No Buy March

[paulasillars]

Here 'tis... welcome to those joining us this month. The goal is to try to minimise unnecessary spending and how you define that is entirely up to you. Post as often as you like

 

[paulasillars]

I'm giving myself a budget of $300 this month as I have a few extra expenses including doctor appointment and prescription, I could do with some autumn clothing as some of my mid-season items are looking a bit sad for wearing to work and we are also heading about an hour north next weekend for a soak in the thermal pools so that will probably be about $30 for the day.

Good luck!

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

I would like to try doing this for March- a first timer for a no buy month! I just had a baby (she was 5 weeks old yesterday); this was our second, ds is 5. As of January 1st, I became a stay at home mom, so we are cutting back where possible.

So, I am going to take a guess at our "extra" expenses for this month, and set my budget at $800 this month, which will include:

Groceries: $360
Football Registration for ds: $40
Swimming Lessons for ds: $120
Gas: $60
Stockpile (Hba, baby items, food, etc): $40
Sam's Club Membership: $35
Gardening start: $25
Hair color/cut: $40
Dog Food: $20
Dr. Appts: $20
Unexpected: $40

I will give it a shot, and see how things go! We have got a lot of extras this month, so it is higher than what we would normally have any other time.

 

[joy@disney]

Okay, I am going to try this out this month. It will probably be an eye opener for me to see just where all our money goes each month. I am looking forward to all the encouragement from everyone here.

 

[Cynt]

Count me in. I'm going to budget $100 a week + $150 for the dentist + $100 for weekend trip for god's sons b-day = $650 for the month. I'm going to try the envelope method. I'm deadly with my debit card. This will include gas, food (groceries and/or eating out), incidentals and whatever else.

3/1 - $44.26 = $24.26 - Wally world plus $20 spending money for the week
3/2 - ZERO
3/3 - $156.70 = $150 dentist + $6.70 deli (2 cavities, add'l $350 b4 insurance @ EOM)
3/4 - $7.03 boston market
3/5 - $78.06 = $27.05 BDay gift for godson + $26.01 gas + $15 Dr + $10 Prescription = SINUS INFECTION!!! YUK!
3/6 - $40 ATM
3/7 - $218.96 - gas, odds and ends Wally World, sandals for the summer
3/8 - $105.03 - I see right now, weekends are the worst for me.
3/9-14 - $100 ATM
3/15-22 - $276.20 - pictures and eating out
3/23 - $64.24 - summer tops and gas
3/24 - $79.95 - 6 pair of crocs plus free shipping!!!




Total $1170.43
Remaining amount in the red $520.43

 

[neatokimmo]

I'm in! I came in under budget in Feb by almost $3. That counts!

March budget is...

Groceries - $160 (just made out a meal plan for a month, I am clearing the freezer and pantry...I feel so organized! I am only missing $75 of groceries for the entire month so I might come in under big time )
Eating Out - $30
Cats - $50
Baby Loot - $75
Gas - $50
Misc - $335

I booked our trip this morning and I'd love to pay the $955 we owe out of our regular budget without touching savings. I did pay our share of the deposit (we are splitting the trip), $100, out of the misc column this month

Also my renter moves in next week. That brings our monthly expenses down to what I post here plus a $58 student loan payment

I also have a lot to drop off at a consignment store and I am participating in a children's consignment sale. So March might be a very good month for us

 

[smiller]

I'm so in - just trying to figure out how to afford everything in March. I already "spent" $15 on a produce box I pick up this Wednesday. My usual budget is $200 for e v e r y t h i n g so I'm not sure how well I'll do...

Expenses planned:
- out with best friend (restaurant gift card should cover this)
- girls night out at Whole Foods (we have a restaurant in our WF)
- friend's birthday at some trendy place downtown - ugh - I'm not trendy but will try to go and be sociable
- neighborhood pub crawl (this should be quite fun)
- DBIL birthday (no idea what to get him)

I'm hoping there's nothing else. I still need to buy that darn toilet seat cover - I'll check out the Home Depot tomorrow when I'm out in the 'burbs with hmillerbarilla.

Here's to a great No Buy March!

