No Buy January 2010

[Tiggerish]

Budget for the month is $300 because I had to pay my quarterly car and life insurance and my annual licensing fee on the 1st which came to $650.
So I am going to have to be very tightfisted for the rest of the month.

Groceries - $150 / $110 left
Auto - $40
Medical - $10
Eating Out - $25
Misc. - $75
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/1 $0
1/2 $ Groceries $40
1/3 $0
1/4 $0
1/5 $0

 

[CherylA]

So am I doing this right? We just list what we spend?

January 1st = $19.57 (calendar and dvd)
January 2nd = $31.66 (random stuff at Shopko)
January 3rd = $38.35 (gas for my DH's card)
January 4th = $0

Not a great start. But not incredibly terrible either.

What's the best way to figure out how much I want to spend and what are the best categories to put things into?

Yes you can just list what you spend. For the first month you may just want to do that then look back next month and see what you spent, maybe try to take a small percentage off of that as a goal to spend a little less next month, see generally what categories you spend in and go from there.

I use clothing, groceries, entertainment (which for me includes all dining out), household upkeep, gifts, and misc. spending. I was tracking gas but it worked out to be kind of pointless because I don't have much control over that. So maybe just record all your spending this month and try to set goals and categories next month. You can have a no spend goal though. Pick how many days you wnat to spend 0. Most do 15 no spend days as their goal but I do 10 and I haven't met that yet!

 

[PeytonSdiz]

Yes you can just list what you spend. For the first month you may just want to do that then look back next month and see what you spent, maybe try to take a small percentage off of that as a goal to spend a little less next month, see generally what categories you spend in and go from there.

I use clothing, groceries, entertainment (which for me includes all dining out), household upkeep, gifts, and misc. spending. I was tracking gas but it worked out to be kind of pointless because I don't have much control over that. So maybe just record all your spending this month and try to set goals and categories next month. You can have a no spend goal though. Pick how many days you wnat to spend 0. Most do 15 no spend days as their goal but I do 10 and I haven't met that yet!

Thanks for the help.

It's going to be a hard month for us because we're going to Disneyworld in two weeks. Thankfully the hotel/plane/park tickets are already paid for so our only expenses this month will be food while we're there and many a couple souveniers. Oh, and the kennel for the dog while we are gone.

Since we'll be spending money every day of our trip (20th-27th) and the few days leading up, I don't think I'll even hit 10 no spend days this month.

 

[CherylA]

The eating lunch out need to not become a new habit for 2010! I sprang for a much needed car wash this AM. All the salt on the roads made my car look horrible. So worth the $7.00!

Clothing $60

Unexpected Spending $250
-7.00 car wash 1/5
=243.00

Gifts $350 (I am including in this all spending for my DD turning 5's bday gifts and parties)

Entertainment $380
-26.00 pizza 12/1
-30.00 princess parking & snax 12/1
-25.00 movie Alvin
-1.00 redbox
-5.30 deli 12/4
-3.05 Wendys 1/5
=289.65

Grocery $440
-39.36 S&S grocery
-5.00 xtramart
-13.02 S&S 12/4
=385.62

House Upkeep $60

Jan1- Pizza 26.00, Princesses on ice parking 5.00, Princesses on ice treats 25.00
Jan 2- Alvin Sqeakqual movie 25.00, redbox 1.00, S&S grocery 39.36, xtra mart 5.00
Jan 3- 0
Jan 4- sandwich 5.30, S&S grocery 13.02
Jan 5- car wash 7.00, Wendys 3.05

1/10 no buy days! [/QUOTE]

 

[eeyoresmom]

Another no spend day. So that's 2/15. It helps that the kids are back in school!

 

[avgeek81]

1/4-$0
1/5- $58 at Target-$20 on dvd, $22 on printer ink, and $16 on part of my moms b-day gift i forgot to factor into my budget
$61 at Sams Club-$36 on groceries and $25 on the rest of my moms gift

Grocerys- 36/50(i shouldnt need more unless my mom wants me to pick something up)
Dvds-20/40
Misc 38/50
eating out 10/50

 

[KibbyCat]

My spending goal for the month is $1000.

