~June No-Spend Challenge~ We're tracking our spending and saving money!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

This is a support thread to help you ~not spend your money~.

Everyone is welcome to join and you can start tracking your spending at any time. It doesn't have to be June 1st.

The plan is simple (although tough to execute):

1. Vow not to spend any money on unnecessary purchases.

2. Come on here everyday and record your spending.

We all record our spending in different ways. There are no rules. You record and update however you would like -- pick a way that will help you spend the least amount of money.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please write an introductory message when you decide to join our thread. We would like to know:

a. Who you are

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

c. How you plan to get there

Good luck MDCers!! Keep that money in your wallet.

[dsaucone]

I want to save more than I spend.

I'm going to track categories this month and try to determine their necessity and if they really should get that much $ allotted to them.

Savings $0/$500

[mrsbernstein]

I am going to be honest...I am a horrible 'no spender'.

HOWEVER, my goal for June is to TRACK the spending. That's it.

Mrs B

[tricia80]

Tricia's Totals:

Goals:

Have a $1000 EF - DONE :
Pay off consolidation loan by Jan 2010
Keep Unnecessary Spending below $50
Eat Out Less/Pack Lunches More

Types of Spending:

: Unbudgeted/Unnecessary Spending
Budgeted Spending (groceries, gas, rent, hydro, babysitting etc)
No Spending

Totals:

Groceries: /120
Gas: /120
Unecessary Spending: /50
Unbudgeted Expenses:


I am not doing too well with no spending but i went from over $500 in April in unnecessary spending to $82 in May... so its a slow process but i am getting there...

Meal planning is where i need work on... i wish i could hire someone to meal plan for me...

[dfunk98]

Back for month 6

I'm back on the wagon. Really need this. I would like to save more that I spend, as well. Or at least save something, for that matter!!

My Key-
No Spend
Necessary/Planned Spending
Unnecessary Spending
Weekly Money

Goal
No spend 0/14/30 days
Groceries/Household $0/$400

[christian211]

Hi. I'm new around here. I'd like to post on this thread. I'm married to dh Mike, ds 4 and dd2, preg for team blue. We have some moderate debt that we have no idea how it accummulated: so we are tracking groceries, eating out, pretty much everything, lol. Working on paying down debt. I'm actually a pro at pinching pennies, but 1st trimester slothness (that a word?) kicked in and racked up quite a bit of debt b/c of lack of doing things I normally do. I'm back in the saddle.

Sonya

[ALittleBitCrunchy]

Who you are
~ A woman that is feeling more poor this month than usual. We have some extra bills this month so being careful isn't enough. I have to really save money everywhere I can. It's hard trying to get our expenses to drop as much as our incomes...

Where you are going (your financial goals)
~ I'm not looking at long-term right now. I'm concentrating on improving our financial situation every month, saving where I can.

How you plan to get there
~ I'm hoping that this public commitment to the post will motivate me to spend less.

I'm not a no-spend person - just a spend as necessary person. I want to make the right decisions and use my money wisely. I am really hoping to see a decline in money spent for food and eating out, as well as entertainment. We have a birthday, birthday meal, wedding and a few other random events in June so we'll see how this goes! I'll use : for days I've pinched my pennies and for days I threw my money away.

June 1 - Spent $15 on coupons. :

[Purple*Lotus]

Hey everyone I am Jaime, back for another month. I only had three spend days last month and I managed to pay for my surgery in cash. So this month my goal is to replenish the savings a little and to add some extra to debt paydown. I hope that everyone has a great month

[Maluhia]

I'm in this month for the first time, super excited

Who you are
I'm Kulia, Mama to Maya and living in Hawaii. My husband is in the Navy but will be away from home for two weeks thanks to work (and have no costs of his own) so I'm seeing some possibility for extra savings this month.
Where you are going (your financial goals) and
I want to continue to build our EF (at 3 months right now and I'd like to have it at a year within the next year). My BIG goal is that we would be in a place that when my husband retires in about 8 years that we could live off his retirement as well as interest on our investments if we so please, although DH seems to think it's impossible I am in charge of the $ and I think we can do it.
How you plan to get there
I'm using cash and budgeting eating out/grocery for the first time this month and it's a step towards saving up more and more and being aware of what I am spending. We don't have any CC or CC debt thanks to DR, I want to keep moving "up" in the world of financial peace.

