Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Frugality & Finances › ~ October No-Spend Challenge ~ The treat is having money in the bank. The trick is keeping it there.
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~ October No-Spend Challenge ~ The treat is having money in the bank. The trick is keeping it... - Page 13

post #241 of 270
10/27/10 at 7:26am
Thread Starter 


Quote:
$$ fancy haircut and color
You KNOW that is not going to fly with us. 'Fess up. Put it out there. How much did that haircut cost?
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post #242 of 270
10/27/10 at 7:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mama to B View Post
I track all spending on paper already but not day by day I'll be joining in in novemeber! Great thread!
Welcome mama! We look forward to having you join us! I track on paper too. But somehow having it out on the internet is more...exposing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Turquesa View Post
25. WHEN IS PAY DAY??? IS IT NOVEMBER YET?!
Right???? I've already spent all of October's money.

Quote:
Could we start a support group for Holiday spending? I always go into it with the best of intentions and then end up overspending. I suppose it doesn't help that those who give US gifts spend well beyond their means, and then we respond by putting pressure on ourselves to reciprocate.....Ugh! And yes, we've tried talking to them. I just need to draw a clear line in the sand....
You should start this thread. I think it would be very useful and popular. For me it is not so much the people giving us gifts as it is my neighbors giving their children SUCH expensive presents.

My children definitely notice the difference...and already this year I know my daughter's best friend is getting a new iPod (to replace the one she got last year) and another $100 American Girl doll (to keep her other American Girl dolls company) while MY daughter is getting some new Legos....that I got at a garage sale.

I'm not cheap (okay...I am cheap) but I'm not going into debt over toys.

Quote:
Originally Posted by scrapadoozer View Post
10/09
10/10
10/11
10/12
10/14
10/15
10/16
10/18
10/19
10/20
10/21
10/22
10/24
10/25
10/26

21/20 No-spend days
$76.99 Frivolously spent
Jenny -- you are a ROCKSTAR. I love having you on this thread to inspire me!
post #243 of 270
10/27/10 at 7:37am
Thread Starter 
Five more days til the end...five more days til the end...

My girlfriend had a baby and I'm on the meal train for Thursday so I have to run to the grocery store to get the food I'm going to make her...but I'm taking a list and if I only buy the groceries on the list, I'm counting that as necessary spending.

Other than that, it should be a no-spend day. {fingers crossed}

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
08.. ,
09.. ,
10.. $52 vera bradley bag and teapot lamp, $5 starbucks
11.. ,
12.. , ,
13.. $27 Christmas gifts,
14.. ,
15.. ,
16.. $85 Gap for some kick-booty jeans and workout clothes
17.. $5.39 Starbucks
18.. $5 candy at the grocery store
19.. , ,
20.. ,
21.. ,
22.. $6 McDonald's (just for the kids, not me)
23.. $3 Starbucks (just for me, not the kids...haha!)
24.. $60 winter apparel, $5 Starbucks
25.. ,
26.. , ,
27..
28..
29..
30..
31..

My Goals:

13/15 No Spend Days
3/3 Let the Car Rest Days DONE!
13/25 Fast Food Free Days [/QUOTE]
post #244 of 270
10/27/10 at 8:49am
Finally feeling like we are getting ahead, now the trick is not blowing it all! I have a list of needs and wants, and I really need to analyze every dime I spend. It seems that as soon as we are "ahead" SOMETHING comes up and blows it. We need a new dishwasher, dd 15 needs drivers ed., new gym shoes, and fall clothes, ugh!


