No Buy May! Welcome old and new savers!

[MickeyMomOfThree]

May 1- I am embarassed and sick to report the start to my month. I knew it was going to be a bad day today and tomorrow for that matter, but I feel sick about all we spent today.
Opening Day for Softball always means pizza and hotdogs at the park. This year we opted to go get a whole pizza for the 5 of us to eat at the park.-$10 Slushies for the kids-$3.50
Dinner Date with Hubby-$35
Dinner for kids at home-$8
Gas-$44
MAJOR stocking up at Sam's-$459.96 (This included new fans since we are already melting here and don't have A/C, and new clothes for me as I have literally not enough shirts to last a week. I got 2 capris, 2 shorts and 5 shirts though tomorrow I will try them all on and some might go back. Also a new chair for me for when I am at softball and have an old, broken chair to sit on. Also, laundry supplies, etc.)
Total- $560.46
Tomorrow is dance pictures and videos. I know some would cut these but as frugal as I am I would not eat for a week to make up for them if I had to (glad I don't have to.) We are not allowed to videotape the recitals and the memory to me is worth the money. As for photos, I buy the basic package just for me and take photos for the family with my own camera. But they just aren't as good. Again, the memory is woth the money to me. I have all their dance pictures displayed and they bring me great joy so it is worth it for me. I do not buy school photos, so this is the one time a year when I allow myself to buy photos of my kids.

Anyway, shooting for my first $0 day on Monday.

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $42
$800...$758 left
$0 Days:0
Goal is 15 or more!

Groceries- $200...$186 left
Eating Out- $300...$283 left
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) $300...$289 left
I always round up to the nearest dollar.

1- $17 (Eating Out- McDonald's), $8 (Shopping-Target), $2 (Groceries- Aldi's), $3 (Shopping-DollarTree), $5 (Groceries-Jewel), $7 (Groceries-Walgreens)


$0 Days: 0: 0%
$800 Limit: $42: 5%
Month: 1/31: 3%

My savings from coupons and sales: $52.00

 

[tolemommy]

I am a newbie too.
My sister and I will be cruising on the Magic next March, 7 day Western Caribbean route. I need to save cash for cruise, Christmas, tighten up the budget, pay off some debt, and keep better track of my money.

I lurked most of April trying to get a feel for how this works. I haven't finished the numbers on my budget yet. I will finalize it tomorrow. Since I am new I am commiting to 10 no buy days like suggested earlier in the thread for my first month but hoping for 12.

I didn't have a good start. I attended co-workers hubs retirement party today, purchased card & gift card for him. Originally went to Value Village to purchase some summer shorts & t-shirts, but then I found a deal on much needed replacement bathroom & kitchen rugs. 2 kitchen rugs, 2 bathroom rugs, 1 pair of shorts, 2 summer tee's, 2 fiction books, & 2 books for school.

Sunday is my grocery shopping day so shooting for Monday to be my first no buy day.

May 1 - $15 McDonalds gift card, $3 retirement greeting card, $40 Value Village (summer shorts, shirts, bath & kitchen rugs).

 

[Tiggerish]

MickeyMomofThree - The reason I budget and scrimp here and there is so I can buy the important extras like your wanting the dance photos and videos.

Budget for May is $555 with 12 no spend days.

Auto $60
Eating Out/Entertainment $50 / $38 left
Giving $125 / $90 left
Groceries/Household Goods $230 / $218 left
Medical $15
Misc. $75

Coupon savings $4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/1 Groceries $12; Entertainment $18 (movies)
5/2 Giving $25 (church) and $10 National Kidney Foundation of MI Walk

 

[thebeesknees]

I'm in. Hoping for 11 no-buy days this month.

5/1 $0
5/2 $0

2 of 11 no-buy days so far.

 

[kmjhmom]

Hmm... I've been a lurker, but I think I'll try it this month! I'm gonna start off with a goal of 10 no-buy days. So far, unfortunately, I'm 0 for 2. Bowling league yesterday (beer!) and I had to pay for my son's little league photos today. Oh well. I WILL do better!


Beth
0/10

 

[cherry-pops]

Spending nothing is quite easy when you're at home all day - unless you're browsing the internet for new clothes! But, I didn't buy anything! Well done, me!

James and I had to nip out to the supermarket for a few things before they closed at 4pm, but because James bought the stuff we needed I'm still counting today as a zero-spend day for me! I think that in the end I'll incorporate James' spending in this project, but for now I need to concentrate on myself.

