~December No-Spend Challenge~ End o' the month. How did you do? What will you do differently... - Page 19

[schreiberwriter]

12/13:
12/14:
12/15:
12/16: Even earned some $$ babysitting. Plan on spending a little for lunch tomorrow when out with the kiddos. Hope to get out, snowy roads might prohibit it. Otherwise, it'll be another no spend day!
12/17: $5 for lunch, $11 to send diapers that I sold (ouch), $31 on groceries (funded by babysitting), restrained myself because I knew if I bought a smoothie I'd have to document it here.
12/18: $38 for my share of a fabric co-op. I need the PUL, but I'm not sure about the bamboo. Maybe I can sell what I make with it. Kinda regretting it.
12/19: I can't see the future, but with a foot of fresh snow we're probably not spending anything. Good news is that I got paid and it was more than I expected. I hope we'll make it!
12/20: $93 for groceries at Trader Joe's (including a few food gifts for relatives)
12/21: $6 for draino, hope the water filled pipes didn't freeze last night
12/22: $137 on Christmas presents, I bought for 11 people and I'm done! Quite the accomplishment if you ask me--I probably haven't spent so little since college.

Goal: spend as little as possible while unemployed

[happyhats]

I didn't finish with a bang, but I also didn't finish with a whimper. I had my little Scarlet on December 17th, and being in the hospital and recovering from a c section sorta changed the budgetary issues, lol. Hubby bought more fast food than he would have otherwise, but I can't say things like that are a non necessity because one must eat even while at the hospital, kwim? We bought some groceries since being back, and we did splurge on having a Christmas feast for three (well, two and a sleeping wonder and a kitty!) but other than that we've stayed right on track. I highly doubt we'll be too tempted by after Christmas sales and the like either, because who wants to take a newborn into a loud, crowded store? Not I.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

: Congratulations Happy Hats on the birth of your daughter! And welcome back home!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

01..
02..
03..
04.. , :
05.. $200 gymnastics and preschool
06.. $36 Christmas ornaments, $13 Christmas candy
07.. $45 Tree and candy and hot cocoa and chicken
08..
09.. , :
10..
11.. , :
12.. , :
13.. $40 babysitter, $2 coffee
14..
15.. $47 indulgences, $17 Tightwad Gazette Book
16..
17.. , :
18.. , :
19..
20.. $14 christmas stuff
21..
22..
23.. $52 kid clothes
24..
25..
26..
27..
28..
29..
30..
31..

My Goals for this month:
17/20 No Spend Days
6/4 Let the Car Rest :

[scrapadoozer]

12/01:
12/02:
12/03:
12/04:
12/05:
12/06: $3 Post Office, $4 wrapping paper I didn't really need.
12/07:
12/08:
12/09:
12/10:
12/11:
12/12: $10.50 extra portrait sheets.
12/13:
12/14: $5 Doughnuts.
12/15:
12/16:
12/17: $4 Post Office.
12/18:
12/19:
12/20: $30 fast food , $3 picture frame
12/21:
12/22:
12/23: $16 over budget on DH's Christmas presents.

17/20 no-spend days.
$75.50 unnecessarily spent.
$250/$300 saved for the midwife.

[MittensKittens]

Could I join you from today, since it's my pay day?

Here's my introduction:


a. Who you are

Single mom by choice of one 2 1/2 yo daughter, and expecting number 2 any day now :, working from home.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals) and

My income will reduce after the baby is born, and spending is going to increase. Couple that with the current crisis (there's bad inflation where I am) and I simply have to start spending less!

c. How you plan to get there

By not making unnecessary purchases. Not going to places where spending money is the default mode for entertainment (malls). Not eating out at all (I've been doing pretty good on my practice run this month, with only a couple of "sins"). I am a foodie and spend far too much in this area both on home cooking and eating out, so that is where the major cut backs are going to be.

I'll record:

No spend days -
Necessary spending * groceries -
Necessary spending * bills -
Bad spending -

Do you *more experienced* no spenders believe that 15/30 no spending days is a realistic goal for a beginner? I am not really all that wonderful in the self discipline department, when it comes to food at least .

[FeelingBlessed]

Have to run out and buy a few last-minute items today, but will try to avoid the last minute "we don't have enough" panic. DH and I reviewed the stack of presents last night, and all is well. Looking forward to a wonderful holiday spent catching up with family and friends, relaxing with the kids, and remembering how blessed we are.

