No Buy January

[Siouxstone]

Now if I could just get my grocery bill under control. I budgeted $300 for the month and I am over $500. It is so hard. I use coupons, make menus, and everything but for our family of 5 I am having a hard time. This is my biggest complaint every week. I read every grocery thread and follow the tips but I still can't get it any cheaper.

The grocery thing is really hard. I've lowered ours a ton since I started doing No Buy & couponing, but there is a base that I have just learned to accept. It's the things that I buy every single week, and have so far, refused to give up. For me, it's spending $15 a week on milk, $5 a week on a giant can of coffee, $4 on whole wheat bread and $5 a week in bottled water. Some weeks, I spend more on this than I spend on everything else. The milk includes 2 gallons of organic milk for DS ($5.50 each) and a gallon of milk for me & DH. DS is a HUGE milk hog and has been since day 1. (Disclaimer: the photo in my sig was staged by my mom to demonstrate his milk hogginess for his great-granny. If he went at it like that all the time, I'd have to up the milk by another gallon! ) I'm not going to consider cutting back his milk or switching to powdered. DH & I drink a lot of coffee and we each take a thermos of it to work so we don't buy coffee. Oddly, though in the long run it's good, this category has gone up since No Buy. The bottled water bill has gone up likewise. But, we rarely drink sodas anymore. I have the same store brand 12 pack in the fridge that was there during Xmas. It's more of a running late, gotta take caffiene with me so I don't buy thing. As for the bread, I discovered a local bread thrift store this week. Bought 2 loaves of our regular brand bread for about a buck & a half. That trims my standard $29 a little.

So, if you make a list of those items you have to buy every single week, and take a look at it, you might find a way to trim or realize that your not doing so bad at all!

 

[smiller]

I have been doing so well this month but on Saturday I gave in. I bought my kids indoor soccer shoes. All of the other kids on their team had them and they were wearing their sneakers. I did only buy the $19.99 one for each child but it was not budgeted. I just felt like a bad mom, plus my boys have been really good for 2 weeks (for DS7 this is a huge accomplishment) so I decided they earned the soccer shoes.

Don't worry, we all give in! If your kiddos wanted and needed and deserved new shoes, it's okay! You sound like you've been doing well this month so a couple pair of shoes shouldn't do too much damage to the budget.

Now if I could just get my grocery bill under control. I budgeted $300 for the month and I am over $500. It is so hard. I use coupons, make menus, and everything but for our family of 5 I am having a hard time. This is my biggest complaint every week. I read every grocery thread and follow the tips but I still can't get it any cheaper.

I'm just one person and I spent $100 this month (well, I'm at about $97 right now). It's hard for me to keep the costs down, and I don't have a DH or DKids asking me for certain items or any food restrictions/allergies to concern myself with. I'm hoping I'll have a few meals in the freezer still come February so I can try to keep myself to a tighter grocery budget.

Thank God for coupons, Aldi, and CVS. I'd be WAAAY over $100 if it weren't for that!

And, side note: my raise is going through on my next paycheck - and it's 2% HIGHER than my boss recommended me for! YEA!!!

 

[bear74]

And, side note: my raise is going through on my next paycheck - and it's 2% HIGHER than my boss recommended me for! YEA!!!

congrats on the higher raise

 

[vegasnative]

Well, where do I start? I don't know if any of you read or not, but I caved in and bought a last minute plane ticket to go to Vegas, and then I was going to drive down to Disneyland from there with my friends, that was for this coming weekend. I'm flying into Vegas tomorrow. Yesterday, my uncle passed away. I'm super sad about this, I was very close with him. He lived in Vegas and now the funeral is on Friday. So, what was supposed to be a fun weekend has now turned into a very sad one for me. I had to buy some clothes today for the funeral, these of course were not budgeted for, but it is coming out of money that I would have spent at Disney. I'll be gone for a few days, but I will see you all in the No Buy Feb!! Keep plugging along everyone, it sounds like many of you are doing great!

