The big "no buy in July" thread!

[SunnieRN]

July goa40ls:
13 No buy days (after set bills)
Grocery: $400 (My daughter/son in law will put in the same amount!
Entertainment/Eating out: $200

July 1: $0 (and worked on CE at home, so 5 hours overtime at work!
July 2: $153 Groceries, (including 4th of July potluck and BBQ and a crab dinner tomorrow night. LOTS of fresh fruit also! But 4 more hours OT!
July 3: $0
July 4: $0
July 5: $0

4/13 No Buy Days!

Sorry to be MIA the past few days. Work has been kicking my butt! Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July!

 

[ronnmel]

No Buy Days : 0/10
Gas :
Car repairs :
Groceries : 64$
Eating out (and snacks) :
Non-necessities : 142$

7/01 : 12$ (greeting cards)
7/02 : 16$ (groceries)
7/03 : 40$ (groceries + sunscreen)
7/04 : 110$ (water park day)
7/05 : 28$ (groceries)

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Goals: 15 $0 Buy days
Max spending $500 for gas, food (groceries & eating out), and miscellaneous.

01 - $0!
02 - $0!
03 - $82.80 Winn-Dixie (Saved $34.85)
04 - $0!
05 - $0!

Totals:
$0 Buy: 4/15..................27%
Spending: $82.80/$500....17%
Days in Month: 5/31........16%

Averages:
$500/31 days= $16.13
$82.80/5 days= $16.56

 

[Virgderon]

Big spending day, but I knew it would be. Visited DD at Disneyworld ( she is in the college program) and gave her $100 for room and expenses, and spent $63 for food and souvenirs. Ticket to the park was taken care of.

Running Total: Spent 198
$1150 budget...952 left
$0 Days: 2
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon savings $19

Groceries budget- $200-4-2... 194 left

July 1 0
July 2 0
July 3 14 (8 misc, 2 book, 4 lunchmeat)
July 4 21 (16 lunch at Changs, 5 tee at Old Navy)
July 5 163 (misc at Disney, 2 pop)

 

[goNDmay9]

I am going for 15 no buy days in July and adding 200 in savings For now, this does include groceries, but I may change it since this is my first time.

I thought I already had three, but forgot about parking at my DB's house for July 4th. He lives downtown! DRAT!

07/01 - 0$
07/02 - 0$
07/03 - 20$ for Beer Run at Uncle's house
07/04 - 10$ downtown parking
07/05 - 0$ so far

2/15 - YIPPEE SKIPPEE and it is already 7PM so i may have three!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I started noticing that my grocery bill was very high when I started tracking my no-buy spending and I was wondering how I could cut my grocery spending.


Not to brag, but what is actually more insanely impressive is I haven't used any coupons with my eating out/shopping category yet. So really have saved $155 off retail with coupons and sales from my $25 spent on groceries . I usually end up saving close to $1000 off retail with my coupons and sales since I started tracking it. I put a lot of time into it, it is kind of a part time job, and pays like one too!

My secrets are yes work the extra care bucks, register rewards, and national catalinas.

I go to quite a few blogs....hip2save.com, savingsaddiction.com, mashupmom.com, myfrugaladventures.com and a few others that are local to me. But now I have such a great stockpile of stuff, I only buy things if they are moneymakers, free, or a few cents, unless I really need something. When I really need something, I try to run over to Walgreens and buy whatever is "free" that week with the register reward, or moneymaker and take that register reward and use it at Jewel to buy what we need. As you will notice, I tend to spend my money at Walgreens and my Jewel bill tends to be fairly low over the course of the month.

Hope that helps !

What are national catalinas?

Do you find your house is full of stockpiles of toiletries and/or things you don't need while doing the CVS and RR things? My cabinets are full now as it is!

Thanks...I will have to check out those blogs and see if I can get my numbers down some. My grocery bill was $82, but I had not been to the store since June 17th and I needed several things that were not on sale. Usually I stick to Winn-Dixie's sales (usually quite good) and come out closer to 50% savings. This time I "only" saved about $35. Not bad, but not as good as what you're doing!

 

[MissBritt]

7/1 $73.19 WinnDixie (saved 58.04)
7/2 $52.74 Pubix (saved 57.84)
7/3 $34.30 Gas, $17.87 Post office, $50 Sephora (gift), $6.41 The Body Shop (gift), $15.00 Etsy (gift), -$5.34 Return
7/4 $14.00 Movie & snacks (Grown Ups)
7/5 $20.25 Movie & snacks (Toy Story 3), $28.00 Dinner out (1/6)

Groceries 125.93 (saved 115.88)
Dinner Out 28.00 (1/6)
Gas 34.30
Gifts 71.41
Entertainment 34.25
Incidentals 17.87
Returns -5.34

TOTALS:
306.52
$0 DAYS- 0/10

 

[A.Mickey]

WOW, if I read this right, it's a whole new world of couponing opportunity for me.

