~ March No-Spend Challenge ~ - Page 5

[Ruthiegirl]

Should be another  today.  I need to return library books and do a little grocery shopping.  Still have money in the grocery budget, just have to keep to the list.  

Mar 1 -- 

Mar 2 --   

Mar 3 -- 9.54 3 pairs of jeans for dd, 10.60 goggles for lacrosse 

Mar 4 -- 

Mar 5 -- 

Mar 6 -- 

Mar 7 -- 

Mar 8 -- 3.00 snack for ds, 9.00 ice cream 

Mar 9 --  

Mar 10 -- 34.00 family day at the Eagle fesitval

Mar 11 -- 

Mar 12 -- 

Mar 13 -- 9.00 bathing suits for the younger boys

Mar 14 -- 4.50 spring baskets and juice glasses

Mar 15 -- 

Mar 16 -- 

Mar 17 -- 

Mar 18 -- 128.00 bathing suits for me, dh, dd, and ds

Mar 19 -- 

Mar 20 -- 

Mar 21 -- 

Mar 22 -- 

Mar 23 -- 

Edited by Ruthiegirl - 3/23/12 at 4:29am

[FillingMyQuiver]

Key

  No Spend/ Budgeted Spending

  Unplanned/ Un-budgeted Spending

1.    Off to a good start

2.    Had to take DS1 to the dr.  Appointment was right at lunch time and since it was last minute, had to stop for lunch.  $20 @ McDs.

3.    We went to IKEA   $80 later, we came home w/ 2 step stools (kind of needed), pkg of juice glasses, 6 tea balls. and a steaming pitcher for our espresso machine (none really needed at all)

4.    Went to parents' for dinner, brought dessert and wine $30

5.  .  It's snowing here and I'm not leaving the house.

6. 

7.    Errand day, picked up the remainder of a load of boards for a project, picked up milk order and bulk foods co op order.  Order hemp seeds in bulk from Amazon.  All budgeted.

8. 

9. 

10. $50 @ WM, $35 for planned dinner out

11. overspent on food budget

12.

13.

14.   HUGE overspend day   $$ for topsoil to fill garden beds, $$ for dinner out w/ FIL who was visiting from out of state

15.

16. $25 on pizza delivery

17.

18. $16 ice cream treat for kids' hard work helping move topsoil, $25 for cheap sneakers for kids for dirt play

19. *sigh*  I broke the carafe for our coffee maker, DH picked up a new coffee maker on the way home from work $18

20. My birthday!!  DH made french toast for dinner, but we were out of bread AND eggs, so he picked them up on the way home $13

21. preemptive  We have to pick up our milk order today, but it's budgeted, and we're not going anywhere else.

[Ruthiegirl]

Bought a Friday night movie for the kids last night and another one this morning.  Oh, Netflix makes it much too easy to sped money.  

Mar 1 -- 

Mar 2 --   

Mar 3 -- 9.54 3 pairs of jeans for dd, 10.60 goggles for lacrosse 

Mar 4 -- 

Mar 5 -- 

Mar 6 -- 

Mar 7 -- 

Mar 8 -- 3.00 snack for ds, 9.00 ice cream 

Mar 9 --  

Mar 10 -- 34.00 family day at the Eagle fesitval

Mar 11 -- 

Mar 12 -- 

Mar 13 -- 9.00 bathing suits for the younger boys

Mar 14 -- 4.50 spring baskets and juice glasses

Mar 15 -- 

Mar 16 -- 

Mar 17 -- 

Mar 18 -- 128.00 bathing suits for me, dh, dd, and ds

Mar 19 -- 

Mar 20 -- 

Mar 21 -- 

Mar 22 -- 

Mar 23 -- 3.00 movie rental

Mar 24 -- 3.00 movie rental

Mar 25

Mar 26

Mar 27

Mar 28

Mar 29

Mar 30 -- pay day

Mar 31

 

[diana_of_the_dunes]

Hi mamas!  I'm late to the game this month, but after not really budgeting at all the past 3 months, I've noticed that (surprise) we aren't saving any money.  Since Friday started a new pay cycle for us (DH and I are paid bi-weekly), I'm taking some initiative and getting my butt back on track.

a. Who you are

Diana, mama of DS, wife to DH.  I work FT out of the home.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)

We are expecting in July, and I'll be off work for at least 6 months postpartum.  Maybe longer.  We need to have as much money in the bank as possible, as well as getting in the habit of budgeting.  We can survive on one income (especially if we ditch the eating-out), but it's super-tight.  My immediate goal is to not spend any non-budgeted money til the next payday.

c. How you plan to get there

By not spending any non-budgeted money til payday!  No eating out, cooking enough at home to have leftovers for work days.  I'm also going to make some easy-to-grab snacks on my days off (the next 3 days) so that I have something to grab in a hurry.

