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~~December No-Spend Challenge~~ Ho ho ho! How low can you go? Saving money is tough during the... - Page 4

post #61 of 72
12/12/10 at 7:27am

Key:

thumb.gif no spend/ budgeted spending

irked.gif  unnecessary/ unbudgeted spending

hang.gif  hung laundry to dry

knit.gif  spent at least 1hr holiday gift crafting

 

December Goals

no spend days  9/20

eating out  2/3

loads of laundry hung to dry  5/8

spent at least 1hr holiday crafting  10/20

 

1. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

2. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

3. irked.gif  $45 on pizza and subs delivery  knit.gif

4. thumb.gif  food shopping, stayed within budget, picked up Christmas tree (was less than budgeted orngbiggrin.gif )

5. thumb.gif knit.gif

6. irked.gif $30 on McD, it's in the budget and was necessary, but I'm mad about the circumstances.  My oven heating element burned itself into 2 pieces while I was cooking dinner yikes2.gif.  I had to discharge a fire extinguisher into my oven and it ruined dinner AND left a dust covering in my kitchen that took me 3hrs to clean angry.gif  We also had the fire dept out to make sure there was no other risk of fire uhoh3.gif  I don't know if I want to count buying my new oven or not right now since we used our Sears cards no interest no finance charges for 12mo.  I also knit.gif

7. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

8.thumb.gif hang.gifknit.gif

9. thumb.gif knit.gif

10. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

11. thumb.gifknit.gif

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post #62 of 72
12/13/10 at 10:10am

7 no spend days

4 planned spend days

1 unplanned spend day

Total (non-bill, non-debt) money spent: $631.19 (groceries, gas, and a few extended family holiday gift basket goodies)

 

Again, not bad but certainly not great either. shrug.gif

 

Dec. 13 -

Dec. 14 -

Dec. 15 -

Dec. 16 -

Dec. 17 -

Dec. 18 -

 

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post #63 of 72
12/13/10 at 12:48pm

Key:

thumb.gif no spend/ budgeted spending

irked.gif  unnecessary/ unbudgeted spending

hang.gif  hung laundry to dry

knit.gif  spent at least 1hr holiday gift crafting

 

December Goals

no spend days  10/20

eating out  3/3

loads of laundry hung to dry  6/8

spent at least 1hr holiday crafting  12/20

 

1. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

2. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

3. irked.gif  $45 on pizza and subs delivery  knit.gif

4. thumb.gif  food shopping, stayed within budget, picked up Christmas tree (was less than budgeted orngbiggrin.gif )

5. thumb.gif knit.gif

6. irked.gif $30 on McD, it's in the budget and was necessary, but I'm mad about the circumstances.  My oven heating element burned itself into 2 pieces while I was cooking dinner yikes2.gif.  I had to discharge a fire extinguisher into my oven and it ruined dinner AND left a dust covering in my kitchen that took me 3hrs to clean angry.gif  We also had the fire dept out to make sure there was no other risk of fire uhoh3.gif  I don't know if I want to count buying my new oven or not right now since we used our Sears cards no interest no finance charges for 12mo.  I also knit.gif

7. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

8.thumb.gif hang.gifknit.gif

9. thumb.gif knit.gif

10. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

11. thumb.gifknit.gif

12. irked.gif  $12 at JoAnn Fabrics for holiday gift supplies I though I had, $$ at Chili's for dinner bag.gif We really shouldn't have shake.gif  $55 at Target.  I did knit.gif though.

13. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

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post #64 of 72
12/13/10 at 2:20pm

 

1. smile.gif $42 groceries

2. thumb.gif no spend, cleaned my kitchen and volunteered at preschool, so stayed out of stores today!

3. smile.gif $55 amazon xmas order, $3 coffee, $3 goodwill books, $11 children's museum, $150 car emissions and tabs

4. smile.gif $11 food out

5.smile.gif$21 groceries, $24 xmas

6. smile.gif $11 groceries, $8 Starbucks  

7. nono.gif $33 totally unnecessary kids' consignment stuff, $67 groceries. 

8.  thumb.gif

9.  thumb.gif

10. smile.gif $61 Costco groceries, $39 Costco household (shampoo, conditioner and tape), $69 xmas presents. Sold my bike trailer today for $475!!! Yippee!

11. thumb.gif

12. smile.gif $8 drinks to bring to a party, $53 xmas present for my 94 year old grandma

13.  nono.gif $7 Starbucks, $34 cards to make stationery/wrapping supplies for xmas, $17 HFS stocking stuffers, $29 groceries.

 

Clearly my $150 xmas spending goal for this month was unrealistic. I thought I had done most of my shopping, and I thought we were keeping things simple, but even so, it's hard not to spend this time of year. I think it's just that my DH does almost nothing to prepare for this holiday (actually, for most holidays, come to think of it), so I feel like I need to compensate and that it's up to me to make Christmas happen for my kids.

