No Buy January

[delmar411]

1/06: went to CVS this morning for milk. Spent $1.72 OOP and got:

2 gallons of milk
1 glucose monitor
20 soy joy bars
1 box excedrin
2 3pks of extension cords
2 9plug 'tree' extrension cords

used $10 in ECBS and got back $23 in ECBs so not too shabby.

home all day since DH is at work. Tomorrow I need to get some fruit and basics at the grocery so I'll spend money there.

I think DH got gas yesterday but I forgot to ask him how much $$. Gas is budgeted for though.

ETA~ just spent $6.98 on Ebay for 10 coupons to get PB for free at Walmart. So basically $7 for 10 jars of PB which was on my shopping list for this week anyway.

 

[reginaastralis]

Shhhh ... don't tell my parents, I'm "borrowing" some pullups to get me through the night. I just don't have the want/energy to stop at CVS tonight.

I swear, I am really not this lazy normally. But ... it does mean I get a $0 day.

1/1 - $0
1/2 - $37 (birthday!)
1/3 - $66
1/4 - $0!
1/5 - $30 ( completely unplanned)
1/6 - $0

 

[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)

Month Total So Far - $42.58

I stayed under budget for the first week, (ending yesterday.)

Week two's budget, today through Saturday is $50 for the week for groceries, so far I've spent $5.64 of that.

 

[kandeebunny]

$0 day again today!!! Actually I made $0.63 LOL! I have been cleaning out my closet and reorganizing things and I found the change in the bottom of an old make-up bag!

So my total for Jan so far is $0 that was not budgeted for, and $0 out of my weekly fun money.

Back to my other post about having $$ left over from weekly budgets, I have 2 credit cards, 1 is no interest until 2009 so I don't want to pay more than I am now (I have it set up so that the monthly payments will have it paid off by October) The other one is up to date. I have a student loan, and thats it. So thats why I am trying to figure out what to do with that extra money. I'm debating putting half on my student loan and half in to savings, a bit of both perhaps.

 

[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

Not the greatest week, but I'm resolving to do better next week.

 

[iggbees]

.

 

[wannabee]

1/6 : $48 for groceries- stayed within my $50 budget for the week. Got a $25 giftcard fpr trandferring a prescription to Winn Dixie so I was even able to stock up on some things for next week.

 

[McDuck]

Well, with tips, getting my hair dyed back to its natural color and cut/styled came out to $80---saved $20 over the $100 I thought it would cost.

Because I can't find any charms at the bead shops here, I stopped at a bead shop while I was on my way to my parents' house from my salon and spent $8.16 on some charms for my jewelry making---now here's hoping I can have a few Valentine's Day and St Patrick's Day bracelets to sell! I already have the stuff to make a couple more bracelets before I'll have to buy more supplies.

I was bad and spent $3.96 at Starbuck's for a Skinny Latte because I was way early arriving at my stylist's--the drive didn't take as long as I thought it would and it had been an hour and a half since I'd had breakfast and I knew it would be quite a few hours before I'd get out of the salon to go have lunch at my parents'.

DH bought some more dish soap and some chocolate syrup to surprise me with banana splits (we have ice cream and bananas already) and got his hair done, so about $10.50 there.

Then right after I got home we found out friends of ours split up and we were really sad about that. The house was depressing b/c we had started taking the Christmas tree down and had Hallmark ornament boxes and tree needles everywhere, so we decided to go out to eat instead to lift our moods. Not budgeted, but as I posted earlier, our grocery bill was about $30 less than we had budgeted for and my hair was cheaper, so we can justify it. And it worked, we felt better when we got home.

I'm waiting to hear about a contract job position from the temp agency....here's hoping!!!!

 

[neatokimmo]

First, good for you for having your CCs all organized

Hmmm...my student loan is at 1.9% so I never make extra payments on it. Do you know your rate?

Are there any big ticket items you really want to buy? I would put your extra into a savings account since it seems like your bills are well under control and save something fun and big!

$0 day again today!!! Actually I made $0.63 LOL! I have been cleaning out my closet and reorganizing things and I found the change in the bottom of an old make-up bag!

So my total for Jan so far is $0 that was not budgeted for, and $0 out of my weekly fun money.

Back to my other post about having $$ left over from weekly budgets, I have 2 credit cards, 1 is no interest until 2009 so I don't want to pay more than I am now (I have it set up so that the monthly payments will have it paid off by October) The other one is up to date. I have a student loan, and thats it. So thats why I am trying to figure out what to do with that extra money. I'm debating putting half on my student loan and half in to savings, a bit of both perhaps.

