September 2011 No Buy "Falling into No Spending"

[Loves2Read]

Today was so hard not to buy anything. I had a lousy day at work and my first instinct was to go shopping (and eat ice cream), but I'm in for the night now without buying anything. Willpower 1 - Shopping 0

6/20 no buy days so far
09/01 - $0
09/02 - $10 on a cab
09/03 - $0
09/04 - $0
09/05 - $0
09/06 - $0
09/07 - $0

 

[Disneyhayes]

I'll join when I get back from vacation We leave for WDW on Saturday. When we get back we have to save more money than we already have for a house. Our goal is $2000 a month for house, $200 a month for back up savings and i have got to quit shopping! I will be leaving my debit card at home and taking $30 out of each check (4 a month between hubby and I) for my nails, hair cuts, random cravings for food and whatnot. So When I get back and start this on 9/19 I will go with 10 days without using my debit card.

 

[QVCshopper]

Just updating my numbers. I'm at $163 for the first week... not too bad! Using lots of coupons, so that's good.

2/10 No-Buy Days

9/1-$0
9/2-$25 Wegmans, $5.50 Dunkin Donuts
9/3-$0
9/4-$3.50 CVS, $3 Baskin Robbins, $25 K-cups at Staples
9/5-$1 CVS, $2 B&N, $5 CFA, $45 Wegmans
9/6-$2 CFA, $5 Pizza, $6 Goodwill, $5 Genuardis
9/7-$29 ACME, $1 Dunkin Donuts

 

[QVCshopper]

Since there are so many new folks, I just thought I'd say hi and welcome. I already know Charming23 and WLake from other months. I've done the no-buy on and off for well over a year now. There are 4 of us (I have two young elementary age kids) and I don't count gas, but do include my DH's spending. I don't set a budget, but do try to use coupons and not spend unnecessarily. I also live near many stores and don't really keep a big stockpile in the house ever since I had an uninvited friend visiting--mouse.

Love to hear about everyone else in case you want to share. Otherwise, just welcome and enjoy trying to save money!

 

[charming23]

Spent a little more at the grocery today than I had planned but Aldi's has a Wednesday meat special and I could not resist a couple of chickens for $.69lb. We are now restocked up on meats in the freezer so the rest of the month should be fairly easy.

September 2011 Budget

Grocery/Household- $300/$179.44 left
Cat Supplies- $30
Car/Gas- $70/$50.38 Left
Eating out/entertainment- $50
Misc- $100

Total- $550/$409.82 left

Goal of 12 No buy days

9/1- $61.36 Grocery and $19.62 Gas
9/2- Kelleys Island
9/3- Kelleys Island
9/4- Kelleys Island
9/5- $14.74 Grocery
9/6- $0
9/7- $44.46 Grocery

1/12 No Buy Days

Coupon/Store savings- $21.48

 

[ronnmel]

I've been really bad this month and have not updated at all.

Also, a shameless plug for my TR, which Charming has already found
Zombie Apocalypse and Pixie Dust

 

[MScott1851]

How in the world do you guys go that long without buying ANYTHING? Even the nights i am at work and manage to pack a lunch AND drinks/snacks, I inevitably end up at the vending machine for a late night chocolate craving. I literally spend some amount of money almost every single day, and most of it seems essential. I guess i could group my shopping trips then it would look like I didn't spend anything the next day, but what's the point? X amount of dollars were spent to last X amount of days, right?

Someone please help me understand it, because I dropped about $375 today on a haircut and eyebrow wax (i hadn't had a haircut since last year), two pairs of shoes (on clearance) for my daughter since she has grown from a 6 to an 8 this summer, groceries that I used coupons and price matching for, and a tank of gas discounted by my fuel points earned while grocery shopping. Then we went to the fair tonight and I have no clue what DH spent, but I know it wasn't cheap. (Was it essential, no...but my daughters birthday is tomorrow and she has been oohing and aching over the lights all week.)

Tomorrow we have Kindermusik, and we usually do mommy & me zoo and lunch day after that, plus there were some things at the grocery store that they were out of today, so I have to swing by somewhere else and get that crap! Then it is birthday party time..then doctors checkup, then we leave for WDW next Friday...I don't honestly see an end in sight. Any advice?

 

[QVCshopper]

Hi MScott! Maybe you can try this when you get back from DW. And happy bday to your DD, she is cute!

