No Buy January

[reginaastralis]

1/4 - $0.08 at CVS for 17 Soy Joy bars
1/4 - $0.02 at CVS for 6 12-packs of Pepsi and 1 Soy Joy bar

I love all the deals to be had at CVS! Carrying home 6 12-packs was SOOOO not fun. It is cold and the snow has turned to ice on the sidewalks. I live 4 blocks from the CVS and I thought maybe I could make it. No such luck! I made it 1 block, then took the bus for 2 blocks, and then walked the final (short) block to my house. I thought my arms were going to fall off! What won't I do for a deal?

I think the people on the bus thought I was crazy! Who takes the bus for 2 blocks? That's 1/8 of a mile! I climb on the bus, heaving the boxes of pop, pay my fare (on monthly pass, so "free"), and by the time I make my way to the back exit on the bus, it was my stop! Don't mind the lady in the pink coat and giant fluffy scarf... she's on a budget!

LOL ... I've never seen snow ... so I am not laughing at you ... I don't know what I would do if I had to walk on ice ... but I can completely picture this in my head.

How did you manage to carry six 12 packs, anyways ... I struggle with two. Great deal though!

 

[luvsJack]

Hi All! I haven't posted in several days. We are in the middle of spring semester registration at work (community college) so have been reeeeaaalllly busy. One good thing about it though, it prevents anyone from suggesting we all go out to lunch together, there is no way we can even take a lunch break. Plus, this semester they are going to pay us overtime for any extra hours we put in!! We usually get comp time.

Anyway--the budget this month: Besides regular bills: Gro. 150.00, gas 90.00 (2 fill ups), dh's expences on the road (truckdriver) 250.00,
misc. (mostly dollar store runs for things we are out of) $50.
Extra's this month: oldest ds's birthday (26th) 100.00 for gift and family dinner (at home), car tag 250.00, inspection sticker for car $5.00 and
dh's speeding ticket $150.00 (normally would refuse to pay this out of the budget but can't do that since driving is his job!)

As for daily spending:
1/1 0
1/2 0
1/3 30.00 for fill up (budgeted)
1/4 5.00 for take out personal pizza for dd's supper
I love this -- it really helps to make me think before I spend anything!! Its early but hopefully today will be $0 too, or at least only things I've got to have from the store for next week.

 

[micki7337]

My family wants to do the no buy January but does that mean that you can't plan your trip to WDW in May that we need to make reservations and pay for plane tickets...

Also do new glasses count against you in the no buy.

I am new to no buy....

 

[DawnM]

NO! It is whatever you need it to be.

We are doing it and we are GOING to WDW next week! But it is planned and we have the money.

Dawn

My family wants to do the no buy January but does that mean that you can't plan your trip to WDW in May that we need to make reservations and pay for plane tickets...

Also do new glasses count against you in the no buy.

I am new to no buy....

 

[DawnM]

Thanks. It has been out for a long while, over a year. We lived on the first floor in the heat of the summer! Our main floor has a/c and heat. Our bedrooms upstairs are fine as long as we use a space heater and keep the doors closed.

But we will get it fixed by Spring of this year.

Dawn

congrats on saving the $2,000 sorry the heat pump went out. good luck on getting a good deal.

 

[kandeebunny]

So 1/5 is going be be a $0 day for non-budgeted items as I am not going anywhere again, but I did spend $65 on ordering Revolution for Miss Tink, was supposed to be $75 but I found a 15% off coupon (which beat ut the $5 off the website was offering!) so I saved $10 from what I had budgeted!!!

 

[Irin997]

Jan 4: $16.61

I had nothing at work for lunch and nothing at home to take to work for lunch so I caved and bought Arby's w/ a coworker (Eating out budget). Then I bought online and iPod cover that was $24.99 but will be returning the one I bought for $14.99 so final cost is $10 since I bought it in December (take out of Household budget). Also hit up Redbox and rented Superbad (Household budget). Holy crap that movie is hilarious!!!!

Have to go shopping today but will be researching for my list so I don't buy misc stuff!

 

[disneymom3]

I did however, completely forget to get Juliette some pullups at Walmart ... oops. However, they had some cute things I wanted to pick up for Toys for Tots (getting started early), so I will probably go there Sat or Sunday. There goes trying to get all sorts of no spend days ... . I wish she would just finish this stinkin potty training thing already, but she has no wish to do it at my parents house (who watch her on the weekends for me) and ... well, I'm kinda bad about remembering to remind her when she and I get home.

Okay as a mom with older kiddos and an early childhood consultant who has taught toilet learning for 14 years to parent and childcare groups, I am going to give you some unsolicited advice. DITCH THE PULL UPS. They are about the worst invention every created for getting kids potty trained. Either you are little and you go potty in a diaper or you are big and you go potty on the toilet. While you are still practicing it is okay if sometimes you have an accident or when you are first practicing it is fine if the potty goes in your diaper. We just keep working on it, but Pullups are not going to speed up that process. In fact I am thinking of taking up a study on this(I'm serious" because I pretty much believe that pullups make it take longer. True potty training shouldn't take more than 3 weeks. I am off my soapbox now and you can PM me if you want more info. But not just to tell me to shut up and mind my own business.

