NoSpend January -- Ringing in the New Year with money in the bank - Page 4

[xekomaya]

Gah!! Amazon and their sales!!!  

I was adding more books to our wishlist for homeschool books - hoping to ask family to buy from it for birthdays/Christmas presents. Well, the Winnie the Pooh 4 book set *library bound* was on sale today and I just totally bought it. AND I need a new specific calculator for an exam I am sitting for in May and I have been waiting for an Amazon purchase to buy with it to get super saver shipping so I bought that too ... The calculator I was definitely going to buy on Feb 1 in my planned spending so that part is not too bad.. uggh. oh well. Tomorrow is a new day :)
 

Jan 1: <free pass>

Jan 2: 

Jan 3: 47.75 

Jan 4:  

Jan 5: Groceries 

Jan 6:  semi-planned dinner out

Jan 7:  

Jan 8:  

Jan 9:  

Jan 10: so far so good...

Edited by xekomaya - 1/10/12 at 3:38pm

[Momsteader]

So, thread question, when we post, we quote or edit our old post into a new post and not just edit our original post, right? 

I spent some money today, but was budgeted, so good day.

[StarCoveter]

1/1 - Groceries $93 (budgeted)

1/2 - Junk food run (dh) $4.50

1/3 - NO SPEND!

1/4 - $5.56 - stop at gas station before work... got NO sleep last night due to dd, so got some pick-me-up snacks to make it through the day... TOTALLY not needed... gotta work on that junk food addiction!

[_ktg_]

So far off to a good start, but it is still early in the month. Woohoo!!

Jan 1 -  

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

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

 

[rudhaen]

- Nothing spent

- Budgeted spending for groceries, gas or bills

- Other spending

1/1 -

1/2 -

1/3 -

Looking good for today as well, though I still need to figure out what to make for dinner. So far so good with lunches! Yay!

[lavatea]

I wanted to post my introductory message real fast, then I will go back and read through all of the posts.


a. Who you are

Working, homeschooling mom to three little ones (7, 4, and 3 weeks). I'm a nurse so I work full time hours in half a week so it *almost* feels like I work part-time. The days I'm off are blocked together so for 4 days I'm a SAHM and then I'm a working mom the other 3 days. I'm currently on maternity leave, though.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)

I'm slated to go back to work on February 5th, which means I won't get paid until the 3rd week in February. Sadly, my DH's income does not cover all of our bills. I have about $1,000 saved up, but we are going to eat through that really fast I'm afraid. I'm trying not to stress about how things will get paid this month and next, but really looking at my budget spreadsheet yesterday hit home how bad things might get.

Besides surviving until March, our financial goals are to keep bills current, work on paying down debt, and put away as much money as possible into our sinking funds and emergency fund (e-fund is fully funded, but it's that $1,000 I mentioned that I had saved up...doubt it will make it through until March).

c. How you plan to get there

I don't strictly follow Dave Ramsey, but I do try to use some of his rules in how I use our money. I have a budget spreadsheet. I take out food and gas money in cash, and we do OK on keeping those categories within budget. DH and I both do use the card some for small purchases (coffee, occasional lunches). DH is a little worse than me, but I am guilty, too. I have a hard time talking to DH about money stuff and while he is theoretically on board with the plans, it can be difficult at times to keep him reeled in. He works long hours at a job he doesn't really like and feels cheated when he can't spend on even small things. While I understand the frustration, it's hard to get ahead with that entitled feeling over your head. And of course, I get resentful when he spends willy-nilly b/c I feel like I'm having to be the "grown-up" and I can't spend whenever the mood strikes me, etc, etc.

ANYWAY...step one right now is to keep all extraneous spending down this month and in February. The less I have to dip into our emergency fund the better. Step two is to call the IRS about last year's refund (long story) and see who is now claiming a part of that and if we're even going to see a dime of the almost $9,000 we've been waiting almost a year for. Step three is to get back on our sinking fund and debt snowball plan once my maternity leave is over (if there is opportunity for OT at work, I will try to do a shift or at least 1/2 of a shift each week).
Edited by lavatea - 1/4/12 at 8:43am

[lavatea]

I wanted to add a bit about our longer-term goals.

I really want to be a true SAHM so that is a major goal we're working toward. DH is in a position to possibly double his income in a year or two (if he can stick it out at a job he's less than enthusiastic about) so that would probably cover me staying at home. In the meantime, we've switched health insurance to DH's job and I'm looking for a part-time job in an area about 2 hours from our current location. The job market for nurses pays substantially more than our current location. So even factoring in gas and childcare I think I'd make more or at least the same for less hours of work.

We also talk about eventually moving overseas or at least another state but we'll have to be in a better financial position for that.

We don't have retirement or kids' college savings to speak of, and we don't own a home. We recently took on a car payment b/c we needed a second car so I want to pay that off ASAP.

I've built sinking funds into our budget for things like yearly travel, presents, Christmas, and family pictures. Need to find a way to boost our savings amount to include sinking funds for the longer-term, big savings accounts.

OK, here's our January list so far:
1and 2- We were out of town so I spent for food and some small things at Target and DH was separate from us so I'm sure he spent, too.
3- DH bought lunch out. I told him last night to consider us dirt poor for the next two months. Not sure how long he'll remember that, but he got up and made his lunch this morning.

[esg]

01/01 - $15 gas

01/02 - $10 gas, $0.75 soda :(

01/03 - $6 gas

01/04 -

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

01.. 

02..    $14 Pizza Hut

03.. 

04.. 

05..