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.
Oct.9-
Oct.10-
Oct.11- did spend $221 on car repairs, but I am calling it a no spend day because I didn't go into one store, shop online, etc.
Oct.12- Only because my best friend who is moving in a week asked us to join her family at Chick Fil A for kids eat free night. So I'm not thrilled we ate out, but I'm letting it go..
Oct.13-
Oct.14- had a wonderful dinner with friends we treated my bff to dinner out since she is moving
Oct.15-
Oct.16-
Oct.17-
Oct.18- bought snacks for the road for a trip we are now not taking. They will get eaten regardless, but still would have rather waited to buy them. Bought other items, and had a night out with our homeschool group, paid for dinner for myself
Oct.19-
Oct.20-
Oct.21-
Oct.22-
Oct.23-
Oct.24-
Oct.25-
Oct.26- much needed clothing
post #245 of 270
10/27/10 at 3:16pm
October
1 - $4 breakfast & an afternoon chocolate bar
2 - $7 Silly Banz for the girls
3 - $3 snacks at swimming
4 -
5 -
6 - $7 breakfast, $5 lottery ticket
7 - $8 lunch
8 -
9 - $3 breakfast, $30 take-out
10 -
11 -
12 -
13 - $11 breakfast & lunch
14 -
15 - $19 lunch, $12 afterschool program, $5 lottery (work)
16 -
17 - $5 treat at swimming
18 -
19 - $12 lunch, $32 books for girls
20 -
21 -
22 - $5 dollar store junk for girls
23 - $12 more dollar store junk for girls
24 -
25 - $3 breakfast, $12 lottery tickets (at work - I can't bear the thought of them winning and leaving me behind )
26 - $5 sandwich

12/20 No Spend Days
$200 Unbudgeted/Unnecessary Spending
post #246 of 270
10/27/10 at 6:41pm
Okay, I haven't gotten on here the past week or so and while there has been spending, it hasn't been anything major. Back on the wagon.

4:
5: $34 pizza
6:
7:
8: $5 lunch
9: $8 fancy coffees, $12 dinner
10:
11: Gap trip of shame $250, $18 lunch
12:
13:
14:
15:
16: $30 pizza
17:
18: $9 coffees
19: $12 lunch
20: $4 ice cream
27:

132/$200 eating out
post #247 of 270
10/27/10 at 8:29pm
Thread Starter 
~~Blindsided~~~

We were audited. $744 tax mistake made in 2008. Due in the next ten days.

OUCH.

Didn't expect that.
post #248 of 270
10/27/10 at 10:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom View Post
Jenny -- you are a ROCKSTAR. I love having you on this thread to inspire me!
Thanks, Prudence! It looks so much better when you edit out the spend days!
post #249 of 270
10/27/10 at 11:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom View Post
~~Blindsided~~~

We were audited. $744 tax mistake made in 2008. Due in the next ten days.

OUCH.

Didn't expect that.
Oh no! That stinks! I'm sorry!
post #250 of 270
10/27/10 at 11:03pm
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
10/09
10/10
10/11
10/12
10/13: Anniversary spending does not count.
10/14
10/15
10/16
10/17 $42.84 Clothes for DS
10/18
10/19
10/20
10/21
10/22
10/23 $7 swap shipping
10/24
10/25
10/26
10/27

22/20 No-spend days
23/31 Not buying clothes days
$76.99 Frivolously spent
post #251 of 270
10/28/10 at 7:32am
Thread Starter 
Yeah, that only shopping with the list thing usually works great for me -- but my nemesis is Costco and they have all the Christmas toys out and the baby was with me...and she wanted this doll for Christmas...and there it was, ripe for the picking.

So now that is bought and wrapped up safe in our closet. But the no-spend day was blown.

Today should be stellar though -- I'm not going anywhere!

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
08.. ,
09.. ,
10.. $52 vera bradley bag and teapot lamp, $5 starbucks
11.. ,
12.. , ,
13.. $27 Christmas gifts,
14.. ,
15.. ,
16.. $85 Gap for some kick-booty jeans and workout clothes
17.. $5.39 Starbucks
18.. $5 candy at the grocery store
19.. , ,
20.. ,
21.. ,
22.. $6 McDonald's (just for the kids, not me)
23.. $3 Starbucks (just for me, not the kids...haha!)
24.. $60 winter apparel, $5 Starbucks
25.. ,
26.. , ,
27.. $25 Costco Baby Doll, $3 Costco hotdogs
28..
29..
30..
31..