1/4 - $0.08 at CVS for 17 Soy Joy bars
1/4 - $0.02 at CVS for 6 12-packs of Pepsi and 1 Soy Joy bar

I have got to figure out this CVS thing! And the bus story had me


Yesterday was a $0 day! All I had to do was go pick up DD from her sleepover and we came straight home. Of course, it was only $0 if you don't count the fact that my car was in the shop and is going to cost me about $400 when I get it back. That sure isn't unnecessary spending though so it doesn't count. And the good thing is that since we had only the one car, I took DH to the bus in the morning and he didn't drive (and park) downtown. He tried to convince me that since he has to pay $2 more for the bus than for parking he isn't saving money. I then poiinted out that since we bought his car 15 months ago and he has put 30K miles on it since then, the only cost of driving is NOT the parking. Guess he forgot about the $50 worth of gas he goes through every week too. Good news--we reached a compromise--he is going to take the bus at least once a week from now on. Pray with me that he really does it!

Today DH had to get a haircut and we needed milk. I think we are also going to the library and I am going to have to pay fines. What a stupid thing that is. Not that they charge me but that i have them in the first place. That is going to be my new resolve. I have to get my library situation more organized so I don't pay any fines this year. You guys will keep me honest right?

I already have lunch and dinner planned so other than the library fines it should be another $0 day.

 

[vegasnative]

My family wants to do the no buy January but does that mean that you can't plan your trip to WDW in May that we need to make reservations and pay for plane tickets...

Also do new glasses count against you in the no buy.

I am new to no buy....

That's what is GREAT about this thread. Each month you make your budget and include "your" necessities. For you, buying your plane tickets is a necessity this month as you are trying to budget your trip. While some die hard "no-buyers" will disagree with that statement, I think the majority of us will agree with me. Then, next month, you can do your budget again, perhaps it will include paying your hotel stay for your trip?!?! The main reason for this thread is to be more aware of unecessary spending, and to be more mindful of exactly where our money goes.
On the first thread (I think she still has it up) the OP talks about the $100 laundry detergent....perfect example of why this thread exists!
Good luck with it...I budget for vacation every month....wait, that sounds too fun, I don't actually GO on vacation every month, I just save for it every month!

 

[vegasnative]

I have to say that I'm doing pretty good this month. It is the first weekend of the month and I haven't fell off the wagon yet!!! Hey, that's a terrific accomplishment for me!
I put our checkbook ledger on the fridge, I put it on a spreadsheet and taped it right to the fridge and so every time we spend something we log it and our checkbook balance looks us right in the face...I think that is helping so far. My DH used to complain that we were not saving enough money each month, so I would make a run down of our bills and he still wouldn't get it. So, now he can SEE each day where we are at, and I'm hoping this helps him be more mindful as well.
Ok, now I'm rambling......

 

[delmar411]

Jan 5: haven't left the house today and it's almost time for DH to go to work so a $0 day here.

tomorrow he's working a mid-shift so I'll book out in the morning to CVS for milk but I'll work a plan so I'm not paying OOP for that.

 

[KarenAylwood]

1/04: $0

Had a free lunch bought by our boss at work for someone who was leaving. Then went to the movies with friends (saw Juno, so good!!) and I had a gift cert I bought from work in December that I was going to give as a gift to my brother but decided not to. $10 GC's were only $5 through work. I used that and told my friends I was eating at home beforehand because I had eaten out too much already this week. Good for me!

Today I'm buying food to make DBF his bday dinner tonight. I already bought stuff to make a cake in November (spent like $.75 for frosting and cake mix after a bunch of coupons!). And I need to get one more thing for him- hopefully will get that today.

Hope everyone's having a good weekend!

 

[MrsPiglet]

1/5 wasn't very good again. Went out to lunch with co workers only spent $2 for the drink due to free coupon I had. So not to bad. Planned to stop at the grocery store on the way home and didn't stop. So out for dinner again. $30. But as a family we discussed the family budget and we all agree to stick to the plan.

1/6 Sent DH and DD to grocery store with a list. they will stay in budget. I did pay the weekly bills today, but paid Jenny's school off (homeschooled) and put more on a credit card than normal. We are planning on being out of debt besides the house and one car by 2009. Nothing else will be spent today (maybe gas within budget) I have already put dinner in the crockpot.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

1/1 - $0
1/2 - $0
1/3 - $9.62 (Groceries)
1/4 - $1.88 (Groceries)

Month Total So Far - $11.50

I'm still well within my $50 a week grocery budget. But I did my major grocery shoppin while it was still December, though even if I counted that it's still be under $50. I'll probably be spending about $5 today for dinner at work, then I'll be doing my major weekly shopping on Monday probably, which will be around $30, which is a little high for me, but still withing budget.

 

[delmar411]

talked myself down from an online impulse buy. $9.98 still sitting my bank acct! That's $9.98 more for Disney!

