April No-Spend Challenge ~ We're in the home stretch... - Page 10

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Ok, I spent $8 at Goodwill today, but I am going to not beat myself up over it too much because I GOT RID OF 170 ITEMS OF CLOTHING AND BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoever came up with the idea to count what you are cleaning out is a genius. I was trying like heck to get to 50, then to 100, then 150, then 175, then when I got to 170, I realized I was going to be late for work if I kept going. My goal was 100 things out of my house this month, and I went WAY over. It wasn't 170 tiny things either. About 150 was pieces of clothing for me that either didn't fit, was way outdated, or I just didn't like and was hanging onto. I also got rid of a large garbage bag of DS's clothes that were too small. It felt so liberating to just drop it all off! Then I went in and checked out the kid's clothing rack.

1.
2.Allowance day $3.21 for a pail and shovel for DS and $4.99 meds for me.
3. $3.21 Easter treats for church egg hunt.
4. $10 totally frivilously spent on books that were not needed in the least. Grrrr...., plus $1.75 on the paper to get coupons. Over allowance by $2.94 for this week so far.
5. $6.03 spent on fast food. (not nuggets for DS though!)
6. ,
7. $8 at Goodwill $2 on clothespins so I can hang up all of my laundry on nice days and save the dryer! 170!!!!
8.
9. Allowance day
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Goals for the Month of April
1. No unplanned spending above my weekly $20 allowance $36.97/$80
2. No eating out that isn't already planned for: 6/30
4. 100 items decluttered: 170/100
5. Car left at home/take the bus/bike/stay home 0/5

- No Spend
- Planned Spend for allowance
- Unplanned Spend
- All meals eaten at home
- Decluttered stuff out of the house
- Car not driven

[mommyto4grits]

My key:
No Spend
No Driving
Budgeted Spending/Necessities/Thought Over Purchase
Unnecessary Spending
: Exercise Day

April 1st- :
April 2nd- so not thrilled I spent money today, but dd did truly need some clothes, got great deals and stayed within a reasonable amount
April 3rd- was a bit of and
April 4th-
April 5th-8th- ON VACATION, x3
April 9th-

[FillingMyQuiver]

Key:
no spend/ budgeted spending
unnecessary/ unbudgeted spending
hung laundry to dry

Goals for April
no spend days 7/20
eating out 1/3
hung laundry to dry 3/10


1.
2. ordered our homeschool curriculum for next year. I'm putting this here preemptively to encourage me to NOT SPEND when I go out later
3. $50 bread, eggs for dying, and the last of the Easter baskets things at WalMart
4.
5.
6. ordered the last of the things I need for DS1's dinosaur party, was able to stay under budget AND found an online coupon code to save on shipping, also ordered our sunblock/ bug spray for the year~ unprepared for how DS1's soccer practice being at 5:30pm would affect us and got McD's for dinner.
7.

[Hollysmom]

Originally Posted by Mirta

That has happened to me so many times... what was really sad was several times when I was planning on starting the no spending challenge and I was plotting all the things I would buy BEFORE it started and the list would grow and GROW because I kept coming up with more things I suddenly wanted/needed... I didn't do that this time... I am SOOOO glad!!

I do the same type of thing. That is why is best for me to do this challenge every month.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Sick at home, skip to my lou.


01.. sos
02.. sos
03.. --- $14 snacks out with my daughter, Latte from starbucks
04.. sos
05.. sos
06.. sos $10.55 McDonald's
07.. sos
08.. sos
09..
10..
11..
12..
13..
14..
15..

Goals for April

1. 7/30 Stay Out of Stores (sos)
2. 6/20 No Spend Days

[Hollysmom]

1 $20 lunch with my sister ~ this was planned however not necessary
2
3
4
5
6
7


5/20 No Spend Days
Frivolous Spending: $20

[thesimplelife25]

Key:
- no spend day
- made a credit card payment
- allowed meal out/take out
- meal out/take out outside of planned $ and # of meals
- earned money/gift card from completing a survey

1st-
2nd- , -$8320 towards credit cards
3rd- -$13.10 Wendy's, spent $55 on birthday gifts
4th-
5th- -$5 gift card to CVS from surveys -$25 mexican takeout
6th-
7th-

Totals for the month:
5/17 no spend days
$8320/$8800 credit card payments
2/6 meals out/take out
$38.10/$100 money spent on meals out/take out
$5/$10 money/gift cards earned from surveys

[triscuitsmom]

This has been a *great* month so far. We started doing a bit of blow money each week for each of us and that has made all of the difference. Now if I grab us a quick snack while we're out I don't feel like it's ruined my whole week because I spent money that wasn't budgeted. It's not a lot of money but having a little bit of flex money means that we can budget for those things (since they will happen either way) and I keep going and don't give up (because after all if I've already "messed up" one day then what does two matter?)

