~ October No-Spend Challenge ~ The treat is having money in the bank. The trick is keeping it... - Page 6

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I spent $300 today but it was on the most boring of boring necessary stuff -- toilet paper, dishwasher soap, cleaning sponges, utilitarian groceries like flour and bread -- I hate to spend a big chunk of money on stuff that doesn't give me that spendy high...but it had to be done.

It was a "stock-up" trip. I save myself a TON of money by shopping in stores less frequently, so I buy the BIG containers of everything.

I also bought a new MP3 player but it was for my job (I teach fitness classes) so I'll be able to claim it on my taxes. It wasn't a luxury.

Yes, that is right. I spent over $300 and I'm still claiming a no-spend day.

But while I was there putting stuff in the cart I was thinking "is this a necessity?" and all of it truly was. There was no frou-frou spending today.

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02.. $5 starbucks
03.. $5 starbucks
04.. $7 McDonald's
05.. $1 coffee
06.. $406 shoes for myself and DD, Christmas presents
07.. , finally! a day without grabbing coffee out
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My Goals:

2/15 No Spend Days
0/3 Let the Car Rest Days
1/25 Fast Food Free Days

[nwmomof2]

5. Groceries $132, household $62, photos $10, gas $33, clothing/xmas $99
6. NS
7. Silly Banz for DDs (How dumb do I feel spending $ on this fad...) $5, Starbucks $8
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Goals:
1/15 NS days
$132/$500 groceries
$10/$50 eating out
1/1 Costco trip
No Target trips this month
0/$500 added to savings

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by nwmomof2

Silly Banz for DDs (How dumb do I feel spending $ on this fad...) $5

I don't know any parents who have gotten around it. Two year olds wear them and teenagers at the pool. And as far as fads go, they are cheap!

[Hollysmom]

Originally Posted by nwmomof2

7. Silly Banz for DDs (How dumb do I feel spending $ on this fad...) $5,

Right there with you (see my spend on October 2) except here they cost $7 with tax

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

I don't know any parents who have gotten around it. Two year olds wear them and teenagers at the pool. And as far as fads go, they are cheap!

I bought G some at the dollar store. They are the exact same thing and he was thrilled with them.

Jumping back in a little late this month. I did spend a bit last week, but can't remember exactly what so I am going to start as of yesterday (I know yesterday was a no spend day). I reeeeeeaaaaalllllyyyy need to save up for my upcoming move in February, plus my car is on the fritz and I am not sure how much longer it is going to last. I need to save like a mad woman and still play the last bit of catch up on the bills that were overdue from when I was unemployed. Anyway, here goes!

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[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Welcome back Kim!

[FeelingBlessed]

Busy, busy, busy. TGI (almost) F!

Kim

10/1:
10/2:
10/3:
10/4:
10/5:
10/6:
10/7:

Necessary/in budget spending: 7/28
Do something to earn/save $: 7/31
Food: $128.74/$500
No Drive Days: 2/6
Practicing gratitude: 7/31

[nina_yyc]

Ah, the health food store, the black hole into which my grocery budget disappears

1: $4 Tim Hortons
2: $64 gas, bus tickets, snack
3: $28 hair product
4: $5 Tim Hortons
5: $120 Groceries
6: $84 winter boots for kids
7: $60 HFS

244/$750 household account
101/$205 personal account

[mommyto4grits]

My Key:
Budgeted, planned spending (includes groceries, gas, other necessary or well planned items- NOT impulse items)
No Spend
No Drive
Impulse, Unnecessary Spending
Eat Out

Oct.1- Groceries, consumables, and gas
Oct.2- rest of grocery shopping DH and I had a date night, I think dinner was overpriced, but it was good. And DH got steak, which I never make.
Oct.3-
Oct.4-
Oct.5-- Gymnastics and Art classes for the month for dd
Oct.6- haircut for dd but it was a missions dinner at church so I am giving it a
Oct.7- Feels like I spent a small fortune, $300 total on Costco (includes our $50 renewal), CVS, Target, and 2 Grocery Stores. I used coupons and took advantage of sales. Was out of Zyrtec, dog food, and some other big $$ items. Hopefully I can stay out of the stores for anything other than some produce and milk for 2 weeks!

