No Buy October

[Siouxstone]

No Buy October



The Game Plan: Everyone sets their own lists of essentials and exemptions. Think carefully over the month and try to plan ahead. For example, if you know you have a birthday coming up and need to buy a present, or if your Disney trip is coming up, list the trip period as an exemption. Remember that Fall Festivals and Halloween are coming, but if you plan them in, you will save yourself from impulse buying. Everyone sets their own rules.

The Goal: To become aware of everyday spending habits and save a little money. Or, as I think of it, to end the $100 detergent habit. What's $100 detergent? It's when you run in Target or Wal-mart for laundry detergent and end up spending $100. Now, you may use everything you bought and it may fit into your budget structure, but if you are in a saving mode, did you really need it at that time? Or is it a money leak?

Posting: Try to post your progress every Monday. I found that the more often I posted, the more it kept me honest and the more I thought about it while I was in dangerous situations. If you need/want to post more often, that's up to you.

Take the next couple of days to get your lists together! In the mean time, if you haven't checked us out before, try reading through the No Buy September thread. We'd love to have you along as a participant or even just for support.

Good Luck Everybody!

 

[KarenAylwood]

I'm in again for October!! Three months in a row!

I've got a lot coming up in October so getting my list together will take some time.

This is the last hoorah before the holidays. Hoping to keep to my budget this month!

 

[princesserinsmom]

I would love to get in on this and it will be a real challenge for me to do it but with holidays and birthdays coming up so fast i need to keep to a budget.I also run in target for one thing and come out with a cart full of stuff that i had to have. So count me in

 

[vegasnative]

I'm in again also. I'm going to do something a little different this month. I have 3 goals for the month. I'm going to try to stick to my list at the grocery store. This seems to be where we spend a lot of money every month.

I'm also going to attempt to do my twins b-day party and our anniversary night out on a budget! I already have Halloween costumes and the candy, so I'm done for Halloween!
Here we go again............

 

[rileysmommy]

Count me in this time. My only "extra" purchases this month will be a Halloween costume for dd and Halloween candy to hand out, hopefully.

 

[TheRatPack]

I had decided to try starting this in October....so here goes I really really hope I can stick to it. We need to get our finances under control as I spend way too much on just junk.

 

[Siouxstone]

It's totally awesome to have everyone on board! I'm having to take extra care with my list and every time I think I have it, I change it! October is a big spend month for me, if I let myself go. My birthday is Nov 1st and I have always celebrated it on Halloween since I was a kid (I was born right after midnight.) Therefore, I have a huge, huge, huge love of all things Halloween! I also have my father's birthday this month and he was very, very ill earlier this year so now that he's so much better, we want to do something extra nice. Anyway, I will have my list together by Monday.

I'm really excited to get in another controlled month before the madness of the holidays takes over all my time. (I actually don't have that much trouble spending a lot of money in November and December, I'm a manager at a big box retail store-I'm at work those months! )

To anyone considering giving us a try, come on in. The water's fine!

 

[roadtripper]

Count me in!
Every month, our spending seems to be creeping up a bit on what I deem "essentials," and I have to get it under control before the holidays.

Here's what I have so far:
niece birthday--about 25
Halloween stuff--candy, decorations, costumes--about 25
Annual fall party--about 175; will see if I can cut back here
Bills: mortgage, car, gas,electric,phone,insurance, cable, etc, debt pay down: 3155
Food for 4: 400--(this includes grown-up drinks )--lots of pasta this month!

Total:3,380

 

[alicenwonder99]

OK, I'm going to sign up for October. I used to be so very frugal and over the last few years, money just seems to slip through my fingers!

Anyway, the only things I have extra besides the "bills" are:

Halloween costumes, candies, accessories: $50
Groceries & household stuff: $100/week
New winter coats for 2 of us: $150
Dog stuff (vet visit, grooming): $180
Bday present: $20
Ice skating essentials for dd: $200

Total: $700
(no wonder I'm always broke...lol)

Mary

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Woo hoo!

I'm in, again. This time with a plan.

We keep track of expenses with Microsoft Money, and in September, after falling off the budget wagon so badly, I discovered that MM will help you to create a budget. It was pretty funny at first, I created a budget and MM was like, you're over in EVERY category! Oops.

