No Buy March

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I am not a "no buyer" exactly, but I am very thrifty anyway. I had to tell someone about my lunch out yesterday though. A friend of mine has been asking me for a couple months to go out to lunch. I am not opposed to this except that I see her all the time, talk all the time and don't see a need in the added expense of a meal out when I see her all the time. But, I decided I would go. So yesteday she asks where we should go. One of my favorites is Unos and they have great lunch specials so I was happy she suggested it. I also had a coupon! Yeah!!! so, I ordered a cheese pizza and it came with all you can eat soup or salad. I had a bowl of french onion soup that was really soo, and a half bowl of almost as good broccoli soup, a water and I was full. So I packed up my pizza to bring home. It was $6.99 and my coupon was for $5 off. So, my lunch with tip came to $3.50 and I had a whole pizza left over. My friend was kind of laughing, but more in an envious way. Her meal (no leftovers) was $12! The best part too was leaving the receipt had another coupon, she said take it, she wouldn't use it. So I gave it to my DH, he can go next week for lunch (he only goes out to lunch once a week and already did this week.) I kind of felt guilty, but my friend made up for that! Anway, just had to tell others who can relate to my thriftness!

 

[punkin]

good for you, MickeyMomOfThree. That's cheaper than you could have eaten at home!

 

[casper_jj11]

I'm finding it helps me so much to write down what I actually spend. I took some time last night looking for coupons online. I don't think its the same here. I'm finding coupons but not a lot and not for things I really need ... there's a few, but not much. Mostly shampoo I don't use, floor cleaner, etc. Does anyone know of some great coupon sites for Canada? Food in particular... not junky stuff but canned or frozen vegetables and fruit, pasta, soup, etc. I've gone to save.ca ... are there any others?

Total: $2985 $2486 left

1- $0
2- $200 swimming lessons for DS6, $9 groceries, $40 DS's medical alert bracelet renewal (not budgeted but not really optional either...)
3 - $160 soccer registration for ds (budgeted)
4 - $50 gas (budgeted)
5 - $40 gas for dh (budgeted)

 

[smiller]

Sorry, I sometimes forget that even though we speak the same language and I understand you all perfectly that sometimes I might use words you aren't familiar with LOL - "fortnightly" has caught me out before too

I had a major spend for me today - I was working in town so bought lunch but I also stopped by the Salvation Army Op Shop (that's what we call a thrift store ) and got a pair of orange Reeboks ($11) and a cool reversible vest jacket ($4) for wearing on the cooler autumn (that's fall ) mornings.

So spend today was $23 total including lunch.

paulasillars - you're too funny! Hey, I see it as a learning experience! I look up EVERYTHING on Wikipedia or Google it - I'm often sending links to my mom or roommate when they don't know about something.

I DO know what Autmn is, though! (Reminds me when we had a pastor from Kentucky - he didn't think we'd know what "supper" meant here up north! )

Anyhow, went to my new favorite grocery store last night - I seem to have several of these recently!

I'm *gasp* skipping my produce box next week to save a little $$; I pick up my next one on the 18th.

I also bought a couple items to make pot roast - my first try! It took me forever to make, so I'm really hoping it tastes good!

3/1 - $15.00 Newleaf Natural
3/2 - $0.99 CVS
3/3 - $1.18 CVS
3/4 - $20.69 Newleaf Natural

Total: $37.86/$200.00

 

[albertamommyof4]

March 4- $0
March 5-$0

 

[Grendalynn]

Since I found out that DH was not tracking as he said he would, I'll make a stab at tracking his as well. Mind you, he is responsible for tracking all "family" spending. We'll have a big hit at the beginning since we went to see Mary Poppins in NYC, but the rest is when he overrides my frugalness and he wants to go out or do take out (and no, I'm not a bad cook!).

3/1 $29 beer, $42 dining
3/2 $133 dining, $30 parking, $23 gas
3/3 $10 dining
3/4 $10 beer, $7 cig
3/5 $
3/6 $
3/7 $

Groceries: $ Entertainment: $0 Dining: $ Beer: $0 Misc.: $ Gas: $
Running total: $

Your Beer bill looks about like mine!! I am seeing apettern here!!