Anyway, about your questions, it's really just about choices, kind of like a diet. I'm not racking up the no-buys this month, but I'm watching my money mostly because I always have; it's fun for me. I work from home, so there's little temptation to buy stuff, and I frequent Goodwill/consignment sales for a lot of clothes. I try to use coupons when I can, but more often I use them while eating out, and am trying to use .75 cent ones at the grocery store so they double. Usually, I do without stuff. Like, I don't go back to the grocery store until it's time to go again. I also am hitting more than one store (while trying not to drive out of the way) for loss leaders. We also save 50% of my pay and 30% of my DH's pay into our 401k and max out our Roths. Really, I cut back to save for retirement and college. We are really big savers.

Sometimes, though, you just need to spend money... We bought a car last month. That wasn't cheap at all! But ours was 13 years old and we need a bigger car.

 

[thebigkahuna]

OK, I'm back for September!
I kinda trailed off at the end of August, but have a few things I need to stash some cash for, so here we go!!

My goal isn't an actually number, but to have as many NO $PEND days as possible & to $AVE $AVE $AVE!!

9-1 NO spend
9-2 NO spend
9-3 NO spend

9-4 spent money (it's the day before a holiday, of COURSE I spent $$! LOL)
9-5 spent money today too (it's a holiday! gimmie a break!)

9-6 NO spend
9-7 NO spend
9-8 NO spend! Yes, I'm calling this one early

9-9 Bill paying day, but if I only pay bills I should be ok. *fingers crossed*!

STATUS : SIX! no spend days.

 

[staciepm]

I am going to try for 15 no buy days and $500 for the month. That way I can plan each shopping trip. We will see how this goes.

5/15 no buys
$398.65 / 500 left

9/1 49.29 Walmart
9/2 09/3 14.49 Publix 6.74 Target
9/4 0 9/5 30. 83 12.23 Piggly Wiggly 18.60 Harris Teeter
9/6 0 9/7 0
9/8 0

Doing good so far. Friend coming in town this weekend so I will probably spend some money.

 

[charming23]

It has been raining here on and off all day, so I stayed in.

September 2011 Budget

Grocery/Household- $300/$179.44 left
Cat Supplies- $30
Car/Gas- $70/$50.38 Left
Eating out/entertainment- $50
Misc- $100

Total- $550/$409.82 left

Goal of 12 No buy days

9/1- $61.36 Grocery and $19.62 Gas
9/2- Kelleys Island
9/3- Kelleys Island
9/4- Kelleys Island
9/5- $14.74 Grocery
9/6- $0
9/7- $44.46 Grocery
9/8- $0

2/12 No Buy Days

Coupon/Store savings- $21.48

 

[QVCshopper]

Another no-buy day!

3/10 No-Buy Days

9/1-$0
9/2-$25 Wegmans, $5.50 Dunkin Donuts
9/3-$0
9/4-$3.50 CVS, $3 Baskin Robbins, $25 K-cups at Staples
9/5-$1 CVS, $2 B&N, $5 CFA, $45 Wegmans
9/6-$2 CFA, $5 Pizza, $6 Goodwill, $5 Genuardis
9/7-$29 ACME, $1 Dunkin Donuts
9/8-$0

 

[ronnmel]

How in the world do you guys go that long without buying ANYTHING? Even the nights i am at work and manage to pack a lunch AND drinks/snacks, I inevitably end up at the vending machine for a late night chocolate craving. I literally spend some amount of money almost every single day, and most of it seems essential. I guess i could group my shopping trips then it would look like I didn't spend anything the next day, but what's the point? X amount of dollars were spent to last X amount of days, right?

Someone please help me understand it, because I dropped about $375 today on a haircut and eyebrow wax (i hadn't had a haircut since last year), two pairs of shoes (on clearance) for my daughter since she has grown from a 6 to an 8 this summer, groceries that I used coupons and price matching for, and a tank of gas discounted by my fuel points earned while grocery shopping. Then we went to the fair tonight and I have no clue what DH spent, but I know it wasn't cheap. (Was it essential, no...but my daughters birthday is tomorrow and she has been oohing and aching over the lights all week.)

Tomorrow we have Kindermusik, and we usually do mommy & me zoo and lunch day after that, plus there were some things at the grocery store that they were out of today, so I have to swing by somewhere else and get that crap! Then it is birthday party time..then doctors checkup, then we leave for WDW next Friday...I don't honestly see an end in sight. Any advice?