 

 

smile.gif budgeted spending

thumb.gif 4/10 no spend  

nono.gif unplanned/frivolous spending

 

5/16 stay out of stores

1/5 items sold

groceries/food out $260/500 

xmas $235/150

$61/100 household/entertainment

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post #65 of 72
12/14/10 at 3:58am

Mattemma in Ohio.Sahm to 2 kiddos.Dh is a OTR driver. Paying off credit card and not using it. Pay extra on other bills and house.Taking out $100 cash for weekly food/supplies. Getting weekly $25 gas card instead of using credit card.Looking forward to the no spend days!

 

12-01: Car $330. Student loan $140. Electric $52. Tuition $4,450. Food $26.32.

              Food  $6.36. Pizza $8.98. Medicine on HSA card $26.47

 

12-02: Gas $25. School Music $7.

 

12-03 Scratch and shavings $16.Dollar tree $2.14.Medicine hsa $22.18.

             Walmart food $7.06.Goodwill books $1.07. DH credit card $200

 

12-04 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-05 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-06 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-07 Pizza $15

 

12-08 House $600. Marcs Food $43.06. Walmart food,pets,car $33.32. Aldi  food $32.35. Deals paper,bleach,soap $3.20

 

12-09 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-10 Forgot I spent today! Pine shavings/seed for injured hen $10. Meds on HSA card $12. Goodwill books and cloths $6. Gas via gas card $19

 

12-11 Made a food run before the storm,so I did spend today afterall: Aldi $9

 

12-12 NO SPEND DAY! Rain and snow today,staying home and not shopping online!


12-13 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-14 Cell $110. Cable $56. Discover $252.11(paid off!!!!).Mom cash gift $100

 

12-15 Pizza $5 Star Wars Lego $14

 

12-16 Pets,food,gifts $84

 

12-17 Gifts and food $110. Car wash and gas $22

 

12-18 NO SPEND DAY

 

12-19 NO SPEND DAY

 

12-20 Meds $10. Gas bill $118. Citicard $52

 

12-21 Food $100


Edited by mattemma04 - 12/22/10 at 4:19am
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post #66 of 72
12/15/10 at 10:35am

Key:

thumb.gif no spend/ budgeted spending

irked.gif  unnecessary/ unbudgeted spending

hang.gif  hung laundry to dry

knit.gif  spent at least 1hr holiday gift crafting

 

December Goals

no spend days  10/20

eating out  3/3

loads of laundry hung to dry  6/8

spent at least 1hr holiday crafting  13/20

 

1. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

2. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

3. irked.gif  $45 on pizza and subs delivery  knit.gif

4. thumb.gif  food shopping, stayed within budget, picked up Christmas tree (was less than budgeted orngbiggrin.gif )

5. thumb.gif knit.gif

6. irked.gif $30 on McD, it's in the budget and was necessary, but I'm mad about the circumstances.  My oven heating element burned itself into 2 pieces while I was cooking dinner yikes2.gif.  I had to discharge a fire extinguisher into my oven and it ruined dinner AND left a dust covering in my kitchen that took me 3hrs to clean angry.gif  We also had the fire dept out to make sure there was no other risk of fire uhoh3.gif  I don't know if I want to count buying my new oven or not right now since we used our Sears cards no interest no finance charges for 12mo.  I also knit.gif

7. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

8.thumb.gif hang.gifknit.gif

9. thumb.gif knit.gif

10. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

11. thumb.gifknit.gif

12. irked.gif  $12 at JoAnn Fabrics for holiday gift supplies I though I had, $$ at Chili's for dinner bag.gif We really shouldn't have shake.gif  $55 at Target.  I did knit.gif though.

13. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

14. irked.gif bought winter boots for DH and I.  They're needed, but definitely weren't in the budget this month. knit.gif

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post #67 of 72
12/15/10 at 1:03pm

 

1. smile.gif $42 groceries

2. thumb.gif no spend, cleaned my kitchen and volunteered at preschool, so stayed out of stores today!

3. smile.gif $55 amazon xmas order, $3 coffee, $3 goodwill books, $11 children's museum, $150 car emissions and tabs

4. smile.gif $11 food out

5.smile.gif$21 groceries, $24 xmas

6. smile.gif $11 groceries, $8 Starbucks  

7. nono.gif $33 totally unnecessary kids' consignment stuff, $67 groceries. 

8.  thumb.gif

9.  thumb.gif

10. smile.gif $61 Costco groceries, $39 Costco household (shampoo, conditioner and tape), $69 xmas presents. Sold my bike trailer today for $475!!! Yippee!