 

[neatokimmo]

I love those transfer promos, I have gotten two $25 ones from CVS and a $25 from Rite Aid. I missed out on a Target one by just a day.

1/6 : $48 for groceries- stayed within my $50 budget for the week. Got a $25 giftcard for transferring a prescription to Winn Dixie so I was even able to stock up on some things for next week.

 

[neatokimmo]

Today was a zero day because I didn't leave the house. I sent my mom to Walmart with more stuff to return from Christmas and got another $29 GC for groceries. I did have her pick up 5 rolls of paper for me for $3.50 but that came out of the return card

I am tickled at the paper, the Christmas paper is cute kittens and dogs. I also ended up with several rolls of breast cancer paper, shiny silver with pink ribbons that I'll use for birthday presents this year

 

[helloirishkitty]

I've been really good this first week of '08! I bought myself out of my AT&T contract on the 3rd, but that was $150 well spent. I didn't eat out once, and I only bought one cup of coffee the WHOLE week (it was yesterday, I had a weak moment, but I am back on track!

Our TV in the living room blew out this week, so that's an unexpected expense. But, I work part time at Best Buy for the discount, so I'll just have to use it this week. Oh well... there will be no going out for dinner while we search for our new TV! I mean it!

<--- that's my DF... he thinks I've gone nuts.

 

[kandeebunny]

First, good for you for having your CCs all organized

Hmmm...my student loan is at 1.9% so I never make extra payments on it. Do you know your rate?

Are there any big ticket items you really want to buy? I would put your extra into a savings account since it seems like your bills are well under control and save something fun and big!

I don't know the interest rate on my student loan. I am going to look in to that tomorrow though.

I'd like a new laptop (for grad school) so I may for it towards that. I'm debating between that and building up my emergency fund even more. Perhaps I will split the difference there, half goes to each whenever I have a $0 week. I think I'll have a better idea what to do tomorrow when I figure out my student loan rate!

It's very odd not to have a bunch of credit card debt, but I have finally gotten out from almost all of it (except the 0 interest one!) My soon to be ex husband ran up all my credit cards, so I've been working to get everything back on track. He pretty much ruined my perfect credit, so I am really trying to build it back up again.

 

[MrsPiglet]

I didn't leave my house today, so 0 day for me.

DH did go fill up the car $15 within budget.

 

[neatokimmo]

I know what you mean, it took three years to fix my credit after my divorce!

It's very odd not to have a bunch of credit card debt, but I have finally gotten out from almost all of it (except the 0 interest one!) My soon to be ex husband ran up all my credit cards, so I've been working to get everything back on track. He pretty much ruined my perfect credit, so I am really trying to build it back up again.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I have done pretty well so far. I bought one cup of coffee this week, I had written about that earlier. I did buy a sandwich because I ended up getting extra work and didnt go home until later. I went grocery shopping today and spent the normal money in my budget. I spend about 60 dollars for groceries.

 

[KarenAylwood]

1/06: $18 on DBF's last bday gift (a leather journal for med school), and $22 on Chinese food.

I made dinner and a cake for his bday on Saturday night, and then we were going to go out last night since it was his real bday anyway. The place we were going was PACKED so we just left and got Chinese food. $22 coming out of the out to eat budget for that one.

My goal is to not eat out for lunch this week. I'm going out to dinner on Thursday night with friends, and I'm going to try to bring my lunch other than that. My only problem will be if it's work people that I haven't gotten to know yet, I'd go for that. I also talked briefly last week about going to lunch with the guy whose job I'm transferring into. He said we could go to talk about the job some more over lunch. We'll see.

Have a good week all!

 

[mshrm]

I havent even began to work on a budget, but my goals are to pay all bills ontime, DO NOT eat out at all, put $60 a week to the vacation fund, make menus, only shop at the grocery store and to make a budget.

 

[tinker_me_happy]

Yes she is, thanks for asking! They thought she had RSV (is that the right letter combo?) but it was baby bronchitis (sp?). Poor thing had to be poked and prodded and have all kinds of stuff stuck to her. Hopefully she won't have asthma because of all of this!

Hi Sorry to hear your baby was sick. Yes it is RSV and the bronchiolitis was probably due to a cold, not a precursor to asthma. I understand about the poking and prodding as I am the one who usually is doing it (I am an ER RN). Glad to hear that she is feeling better!