1. Payday & AP Rent Payment also $40 (Groceries) and $21.07 (Gas)
2. $100 Costco (Groceries) and $12 (Dining Out)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15. Payday
16. AP Cable Internet/TV
17.
18. AP bi-monthly Water Bill
19.
20.
21.
22. AP Auto & Property Insurance Bill
23.
24. AP Cell Phone Bill
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30. AP Tuition Payment for DD

Budgeted
Groceries/household $140 / $600
Gas $21.07 / $250
Dining Out- $12 / $600
No spend days 0 / 20 days
Savings $500/$1000

[pitter_patter]

Hi, I'm Sarah, mom to twins who just turned 3 in May. I am a SAHM and make a little fun money here and there selling outgrown toys and clothes and such.


Where you are going (your financial goals)
I just purchased a house in April and my goal is to save $300 this month to pay for painting the downstairs common areas.

To achieve my goal I plan to not spend any money other than for essential food and regular bills of course. I typically spend money on coffee, lunch out, impulse purchases at Target, etc. Sadly, I have no idea how much this adds up to per month but I think it's at least $300.

[Maluhia]

Tricia - have you tried the Hillbilly Houswife Site? There are some cheap meal plans on there and you could start from that and add on what your family would want/need

ie. I go over what is in my freezer/cupboards once a week and make a plan for 4 meals mostly from that so I buy only veggies/fruit/milk mostly and a few random add ons for meals I'm making (ie. cheese this month).

[FeelingBlessed]

a. Who you are...
My name is Kim; I am a PT SAHM/PT WAHM (freelance writer/PR/workshop presenter)/PT WOHM (nonprofit) to 2 great little kids. DH works FT and also attends school FT (entering final year of RN program).

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)...
1. Keep budget in the black + stick to it - this is finally going to be a reality now that I accepted a PT WOHM position.
2. Continue to hit the debt snowball hard.
3. June - Break $250K in debt paid off since we began to snowball in Feb. 2008.

c. How you plan to get there...
1. INCREASE income - set work goals + consistently do "something amazing"
2. Sell/donate unneeded items
3. CREATE A MEAL PLAN AND STICK TO IT!
4. No more late library materials! Or parking tickets!
5. ORGANIZE! Majority of overbudget/frivolous spending can be prevented with improved organization.
6. Exercise: feeling good = decreased emotional spending

JUNE GOALS:
* Schedule workshop series for September - confirm location + begin initial PR...
* Less than $25 in frivolous spending: month to date $0
* At least 24 days (no spend or spending w/in budget): 0/24
* NO library fines: month to date $0 / NO parking tickets: $0
* Stay within grocery/eating out budget: $0/$500
* ORGANIZE/declutter (lack of organization = spending): 0/24
* Exercise (feeling good = decreased emotional spending): 0/30
* Meal plan created: 0/4 weeks

Previous months:
June '07: 20 days; $210.42 frivolous; $519.54 groceries; $117.55 eating out
July '07: 16 days; $325.62 frivolous; $825.40 groceries; $112.84 eating out
Aug. '07: 23 days; $144.47 frivolous; $593.09 groceries; $643.07 eating out
Sept. '07: 22 days; $128.37 frivolous; $598.19 groceries; $121.48 eating out
Oct. '07: 25 days; $139.55 frivolous; $472 groceries; $129.55 eating out
Nov. '07: 25 days; $192.50 frivolous; $608 groceries; $101 eating out
Dec. '07: 28 days; $55.20 frivolous; $503 groceries
Jan. '08: 27 days; $19.90 frivolous; $555.85 groceries/eating out
Feb. '08: 18 days; $131.80 frivolous; $668 groceries/eating out
March '08: 28 days; $19.40 frivolous; $500 groceries/eating out
April '08: 24 days; $39.16 frivolous; $768.65 groceries/eating out
May '08: 21 days; $53.41 frivolous; $920 groceries/eating out, 23 Organize/Declutter days, 26 Exercise days
June '08: 21 days; $137.20 frivolous; $621 groceries/eating out, 17 Organize/Declutter days, 23 Exercise days
July '08: 20 days; $88.44 frivolous; $892 groceries/eating out, 15 Organize/Declutter days, 20 Exercise days
Aug. '08: 21 days; $286.33 frivolous; $740.81 groceries/eating out, 27 Organize/Declutter days, 21 Exercise days
Sept. '08: FIDO
Oct. '08: 27 days; $18 frivolous; $769.02 groceries/eating out, 21 Organize/Declutter days, 25 Exercise days
Nov. '08: 23 days; $55 frivolous; $1,178.77 groceries/eating out, 24 Organize/Declutter days, 14 Exercise days
Dec. '08: 25 days; $8.95 frivolous; $859.01 groceries/eating out, 27 Organize/Declutter days, 14 Exercise days
Jan. '09: Got away from me...onward!
Feb. '09: 22 days; $110.51 frivolous; $740.94 groceries/eating out, 26 Organize/Declutter days, 16 Exercise days, 18 Writing days
March '09: did not finish updating...FIDO
April '09: 26 days; $0 frivolous; $830 groceries/eating out, 23 Organize/Declutter days, 23 Exercise days, 4/4 weeks meal plan
May '09: 28 days; $0 frivolous; $854.82 groceries/eating out, 24 Organize/Declutter days, 25 Exercise days, 2/4 weeks meal plan