11. thumb.gif

12. smile.gif $8 drinks to bring to a party, $53 xmas present for my 94 year old grandma

13.  nono.gif $7 Starbucks, $34 cards to make stationery/wrapping supplies for xmas, $17 HFS stocking stuffers, $29 groceries.

14. smile.gif $14 lunch out, $25 gas for car

15. smile.gif $18 household, $19 groceries, $5 toy for DD2 for bravery when getting an x-ray today, $23 chicken feed,  $10 ice skating w/ girl scouts 

 

 

smile.gif budgeted spending

thumb.gif 4/10 no spend  

nono.gif unplanned/frivolous spending

 

5/16 stay out of stores

1/5 items sold

groceries/food out $292/500 

xmas $235

$79/100 household/entertainment


Edited by nwmomof2 - 12/15/10 at 7:43pm
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post #68 of 72
12/15/10 at 10:27pm

oh, I want to join in! We budget based on dh paydays, so I will start tomorrow! Our 'month' is Dec 9-Jan 6. I've always wanted to join this thread!



no spend day
unnecessary spending
orngbiggrin.gif  budget spending day

 

goals-

3/18 no spend days

$190/$700 groceries

$87/$200 gas

$230/$1000 savings (what I make from babysitting & cleaning houses)

 

We do budget $375 a month for home repair, pet food, diapers, and 'other' needed items, but by the 17th we have used it all on 'unplanned' spending But we do really need to finish the chicken coop (it's getting cold) and only $37 of the $375 was waisted...now we have hopefully enough for food and gas and I really, really want to meet our savings goal of $1000, we never seem to do it! Our house needs so much done (built in 1927) and cars have really added up lately!! I babysit and clean houses and make over $1000 a month so ot should be do-able.... We'll see...

 

9-thumb.gif

10thumb.gif

11 orngbiggrin.gif paid bills, got gas & lots o' groceries

12 irked.gifwhoops, went to a craft fair $37, renew state park pass $90 ( we use it weekly)

13 irked.gifsiding & paint for chicken coop, compost & staw bales $$$

14thumb.gif

15orngbiggrin.gif a few groceries $15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

1

2

6

4

5

6  

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post #69 of 72
12/16/10 at 8:20am

Key:

thumb.gif no spend/ budgeted spending

irked.gif  unnecessary/ unbudgeted spending

hang.gif  hung laundry to dry

knit.gif  spent at least 1hr holiday gift crafting

 

December Goals

no spend days  11/20

eating out  3/3

loads of laundry hung to dry  6/8

spent at least 1hr holiday crafting  14/20

 

1. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

2. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

3. irked.gif  $45 on pizza and subs delivery  knit.gif

4. thumb.gif  food shopping, stayed within budget, picked up Christmas tree (was less than budgeted orngbiggrin.gif )

5. thumb.gif knit.gif

6. irked.gif $30 on McD, it's in the budget and was necessary, but I'm mad about the circumstances.  My oven heating element burned itself into 2 pieces while I was cooking dinner yikes2.gif.  I had to discharge a fire extinguisher into my oven and it ruined dinner AND left a dust covering in my kitchen that took me 3hrs to clean angry.gif  We also had the fire dept out to make sure there was no other risk of fire uhoh3.gif  I don't know if I want to count buying my new oven or not right now since we used our Sears cards no interest no finance charges for 12mo.  I also knit.gif

7. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

8.thumb.gif hang.gifknit.gif

9. thumb.gif knit.gif

10. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

11. thumb.gifknit.gif

12. irked.gif  $12 at JoAnn Fabrics for holiday gift supplies I though I had, $$ at Chili's for dinner bag.gif We really shouldn't have shake.gif  $55 at Target.  I did knit.gif though.

13. thumb.gifhang.gifknit.gif

14. irked.gif bought winter boots for DH and I.  They're needed, but definitely weren't in the budget this month. knit.gif

15. thumb.gifknit.gif

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post #70 of 72
12/17/10 at 9:54am

 

1. smile.gif $42 groceries

2. thumb.gif no spend, cleaned my kitchen and volunteered at preschool, so stayed out of stores today!

3. smile.gif $55 amazon xmas order, $3 coffee, $3 goodwill books, $11 children's museum, $150 car emissions and tabs

4. smile.gif $11 food out

5.smile.gif$21 groceries, $24 xmas

6. smile.gif $11 groceries, $8 Starbucks  

7. nono.gif $33 totally unnecessary kids' consignment stuff, $67 groceries. 

8.  thumb.gif

9.  thumb.gif

10. smile.gif $61 Costco groceries, $39 Costco household (shampoo, conditioner and tape), $69 xmas presents. Sold my bike trailer today for $475!!! Yippee!

11. thumb.gif

12. smile.gif $8 drinks to bring to a party, $53 xmas present for my 94 year old grandma

13.  nono.gif $7 Starbucks, $34 cards to make stationery/wrapping supplies for xmas, $17 HFS stocking stuffers, $29 groceries.