Gas/Groceries - $500
Giving - $100
Misc - $100
Debt Reduction - $200
Entertainment/Eating Out - $100

I would like to have at least 10 $0 days

Jan 01 - $36 (Schwan's): Gas/Groceries $500 - $36 = $464
Jan 02 - $8 (supplies for dinner with family): Groceries $464 - $8 = $456 / $8 (extra payment to mortgage): Debt Reduction $200 - $8 = $192
Jan 03 - $0
Jan 04 - $0

 

[Swmr359]

I finally have a working laptop! Another 0 day for me, but tomorrow won't be a friend is moving to Boston so I'm going out to dinner with friends A good use of my money I think!
----------
Jan. 1: $0
Jan. 2: $3
Jan. 3: $0
Jan. 4: $26
Jan. 5: $0

Groceries: $100
Eat out: 0/2 ($0)
Misc.: $29
Total: $29

 

[Debbie]

I'm going to start with a budget of $800. We'll see. I'm aiming for 10 $0 days, too.

Budget: 539/800 left
$0 days: 2/10

Jan 1: $0
Jan 2: $49 groceries $48 gas and windshield washer fluid
Jan 3: $64 Costco groceries
Jan 4: $0
Jan 5: $10 for an emergency fast food stop for DD + $ 51 groceries
Jan 6: $31 gas + $8 hot chocolate stop while waiting for DS

 

[lisam427]

im in...im keeping my grocery budget to $200.00 this month, and want to spend as little as possible. the more no spend days the better.

so far...
1st 0
2nd 0
3rd 0
4th 0
5th 0

 

[KibbyCat]

My spending goal for the month is $1000.

Gas/Groceries - $500
Giving - $100
Misc - $100
Debt Reduction - $200
Entertainment/Eating Out - $100

I would like to have at least 10 $0 days

Jan 01 - $36 (Schwan's): Gas/Groceries $500 - $36 = $464
Jan 02 - $8 (supplies for dinner with family): Groceries $464 - $8 = $456 / $8 (extra payment to mortgage): Debt Reduction $200 - $8 = $192
Jan 03 - $0
Jan 04 - $0
Jan 05 - $7 (Wal-Mart): Gas/Groceries $456 - $7 = $449 / $42 (school photos for 3 kids): Misc $100 - $42 = $58

 

[ILUVPOOH1]

ugh! I was so looking foward to having a $0 day today...then DH reminded me that the oldest dog was going to be out of food soon (she's in kdney failure and on a prescrition diet that I order), so there goes that. (Wow my furbabies are expensive, but oh so cute and well worth every cent)


1-$0
2-$410 (DH birthday gift and some other stuff)
3-$0
4- $116.27 (food for the youngest dog, birdseed and gas)
5- $50.18 (dog food)

hopefully tomorrow will be $0

 

[lougoofy]

1/03/10: $3.57 Wendy's and $5.32 dollar general store
1/04/10: $1.50 bus fare and $1.58 coffee (Wendy's)

1/05/10: $3.18 Mcdonald's and $7.00 laundry

 

[tinkarooni]

1-1-10 $0.00
1-2-10 $60.00 Husband gadgets
1-3-10 $0.00
1-4-10 $0.00
1-5-10 $27.98 Groceries
$10.05 Panera for lunch
+55.11 Credit from Target
+31.00 Credit from Walmart

So overall a +$48.08 day. I'm pleased with that, but I wish I hadn't had to buy lunch, it was my own fault, I didn't eat a well enough breakfast and was a little lightheaded, I figured lunch was better than passing out.

Tomorrow should be a $0.00 day. Can't wait!

 

[annsteere]

l
all credit cards paid off from holiday spending

Us too!

Zero impulse spending so far this month. (I spent some of my Christmas money on a timer at Target, but that was a planned spend, not an impulse purchase).

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Uggg, bad day here. None of it out of the budget or unplanned, but still UGGG.

$550 deposit on DD10's braces. It was going to be $750 but because only had so much in Flex pay, they were willing to take less this year and spread it more into next year. So, that was good.

