~June No-Spend Challenge~ We're tracking our spending and saving money! - Page 2

[FoxintheSnow]

Hi I'm joining in for the first time. I really need to spend less.

a. Who you are
I'm Leah. Sahm to a 5 year old and 1 year old.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals) and
Trying to stick to a budget for the first time in a very long time.

c. How you plan to get there
A big thing is not going to a store (Target) as something to pass time. Also working on a meal plan. Not buying so many toys. Lord knows the kids have enough.

My goals are:

Groceries 61/$400
Fun Money 0/$150
Farmer's Market 0/$40

1- $0 spent
2-$61 food
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

[Alyantavid]

I'm back again. I'm actually doing pretty good sticking to this. This month, I'm just going to keep tracking our spending and working on getting the grocery bill down.

1-
2-
3-
4-
5-
6-
7-
8-
9-
10-
11-
12-
13-
14-
15-
16-
17-
18-
19-
20-
21-
22-
23-
24-
25-
26-
27-
28-
29-
30-

Groceries - $300

[Millie Ivy]

Who I am- Hi! I am Shelley. I am not trying to NO spend, just plan and be vicious with what I spend this month.

Goal- to not spend more than a set amount this month, including my weaknesses. 1-no new clothing, 2-no more yarn 3-no bpal. (a slight modifier- new bpal if I sell bpal and have paypal...)

Plan of attack. I wrote out exactly what I can spend and on what for the next two weeks (kids are gone for summer visitation, only me and toddler at home). I am in the throes of major yearly declutter, including getting rid of most of my clothes. No need to get new things that fit until I rid myself of everything else, and I will most likely have enough clothing for a while anyway. I will track spending here.Only tracking my money from my pt job and child support. Anything dh pays for doesn't go here. (allergy meds, some groceries, home/insurance/etc.)

6/1 nothing so far!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

01..

And we're off!

[kathirynne]

Back again

I did the challenge in April and met all my goals! :

I am back in for June (and for each of the next 12 months, at least) to work on meeting a long-term goal.

a. Who you are I am Kathirynne, single, WOHM to 4 great children.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals) I have goaled myself to buy a new-to-us car in the summer of 2010. I have narrowed down my choices to (in order of preference):

Volvo Cross-Country station wagon
Honda Odyssey mini van
Toyota Sienna mini van

I am aiming for the $10,000 price range. Which means I have to save as much as possible every month. (My tax return will be part of the $10,000.) I can do it if I am diciplined about not spending.

c. How you plan to get there My budget always works. On paper. I just have to stick to it, and be ruthless about saying "no" to my internal gimmies...

Once again, I have a 3-pronged plan of attack:

*ABSOLUTELY NO out-of-budget spending. This mostly means sticking to my $400 grocery budget, and eliminating "recreational" shopping at the charity shops.

*lunch at my desk = 1/2 hour of overtime (at time and a half pay) every day. (I will also be coming into the office 1/2 hour earlier once school lets out for the summer.)

*at least 20 no drive days to save petrol money

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

BUDGET
*rent: $950/$950
*power: $/$150
*water: $/$50
*telephone: $/$50
*food: $/$400
*petrol: $19.10/$25 (any $$ left over after I fill up for the month gets put into the non-food kitty)
*non-food (this covers everything from soap to swimming lessons to haircuts to school supplies and everything in between): $42.99/[$50 + 5.90] $55.90
*C's braces: $200 (only 6 more payments to go!)

key:

true no-spend day
budgeted spending day
: saved on purchase (coupon, rebate, BOGO, et cetera)
"conjured" money (besides wages or child support income)
: lunch at my desk
: 1/2 hour overtime
: no drive day
: unexpected spending day
out of budget spending day
: fell off the wagon


1: (rent=$950, swimming lessons=$37, petrol=$19.10, rabbit pellets=$5.99)
:
:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6: monthly food shop
7:
8:
9:
10:
11:
12:
13:
14:
15: payday
16: pay bills (power, water, telephone, C's braces)
17:
18:
19:
20:
21:
22:
23:
24:
25:
26:
27:
28:
29:
30: payday

[cymbeline]

Fired up, ready to go!

Hello, all, I have never done this before, but always admire those who do. Honestly, I am TERRIFIED of this challenge, but I am telling myself no excuses this time!

a. Who you are
I'm a mama to three kids and one due in September. DH works f/t and I stay home and run our business which used to provide us both with ample income but, for the last 9 months, has been a giant hole we throw money into and only in the last 30 days has started to show signs of recovery. This economy has left us broke and reeling. I'm ready to recover myself!!

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)
My main concern right now is debt control. June is going to be the month that we (a) stop accumulating new debt and (b) start making baby steps to paying off the debt we have.

c. How you plan to get there.
The only way out is through, right? I have not been tracking our finances AT ALL. I have been holding on for dear life for the last 6 months while DH looked for work and I tried to figure out how to keep our business from going bankrupt. The good news is that he has a job and we still have the business. Now I need to watch our spending closely!!

