~January No-Spend Challenge~ Let's start 2010 out with a bang! Everyone is welcome to join at... - Page 3

[sweetjasmine]

a. Who you are - I'm Aileen, wife to hubby, stepmom to five kids, two youngest stay with us part time; I have one daughter and a 4 year old grandson, 9 month old granddaughter and another one on the way!!

b. Where you are going (your financial goals) - get medical bills paid off this year, cc paid off, car loan paid off hopefully this year, too. Also, build up the 3-6 month living expenses.

c. How you plan to get there - continue keeping grocery bill and non-essential spending down. Extra paycheck we have coming this month will go toward the medical bills.

necessary spend
no spend
unnecessary spend

January
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

[Smithie]

Oh, I forgot something important in my first post. We need to work on paying off the house we can't sell out in WA. It's rented, thank Maude, and we've been just paying interest on the relatively small (20k) mortgage. But sometime in 2011 (and how sad is it that I don't know exactly which month?), the 5/1 ARM adjusts. So we need to get ourselves out of that debt.

So. Maybe I need to revise my goals a little. (sniff)

Budget for January 2010: $5177
Actually spent in January 2010: $108.67

[Piccadilly]

This is only like my 3rd or 4th post on MDC but I've lurked for years. I NEED to do this.

1. I'm a mostly SAHM to 2 boys, 3 and 7. I work very part time as a cake decorating instructor, evenings and some Saturdays.

2. We have some savings and make enough to get by every month with some extra. My DH took a pay cut in the last 6 months and we are feeling it. We also spent almost $1000 on car repairs to my car in the last 2 months, on top of Christmas and traveling to see my family.

I am looking to buy a used minivan for myself and need to see if we can swing it by reducing our other spending.

We live 10 miles from the edge of town, and both of my sons go to school in town, dh works in town, and I work in another. We drive A LOT. We currently have 2 fuel efficient cars but mine is apparently cursed.

My Goals:
1. Spend $$ on nothing "extra". Unavoidable "unusual" expenses: My 3yo needs new pants (will try thrift stores first) and I have to take a business trip 120 miles away next weekend, which will involve extra gas, food, and a hotel room. I also have to spend a little $$ to teach my classes (supplies) but will keep that to a minimum as well. Goal is 22/31 "no spend days".

2. Work out 4 days/week. My goal is to lose 8 lbs this month.

3. No eating out for me or the boys. Will encourage dh to take his lunch to work at least 2x week (he gets an allowance that he spends on lunch so this doesn't come out of our household $$)

4. Keep driving to a minimum. Hard to do in our situation but I will combine errands, etc.

Key:
= no spend
= planned spend
= unpanned spend
=exercise
= eat at home
=no car

1.
2.
3. (Not a great day, obviously) Movie, snacks, groceries, ds haircut, all bills paid for month
4.
5.
6.
7. (Target, car wash)
8. (gas, food on the road to conference)
9. (food at conference)
10. (food at conference)
11. (food, gas to travel home)
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[Mirta]

a. Who you are
~Kym... Wife to DH and mom to one wonderful 2.75 year old!!

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)
~I am working on reducing my spending and increasing our savings.

c. How you plan to get there
1. Spend $$ on nothing "extra". Goal is 15/31 "no spend days".

2. No eating out for me or DS. Will encourage dh to take his lunch to work at least 2x week

3. Declutter 5 items per day

3. Exercise 3 times per week

4. Keep driving to a minimum. Hard to do in especially in the winter, but I will combine errands, etc.


Goals for the Month of January
1. Half the month with no spend days: 0/15
2. Unplanned spending 5 or fewer days: 0/5
3. No eating out that we pay for all month: 0/31
4. 185 items decluttered: 0/185 (I'm doing The Challenge)
5. 13 days with exercise in them: 0/13

Key:
- No Spend
-Planned Spend
- Unplanned Spend
- All meals eaten at home
- Exercise
- No Car

Running Totals:
Groceries: $0.00
Unplanned/Uneccessary spending: $0.00

1/1--

[Hollysmom]

January 1 -
January 2 - $13 for socks (I needed them, but still a spend)

Unbudgeted/Unnecessary Spening: $13
No Spend Days: 1

[CariOfOz]

Originally Posted by Piccadilly

This is only like my 3rd or 4th post on MDC but I've lurked for years. I NEED to do this.

Welcome aboard, MDC is much more fun once you get involved... of course it's also more of a time suck

[liangel]

My key:

= groceries

= necessities like gas and stuff for baby.

=No money left my pocket

=Oops! Spent money.


1/1=
1/2= $8.00 Movies

[scrapadoozer]

01/01
01/02 $6.20 Dunkin Donuts

1/20 no-spend days
$6.20 frivolous spending
$0.00 put in savings account

[Janey31]

Another good day.