I have not posted much but have been trying to keep up on the reading. It sounds like most people are doing well!!

This past week - well actually actually since WED Jan 3 my NO BUY January has gone completely out the window. Wed Dh cell phone DIED. He dropped it several months ago and it had a crack in the screen but otherwise ok. Since we are mid contract, and not up for new phones we had to pay full price. He is also self employed and relies on the phone for work, so it was not an option to wait.
Thursday (the coldest day of the season here - we were at 5 degrees!) the part of my heater that tells it to run DIED! NO HEAT! Luckily we have a little bit of a back up and it has been warmer over the weekend, but I hate having a cold house. New part to arrive Today!
Friday DH transmission completely DIED! Plus the water heater and some other parts (I'm not sure of all the pieces).
SO between The 3rd and the 7th we have racked up over $5000.00 of unexpected and unbudgeted expenses! OUCH!!!

Thankfully I am able to work some extra for the next couple of weeks. I usually work 32 hours but will be working 40 -48 hours to cover this expense. On the down side, my plan to have some other bills paid off has been put on hold. Have to go grocery shopping today. I will be going through the closets and making exact menu plans and only buying the essentials for making those meals.

MY dilemma: I have a fat free starbucks latte every morning going to work. I consider it part of my milk/dairy intake for the day, not a treat. But since I am working more, and it is not budgeted in for the extra days, do I "treat" myself for the extra time I am working? I usually buy a Starbucks gift card with the exact amount for enough lattes for the month. I would have to pay extra cash out of pocket if I buy for the extra days I am working, but it is a great wake me up at 6am! Plus helps with the vitamin D and calcium I need.

 

[Irin997]

Well, a pretty good weekend here, but I'm going to have to up my grocery budget. I may pad it with my budgeted virus protection because my mom said something about being able to give me a copy of Norton 08 from her work. That would be $60 saved and put towards groceries for the month.

Jan 4: 30.38

Forgot lunch, caved, was starving, and got Arby's with a coworker. Out of eating out budget. Purchased an Invisible Shield iPod cover for my new iPod from Christmas. Returning the one I got from BJ's so that will be $10 final cost. Grabbed up SuperBad from RedBox and it was HILARIOUS!!! Went past the liquor store and couldn't resist some New Castle beers. I just can't drink Natty Light so $14.82 there. But they were tasty!!

Jan 5: 113.94

Had to go run my weekly errands. First to the post office for 4 stamps. I rarely need stamps (pay all bills online) but these were for Christmas thank yous. $1.64. My car was disgustingly filthy so I stopped by the local car wash and ran it through then used the super powered vaccum to clean the inside. $13.50.

Went to BJ's and decided to go ahead and get gas even though I still had 1/2 tank. $26.06. Went shopping in BJ's and picked up some things that I knew I wouldn't have to buy again for quite a while. Even managed to use a couple of coupons in there. Got things like 2 lg packs of mozzarella cheese, canned tomatos (for spagetti sauce), 2 lg jugs of OJ, milk, 2 jars of jelly, and 2 pks of bread. This stuff should last for a long time (except the milk). $37.03. Also had 2 pretzels (one for me, one for DD) and drink at BJ's for $2.83.

Hit up the grocery store next ( I love winter, I don't have to rush home with my cold stuff, can head to the next store). I had made my shopping list at home after making my menu for the week and stuck to it pretty well. Funny story at the store though. I was in the frozen section looking for garlic bread and asked DD6 to go grab the coupon book for me ( I knew I had coupons). Well, I told her to be careful because it was open and I didn't want all the coupons to fall out. Sure enough, when she took her time coming back I rounded the corner and there was a PILE of coupons on the floor. It took at least 10-15 minutes to get them all straigtened out. I was mad at the time but can laugh now about it. Poor DD felt so bad though. Anyway, finished up shopping and did really well sticking to the list. Stocked up on a couple things though so I shouldn't have to go back until not next weekend but the following except for milk. $32.88

Jan 6: $0

DBF treated to a round of golf and we went with his dad and neighbor. I got to use my new club ( xmas present from him) and they were great. We had a blast and then headed back to his house where his parents grabbed a couple pizzas...free dinner!

Pretty good weekend. Stuck to my lists very well but still spent money because I did go to BJ's and also had to get some unusual things like ziploc baggies and swiffer wet cloths. But, had coupons and saved about $8 in coupons.