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3/25 -

3/26 -

3/27 -

3/28 -

3/29 -

3/30 -

3/31 -

[Ruthiegirl]

Struggling, struggling...van broke down, so I paid $120 for the tow and a $180 to get the alternator belt replaced.  I also joined AAA because I will never, ever get stuck on the side f the road with my 4 kids again.  That was misery. 

And I bought a stroller.  My newborn baby is now a chunk and my back is killing me.  I have looked for months at used strollers, but they are so ridiculously overpriced around here -- beat up old things being sold for $75.  Made more sense to pay a little more and get something safe and new.  Oh my aching budget....

Mar 1 -- 

Mar 2 --   

Mar 3 -- 9.54 3 pairs of jeans for dd, 10.60 goggles for lacrosse 

Mar 4 -- 

Mar 5 -- 

Mar 6 -- 

Mar 7 -- 

Mar 8 -- 3.00 snack for ds, 9.00 ice cream 

Mar 9 --  

Mar 10 -- 34.00 family day at the Eagle fesitval

Mar 11 -- 

Mar 12 -- 

Mar 13 -- 9.00 bathing suits for the younger boys

Mar 14 -- 4.50 spring baskets and juice glasses

Mar 15 -- 

Mar 16 -- 

Mar 17 -- 

Mar 18 -- 128.00 bathing suits for me, dh, dd, and ds

Mar 19 -- 

Mar 20 -- 

Mar 21 -- 

Mar 22 -- 

Mar 23 -- 3.00 movie rental

Mar 24 -- 3.00 movie rental

Mar 25 -- $$$ huge spending -- tow for the van, AAA membership

Mar 26 -- $$$ more spending for van repair and a stroller

Mar 27 -- 

Mar 28

Mar 29

Mar 30 -- pay day

Mar 31

[Ruthiegirl]

And welcome Diana!!!!

[FillingMyQuiver]

Originally Posted by Ruthiegirl 

  Oh my aching budget....

I feel ya, Ruth.  DH and I weren't the wisest this past weekend, we really need to stay out of stores!!
 

Key

  No Spend/ Budgeted Spending

  Unplanned/ Un-budgeted Spending

1.    Off to a good start

2.    Had to take DS1 to the dr.  Appointment was right at lunch time and since it was last minute, had to stop for lunch.  $20 @ McDs.

3.    We went to IKEA   $80 later, we came home w/ 2 step stools (kind of needed), pkg of juice glasses, 6 tea balls. and a steaming pitcher for our espresso machine (none really needed at all)

4.    Went to parents' for dinner, brought dessert and wine $30

5.  .  It's snowing here and I'm not leaving the house.

6. 

7.    Errand day, picked up the remainder of a load of boards for a project, picked up milk order and bulk foods co op order.  Order hemp seeds in bulk from Amazon.  All budgeted.

8. 

9. 

10. $50 @ WM, $35 for planned dinner out

11. overspent on food budget

12.

13.

14.   HUGE overspend day   $$ for topsoil to fill garden beds, $$ for dinner out w/ FIL who was visiting from out of state

15.

16. $25 on pizza delivery

17.

18. $16 ice cream treat for kids' hard work helping move topsoil, $25 for cheap sneakers for kids for dirt play

19. *sigh*  I broke the carafe for our coffee maker, DH picked up a new coffee maker on the way home from work $18

20. My birthday!!  DH made french toast for dinner, but we were out of bread AND eggs, so he picked them up on the way home $13

21.

22.

23.

24. $$ on lunch out, $$ for shoes for DD1, DH, and I, $$ on umbrellas for the kids, $$ on storage ottomans for our living room

25.

26. $22 @ Home Depot for last minute items to hoop house the lettuce bed before last night's freeze.  $8 @ JoAnn Fabrics for 4 wooden birdhouses for kids and bias tape for a project.
 

My goal is now to end strong for the month and see the rest of the week as NoSpend days.