Kim :

Dec. 1:
Dec. 2:
Dec. 3:
Dec. 4:
Dec. 5:
Dec. 6:
Dec. 7:
Dec. 8:
Dec. 9:
Dec. 10:
Dec. 11:
Dec. 12:
Dec. 13:
Dec. 14:
Dec. 15:
Dec. 16:
Dec. 17:
Dec. 18:
Dec. 19:
Dec. 20: $8.95 - library fine
Dec. 21:
Dec. 22:
Dec. 23:

DECEMBER GOALS:
* Less than $50 in frivolous spending: $8.95/$50
* At least 25 days (no spend or spending w/in budget): 21/25
* NO library fines: month to date $8.95
* Stay within grocery/eating out budget: $576.66/$600
* ORGANIZE/declutter (lack of organization = spending): 20/25
* Exercise (feeling good = decreased emotional spending): 9/25
* Meal plan created (I REALLY want to develop the habit of meal planning!):
11/30-12/6: started...maybe 1/2 complete
12/7-12/13: nada
12/14-12/20: meals plans for DD's b-day parties done
12/21-12/27:
12/28-1/3:

[Brisen]

1: :
2: $19 convenience groceries I had dh pick up when he took ds to cubs... I'm sick with mastitis at the moment and I needed some easy food for the kids.
3: :
4: :
5: $450 groceries, household items, bit of clothing, and stuff for St. Nick's Day.
6: :
7:
8: :
9: :
10: :
11: :
12: $46 stocking stuffers & household stuff at dollar store; $172 groceries; : $15 treat-type stuff we didn't need
13: $35 Christmas tree
14:
15: :
16: :
17: : $45 on gifts for the kids to take to a family Christmas brunch at dh's work, and then I topped up my order with some books I was planning on getting in a few months so I could get free shipping. $26 milk and a sippy cup for R
18: :
19:
20: : $30 on pizza. Dh had stomach flu yesterday, I had it today, no one felt like cooking, and the kids were tired of eating cereal. I'm going to try to get some easy freezer meals made up after the holidays, to avoid this kind of thing.
21:
22: $80 More last-minute spending on supplies for Christmas gifts and treats, as well as regular groceries... I'm already over my household spending goal for this month, but I'm putting this down as necessary spending, as I should have budgeted for it, and I don't consider it frivolous.
23: :
24: :
25:

no spend:
necessary spend:
unnecessary spend: :
no drive: :

Household spending: $884/$600
No-spend days: 18/18

[Amys1st]

Goals this month:
-Pay for any xmas expenses w/ cash

-keep grocery costs under $400.00 this includes my produce and dairy delivery every week. 331.73/400

-Feed my freezer

Key:
no spending at all today
: eat from what I have on hand at home

Tally:
1 & :
2 paid preschool tuition
3 produce and dairy delivery $40.82; gas fill up $27.72;
4 $37.20 for groceries, great meat sale too! $30 for a 2nd hand gift that is perfect!
5 Payday groceries @ TJs $33.35
6 Mortgage paid today. Lunch in our downtown area for the holiday jubilee $17.69, advent wreath candles 4.16
7 Church $11 :
8 Target run $44.25; Grocery $86.79
9 & :
10 produce and dairy delivery $40.82; dinner out before taking DH to airport
11 DH's MC due today, paid in full like always :
12 $6.41 happy meal run; Kohls $61.26
13 $58 for xmas cards and stamps; $40 sitter :
14 Church $10; $1.40 at walgreens :
15 & :
16 & :
17 produce and dairy delivery $34.68 :
18 Grocery run: $99.13; gas $18.72
19 Payday & :
20 My MC due today paid in full; birthday lunch for me! $36.00
21 & :
22 lunch out w the girls $20.74
23 & :
24 My birthday; $20 gas; $19.94 lunch out; $26.88 gift for me
25 Merry Christmas!
26
27
28 Church
29
30 produce and dairy delivery $40.82
31

[Patrick's mummy]

