October No-Spend Challenge~ TRICKING the pocketbook and TREATING the savings!! - Page 8

[FillingMyQuiver]

Deep breath in, I haven't been on this thread since the 17th and our spending has gone completely downhill   Target, WalMart, etsy, Christmas gifts on zulily, unbudgeted groceries, work on our Suburban, too much eating out, you name it, we've spent it.  Hoping to start fresh tomorrow (tomorrow b/c DH is at a concert w/ his best friend as part of his b-day present and I'm not sure how much he'll spend )

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

If your family celebrates Christmas...how are you doing getting ready? 

Are you the type who buys everything way in advance, or do you wait for the last minute?

Do you have a Christmas budget?  Do you know about how much you are going to spend on presents or do you buy until you feel like you have enough?

How did your parents handle Christmas?  Are you doing things differently than they did?  Why or why not?

~ inquiring minds want to know.  :)

I'm almost done w/ my Christmas shopping.  We strive for a balance between handmade and non-handmade/ commercial gifts.  When we've done mostly handmade, DH felt very left out because he spends so much time working, he has little time to make anything for the kids.  So having some "commercial" gifts that he picked out helps him feel more involved in the gift giving for the kids.  I start shopping and buying as early as August sometimes if I find good deals on things I know the kids would like.

We *try* to set a budget, and usually I can come pretty close to it, maybe going over a little bit.  I try to keep the gifts even in value and number for the older 4 children, DH is all about it being "fair".  they're all so close/ young in age right now that I can do this, we'll see what happens when the age gap starts getting wider.

When I was younger, my parents started off with practically an unlimited budget and 1 year spent over $2K on my brother and I.  It was insane and they realized it   Then I think they moved to a more conservative budget (especially when they added 2 more children to the mix).  But even so, they used to go shopping on Black Friday to get as many toys as they could for their budget.  DH and I are more purposeful in our spending.  I try to keep the kids' gifts more well rounded, a mix of toys, books, clothing/ pjs, and practical items.

Edited by FillingMyQuiver - 10/28/12 at 4:17pm

[honeybee80]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

If your family celebrates Christmas...how are you doing getting ready? 

Are you the type who buys everything way in advance, or do you wait for the last minute?

Do you have a Christmas budget?  Do you know about how much you are going to spend on presents or do you buy until you feel like you have enough?

How did your parents handle Christmas?  Are you doing things differently than they did?  Why or why not?

~ inquiring minds want to know.  :)

We celebrated Yule last year and for a minute this year, I decided we were just going to celebrate Christmas because "it's easier and what everyone around us does"....well then when my kids asked what we were celebrating and I said Christmas, they immediately said they were going to make a list for Santa.  So I changed my mind and decided we're going to celebrate Yule again after all ;)  I just can't take this consumerism thing!  I did do most of their shopping online yesterday, though.  I spent $175 total.  I still need to get some stocking stuffers, which I'm going to limit to consumables under $10.  Any adults I'm buying for will be getting fancy chocolate bars.  I should be able to get all of those for under $30.  I'm going to make a little purse for my niece and some bean bags for my nephew, as I've been bad aunt and haven't sent them any gifts in way too long--those will be made with materials I already have, though.  As far as how my parents handled Christmas, we got way too much stuff.  Not an exorbitant amount, but my parents probably spent at least $200-$250 on each of us (me, brother, sister).  And then my grandparents got us just as much, if not more than my parents.  Don't get me wrong, I was stoked to get so much, but I personally like to keep it simpler.  I try to do no more than 4 presents each.  For the last few years I've done "something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read" but this year I got them 2 combined presents (checkerboard and Harry Potter movies) and 2 other individual presents each.

[honeybee80]

I'm having a spending dilemma!  My DD really needs new ski pants and I want to find LL Bean ski pants for her--that's the brand my kids have always worn and they ALWAYS last through both my kids and then I sell them when my DS outgrows them.  I've seen them in thrift stores before, but it's pretty hit or miss.  There are some on sale now on LL Bean's website for $35, which is a pretty good price.  Should I splurge and buy them?  Benefits--I wouldn't be tempted to walk in to a thrift store any time soon, as I don't need anything else right now.  Potential drawbacks--maybe I could find them at a thrift store and if I did, they'd be WAY cheaper!  I'm leaning toward just buying them new....