[nwmomof2]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

I don't know any parents who have gotten around it. Two year olds wear them and teenagers at the pool. And as far as fads go, they are cheap!

Yes, I decided the same thing. My DD7 bought hers with her allowance, but DD4 wants to feel included and doesn't really have her "own" $$ yet. They are both giddy for the banz!

Well, I went out last night after yesterday's post to pick up a couple things at TJ's for when our friends come over for dinner tonight....and I stopped on the way home and CLOTHES SHOPPED!!! Totally impulsive, yikes. It felt great, I must say. I totally get the high.....

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Friday night and I have pizza dough, sauce and cheese ready to make an at-home pizza tonight. The girls have soccer practice. Can't spend money there. I think I'm home free for the rest of the day.

01..
02.. $5 starbucks
03.. $5 starbucks
04.. $7 McDonald's
05.. $1 coffee
06.. $406 shoes for myself and DD, Christmas presents
07.. , finally! a day without grabbing coffee out
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My Goals:

3/15 No Spend Days
0/3 Let the Car Rest Days
2/25 Fast Food Free Days

[fustian]

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2. Groceries, gas, and $200 at the gardening centre on supplies.
3. and one more bag of clutter out the door!
4. Vaccinations for the dogs $200.
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6. garden supplies (and that should be it!) didn't pass up a sale on cloth diapers for the new LO. Granted, I needed some new cloth wipes, and they were on sale. But I did not need the on sale AIOs .
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5/15 no spend days
0/$400 added to savings
2/5 bags of clutter gone

Legend:
No spend
Only planned/budgeted spending
Unnecessary / unplanned spending

[scrapadoozer]

10/01
10/02
10/03
10/04 $15 Handsome duds for DS.
10/05 $12.15 Clearance clothes for me at Old Navy
10/06
10/07
10/08

6/20 No-spend days
6/31 Not buying clothes days
$27.15 Frivolously spent

[Pumpkin_Pie]

I was seriously considering ordering pizza with my half off coupon to our local pizza delivery place that has whole wheat organic crust (soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo yummy) but thought about this thread and am off to the grocery store to buy a frozen pizza with my EBT. No cost to me and although not quite as yummy, I might have to get some sort of treat just because. Going to say this is a no-spend day, so I won't buy anything at the grocery store other than food!

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[mommyto4grits]

My Key:
Budgeted, planned spending (includes groceries, gas, other necessary or well planned items- NOT impulse items)
No Spend
No Drive
Impulse, Unnecessary Spending
Eat Out

Oct.1- Groceries, consumables, and gas
Oct.2- rest of grocery shopping DH and I had a date night, I think dinner was overpriced, but it was good. And DH got steak, which I never make.
Oct.3-
Oct.4-
Oct.5-- Gymnastics and Art classes for the month for dd
Oct.6- haircut for dd but it was a missions dinner at church so I am giving it a
Oct.7- Feels like I spent a small fortune, $300 total on Costco (includes our $50 renewal), CVS, Target, and 2 Grocery Stores. I used coupons and took advantage of sales. Was out of Zyrtec, dog food, and some other big $$ items. Hopefully I can stay out of the stores for anything other than some produce and milk for 2 weeks!

Oct.8- Went to a local library book sale, spent waay more than I wanted, but we homeschool and will use everything and it was a good deal so I need to give myself a break! Picked up Chinese for me, DH and the girls are out for the evening so I splurged.