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

That's what is GREAT about this thread. Each month you make your budget and include "your" necessities. For you, buying your plane tickets is a necessity this month as you are trying to budget your trip. While some die hard "no-buyers" will disagree with that statement, I think the majority of us will agree with me. Then, next month, you can do your budget again, perhaps it will include paying your hotel stay for your trip?!?! The main reason for this thread is to be more aware of unecessary spending, and to be more mindful of exactly where our money goes.
On the first thread (I think she still has it up) the OP talks about the $100 laundry detergent....perfect example of why this thread exists!
Good luck with it...I budget for vacation every month....wait, that sounds too fun, I don't actually GO on vacation every month, I just save for it every month!

I think this is a great way of explaining no buy! We all decide what is our necessities. For me, this month, I'm going to have to buy a wet/dry vac, cement paint and a few other things for the new house we're buying. These are my exceptions for the month.

What I'm NOT buying is the $4.50 magazine at the checkout counter, the $18.32 book from amazon.com, the $6.00 picture frame from Wal-Mart because it's the perfect color for my living room. I'm not just going to make thoughtless, spontaneous purchases. Even if it requres a little more effort.

talked myself down from an online impulse buy. $9.98 still sitting my bank acct! That's $9.98 more for Disney!

It's HARD but so worth it!! Last Sunday, DH and I pulled into the parking lot of the local asian restaurant. We actually sat in the car and talked ourselves right out of it! Saved us at least $15-$20.

Yesterday we paid most of our bills for the month but of course this is in the budget. And, we budget $50 a week for groceries but we haven't spent that. We've become more aware and have gone "Pantry" shopping. We're using up some of the stuff from the pantry first. So far, we've only spent $12.03 on food last week. This week, we'll need to go shopping but, I'm going to put the $37.97 towards the new house eating out fund. I know we'll be eating out a few nights during the move while we're dismantling this house and reestablishing our home in the new house.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Ok, did some buying today that wasn't planned but was necessary. DH gives our very old dog glucosamine every night (man that stuff is expensive!) Didn't tell me we were almost out, but only had enough for a few days.Trying to get into the CVS ECB thing so I headed there to "get my feet wet" The best deal was the CVS brand ,buy 1 get 1 half off, so got 2 bottles for $15 and a huge bag of christmas M&M's (75% off) for $1.25. I had a coupon for $2 off a $10 purchase so I got it for $11.40 AND got a ECB for $2.50. Not bad

 

[neatokimmo]

I was so good today. I went through all the baby stuff that I got in the last couple of months and took a lot of it back. If I didn't love it, had the receipt and didn't use it, back it went! I also took back the portable DVD player that I never opened. Over $130 back on a WM card!

Sat Jan 5th - $74.50 all in the budget. I still have $100 left on that card too because I had a few small ones from Christmas. Mostly groceries and a little HBA and a baby toy.

I am rather proud of myself, I just set up an excel sheet for Jan. I put my categories in each column and I have them totaled at the bottom. There is also a line at the top that tells me how much more I can spend in that category. I listed each item I bought too, that way when I buy more of something, like juice, I can add it to that line and see exactly what sort of groceries I have been buying. I feel so organized!

 

[vegasnative]

I think this is a great way of explaining no buy! We all decide what is our necessities. For me, this month, I'm going to have to buy a wet/dry vac, cement paint and a few other things for the new house we're buying. These are my exceptions for the month.
What I'm NOT buying is the $4.50 magazine at the checkout counter, the $18.32 book from amazon.com, the $6.00 picture frame from Wal-Mart because it's the perfect color for my living room. I'm not just going to make thoughtless, spontaneous purchases. Even if it requres a little more effort.

It's HARD but so worth it!! Last Sunday, DH and I pulled into the parking lot of the local asian restaurant. We actually sat in the car and talked ourselves right out of it! Saved us at least $15-$20.

Yes, realistically we all have "exceptions" each month. I think it is better to be realistic about it...don't you? Kind of like dieting, the more you starve yourself the more weight you will gain when you finally gorge!

I do have to give you a big kuddos...I'm impressed with the sitting in the parking lot of the Chinese food place...that would NOT have worked with me. The smell would draw me in alone..you are my hero!

 

[Kate and Pete]

I got a haircut today and paid $30 (with tip) but didn't buy the product she used! So I saved $20!

On the way home, stopped at Wally World for detergent. Picked up a newspaper in order to get the coupons out of it (I'm terrible at using coupons, so let's see if I use them...) and got a soda (I could've done without that soda...darn.) $12. But, I DIDN'T buy some capri pants on clearance and some workout pants for $14 that looked comfy. Oh, and a magazine, didn't buy that, either. Or nailpolish....wow, it's amazing all the little things that I'd normally just throw in the cart...

So, $42 for today, all but $1 of it toward necessities. Not bad. DH and I found a movie theater in the area that does $3 movies (and the movies are first run!), so we'll do that tomorrow for a bit of entertainment.