No Buy January

[delmar411]

1/7: to finish up the day I went and returned a bunch of items to Gymboree and got a $54.xx merch credit there. Of course found some stuff to buy but still walked otu with $36.xx still remaining in credit and they are holding my DD's size in the new swimsuit that is coming out. So that worked out well and I don't have to worry about them running out before Gymbuck time.

stopped at CVS since we were yet again out of milk and found some good 90% off Christmas stuff including 4 advent calendars and since DD came in with me I ended up over spending (sigh). But I only spent $7.xx and got back $4 in ECBs.

today I've been paying bills which are of course all budgeted for so lots of money spent but nothing out of budget. DH is getting readt to go o work so I'll be home the rest of the day.

 

[kandeebunny]

Today I expected to be spending about $10 on organizing supplies, but it's almost 4pm and I am still in my pj's so I don't see that happening. It will end up being a $0 day for me!!!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

1/1 - $0
1/2 - $0
1/3 - $9.62 (Groceries)
1/4 - $1.88 (Groceries)
1/5 - $25.44 (Groceries)
1/6 - $5.64 (Groceries)
1/7 - $19.53 (Groceries)
1/8 - $0

Month Total So Far - $62.05

 

[neatokimmo]

I kind of feel like I'm not posting but confessing to what I spent! lol

The weather is great here (almost 70) and you have to leave the house when it's that nice!

I returned a too small baby outfit (gift) for store credit but then found they had restocked the baby's lovie! One lovie is never enough, I now have a back up. I spent an extra $2.50 over the store credit.

I returned another adorable dress that was a gift that was way too small. Now I have a Belk gift card for later on.

I also went to bath and body. And I spent $2.19. I could of spent $100 and it was just $2.19 - can I get a wooohooo? lol

Oh and I got my dad some Pj pants on clearance for $10.50.

And we had lunch for $8.69.

Whew I think that is it. I am still in budget but its shrinking quickly!

 

[McDuck]

I got the rest of my groceries done today at the commissary: $37.31 We budget about $80 per week for groceries, so we are UNDER BUDGET this week!

I always feel bad I never have cash for the baggers (they load all your groceries up and carry them and load them in your car for you). I just flat out never have cash. But today, I went to the credit union before going into the commissary and took out $5 in ones. So now I have tips for the next three weeks of grocery shopping. (I gave $2 to the bagger today b/c I had absolutely NOTHING in my wallet last time she brought my groceries out). I wish there was a way around it, but that's just what they do at the commissary.

Still no word on the position I was offered from the temp agency. She said the supervisor at the company I'd be working for is still deciding. I hope I'm not going to be rejected b/c I'm overqualified!

But, tomorrow should be a $0 day...I don't have anywhere I need to go.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Karen,

Thanks I never did end up going back to bed... and boy is it a long day when you wake up at 3:30am!!

Good morning everyone. I've finally caught up with the thread and WOW. There sure is a lot going on!

Back in December, there was a thread asking what we had learned from No Buy. I posted that one of the biggest lessons was that life happens and there is almost always a nonexpected item crop up. Now in the 6th month, we've had kids in the ER, multiple funeral trips, little and big car problems, broken appliances, busted septic tanks and many other items. My point is that there are very few perfect months in the year, if any at all. We all get faced with little and big unplanned expenses. Plan what you can, and save what you can. I urge everyone who's thinking about throwing in the towel because of a major expense to stick with us. If you've had a major set back, perhaps this will help you get back on track quicker than you normally would.

KJJ~ I am sorry about your septic tank. When I lived out in Grayson, we thought we had to have it all replaced, but it turned out to only be the leach field. It still cost us a ton of money. I'm sorry you have to use your garage money. I hope it comes out cheaper than you expect. And yes, it would be totally cool if we could come up with a logo or something for our siggies.

Neatokimmo~ I'm glad everything is much better now.

KarenAylwood~I'd chalk it up to new job. That's a pretty big change, even if you didn't change companies. Every time I transfer stores at work, I get some anxiety, even though I've been doing this for 11 years all together.

Everyone else~ Keep it up! We can do this!

Good advice! There's no reason to throw in the towel just because you had an unexpected setback. It's all the more reason to keep going I def agree about the stress of the job. Things went a bit better today, although I swore I'd get myself out earlier today (at 4 instead of 6:30) but 4 turned to 5 really quickly. Oh well, I'm going for lunch with a friend on Thursday so I won't feel guilty taking a bit more time there.

1/08: $0!

My dad's bday too I bought him two gifts during my xmas shopping and left them at home. I just called him to tell him about them so he'll get them once he gets home from work.

 

[reginaastralis]

I must not buy anything from Disney Shopping ... I must not buy anything from Disney Shopping.

I don't think it's going to work ...

I won't buy anything on Disney Shopping ... at least until this weekend.

 

[Kate and Pete]

Well, just blew the budget, but it is OH SO WORTH IT! DH and I were planning a trip to Universal for this Feb for a week and tonight on a whim (because I was just about to buy universal tickets....) decided we'd so much rather go back to WDW for a second time!!!!!!!!

So, it's going to cost us $300 more to do a 6 day park hopper (we want to hop this time!) but it's worth it to us! And next weekend I'm making an extra $150 for work, so, it's really only costing us $150 more. We're so excited! Other than that, another $0 for me! Wooohooo!

 

[Disneyoverload42]

DH is soooo laughing at me right now! My first post after lurking around this place for almost a year and it's to a budget thread. ROFL - I am such a nerd!!