So far - here is my tally: I am looking to keep our "extra" money under $200 for the month (thats $50 a week doing the quick math ). This is aside from our car payment, mortgage, utilities, (small) credit card payments and Day care. Weekends usually do us in, so lets see how we do.

S 3/1: $8.50 - Friendly's (DH)
M 3/2: $3.29 for milk (DH)
T 3/3: $3.00 Lottery tickets ($25 million would be bad to win...) (DH)
W 3/4: Beer (DH)- $5.99, Medicine for DS2, milk & TY Card - 18.92 (me)
Th 3/5:
F 3/6:
S 3/7:
Weeks Total

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

March 1: $0
March 2: $0
March 3: $0
March 4: $0
March 5: $0 (I hope, no plans to spend)

Since I am having such bad shopping withdrawal, I've been going "pretend" shopping a lot.


Yesterday I looked at mercedes station wagons online for an hour,

today it was jonesing after one of these:

Tomorrow, who knows where pretend shopping will take me. I'll either save a lot of money or go completely bonkers this month. Or both .

 

[punkin]

Just came back from Aldi's: $37 (includes milk which I generally only get organic, but I was too lazy to make another stop)

Interesting story: The lady in front of me in line did not have enough money to pay for her groceries and had to put back $10 worth of food. She chose some fresh fruits and veggies as well as orange juice. All the processed $%^& stayed in her cart.

She would have done herself (and her family) a huge favor by putting back the chicken nuggets and chips.

 

[paulasillars]

March 1: $0

Since I am having such bad shopping withdrawal, I've been going "pretend" shopping a lot.

.

I do think too - I look on Ebay - it has two benefits, firstly there are so many choices, I can't choose and don't usually buy and usually second the cost of postage is so high to New Zealand it makes it far too expensive once shipping is included.

As an example, I want to buy a new watch as my one keeps loosing time occasionally, the cost of a new battery would be about $NZ15 but I can buy a new one on Ebay for about $NZ25 (I have cheap tastes ) however there are simply so many to choose from that I never make a decision and just look for hours. I will at some point have to pick one though...

 

[disneyorvegas]

I just figured out how to beat the "DH won't be home for dinner, so let's just pick something up!" troubles I've been having lately. This morning, when willpower was high , I started a pot roast with potatoes and veggies cooking in my crock pot. That way, it would be completely wasteful if we didn't eat it tonight. (Plus, DH woun't get take out after he gets out of work, either!) No effort, and about 15 minutes of work this am, helps both the waistline and the budget.

BRAVO! A little preplanning goes a long way! (Can you tell I'm proud of myself for figuring out this hurdle? )

 

[disneyorvegas]

Your Beer bill looks about like mine!! I am seeing apettern here!!



Yeah, DH does like his "entertainment!"

 

[smiller]

I just figured out how to beat the "DH won't be home for dinner, so let's just pick something up!" troubles I've been having lately. This morning, when willpower was high , I started a pot roast with potatoes and veggies cooking in my crock pot. That way, it would be completely wasteful if we didn't eat it tonight. (Plus, DH woun't get take out after he gets out of work, either!) No effort, and about 15 minutes of work this am, helps both the waistline and the budget.

BRAVO! A little preplanning goes a long way! (Can you tell I'm proud of myself for figuring out this hurdle? )

That's great!

I had pot roast today, too - and it was delicious!

I'm going to have more meat & veggies leftover once the mashed potatoes run out - what else would the pot roast be good with? I'm thinking I might eat it like a stew with some crusty bread...

 

[tampabrat22]

OK, so today was not a good day. Had some unexpected expenses pop up, first I had to buy this ridiculously expensive coolant for my car engine and then my daughter has been sick so I had to take her to the Dr, between that, the meds and some sick food (soup, oj etc.) it put a big dent in my budget.