$3.24 Happy Meal. I rarely take my kids for McDonald's, I don't like them eating it, but I always let them get a happy meal after appointments like today for a treat.

$46.22 filled my car up

About $5, forgot how much exactly, for a bottle of generic Motrin for DD's sore mouth.

$2.16 for Thank Yous for all our Christmas gifts, (better late then never.)

So, no impuse buying, and not much I could have sut but the Happy Meal (but there is something to be said for tradition.) But still an expensive day!!!

So, out of 5 days I have had 2 $0 days. 40%, that's failing. Better bring up my average.

 

[luv2nascar]

Groceries $35/$600
Misc $6.36/$100 ($100 is DH misc- so mine is $100)
School lunches $79.90/$80
Gas $0/$320

$0 days 3/6 days

1/1 $0
1/2 $0
1/3 $0
1/4 $79.90 school lunches, plus $1.55 for breakfast, & $3.26 for lunch
1/5 $35.00 groceries at two stores (weis & wegmans) $1.55 breakfast
will edit when I dig receipts out of my purse for exact amt spent

 

[estherhead]

Jan 1st: $2.95 on McDonald's; $19.97 for I-Max movie and gas money.
Jan 2nd: $44.00 Walmart toy clearance; $202.00 groceries.
Jan 3rd: $0.00
Jan 4th: $0.00
Jan 5th: $9.98 a cow mug

OK, I have to explain about the cow mug because actually this should be like a -$300.00 day. I'm so happy it's hard to explain. My wonderful, wonderful sister's father-in-law bought me 1/4 of a cow! That's right not even a person related to me. He is this wonderful, generous man that I've gotten to know through the last 18 years of her marriage. Last year as a present he bought his son & my sister 1/4 of a cow. I loved it, it was delicious, grass fed, healthy, local, etc. So I called and asked if he could point me in the direction of the farmer so I could buy myself 1/4 of a cow. And low & behold while we were at Disney I get a call from the farmer asking me how I want my cow cut up. He had bought it for me!!! When we got home my b-i-l went to pick it up for us & now my freezer is FULL of meat!

So I bought him the cutest cow mug on ebay and sent it to him. How's that for No Buy?

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Jan 1st: $2.95 on McDonald's; $19.97 for I-Max movie and gas money.
Jan 2nd: $44.00 Walmart toy clearance; $202.00 groceries.
Jan 3rd: $0.00
Jan 4th: $0.00
Jan 5th: $9.98 a cow mug

OK, I have to explain about the cow mug because actually this should be like a -$300.00 day. I'm so happy it's hard to explain. My wonderful, wonderful sister's father-in-law bought me 1/4 of a cow! That's right not even a person related to me. He is this wonderful, generous man that I've gotten to know through the last 18 years of her marriage. Last year as a present he bought his son & my sister 1/4 of a cow. I loved it, it was delicious, grass fed, healthy, local, etc. So I called and asked if he could point me in the direction of the farmer so I could buy myself 1/4 of a cow. And low & behold while we were at Disney I get a call from the farmer asking me how I want my cow cut up. He had bought it for me!!! When we got home my b-i-l went to pick it up for us & now my freezer is FULL of meat!

So I bought him the cutest cow mug on ebay and sent it to him. How's that for No Buy?

Wow, to have in laws like that, and he isn't even your in law! Amazing! I think that is great and you giving him the cow mug is adorable. I'd say money well spent!

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $175
$700...$525 left
$0 Days:2
Goal is 15 or more!

Groceries- $250...$169 left
Gas- $150...$130 left
Eating Out- $100...$98 left
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) $200...$128 left
I always round up to the nearest dollar.

1- $0
2- $14 (Norton Anti-virus Shopping), $50 (Wal-mart and Meijer-Shopping), $69 (Meijer- Groceries)
3- $0
4- $2 (Wendy's- Eating Out), $8 (Target-Shopping), $12 (Target-Groceries)
5- $20 (Gas)


$0 Days: 2/15: 13%
$700 Limit: $175: 25%
Month: 5/31: 16%

My Savings from coupons and sales: $94.29