My Goals:

13/15 No Spend Days
3/3 Let the Car Rest Days DONE!
13/25 Fast Food Free Days
post #252 of 270
10/28/10 at 8:32am
Anyone else find the end of the month is the easiest time to blow the budget? I was doing great I went over all my numbers and was under in most things. Now I'm thinking about going to town today and doing the running around I need to instead of next week when I won't have as much time....I'm going to try my hardest but I have a bad feeling lol
post #253 of 270
10/28/10 at 3:33pm
Thread Starter 
Posted diapers on diaperswappers and furniture on Craig's List...whew! I might actually bring IN some money today.

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
08.. ,
09.. ,
10.. $52 vera bradley bag and teapot lamp, $5 starbucks
11.. ,
12.. , ,
13.. $27 Christmas gifts,
14.. ,
15.. ,
16.. $85 Gap for some kick-booty jeans and workout clothes
17.. $5.39 Starbucks
18.. $5 candy at the grocery store
19.. , ,
20.. ,
21.. ,
22.. $6 McDonald's (just for the kids, not me)
23.. $3 Starbucks (just for me, not the kids...haha!)
24.. $60 winter apparel, $5 Starbucks
25.. ,
26.. , ,
27.. $25 Costco Baby Doll, $3 Costco hotdogs
28.. ,
29..
30..
31..

My Goals:

14/15 No Spend Days
3/3 Let the Car Rest Days DONE!
14/25 Fast Food Free Days
post #254 of 270
10/28/10 at 3:38pm
October
1 - $4 breakfast & an afternoon chocolate bar
2 - $7 Silly Banz for the girls
3 - $3 snacks at swimming
4 -
5 -
6 - $7 breakfast, $5 lottery ticket
7 - $8 lunch
8 -
9 - $3 breakfast, $30 take-out
10 -
11 -
12 -
13 - $11 breakfast & lunch
14 -
15 - $19 lunch, $12 afterschool program, $5 lottery (work)
16 -
17 - $5 treat at swimming
18 -
19 - $12 lunch, $32 books for girls
20 -
21 -
22 - $5 dollar store junk for girls
23 - $12 more dollar store junk for girls
24 -
25 - $3 breakfast, $12 lottery tickets (at work - I can't bear the thought of them winning and leaving me behind )
26 - $5 sandwich
27 -

13/20 No Spend Days
$200 Unbudgeted/Unnecessary Spending
post #255 of 270
10/28/10 at 7:52pm
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
10/09
10/10
10/11
10/12
10/13: Anniversary spending does not count.
10/14
10/15
10/16
10/17 $42.84 Clothes for DS
10/18
10/19
10/20
10/21
10/22
10/23 $7 swap shipping
10/24
10/25
10/26
10/27
10/28

23/20 No-spend days
24/31 Not buying clothes days
$76.99 Frivolously spent
post #256 of 270
10/28/10 at 8:55pm
Finally feeling like we are getting ahead, now the trick is not blowing it all! I have a list of needs and wants, and I really need to analyze every dime I spend. It seems that as soon as we are "ahead" SOMETHING comes up and blows it. We need a new dishwasher, dd 15 needs drivers ed., new gym shoes, and fall clothes, ugh!


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.
Oct.9-
Oct.10-
Oct.11- did spend $221 on car repairs, but I am calling it a no spend day because I didn't go into one store, shop online, etc.
Oct.12- Only because my best friend who is moving in a week asked us to join her family at Chick Fil A for kids eat free night. So I'm not thrilled we ate out, but I'm letting it go..
Oct.13-
Oct.14- had a wonderful dinner with friends we treated my bff to dinner out since she is moving
Oct.15-
Oct.16-
Oct.17-
Oct.18- bought snacks for the road for a trip we are now not taking. They will get eaten regardless, but still would have rather waited to buy them. Bought other items, and had a night out with our homeschool group, paid for dinner for myself
Oct.19-
Oct.20-
Oct.21-
Oct.22-
Oct.23-
Oct.24-
Oct.25-
Oct.26- much needed clothing
Oct.27-
Oct.28-
post #257 of 270
10/29/10 at 5:01pm
Thread Starter 
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
08.. ,
09.. ,
10.. $52 vera bradley bag and teapot lamp, $5 starbucks
11.. ,
12.. , ,
13.. $27 Christmas gifts,
14.. ,
15.. ,
16.. $85 Gap for some kick-booty jeans and workout clothes
17.. $5.39 Starbucks
18.. $5 candy at the grocery store
19.. , ,
20.. ,
21.. ,
22.. $6 McDonald's (just for the kids, not me)
23.. $3 Starbucks (just for me, not the kids...haha!)
24.. $60 winter apparel, $5 Starbucks
25.. ,
26.. , ,
27.. $25 Costco Baby Doll, $3 Costco hotdogs
28.. ,
29.. $102 Christmas presents,
30..
31..