06..

07..

08..

09..

10..

11..

12..

13..

14..

15..

[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:

1/6:

1/7:

1/8:

1/9:

1/10:

1/11:

1/12:

[habitat]

a. Who you are

I'm Habitat, an artist and infant/childcare specialist. I am currently TTC my first child as a sole parent by choice (aka- "Single Mama by Choice"). I identify very strongly as an anarchist, a feminist and a queer. I live with nine of my closest friends in an urban anarchist collective and am politically active in my city.

I have worked as an "alternative" childcare provider since my early high school days, promoting gentle, compassionate care and self-facilitated education for young people of compulsory school age. I'm certified as a doula. I'm currently employed helping a single mother unschool her daughter and am a very part-time phone consultant for parents who need support and/or guidance in creating compassionate environments for their children to thrive. I'm also really interested in helping families with children get connected with the radical communities in their area.

I'm leaving for a 4-week trip on the 12th. But I will be traveling minimally with (hopefully) no housing expenses and intend to stick to my budget the whole time.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)

Being more intentional with my finances is a very critical part of a long-time holistic health plan for me.

My Goals:

• Become current on bills and basic expenses.
• Become debt free.
• Start saving to buy land or otherwise invest in my future and that of my child-to-be.

c. How you plan to get there
Though it's against my current political/personal values, I was raised in a family that lived way beyond its means and am a consumer by training. I really struggle with this and take it seriously as an addiction. I have a very difficult time budgeting and staying out of stores. Though in many ways I live a life that is radically centered in people/community rather than things, money truly burns a dangerous hole in my pocket, keeping me in a cycle of stress and living "paycheck-to-paycheck".

My Resolutions:

• Relearn habits and be very intentional about spending. Stop ALL shopping for recreation/habit/anxiety. Find other things to do with my time.
• Commit to a budget. Live bare minimally on my wallet and budget to the penny. Eliminate ALL unnecessary spending
• Simplify by selling/donating/purging things I don't need and keep my life clutter-free. Keep things organized.
• Curate my environment to reflect me at my best. Surround myself with only the things that I love and which inspire me.
• Conquer debt and build security, a la Ramsey.
• Enjoy my life in ways that aren't about money.

KEY:

no spending

budgeted spending

unnecessary spending

sold stuff I didn't need

also:

aerobic activity w/ elevated heart rate >30 minutes

  yoga / meditation

  kept my personal space super clean

  did my house chore

spent time making things / being creative >20

  ate only healthy foods that make me feel good.

  minimal computer time <60 minutes

HERE IT GOES!

Edited by habitat - 1/4/12 at 8:15pm

[_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 - 

 

[MonkeyPrincess]

I am unable to copy and paste my previous posts, so I'm just going to update as I can.

Today: $0

[akichan]

Originally Posted by esg 

I'm in Texas wishing I could save up for Hawaii. Want to trade? ;)

esg - are you anywhere San Antonio? That's where I'm headed! =-)

[akichan]

I'm Akie, single mom to 3 boys, homeschooling one.

My goal is to be able to pay for a trip for all of us to Texas this summer (we live in Hawaii) and also to the Signing Time conference in Utah in July.

I teach one class a week of Baby Signing Time and am finishing up a seasonal job with Coach this month.

January 1 - $35 renewal subscriptions to church magazines

$175 for hair straightening Groupon - I really, really need this even though it seems frivolous

January 2 - $98 horseback riding - my new expensive hobby but I only go about once a month

$50 gas

January 3 - NO SPEND!!!

January 4 - $170 Ice Skating lessons for the older 2 boys (budgeted) $30 for cough drops (fighting vog), toothbrushes (2 yr old stuck his in the toilet), and carpet cleaner (2 yr old wrote on the rug with crayon)

[nwmomof2]

1/1  no spend

1/2   no spend

1/3  budgeted spending - gas, groceries

1/4  budgeted spending - b'day gift for my mom, some misc. household supplies like batteries and stamps, tailors, DD 1 piano tuition, ski gloves for DH, pizza lunch out with DD2, spent more $ than I planned on. Trying for a no spend tomorrow.

1/5

1/6

1/7

[AnkaJones]

Wow, this thread is really kicking this month!!!

1/1: No spend

1/2: No spend.  Working OT tonight.

1/3:  Shoot!  Forgot to return my library book yesterday, and now have a fine.  Worse yet, it's an interlibrary loan book... $2/day.

1/4:  No spend.  And turns out there's a grace period on the interlibrary loan book, so no fine. 

[esg]

I'm near Houston but SA is pretty cool.
 

Originally Posted by akichan 

esg - are you anywhere San Antonio? That's where I'm headed! =-)

[meandk0610]

tracking legend:

home cooked

personal development/healing

pantry/freezer used

no unnecessary spending

online training

declutter (stole the icon even!)

library late fee or eating out

unnecessary spending (hope not to see this one!)

1/1

1/2 i did not get around to online training and i spent more than i meant to at the grocery store. on top of that, the 2 reduced packages of beef bones that i bought yesterday rang through at their original price and i didn't notice until we got home. only about $0.70 difference but i should've been paying more attention.

1/3 no online training again!

1/4 regular job today; no time for online training.

1/5 regular job today; no time for online training. i plan to listen to Underearners Anonymous and Clutterers Anonymous calls today. i will edit out my "healing" icon if i miss both.

[Bearsmom]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Just out of curiosity -- what ads are scrolling at the top of your thread?

Old Navy...that's where I bought the kid's winter clothes (I'm in florida!).