I live in Chicagoland. Can you really spend your Walgreens register rewards at Jewel? Please tell us how. I'd really love to be able to do that.

It is really simple, take all your register rewards to Jewel, and use as many as you want! Just can't go into tax. Have fun!!

What are national catalinas?

Do you find your house is full of stockpiles of toiletries and/or things you don't need while doing the CVS and RR things? My cabinets are full now as it is!

Thanks...I will have to check out those blogs and see if I can get my numbers down some. My grocery bill was $82, but I had not been to the store since June 17th and I needed several things that were not on sale. Usually I stick to Winn-Dixie's sales (usually quite good) and come out closer to 50% savings. This time I "only" saved about $35. Not bad, but not as good as what you're doing!

National catalinas are coupons you get printed at a catalina machine after you purchase your products, much like a walgreens register reward, but usually with a catalina you have to buy a certain amount of items. Right now there is a national catalina on fruit roll ups when you buy 5 you get $3.50 back. Match this up with a great sale and coupons, you can get things for free! http://couponsdealsandmore.com/uncategorized/national-catalina-offers-that-means-everyone/

Yes and No about stockpiles...I have been giving my extra stuff to my mom and friends! When I am getting low on something I start looking for the deals. I do have a few things that I wouldn't have bought if it wasn't for the free stuff, but you can't beat free and I could always donate the items to help out people in need!

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $122.02
$0 Days:1

Groceries ($200)- $25.26
Eating Out ($100)- $53.76
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($200) $43

1- $0
2- $2.76 (McDonald's- Eating Out), $1.76 (Target-Groceries), $6.72 (Walgreens-Groceries), $.74 (CVS-Groceries) $3 (Carnival-Entertainment)
3- $10 (Carnival-Entertainment), $25 (TeddyFabz-Eating Out), $3.05 (Jewel-Groceries)
4- $7 (Dollar Tree-Shopping), $12.99 (Jewel-Groceries), $23 (Carnival-Entertainment)
5- $26 (Carnival-Eating Out, we brought two bottles of water, but still had to buy lots of bottled water, no drinking fountains and 92 degree weather)

At least the carnival is over now... no more carnival spending!




$0 Days: 1: 7%
Budget: $500....24%
Month: 5/31: 16%

My savings from coupons and sales: $155.84

 

[MomToOne]

7/1 $15 LLBean, $15 Everyday Minerals, $31 Target, $30 Myzeno.com, $3 Target
7/2 $0
7/3 $43 Gas, $6 WalMart, $4 Airport Parking, $5 Downtown Parking, $10 Trip Envelope
7/4 $3 Donuts, $68 FoodsCo
7/5 $5 Oroweat Bakery Store, $4 Costco Café (hot dog and a piece of pizza for dinner), $32 Costco - Had a major impulse buy (rare for me): I bought a box of cookies for the "Cookie Diet". I have 5 stubborn pounds I want to loose, but have an awful habit of snacking on junk because I get the munchies, mostly from not eating a decent breakfast - so I'm going to give one box of these a try to see how it goes...Of course, digging into the box for one before I was even to my car because I was STARVING probably isn't a good way to start....

 

[Brancaneve]

Want to try my first no buy but am nervous.......

 

[rrconnelly]

After reading this thread, I think I am going to jump on board! So far I have had 2 0$ days. I am going to try for 12! I am trying to get better about coupons, and making very detailed shopping lists. My goal is to keep our groceries and health/beauty aids down to 600.00 a month. We will see how we do!

 

[thebigkahuna]

Want to try my first no buy but am nervous.......

Dont be! that's the beauty of this - it's all about you. Its at your pace, you set the goals and you decide how & when you want to do it.

I have found the benefit to be that you learn a LOT more about your spending habits - yes, I rack up a no spend day here & there, but there have been months when I didnt meet my goal. But that's ok, because it's my rules! I just set up the same goal for the following month (and I made that one!)

I did learn where my "budget leaks" are, and now i can be more aware of how I'm spending and why.

Jump right in & go at your own pace - how & what your choose to post is entirely up to you!

 

[loritemp]

This board is so inspirational!! And informative. I can't believe the difference by just THINKING before you buy. So here are my stats so far, which I am proud of considering it was a holiday weekend!

