No Buy March

[wgwtgb]

This is so inspiring!!! I'm not ready to commit, since I don't like being a failure and I'm not sure if I can have any $0 days, but it is very thought provoking. Maybe in a few days I'll be able to do it!!! I do want another Disney trip in my future, and this would sure help. A question for all: What do you do with the money you save? Does it go into an account? I would probably blow it all at the end of the month and regret it.

 

[summersalt]

March 01 - $0.00
March 02 - $0.00
March 03 - $19.74 Groceries and Birthday Gift
March 04 - $0.00
March 05 - $0.00
March 06 - $236.32 Groceries, Gas and Household items
March 07 - $80 Love Offering at Church, Motorcycle Gas for DH, and Movies for DD
March 08 - $0.00
March 09 - $0.00
March 10 - $190.00 Groceries
March 11 - $3.95 Juice and Popsicles for sick DD.
March 12 - $0.00
March 13 - $38.08 Medicines
March 14 - $0.00
March 15 - $10 school supplies, $30 hair products and cosmetics, $34 gas
March 16 - $0.00
March 17 - $0.00
March 18 - $0.00
March 19 - $0.00
March 20 – $74.40 eating out and gas
March 21 - $0.00
March 22 - $14.74 groceries
March 23 - $10.71 groceries

 

[MommyBell08]

This is so inspiring!!! I'm not ready to commit, since I don't like being a failure and I'm not sure if I can have any $0 days, but it is very thought provoking. Maybe in a few days I'll be able to do it!!! I do want another Disney trip in my future, and this would sure help. A question for all: What do you do with the money you save? Does it go into an account? I would probably blow it all at the end of the month and regret it.

I just started the second half of the month, but YOU CAN DO IT!!!! LOL Its actually kid of fun.. but maaaybe thats cuz I just started Anyways Im gonna pay off credit, and then save, save, save!

 

[lougoofy]

3/22/10: $3.80 dollar general

3/23/10: Been spending some today- $4.50 bus fares, $7.37 club sandwich (from a diner), $2.52 white castle breakfast, $1.70 coffee, $8.21 (peddlers mall) and $11.47 wine (CVS)

 

[thebeesknees]

3/1 $0
3/2 $0
3/3 $0
3/4 $0
3/5 $35 gas, $44 Dollar Tree for birthday party stuff for tomorrow, $6 lunch, $16 pictures for DD, $77 groceries
3/6 $22 groceries, $15 haircut for DD
3/7 $8 passport photo for DH, $165 Sam's Club groceries, etc.
3/8 $0
3/9 $4 Lands' End swimwear for DD
3/10 $185 passports for DH and DS
3/11 $0
3/12 $99 Target household items, $14 Dollar Tree cards & snack items, $19 Sunflower Market fresh produce
3/13 $25 Target, $45 Safeway - hit the cereal stock up sale and got dairy items
3/14 $0
3/15 $83 pay medical bill
3/16 $13 Dollar Tree frozen vegetables & sympathy cards, $20 King Soopers cheese/Rx, $10 Goodwill 2 new dresses for DD & 1 shirt for DH
3/17 $0
3/18 $15 Walmart crafts for DD's party next week
3/19 $0
3/20 $80 Safeway groceries & gift cards for DSis' birthday, $45 King Soopers groceries
3/21 $35 gas
3/22 $50 Target stuff for birthday party next weekend, birthday gifts for DNieces
3/23 $27 Post office mailing birthday packages, $45 Target summer clothes DD

9 of 10 no-buy days so far.

 

[Debbie]

Mar 22: groceries $5
Mar 23: DH bought chips for himself + mac and cheese that we did not need $5

Budget for week 4 240/250



No Buy Days: 7/10
Week 3: -52/250
Week 2: 81/250
Week 1: 137/250

 

[Tiggerish]

Budget is a tight $475 for a long month.

Automobile $50 /$2 left
Eating Out/Entertainment $25 / $5 over
Giving $50 / $10 left
Groceries/Household Goods $200 / $42 left
Medical $25
Misc. $100 / $48 left
Easter Baskets $25 / $1.50 over
Coupon savings $54.89
_________________________________
3/1 $0
3/2 $0
3/3 Eating out $13; Groceries $2
3/4 $0
3/5 Groceries $44
3/6 $0
3/7 Giving $20, Eating out $4
3/8 $0
3/9 Groceries $17; Eating out $13
3/10 Misc. $23 (haircut and printer ink)
3/11 Auto $26 for gas; Easter baskets $2
3/12 $0
3/13 Groceries $40
3/14 Giving $10; Misc. $10 (ordered a flower for Easter from kids club at church)
3/15 $0
3/16 $0
3/17 Misc. $7 for craft supplies; Groceries $7; Easter Basket stuff $13
3/18 Groceries $30; Easter Basket stuff $4.50
3/19 $0
3/20 Groceries $20; Misc. $10
3/21 Giving $10 (church collection); Misc. $2
3/22 $0
3/23 Auto $22 for oil change & filter; Easter baskets $6