I'm considering selling some of my old clothes on Eb@y. They're not really that old, they're from last summer and they don't fit me now (they're too small), so I thought if I sold them and got them out of my life I wouldn't feel so bad about not being able to wear them anymore. And, with the money I get I can buy new clothes! lol. Tomorrow I need to tidy my wardrobe and the bedroom, so I might be able to pick out a few things I don't want anymore.

May 01: £0
May 02: £0

 

[4orm]

This will be my first time joining. My husband and I work from home so we luckily don't often have the lure of shopping at lunch time, etc. We do, however, spend too much. On everything! lol I'm trying to plan meals better so we don't keep having astronomical grocery bills with many "what to have for dinner" nights. Since it's my first time I'll just guess here for my no-spend days: 15 and to keep on budget!
May 1,3,4: $
May 2: 0

3/1

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Okay! Let's do this!!! I am so ready for May, bring it!

Groceries: (Budget is $200...$143.82 left)

Gas: (Budget is $300...$240 left)

Extras: (Budget is $140)

*First Anniversary
*Little Cousin's Recital

Medical: (Budget is $30)

5/1: $0 (only b/c my mom gave me $40 to go to lunch/movies with my little sister and we used the extra for pizza for dinner last night )

5/2: $5.08 (Groceries-Jewel), $25.47 (Groceries-Brookhaven), $16.35 (Groceries-Aldi), $4.28 (Groceries-Jewel)

 

[mlulrich]

May 2nd - Late Lunch / Early Dinner at CiCi's pizzas -- $46.28 (4 adults, 4 kids)

0/15 no-spend days!!!

I'm going to get one sooner or later! This weekend was a busy one!

 

[wdwobsessed]

Oh wow I need to do this. I don't want to even think about what I have spent just this weekend on take out and such.

If I had to guess I think I am pretty close ....

5/1
Marketplace - $15
Five Below - $15
Fair - $10
Bakery - $15
Don Pablos - $60
Cold Stone - $20
Pizza take out - $30

5/2
McDonalds - $20
Pizza Delivery - $40

So I am at $225 already and it's the 2nd!

We eat out waaaaay too much. My 14 year old DS was hungry last night a few hours after dinner and cold stone and wanted pizza! Wowza.

Ok so I read that around 10 days was good for a first timer so I am going to stick with that for this month. That will mean packing lunch for my boys some days and that will be a challenge (but add up since lunch is like $3 now!)

What is a reasonable budget for a mom with two boys age 14 & 10 who eat me out of house and home?

I really need help with this as I have no clue.

Feeling like I should do 12 days.

Help! Advice!??

Thanks!

 

[charming23]

Today was a no spend day. I am also goiing to be keeping track of how much I am saving toward our next Disney Trip. We would like to go in January of 2011 to celebrate my collge graduation.

Grocery/Household: $200/ $155.81 Left
Gas/Car: $50
Entertainment/Easting Out: $75
Misc/Emergency: $75

Total: $400/ $355.81 Left

Goal of 15 no Buy days

1/15 No Buy

5/1- $44.19 Groceries for the week at Save-a-lot
5/2- $0


Disney savings- $110/$2000

 

[kinntj]

Count me in! I didn't finish April, but hope to cut down in May. I have dance recital, cheer clinic, golf lessons, swimming lessons and a birthday to prepare for.

I hope to get my grocery bill and all other spending under control.

Things I need to buy yet: invitations, cupcakes, ice cream, Easy bake oven (gift) with accessories and thank you cards. I'll update this list as I go.

5/2 - $40 gas, $195 groceries/misc.
5/3 - $0

 

[ronnmel]

Today should have been a no buy day. But I gave in and bought lunch out.

No Buy Days Goal: 0/12
Gas : 0$
Groceries : 0$
Eating out (and snacks) : 7$
Non-necessities : 50$

5/1 : 53$ (dress, stickers, beach bags for wedding favors, candy apple)
5/2 : 7$ (lunch)

 

[snoopybabe]

Didn't buy anything today

9 more no-buy days to go. I think I can do it!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Groceries: $65.00 per week (5 Sundays) = $295.00 - $65.00
Gas: $150.00 - $45.00 (this may be a challenge if the prices goes ski-hi with the spill)
Kids: $200.00
Entertainment: $125.00 - 30.00 = 95.00 (this is new but it can be used for a catch all for the summer things that everyone wants!)

