No Buy January

[disneymom3]

Ok, I have officially been watching CSI:Miami way too much because for a minute I thought "omigosh, I can't belive she's budgeting THAT!"

First time ever columbian nose candy makes it into a budget, ha ha ha.

Ok, I've had too much wine, time to go to bed...


ps Karen Aylwood, hang in there on the new job, it's always rough at first...

Yeah, well I don't know what I have been watching but I too thought "Well, crap." and then I was speechless.

 

[paulasillars]

Brockscandy - I'm sorry for your loss

I've done pretty well the last few days -
7th - $5 parking at the airport picking up Robert and his Mum
8th - $0 YAY!
9th - $0 YAY!
10th - $0 YAY!

Total this month personal spending - $26.50/$400

What I did to save money? Took lunches to work and froze another bunch of left overs for lunches to take to work. Resisted the urge to buy lunch in the city on Wednesday after visiting a client, instead I went back to the office and ate the lunch I took with me.

I'm out of town from tomorrow until next Wednesday with work so we get a daily allowance of $80 for meals and incidentals. I'll see how little of this I can spend - though I'm working away with others so we will be dining out together so I won't be able to just eat in my room to save extra cash.

I hope at least to have breakfast in the room to minimise costs and not have to get up too early in the morning to hunt down food with them I'll also be working really long hours over the weekend and will have the choice for overtime of time or money. I'll most likely take the time as I'll need leave for my trip in March to Hawaii - I've already got money put aside for that.

Robert has also agreed to double the amount we put aside for household expenses every pay so we should be able to get some of the renovations done starting in March. I'm getting him to call on Monday for a couple of quotes for a conservatory - it shouldn't cost too much hopefully as we already have the concrete slab which is often the costly bit.

 

[Disneyoverload42]

Originally Posted by Kickapoo Joie Juice View Post
Ok, I have officially been watching CSI:Miami way too much because for a minute I thought "omigosh, I can't belive she's budgeting THAT!"

First time ever columbian nose candy makes it into a budget, ha ha ha.

Ok, I've had too much wine, time to go to bed...
Yeah, well I don't know what I have been watching but I too thought "Well, crap." and then I was speechless.

I assure you THAT isn't it. It's money we can "blow" without having to account for where it went too. I've been part of the Dave Ramsey cult too long and always assume that people know what I mean when I say "blow", "slush", "BEF", "commission" etc. Maybe I should call it an allowance?

But if you send CSI to my door, can I have the cute young guy? Not David Caruso

 

[Irin997]

I've been to Target four times in two days, and stopped at three different grocery stores. AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Luckily, I am still under budget ... but I take back liking a day off. I don't like them, I end up buying a bunch of groceries.

Oh well, we are stocked up for the rest of the month. I even bought some things that aren't usually things we get b/c I wanted to try something different. I bought a few things that weren't on thelist, like fried okra ... but I didn't do too badly. I also bought Juliette a pint of ice cream that was on sale for a dollar. While this wasn't on the list, and surely wasn't a need, it's cheaper than getting her something from the ice cream man, and she's eaten ice cream twice and isn't nearly done.

The best part ... I don't usually take Juliette shopping with me ... women who bring their children with them to the grocery store wow me. Seriously. We're walking down the cereal aisle, and I'm trying to get her distracted and I hear "Mom, look ... Princess Rella cereal!" "Juliette, it's frosted flakes. The only reason you want it is b/c there is a princess on it. The ad people do that sort of thing on purpose b/c no mother wants to have their child scream in the middle of the store." (I hear the woman next to us laughing at this point.) "But MOM ... I want this! I like princesses and I'll eat all this cereal. Cereal is yummy and I can eat it with milk." "Ok, you can get it if you put the syrup back for your milk." And ... she did. So yeah, I bought an overpriced small box of cereal b/c there was a picture of some princesses on it. However, I did win the fight over the $6 tub of Dora icecream ... And that my friend, is why I do my grocery shopping alone.

I'll have to find my receipts later to post what the total damage was ... but for right now I have to go downstairs and clean out the freezer and fridge so we can actually fit the food in properly.

Oh yes the promises of "Mom, I promise I'll eat it" and "But Mom, it's not that much money." The joys of shopping with children!

I have the BEST septic guy EVER!