 

[reginaastralis]

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!
1/12 - $30 for drinks at Applebee's (Completely needed) and $10 in my mom's tank for being so awesome and letting me drive her car
1/13 - $10 at Taco Bell for the fam ...
1/14 - $0!
1/15 - $60 at walmart, including $20 for gas. Some of it was also groceries. $5 at McD's for breakfast
1/16 - $40 at Publix for dinner ingredients b/c nothing sounded good or was defrosted.
1/17 - $0!
1/18 - $40 on disneyshopping. I finally caved, but for things Juliette really needed.
1/19 - $40 out for drinks and food after work. I also got $50 worth of free drinks since our server likes me. I told him I can't come back for at least a month ... I've blown a TON of money out this month.
1/20 - $0!
1/21 - $0
1/22 - $20 take out food for sister's birthday
1/23 - $15 gas. $30 groceries. Of course, the "groceries" included a $16 bottle of rum. Don't judge. LOL. A girl needs her alcohol. My mom is going on a Disney cruise in April, and I asked her to pick me up a couple of bottles. She is very religious and doesn't drink .... so she isn't too keen on it. I told her between her and my dad being able to legally bring back 2 bottles (she's really strick with following rules) that they should be able to cover me until I go on a cruise next year.

So, other than oil for my car (I am crazy overdue for an oil change, and I am going to get one next month) and gas for my car ... I am going to really try for No Buy's for the rest of this month. I have been really bad this month, but ... honestly it was mostly on things I "needed". I have a new system in place for buying things I want but don't need, and I am going to see if this works better.

 

[neatokimmo]

I loose track of what I've confessed to

I had a grocery store run this week sometime, it's all a blur. Only $35 though, well within budget. I also returned some slippers ($-7.00 woot) but went out with my best friend for ribs and that was $23. I am still way under because of those giftcards and right at the mark if I didn't have them.

It is so much fun to delete things off my spreadsheet when I return stuff!

 

[Adi12982]

Well, where do I start? I don't know if any of you read or not, but I caved in and bought a last minute plane ticket to go to Vegas, and then I was going to drive down to Disneyland from there with my friends, that was for this coming weekend. I'm flying into Vegas tomorrow. Yesterday, my uncle passed away. I'm super sad about this, I was very close with him. He lived in Vegas and now the funeral is on Friday. So, what was supposed to be a fun weekend has now turned into a very sad one for me. I had to buy some clothes today for the funeral, these of course were not budgeted for, but it is coming out of money that I would have spent at Disney. I'll be gone for a few days, but I will see you all in the No Buy Feb!! Keep plugging along everyone, it sounds like many of you are doing great!

I am so terribly sad for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

 

[luv2nascar]

my first time posting in this - hope its okay. But I have been doing this anyways since the holiday.
1/20 sunday returned remote for $5.?? to walmart we didn't need it
returned 4 cans of tuna to shoprite $5.56 rang up wrong price
spent $7 at grocery store but still $4 to the good
1/21 home from work $0
1/22 tuesday took my lunch $1.10 for breakfast budgeted
1/23 wed took my lunch $1.15 for breakfast budgeted
took $82 in change to bank - got $60 back stopped at store for soda & snacks $10 in budget

 

[vegasnative]

I am so terribly sad for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Thank-you so very much. I'm having a little bit of a hard time with this...and it's weird where one can find comfort, from a complete stranger, so again, thank-you.

 

[Siouxstone]

Well, where do I start? I don't know if any of you read or not, but I caved in and bought a last minute plane ticket to go to Vegas, and then I was going to drive down to Disneyland from there with my friends, that was for this coming weekend. I'm flying into Vegas tomorrow. Yesterday, my uncle passed away. I'm super sad about this, I was very close with him. He lived in Vegas and now the funeral is on Friday. So, what was supposed to be a fun weekend has now turned into a very sad one for me. I had to buy some clothes today for the funeral, these of course were not budgeted for, but it is coming out of money that I would have spent at Disney. I'll be gone for a few days, but I will see you all in the No Buy Feb!! Keep plugging along everyone, it sounds like many of you are doing great!