 

[4disneyfreakazoids]

How cool! I'll think I'll try this! I've always wanted to try a monthly meal plan & just saw one on the $5 dinner blog! I'm bad about splurging when I have the money instead of saving it! I want to save money for our WDW trip in June plus our anniversary in April! Do you guys have any tips for me?

 

[patsal]

Even though I wasn't perfect in February, I am planning on trying harder this month. Last month we had the unplanned trip to Spain and I was able to maintain my budget for the week with the exception of the airfare, but I dipped into savings for that so no huge foul.
March looks like a great month to keep on track, no birthdays, or any extra, out of the ordinary things to concern myself with.
1. $10 for balance on suit after returning b-day gifts from sis to AJ Wrights. $13.99 ice cream and candy at store. Total for day $24.00
2. .75 for veggies at lunch $24.75 for week
3. $3.00 for lunch at work--forgot my lunch on the counter at home and $20. for dinner as I am alone with the two teens until Friday while DH is in Ireland and it with activities time is tight. $23 for the day and $57.75 for the week.
4.$3.00 coffee at Dunkin D's while tutoring after school. $60.75 for week.
5. Grocery shopped for the most part today so I wouldn't have to on Sat. when DH gets back home. $60. (note: bad effect of economy ALDI is out of stuff have to go to another location on Friday)$117.75 for week.
6. Gas $32, Rest of Groceries $27., Copayment at Dr's $20. $79 for day, $196.75 total for month.
7. Dollar Tree $12., Cello Leson $15, Pizza and wings $28.00;$251 for the month.

I'm shooting for at least three zero days next week!

8.$59.00 at Old Navy, DD "needed" those cute dresses and some shorts. $12.00 Aldi. (71 for Day)$322 month
9. $12. flowers for niece for first reconcilliation $344 for month.
10. Coffee at DD while I tutored $3.00, Dozen Doughnuts to treat my kids since I was very late $5. managers special. So $8 for the day and $352 for the month
11. $0
12. $0
13. Shopping at ALDI $68., Cello Lesson $15, Annie Musical at my HS for me, DD and her 2BFF's, $24, Dinner for the girls at Red Robin--um eek $85. $192 for day and $544 for month.


14. $0.
15. $44. K cups from Green Mountain
16. Groceries at Wegmans $38.
17. $0
18. $0
19. $50 gift for DD's BFF's birthday $676 for month
20.

21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.

 

[Debbie]

I'm in again. It really does help to see where the money is going. I don't include the things that don't change-cable, taxes, insurance etc., just the things that fluctuate. We have 'March Break' in the middle, so expenses will be a bit higher....eating out, shopping etc. So, I have this outline.
gas-$150
groceries-$500
misc-$50
household-100
That is $800. Last month we went over due to some household expenses, but the money is there to cover those things, so it didn't hurt, it just put me over. Let's hope that this month is better!
1-2 turkeys 29.98 + groceries from Liquidation World 7.48
2-No Frills (groceries) 4.56 + parking 4 + brunch after blood tests 6.77 + gas 37.41
3- water softener salt 9.40
4- groceries 61.09
5- birthday gifts (3 parties + jeans for DD....the rest of her gift to come) 88.23 + tea at conference 95¢ This is well over the misc that I had budgeted for....hadn't anticipated the 3 birthdays the girls are going to
6- 0
7- more gifts-56.23 + Costco run 70 + steam mop not originally on the list, but budgeted through my "household" account -so I've added $100 to the monthly total90.39
8- gas $37 Only 1 $0 day, so far
9- birthday supplies-cake, card, bread to add to the dinner- 26.99
10- 0
11- milk and juice 8
12- 0
13- 0
14- gas 31.52
15- Shoppers Drug: Christmas cards/tags, deodorant, contact solution 35.94
16- milk 4.97
17- groceries 96.40 + income tax program 43.83
18- 0
19-
20-
21-
22-
23-
24-
25-
26-
27-
28-
29-
30-
31-

68.66/800 left

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I'm in too, I seriously messed up February, mostly because of unanticipated spending on summer camps

I actually RAN OUT OF SPOTS on my weekly budget spreadsheet last week .

My goal for this month is to do as many $0 days in a row.

Just stop shopping.

Go cold turkey.