[major_mama11]

a. Who you are- Kirstin, a mostly SAHM (working 1-2 days a week) to a 3-yr-old and a newborn. Currently on maternity leave until mid-July.

b. Goals- keep food and household spending as low as possible, in order to pay off car loan quickly. I am highly motivated to avoid ever working FT again, and I want to keep our spending low enough that I can continue with this part-time gig long-term. No savings goals this month, since we really have no extra for that without my added income.

c. How you plan to get there- Cash envelope system is working well for me so far. DH pays the major bills, and I take out enough cash each month to pay for groceries, household, and kid expenses such as clothing. This month I want to focus on keeping grocery spending low, cooking from scratch more to use up what we have on hand (which is a lot- I just need to get organized and use it).

I am feeling more energetic this month, so I am adding some extra goals for myself- exercise etc.

June key and goals:

Budgeted
Groceries /household $107 / $360
Gas $39 / $80
Homeschool $0 / $20
Kid clothing & items $0 / $50
Baby $5 / $20
unbudgeted spending $0 / $20
No spend days 0 / 20 days

: Exercise 1 / 10
: Garden 0 / 10
Declutter 0 / 5
: Cook from scratch 0 / 5


5/30- $39 gasoline, : walked all over zoo (yay for memberships!)
5/31- $107 groceries, $5 baby wipes

[scrapadoozer]

a. Who you are
I'm Jenny. SAHM to an absolutely lovely five year old girl and a devastatingly handsome 6 week old boy.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals) and
This month's challenge will be the vehicle repairs we have to get in order to have the car inspected. I am unsure of the exact amount we'll need. I'll know for sure on Wednesday. It's looking like at least $500 though.

c. How you plan to get there
Take advantage of the nice weather and have fun without shopping and/or eating out.
Continue to sew from my fabric stash instead of buying new stuff.
Meal plan.

Goals:
0/20 No spend days.
0/$100 Frivolous spending.
0/$500 Car Repair.
1/6 Diapers sewn from stash fabric & supplies.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

I think it is time for me to join in on this thread. My spending isn't out of control, but I need to start decreasing it and being more conscious of where it is going. I think my first step is to track it and see what I can cut out. I'd say that online shopping is my biggest weakness.

[Amys1st]

I am in : May is my most expensive month out of the year and that includes December! We paid for pool passes, swim lessons, several birthdays, our anniversary, mothers day it goes on and on.

The good news, its June and the pool opens this week. We ride our bikes and pack snacks. DD2 is done w preschool as of 2 weeks ago and DD1 finishes the second week of June.

I am Amy, sah mom to my 2 girls. We carry no debt. I do these challenges here and there when I need to plan forward such as this month. Since we are coming out of May and June is a quiet month, its a great time to save. We are redoing our master bath in July as well.

