No Buy January

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Almost $100 of the 178 was bought with a WM giftcard, I am not sure how to work that into the budget. Do I count that as free money and zero out those items?

Free money, baby!!!

 

[gottalovethem]

today - $45 in gas (got a whopping 11 cents off a gallon from "Pig Points")

 

[disneymom3]

did me in too

$83.12 at Target but $6 of that was fruit(groceries) the rest was toys for the kids for Christmas. ~ not planned as I was going to wait but they had toys I've been wanting to get for the kids for a long time and the price was always too steep. I was very very good and picky about what I bought (huge improvement over last year! YAY me!! )


Today I have to go buy my DD a pair of sneakers since hers have disappeared off the face of the earth. .

Yeah, I spent about $10 on the food I went in there for. My problem is that I know already that I will be organizing the Giving Tree for church again next year. The things I bought were all really good prices that I know will come to good next Christmas but it wasn't really planned. I got two Dora Candyland games for barely over $2 though. Sigh.....I am a budget sucker.

Today I knew I would be getting lunch out with the kids as we had a field trip this morning. The field trip was such a deal though! It only cost $3 per child and they got a class and entrance to Underwater Adventures which is an indoor aquarium in teh Mall of America. The entrance fee is pretty darn pricey so this was a steal! We were all dieing of thirst when we got out but I did make it out to the car where I had water for me and juice boxes for them waiting just for that reason. Didn't have to buy any pricey mall drinks anyway! It's an hour drive home almost though so we did drive through Wendy's on teh way. I did plan for it though. Now I am trying to resist the pull to go out to dinner tonight!

 

[Kate and Pete]

1/11
$16 in budget (groceries - I really wanted blueberry and walnut pancakes tonight - not in the mood for spaghetti!)

I saved $$$ today by NOT going to the old navy sale I read about on this board! I was sooooo close to going, but talked myself out of it...(I have $30 in gift certs there, so I will place a small order online, but that's it!) I might spend $10 over, but I'll take it out of our "fun fund."

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

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
1/9 $10.70 (taken out of grocery budget)
1/10 $30 (ds game, unplanned)
1/11 $114 (Old Navy, unplanned)
$18 (McDonalds, in budget)


Okay, the Old Navy thread got me first thing this morning. I spent $114 for clothes for my 5 kids (and a pair of jeans for me). We ate out at McDonalds, but it was planned in the budget.

 

[raider97]

1/11/08

$7.50 not in budget science project supplies (elementary school)
$71.XX Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart broken down
$20 DH lunch - in budget
$5 picnic items - not in budget - but talked cousin into picnic rather than going out to eat so saved lots of
$$$
$11 Star of the Week supplies - not in budget
$20 birthday gift - not in budget - got surprised by a birthday invitation DD brought home from school for a
party this weekend
$15 groceries - in budget

Hoping not to spend a lot this weekend. We have a trip to Sams which is always dangerous since it adds up so quickly!!

 

[MrsPiglet]

Today was not too bad. I spent $4 for lunch. (i'm going to start budgeting a little more for lunches) On the way home stopped at the grocery store spent $71.00, $29 under budget for the week.


This weekend should be good, not planning on leaving my house till I have to go back to work on Monday.

 

[reginaastralis]

Everyone is doing so well!

I can't believe this month is almost half over ... it feels like it is flying right now, doesn't it? I just hope everything keeps going well in my case. OUCH, is the best word so far for some of my spending this month. However, I know I am on the right track b/c I already have my half my rent put aside ... and that's always the best part. I don't know why, but I am always saying "Crap, my rent is due in three days" every month. I mean, seriously, duh! So this year I decided to do something different and actually put my rent money into a different account. Feels so much better knowing it's sitting in there waiting for me.

However, I really need to get on the ball and get my car fixed. I am hoping this week turns into a bumper bonus tip week ... so I can get the repairs done before they drive me batty. Needing new brakes, new tires and an oil change all at once is scary. My dad is trying to talk me into trading it in ...but I don't know if I will be able to afford a car payment when I move next year. I want to wait to have a significant down payment ... Plus, I got HOSED the last time through ... so I'd really like to make a concrete good decision before buying my new vehicle. That's not too much to ask, is it?

I had to go back to page 16 to find my list of expenses ... ahhh!!!