So far for January, I am right on budget until today (well actually tomorrow).
My two teens have a dance and I need to come up with $10 for that and DS needs a required school shirt which is another $11 by Thursday. And my little one needs snacks for preschool on Thursday which should run about $5.

So I'll be back $26

But all in all doing well so far this month.

Grocery budget for 6 (including pullups) $320 - spent so far $75 we are usually very good in this category... I'm a miser.

"Blow" money for month (both DH and I) $80 - spent $15 so far this is DH's weakness.

Gas money for week (both DH and I) $170 - I have 1/4 tank and $25 left - use about 1/8 a day... I'm thinking I may coast into work on fumes on Friday

 

[KarenAylwood]

DH is soooo laughing at me right now! My first post after lurking around this place for almost a year and it's to a budget thread. ROFL - I am such a nerd!!

So far for January, I am right on budget until today (well actually tomorrow).
My two teens have a dance and I need to come up with $10 for that and DS needs a required school shirt which is another $11 by Thursday. And my little one needs snacks for preschool on Thursday which should run about $5.

So I'll be back $26

But all in all doing well so far this month.

Grocery budget for 6 (including pullups) $320 - spent so far $75 we are usually very good in this category... I'm a miser.

"Blow" money for month (both DH and I) $80 - spent $15 so far this is DH's weakness.

Gas money for week (both DH and I) $170 - I have 1/4 tank and $25 left - use about 1/8 a day... I'm thinking I may coast into work on fumes on Friday

Your first post is on our No Buy Thread?? We should be so honored Welcome!

It's ok.. I coasted to work on fumes two days ago... it all worked out

I'm coming up on my first Friday without a paycheck It will be worth it when I get a BIG check on the 15th though!!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

DH is soooo laughing at me right now! My first post after lurking around this place for almost a year and it's to a budget thread. ROFL - I am such a nerd!!

So far for January, I am right on budget until today (well actually tomorrow).
My two teens have a dance and I need to come up with $10 for that and DS needs a required school shirt which is another $11 by Thursday. And my little one needs snacks for preschool on Thursday which should run about $5.

So I'll be back $26

But all in all doing well so far this month.

Grocery budget for 6 (including pullups) $320 - spent so far $75 we are usually very good in this category... I'm a miser.

"Blow" money for month (both DH and I) $80 - spent $15 so far this is DH's weakness.

Gas money for week (both DH and I) $170 - I have 1/4 tank and $25 left - use about 1/8 a day... I'm thinking I may coast into work on fumes on Friday

So far:
1/1 $0
1/2 $0
1/3 $53 (budgeted oil change and haircut)
1/4 $17.50 (V-day gift, unplanned)
1/5 $31 (bowls unplanned)
$65 (bike unplanned)
$8.95 (mailing planned)
1/6 $0
1/7 $0
1/8 $0

I may even make it to payday (15th) without using my budgeted gas money , but I'm going to roll it over because I have some extra driving planned for the second half of the month.

I had a short trip to the commissary planned for this week just to pick up taco shells and a couple other things, but when I was getting ready to fix dinner tonight the kids asked me to go ahead and make tacos without the hard shells (we had soft, but one of my kids doesn't like them). The ones that wanted hard shells just made salads instead. So it looks like I can hold off on going to the store until next week, too.

 

[mshrm]

Another good day for me..$0 spent yesterday.

 

[tinkarooni]

January 8 - $0

However tonight we go grocery shopping. When we go grocery shopping we also go Walmart, Target. Lowes and Pet store. We pick up all the little doodads we have been needing. I have menu plans for two weeks, I have a carefully orchestrated list. Here we go.......Did I mention that the whole family is coming with me to "help".........wish me luck.....

 

[crl]

Jan 7 & 8 were $0 days for us.

 

[Irin997]

Jan 8: $0 Day woooohooooo

I'm on a serious roll here! 3 $0 days in a row...today will be #4!

Regina: STAY STRONG!!! And stay away from Disney Shopping (as hard as that may be)!

 

[delmar411]

1/9: spent $2.99 on a gallon of milk but that's it so far. DH is about to head off to work so I won't be going anywhere shopping!

 

[Adi12982]

1/7 - $60 (groceries - in the budget)
1/8 - $0

Today I am going to spend a giftcard I got for Christmas and also need to pick up some contact lens solution. . . going to work hard to stay on budget. . .

Jenn, do you have an ACMoore?? They always have 40% off coupons online you can print out and they have good, cheap canvases there. . . AND thanks for the idea!! I think I am going to copy you!

 

[mmfan53226]

Well yesterday wasn't such a good day $379 for DH truck. This was a totally unplanned expense. Today I will have to pick up some shampoo and oil, but this is in the budget. I just hate going to the store mid-week, like to go once and that is it, less temptation.....

Krystine

 

[McDuck]

Jenn, do you have an ACMoore?? They always have 40% off coupons online you can print out and they have good, cheap canvases there. . . AND thanks for the idea!! I think I am going to copy you!

Just checked...closest one is Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Bah. Thanks for the suggestion, though!

Well, if this job comes through, I can start pricing canvases again at Michaels and Hobby Lobby and then decide what sort of paint I want to use as a background wash.

 

[reginaastralis]

Don't forget the sales and coupons Michael's gives out. You can get canvas pretty cheap there ...I used to work as there, and was amazed at the people who paid full price for those things.