I told DH he's going to do all the shopping this month except for gas for my car. He thinks it's really impractical. We'll see how it goes...

 

[Jennifer in MI]

Okay - I joined this last month and then decided we had enough money to redo our boys bedroom (they've been waiting until we had the time!). So, I didn't keep posting.

Here's my budget this month:

Food: $300 (I bought a TON of stuff on sale last month)
Gas: $300
Boys' room: $300 (finishing touches)
Baseball clinic: $30
Karate sign ups: $200
New Karate gis: $70 (the kids test for black belt at the end of the month)
Misc Karate expenses: $75 (renting gym for rehearsals)
Rite Aid/CVS overages: $50 (I do the couponing at both places. Rite Aid will send me a check at the end of the month, but I have to put the money up front first)

Total budget: $1325

We're thinking of starting to pay on our Disney Cruise this month so it's paid off early and out of our normal budget instead of having to touch our savings. That will give us lots of time to pay it off!

I'll report back later today after grocery shopping/CVSing!

 

[Debbie]

I told DH he's going to do all the shopping this month except for gas for my car. He thinks it's really impractical. We'll see how it goes...

MY DH is the problem in our household! He can't leave the house without stopping in for groceries, somewhere!

 

[flowerpower]

In again, I can't believe I was capable of doing it for two months straight!

3/1/09$3.75 church/$DH 0= $3.75
3/2/09 $0 /$ 120 DH=$120
3/3/09 $24.55 gas, $1.00 DD milk/DH $0=$25.55
3/4/09 $0/$125.70 DH=$125.70
3/5/09 $30 gas $3.00 DD lunch/$40.00 DH=$73.00
3/6/09 $0/$50.00 DH=$50.00
3/7/09 $20 charity lunch, Christmas Tree Shoppe $33.11 (sympathy cards, food)/DH$0= $53.11
3/8/09 $6.28 milk/$50 DH=$56.28
3/9$3.00 DD lunch/DH $40=$43.75
3/10/09 $0.75 DD milk, Coffee $2.00/DH $40=$42.75
3/11/09 $9.00 coffee & 1 lb coffee $5.86 lunch/DH $40, $65.17 cigs=$120.03
3/12/09 DD lunch $3.00/DH $50=$53.00
3/13/09 DD lunch $3.00 $27.00 dinner w/friend stamps $8.40/$40 DH=$78.40
3/14/09 Gas $30 $8.91 laundry detergent groceries $83.91 Dinner $42.80 DD $25.00 game for NDS/DH $40.00=$230.62
3/15/09 $0/DH $0-$0 good thing making up for yesterday! MTD
3/16/09$0/DH $60=$60
3/17/09 $2.25 DD lunch/DH $64.17 cigarettes $30=$96.42
3/18/09 $3,00 DD lunch/$50.00 DH=$53.00
3/19/09 $2.25 DD lunch $2.00 coffee/$DH $40=$44.25
3/20/09 $3.56 coffee (me and coworker)/$30.00 DH=33.56
3/21/09 $19.50 boot repair, $20.00 gas, $10 lunch with friend $13 Chinese food for DD, /DH $30=$92.50
3/22/$2.50 coffee/DH $26.33 gas, $68.66 cigarettes, $30= $127.49
3/23/09 $0/$60 DH=$60
3/24/09 DH $ 40.00, $80.99=120.99
3/25/09 $ 479.62 tire/rim, struts and alignment on van, coffee & sub $7/DH $30=$516.62
3/26/09 $2.25 DD lunch $4.05 coffee coworker and me/$40.00 DH=$44.05
3/27/09 $2.25 DD lunch $4.00 brownies, $5.87 sub $20.00 gas/DH $65.17 cigarettes $50 .00= $147.29 MTD $2543.79

3/28/09 Dry cleaning $26.40 milk $4.98Trader Joes $101.70 Mini golf $12/DH $50=$195.08
2/29/09 $0/DH $50=$50.00
3/30/09 co pay eye MD $5.00/DH $40=$45
3/31/09 $0/DH $40=$40

 

[goofyisinphilly]

I'll be trying this again this month. Hopefully this month will stay on track a little bit better.

