NoSpend January -- Ringing in the New Year with money in the bank - Page 9

[Ruthiegirl]

Continuing our quiet postpartum week.  I have been taking it easy and keeping close to home, eating what we have on hand and a couple of casseroles that friends have brought over.  

Jan 1 -- 

Jan 2 -- 

Jan 3 -- 40.00 cash for hospital stay/food, 15.22 flowers, 13.12 cell phone minutes

Jan 4 -- 

Jan 5 -- 

Jan 6 -- 

Jan 7 -- 28.61 birthday gift

Jan 8 -- 

Jan 9 -- 60.00 nursing bras

Jan 10 -- 

Jan 11 -- 14.90 library fines   

Jan 12 -- 

Jan 13 -- 

Jan 14 --

Jan 15

January savings goal is at 126% 

Edited by Ruthiegirl - 1/14/12 at 3:50pm

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Big snowstorm here, which meant lots of outside playing in the snow for our kids, which meant no money-spending for me!  win-win
 

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

01.. 

02..  $14 Pizza Hut

03.. 

04.. 

05..   $50 Tequila (the big bottle)

06.. 

07..  $25 dinner out with friends

08.. 

09..  $15 Triple Sec

10.. 

11..  $5 McDonald's

12.. 

13.. 

14..

15..

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Way to go, Ruth!!!

Originally Posted by Ruthiegirl 

January savings goal is at 126% 

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Way to go, Ruth!!!

Thanks.  We have been very lucky this month with warm weather and the heating bill came in waaaaay under budget.  We normally spend $300 or more on heat this time of year, so I was surprised when our bill was only $120.  The extra $180 went straight to savings.  

Of course, this warm weather is a little frightening as well....I shouldn't be picking lettuce from the garden in January, not in this area anyway.  

[JPiper]

Just now getting around to posting, but I've been reading and being careful not to spend all month.  Here goes!

a. Who you are:

Jen-- mom to 3, wife to an extremely frugal guy.  Both of us are self employed and work from home...my husband in a well established business, and I'm in a relatively new venture (very part time).  We do not have 'regular' pay checks coming in, so we need to be constantly mindful of expenses.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals):

Spend as little as possible, save as much as possible to keep us on track for peace of mind and our family's priorities (time as a family).  Set good financial examples for our 3 kids.

c. How you plan to get there:

Continued mindfulness of needs vs. wants; being thrifty with expenditures; staying motivated and keeping our priorities in mind.  I am only tracking $$ areas I am responsible for in our family.

January:

Budgeted purchases for gas & groceries ($260)

Upcoming expenses:  $212.50 for ballet for DD1 & DD2 (Jan-June) & $125 or so for new ski packages for DD 1 & 2 (need to get final cost)

[mrsmischief]

Originally Posted by mrsmischief 

Week 2-

01/08- $13.50 for planned for lunch out

01/09- $0

01/10- $36.78 for gasoline, budgeted) 

01/11- $0 spent + earned $50 at used bookstore

01/12- $0 spent + earned 33.96 on Amazon Trade-Ins

01/13- $305.70 for groceries (budgeted)

01/14- $23.54 for lunch with friends (budgeted)

Total:

Spent~ 389.01

Earned~ 83.96

Savings Goal~ 100% met

[JPiper]

Wow MrsMischief-- That's some total earned for used books!  I'll have to look into Amazon Trade-Ins, too.  Very impressive and excellent motivation!

[mrsmischief]

Originally Posted by JPiper 

Wow MrsMischief-- That's some total earned for used books!  I'll have to look into Amazon Trade-Ins, too.  Very impressive and excellent motivation!

I've been very impressed with Amazon Trade-Ins and would highly recommend them for trade-ins. Last fall we traded in a number of old textbooks and reference materials and would up earning enough in gift cards to complete all of our non-handmade gifts Christmas shopping without touching any of our actual money. I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. 

[petey44]

Originally Posted by petey44 

KEY

unnecessary spending

necessary spending

no spending

1/1: I sent DH to the store to pick up a pepper I needed for a recipe...I had bought it within the grocery budget the day before, but then DH used it without asking while fixing himself a snack...and then while he was at the store he picked up something else he wanted to make (completely disregarding the houseful of food we have, sigh). Only about $3-4, but still...

1/2: We didn't plan properly for our trip to the nature center, and DD was HUNGRY. Again, only spent $1, but see how's it's already adding up?