Goals for the Month of April
1. No unplanned spending: 7/30
2. No eating out that isn't already planned for: 6/28
3. Bring in extra money from my business: 0%
4. 450 items decluttered: 22/450
5. 13 days with exercise in them: 4/13

Key:
- No Spend or only planned spending
- Unplanned Spend
- All meals eaten at home or shared with friends/family but didn't cost us anything
- Planned eating out
- Ate outside of the house (unplanned)
- Decluttered stuff out of the house
- Exercise

Apr 1: x 12
Apr 2: x 5
Apr 3:
Apr 4:
Apr 5:
Apr 6: x 5
Apr 7:
Apr 8:

[mommyto4grits]

We have had company in town for 3 weeks now- my Mom for 10 days, a 4 day or so break, and my Dad and Step-Mom for over a week, I'm ready to have our "routine" back. Today was some planned spending, some a little unnecessary. I did need a new purse, but I bought 2 because they were on sale, and I liked both. I am not going to stress about it, because I lost 30 lbs and I am saying that is my "treat".

My key:
No Spend
No Driving
Budgeted Spending/Necessities/Thought Over Purchase
Unnecessary Spending
: Exercise Day

April 1st- :
April 2nd- so not thrilled I spent money today, but dd did truly need some clothes, got great deals and stayed within a reasonable amount
April 3rd- was a bit of and
April 4th-
April 5th-7th- ON VACATION, x3
April 8th-

[FillingMyQuiver]

Key:
no spend/ budgeted spending
unnecessary/ unbudgeted spending
hung laundry to dry

Goals for April
no spend days 8/20
eating out 1/3
hung laundry to dry 3/10


1.
2. ordered our homeschool curriculum for next year. I'm putting this here preemptively to encourage me to NOT SPEND when I go out later
3. $50 bread, eggs for dying, and the last of the Easter baskets things at WalMart
4.
5.
6. ordered the last of the things I need for DS1's dinosaur party, was able to stay under budget AND found an online coupon code to save on shipping, also ordered our sunblock/ bug spray for the year~ unprepared for how DS1's soccer practice being at 5:30pm would affect us and got McD's for dinner.
7.
8. ordered our math curriculum for next year, excited to get started planning next year's schooling

[scrapadoozer]

04/01
04/02
04/03
04/04
04/05
04/06
04/07
04/08

$0 Frivolously spent
8/20 No-spend days
8/30 Not buying clothes for my kids days
6/10 Loads of laundry hung out to dry
$91.06/$500.00 Groceries

[scrapadoozer]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin_Pie

Ok, I spent $8 at Goodwill today, but I am going to not beat myself up over it too much because I GOT RID OF 170 ITEMS OF CLOTHING AND BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoever came up with the idea to count what you are cleaning out is a genius. I was trying like heck to get to 50, then to 100, then 150, then 175, then when I got to 170, I realized I was going to be late for work if I kept going. My goal was 100 things out of my house this month, and I went WAY over. It wasn't 170 tiny things either. About 150 was pieces of clothing for me that either didn't fit, was way outdated, or I just didn't like and was hanging onto. I also got rid of a large garbage bag of DS's clothes that were too small. It felt so liberating to just drop it all off! Then I went in and checked out the kid's clothing rack.

That is fantastic! 170 items in one day is very impressive!

[thesimplelife25]

Key:
- no spend day
- made a credit card payment
- allowed meal out/take out
- meal out/take out outside of planned $ and # of meals
- earned money/gift card from completing a survey

1st-
2nd- , -$8320 towards credit cards
3rd- -$13.10 Wendy's, spent $55 on birthday gifts
4th-
5th- -$5 gift card to CVS from surveys -$25 mexican takeout
6th-
7th-
8th- -$25 on pizza, spent $1.99 on a show from itunes

Totals for the month:
5/17 no spend days
$8320/$8800 credit card payments
3/6 meals out/take out
$63.10/$100 money spent on meals out/take out
$5/$10 money/gift cards earned from surveys

[jewellz]

My key:
no spend day=
unnecessary spending=
no driving=
eat at home=
Used cloth diapers= (gotta clean out the diaper closet first)

Goals:
1. Only go shopping/errands 0/8
2. Stretch out FS money=$0/$514
3. no eating out for lunches this month 0/0
4. major clean (and keep clean) 1 room per week, getting ready for baby's arrival 0/4

Tues 6th-appt & shopping at walmart
goals=
1. 3/8
2. 239.71/$514
3.
4. nope

Wed 7th-
goals=
1. 3/8
2. $239.71/$514
3.
4. YUP, cleaned out the diaper closet so I started using cloth diapers again.