1/1 - $0
1/2 - $37 (birthday!)
1/3 - $66
1/4 - $0!
1/5 - $30 ( completely unplanned)
1/6 - $0
1/7 - $23
1/8 - 183 - WOW! Putting a total on it hurt. But, this is money for clothes (for me, I actually bought something for myself!), groceries for the month, and toilitries. I don't think it's too bad honestly)
1/9 - $32 My fourth stop at Target for things I had forgotten, (I really need to get better at this list taking thing) and McDs for dinner b/c I wasn't feeling well.
1/10 - $0!
1/11 - $0!

I'm really pulling for some zero dollar days for the rest of the month. I need like ten to hit my goal ... let's see if I can do it!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Jan.1 $0
Jan.2 $0
Jan.3 $147 (fix car +subway)
Jan.4 $18 (movies-Enchanted-first movie in over a year with kids, used coupon, still not budgeted for )
Jan.5 $0
Jan.6 $0
Jan.7 $168 (groceries + emergency breakfast stop at McD)
Jan.8 $61.70 (home maintenance, in budget)
Jan.9 $125 (DD's birthday party, paid in advance, under budget so far)
Jan.10 $58 (gas+subway)
Jan.11 $0

We decided to fix the front yard so I'm rolling the septic tank guy's charge into a different budget-he's going to re-grade the front, I'm having a new walkway put down (yippee!!!) and sod put down over the newly re-graded front yard. I'm using my savings for this but I think since the grading must be done (septic tank is too close to the surface), it makes sense to just fix everything now and budget it from my savings account. The front yard really is a wreck, people fall into holes if they go off the path, the path is sinking and crumbling, there are overgrown bushes and stumps everywhere. Tis time! I'm acting as my own general contractor so I'm coordingating the septic, grading, concrete and sod guys myself, with a little help from my neighbors who've successfully flipped houses for years, so they know what order to do stuff.

It does really encourage me to keep the "regular" no buy budget really skinny, though!

 

[Siouxstone]

A few days ago I stopped into the only local shoe store that carries my brand of work shoes (SAS) and was shocked by the prices. I am wanting to budget a new pair for February and wanted to know what I was up against. Now, I know my work shoes are expensive, but they are worth every penny. Before I made the switch, my feet hurt every since day. I liked several other brands, but the shoes never lasted more than 8 months before they needed replacing. I have had my newest pair of SAS shoes since May of 05. The pair I need to replace I bought in November 03, so I don't mind paying $125 for a pair. Well, locally they are closer to $150. I also looked at a pair of Dansko clogs. I know people who swear by them as well, but they were $150 plus tax. Then I looked at Shoebuy and Zappos online. Shoebuy had no SAS & no Danskos. Zappos had Danskos. In fact, the pair I looked at for $150 was $108.95! That's tax & free shipping included! They only have 3 pair in my size, so I may give in and order them on the old credit card and pay for them in Feb. I will so feel like a cheater if I get them now, but $41 bucks is about half what I spend on groceries each week. I might be willing to cheat for $41 bucks!

Today I have to go to the danger zone, um, I mean Target, for coffee. The only other thing on my list is some cold medicine for DH. With my dollar off coupon on coffee, I am looking at $4.50 a can for the jumbo Maxwell house. At Kroger & HEB, they are over $8! You know, I'd be a rich woman if I didn't buy gas, coffee or milk! I may squeeze a few Donkey hooves while I'm there to see if he speaks French.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

1/10-$0
1/11-$0

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

For four years I kept track of every cent I spent. Wrote it down and categorized it into assorted expenses. I had just divorced 1st husband (not a DH!!! and it was easy for me to keep track of my expenses without him around. I enjoyed knowing where every cent of my money went. Yes, I'm obsessive/compulsive. This allowed me to save so much money, it was unreal, even though I had lost my ex husband's income.

When I met 2nd DH he was great, and he kept track of all his spending along with me. We kept it up for several years, were debt free and saved enough $$ to put a substantial down payment on a new home. Now DH is back with me on tracking our spending, but it's blowing me away how much we are spending this month. I've only bought one item I didn't "need " and yet my expenses are over $900 already this month, not counting utilities and house payment!!!! Wow, this is really getting me down. What happened to the days I could live all week on a DOLLAR??

 

[tinkarooni]

Haha, you went to Zumba..?? That class made me realize that I have absolutely NO future as a salsa dancer.

I know what you mean, but I did learn enough to impress my DH. Doesn't take much does it?