So far:
Key: No spending at all ; Only necessary spending: ; Unplanned, unecessary spending:
1/ -
2/ - Allowance payout
3/ -

[lucifugous]

Hello! I was eyeing this thread on the 31st but had to get off the computer... This didn't seem like it was for me in previous months, but I have realized that there still are little leaks in spending, on top of massive issues to work out, so here I am! I will be focusing on gaining income as much as curbing spending, and I hope it still fits in this thread. I am so thankful for a place to talk out these problems. I feel so stuck.

a. Who you are
I am Kate, mama to D (17 months), split from her dad 9 months ago and living with my mom. Haven't had full-time or sustainable employment in 2 1/2 years, for one reason after another. I have been totally unemployed for a few months now, stuck with no childcare and limited access to transportation, and it needs to change!!

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)
right now: 1) Stay within $280 food budget. 2) Find a job in January- there must be SOME way.
near future: need to find a home of our own and start building reserves

c. How you plan to get there
1) This will be my first time doing this; for months I have been sharing the food with my mother and brother, which usually cost 200 over or even double my budget. We have decided to separate it and I think I will do better without having to accommodate their tastes! I will just have to keep track and buy the right portions so things aren't going bad. I had trouble making food for one in the past, but I think I can do pretty well for us.
2) This is a really complicated situation, but I have make it work. There is a bus that runs at rush hour to the nearest metra train line and from there I can get to a lot of places, but I have D 6 2/3 days per week (and the 1/3 day I don't is in the afternoon/evening) so I am also looking for jobs near where her father lives and if necessary I will move back in with him for a few months, where I would have much more access to transit, and to childcare since he is hardly working.

That is really it. Keeping it simple!

Goals and Amounts for January (borrowing & adapting from PPs here, obviously- thank you!)
29 days with no unnecessary spending: 0/2
Half the month with no spend days: 2/31
No eating out that I pay for all month: 2/31
5 items decluttered /day plus /item in: 102/210 (started early)
Eat well within food budget: $0/$280
Set expenses estimated: /$400
Track travel expenses: $0
Unnecessary spending: $0

[CariOfOz]

Goals for the Month of January
1. 25days of no spending (not counting rent, groceries & required bills.. I mean misc spending)0/31
2. Unplanned spending 5 or fewer days: 0/5
3. Eat out as little as possible (we do friday fish & chips, so aiming for ONLY that: 0/31
4. 15 days with exercise in them: 0/15

Key:
- No Spend
- Planned Spend
- Unplanned Spend
- All meals eaten at home
- Exercise

Running Totals: Just keeping running totals on things that get out of hand for us... which is groceries, and misc unplanned spending! Dh has his van in to be serviced this coming weekend, which we hadn't budgeted for but is still required, so in here it goes.

Groceries: $0.00
Unplanned/Uneccessary spending: $0.00

Jan 1:
2: and (milk, bread.. planned. lightbulb replacement $10 unplanned)
3. Didn't even leave home today

[kings5queens4]

=no spending outside of budget (bills, groceries, gas, home improvement, etc...)
= spent when I shouldn't have


01- $11.99 I woke up to an email from ebay this morning telling me I won an auction for a diaper that I had bid on last week. Ack. So much for my no spending day start to a new year!
02-
03- $13.00 Subway (2 meals)
04- Should be a no spend day
05-
06-
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08-
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[major_mama11]

Starting the new year with our first (of many I'm sure) unexpected expense- DD's medicine for some weird undiagnosed mouth problem (which we will also be paying a copay for on Monday when we get seen by the dentist and/or doctor), and also with having to increase our grocery bill due to trying to find some laundry detergent, any laundry detergent, that doesn't make my poor DD break out in hives.

Also, after talking to DH last night about his reduced work hours, I'm starting to think that the workshop that I was planning to go to for March might have to wait until the next dates when it would be close by- next fall. It looks like what little money I make is going to be needed for regular household expenses, and it's probably not realistic to expect myself to save one grand extra in two months' time, on top of paying for everyday stuff. I guess I'll wait until after I see if my boss will pay for the workshop before I decide for sure.

1/1-
2- $5 DD medicine, $12 baby items, $74 groceries, $34 gasoline
3 Meal Plan. Coupon. $17 Amazon books ($4 self spending, $13 homeschool books)

Groceries/ household: $74 / $200 keeping it low this month as our pantry is VERY well stocked!)
Kid and baby stuff: $20 / $20
Homeschool: $13 / $20
Blow money for self: $4 / $30
Gasoline: $34 / $100
Gifts: 0 / $10
Medical copays: $5 medicine, $100 at dentist?

Total January budgeted = $480
Total January spent = $150

Goals:
No spend days 1 / 15
Declutter 0 / 5
Exercise 0 / 10
: Meal Plan! 0 / 4 weeks

Extra money set aside for March CLC course: $0 / $1000

[MonkeyPrincess]

No Spend =
Approved Spending =
Unapproved Spending =
Ate at Home =
No Car Day =

1.
2.