Ok, so it goes like this, tuesday morning septic guy comes out and I'm all wringing my hands and flipping out and he's like, well, let me just dig around here and see what's going on. And I'm like, we just had it pumped, it's messed up, I'm so screwed, etc etc (picture me wringing hands on large stinky front lawn composed mostly of short green weeds rather than grass) and he opens up the whole thing and says, hey, you have a SECOND tank here that has a caved in top, and hey, look, there's a BLOCKED FILTER here. So he pulls the broken pieces off the feeder tank that has the lines to the septic field, grabs the big blocked filter, pulls it off and VOILA, all the filled up tank flows into the second tank, flows into the lines, and is GONE. Oh, I'm so doing the sewage happy dance right there on my front yard.

Cost: $225 dollars. I kid you not.

We do have to spend an additional 500 to have the front yard re-graded because the septic tank is so close to the surface that I am cooking the poop in the tank, but our septic guy (shocker) runs his own business on the side that fixes the yards that his boss's company digs up. So I'm currently battling with my husband who just wants to dump a pile of dirt on it, drop some seed on it, and be done with it, and I want to replace the 40 year old walkway when the septic guy comes out to re-grade because this is the *one* opportunity I will have to fix it (it's caving, crumbling and falling apart), because once the new sod goes in over the new dirt, I'll never want to touch it again.

I'm just going to toss the budget to the wind and say, after 40 years, the house should get a new walkway, for cryin' out loud! Fix septic, 225, peace of mind, priceless!!!!

So, Jan. 8 $225 ( I still can't believe it!)
Jan. 9 $0 woo hoo!

I'm beyond happy, I'm ebullient. And p*ssed at my husband for trying to dump a pile of dirt on the front lawn and calling it a day. Hey, it's about time for me to start being more demanding, I think!

That's awesome!!! Septic probs suck and I say FIGHT FOR THE NEW WALKWAY!!!!

Well, I have totally blown my no buy for the month. I had a cousin pass away last weekend and my mom, daughter and I traveled 400 miles Monday, spent two nights in a hotel, and drove back 400 miles today. Every meal was out. Oh well, I needed to be there and tomorrow is another day. I will get back to it tomorrow and start again. Thank God for savings!!

So sorry for your loss.

Jan 9: $0

Holy smokes, yet another $0 day. I'm up to 4 in a row now. Of course, I will probably cave and buy something for lunch today. We'll see. I just don't think the tomato soup in my desk is going to cut it.

 

[smiller]

The best part ... I don't usually take Juliette shopping with me ... women who bring their children with them to the grocery store wow me. Seriously. We're walking down the cereal aisle, and I'm trying to get her distracted and I hear "Mom, look ... Princess Rella cereal!" "Juliette, it's frosted flakes. The only reason you want it is b/c there is a princess on it. The ad people do that sort of thing on purpose b/c no mother wants to have their child scream in the middle of the store." (I hear the woman next to us laughing at this point.) "But MOM ... I want this! I like princesses and I'll eat all this cereal. Cereal is yummy and I can eat it with milk." "Ok, you can get it if you put the syrup back for your milk." And ... she did. So yeah, I bought an overpriced small box of cereal b/c there was a picture of some princesses on it. However, I did win the fight over the $6 tub of Dora icecream ... And that my friend, is why I do my grocery shopping alone.

Oh, this had me laughing! It's just like shopping with DNiece4 who LOVES everything Dora and Disney Princess and with whom I end up grocery shopping nearly every weekend. It usually goes something like, "Oh Auntie, I need this!" and I ask "What is it?" and of course she doesn't know but she usually says "I love it!" and won't set it down.

DSis always says DNiece would eat a rock if it had Dora's picture on it!

Thankfully, I don't think I cave in much at all - I usually tell her it's not in the budget!

KJJ - that is AWESOME news about your septic tank! DM and DDad recently thought they'd have to dig an entire new well (or connect to city water) when theirs dried up to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars, but when they called the guy up, it ended up being just a minor repair at a fraction of the cost! That always has gotta feel good!

1/9 - $1.02 at Chicago Produce for 2 avocados. Yummy ones, too. I love when they lower the price!

 

[Siouxstone]

Brockscandy~ Please don't consider your No Buy blown. You had a situation come up beyond your control and you did what you needed to do. That's ok. It happens to everyone. We're glad your going to stay with us and are sorry for your loss.

Kickapoo Joie Juice~ "I'm so doing the sewage happy dance right there on my front yard"- How has the tag fairy not gotten you yet? I still can't believe you got past "I BOGO'd lizards" all those months ago. Congrats on the septic tank. That's totally awesome! I guess the tag fairy doesn't do No Buy.