Still here, still spending

Dec 1st:£77.34 groceries. All still sick :
Dec 2nd: £6.50 groceries that DH insisited on to facilitate his recovery (no one ever recovered from flu without melon right?!)
Dec 3rd: £7.50 groceries, this time DH went and got them himself! £70 car tax, £1.14 postage.
Dec 4th: No spending at all. All still sick. School closed due to snow. :
Dec 5th: £49.40 groceries and household goods (inc some small Christmas gifts), that should last til 12/12 hopefully.
Dec 6th: £101.64 on Christmas gifts at Amazon.co.uk - that is it now, finished, apart from printing a few photos for frames we have bought as gifts for people. £4.23 on wooden play food for DS2's Christmas box - (was actually £12.50 but I used a gift card for the rest.) 80p parking. £48 petrol - a full tank.
Dec 7th: Oh man, DH spent again! £7.55 on various things he think will help his cold go away. Geez, did a cold ever go without lozenges, energy drinks, cakes?!
Dec 8th: £2 DS1's school Christmas play tickets, £3.50 DS2 playgroup (budgetted.) £1.40 treats for kids after school - I caved in
Dec 9th: No spend!
Dec 10th: No spend! Feeling pretty proud of this one as I've had a crap day!:
Dec 11th: £76.48 groceries. £0.58 on Kinder egg for DS1 after his school play. £5.05 at pharmacy on various pills for DH who then went and spent £9.07 on various other treats to make himself better
Dec 12th: £3.50 playgroup (budgetted)
Dec 13th: £1.70 parking.
Dec 14th: £40 meal with guest. (The restaurant we were supposed to be going to was closed so we ended up somewhere more expensive plus DH ordered a dessert: ) £8 groceries (mostly Xmas deals.)
Dec 15th: £3.50 playgroup (plus paid £2.50 in advance for the playgroup Christmas party on Weds) £1.20 bread. £2.90 DH spent on lunch :
Dec 16th: £2.03 milk (and a can of Coke- I knew it was going to be a long old day!) DH bought medications and Lucozade but no idea how much...
Dec 17th: £3.05 drinks/snacks at playgroup party: (lack of willpower) £1 charity donation. The guys came to clean my windows and I didn't get chance to ask them not to both til spring so they'll be knocking for £4 later DH spent £2.50 on lunch:
Dec 18th: No spend.
Dec 19th: :H spent £3 on lunch, £8 on treats. I spent £9 on McD's for the kids, £8 at Aldi on essential groceries. : Not a great day. £20 Xmas postage too.
Dec 20th: £3.82 on last minute gift items, £34.13 on gifts again for DH this time. DH wanted to get the kids some gifts because he feels like he has not chosen any of their stuff. I was reluctant to let him loose but what can you do? He spent £24.50 and I really wish he hadn't : Okay, it doesn't end there. He bought some pre-lunch snacks for us to eat on the way home £2. Then tonight we got curry takeout £13. The only thing I can be pleased about with regards to that is that I made our own rice :
Dec 21st: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!: DH went to Ikea and spent £171.83 that I know about plus there has to be more cos he had a Dime bar wrapper in his pocket. Also £? on diesel and £? on sticks for the fire. No spend for me
Dec 22nd: Well my plan to not spend when my brother was here went awry and we spent £7.89 on treats at the late night store :
Dec 23rd: £53.49 on Christmas grocery shopping. It was actually nearer to £150 but several friends/family bought me giftcards for the store for Christmas this year which was very welcome.
Dec 24th: Sheeesh, even managed to spend on Christmas eve. £9 on last minute Christmas food I forgot! DH also spent £ on food and sticks forthe fire.
Dec 25th: No spend!!!

My month has gone badly. We can't seem to get spending on chocolate/soda etc under control. Luckily we are off to my ILs on 29th so aside from gas (which we already filled up on) we should be in no/minimal spending zone. Also becauseDH has been sick a lot this month we are underspent in the gas budget and with activities, because the snow and our illnesses stopped us doing our usual stuff. So we should eek through.
I am still looking for the receipt for a £25 pair of jeans I bought DH that we have decided he doesn't need. Hope I can find it and return them.