Today's goal: I plan to finally sit down with the box full of bills and papers and reconcile all of our accounts and figure out where we stand. I might need some help from you mamas on a budget UPDATED TO ADD: We did it! We made a budget and a debt elimination plan!

This month's goals (updated 6/5):
- Cut up the credit cards (except for our original emergencies-only card).
- Not take on any new debt.
- No non-essential spending.
- Eat from the garden, pantry and freezer.
- Make a household budget.
- Make a business budget.
- Make a debt elimination plan.
- Discuss and commit with DH.
- Discuss and commit with the family.


Here we go!

1- $0
**2- $45 babysitting, $54 clothes, $29 personal care, $35 toiletries
3- $22 food
4- $0
5- $146 home repair
6- $23 food
7- $84 food
8- $19 food
**9- $42 food
10- $0
11- $80 food, $1 entertainment
12- $33 education, $6 recreation, $43 food
13- $25 food
14- $28 dog care, $17 food
15- $105 bike repair not in budget at all, DS1's bike was totaled
**16- $48 food (i can't believe how much fresh produce the kids are going through so far this summer!!!)
17- $17 food, $30 household, $25 gifts
18- $0
19- $2 entertainment
20- $60 food
21- $0
22- $0
**23- $80 food (garden)
24-
25-
26-
27-
28-
29-
**30-

Food 560/500 -- realizing this is due to fast food at the beginning of the month, now eliminated, and garden supplies which we are still accumulating as new gardeners -- need to re-evaluate for next month
BOA 1874/7494
CAPONE 1178/4713
* Contact Sprint PCS to change to lower minute plan
* Cancel DH gym membership and old email
* Contact bank about mortgage
* Dispute property taxes
* Cancel lawn service
* Switch to no-fee credit union
** Tuesdays are spending days

Update 6/9: This month is a learning experience. So far, all is within our budget, but I'm nervous as so many "unexpected" expenses keep creeping up. I suppose they are only unexpected because we haven't been tracking anything until now!!!

[christian211]

okay, budget-

cable/int/phone 0/$150
electric/gas $98/$110
car ins. 0/$200
gas $20/$120
cigs(dh) 0/$130
groceries 0/$180
eating out 0/$60
spirits 0/$65
O2 sensors (car) 0/$200
f. day 0/$40
J bday 0/$20
dads bday 0/$10
car registration 0/$40
PAY DISCOVER OFF 0/$450
min. on cc#2,#3,#4,#5 :
savings 0/$400 (for July) We have bef in place
discretionary 0/$50

JUNE

1. rent. electric/gas $98


PS- I have a huge stockpile and get WIC this is how I can get away w/ $180. Normally, it is $230, but I've done $180 for a month or so before to help get out of debt

GOALS

STICK TO BUDGET
NO SPEND 0/15
MAKE NEW MEALS W/ ODDS & ENDS FROM PANTRY 0/12

[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:


June 1 - 10.03 (cheesecloth and two cans of soup)

[dsaucone]

I want to save more than I spend.

Rent $675
Gas $26.63
RoadRunner $49.99
Student Loan $50.00
Entertainment $34.25



Savings $0/$500

[PNWmama]

Hi! This is my first time joining, and it's with some trepidation . I'm great at making a budget...it's the keeping it that's the hard thing. I hope this group can help keep me accountable .

a. Who you are
I'm Emilie. I'm a SAHM to my 2 1/2 year old DS and my 10 week old DD.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)
The big goals are to pay off our debt ($1100 medical bills, $2300 car loan, and big big student loan) and start saving for a house down payment.

We have a $1000 emergency fund already, so that makes me feel good.

I'd like to end the month with $ leftover in our checking acct instead of our balance at zero.

c. How you plan to get there

Stick to my budget! Stop making little unecessary purchases on things like coffee, snacks and eating out 'cause even though we don't do it often they still add up. Go with a cash budget for food, household items and gas. I think I'm going to allocated a small amount of cash for eating out so we can keep track of that easier instead of just whipping out the debit card. Meal plan so we won't even have to get takeout for dinner. Make grocery lists and stick to them.

06/01: 47.55 bulk laundry soap and litter (household), 100.19 groceries, 15.00 takeout tacos (dining out)

Budget for June:
100.19/$400 Groceries
47.55/$120 Household/Personal care
0/$80 Gas
15/$50 Eating out/treats
100/$100 general savings

No spend days goal: 0/20

[scrapadoozer]

o6/01:

Goals:
1/20 No spend days.
0/$100 Frivolous spending.
0/$500 Car Repair.
2/6 Diapers sewn from stash fabric & supplies.