 

[lougoofy]

3/23/10: Been spending some today- $4.50 bus fares, $7.37 club sandwich (from a diner), $2.52 white castle breakfast, $1.70 coffee, $8.21 (peddlers mall) and $11.47 wine (CVS)

same day: $6.54 groceries (dollar general)

 

[A.Mickey]

This is so inspiring!!! I'm not ready to commit, since I don't like being a failure and I'm not sure if I can have any $0 days, but it is very thought provoking. Maybe in a few days I'll be able to do it!!! I do want another Disney trip in my future, and this would sure help. A question for all: What do you do with the money you save? Does it go into an account? I would probably blow it all at the end of the month and regret it.

I just started the second half of the month, but YOU CAN DO IT!!!! LOL Its actually kid of fun.. but maaaybe thats cuz I just started Anyways Im gonna pay off credit, and then save, save, save!

I am doing the same thing as MommyBell, just paying off credit card debt! I have been doing No Buy since middle of October and I drastically see a difference in our money! We actually have money now! Once we our out of debt, I will start to save for our 1st house!

And don't worry about the zero dollar days, it is about no spending, but sometimes to get really good deals on groceries, you have to go multiple times a week, at least that is what I am learning this month.

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $483
$600...$117 left
$0 Days:9
Goal is 15 or more!

Groceries- $300...$47 left
Eating Out- $100...$12 left
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) $200...$72 left
I always round up to the nearest dollar.

1- $0
2- $8 (Groceries-Jewel)
3- $7 (Eating Out-McDonald's), $2 (Groceries-Jewel), $1 (Groceries-Walgreens)
4- $36 (Groceries-Meijer) $16 (Eating Out-Ikea), $59 (Shopping-Amazon Aaron Needs a Toddler Bed, he is almost 3!!)
5- $6 (Eating Out- Mario's), $1 (Groceries- Jewel)
6- $6 (Eating Out- McDonald's), $23 (Groceries- Joe Caputo), $10 (Groceries- Aldi), $13 (Groceries-Jewel), $2 (Shopping-Dollar Tree, for 2 Sunday Papers for the coupons!)
7- $0
8- $0
9- $2 (Eating Out- Wendy's), $18 (Groceries-Jewel), $6 (Groceries-Target)
10- $12 (Groceries- Jewel) They have had some great catalina's with sales going on and I keep rolling them! Saved $120 dollars on today's shopping trip with my coupons and cats! Paid $12 and got $13.50 in cats back! All that shopping in March has paid off! $7 (Groceries- Meijer)
11- $0
12- $0
13- $21 (Eating Out- Portillo's), $7 (Groceries-Walgreens), $3 (Groceries-CVS), $4 (Shopping-Dollartree), $7 (Groceries-Dominick's)
14- $24 (Eating Out- Fuddrucker's), $20 (Groceries- Target), $22 (Shopping-Target)
15- $0
16- $4 (Eating Out- Wendy's & DQ), $4 (Groceries-Jewel), $2 (Shopping-Family Dollar Easter Basket and goodies), $12 (Groceries-Target)
17- $0
18- $0
19- $10 (Groceries-Jewel), $14 (Groceries-Meijer)
20- $8 (Shopping-Toys R Us, got my copy of PATF, the blu-ray combo pack and pre-ordered TS 1 & 2), $3 (Groceries-Jewel), $17 (Shopping-Wal-Mart), $8 (Groceries- Walgreens), $6 (Shopping- Dollar Tree) Done with stuff for Aaron's Easter Basket!
21- $19 (Groceries-Joe Caputo), $4 (Groceries-Aldi's), $2 (Groceries-Jewel)
22- $0
23- $18 (Eating Out- McDonald's), $3 (Groceries-Jewel), $6 (Shopping-Toys R Us for TS 1 and TS 2)


$0 Days: 9/15: 60%
$600 Limit: $483 : 81%
Month: 23/31: 74%

My savings from coupons and sales: $960.07 Will I break $1,000 for this month?!?!