2/12 no spend days (and today should easily be as well)
spent $74 total/ monthly total budget is $900

Oh and stashed $500 away in savings. Good stuff people!

 

[thebigkahuna]

This is a little off topic, but I wanted to share. I love hearing what you all do for motivation & to stay on track. Everyone here is so positive!

Sometimes I have trouble seeing my long term goals. Yes, the Disney trip in X number of months is a great goal, but I often crave the instant gratification. (Say it with me budgetteers..........S T A R B U C K S.... )

ANYWAY!

wanted to share this tip with you - I took my ticket from my last Disney trip & put it in my wallet. Now the way my wallet is set up, I have to look at it to get to my money (all forms, cash, ATM card, debit card & credit card.) having to actually *see* that ticket makes it a little more painful to spend money on silly stuff. I just think, this is Disney money I'm spending! It helped me keep on track this weekend in KMart - and that kind of mindless shopping is one of my budget leaks.

Maybe it will help you too!

 

[thebigkahuna]

Oh and stashed $500 away in savings. Good stuff people!

Thats GREAT! Congratulations!

 

[Ginamarie]

7-1 - $10 parking fee

7-2 $0 (my first no spend day in July!)

7-3 - $77.32 groceries, $32.35 baby shower gift

7-4 - $12.50 groceries

7-5 $0

I'm hoping to make today another no spend day, and then I'll be up to three already!

I just wanted to thank you guys for starting a thread like this. I had to quit my main source of business last week, and this is giving me the motivation to stop myself from spending money at an important time in my life. What a great idea, to make it a goal to spend $0, because it stops me immediately from spending a bunch on tiny little things every day

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Want to try my first no buy but am nervous.......

You already took the first step by posting in this thread, and that can be the hardest one!

Dont be! that's the beauty of this - it's all about you. Its at your pace, you set the goals and you decide how & when you want to do it.

I have found the benefit to be that you learn a LOT more about your spending habits - yes, I rack up a no spend day here & there, but there have been months when I didnt meet my goal. But that's ok, because it's my rules! I just set up the same goal for the following month (and I made that one!)

I did learn where my "budget leaks" are, and now i can be more aware of how I'm spending and why.

Jump right in & go at your own pace - how & what your choose to post is entirely up to you!

Brancaneve, you got great advice here. I will add that if you are new to making a budget, it takes about three months to "calibrate" it. The first month is mostly tracking your spending and seeing where your budget leaks are, the second is adjusting it, and the third is usually pretty realistic. So, don't give up if the first month is not what you expect!

This is a little off topic, but I wanted to share. I love hearing what you all do for motivation & to stay on track. Everyone here is so positive!

Sometimes I have trouble seeing my long term goals. Yes, the Disney trip in X number of months is a great goal, but I often crave the instant gratification. (Say it with me budgetteers..........S T A R B U C K S.... )

ANYWAY!

wanted to share this tip with you - I took my ticket from my last Disney trip & put it in my wallet. Now the way my wallet is set up, I have to look at it to get to my money (all forms, cash, ATM card, debit card & credit card.) having to actually *see* that ticket makes it a little more painful to spend money on silly stuff. I just think, this is Disney money I'm spending! It helped me keep on track this weekend in KMart - and that kind of mindless shopping is one of my budget leaks.

Maybe it will help you too!

I like that idea! Since what I really want is to be able to save for a down payment on a house, I should cut out a picture of a really cute house to put in my wallet!

Today was supposed to be a $0 Day, but I don't know if that is going to happen. I am not sure any of the days this week will be a $0 Day!

 

[loritemp]

Hey BigKahuna I do similar things. If I am saving for something in particular, I keep reminders of it visible. Currently we are saving for a DVC membership. A friend who is a member, gave me one of the member books so that is sitting on my dresser so each morning I am reminded.

Also, for more big picture stuff, like our savings account in general and retirement accounts, I have some good role models I keep in mind. I don't want to be 80 and still NEEDING to work. So while that Starbucks coffee may taste good now, will it be worth it in the long run? (and yeah, I know one coffee isn't going to kill my budget but with me, one leads to ...every day!)

 

[thebigkahuna]

Also, for more big picture stuff, like our savings account in general and retirement accounts, I have some good role models I keep in mind. I don't want to be 80 and still NEEDING to work. So while that Starbucks coffee may taste good now, will it be worth it in the long run? (and yeah, I know one coffee isn't going to kill my budget but with me, one leads to ...every day!)

LOL, I completely understand!! That's the "instant gratification" part I'm working on....no I don't *need* it, but I sure would *like* it!!