Vegasnative, I'm so sorry for your loss. You know we'll keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Oh, and we'll hold you to that No Buy Feb. Have a safe trip.

Today, I attempted to go out to Wally world for several items I have been putting off. Poor DS suddenly got clingy and quiet. I ended up leaving well before I finished my list (and it wasn't even big.) I'll figure out what I spent later. Right now, DH is running out for some some 7Up or Gingerale. It appears DS has a tummy bug.

Tomorrow evening, I am going out for coffee with a friend. A real, grown up friend! I was very excited to get her email and I will dip into my ever growing popcorn bucket of unused allowance to pay for it. I haven't been out for coffee and a chat with someone other than family since last July!

luv2nascar~

Keep up the good work, everyone! January is almost over!

 

[kandeebunny]

$0 day here as I didn't leave the house!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

1/14 $277 (groceries, in budget)
1/15 $10 (notary, unplanned)
$32 (mailing, in budget)
1/16 $0
1/17 $0
1/18 $18 bowling (in budget)
$19 helmet/tire pump (taken from homeschool budget)
1/19 $29 (bowling league, in budget)
1/20 $13 (bowling tourney, in budget)
$10 (arcade & snacks at tourney, in budget)
$22 (McDonalds, in budget)
1/21 $0
1/22 $0
1/23 $22 (homeschool field trip, in budget)
$28 (lunch on field trip, unplanned )

 

[paulasillars]

Vegasnative - I'm sorry to hear of the lost of your uncle, its always hard when its someone you are close to. Have a safe trip.

Deffenm - I can't really see how I can reduce our grocery bill either. Coupons aren't something we do here in NZ, the only place that does them is the most expensive supermarket. Our supermarkets have weekly specials instead so what I do is try to purchase just specials where possible. Also we are vegetarian and that keeps our grocery bill low with not buying meat. We tend to buy veges that are in season and therefore cheap. I feel if I tried to cut back on our groceries too much it would impact on our healthy eating and also our meal quality. I do tend to overstock the cupboards at times so we aim to eat them down occasionally to get through the stuff that has been sitting around for a while. I figure since I don't drink and Robert only does very occasionally, we don't smoke, do drugs or gamble then a few extra dollars on our groceries is ok.

Thursday 23rd - $0

Total this month personal spending - $126.50/$400

I was strong today to make it a $0 day - I turned down an invite with the guys from work for lunch and ate what I'd taken with me. Then this evening Robert went out for dinner with his old workmates and I resisted the urge to get takeaways again - that was the old me. I cooked dinner and froze two lots of leftovers for lunch.

I also went to the mobile library and got some books to read and some recent magazines - can't beat the price - $0

On a not so good note, the place that fixed the amp for the stereo rang and said they'd made a mistake and we should have paid the $210 they quoted instead of the $135 they said yesterday. Robert will pay that tomorrow - they have been really good in the past and given good discounts so as an act of good faith we will pay it.

I aim for tomorrow to be a no buy too and hopefully Saturday. Sunday is Robert's Mum's birthday lunch and we will go to the market to get some more fresh veges. I will probably go to the supermarket for milk, yogurt and fruit. I aim to buy the minimum of groceries until February.

 

[paulasillars]

Thursday 23rd - $0

Total this month personal spending - $126.50/$400

I was strong today to make it a $0 day - I turned down an invite with the guys from work for lunch and ate what I'd taken with me. Then this evening Robert went out for dinner with his old workmates and I resisted the urge to get takeaways again - that was the old me. I cooked dinner and froze two lots of leftovers for lunch.

I just fell off the wagon and feel great about it. Over on the cruise board one of the women on my August cruise was saying her husband is going to be interviewed for CNN for his donations to Kiva. I'd never heard of it so foolishly checked out the site.

Well I've just made 4 x $US25 loans to some developing nation businesses and I feel great about it. In theory I should get this money back to donate again.

Once it hits my Visa, I'll put it in my personal allowance category. What a cool idea!