[diana_of_the_dunes]

Ruthiegirl - Ugh, car repairs stink.  Not that there's ever a good time for car repairs, but I swear that they always happen at the LEAST convenient time/place possible. 

Wow, only a few days in, and this is already rough.  I'm SO out of practice.  I did this "challenge" numerous times last year, and I don't remember it being quite this difficult to stick to, but I also had room in my budget those months for a little bit of eating out or coffee or whatever.  This two weeks... not so much.  We had to buy a new fan today, as DH and I both need white noise to sleep.  Our old fan is about 10 years old and has developed some kind of annoying, intermittent squeal.  In spite of taking it apart, we can't find the cause.  I was up about 10 times (no exaggeration) last night because of it. 

I hope nobody minds, but I'm adding in some notes about my cooking as well.  I'm trying to keep track of what we're doing these two weeks and whether or not it's working for us.  Feel free to ignore my ramblings!

3/25 - cooked dinner and had enough leftovers to freeze two portions for homemade "Lean Cuisines" for later.  It was a day off, so I didn't have to worry about taking lunch to work.  Also tossed the chicken bones into the crockpot with veggie scraps I'd been saving in the freezer for homemade broth.

3/26 - $60 at Meijer for some groceries.  Made quesadillas, mexican rice, and refried beans for dinner.  LOTS of leftovers.  Fried up some bacon to use for sandwiches/breakfast burritos later this week.  Canned the chicken broth.  Day off, so no work lunch.

3/27 - New fan.  Packed lunch for DS and I to take to the babysitters (quesadillas), then packed dinner for myself to take to work (salad, apple, and chili from the freezer).  Plenty of leftovers at home for DH and DS tonight.

3/28 -

3/29 -

3/30 -

3/31 -

[my2girlz]

3/1 $96.17 at Target (some groceries, clothing, household items)

3/2 $289.xx at Costco (1x/month stop)

3/3 $48.25 movie theater (rare treat), $13.55 Starbucks, $474.10 at Babies 'r Us (planned, budgeted $500)

3/4 $60.01 gas, earned $61.xx at OUAC

3/5 $35.07 Walmart (groceries), $13.17 Cub Foods (groceries) $17.00 Great Clips (dh's hair)

3/6 $0!!

3/7 $52.48 at Target (movie, plus some needed items like bandaids, neosporin, tylenol)

3/8 $19.88 at Wendys (had an appt that stretched over lunch), $11.83 at Cub Foods (groceries)

3/9 $0!!

3/10 $12.83 for cat food

3/11 $31 for gas, $9 car wash, $103.86 at SuperTarget ($31 for needed clothes for dd3, $72.86 was groceries), $16.49 to fill up propane tank

3/12 $29.94 at Bath & Body Works (hand soap and wallflower, taken from groceries since it's for the household)

3/13 $48.97 Cubs Foods (groceries)

3/14 $5.78 at Starbucks

3/15 $0 

3/16 $17.52 Jimmy Johns

3/17 $0

3/18 $0

3/19 $76.38 Target (bday supplies), Walmart $66.37, $12.05 MGM liquor, $23.26 Walmart (again), $37.94 Cub Foods, $8 Once Upon A Child, $4.55 Subway

3/20 $29.73 Wendys, $5.30 Starbucks, $36 school pics

3/21 $11.92 Cub Foods

3/22 $57.91 bday dinner at Outback Steakhouse, $69.96 Valley Natural Foods, $8.99 Cub Foods,

3/23 $56.01 gas, $3.62 Wendys, $121.78 Target ($91.79 groceries), $5 Cub Foods

3/24 $17 Starbucks, $40 gymnastics pics

3/25 $0

3/26 $17.52 Jimmy Johns, $138.17 Target, $18 school pictures, $7.55 Starbucks, $75.85 Walmart

3/27 $0

budgeted

$1094.77/$800 groceries dh is no longer allowed to do grocery shopping!!

$147.02/$150 gas

[Ruthiegirl]

After all my spending this weekend, yesterday was a nice return to normal.  And good news -- I have lost enough weight to wear my old bathing suit this summer, so I am returning the one I bought -- $80 back in my pocket.  Will walk by the post office while I am out today and drop the return package in the mail.  

Another no-spend day planned today.  Going out for a walk and cooking dinner for a friend who just had a baby.  Tomorrow will be a little spendy -- ds is getting his cast off, so I will owe a co-pay to the doctor.  Pay day on Friday and starting fresh again in April.  