 

[hmack]

03/01 - 7.50 - school lunches for youngest dd
03/02 - 0
03/03 - $30 gas - $56.59 between Walgreens, Shaws & Hannaford.
03/04 - 0
03/05 - 0
03/06 - $30 gas - $37 Burlington Coat (but I got both my oldest DD's semi-formal dress and my youngest's easter dress) + $76 TJ Maxx (spring clothes) = $113 clothes - $13 Tim Hortons for lunch - $8 groceries
03/07 - $96 weekly groceries (pretty good for me), $13 Cold Stone Ice Cream
03/08 - $17 meeting DH for lunch, $6 groceries, $7.50 school lunch
03/09 - $40 gas - $15 dd fundraiser - $14 new book (this month's book club book)
03/10 - 0
03/11 - $36 - groceries (did some pantry stocking up with coupons)
03/12 - 0
03/13 - gas $40, groceries $14, gelato fiasco (the splurge) $41
03/14 - groceries $90, ydd school lunch $5, sent away for a certified copy of odd's birthcertificate $10.
03/15 - 0
03/16 - $9 - Walgreens, $30 gasoline
03/17 - 0
03/18 - $3 - groceries, $37 for three Threadless Ts (one for me and one for each girl's Easter gift)
03/19 - $38 - DD's athletic fee, $27 - treating dh to dinner
03/20 - groceries - $33, Gap & Old Navy, $111 (and that's with the 30% off coupon) - gas $40
03/21 - groceries - $81
03/22 - school lunches - $5
03/23 - $9 - special prizes for my class


11 goal - 7 accomplished = 4 more to go.
__________________

 

[hmack]

This is so inspiring!!! I'm not ready to commit, since I don't like being a failure and I'm not sure if I can have any $0 days, but it is very thought provoking. Maybe in a few days I'll be able to do it!!! I do want another Disney trip in my future, and this would sure help. A question for all: What do you do with the money you save? Does it go into an account? I would probably blow it all at the end of the month and regret it.

this is my first month - so I am by nooooo means a zero-spend day expert. If you're worried about being a "failure" set a goal that you know in your heart you can meet. Even if it's one no-spend day a week, the sense of accomplishment is great.

I started this because I promised to do all that I could to save money to send my oldest on a school trip to Italy as long as she does her part as well. To me, learning where my money goes (which is a great benefit to this thread) is part of keeping that promise. Every two weeks to match my pay cycle I move money from my checking account to a savings account (gotta love on-line banking) for that trip.

I love to day dream about trips. So I think that as long as I can, I will be putting money aside for a trip. After Italy is paid off I have my sites on a half-marathon in Ottawa, Canada and ofcourse there is always Disney 2012!

Give the thread a try!!!

 

[wgwtgb]

this is my first month - so I am by nooooo means a zero-spend day expert. If you're worried about being a "failure" set a goal that you know in your heart you can meet. Even if it's one no-spend day a week, the sense of accomplishment is great.

I started this because I promised to do all that I could to save money to send my oldest on a school trip to Italy as long as she does her part as well. To me, learning where my money goes (which is a great benefit to this thread) is part of keeping that promise. Every two weeks to match my pay cycle I move money from my checking account to a savings account (gotta love on-line banking) for that trip.

I love to day dream about trips. So I think that as long as I can, I will be putting money aside for a trip. After Italy is paid off I have my sites on a half-marathon in Ottawa, Canada and ofcourse there is always Disney 2012!

Give the thread a try!!!

Thanks for all of the inspiration... Think I'll start today... well maybe tomorrow (have to go to Wal-Mart today...lol)

 

[thebigkahuna]

To me, learning where my money goes (which is a great benefit to this thread) is part of keeping that promise.

I agree with this SO much. I was spending money daily and had little to no recollection of what I spent it on or why. Simply keeping track and knowing that I'm going to post it later is part of what keeps me in check!

I was also able to see my "trouble areas" - the spots were I was spending money and a LOT of it (eating out).
I'm hoping that curbing back on eating out will have a 2-fold effect - 1, make my bank account fatter & 2, make me thinner!! (eating out daily has been having the opposite effect!)


Even one "no spend" day is a big deal for me. you can do it!


edited to add: one thing that has made a HUGE difference for me is actually taking out CASH and spending that instead of using a debit card. I tend to spend twice as much when using a debit card instead of cash.

 

[thebigkahuna]

March 1st - $10.00 groceries. I forgot cheese!
March 2nd - $11.70 lunch, around $10.00 for dinner <--- eating out is one of my biggest expenses - I'm trying very hard to cut back in this area.
March 3rd - $0.00!
March 4th - Around $6.00 for dinner
March 5th - $30.60 Avon (I ordered this last month, but it just came in today)
March 6th - $16.00 worked late & bought dinner
March 7th - $61.00 Wal-Mart. Evil, evil Wal-Mart.
March 8th - $15.00 lunch
March 9th - $5.00 lunch, $13.00 movie & snacks
March 10th - Zero Spend Day!!!
March 11th - NO SPEND DAY!! (good thing I got one more in too....before the storm that was this weekend)
March 12th - $11.30 present for a friend, $37.70 lunch (I was captive waiting for the car, which brings me to...) $122.99 car repairs, $64.00 rental car.
March 13th - $15.01 gas for rental car, $181.51 car repairs (yes, the same car) $18.30 post office, $11.76 lunch.
March 14th - $20.04 gas, @47.00 at the Grocery store.
March 15th - $21.69 Petsmart
March 16th - ZERO SPEND! woo hoo!
March 17th - $7.44 Post Office, around $13.00 Misc. items
March 18th - $8.60 Breakfast, $16.50 and $15.98 @ the mall on lunch, $182.00 car repairs (not un-expected, i've known about it for a week, but certainly not budgeted!)
March 19th - $7.33 lunch
March 20th - $4.00 lunch
March 21st - $5.61 fast food dinner
March 22nd - NO SPEND!
March 23rd - NO SPEND!!