[Peppermint Poppies]

Can I join? I know it's near the end of the month, but we've got some big financial challenges coming up next year, so I guess it can't be too early to get started.

a. Who you are

I'm Cherie, SAHM to a 20 month old son, with another baby on the way. I live in Australia. I'm an occupational therapist by career, but have only done a few months part-time work since DS was born, and probably won't be re-entering the workforce for at least a couple of years.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)
We're moving to Sydney in a few months time. The cost of living is MUCH higher than where we currently live, but DH's salary won't be any higher and we'll have another little person in our family in a few months time. We're going to rent out our house (that we are in the process of owning and currently live in) and rent accommodation in Sydney. We'll get about $365/wk for our house, and will be paying $500/week for a MUCH smaller apartment with no garage.

So, our financial goals are to budget carefully, and to survive without having to use credit cards or take on additional debt. Being able to save some would be nice, but seems fairly unrealistic given what our budget will be.

c. How you plan to get there
Track all of my spending in Quicken, budget in advance for costs, have weekly budget meetings with DH where we discuss how we've done over the week, keep myself accountable here, do lots of walking instead of using the car (we are even considering getting rid of the car altogether after #2 is born) and cooking from scratch as much as possible.

I'll track:
No spend days
Necessary spending and/or spending according to our budget
Unnecessary spending
: No car days (only walking or using public transport)

So, for December so far:
25 :
26
27
28
29
30
31

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

01..
02..
03..
04.. , :
05.. $200 gymnastics and preschool
06.. $36 Christmas ornaments, $13 Christmas candy
07.. $45 Tree and candy and hot cocoa and chicken
08..
09.. , :
10..
11.. , :
12.. , :
13.. $40 babysitter, $2 coffee
14..
15.. $47 indulgences, $17 Tightwad Gazette Book
16..
17.. , :
18.. , :
19..
20.. $14 christmas stuff
21..
22..
23.. $52 kid clothes
24.. $8 kids clothes, $20 baked goods, $30 pizza
25..
26..
27..
28..
29..
30..
31..

My Goals for this month:
17/20 No Spend Days
6/4 Let the Car Rest :

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Cherie and MittensKittens -- Welcome! We are happy to have you join us any time. Good luck!!!!

[scrapadoozer]

12/01:
12/02:
12/03:
12/04:
12/05:
12/06: $3 Post Office, $4 wrapping paper I didn't really need.
12/07:
12/08:
12/09:
12/10:
12/11:
12/12: $10.50 extra portrait sheets.
12/13:
12/14: $5 Doughnuts.
12/15:
12/16:
12/17: $4 Post Office.
12/18:
12/19:
12/20: $30 fast food , $3 picture frame
12/21:
12/22:
12/23: $16 over budget on DH's Christmas presents.
12/24:
12/25:

19/20 no-spend days.
$75.50 unnecessarily spent.
$300/$300 saved for the midwife.

[slsurface]

12/15:
12/16: , mail last payment on car-paid it off over two years early!
12/17: Ugh, a bad day! $24 for hair cut and tint (I haven't had my hair done in AGES, but at least I got a good deal because I know someone at a beauty college - I consider it a Christmas gift to myself ), $28 for misc. holiday-related items
12/18: $9 for roll of city trash bags (not all my guest this weekend will wrap their gifts in reusable bags :, so I have to be ready for all the trash)
12/19:
12/20: $32 on groceries, $15 for fuel in one car, $60 for science museum membership for DS's Christmas
12/21: , : (Family holiday party at our house today!)
12/22:
12/23:
12/24: $7 for craft supplies to make my sister’s best friend a last minute gift, $82 for bulk food order
12/25: , :
12/26: $3 for breakfast…it's been a hard morning back to work

Here are my spending goals for December:
$459/$600 for food and fuel & misc household expenses
$48/$50 for travel
$121/$150 for food/decorations for our extended family holiday party
$50 for misc. home improvement/emergencies - something is always breaking around here!
$116/$100 for futon mattress from IKEA
DONE-Pay off small CC debt this month
DONE-Pay last payment on our car!
12/10 no spend days
$1000/$300 to savings
$34/$50 or less on unplanned/unbudgeted spending

Key
No spend day
: No drive day
Necessary/budgeted spending
Unplanned/unbudget spending
Put $$ in savings

[Amanda Williams]