Mar 1 -- 

Mar 2 --   

Mar 3 -- 9.54 3 pairs of jeans for dd, 10.60 goggles for lacrosse 

Mar 4 -- 

Mar 5 -- 

Mar 6 -- 

Mar 7 -- 

Mar 8 -- 3.00 snack for ds, 9.00 ice cream 

Mar 9 --  

Mar 10 -- 34.00 family day at the Eagle fesitval

Mar 11 -- 

Mar 12 -- 

Mar 13 -- 9.00 bathing suits for the younger boys

Mar 14 -- 4.50 spring baskets and juice glasses

Mar 15 -- 

Mar 16 -- 

Mar 17 -- 

Mar 18 -- 128.00 bathing suits for me, dh, dd, and ds (returning 1 suit for $80 refund)

Mar 19 -- 

Mar 20 -- 

Mar 21 -- 

Mar 22 -- 

Mar 23 -- 3.00 movie rental

Mar 24 -- 3.00 movie rental

Mar 25 -- $$$ huge spending -- tow for the van, AAA membership

Mar 26 -- $$$ more spending for van repair and a stroller

Mar 27 -- 

Mar 28 -- 

Mar 29 

Mar 30 -- pay day

Mar 31

[diana_of_the_dunes]

Today I totally lost momentum and decided to get Starbucks with quarters from my change jar.  I got there, the barista said, "Hi!  we've missed you!" (yes, I have a coffee addiction...) and then comped my drink!!  That totally made my day!  I'm going to spend some money tonight on an abdominal support.  My midwife recommended it at my appointment on Monday, and I've been having lots of ligament pain because my abs are just SO shot.  At this point, it's more of a necessary medical expense, and I don't plan on getting anything else while I'm out.

Tomorrow is farmer's market day, but groceries are budgeted.  Need to make my meal plan for the coming week so I don't buy things I won't use.

3/25 - cooked dinner and had enough leftovers to freeze two portions for homemade "Lean Cuisines" for later.  It was a day off, so I didn't have to worry about taking lunch to work.  Also tossed the chicken bones into the crockpot with veggie scraps I'd been saving in the freezer for homemade broth.

3/26 - $60 at Meijer for some groceries.  Made quesadillas, mexican rice, and refried beans for dinner.  LOTS of leftovers.  Fried up some bacon to use for sandwiches/breakfast burritos later this week.  Canned the chicken broth.  Day off, so no work lunch.

3/27 - New fan.  Packed lunch for DS and I to take to the babysitters (quesadillas), then packed dinner for myself to take to work (salad, apple, and chili from the freezer).  Plenty of leftovers at home for DH and DS tonight.

3/28 -   Went to movies with DH, but this was a planned date night from a while back.  Ate dinner at a friend's party, then smuggled our own snacks in to the theatre.

3/29 -   Co-worker brought in dinner for everyone, plus I packed a salad and other food.  DH and DS had leftovers.

3/30 -   Brought lunch, cooking dinner at home after work

3/31 -   projected

[Ruthiegirl]

Mar 1 -- 

Mar 2 --   

Mar 3 -- 9.54 3 pairs of jeans for dd, 10.60 goggles for lacrosse 

Mar 4 -- 

Mar 5 -- 

Mar 6 -- 

Mar 7 -- 

Mar 8 -- 3.00 snack for ds, 9.00 ice cream 

Mar 9 --  

Mar 10 -- 34.00 family day at the Eagle fesitval

Mar 11 -- 

Mar 12 -- 

Mar 13 -- 9.00 bathing suits for the younger boys

Mar 14 -- 4.50 spring baskets and juice glasses

Mar 15 -- 

Mar 16 -- 

Mar 17 -- 

Mar 18 -- 128.00 bathing suits for me, dh, dd, and ds (returning 1 suit for $80 refund)

Mar 19 -- 

Mar 20 -- 

Mar 21 -- 

Mar 22 -- 

Mar 23 -- 3.00 movie rental

Mar 24 -- 3.00 movie rental

Mar 25 -- $$$ huge spending -- tow for the van, AAA membership

Mar 26 -- $$$ more spending for van repair and a stroller

Mar 27 -- 

Mar 28 -- 

Mar 29 -- 

Mar 30 -- $50 pizza 

Mar 31 --