No Spend Days: 12

May 01 - $30.00 (chinese take-out )
May 02 - $65.00 groceries; 45.00 gas
May 03 - $0.00
May 04 - $0.00
May 05
May 06
May 07
May 08

Not sure how I want to handle today. DH read an article that feed prices were going to increase, thus increasing chicken and beef prices. So he had me purchase $45.00 worth of meat that wasn't budgeted for. I think I will put it to discretionary stuff, and hide it...

 

[Virgderon]

Looks like I have spent a huge chunk of my budget in just 2 days, but I had planned for this. DD was doing the Disney College program and this was her last weekend before going back to school, and her birthday. I spent $101 on her bd gifts, $100 for her drivers license renewal, $30 on gas to go see her off, $28 on breakfast out and snacks for her drive, and $50 on groceries.

The good news is that I have some 0 spend days coming up, and I bought enough meat and sides for 10 to 12 days of meals.

So even with this rough start, I still feel good about making my goal.


Running Total: Spent $309
$900...$591 left
$0 Days:0
Goal is 10 or more!

Groceries- $150-50= 100 left

May 1 76
May 2 233
May 3
May 4
May 5

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

May 1-
I am embarassed and sick to report the start to my month. I knew it was going to be a bad day today and tomorrow for that matter, but I feel sick about all we spent today.Opening Day for Softball always means pizza and hotdogs at the park. This year we opted to go get a whole pizza for the 5 of us to eat at the park.-$10 Slushies for the kids-$3.50
Dinner Date with Hubby-$35
Dinner for kids at home-$8
Gas-$44
MAJOR stocking up at Sam's-$459.96 (This included new fans since we are already melting here and don't have A/C, and new clothes for me as I have literally not enough shirts to last a week. I got 2 capris, 2 shorts and 5 shirts though tomorrow I will try them all on and some might go back. Also a new chair for me for when I am at softball and have an old, broken chair to sit on. Also, laundry supplies, etc.)
Total- $560.46

May 2-
I started today bad, 8 minutes after midnight I spent $13 on eBay. I bought 3 pearl cages for my girls for when they do Pick a Pearl in EPCOT. They have never done it and want to very much this trip and while I think it is a great thing to do, the cost of setting 3 pearls was going to be pricey so here on DIS I learned about the Cinderella Carriage pearl cages and bought 3 of them. So, $13 on eBay but a savings in the end.
Dance pictures, videos and final tuition till fall $156.50*.
Groceries- Wegman's- $76.39
Walmart- Groceries, photo developing (Mother's Day gifts), medicine and makeup for dance photos- $44.85
Post Office (mailed 3 Mom's day packages)- $14.90
Total- $305.64
*I know some would cut the photos and videos but as frugal as I am I would not eat for a week to make up for them if I had to (glad I don't have to.) We are not allowed to videotape the recitals and the memory to me is worth the money. As for photos, I buy the basic packages just for me and take photos for the family with my own camera. But they just aren't as good. Again, the memory is worth the money to me. I have all their dance pictures displayed and they bring me great joy so it is worth it for me. I do not buy school photos, so this is the one time a year when I allow myself to buy photos of my kids.

Shooting for my first $0 day tomorrow.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

MickeyMomofThree - The reason I budget and scrimp here and there is so I can buy the important extras like your wanting the dance photos and videos.
Budget for May is $555 with 12 no spend days.

Auto $60
Eating Out/Entertainment $50 / $38 left
Giving $125 / $90 left
Groceries/Household Goods $230 / $218 left
Medical $15
Misc. $75

Coupon savings $4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/1 Groceries $12; Entertainment $18 (movies)
5/2 Giving $25 (church) and $10 National Kidney Foundation of MI Walk

I completely agree. I do have friends though who think my $0 days thing is kind of silly and say if I want to save so bad that would be a good place to save but I know I would be so upset if I skipped buying them and for me I'd much rather have them then anything material I could buy.

 

[wdwobsessed]

Does anyone have realistic goals for a first time budgeter?

It's me and my two DS's age 10 and 14 ... they eat a lot. Growing boys.

I have never really had a budget for expenses so I could use some help!
I can't imagine spending only $50 a week on groceries but I don't know what a money concious amount is?

Thanks for any advice.

WDWO