[mamayogibear]

Speaking of frugal Christmas, what are some resources for free presents for a 2 year old and a 5  year old? This is our second Christmas alone and basically the first one since last year there was only a couple presents and no tree...

Should I just start a new thread?

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I know because I was stalking you, Jenn!   

I wanted to check if you were still no-spending it before I started the november thread.  Glad to have you back!!!!!

Originally Posted by FillingMyQuiver 

Deep breath in, I haven't been on this thread since the 17th and our spending has gone completely downhill   Target, WalMart, etsy, Christmas gifts on zulily, unbudgeted groceries, work on our Suburban, too much eating out, you name it, we've spent it.  Hoping to start fresh tomorrow (tomorrow b/c DH is at a concert w/ his best friend as part of his b-day present and I'm not sure how much he'll spend )

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Yes.  Buy the LLBean snowpants for $35 and then hand them down.  That is $17.50 per kid.  That is frugal.

I used to try to buy snowgear used, but that stuff gets worn HARD and it doesn't hand down well.  I think it is cheaper to buy new and tell the kids to wear that stuff out.  Especially if two kids will be using it.

Originally Posted by honeybee80 

I'm having a spending dilemma!  My DD really needs new ski pants and I want to find LL Bean ski pants for her--that's the brand my kids have always worn and they ALWAYS last through both my kids and then I sell them when my DS outgrows them.  I've seen them in thrift stores before, but it's pretty hit or miss.  There are some on sale now on LL Bean's website for $35, which is a pretty good price.  Should I splurge and buy them?  Benefits--I wouldn't be tempted to walk in to a thrift store any time soon, as I don't need anything else right now.  Potential drawbacks--maybe I could find them at a thrift store and if I did, they'd be WAY cheaper!  I'm leaning toward just buying them new....

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Are you on facebook?  Because a group of my friends and I just put out there on facebook that we were looking to swap toys for Christmas.  My kids are too young to make the distinction between new and new-to-you...so friends are giving me some of the toys that their kids are done playing with and I'm handing out toys that my kids are done playing with.  We'll clean them up, re-wrap them and hand them around.  Because I just can't spend anymore money on stuffed animals and baby dolls.  I literally CANNOT open my wallet for that stuff. 

Originally Posted by mamayogibear 

Speaking of frugal Christmas, what are some resources for free presents for a 2 year old and a 5  year old? This is our second Christmas alone and basically the first one since last year there was only a couple presents and no tree...

Should I just start a new thread?

[FillingMyQuiver]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

I know because I was stalking you, Jenn!   

I wanted to check if you were still no-spending it before I started the november thread.  Glad to have you back!!!!!

  You're too funny, Prudence.  If you see I haven't been around for a while, call me out, please.  Usually that means I'm not behaving   It doesn't take much lately, either, to push me into a spending spree *sigh*

DH did really well last night, he met his friend for dinner ($15) and paid for parking ($15).  His friend picked up the cost of the ticket as a gift for DH's birthday.

Being on the outer bands of Hurricane Sandy and our state being in a state of emergency, no one is leaving the house.  DH is working from home, I've already planned dinner, our money is staying safely in its place.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I bought a snow-tube at Costco.  Totally an impulse purchase.

So far this month:  skis and a snow tube.  We are going to be broke, but we will be having fun while we are doing it.  We'll be fun-broke. 

Is there such a thing??

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

11..  

12..  

13..  $92 winter gear

14..  

15..  

16..  $51 Christmas presents

17.. 

18..  $24 Pizza for the kids

19.. 

20.. $9 MP3 downloads, $15 cake and ice cream

21.. 

22..  $5 salad at pizza place

23..  $29 MOPs registration fee

24.. 

25.. 

26.. 

27.. 

28.. 

29..  $60 snow-tube

30..

31..

Goal:  15 No Spend Days this month 

Progress:  12 days so far 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Vermont is Sandy-homebound as well.  No work for hubby, no school for the kids, most places are closed...so I'm going to try hard to stay home and keep that wallet where it belongs.

[FillingMyQuiver]

I lied, DH filled up the generator and made a last minute emergency run to fill the small gas tanks just in case.  $28 but I consider it a necessity (though we rarely lose power).