Basically for me this thread just helps me watch out where I spend my money, and where I can cut back. Every time I want to buy something I stop and think about if I really need it because I know I'll have to own up to it here. Even more so if I haven't spent any money that day, then I'll be less tempted to blow it on something small.

I really need to get back on track, but I just don't have the energy right now...

 

[Draggy]

Hey all first time here.

I'm going to work towards 3 goals this month.

1)no eating out

2)save $150 towards vacation fund

3)20 no spend days

Wish me luck!

Start date Sept 5 2011

No spend days 4/20

Money spent $ 120.00/400

Money Saved $ 29.00/150

 

[charming23]

Today I met a good friend for coffee and picked up a few items needed to finish some baking I want to do this weekend.

September 2011 Budget

Grocery/Household- $300/$171.08 left
Cat Supplies- $30
Car/Gas- $70/$50.38 Left
Eating out/entertainment- $50/$46.01 Left
Misc- $100

Total- $550/$397.47 left

Goal of 12 No buy days

9/1- $61.36 Grocery and $19.62 Gas
9/2- Kelleys Island
9/3- Kelleys Island
9/4- Kelleys Island
9/5- $14.74 Grocery
9/6- $0
9/7- $44.46 Grocery
9/8- $0
9/9- $3.99 Coffee with a friend and $8.36 Grocery

2/12 No Buy Days

Coupon/Store savings- $21.48

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Hi No buy friends we are back from the USA and had a wonderful time but now it's time to get back into reality!
I am going to start of really low this month as I haven't even sat down and worked out a budget

No Buy days 5
Under $20 Days 5
Grocery's $1300/
Fuel

Sept 11 $14.54

 

[staciepm]

I am going to try for 15 no buy days and $500 for the month. That way I can plan each shopping trip. We will see how this goes.

7/15 no buys
$308.26/ 500 left

9/1 49.29 Walmart
9/2 0
9/3 14.49 Publix 6.74 Target
9/4 0
9/5 30. 83 12.23 Piggly Wiggly 18.60 Harris Teeter
9/6 0
9/7 0
9/8 0
9/9 0
9/10 0
9/11 90.39 sigh 26.62 Piggly Wiggly 63.77 gas

Made a quick grocery stop, but still need a lot of fruit.

 

[charming23]

I stayed home this weekend, and worked around the house and on some crafting projects

September 2011 Budget

Grocery/Household- $300/$171.08 left
Cat Supplies- $30
Car/Gas- $70/$50.38 Left
Eating out/entertainment- $50/$46.01 Left
Misc- $100

Total- $550/$397.47 left

Goal of 12 No buy days

9/1- $61.36 Grocery and $19.62 Gas
9/2- Kelleys Island
9/3- Kelleys Island
9/4- Kelleys Island
9/5- $14.74 Grocery
9/6- $0
9/7- $44.46 Grocery
9/8- $0
9/9- $3.99 Coffee with a friend and $8.36 Grocery
9/10- $0
9/11- $0

4/12 No Buy Days

Coupon/Store savings- $21.48

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Hi No buy friends we are back from the USA and had a wonderful time but now it's time to get back into reality!
I am going to start of really low this month as I haven't even sat down and worked out a budget

No Buy days 5/1
Under $20 Days 5
Grocery's $1300/
Fuel

Sept 11 $14.54
Sept 12 $0

 

[MK2010]

Okay, so we're almost two weeks in and I did better than I thought. Time to 'fess up.

9/1: No Buy!
9/2: No Buy!
9/3: No Buy!
9/4: No Buy!
9/5: No buy!
9/6: Pak-a-Sak 44 oz. Coke $3.56
United Groceries $6.35
E-Mealz $15.00
Wal-Mart Groceries $32.93
Panhandle Salvage Groceries $90.92
Tithe $60.00
9/7: No Buy!
9/8: United Dinner $6.48
9/9: Wal-Mart Kids activites $14.44
Michaels Kids activities $15.13
9/10: No Buy!
9/11: No Buy!
9/12: United Gift $18.81
9/12: Pak-a-Sak 44 oz. Coke $2.14

The red lin items are things I really want to delete from my spending. Those items alone would have saved $27. We are taking a mini vacation this weekend so my bank account will take a little hit, but I have a bonus from work that I'm just waiting to be deposited so that will cover what I'm pulling out of the Disney vacation fund which currently sits at $250. Not bad considering I started saving on the first. So here's the breakdown:

No Buy Days: 8/20
Total Expenditures: $265.76
Disney 2013 Vacation Fund: $250



edited because I hit submit instead of preview.