So, I've had a few more $0 days. The part for my DH Saturn STILL hasn't come in. I hate that it is hanging over our heads. If it's not here today or tomorrow, I am considering calling another dealership in Houston and asking about the part. It's one of those parts that has to come from the dealership and my mechanic ordered it from them on December 29th.

Today should be another $0 day. I'm going to check and see if everyone took their bill money out of our checking account and that always keeps me from wanting to spend. I love autobilling because I never pay anything late anymore, but dang it just feels like they are "helping themselves" to my cash. One of the things I've been considering is finding a better rewards card to switch it all to and then I can pay them once a month.

Did you realize we are 1/3 of the way through the month?! I can't believe it! Keep up the good work and just keep plugging along!

1/8-$0
1/9-$0
1/10-$0- or should be

 

[smiller]

I just wanted to encourage those of you interested in the CVS deals to look into them and see if they work for you - I've spent $6.92 total OOP this month (didn't start with any ECBs, either) and here's what I've collected:

26 Soy Joy bars
6 Pepsi 12 packs
4 Campbells microwavable soup
3 Viactiv vitamin bottles
2 CVS toothbrushes
2 Colgate toothbrushes
3 Colgate toothpastes
2 Softsoap body washes
1 Softsoap hand soap
1 Fructis shampoo
1 Fructis conditioner
1 L'Oreal shampoo
1 L'Oreal conditioner
1 Excedrin 24 ct
1 Palmolive dish soap

And as of right now I have $28.98 in ECBs! (Those are the CVS money you can spend on your next purchase.)

It's all about clipping the MF coupons, watching the sales, and finding the CVS coupons, too. I even had the supervisor ring me up today and she was happy for me and my fantastic deals!

Bringing us back to No Buy:

1/10 - $0.91 at CVS
1/10 - $0.77 at CVS

Both are in budget and I decided to take the money out of the Personal Envelope as I was buying toiletries and vitamins. It's a little hard to divide up $0.77 among too many different envelopes!

 

[gottalovethem]

You make me wish I had a CVS here

Brockscandy - hang in there. Extenuating (sp?) circumstances don't count on the no-buy thing. Sorry for your loss

Jan 6-8 -- $0

Groceries yesterday - $150 (we were out of everything! I'm within budget if I don't spend more than another $180 this month)

today - $10.50 - dog food

I haven't bought any Starbucks in well over a week, possibly this whole month....I'm quite proud

 

[tinkarooni]

January 9 -

Big grocery shopping: $163.00 (budgeted)

Eating out: $13.00 (Budgeted and planned. We used a gift card and this was the overage for four. Not bad, I made them all drink water)

Pet store: $23.00 in fish and accessories. I knew that this was going to cost me. My son had a remaining gift card left, he's trying to fill up his BIG fish tank Santa brought him. I had this money put aside to use. Unfortunately his tank is still not filled up with fish. I have told him that next month he has to save and use his money and I will match it. That will give me a month to put aside for it.

So all in all I am pretty pleased. I am under budget for food. My budget includes all meals including school lunches (if taken or bought) and all eating out. Also did not buy anything we didn't have on our list. The best thing is how my family is on board, water for dinner and no whining for anything extra...(that includes by me and DH).

Good Luck everybody.

 

[tinkarooni]

I just wanted to encourage those of you interested in the CVS deals to look into them and see if they work for you - I've spent $6.92 total OOP this month (didn't start with any ECBs, either) and here's what I've collected:

26 Soy Joy bars
6 Pepsi 12 packs
4 Campbells microwavable soup
3 Viactiv vitamin bottles
2 CVS toothbrushes
2 Colgate toothbrushes
3 Colgate toothpastes
2 Softsoap body washes
1 Softsoap hand soap
1 Fructis shampoo
1 Fructis conditioner
1 L'Oreal shampoo
1 L'Oreal conditioner
1 Excedrin 24 ct
1 Palmolive dish soap

And as of right now I have $28.98 in ECBs! (Those are the CVS money you can spend on your next purchase.)

It's all about clipping the MF coupons, watching the sales, and finding the CVS coupons, too. I even had the supervisor ring me up today and she was happy for me and my fantastic deals!

Bringing us back to No Buy:

1/10 - $0.91 at CVS
1/10 - $0.77 at CVS

Both are in budget and I decided to take the money out of the Personal Envelope as I was buying toiletries and vitamins. It's a little hard to divide up $0.77 among too many different envelopes!