[honeybee80]

10/1:  no spend 

10/2:  no spend 

10/3:  no spend 

10/4:  no spend 

10/5:  no spend 

10/6:  budgeted spending  gas $40, windshield wiper $13

10/7:  budgeted spending  groceries $41

10/8:  no spend 

10/9:  no spend 

10/10: no spend 

10/11: no spend 

10/12: no spend 

10/13: budgeted spending  groceries $37, misc. $5, DD's bday party $36, $5 beer

10/14: no spend 

10/15: budgeted spending  DD's field trip $3.25

10/16: no spend 

10/17: no spend 

10/18: budgeted spending  laundry quarters $20 (will last about 6-8 weeks)

10/19: no spend 

10/20: no spend 

10/21: budgeted spending  $35 groceries, $4 soap, $36 gas, $10 bought toys from kids to declutter

10/22: no spend 

10/23: no spend 

10/24: no spend 

10/25: no spend 

10/26: unbudgeted spending  $17.75 thrift store finds

10/27: budgeted spending   $53 groceries, $175 Christmas presents for the kids

10/28: no spend 

10/29: no spend 

I decided to hold off on the ski pants for now (huge feat for me!)  I think I'm finally starting to understand the art of patience ;)  It will all work out fine.  Realistically, we probably won't go skiing until the beginning of December at the earliest, so she'll be fine without ski pants until then (hopefully there won't be any big snows before then ;))  I'm holding off on buying a new ink cartridge for my printer, too.  I don't REALLY need to print anything here--anything that I do need to print can be done at work.  I do, however, need to get some stamps, so that will be a miscellaneous expense this week.  Oh, and I need to buy some pumpkin seeds for my class to do pumpkin seed math on Wednesday (I don't think the one pumpkin I bought to take in will have enough seeds for everyone in my class)--this was an expense I should have taken care of when I was at the grocery store on Saturday, but it slipped my mind.

[sk8boarder15]

10-17 - Budgeted Spending only! 

10-18 - Small un-budget spending: DH ran to a store to return something (they replaced it free!) and on the way home he stopped at Star Bucks 

10-19 - Unbudgeted spending: 

10-20 - No SPEND!!!   

10-21 - NO SPEND!!! 

10-22- Unbudgeted spending: 

10-23- Unbudgeted spending: 

10- 24 - Budgeted Spending only! 

10-25 - Unbudgeted spending: 

10-27 - Budgeted Spending only! 

10-28 - Unbudgeted spending:  (Failed to plan for dinner, ordered pizza) 

10-28 - Budgeted Spending only! 

Today was budgeted spending, but it was a big spending day. Monthly stocking up on grocerys, a needed target run, and date night (our first real one in over a month!) I'm doing a bunch of freezer crock-pot meals, so I spent $300 on groceries, but thats enough dry stuff for the month, and dinners and lunches for at least 2 weeks. I will probably go back just for fruit next week. 

The cash thing kind of got screwed up by date night, as I had to spend all mine on parking (I HATE parking in the city)! But we got a great deal on movie tickets, $5 each at the FANCY theater, super awesome seats, full bar, just really nice. 

As for Chrsitmas, normally I start shopping around black friday, but becuase we are traveling in mid dec, I'm going to start after holloween. This is going to be a smaller christmas (I tend to go crazy at christmas) but I need my gifts all ready before we leave on Dec 3rd. :/ We basically count the year as 13 months, the 13th being christmas, so thats how we budget it. Though this year like I said, will be smaller. 

[Surfacing]

Originally Posted by Surfacing 

15/10 -  $15 uplanned Parking but I used my weekly budgetted spending money so that's good!

16/10 - $40 unbudgetted spending for nails, $1.50 for coffee, $140/child x 2 for early bird fee music classes.

17/10 - $30 unbudgetted birthday lunch for myself and a friend

18/10 - $15 unbugetted parking unplanned - kids were impossible to get out of bed, we were all running late. I am so sick right now and was dragging myself around. I had to park again so I wouldn't be late for work.

19/10 - Day off to run errands. I bought $100 worth of stuff from Staples that we needed like printer ink, paper, envelopes (VISA). Also tanked up the car for $90 (VISA).

Grabbed a quick lunch for $6 which I can take from our monthly food budget.

20/10 -   $21 Downtown parking due to our annual doula AGM which I organized. On the plus side, I had a budget to cater the food and got to take home the leftover food. $$$ Cha-ching! We did well there!

21/10 - Budgetted spending - grocery shopping

A bit behind here.... let's see what I can remember!!!

22/10 - $15 parking at work from my weekly spending money

23/10 - no spend

24/10 - no spend

25/10 - $1.80 coffee at Tim Horton's from weekly spending money

26/10 - lunch with my bro for $10 - from grocery budget

27/10 - $20 fast food and $35 over-budget for diapers, etc.