1st: $25 in gas, on credit card, not included in my $500 cash budget
2nd: No spend
3rd: No spend
4th: No spend
5th:$69 on groceries.
6th: No spend
7th: $18 on groceries
8th: No spend, we tithed actually, but I'm not counting checks we write on here.
9th: $9 on Taco Bell for lunch, budgeted for
10th: $14 on groceries
11th: No spend
12th: $66 on groceries, $3 overdue fines at library, $12, impulse buy, puzzles for DD
13th: No spend
14th: $60 on groceries,$11 on lunch, $26 on gifts , $20 in gas
15th and 16th: No spend days!
17th: $10 Mc's, $6 Ross, gift, $36 on groceries
18th: $5 Sandwich
19th: $14 Groceries for Christmas
20th, 21st: No Spend
22nd: Taco Bell, $4, Groceries, $9
23rd: $6, Breakfast, $44 Groceries
24th: $3, Christmas Ornaments
25th and 26th: No spend



Tallies:

$45 in Gas
$330 in Groceries
$45 in Fast Food
$3 Library fines
$47 in gifts


Hubby gave me $25 in extra cash, but I am hoping to roll that over into next months budget.
I have $60 (or $85) left for the month (I am saving the other $100 for a large co-op order next month) and think I will make it! It is nice to have that $25 cushion.

As of the 26th, I am out of cash for the month! It's a good thing Santa left me a $50 gift card to Safeway in my stocking!

[Patrick's mummy]

Dec 1st:£77.34 groceries. All still sick :
Dec 2nd: £6.50 groceries that DH insisited on to facilitate his recovery (no one ever recovered from flu without melon right?!)
Dec 3rd: £7.50 groceries, this time DH went and got them himself! £70 car tax, £1.14 postage.
Dec 4th: No spending at all. All still sick. School closed due to snow. :
Dec 5th: £49.40 groceries and household goods (inc some small Christmas gifts), that should last til 12/12 hopefully.
Dec 6th: £101.64 on Christmas gifts at Amazon.co.uk - that is it now, finished, apart from printing a few photos for frames we have bought as gifts for people. £4.23 on wooden play food for DS2's Christmas box - (was actually £12.50 but I used a gift card for the rest.) 80p parking. £48 petrol - a full tank.
Dec 7th: Oh man, DH spent again! £7.55 on various things he think will help his cold go away. Geez, did a cold ever go without lozenges, energy drinks, cakes?!
Dec 8th: £2 DS1's school Christmas play tickets, £3.50 DS2 playgroup (budgetted.) £1.40 treats for kids after school - I caved in
Dec 9th: No spend!
Dec 10th: No spend! Feeling pretty proud of this one as I've had a crap day!:
Dec 11th: £76.48 groceries. £0.58 on Kinder egg for DS1 after his school play. £5.05 at pharmacy on various pills for DH who then went and spent £9.07 on various other treats to make himself better
Dec 12th: £3.50 playgroup (budgetted)
Dec 13th: £1.70 parking.
Dec 14th: £40 meal with guest. (The restaurant we were supposed to be going to was closed so we ended up somewhere more expensive plus DH ordered a dessert: ) £8 groceries (mostly Xmas deals.)
Dec 15th: £3.50 playgroup (plus paid £2.50 in advance for the playgroup Christmas party on Weds) £1.20 bread. £2.90 DH spent on lunch :
Dec 16th: £2.03 milk (and a can of Coke- I knew it was going to be a long old day!) DH bought medications and Lucozade but no idea how much...
Dec 17th: £3.05 drinks/snacks at playgroup party: (lack of willpower) £1 charity donation. The guys came to clean my windows and I didn't get chance to ask them not to both til spring so they'll be knocking for £4 later DH spent £2.50 on lunch:
Dec 18th: No spend.
Dec 19th: :H spent £3 on lunch, £8 on treats. I spent £9 on McD's for the kids, £8 at Aldi on essential groceries. : Not a great day. £20 Xmas postage too.
Dec 20th: £3.82 on last minute gift items, £34.13 on gifts again for DH this time. DH wanted to get the kids some gifts because he feels like he has not chosen any of their stuff. I was reluctant to let him loose but what can you do? He spent £24.50 and I really wish he hadn't : Okay, it doesn't end there. He bought some pre-lunch snacks for us to eat on the way home £2. Then tonight we got curry takeout £13. The only thing I can be pleased about with regards to that is that I made our own rice :
Dec 21st: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!: DH went to Ikea and spent £171.83 that I know about plus there has to be more cos he had a Dime bar wrapper in his pocket. Also £? on diesel and £? on sticks for the fire. No spend for me
Dec 22nd: Well my plan to not spend when my brother was here went awry and we spent £7.89 on treats at the late night store :
Dec 23rd: £53.49 on Christmas grocery shopping. It was actually nearer to £150 but several friends/family bought me giftcards for the store for Christmas this year which was very welcome.
Dec 24th: Sheeesh, even managed to spend on Christmas eve. £9 on last minute Christmas food I forgot! DH also spent £ on food and sticks forthe fire.
Dec 25th: No spend!!!
Dec 26th: No spend!