[haurelia]

=planned, budgeted spending
=unplanned, unbudgeted spending
=no drive day
=eat at home
=packed lunch/snack
clothes= hung clothes instead of dryer use
= practice gratitude


01.. Refrigerator repair DH was unable to do. Boo. Paid the due monthly bills as per my budget. clothes
02.. Groceries as budgeted, plus apples at the farmer's market for saucing. (practiced gratitude after feeling sorry for myself for not being able to buy all the wonderful goodies I am coveting--that part is tough!)
03.. Bought beer for dinner guests, which wasn't touched. Bah. (didn't drive!, and our family day out was a 2.5 hour hike that was LOVELY!) Talked with stepmom about a possible per diem RN job I might take ($400 a month if I work 1 day a week...hm)
04.., PLUS the most exciting part: DH stripped some scrap copper wire and sold it to the scrap yard for $160!!! Now we can start our snowshoe fund (we both want a pair). clothes
05.. It's my birthday! So...we ate dinner out with some of the copper money (see 10/4), and with a gift card from my folks. I was also treated to lunch out today. So, I didn't spend a thing out of our budgeted money, and got a few birthday gifts of cash to put in the snowshoe fund.
06..clothes
07..clothes
08.....but the unbudgeted spending was on some sitz bath herbs for my dear friend who gave birth and needed help today. And so, I came on the run, without packing snacks/lunch and ended up picking up some food on my way home and throwing dipes in the dryer 'cause I didn't have time for the line. I did make supper though! Oh, and
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[nwmomof2]

5. Groceries $132, household $62, photos $10, gas $33, clothing/xmas $99
6. NS
7. Silly Banz for DDs $5, Starbucks $8, $46 groceries, $210 clothes (for me)
8. $8 consignment dresses for DDs, $3 fast food (treat for DD4)
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Goals:
1/15 NS days
$178/$500 groceries
$13/$50 eating out
1/1 Costco trip
No Target trips this month
0/$500 added to savings

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

~~~~~~~~~~~~DANGER DANGER DANGER~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Clothing is my trigger. I spend too much. I know this.

And today I have to go downtown to a boutique to try on these little outfits for a sports expo type thing at work. The club is paying for the little outfit -- I'm safe there.

BUT...it is in a boutique that I never go to because I know it is a dangerous place for me. They have tons of cutie fitness wear that is outrageously overpriced.

And I get a substantial discount because of my job. So it is usually safer for me to just stay far far away.

I'm thinking that I need to acknowledge that this is a very touchy situation today. I need to go down there -- WITHOUT MY WALLET -- and try on the outfit, pick the one I need and GET OUT FAST.

FAST.

wish me luck. I'm trying very hard to report a no-spend today.

[FeelingBlessed]

Really, really need to work out a meal plan this weekend. More than halfway through my (uber hopeful) food spending goal for the month. This does include a bit of stocking up - 10 lbs of frozen organic blueberries purchased wholesale, and a big box of wholewheat bread grabbed for $1/loaf.

Today should be no spend (or spending w/in budget) - soccer, pet store (for flea med w/ gift card), shelter (drop donations from our littlest monkey's b-day - must NOT come home w/ anything new & furry), a free art exhibit, visit animals @ local farm, & swimming (w/ our paid for pool pass).

Happy weekend all; good luck at the sporty boutique Pru. Stay strong. Leave the wallet at home!

Kim

10/1:
10/2:
10/3:
10/4:
10/5:
10/6:
10/7:
10/8:

Necessary/in budget spending: 8/28
Do something to earn/save $: 8/31 (sold the Britax - yay!)
Food: $276/$500
No Drive Days: 2/6
Practicing gratitude: 8/31

[nina_yyc]

1: $4 Tim Hortons
2: $64 gas, bus tickets, snack
3: $28 hair product
4: $5 Tim Hortons
5: $120 Groceries
6: $84 winter boots for kids
7: $60 HFS
8: $9 drugstore
9: $4 Starbucks

253/$750 household account
105/$205 personal account