1/3:

1/4: Gas and almond milk. Budgeted for, so it's okay.

1/5: Dog food and kitty litter.

1/6: Beer run- we needed it, and I'll take it out of the grocery budget for the next 2 weeks (which should be how long it lasts)

1/7: Grocery shopping, printer ink

1/8: DH's medicine

1/9: gas shipping costs to send all my old cloth diapers to my cousin- I was glad to do it, but didn't realize the shipping would be so expensive, and it wasn't part of the budget

1/10:

1/11:

1/12:

1/13:  $1 for me to wear jeans to work, $30 for DH to eat out at a team birthday lunch at work, and $14 for dinner and snack for tonight.  Because it was a bad day and I don't feel like doing anything complicated

1/14:  Groceries

1/15:  Lunch out alone w/DH, yay!  And while out, we sold some books to a used book store, so lunch actually turned out even cheaper

1/16:

1/17:

1/18:

1/19:

1/20:

1/21:

[mrsmischief]

Week 3~

1/15-$0

1/16- $35 registration fee for a painting class next month with friends (unbudgeted) 

1/17- $0

1/18- $1.08 for posterboard (unbudgeted)

1/19- $0

1/20- $0

1/21- $10 for birdseed (budgeted) 

Edited by mrsmischief - 1/21/12 at 3:30pm

[nwmomof2]

Been a few days since I posted, it hasn't been pretty!

Week 2

1/8  budgeted spending: $20 groceries

1/9 $17.50 at Goodwill: mixing bowls, wood hangers and a measuring cup, all needed, DD1 cute Gymboree t-shirt, not really needed. And then I spent $34 - ordered my DD2 a nightie (on sale 50% off) and DD1 slippers (not on sale) from LL Bean. Not absolutely necessary, but will be used. Ah, well. Thrift and online shopping, truly a weakness.

1/10  No spend day. Went to the gym, then my a.m. kindergarten daughter had a friend over this afternoon. Got some chores done around the house. 

1/11 $11 household supplies (note cards to write thank you notes)

1/12 $6 awesome, like new Obermeyer kids ski jacket at consignment shop (I used $11 credit), $53 gas for car

1/13 $145 groceries

1/14 $6 snacks out

All in all, a bad week for spending. I'm planning to get back on the wagon tomorrow. Oh, and sometime in the week I broke my pledge and ordered a gorgeous wool jacket (on sale) from rei.com. I don't need a jacket. May return it when it comes. I need to do better!!

Week 3

1/15 $8 snacks out

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

We had a great weekend -- lots of xc skiing so no spending...but today the girls are out of school and they want to go to Pizza Hut with some friends, so that will cost $$. 

But for me this month has been FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!  I'm so happy this thread is here because it is really making me conscious of where I'm spending money.

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

01.. 

02..  $14 Pizza Hut

03.. 

04.. 

05..   $50 Tequila (the big bottle)

06.. 

07..  $25 dinner out with friends

08.. 

09..  $15 Triple Sec

10.. 

11..  $5 McDonald's

12.. 

13.. 

14.. 

15.. 

16..  $6 wetbag from WAHM, $15 Pizza Hut

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Oh and I just remembered we are supposed to go ice skating later...which costs...and then tonight is date night.  So today is going to be a wash -- money is leaving the wallet definitely.  Tomorrow I'm back on the wagon.

[Ruthiegirl]

Jan 1 -- 

Jan 2 -- 

Jan 3 -- 40.00 cash for hospital stay/food, 15.22 flowers, 13.12 cell phone minutes

Jan 4 -- 

Jan 5 -- 

Jan 6 -- 

Jan 7 -- 28.61 birthday gift

Jan 8 -- 

Jan 9 -- 60.00 nursing bras

Jan 10 -- 

Jan 11 -- 14.90 library fines   

Jan 12 -- 

Jan 13 -- 

Jan 14 -- 

Jan 15 -- 

Jan 16

Jan 17

Jan 18

January savings goal is at 126% 

[_ktg_]

Jan 1 - 

Jan 2 - Groceries/household goodies (326/500) 

Jan 3 -  (and it was my first day back to work after vacation!!)