Budget for March $650 (for everything except bills)

3/1- $0
3/2- $53.20 (bday gifts for DD), $80 groceries, $3.21 Dvd rentals
3/3- $0
3/4- $0
3/5- $15 gas, $24.19 lunch, $45.26 Walmart, Dr. $20, Walgreens (meds)$15.00, $1.07 Dvd rental, Advance Auto $19.14
3/6-
3/7-

Balance remaining $373.93

 

[spacerangerqueen]

3/1 - $0.96 CVS, $3.60 Auntie Ann's Pretzel , $15.34 Publix
3/2 - $17.68 (forgot I bought gas that day)
3/3 - $0 only because I forgot my wallet so DF paid at the 3 CVS's we hit up though the total was only $2.59 for all 3 stores.
3/4 - $0
3/5 - $2.19 CVS and about $20 -$30 for Hoop Dee Doo for friends birthday

Total so far - $59.77

 

[paulasillars]

1st - $0
2nd - $0
3rd - $2 for a Cabbage Patch Kid which I will restore and sell
4th - $7 lunch
5th - $7 lunch + $11 for shoes and $4 for a top a the Salvation Army store
6th - $0
7th - potentially quite a bit - hope to keep it under $50 - its our day trip to the thermal springs tomorrow

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

Groceries: $360 $299.50 left
Football Registration for ds: $40
Swimming Lessons for ds: $120
Gas: $60 $55 left
Stockpile (Hba, baby items, food, etc): $40
Sam's Club Membership: $35
Gardening start: $25
Hair color/cut: $40 -$50 left- misjudged that one!
Dog Food: $20
Dr. Appts: $20
Unexpected: $40

1--Groceries: $28.21 at Giant Eagle, $13.35 at Dollar General
2--Hair cut/color, eyebrow wax: $90
3--Groceries: $18.94 (dh bought while I was home sick with a stomach bug)
4--$0
5--Gas: $5 (not sure this counts- dh had to borrow gas money from me; he filled his SUV for $5 because of gas perks though! )
6--
7--
8--
9--
10--
11--
12--
13--
14--
15--
16--
17--
18--
19--
20--
21--
22--
23--
24--
25--
26--
27--
28--
29--
30--
31--


Total left for the Month: $644.50 / $800

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I'll probably have to get gas today, so that will bust my $0 streak, but that's not something I can really put off unless I want to walk that 40 miles to work .

We had *really* nice weather yesterday and I was out digging in the yard all afternoon once the kids were home from school-none of us went inside until it got dark .

Only bad side of it is that this is what I'm now jonesing after:

*sigh*!

 

[smiller]

3/1 - $15.00 Newleaf Natural
3/2 - $0.99 CVS
3/3 - $1.18 CVS
3/4 - $20.69 Newleaf Natural
3/5 - $10.91 Sauganash Grill
3/5 - $9.73 Whole Foods

Total: $58.50/$200.00

Went to Ladies Night at my favorite Whole Foods - lots of samples, raffle, chair massages, wine tasting, and free reusable tote! Enjoyed $2 off a sandwich and $1 off draft beer at the Sauganash Grill inside the WF. Never knew WF could be such a destination!

 

[bluesaturn]

I finally went out for fast food, but it was the first time in almost 2 weeks. This is a miracle for me! I also found out that Glamour magazine is giving 1 year subscriptions for $1.50 - that's half the price of a single issue in the store!

3/1 - $0
3/2 - $0
3/3 - $0
3/4 - $12.17 Arby's for dinner
3/5 - $0
3/6 - $1.50 Glamour magazine subscription

 

[lattemomof3]

I updated spending on my previous post. Goal for the weekend is to spend very little on weekend entertainment. Maybe have family movie night at home 1 night, and try to eat at home most meals, as next weekend is spring break and we are going to the city. Need to research an inexpensive hotel w/ a fun pool area, and try to find a few coupons for eating out. We are shopping for a new mattress for us, our backs are killing us! , and need a full-size mattress for dd9, so dd3 can get out of her toddler bed. Planned expense, but ugh, what a bummer to have to spend $ on mattresses!