I also recommend the CVS thing to people if they can sort it out. Once you get into it it's a huge money saver. I did find it to be quite a bit of time spent. However what I did was stock up on everything and am now taking some time off...using all the free toothbrushes, toothpaste, vitamins etc. In a few months I'll go back to it so that I can stock up the closet again.

Good Luck!

 

[McDuck]

Brockscandy, so very sorry for your loss.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I just wanted to encourage those of you interested in the CVS deals to look into them and see if they work for you - I've spent $6.92 total OOP this month (didn't start with any ECBs, either) and here's what I've collected:

26 Soy Joy bars
6 Pepsi 12 packs
4 Campbells microwavable soup
3 Viactiv vitamin bottles
2 CVS toothbrushes
2 Colgate toothbrushes
3 Colgate toothpastes
2 Softsoap body washes
1 Softsoap hand soap
1 Fructis shampoo
1 Fructis conditioner
1 L'Oreal shampoo
1 L'Oreal conditioner
1 Excedrin 24 ct
1 Palmolive dish soap

And as of right now I have $28.98 in ECBs! (Those are the CVS money you can spend on your next purchase.)

It's all about clipping the MF coupons, watching the sales, and finding the CVS coupons, too. I even had the supervisor ring me up today and she was happy for me and my fantastic deals!

Bringing us back to No Buy:

1/10 - $0.91 at CVS
1/10 - $0.77 at CVS

Both are in budget and I decided to take the money out of the Personal Envelope as I was buying toiletries and vitamins. It's a little hard to divide up $0.77 among too many different envelopes!

OMG that's amazing, i need to do that, I have the cvs card...

 

[disneymom3]

Brockscandy--I didn't see your post before adn I am so sorry for your loss. I know what you are going through as far as the very unexpected expenses. I lost my sister last month and the budget was pretty severely effected. Just do the best you can and if like me that means the kids get McDs too often, it all works out down the road.

Okay I think I will try the CVS thing.

I had a zero dollar day yesterday. Today I really need to go to the grocery store but at least I am teaching tonight adn will earn some extra cash o la.

Next week I am going to CA. Long story short, I had a ticket I could use without too much penalty to booked a trip to CA where my remaining sisters live. Turns out it is the weekend of the informational meeting for the half marathon some of us are doing in June so I get to go. Totally unintentional but how cool is it that it worked out that way? However, there will be a bit of shopping and going out to eat that is not technically in my budget. Again, good thing I am teaching tonight. And good thing they pay me a rather obscene amount of money!

I do have to color my hair before I go. (Vanity!) Seems to me there was a hair color thing on the CVS list!

Kickapoo--I agree with Souixstone. The tag fairy must not be around much on the budget board. There have been a few you needed to be tagged with lately!

 

[Kate and Pete]

Another $0 day here (looking forward to WDW really helps save $...). I wanted to stop at the store and get something "yummier" than what I had planned for dinner (like, say, pizza and an apple pie... ), but didn't - now it's salmon, green beans, and cranberry sauce for me!

 

[raider97]

After lurking for a few months I have decided 2008 to be the year for savings. So I am in. I need to get $$ in savings to pay the car off early and get money into saving for my hopeful Christmas 2009 trip.

Today 1/10/09 - $0

 

[disneymom3]

I am hanging my head in shame. I went to Target and the 75% toys did me in.

 

[McDuck]

FINALLY, I have a $0 day!!!

Went to the base to meet DH to get our passport photos taken (we have orders overseas later this year). FOR FREE! Woo-hoo!! I get to update my civilian passport now with my married name.

 

[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
1/9 - $0
1/10 - $0

Month Total So Far - $62.05

 

[KarenAylwood]

Yeah.. no tag fairy around the budget board! I got these stankin tags back in November/December of 05. Over two years ago! I've been stagnating ever since I got on the budget board.

1/10: $35.70 on eating out both lunch and dinner It was planned! Do I at least get points for that??

I need to do some grocery shopping and laundry this weekend. I'm NOT going shopping. I swear.

Work was good today. Still crazy and overwhelming but I am really starting to think I can do this job. Hopefully I'll get my laptop at work tomorrow (it was ordered 3 weeks ago!!) so then I can bring it home. How sad am I that I want it so I can bring my work home with me??

 

[kandeebunny]

$0 day again here!!!