Found the receipt for a £25 pair of jeans I bought DH that we have decided he doesn't need so will return them.[/QUOTE]

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I don't ever count grocery expenses unless they are egregiously unhealthy -- ice cream, candy, sweets -- so I give myself a lot of even on days I spend a ton at the grocery store.

Well our grocery bill this month is jaw-droppingly huge (think four digits) and WOW is this killing our budget.

I've been buying expensive foods (nice coffee, wine, shellfish) and I just tallied it all up this afternoon.

We will be staying in our pantry for the rest of the week. I need to keep out of the grocery store. We have a lot of really high quality food in our house right now and it should last us until January.

01..
02..
03..
04.. , :
05.. $200 gymnastics and preschool
06.. $36 Christmas ornaments, $13 Christmas candy
07.. $45 Tree and candy and hot cocoa and chicken
08..
09.. , :
10..
11.. , :
12.. , :
13.. $40 babysitter, $2 coffee
14..
15.. $47 indulgences, $17 Tightwad Gazette Book
16..
17.. , :
18.. , :
19..
20.. $14 christmas stuff
21..
22..
23.. $52 kid clothes
24.. $8 kids clothes, $20 baked goods, $30 pizza
25..
26..
27..
28..
29..
30..
31..

My Goals for this month:
18/20 No Spend Days
6/4 Let the Car Rest :

[Patrick's mummy]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

I don't ever count grocery expenses unless they are egregiously unhealthy -- ice cream, candy, sweets -- so I give myself a lot of even on days I spend a ton at the grocery store.

Well our grocery bill this month is jaw-droppingly huge (think four digits) and WOW is this killing our budget.

I've been buying expensive foods (nice coffee, wine, shellfish) and I just tallied it all up this afternoon.

We will be staying in our pantry for the rest of the week. I need to keep out of the grocery store. We have a lot of really high quality food in our house right now and it should last us until January.

This is us too, we went way way over budget on groceries this month. I think I am going to confine myself to aldi in 09, I need to get this under control.

[becoming]

I'm back! Haven't posted since the 14th, but I've been keeping it up with it!

1 -
2 -
3 - $141.18 groceries/household, $8.40 stamps
4 - $40.00 photos, $52.61 car seat, $15.00 co-pay, $30.71 meds, $18.95 lunch
5 - $66.53 groceries/household
6 - $23.00 lunch, $83.52 groceries/household
7 - $10.92 lunch, $81.68 clothes & shoes, $34.41 gas
8 -
9 - $11.49 breakfast, $94.18 groceries/household, $22.32 dinner
10 - $15.00 contribution to boss's Christmas gift
11 - $47.92 Christmas gifts, $38.39 dinner (planned)
12 - $19.16 lunch, $25 haircut, $38.53 movies, $14.57 dinner
13 - $133.03 Christmas gifts
14 - $37.16 dinner (unavoidable)
15 - $27.43 Christmas party stuff
16 - $93.10 clothes, $20 lunch, $58.82 dinner
17 - $136.07 groceries/household, $18.90 dinner
18 - $34 gas, $12.03 teacher gift, $58.46 Christmas gifts
19 -
20 - $15.36 dinner (unavoidable)
21 - $164.26 Christmas gifts I shouldn't have bought
22 - $64.93 bedding for DS, $17.00 dinner
23 - $24.18 dinner (planned)
24 -
25 -

6/10 no-spend days
12/20 no-eating-out days
$541.48/$600 groceries/household

I have to grocery shop today, so I'm going to go over $600 for the month. And there's no way possible to get 20 eat-at-home days now.