28/10 - budgetted grocery shopping

29/10 - Books and (ahem) personal items for dh and I today around $300 - but I forgive myself for these. Taking care of our relationship is cheaper than a divorce!

           parking for appt from budgetted weekly spending money

Being aware really helps.

[tealsmith83]

Ack!  Ate out on Saturday (breakfast) and gave DS money for snacks at the class he is taking.

Ate out yesterday (Monday...twice)  ACK! again.  Was downtown due to oncologist appt.

Spent about $19. at Target on misc.

Spent about $95. at Old Navy (new shirts for work)  (On the upside, I did have $15.00 in coupons)

Spent about $15. at Guitar Center on music and guitar pics.

Really hoping to make today a no-spend. 

On another note...has anyone ever used Shutterfly to make photo books?  I'm trying it, but either my computer is not behaving as it should, or I'm just computer illiterate (and I would bet on the second option)!  Have you been happy with them?  Would you prefer another site?, etc.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

No spendy today.  :)

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

11..  

12..  

13..  $92 winter gear

14..  

15..  

16..  $51 Christmas presents

17.. 

18..  $24 Pizza for the kids

19.. 

20.. $9 MP3 downloads, $15 cake and ice cream

21.. 

22..  $5 salad at pizza place

23..  $29 MOPs registration fee

24.. 

25.. 

26.. 

27.. 

28.. 

29..  $60 snow-tube

30.. 

31..

Goal:  15 No Spend Days this month 

Progress:  13 days so far 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I used Costco...but I have trouble with them as well.

Originally Posted by tealsmith83 

On another note...has anyone ever used Shutterfly to make photo books?  I'm trying it, but either my computer is not behaving as it should, or I'm just computer illiterate (and I would bet on the second option)!  Have you been happy with them?  Would you prefer another site?, etc.

[mamayogibear]

Epic fail with the no spend challange today!

I set out to buy high slippers with shoe soles for the three of us and ended up buying three sets of boots and three sets of slippers because i could not find what I was looking for:( I also bought dd gloves and socks which were not on my list but cute and she needed a few extras...

[honeybee80]

10/1:  no spend 

10/2:  no spend 

10/3:  no spend 

10/4:  no spend 

10/5:  no spend 

10/6:  budgeted spending  gas $40, windshield wiper $13

10/7:  budgeted spending  groceries $41

10/8:  no spend 

10/9:  no spend 

10/10: no spend 

10/11: no spend 

10/12: no spend 

10/13: budgeted spending  groceries $37, misc. $5, DD's bday party $36, $5 beer

10/14: no spend 

10/15: budgeted spending  DD's field trip $3.25

10/16: no spend 

10/17: no spend 

10/18: budgeted spending  laundry quarters $20 (will last about 6-8 weeks)

10/19: no spend 

10/20: no spend 

10/21: budgeted spending  $35 groceries, $4 soap, $36 gas, $10 bought toys from kids to declutter

10/22: no spend 

10/23: no spend 

10/24: no spend 

10/25: no spend 

10/26: unbudgeted spending  $17.75 thrift store finds

10/27: budgeted spending   $53 groceries, $175 Christmas presents for the kids

10/28: no spend 

10/29: no spend 

10/30: unbudgeted spending  $44 etsy, $13 grocery store

Well, it would have been budgeted, except I splurge on a mini vegan, gluten-free lime tart at the grocery store (and it was worth every penny of the $2.49 I spent ;)).  I used leftover gas money to buy reusable snacks bags for my kids' lunches that I've been eyeing up on etsy all month.  While I had planned to buy them with leftover money, they weren't exactly 'budgeted'.  I also bought 2 bags of pumpkin seeds at the grocery store (I'll be getting reimbursed for one of them though)--gotta do pumpkin seed math with my class today!  I think today can be no spend.  My kids are with their dad tonight, so I'll probably just stay home and craft and read.  We got invited to my friend's baby's first birthday party this Saturday and I'm going to make her a set of beanbags :)

[tealsmith83]

10-30   Yay!  finally a no-spend day for me!  I am going to try to do it again today...we'll see what happens.  DH and DS have gotten to where they like to go get donuts after church on Wednesday nights.  (sigh)  Doesn't help my no-spend efforts OR my weight loss efforts!