14. smile.gif $14 lunch out, $25 gas for car

15. smile.gif $18 household, $19 groceries, $5 toy for DD2 for bravery when getting an x-ray today, $23 chicken feed,  $10 ice skating w/ girl scouts 

16. smile.gif $36 groceries, sold an item on ebay for $24

17. thumb.gif going for a no spend day!

 

 

smile.gif budgeted spending

thumb.gif 5/10 no spend  

nono.gif unplanned/frivolous spending

 

6/16 stay out of stores

2/5 items sold

groceries/food out $328/500 

xmas $235

$79/100 household/entertainment

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post #71 of 72
12/20/10 at 8:55pm

 

1. smile.gif $42 groceries

2. thumb.gif no spend, cleaned my kitchen and volunteered at preschool, so stayed out of stores today!

3. smile.gif $55 amazon xmas order, $3 coffee, $3 goodwill books, $11 children's museum, $150 car emissions and tabs

4. smile.gif $11 food out

5.smile.gif$21 groceries, $24 xmas

6. smile.gif $11 groceries, $8 Starbucks  

7. nono.gif $33 totally unnecessary kids' consignment stuff, $67 groceries. 

8.  thumb.gif

9.  thumb.gif

10. smile.gif $61 Costco groceries, $39 Costco household (shampoo, conditioner and tape), $69 xmas presents. Sold my bike trailer today for $475!!! Yippee!

11. thumb.gif

12. smile.gif $8 drinks to bring to a party, $53 xmas present for my 94 year old grandma

13.  nono.gif $7 Starbucks, $34 cards to make stationery/wrapping supplies for xmas, $17 HFS stocking stuffers, $29 groceries.

14. smile.gif $14 lunch out, $25 gas for car

15. smile.gif $18 household, $19 groceries, $5 toy for DD2 for bravery when getting an x-ray today, $23 chicken feed,  $10 ice skating w/ girl scouts 

16. smile.gif $36 groceries, sold an item on ebay for $24

17. thumb.gif

18.  $41 groceries, $36 xmas, $46 household supplies, $42 gas

19. thumb.gif no stores

20.  nono.gif$10 xmas, $7 Baskin Robbins

 

 

 

smile.gif budgeted spending

thumb.gif 6/10 no spend  

nono.gif unplanned/frivolous spending

 

7/16 stay out of stores

2/5 items sold

groceries/food out $376/500 

xmas $281

$79/100 household/entertainment

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post #72 of 72
12/23/10 at 3:08am

Mattemma in Ohio.Sahm to 2 kiddos.Dh is a OTR driver. Paying off credit card and not using it. Pay extra on other bills and house.Taking out $100 cash for weekly food/supplies. Getting weekly $25 gas card instead of using credit card.Looking forward to the no spend days!

 

12-01: Car $330. Student loan $140. Electric $52. Tuition $4,450. Food $26.32.

              Food  $6.36. Pizza $8.98. Medicine on HSA card $26.47

 

12-02: Gas $25. School Music $7.

 

12-03 Scratch and shavings $16.Dollar tree $2.14.Medicine hsa $22.18.

             Walmart food $7.06.Goodwill books $1.07. DH credit card $200

 

12-04 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-05 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-06 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-07 Pizza $15

 

12-08 House $600. Marcs Food $43.06. Walmart food,pets,car $33.32. Aldi  food $32.35. Deals paper,bleach,soap $3.20

 

12-09 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-10  Pine shavings/seed for injured hen $10. Meds on HSA card $12. Goodwill books and cloths $6. Gas via gas card $19

 

12-11  Aldi $9

 

12-12 NO SPEND DAY!


12-13 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-14 Cell $110. Cable $56. Discover $252.11

 

12-15 Pizza $5 Star Wars Lego $14

 

12-16 Pets,food,gifts $84

 

12-17 Gifts and food $110. Car wash and gas $22

 

12-18 NO SPEND DAY

 

12-19 NO SPEND DAY

 

12-20 Meds $10. Gas bill $118. Citicard $52

 

12-21 Food $100


12-22 NO SPEND DAY

 

12-23 Pizza $5 Lotto $5 Water Bill $29

 

12-24 Phone $80 Car $330 Student loan $140

 

12-25 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-26 NO SPEND DAY!

 

12-27 Capital one $550

 

12-28 Car insurance $390 Electric $61

 

12-29 Discover $310.17

 

12-30 Food $100 Lotto $3 Haircuts $30

 

12-31 NO SPEND DAY!


Edited by mattemma04 - 12/30/10 at 11:19am
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Mothering › Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Frugality & Finances › ~~December No-Spend Challenge~~ Ho ho ho! How low can you go? Saving money is tough during the holiday season, but we're going to try it!