 

[delmar411]

I forget where I left off at but the past week ish I've been pretty good.

I did take advantage of Airtran's deal with buying the GC and getting the A+ points. I used a CC for that and it will come due in Feb and I'll use the $400 I was planning on buying airfare with anyway. Works out very well and I'm almost at a free one way ticket.

Yesterday I went back to the furniture store that is closing and found 3 matching dining chairs for $30 each! They are soooooo nice too. Tag said they were $150 each originally. I resisted buying the BEAUTIFUL entertainment center in the exact style I've been drolling over for a few years....very hard to resist as it was $200! Down from $2000! If it is still there when I go back...it's mine!

~ETA the chairs are in next paycheck's budget so we'll just stretch the money until then. So not in this pay period's budget but not a huge issue.

oh yeah and we got gas yesterday too (sorry still excited over my chairs! LOL) , I forgot to ask DH how much but it is what it is and in the budget.
Also stopped and ate out...was $13 total and I dropped off a bag of stuff to one of the other managers at DH's old store and she gave me $20 so still up $7 .

 

[smiller]

1/23 - $2.03 at Chicago Produce for a giant avocado and two limes. Still have $1.93 left for the month!

Here's where it gets sticky: I've been eyeing the $14 left in my Going Out Envelope for quite a while now. This area of the budget is my downfall but it's also very important for me to spend time with family and friends and I love going out.

I've got a dinner scheduled tonight at a friend's restaurant with DSis and a few girlfriends, a dinner scheduled next Thursday with roomie and another girlfriend, and a potential outing for cheap beers on Friday.

I'm trying to put off a lunch date with roomie and yet another girlfriend until at least February so I don't go over the deep end too much this month.

But realistically, $14 will not get me two nice dinners and cheap beer. And, to top it all off, I didn't have any opportunities for earning extra money this month. At least family and friends are worth it, and I'm planning this all very carefully! DSis and I already decided we're splitting an entree tonight to save $$.

 

[reginaastralis]

vegasnative - I am so sorry for your loss.

Today, I was good. In fact, I was fantastic. My oil light came on, so I picked up $5 in oil. I spoke with my friend Matt, and he is going to look into fixing my car next weekend, and I am going to magically find money to pay for the parts. Maybe I'll make good money this weekend.

Then I got a call from my bestfriend, and the wedding is on. In VEGAS! I haven't been to Vegas since I was a child ... sooooooooooooo ... WOOT. I am excited b/c it's my two best friends getting married, and it'll be a great break. I just have to remember to ask off for August 2nd. I don't know if I will remember that ... so now on to saving saving saving to gamble in Vegas.

So, my plan for next month ... and here after. I am going to start a spreadsheet on everything I need. I am going to put it into an excel spreadsheet, and then I am going to try to limit what I spend and when. Hopefully this will help with my needs/wants ... and also with impulse purchases. If there is something I see on the shelf that I want, I am going to put it on the list ... and make myself wait. I am going to really try to only shop on Wednesday's from now on as well. Let's see how that goes.

I'm so happy that this month is almost over!

 

[kandeebunny]

$0 day again here! I even went out to the store with mom and didn't buy anything!!!

 

[smiller]

1/24 - $0

My dinner out got rescheduled for tomorrow, so today ended up being a true No Buy day!

I came home and set the timer for ten minutes and picked up the house like a crazy lady - I couldn't handle all the junk that was all over the place. Roomie came home and asked where her slippers were - in her room, where they should be!

At least I was fair, though, and put all my stuff that was laying around in my room, too!

I suppose I should be productive this evening (hey, see above, maybe I already was!), but a few chapters in my current book and a bit of chocolate sounds much more appealing.

 

[delmar411]

yesterday was pretty easy money day as I was stuck at home washing dishes all darn day.

but the dishes are done done done!

I did have DH stop on the way home from work last night and get milk and beer. I needed a reward for all my hard work. LOL He even found beer on sale so Good Job DH!

It was $15.65 at the grocery store (10.99 for beer and $4 for milk)