Thur 8th-
goals=
1. 3/8
2. $239.71/$514
3.
4. nope

[FeelingBlessed]

Missed quite a few months, jumping in late, + haven't read all of April yet, but happy to be back here.

1. I am Kim, currently working 32 fairly flexible hours @ a small nonprofit, DH works (3) 12-hr ER shifts over the weekend (making it possible to homeschool our kiddos + avoid childcare expenses) - our fabulous monkeys are 6 + 3. DH will also be back in school this fall, making our schedules super-tight. Laying the groundwork for eventual self-employment.

2. On a positive note - just paid off our Subaru this morning, meaning NO MORE CAR PAYMENTS (truck was already paid off)! On a "needs work" note - after paying off $237K in debt over the past 2 years (including sale of a former house), this still leaves $564K in current debt (2 houses, grad school loans, lead remediation project, unanticipated house rewiring, DH career-change undergrad loans...).

In the short-term, want to keep the budget in the black + continue paying down debt.

In the mid-term, plan to be self-employed (while keeping budget in black + debt declining).

In the long-term, will be self-employed + debt free.

3. Getting there...(this month):
* eliminate unnecessary spending
* keep food budget under $500 (will be a challenge - we usually budget $600 + blow right through it)
* sell at least (3) things on ebay/craigslist
* continue decluttering
* create workable family routine (lack of routine/pre-planning = costly takeout)
* keep running (happier me = less spending)

Good luck to all of you ladies; hope April meets all of your financial hopes!

Kim

[Hollysmom]

1 $20 lunch with my sister ~ this was planned however not necessary
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 $20 skirts


5/20 No Spend Days
Frivolous Spending: $40

[eirual]

1:
2:
3: (lunch out: a whopping $45!)
4:
5: ($33 on "stuff"- caulking, door stops, helmet for DS)
6:
7:
8:

Un-budgetted spending: $78

I'm streamlining and exnaying differentiating between no-spend and budgetted spending days. If it's part of the plan I'm going to keep it as .

[dachshundqueen]

[QUOTE=dachshundqueen;15267386]No spend day
Kept Meal Plan
Budgeted spend
Hang laundry to dry
Walked
FAIL

04/01 2 laps
04/02
04/03 2 laps Costco, bread outlet, and Kroger runs today - $115.07. DH bought stuff for the car we're trying to sell to make the A/C run. I bought a $1.50 hot dog/coke combo at Costco as I nearly passed out in line to pay - that would've really sucked big time. I'm off to go for a walk and walk off the 3 Cokes I've had today (2 were for the blood sugar crash).
04/04 Too much pollen to hang clothes outside, working on plan B. I'm sick so no walking. Took kid to urgent Care $60.00, popsicles (to bribe kids to take medicine), claritin D children's generic, children's tylenol.
04/05 Pollen count insane, no laundry hanging, no exercise (sick as a dog)
04/06: Annabelle to urgent care $60
04/07: , ate out for breakfast as up all night with sick kids and sick myself$13, $40 for pedi visit for nebulizer treatment for William, $60 for urgent care for me, $150 for ER for me, dinner out with DH as middle of night when discharged $10, prescriptions $100+, lost money as DH had to take 1/2 day off to take us all to doctor's appointments as too sick to drive
04/08:
04/09:

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

The Weekend is here.

I capitalize ~Weekend~ because this is a very dangerous two days for my budget.

I'm planning hiking and a trip to the gym -- both free -- and I'm banishing all thoughts of Keen sandals from my mind.

I'm going to be STRONG this weekend.


01.. sos
02.. sos
03.. --- $14 snacks out with my daughter, Latte from starbucks
04.. sos
05.. sos
06.. sos $10.55 McDonald's
07.. sos
08.. sos
09.. sos
10..
11..
12..
13..
14..
15..

Goals for April

1. 8/30 Stay Out of Stores (sos)
2. 7/20 No Spend Days

[mommyto4grits]

We have had company in town for 3 weeks now- my Mom for 10 days, a 4 day or so break, and my Dad and Step-Mom for over a week, I'm ready to have our "routine" back. Today was some planned spending, some a little unnecessary. I did need a new purse, but I bought 2 because they were on sale, and I liked both. I am not going to stress about it, because I lost 30 lbs and I am saying that is my "treat".

My key:
No Spend
No Driving
Budgeted Spending/Necessities/Thought Over Purchase
Unnecessary Spending
: Exercise Day

April 1st- :
April 2nd- so not thrilled I spent money today, but dd did truly need some clothes, got great deals and stayed within a reasonable amount
April 3rd- was a bit of and
April 4th-
April 5th-7th- ON VACATION, x3
April 8th-
April 9th- $270 Vet bill for sick dog otherwise