No Buy June

[goNDmay9]

Thanks for the responses! Kickapoo i love that spreadsheet. i have one for all of the monthly "bills" so it looks like i need to bring it down to the daily level for my "personal expenses category".

paulasillas - i have similar goals that contradict each other

1 - pay off amex
2 - build savings

i find that i just whittle my money away on little things that add up. Vending machine at work. this birthday celebration, that birthday celebration. I think if i just never went to dinner i could spend two months at disney!!

how do you all handle the "let's all go to dinner for so and so's bday"? is it rude to eat before i go and just split an app with DB or something?

 

[Jennia]

June 1: $24 on ebay (buying party favors, etc for dd's party at end of July)
June 2: $5 renting a movie, popcorn kernals for a mom's night in I'm hosting tomorrow
June 3: $0
June 4: $145 -one third of that was my prescription, rest was presents for three birthdays, some groceries, and $40 for DH

 

[MineMail]

I resisted the temptation of two BJ's yesterday.

I only wanted one thing, but I knew I'd walk out with much more.

 

[Tiggerish]

I think I have become obsessed with my budget - - Today I won a contest for "the best seats in Fifth Third Ballpark - - you and a guest will sit behind home plate in comfortable recliners from Klingman's." which is a local furniture store.

And my first thought was, where in my budget am I going to find the money for parking and food! Then I remembered to be excited because I WON a cool prize. This for for our local Double A team, the White Caps and we do really like the park and is for a fireworks night so it is actually a very nice thing.

Budget for June: $400

Giving $50 / $45 left
Groceries $145 / $55.68 left
Gas $25 / $5 left
Medical $15 / $7.45 left
Eating out $15
Misc. $20 / $34 over
Vacation $130
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
6/1
Groceries $54.09
Gas $20
Medical $4 (prescription)
Misc. $6 (Disney Store)

6/2
$3 Groceries

6/3
$48 Misc. - newspaper delivery for 3 months - I forgot about this so not in budget. I also forgot to budget for Father's day gift.

6/4
$32.23 Groceries -This is also not planned in the budget but my Dad is down with a bad cold so I bought my parents some easy meal fixings since I will be doing the cooking for them for a bit.

$3.55 Medical - Sharps container

6/5
$5 - Giving (donation to neighbor doing a breast cancer walk)

I really need a zero day but just can't seem to get in the groove of not spending. Every day it is some little thing.

 

[lillygator]

ok, desperately need to join....

- no buy for me, means nothing other than groceries which I want to keep between $50 and $75 a week this month (including toiletries and cleaning supplies, we have tons of meat int eh freezer on hand), gas - probably $120 for two vehicles for the month, and maybe $100 misc....we really need to start buttoning down!

 

[casper_jj11]

Ok, I think I need help ... or encouragement... or support ... or something

Part of the hard part for me keeping to a budget is buying clothing for my three kids. I'm a Gymboree and Disney Store junkie. Now, for the past two months, I've done really really well. In fact, I haven't set foot in the stores except for Gymbuck redemption and then I stuck to what I could buy at, essentially, 50% off. If I go in, I shop. So, I don't go there. My plan was not to shop any more until I had to get Fall clothing for the kids. Til now.

I learned today that our Disney Store is closing in 3 weeks. I've already called and everything in the store is 25% off regular and sale prices. There are some Ts for $10 and others for $3.99 not to mention other items and that doesn't include the discount. My kiddos LOVE Disney Store clothing. My daughter is a princess nut. My oldest boy is all about Power Rangers and Mickey Mouse. My youngest is too young to know but he wears it as much as the others. We go to Disney every year despite living in Ottawa. Now, I've justified the life out of this and I know I'll be there after work ... I may even leave early (see, that's how you know you have a problem) Am I complete insane for wanting to buy as much as I can in larger sizes for my kids so they'll have Disney clothing for the next few years???? (pjs, tshirts, swim suits, etc) I could order it online but shipping to Canada by DisneyStore.com is insane... really bizarre like almost 50% of the value of the goods. We go to Disney but don't shop much while there because I get a bunch of Disney stuff for them before we go.... (well, I did til now anyway). Sigh.

Bottom line: What would you do?

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

Well...I slipped a little and went to Walmart today. A little 'retail therapy' after a big argument with the DH. But I only spent $30, and it was clothes (not even for me, for my kids)...so not horribly bad.

I think I budget $100 for that stuff, so I've spent $30/$100

 

[Debbie]

I'm here again. I'll update my budget later.....it's a very busy-and expensive-month for us.