[nolansmummy]

6/1 - 0$ spent , :
6/2- , 15$ Gas, 25$ Grocery, :
6/3 - , 5$ grocery :
6/4- , 253$ water bill, 33$ Grocery :
6/5 -
6/6-
6/7- - 25$ grocery
6/8- - This was a busy day of spending. 250 gas bill, 140 phone, 64 electric, 130 sister, 120 books for class, 10 misc, 180 Grocery, 50 walmart (toiletries), and 1150 Rent. Yikes.

Key:
- No money spent
: - Not planned, completely unnecessary spending
- planned, budgeted money spent
: - 30 days of fitness

[Honey693]

a. Who you are
I'm Crystal. Sahm to a 7.5 month old. I did thsi in April, but slacke dout in May.

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

Another $100 towards vacation.
Dinner out no more than 4 times.
Spend less in general.

c. How you plan to get there
A big thing is not going to a store (Target) as something to pass time.
Also working on a meal plan.
no going to the store without a list.


1- 6 - book
2- 1.75 - anniversary card/45 - anniversary dinner/drinks/dessert
3- 12 - groceries
4- 17 - dinner out w/a friend
5- 3 - coffee/72 - groceries
6- 30 jumperoo/3 - coffee/20 - dinner out
7- 75 - clothes/3 - coffee
8- - 3 - coffee/3 - clothes
9-
10-
11-
12-
13-
14-
15-
16-
17-
18-
19-
20-
21-
22-
23-
24-
25-
26-
27-
28-
29-
30-

[Jenn_M]

6/1- ($64 groceries, $350 rent, $60 medical bill) / : ($35 doctor copay/meds)




: budgeted/necessary spending
:: unbudgeted spending
: NO spending


Goals for this month...
Groceries/household $64/$500
DH gas money/"allowance" $0/$300
My gas/"allowance" $0/$100
15 No Spend/Budgeted Spending Days 0/15

[Purple*Lotus]

June 1st: :

My Key:
= no spend day- does not count budgeted items like bills for rent, water, etc.
: = exercised for at least a half an hour

[Om Girl]

Who you are:
I'm Summer, Minnesota mama to my 2 girls and working my way out of the black hole called debt. Last month I took the CC out of my wallet and lived on cash only Huge step for me...Working on living within my means and loving it! DH is on board with no-spend/budgeting and snowballing debt!
Where you are going (your financial goals):
My financial goals are to snowball my debt and have all CC debt paid off by December 09. (Then we'll start on the car and mortgage!)
How you plan to get there:
I intend to record every penny spent, stick to my budget...and pay everything on time (no more late fees)! Every purchase that I want to make will instead be a no-spend moment and that money will be added to the CC payment. (If I think I have $ to spend, then I have $ to put towards my debt)

June 2009
01: : (Budgeted spending) pd mortgage, cell, 2 CC payments

Goals:
$0.00/$125.00 gas
$0.00/325.00 groceries
$0.00/100.00 restaurants
$50.00 mad money
$613.29 credit card payments

[nadia105]

So far, so good!

1:

[Kino]

I really need to join Laughing about it beats crying.

I'm a divorced SAHM so on a limited income. On Saturday I pay my first tuition installment for my yoga teacher training. I have about half the money and will be in debt probably for a few months paying off the other half. Really need to cut the corners!

I cash my check either tomorrow or Wednesday. I'm going to pull $400 out for groceries. Hopefully by using the freezer and pantry I will have some to roll over to next month. And hopefully I will not buy anything other than food... and well of course pay the bills.

1: no spend

[CityChic]

Moving and Babies and Layoffs Cost Money...

a. Who you are -Rachael, Wife to traveling DH, Mom to 2 yr old boy and 1 bean on the way due in July! (Also laid off 5/7, Moved 6/1, Due 7/21...aghhh!)

b. Where you are going (your financial goals) - Minimize our physical 'stuff' along with our expenses. Since I lost my job (which was salaried where DH is full time hourly union) we need to adjust our budget and our spending.

(We would also like to aggressively pay down our debt but need to make it through this speed bump of deciding to only have 1 income before we go back to that. This month just tracking unbudgeted spending.)

This month we have already committed to: Moving to a smaller place (done!), Not having cable (did not move the installation to the new place), downgrade our internet (deep breaths) and selling/donating some items where we could downsize.

c. How you plan to get there - Watch the non-essential spending, try and coupon more. I took 3 coupons to Target, comparison shopped, decided not to get 2 items and used the additional coupon, I can keep doing that.

I will record spending here. Regular Bills will not be recorded:

June 1 - $80 (Dinner for church crew that moved us, well worth it!)

[Alyantavid]

1-$0
2-
3-
4-
5-
6-
7-
8-
9-
10-payday
11-
12-payday
13-
14-
15-
16-
17-
18-
19-
20-
21-
22-
23-
24-payday
25-
26-payday
27-
28-
29-
30-

Groceries - $300