So, here's my budget for October (my first attempt at predictive spending). I've also stopped using credit cards completely since September 12 and work strictly from cash/checks/debit card.

Budget For October (family of 4)

Groceries $600 (I was the most over on this one in September)
Dining out/family $100 (big fan of cheap eats-figure 2 dinners +1 take out pizza night)
Clothing $50 (somebody's always outgrowing/wearing out something)
Personal Care $50 (hair color, lipstick, perfume, waxing, yadda yadda-that one's going to be tough to stick to, the older I get the more maintenance I need)
Automobile Maint. $25 (car needs oil changed this month)
Halloween $50
Gasoline $180
Yard maint. $130 (this category is really bothering me, I need to get a lawn mower and start doing my own yard. I've been haunting yard sales...)

Total anticipated discretionary spending for october: $1185

Sheesh, that adds up! Good luck, everyone!

 

[Swtcn]

I am in for Oct. Main Goal is to stop using credit cards for Gas, groceries and eatting out I am such a sucker for those reward Credit Cards so we are going straight cash/debit card for Oct.

Gas $220.00
Auto Oil Change 35.00
Grocery 300.00 (just Dh and I)
2 birthday presents 50.00 (25 each)
Eatting out 100.00
Halloween Party $50 (We are bringing the HotDogs and fixins)

Total $755

 

[reginaastralis]

I'm in!

I've been working on my budget since last month when I completely fell off the wagon, so this month, I am ready. I will post my numbers by Monday, since I work all weekend.

My main goal for this month is to use my debit card exclusively. I am HORRID about writing things down, so I'll be able to track what I spend with my debit card.

I am also giving myself a $25 allowance every week. I hope to be able to "save" most of that allowance so we can go to MVMCP in December. I am going to be a good girl and NOT go to MNSSHP this month. My "allowance" is going to be for any groceries I don't get in my one big buy this month, and if I am feeling extremely lazy after work and pick up some fast food. Working crazy amounts of hours to the point of exhaustion does NOT save you money.

I think I am going to have to up my gas bill, which is upsetting me. I don't know how we keep using more gas, when I feel like I am driving less. It doesn't make sense. I had a pretty high gas allowance as it is, but maybe the price is creeping up on me.

Also, and this is a big one. We don't need anymore groceries! I am going to really try to not buy any more crap. My cupboards and freezer are full. I want to make it to Oct 15. without buying anything, other than milk and bread.

So, here's to actually spending less in October!

 

[roadtripper]

Ready to start my engines tomorrow!

Kinda started today by sending DH to Walmart-- he never deviates from "THE LIST" like I do...

Good luck everyone!

 

[starwishing]

Hi, I would love to join! Working at getting debt free, although I just started last month, so I have a VERY LONG TIME TO GO. I already am on a budget, (have been for years) but it's the kind of budget that has bills, food, gas, meds on it & then the rest is up for grabs. I realize that I spend WAY TOO MUCH by just throwing things that I think I have to have in my cart, by stoping at a convenience store a few times when I'm out, to get coffee or a soda, or a water, or a snack.....now times that by three of us in the car!!!!!! I also grab bargains that are NOT a necessity, but are such a GOOD DEAL, how could I possibly pass it up!!!! I honestly do not think about what I am doing & realize how absolutely out of control that is. I will make a list of the absolute essentials & post tomorrow.

 

[disneynutt1225]

I really need to do a budget, but I'm in for a no-buy October. I have 2 birthdays and 1 anniversary coming up this month, total spending for all will be around $150. I don't want to spend any more than $350 on other discretionary purchases this month. I'm going to try real hard not to do that. At least my iPod was counted for last month, LOL.

Good luck everyone!

