Foods, $25 Gas
2/17 $69, $12 lunch, $57 Whole Foods
2/18 $0 6/12...actually have a shopping credit of $100 for items sold on Ebay
2/19 $58, $33 Trader Joes, $25 Dinner out-TGIF[/QUOTE]
2/20 $153, $75 Gymboree, $61 GenMarie, $17 Dinner...didn't do great today, but had a fun time shopping and getting ready for spring
2/21 $0 7/12
2/22 $79, $9 lunch, $70 groceries

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $883
$700...-$183 over
$0 Days:11
Goal is 15 or more!

Groceries- $250...$50 over
Gas- $150...$21 left
Eating Out- $100...$12 left
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) $200...-$168 over
I always round up to the nearest dollar.

1- $69 (Groceries-Meijer &Dominick's), $33 Gas, $18 (Eating Out- McDonald's), $25 (Misc.- Taxes)
2- $0
3- $2 (Eating Out- Wendy's), $31 (Groceries- Meijer, Wal-mart, Walgreens)
4- $0
5- $4 (Groceries- Meijer), $8 (Eating Out- McDonald's), $32 (Gas), $45 (Shopping- Meijer)
6- $41 (Groceries- Costco), $26 (Groceries- Joe Caputo & Sons), $4 (Groceries- Walgreens), $8 (Groceries- Target) $2 (Shopping-Dollar Tree 2 Sunday Papers for the coupons!)
7- $12 (Groceries- Walgreens), $6 (Groceries- Meijer), $17 (Groceries- Jewel-Osco), $3 (Shopping- Library Book Sale)
8- $0
9- $24 (Shopping- Target), $7 (Groceries- Meijer), $8 (Groceries- Jewel-Osco), $5 (Groceries- Walgreens) $2 (Eating Out- Wendy's)
10- $0
11- $0
12- $0
13- $6 (Shopping-Walgreens), $24 (Shopping-Sister's Birthday Present), $19 (Shopping-Target), $7 (Eating Out- Dairy Queen), $39 (Gas)
14- $6 (Shopping-Dollar Tree), $3 (Groceries-Jewel), $15 (Misc.-Parking and Train Tickets), $7 (Shopping- Chinatown candies and goodies), $40 (Eating Out- Dragon Court)
15- $0
16- $13 (Groceries- Dominick's), $16 (Groceries- Jewel-Osco), $8 (Shopping- Target), $5 (Shopping- Walgreens), $2 (Eating Out- Wendy's)
17- $0
18- $0
19- $0
20- $12 (Shopping- CVS), $25 (Gas), $7 (Eating Out- Subway), $1 (Groceries- Meijer), $6 (Groceries-Jewel), $19 (Groceries- Costco) $21 (Shopping-Target)
21- $41 (Shopping- Target), $97 (Shopping- Office-Max-Printer Ink...boo!), $8 (Shopping-Stamps), $4 (Groceries- Aldi's)
22- $0


$0 Days: 11/15: 73%
$700 Limit: $883: 126%
Month: 22/28: 79%

My savings from coupons and sales: $708.75

 

[tinkarooni]

Hey guys. I have completely and totally lost track of day to day spending but I have my envelopes full of money still and wanted to update.

This weekend is the end of my month. I take new food money and allowance based on my every other week paychecks so I get paid for the month of March this weekend.

I started with a $900 food budget and a $100 personal allowance. Now of course I have said that I have a very full pantry and freezer so I should be able to do this, although this was the first time I did.

Out of my combined $1,000. total I have......drum roll.....$481. left.

For me that is just amazing and tells me that I can do it again next month!! This includes kids allowances, all food, pets, cleaners, paper products, school lunch money if needed (not often) all three meals every day for two adults and two kids, also we had a power outage for a few days so I had guests for meals too. This is anything extra that I don't have a specific budget for elsewhere. If we want to stop for a pizza it comes out of here too.

So this money is going right into savings this weekend and I will start over with cash and envelopes and a taste for saving! Of course March is a long month but I feel like I can still accomplish something. Thanks for your help guys, I may not have always had time to post but I have been reading and I have been inspired.

 

[thebigkahuna]

This weekend is the end of my month. I take new food money and allowance based on my every other week paychecks so I get paid for the month of March this weekend.

So, are you doing this once a month or twice? Do you put a months worth of food money in an envelope from one check?
Don't mean to get personal, but I get paid bi-weekly also, and my food budget is divided up during the month, so I'm interested to hear how others divide up the budget.

 

[hjohnson6]

We last time I posted, we only had had 3 no spend days. I want to see if I can hit 10 in March. We added two more days in February.

So far:

2/2 - $0
2/4 - $0
2/8 - $0
2/19 - $0
2/20 - $0

Today looks like it might be a no spend day as well.