Wow, doing better now, but it's mostly because unexpected trouble with the car has left me with nothing extra to spend!

NO $pend days = 6 out of 10

 

[summersalt]

March 01 - $0.00
March 02 - $0.00
March 03 - $19.74 Groceries and Birthday Gift
March 04 - $0.00
March 05 - $0.00
March 06 - $236.32 Groceries, Gas and Household items
March 07 - $80 Love Offering at Church, Motorcycle Gas for DH, and Movies for DD
March 08 - $0.00
March 09 - $0.00
March 10 - $190.00 Groceries
March 11 - $3.95 Juice and Popsicles for sick DD.
March 12 - $0.00
March 13 - $38.08 Medicines
March 14 - $0.00
March 15 - $10 school supplies, $30 hair products and cosmetics, $34 gas
March 16 - $0.00
March 17 - $0.00
March 18 - $0.00
March 19 - $0.00
March 20 – $74.40 eating out and gas
March 21 - $0.00
March 22 - $14.74 groceries
March 23 - $10.71 groceries
March 24 - $0.00

 

[QVCshopper]

This is so inspiring!!! I'm not ready to commit, since I don't like being a failure and I'm not sure if I can have any $0 days, but it is very thought provoking. Maybe in a few days I'll be able to do it!!! I do want another Disney trip in my future, and this would sure help. A question for all: What do you do with the money you save? Does it go into an account? I would probably blow it all at the end of the month and regret it.

I'm a little different. I'm doing the no-buy month to cut down on my kids begging for stuff and so I can keep track of what I've spent. I'm lucky and don't have any debt b/c I've been over-the-top crazy with money since I was a teen, but I've gotten a little lax over the years (especially since having kids). I just save the extra money. But, join in--it's fun having a challenge.

 

[thebeesknees]

3/1 $0
3/2 $0
3/3 $0
3/4 $0
3/5 $35 gas, $44 Dollar Tree for birthday party stuff for tomorrow, $6 lunch, $16 pictures for DD, $77 groceries
3/6 $22 groceries, $15 haircut for DD
3/7 $8 passport photo for DH, $165 Sam's Club groceries, etc.
3/8 $0
3/9 $4 Lands' End swimwear for DD
3/10 $185 passports for DH and DS
3/11 $0
3/12 $99 Target household items, $14 Dollar Tree cards & snack items, $19 Sunflower Market fresh produce
3/13 $25 Target, $45 Safeway - hit the cereal stock up sale and got dairy items
3/14 $0
3/15 $83 pay medical bill
3/16 $13 Dollar Tree frozen vegetables & sympathy cards, $20 King Soopers cheese/Rx, $10 Goodwill 2 new dresses for DD & 1 shirt for DH
3/17 $0
3/18 $15 Walmart crafts for DD's party next week
3/19 $0
3/20 $80 Safeway groceries & gift cards for DSis' birthday, $45 King Soopers groceries
3/21 $35 gas
3/22 $50 Target stuff for birthday party next weekend, birthday gifts for DNieces
3/23 $27 Post office mailing birthday packages, $45 Target summer clothes DD
3/24 $0 We are snowed in and it is still coming down, so no shopping today!

10 of 10 no-buy days so far.

 

[thebigkahuna]

10 of 10 no-buy days so far.

WOO HOO for you thebeesknees!!!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

This is so inspiring!!! I'm not ready to commit, since I don't like being a failure and I'm not sure if I can have any $0 days, but it is very thought provoking. Maybe in a few days I'll be able to do it!!! I do want another Disney trip in my future, and this would sure help. A question for all: What do you do with the money you save? Does it go into an account? I would probably blow it all at the end of the month and regret it.

You won't be a failure if you try! (Do I sound like a mom? )

I say go for it if it's interesting to you, can't surt, right? Set a goal you feel comfortable with. I started in January. I made my goal 15, I made 14. I still felt very accomplished! This month I am on track to make 15 but if I don't at least I made ___ days without spening (at least 11 where I am now!) It become a fun thing to do. I have a friend not on DIS doing it with me. I have another friend who thinks it's stupid. To each his or her own but if you think you might enjoy it, join us and give it a try. Like a PP said, maybe one day a week is a good starting goal. Now... off to record yesterday's spening. It was not a $0 day.