A big cut back on groceries this month to $250. We came in under last month so I think it is possible.
Hobbies will be limited to $100. This is split between DH and myself for anything fun or for hobbies.
Fast food not in the hobbies category $25.
A lawnmower since we bought a house in Dec.- $175. We have a couple of gift cards laying around so hopefully that will cut down the cost.
Money toward Disney trip payoff $350 and an additional $200 in savings.

I think that about covers it for flexible expenses.

 

[melc0305]

Ok - this is my 1st no buy month! Here are my planned expenses. My goal is to not buy anything above these. Mostly no clothes, home goods, toys. I'm not putting all the utilities etc in there, just using mine to track "extra" stuff I don't need.

$200/week for groceries (seems like a lot but I run an in-home daycare)
$50 for Spring/Easter crafts and candy for my daycare and DS's preschool
$200 Costco trip (haven't been in 3 months, so time to load up)
$200 payment for DS's summer science camp due by end of March
$50 Gas

1 $165 at Costco (budgeted) $36 for gas (budgeted) $104 for groceries (budgeted)
2 $748.00 for airline tickets (Had to buy eventually, but not budgeted in March) $1.98 for 2 songs from itunes
3 $82 for online courses needed to fulfill daycare license renewal (not budgeted, didn't think I needed until July)

(sigh....I feel like I should just give it up now)

4 $0 (finally)
5 $9.01 DH needed 2 gallons of OJ for his company breakfast
6 $57 for crafts (budgeted $50) $5 for monthly Bunco game
7 $30 eating out
8 $27 eating out, $148 for groceries (budgeted)
9 $0
10 $9.40 for stamps
11 $0 (woo hoo!)
12 $73 at Old Navy for clothes (this is what I was trying to avoid!)
13 $0
14 $45 eating out
15 $35 for home goods, $20 kids clothes, $75 groceries

(as you can see, I've slightly fallen off the wagon)

16 $0
17
18
19
20

 

[wall*e2008]

I'm in! I came in under budget in Feb by almost $3. That counts!

March budget is...

Groceries - $160 (just made out a meal plan for a month, I am clearing the freezer and pantry...I feel so organized! I am only missing $75 of groceries for the entire month so I might come in under big time )
Eating Out - $30
Cats - $50
Baby Loot - $75
Gas - $50
Misc - $335

I booked our trip this morning and I'd love to pay the $955 we owe out of our regular budget without touching savings. I did pay our share of the deposit (we are splitting the trip), $100, out of the misc column this month

Also my renter moves in next week. That brings our monthly expenses down to what I post here plus a $58 student loan payment

I also have a lot to drop off at a consignment store and I am participating in a children's consignment sale. So March might be a very good month for us

You are renting a room in your home and the rent covers the mortgage, utilities, cable and phone?


I keep my budget on paper. Seems to make it more real for me.

 

[TammyLynn33]

I so want to join..My budget is out the window and we have the big birthday bash mar 16..I have about $100 cake and $40 hot chocolate plus incidentals to pay..

Have to get our passports,

And save extra as we hit Dis April 19 only 4 more pays...ACK

 

[neatokimmo]

Nope, I am renting the whole thing. We moved in with my Dad when his wife died and I'm not ready to sell the cute fixer upper that I put so much work into. So I am renting and that more than covers the bills (no mortgage, small HELOC) so I can save the 30K I need to buy a bigger house for all of us around Jan of next year

You are renting a room in your home and the rent covers the mortgage, utilities, cable and phone?

 

[2Princes_&_1Princess]

We really need to pinch pennies this month for our Spring Break trip next month, so I'm in. I know it's different for everyone as far as what's an acceptable expense and what isn't, so I'm going to have to think for a bit about what's OK/what's not.

Obviously, the fixed expenses are what they are so I won't be considering phone/cable/mortgage/electric/car/school on here.

I'm OKing myself to spend (for the month)
$150 gas (two long commutes, but we need to cut down on needless driving)
$800/month on food - family of 5, plus I watch 2 little ones during the days
$150/month on clothes for kids - warm weather is on its way here.
$200/month spending money for dh and I - to include EVERYTHING else we do - no exceptions.

I know this seems high, and would love tips on where to cut down.