Let's see:
Not included are the budgeted and automatic things: energy, Church, internet/cable phone etc.

groceries- $500/500
dining out (including grad dinner/lunches etc)- $300/300
gas (up because of a 10 hour round trip for the grad)- $310/350
misc- (Father's Day, shower and retirement gifts included) $338/400

1- chlorine to shock the pool-20
2- gas-40
3- hair-20
4- final concert treat-10; mail a parcel-12
5-

I have finally set my budget....and I can see that it is going to be a tough month!

 

[paulasillars]

how do you all handle the "let's all go to dinner for so and so's bday"? is it rude to eat before i go and just split an app with DB or something?

We have both an "eating out" and also a "misc" category in our budget so I'd put it into one of those or else it would come out of our own personal budgets.

For birthday meals, for us, its usually family birthday events so we know they are coming up in advance and can budget accordingly.

If its friends, I'd perhaps say "sorry we are busy on X day - I hope you have a wonderful meal" or perhaps have "other plans" during the time they are dining and stop by the restaurant after they have had their main meal for just dessert or a drink afterwards?

Depending on who it is, you could also suggest perhaps meeting for a coffee/cake in an afternoon at a cafe instead of a full meal or suggest a more economical restaurant.

If you end up with a lot of these you may need a specific line entry in your budget, perhaps use it for all birthday/gifts.

 

[paulasillars]

I learned today that our Disney Store is closing in 3 weeks. I've already called and everything in the store is 25% off regular and sale prices. There are some Ts for $10 and others for $3.99 not to mention other items and that doesn't include the discount. My kiddos LOVE Disney Store clothing. My daughter is a princess nut. My oldest boy is all about Power Rangers and Mickey Mouse. My youngest is too young to know but he wears it as much as the others. We go to Disney every year despite living in Ottawa. Now, I've justified the life out of this and I know I'll be there after work ... I may even leave early (see, that's how you know you have a problem) Am I complete insane for wanting to buy as much as I can in larger sizes for my kids so they'll have Disney clothing for the next few years???? (pjs, tshirts, swim suits, etc) I could order it online but shipping to Canada by DisneyStore.com is insane... really bizarre like almost 50% of the value of the goods. We go to Disney but don't shop much while there because I get a bunch of Disney stuff for them before we go.... (well, I did til now anyway). Sigh.

Bottom line: What would you do?

I'd probably buy a couple of "have to have" items but realistically, kids grow so fast are they going to get the $ value out of the items. Are they going to wear them out until they are only worthy for the bin and more importantly, do they really need them?

As you say you travel to Disney once a year, personally I'd be putting the money saved on the clothing you don't buy towards the next trip instead.

Obviously I don't know your situation but could that money be better used paying down debt?

I guess I'm probably old fashioned and I grew up wearing hand-me-downs, but I really think buying new clothing for kids is a waste of money for the most part. I rarely buy new clothing for myself and usually shop thrift and its unlikely I'm gonna grow out of my clothing before it

I always ask myself before I buy - do I NEED it or do I just WANT it - big difference and often I walk away without being parted from my cash...

 

[paulasillars]

Looks like winter is good for my budget! Dinner last night before seeing Princess Wishes on Ice was takeaway from the mall foodcourt.

Robert's out of town with work Mon-Fri this week so I'll be trying to resist the eating out for dinner in the coming week and at least if I can't be bothered cooking, try to get something from the supermarket which will be cheaper than takeaways.

6th - $0
5th - $6.50 for dinner
4th - $0
3rd - $0
2nd - $0
1st - $0

 

[Debbie]

I guess I'm probably old fashioned and I grew up wearing hand-me-downs, but I really think buying new clothing for kids is a waste of money for the most part. I rarely buy new clothing for myself and usually shop thrift and its unlikely I'm gonna grow out of my clothing before it

I always ask myself before I buy - do I NEED it or do I just WANT it - big difference and often I walk away without being parted from my cash...

You have a good sense, Paula. Just Thursday, I was waffling on some books for gifts for my (university aged) kids. Because I hesitated, the fellow came and filled the orders that were at the school-minus mine. I'm quite happy that I didn't buy them. I'll likely buy some kind of book for the kids for Christmas, but they will be more appropriate, I think!

6th - $0
5th - $6.50 for dinner
4th - $0
3rd - $0
2nd - $0
1st - $0

You've done well for the first week. Congratulations!