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I'm definitely in. DH and I stuck to a tight budget religiously for years when we had the goal of paying off all of our debt. We stopped being so strict for a few years, but now we have new financial goals (college fund and savings for new house someday). I have autodebits for those now, so I need to make sure that our spending says in check now. For Oct. I have:

Halloween candy - $25 already bought DD's costume for 90% off at Target last year
DD's Halloween pics - $8 JCPenney
Starbucks (my splurge) - $150
Panera Bread (the only "restaurant" I'll set foot in w/a toddler) - $50
Sushi take-out - $40
Melting Pot dinner w/sis - $75 (this is something we do a few times a year)
Groceries BJ's - $300
Groceries Wild Oats - $100
Groceries Justtomatoes.com - $125
Work on DH's truck (still under warranty) - $50
DH's lunches out with friends - $100
Possibly $350 if we find an Interval swap for next year's vacation (this one could happen at any time, so I'll put it in every month until it happens)
Lowes - $100 (I'm painting the exterior of the house, so I'm anticipating some unanticipated expenses here)
Gymboree clothes for DD - $60 after Gymbucks and shipping

Total - $1108 w/o Interval swap or $1458 w/interval swap

Just looking at my list, I'm struck by how much we spend eating out when DH and I hardly every go out and have a sit-down meal together. I'm thinking of trimming the expensive sushi takeout out of the budget. Our groceries are higher than average because we eat mostly organic, and that's not negotiable for us.

 

[timzagain]

Thanks for starting this challenge - it really helped me out last month.

I feel as though I'm a little ahead of the game. Spent the weekend at an out-of-town swim meet with my DD. We spent less than budgeted! Yeah! So I have a little pocket money that I can redeploy towards Christmas gifts!

In addition to our normal living expenses, I'm anticipating some extras this month:-

• DH's birthday gift & maybe a birthday dinner
• Swim fees for DD's - firstborn will be back in the pool after a two-year hiatus
• Strap for youngest DD's watch; can't find the correct one locally so I might have to order online

 

[KKB]

$1K extra bills are FORCING this on w/ WDW in 3 weeks! YIKES!

I did a plan & we have meals for the duration, just need to buy milk/break/produce. ($25/week?) Gas for vehicles, of course. ($100 total or so)

DH & I do have 2 "dates" this month. Luckily one is a concert that tickets are bought for. But $100 tops for both nights should cover. There is the school carnival next week, too...usually runs us $40, including dinner, games & prizes.

I wanted to hit the Pumpkin Patch, but time is an issue as much as another $50+.

Nothing to buy for trip except 6 more ponchos...only $3 & I'm gonna have DM get them!

I think we can do it!

 

[tiff211]

After a not so good weekend, October no spend is looking good. I stocked up at the grocery store for meats and chicken and other staples so I should just have to replenish fruit, milk, yogurt and bread. We will make do with everything else.

I do have to buy

• halloween costumes for DD7 and DD4
• I have a copay for my physical this month.
• DD is having sealants put on at the dentist and the whole thing is not covered. That's $150
• doing WW at work, it's $146 for 17 weeks.
• additional items needed to DDs dance costumes, that's another $100

I can't think of anything else. I did want to start xmas shopping so maybe I'll budget another $100 for that.

 

[Siouxstone]

I'm so excited to see so many of you along with us! I swear we're not crazy... okay, maybe not swear...

I've struggled and struggled. My first attempt had so much, but I have erased, re-written, signed off, written, erased and so on and so on.

Usual monthly bills (mortgage, utilities, yada, yada)
Groceries/Toiletries
Pull ups/wipes (still use them for nights)
Gas/Oil for the cars
Oil change for one car
$100 for my birthday and Halloween
$250 for my dad's birthday weekend at SeaWorld
$30 for clothing
$20 work gloves for DH
$40 for day trip to Houston

The SeaWorld weekend is for my Dad's Birthday. He's been super sick, but has rallied, so we're very excited. My parents live a little over an hour away from San Antonio, so we won't need a hotel. We have season passes for myself & DH, but are going to have to pay for the little guy as he is now 3! We will either pay for my parent's tickets or meals and a scooter.

The $100 for Halloween and my birthday, I finally ended up lumping together. We already have costumes from MNSSHP last month, but always want to add new decorations (because of my birthday, Halloween is a huge deal for us). Then if we're home, I'll have to buy candy. (I will only buy very last minute or it will vanish ) I'll put it in cash in an envelope and when it's gone, it's gone.

My day trip to Houston is for my dad's doctor visit with his specialist. If it wasn't for her, he would be in an institution. I always meet them in Katy and drive them into town. In the past, this was always very, very stressful for me. I usually went and shopped somewhere we don't have here to perk me up after my parents left. Now, I am thinking to just treat myself to some dinner at a nice place before I drive home.

Here's to a great month for everyone!