Jan 4 - 

Jan 5 -  (Spent $10/$40 on some kombacha - but I get to reuse the bottles for my own brews this month)

Jan 6 -  (spent $10/30 on Taco Bell Dinner since DH was going to D&D night)

Jan 7 -  for DS & a friend birthday party (we split it with another family to keep the costs down since they are so close together)

Jan 8 -  ($11 groceries)

Jan 9 -

Jan 10 -

Jan 11 -  ($1.12/20) popcorn break today at work & $4.50 for the grocery store

Jan 12 -  

Jan 13 - ($9.50/19) cafe lunch meeting

Jan 14 -  ($21/$130 for groceries at Farmer's Market)

Jan 15 -

[FillingMyQuiver]

Key

No Spend/ Budgeted spending

Unplanned/ unbudgeted spending

30min spent decluttering

1.  We're at my ILs until tomorrow, DH and I ran to Target for MIL for popcorn, I picked up stockings and eye makeup for DH's formal office party on Saturday, all of it was put on a GC I got for Christmas, so no $$ out of pocket.  I REEEALLY wanted to buy some other stuff that we REEEEALLY didn't need, but I resisted

2.  Trip home today.  We budgeted a set amount for this trip to the ILs, and for one of the first times, we actually stayed completely in budget!!  I'm hoping that this will set the precedent for the rest of the year, that we can set a budget and stay within it.  No extra spending, no impulse shopping, complete CONTROL!!  Tomorrow I begin decluttering for the 2012 in 2012 Decluttering Challenge.

3.    DH stopped for a haircut on the way home from work b/c I haven't had a free moment to cut his hair.  There's room in the budget for it, but it wasn't really budgeted for.

4.    Had a play date with friends today so no money spent.

5.    DH picked up part of DD2's b-day present, cupcakes, and her choice of dinner for tonight (elbow pasta w/ sauce.  Oh the joys of being 3!!)  Also purchased a used copy of DH's textbook for his class.  All spending today was budgeted.  We reviewed the budget and found we came in under budget on quite a few line items and were able to put some extra towards paying off our truck   Really hoping the momentum we feel this month will carry through the rest of the year

6.   

7.   

8.      $62 spent at Chili's for an unplanned lunch out after church w/ my brother, SIL, and nieces, though it was $$ well spent b/c I don't get to spend much time w/ that part of my family.  Undecorated our Christmas decor today and got rid of quite a few things I didn't use or want anymore.

9.      $24 spent at McD's for lunch.  2 of my kids had dr appts today and I didn't plan very well and had to grab lunch on the go.  I did however resist stopping for Starbucks on the way back and just waited to make coffee at home.

10.  and LOTS of

11. 

12. 

13.  (but it's really not) $160 at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange for seeds/ bulbs for this year's garden.  It wasn't budgeted, but we got a partial insurance reimbursement (for my homebirth ).  We didn't think we'd be getting the reimbursement, so we didn't have it allocated to anything.  A portion went to seeds, a portion will go to DH's new computer monitor he's saving up for, and the rest will go towards our truck, bringing us a few more months closer to paying it off!!  Oh, and

14.    Did our once-a-month bulk shop at Costco today and regular food shopping.  Stuck to the list, didn't go to any other stores, and stayed completely within budget.

15.    Stayed home and made a special day of watching the football playoff game.    We also looked over our master budget and if we stay completely on task, we will pay off our Suburban in March, a full 19 months early

[petey44]

KEY

unnecessary spending

necessary spending

no spending

1/1: I sent DH to the store to pick up a pepper I needed for a recipe...I had bought it within the grocery budget the day before, but then DH used it without asking while fixing himself a snack...and then while he was at the store he picked up something else he wanted to make (completely disregarding the houseful of food we have, sigh). Only about $3-4, but still...

1/2: We didn't plan properly for our trip to the nature center, and DD was HUNGRY. Again, only spent $1, but see how's it's already adding up?

1/3:

1/4: Gas and almond milk. Budgeted for, so it's okay.

1/5: Dog food and kitty litter.