[bellabear]

a. Who you are: Michelle SAHM to one dd
b. Where you are going (your financial goals): Finally realized the huge debt I have created and am ready to get serious and pay it off, then start saving for the future. Oh,first save one month's living expenses, then on to debt.
c. How you plan to get there: No unnecessary spending, keep track of budget, meal planning.

Key:
- no spend
- necessary/budgeted spend
- unnecessary spend



01- Gas, credit card payments
02- Groceries for the week
03-
04-
05- Dr appt copay
06-
07- (dh gas)
08- groceries (apples, also strawberries for play date)
09- groceries
10-
11-
12-
13- (dh chiropractor co-pay)
14- me (dh forgot his lunch)
15-
16- groceries for the week
17- heavy cream for pasta sauce
18-
19- me (dh lunch)
20- gas
21- dh gas, stamps
22- - groceries (sour cream) (dh lunch)
23- - groceries for the week
24- - groceries for the week
25- - once upon a child--clothes for new baby+books for dd--$11.85
26- - 5 pairs of wiggees for new baby, they are going out of business and are my fav soft soled shoes, were only $5 each and will last till baby is at least 2 years old--$31.95
27- dh gas
28-
29- - groceries for the week (had to get today bc of snowstorm!)
30- dh coffee and beer

Goal: stay under budget, 0 unnecessary spend days!

[columbusmomma]

I want to join!!
I'm Sarah, mom of 2, married to DH.
Where I am going: pay down debt,increase savings, spend less on food and unnecessary non-needed items.
How I plan to get there: record daily spending, post here for accountability and to gain ideas,get support! Try to limit unnecessary spending/expenses.

Key:
No spending:
Necessary spending:
Unnecessary spending:

So far:
1/1/10
1/2/10:
1/3/10:
$30.00 on Rx
$98.00 on groceries
1/4/10: $15.78 at Target, socks for DS and vitamins for me $2.00 donation to working america(guy came to frontdoor)
1/5/10:$16.98 for 2 lost library books $20.00(grocery items)
1/6/10: $38.75 grocery items
1/7/10: $140 for nanny and $13.98 tadpoles for DS
1/8/10: $59.54 groceries at Trader Joe's, $21.34, gift
1/9/10: $12.00, lunch $3.00snacks for DD, $8.00makeup
1/10/10: $238.00 plane ticket for DH
1/11/10:$13.00 gift
1/12/10: $16.20 for overdue library fines
1/13/10: More darn groceries, $51.33, $36.00 gas, $30.00 on myself shopping
1/14/10: $140 for nanny, 513.12, contact lens stuff, $19.29 groceries
1/15/10: $14.00 haircut for DS $16.98 groceries
1/16/10: $119.36 groceries, $41.40 groceries
1/17/10:
1/18/10:
1/19/10:
1/20/10: $64.96 groceries
1/21/10: $140 for nanny $4.91 tp and icecream
1/22/10: $4.00 treats for kids, $10 for gas $10.63, new blind for living room window
1/23/10: $94.42 at target for household needs
1/24/10:
1/25/10: $22.98 groceries, $20.00atm withdrawal
1/26/10:$20 atm$22.00 book for DS
1/27/10 $140 for nanny $11.75 shutterly
1/28/10:$16 airport parking $25.85, rx for DS, toiletries
1/29/10: $34.09 groceries at co op, $11.23 candy shop
1/30/10: $ 9.00 gas, $20 atm, $161.97 groceries
1/31/10:

[MonkeyPrincess]

No Spend =
Approved Spending =
Unapproved Spending =
Ate at Home =
No Car Day =

1.
2.
3.

[Livi's Mama]

No Spend =
Approved Spending =
Unapproved Spending =

1.
2. Mostly , a little . Thankfully it was small. On the up side, when we run our Saturday errands, we typically talk ourselves into eating out, but we did not do so yesterday. This was especially a victory for DH who has the hardest time saying no. And even better, I explained to DH the benefits of throwing all our cash into paying off the van & he's on board!!!!!
3. Due to my lack of organization, couldn't find something & had to go buy a duplicate. I guess 'Organize Storage' needs to be a goal for 2010 as well.

[Hollysmom]

January 1 -
January 2 - $13 for socks (I needed them, but still a spend)
January 3 -

Unbudgeted/Unnecessary Spening: $13
No Spend Days: 2

[Mirta]

Key:
- No Spend
-Planned Spend
- Unplanned Spend
- All meals eaten at home
- Exercise
- No Car

Running Totals:
Groceries: $0.00
Unplanned/Uneccessary spending: $0.00

1/1--
1/2--
1/3-- --migraine & was asleep during dinner..DH bought fast food for family

Kym