My Goals:

14/15 No Spend Days
3/3 Let the Car Rest Days DONE!
15/25 Fast Food Free Days
post #258 of 270
10/30/10 at 9:32am
No more eating out!!!

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.
Oct.9-
Oct.10-
Oct.11- did spend $221 on car repairs, but I am calling it a no spend day because I didn't go into one store, shop online, etc.
Oct.12- Only because my best friend who is moving in a week asked us to join her family at Chick Fil A for kids eat free night. So I'm not thrilled we ate out, but I'm letting it go..
Oct.13-
Oct.14- had a wonderful dinner with friends we treated my bff to dinner out since she is moving
Oct.15-
Oct.16-
Oct.17-
Oct.18- bought snacks for the road for a trip we are now not taking. They will get eaten regardless, but still would have rather waited to buy them. Bought other items, and had a night out with our homeschool group, paid for dinner for myself
Oct.19-
Oct.20-
Oct.21-
Oct.22-
Oct.23-
Oct.24-
Oct.25-
Oct.26- much needed clothing
Oct.27-
Oct.28-
Oct.29-
post #259 of 270
10/30/10 at 1:17pm
Holy gift month!! My mom, sister and niece all have birthdays in the last week of this month. Plus my mom is 60 this year so it's kind of a big one. Plus the inlaws are having their 40th wedding anniversary. Anyhoo, we've gone way over the gift allowance for the month but it makes up for those months where there are none. Plus it seems like I've gone to more weddings and wedding showers lately which all require a gift. Hmmm...maybe this means we need to get married...

1. $17 tea/snacks
2. $20 groceries, $70 supplements, $28 gift
3. $30 car breaks, $9 took myself out to lunch!
4.
5.
6. $150 groceries EEEK!! Guess that's what happens when you scrimp for a month, had to stock up on some basics.
7.
8. pizza out, snacks at store $
9. out with DP but didn't spend much, one drink each, then ice cream
10. out with DP $$
11. Corn maze and pumpkin patch, out to lunch $$$$$
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17. $$$$$$ Costco, Groceries etc.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22. $33 haircuts for Ds and me
23. gift $28, $3 regular deodorant/antiperspirant cause my homemade stuff wasn't working and I was going to a baby shower!!
24. $30 groceries, $12 gift
25.
26. $$$ joined the local YMCA
27. $17 groceries/snacks for playdate
28.
29. $6 gift (mom's birthday), $17 nasty bowling alley food!! , $550 our 1/4 share of beef, $70 gift for inlaws 40th anniversary
30.
31. gift money at some point for mom and sister and niece's birthdays
31.

FYI - On another note, I changed my username. I was cody'smomma.
post #260 of 270
10/30/10 at 1:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mama to B View Post
Anyone else find the end of the month is the easiest time to blow the budget? I was doing great I went over all my numbers and was under in most things. Now I'm thinking about going to town today and doing the running around I need to instead of next week when I won't have as much time....I'm going to try my hardest but I have a bad feeling lol
Absolutely. I think what happens is I try to be so good the rest of the month that by the end, I start losing my ability to keep it together!
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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Frugality & Finances › ~ October No-Spend Challenge ~ The treat is having money in the bank. The trick is keeping it there.