 

[luvsJack]

Whew!! I am sooo glad this week is over!! We have been so busy at work and working long hours to get everything done. Plus, my "no spend" has been totally blown this week! Thursday I went to get my $30 budgeted gas and realized I had spent $50 this week and don't really know where!! I know $20 of it was for lunch one day (was running late that morning and didn't bring it) and supper that night at Subway (just too tired to cook). and $4 went to dd for a visit from the tooth fairy. From now on I will only put the money I plan to spend each day in my purse, that extra is too easy to reach in and grab.

I bought groceries today for two weeks: $167.00. (budgeted) I am hoping next week will be better. but its $0 today for non-budget.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

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
1/9 $10.70 (taken out of grocery budget)
1/10 $30 (ds game, unplanned)
1/11 $114 (Old Navy, unplanned)
$18 (McDonalds, in budget)
1/12 $39 (bowling league, planned)

Today's spending was budged for. Monday will be payda for the second half of the month. I can see now where I need to improve so hopefully I will do better buying only things budgeted for.

 

[gottalovethem]

Well, I messed up "no buy" today --

$33 Houlihans, $37 TRU, $15 gymnastics meet, $14 a new "lovey" for DS as we left ours somewhere in Waukesha (near Milwaukee)

 

[mmfan53226]

I haven't posted in a while, because it just seems like I can never get a head!
1/10 ~ $0
1/11 ~ $31.00 gas and $20 waxing (not a planned expense, but I realize that I have to start putting that in my budget)
1/12 ~ $10.90, $25.00, $25.00 and $12.00 (groceries planned expense)

I just have to put $20.00 in DH truck for the week and I should be down spending for the week. Menu's are planned and grocery shopping is done. On Tuesday we were going to go out to eat for a fundraiser at school, but my DH has been getting done with work earlier that normal, so I am planning ahead and not going to spend that money, since that would be a unplanned expense.

Hope everyone is having a week month.

This is my first time getting in on the no buy threads, and I want to thank who ever started it. It has really opened my eyes to how foolishly I have been spending my money. And made me realize if I wasn't spending so foolishly I could have a lot more money than I do now......

Krystine

 

[mmfan53226]

Well, I messed up "no buy" today --

$33 Houlihans, $37 TRU, $15 gymnastics meet, $14 a new "lovey" for DS as we left ours somewhere in Waukesha (near Milwaukee)

I wonder if we could be neighbors! I live in this area too!!

Go PACK

Krystine

 

[tinkarooni]

1-12-08 I crashed and burned today folks

$22.00 Birthday gift for 6 y/o friend of family (budgeted)
$8.22 Disney store for my daughter (not budgeted, took it out of misc money)
$42.00 watch for my DH. (not budgeted, paid for out of misc money)

Sit down this one is a doosey....$223. A set of pink sapphire stud earrings, ring and heart necklace. My DH wanted to buy a set for my DD (7) for her communion. I have $100. off at Kays so I went ahead and purchased this set. This is her first real jewelry anything and DH was so thrilled to get it for her. We will put it aside until May. Now this was not budgeted but was paid for in cash with money I had put aside for gifts. We follow Mary Hunt's plan for a Freedom Account so we put a little bit aside each month into a special savings account for certain sub accounts, car insurance, gifts, clothing, propane bill, car maintenance. Than when something comes due I should have the money sitting there waiting to be used for it. I took this out of our gifts sub category. The other two expenditures came out of misc. I would not have made the purchase if not in cash but it sure did ruin my no buy January.

Oh well, back on the wagon.

 

[KarenAylwood]

1/11: $0

1/12: $5 chipped in for breakfast with a friend (friend offered to pay the rest, I got the tip).

I went looking for shoes after breakfast but couldn't find anything. I did find one pair that I liked, but of course they didn't have my size. I have to go to a big lunch with some global heads of a big name company on Friday and I have nothing to wear. Well, I have an idea of what to wear but I have no shoes. We're only able to wear nonslip shoes with less than a 2 inch heel on our site. Ugh! I may try to figure something else out or look at a different Kohls to see if they have anything.

tinkarooni~ Don't worry about it. It sounds like a beautiful set and communion is a big deal. Just think- in May you can pull out the set and know that you don't have to buy her anything!

 

[vegasnative]

Well I was doing good, then Thursday rolled around and I bought a plane ticket to Vegas. I was undecided if I would go or not...I'm going.
So, before Thursday I had only spent about $4.00 that was not budgeted for.
Now, let's see
1/10 $218 for plane ticket
1/11 $24 DH's birthday lunch out (not bad for all 5 of us)
1/12 $9.97 groceries (still in monthly budget)
I'm not leaving the house tomorrow...I'm not even getting out of my pj's, I need a few more $0 days before my trip!