 

[disneyorvegas]

I'm back! Totally went overboard last moth with the Disney surprise trip, especially since I had to buy the kids almost a completely new wardrobe within 3 weeks of going It's difficult because hand-me-downs don't work very well since my older DD wears slims and my younger DD is very... ummm... curvy is a nice way to put it I guess (but the trip was fabulous and totally worth it!)

This month I am going to just track what I spend, but it will be very difficult getting back on the wagon since school is ending and we usually do a lot of celebrating and day trips in June (not to mention ladies nights before school ends to get us ready for having the kids home all summer

Add to that, DH is having knee surgery next week, so he will be home for at least 3 weeks. There goes my grocery budget...

I know it's a little late, but I am starting with yesterday just to make my life easier. It was DD5's graduation from preschool, so it was a big celbrating day. To make matters worse, by the time DH got home from work, UP was sold out and we saw Night at the Museum instead. (I have a brave 5 yo!) So now we still need to try to see UP... at least we have Optimum Rewards.

6/5 $10 dining, $30 summer workbooks, $10 teacher gift, $32 movies
6/6 $ girls dinner out

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

It's difficult because hand-me-downs don't work very well since my older DD wears slims and my younger DD is very... ummm... curvy is a nice way to put it I guess

We can't do hand-me-downs either, except my boys are opposite. ODS is quite big and stocky, and YDS is very tiny, and they are 6 years apart. Thus the retail therapy the other day, lol.

We are going out to eat tonight, but it is budgeted since it is our wedding anniversary (11 yrs) and we have free babysitting. Hopefully, somewhere where we have a giftcard or a coupon .

 

[chicagoshannon]

Budget is $800-- $503.38 left

groceries- $250-- $158.15 left
eating out- $150-- $98.98 left
clothes- $200 (for Hanna Andersson sale this week)--- $28 over
entertainment- $30-- $21.25 left
other- $30- $0.67 over
Gas- $140

June 1- Groceries $30.85 , $7 for fast food (dh had to grab dinner before a meeting)
June 2- $8.75 for UP- Madeline's first movie.
June 3- $23.77 for dinner $140 on Hanna Andersson sale
June 4- $71 HA sale, $17 Disney store PJ's, $25.77 books
June 5- $20.25 for pizza
June 6- $61 on groceries and household, $5 on misc. other.
June 7- $0
June 8- dh has to get gas and eat out. I should be less then $40 total.

 

[chicagoshannon]

almost had a budget buster today. My car tire was going flat but the tire place pulled the metal piece out and patched it for FREE. YAY!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Almost done with my "to buy" list for this month, which is a good thing because the credit card is smokin' .

I have a few more things to get for father's day, and then just groceries and gas and then I'm done.

I had some time to myself today (first since kids got out of school), and I went and bought three pairs of shoes-one to replace the "gross sandals" from the story, one nice pair to wear to work (although I think we may have actually hired somebody so my hours will go waaaay down), and one pair of workout shoes-I've been going to zumba classes at the Y for about 6 months now and I've been either using my water shoes (like you wear at the pool) or my tennis shoes (which are big and clunky for dancing), and I found a pair of zumba shoes 1/2 off today and I went ahead and bought them. They're so cute I may wear them all over the place.

So, of my $1,999.99 budget (or less) I've spent $1,200. And I'm on day six. Never fear, I see a long stretch of zeroes ahead of me now .

My DH is like, you'll never make it under budget. Thanks for the support (I'm blaming that crack for the three pairs of shoes, lol...)

 

[Jennia]

June 1: $24 on ebay (buying party favors, etc for dd's party at end of July)
June 2: $5 renting a movie, popcorn kernals for a mom's night in I'm hosting tomorrow
June 3: $0
June 4: $145 -one third of that was my prescription, rest was presents for three birthdays, some groceries, and $40 for DH
June 5: $0

 

[maggieusa]

6/1 $0
6/2 $-0
6/3 $55 food $20 at dollar tree and $20 for hubby for the week and $10 for gas.
6/4 $0
6/5 $0
6/6 $40 food and $10 for gas

 

[Jennia]

June 1: $24 on ebay (buying party favors, etc for dd's party at end of July)
June 2: $5 renting a movie, popcorn kernals for a mom's night in I'm hosting tomorrow
June 3: $0
June 4: $145 -one third of that was my prescription, rest was presents for three birthdays, some groceries, and $40 for DH
June 5: $0
June 6: $0