Planned spending:

groceries: 555.86/550 is my goal this month

farmer's market: $20 a week. Its in my neighborhood, I want to keep our businesses nearby, so I am doing this each and every week.
Farmers market $66.25/$100 for June

fun money: $25 a week. This is for lunches again in my neighborhood, ice cream store etc. When I buy from the local people, 70% of my money goes back into my town, when I buy from the big box maybe 10% does.
Fun Money 88.99/100 for the month

Key
: no spending
planned spending or fun/farmers market money
: ate what we had on hand or from grocery run
: no car day only walked or biked or public transit


1 ::
2 : : $18/100 for farmers' market
3 : produce/dairy delivery 36.28/550 $18.34/100 fun money
4 ::
5 get paid, mortgage and mc due paid bill/ fun money-3.39 + 13.25 at a yard sale so 34.98/100
6 :: : $20 for fundraising but going to a crop.
7 groceries- $64.30 = 100.58/550 for the month $6 dd's allowance
8 groceries $17.71= 118.29/550
9 farmers market and fun money
10 ::
11 ::
12
13 ::
14 ::
15 ::
16 target run: $50.02 to grocery and supplies; fun money $22.25; farmers market $17.75
17 ::
18 grocerys for party plus a few supplies= 89.65
19 gifts for several bday parties- $74. 2 webkinz (allowance and fun money) $26/pay day
20 take out thai= $30.40. Very yummy and a good treat since we do that not too often.
21 $10 church.
22 Grocery-87.99/fun money $5.76
23 $10 farmers market
24 Aldi/Tjs run and veggie delivery-=105.83
25 $16 for gift
26 $36 for 2 pairs of shorts- one for me, another for DH. Need badly! $25.02 gas
27
28 DH suprised me w date night! out to eat
29 grocery run- $23.03
30 farmers market $20

[Jenn_M]

I tried this in April (I think) and failed but I want to give it another go...

a. Who you are
Jenn, nearly full time (about 35 hours/week) WOHM to 2 girls. Wife of 7.5 years.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)
We need to stop spending more than we're putting in. I hate seeing our average balance go down every month.

c. How you plan to get there
Planning meals, shopping ALONE (kids and DH add so much more when they go with me), using what we have, making do



Goals for this month...
Groceries/household $0/$500
DH gas money/"allowance" $0/$300
My gas/"allowance" $0/$100
15 No Spend/Budgeted Spending Days 0/15


With the gas going up again DH may start spending a few days a week with his brother. He drives 90 miles to and from work each day from home and if he crashes with his brother it would only be 20 miles roundtrip.

We also have some major vehicle repairs to take care of this month. We're thinking $700-$800:.

[nadia105]

I'm Nadia mostly SAHM to 3, my last day teaching for the year is Friday. We need to get our budget back in the black and keep it there! We carry no debt except for our mortgage, but our savings is pitiful and I'd like to change that.

I'm going to set an amount for each spending category and actually plan out how to spend it (just writing it down doesn't work for me).

I have some already planned expenses for the month: maybe $30 for ds2's bday presents (he's 2, so no need for lots of stuff!), Father's Day ($50 for Dh, FIL's is paid for already, maybe $40 for my dad), 2 anniversaries ($50 total), BIL's bday ($25), other BIL's graduation ($50), puppy we're getting next weekend $300. Okay, that is a lot! I have $200 set aside for gifts and some cash for covering the other gifts and I am going to sell diapers, my Arm's Reach Co Sleeper, and some Hannas I've been hanging on to in order to pay for the puppy.

With everything listed out, it's pretty daunting, but we have a quarter beef and half hog in the freezer and our garden is getting started, as well as the farmer's market nearby, so that will help. Plus, I will be pulling my sewing machine out and getting to work on the gazillion projects that I have patterns and materials for already -- I have enough to keep me busy for a good long time!

[Amys1st]

First, congrats to the new mommies with the newborns!

Also, we have a summer pantry challenge going, I suggest you check that out.

Meal plan! Once you get started, its so easy to follow. I have a copied calendar on the fridge. I pencil in dinners for the week so they can be changed if need be. Its so much easier to have a planned out schedule because then you spend less and also eat better.

[BathrobeGoddess]

I would like to join...summers are really hard on us since I have way less work during that time...

a. Who you are

I'm Eden, I teach online via contract...so far I only have two contracts for the whole summer...during the school year, I have about two a month so its a big income hit that happenes every year.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals) and
I need to get our emergency fund back into order...its down to $400..at this point, I just want to make it through the summer in the black!

c. How you plan to get there
I want to track and see how much we spend on nothing. We don't eat out or anything like that all that much...its actually thrift stores that do me in...I nickle and dime us to death finding deals on stuff we almost never need right then!