1/6: Beer run- we needed it, and I'll take it out of the grocery budget for the next 2 weeks (which should be how long it lasts)

1/7: Grocery shopping, printer ink

1/8: DH's medicine

1/9: gas shipping costs to send all my old cloth diapers to my cousin- I was glad to do it, but didn't realize the shipping would be so expensive, and it wasn't part of the budget

1/10:

1/11:

1/12:

1/13: $1 for me to wear jeans to work, $30 for DH to eat out at a team birthday lunch at work, and $14 for dinner and snack for tonight. Because it was a bad day and I don't feel like doing anything complicated

1/14: Groceries

1/15: Lunch out alone w/DH, yay! And while out, we sold some books to a used book store, so lunch actually turned out even cheaper

1/16:  Birdseed, something about putting air in the tires of the jogging stroller???, and some winter shoes for me.  The shoes and birdseed were budgeted for, in a way, I guess, because they were on the master list of things to buy when possible- this is a list of everything outside of groceries and household supplies that DH or I need or want, and we talk through it before buying anything from that list

1/17:

1/18:

1/19:

1/20:

1/21:

[nwmomof2]

Week 3

1/15 $8 snacks out

1/16 No spend! Lots of snow here. Went skiing and brought our own food/drinks.

1/17

1/18

1/19

1/20

1/21

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Yesterday wasn't pretty. 

But I'm in this for the long haul, so I'm forgetting about it and soldiering on.

Today we have a busy day planned with no spending, so I can lock my wallet up and enjoy life.

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

01.. 

02..  $14 Pizza Hut

03.. 

04.. 

05..   $50 Tequila (the big bottle)

06.. 

07..  $25 dinner out with friends

08.. 

09..  $15 Triple Sec

10.. 

11..  $5 McDonald's

12.. 

13.. 

14.. 

15.. 

16..  $6 wetbag from WAHM, $15 Pizza Hut, $6 ice skating, $30 date night

17.. 

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

[FillingMyQuiver]

Key

No Spend/ Budgeted spending

Unplanned/ unbudgeted spending

30min spent decluttering

1.  We're at my ILs until tomorrow, DH and I ran to Target for MIL for popcorn, I picked up stockings and eye makeup for DH's formal office party on Saturday, all of it was put on a GC I got for Christmas, so no $$ out of pocket.  I REEEALLY wanted to buy some other stuff that we REEEEALLY didn't need, but I resisted

2.  Trip home today.  We budgeted a set amount for this trip to the ILs, and for one of the first times, we actually stayed completely in budget!!  I'm hoping that this will set the precedent for the rest of the year, that we can set a budget and stay within it.  No extra spending, no impulse shopping, complete CONTROL!!  Tomorrow I begin decluttering for the 2012 in 2012 Decluttering Challenge.

3.    DH stopped for a haircut on the way home from work b/c I haven't had a free moment to cut his hair.  There's room in the budget for it, but it wasn't really budgeted for.

4.    Had a play date with friends today so no money spent.

5.    DH picked up part of DD2's b-day present, cupcakes, and her choice of dinner for tonight (elbow pasta w/ sauce.  Oh the joys of being 3!!)  Also purchased a used copy of DH's textbook for his class.  All spending today was budgeted.  We reviewed the budget and found we came in under budget on quite a few line items and were able to put some extra towards paying off our truck   Really hoping the momentum we feel this month will carry through the rest of the year

6.   

7.   

8.      $62 spent at Chili's for an unplanned lunch out after church w/ my brother, SIL, and nieces, though it was $$ well spent b/c I don't get to spend much time w/ that part of my family.  Undecorated our Christmas decor today and got rid of quite a few things I didn't use or want anymore.

9.      $24 spent at McD's for lunch.  2 of my kids had dr appts today and I didn't plan very well and had to grab lunch on the go.  I did however resist stopping for Starbucks on the way back and just waited to make coffee at home.

10.  and LOTS of

11. 

12. 

13.  (but it's really not) $160 at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange for seeds/ bulbs for this year's garden.  It wasn't budgeted, but we got a partial insurance reimbursement (for my homebirth ).  We didn't think we'd be getting the reimbursement, so we didn't have it allocated to anything.  A portion went to seeds, a portion will go to DH's new computer monitor he's saving up for, and the rest will go towards our truck, bringing us a few more months closer to paying it off!!  Oh, and

14.    Did our once-a-month bulk shop at Costco today and regular food shopping.  Stuck to the list, didn't go to any other stores, and stayed completely within budget.

15.    Stayed home and made a special day of watching the football playoff game.    We also looked over our master budget and if we stay completely on task, we will pay off our Suburban in March, a full 19 months early

16.    While out, DH bought lunchmeat, rolls, and chips for lunch.  I thought the total would come in under $30, but he spent over $50.  On the upside, there was a whole lot of