October No-Spend Challenge~ TRICKING the pocketbook and TREATING the savings!! - Page 4

[Surfacing]

Congratulations Ladies!! Some of us are really meeting our goals this month. Honeybee80 you inspire me!!!

Greenmamato2 I hear you on the food thing (I also work in social services with families incl. children). The cooler in the car sounds like a good idea, or the food bank on wheels, granola bars in the trunk, etc. Great ideas.

Tealsmith83 - Happy Birthday!

Fillingmyquiver - Don't be so hard on yourself!

15/10 - stayed longer at daycare in the morning to nurse ds and comfort him, so I ended up being nearly late for work and had to park right next to our building. $15 UGH - took it from my weekly $20 "spending money"

16/10 - got the stupid freaking gel nails and tips taken off because they were getting caught and hurting my nail beds!!! Then I needed my nails tidied up so they would be presentable at work, where I use my hands a lot and people constantly look at them. $40 unbudgetted spending. $1.50 for coffee. On the updside, I parked far away from work for free and cycled the rest of the way. Saved on parking and tokens! Yeah!

My kids' school has a Ukele club starting and my girls are soooo interested. $140/child for early bird fee. Today. Ugh.

Otherwise my plan is no more unbudgeted spending for the rest of the week! month! year! (Hahaha okay gotta start small)
 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

  Welcome!!!  Jump in at ANY time

Originally Posted by sk8boarder15 

OK I'm going to jump in for the remainder of the month.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Happy Birthday Tealsmith!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

The shopping bug has bitten me.

I've already ordered more stuff on line for the girls for Christmas.  The stuff is in my "cart" but I haven't clicked check out yet.  I'm fighting this urge tooth and nail.  It comes in waves.

And that wave seems to coincide with payday...which was Monday.

I need to get a handle on my emotions and try to figure out why I go through these spend, spend, spend periods.  Part of it is too much time on the internet.  Internet adds work very well on me. 

It is insidious how they pick up on what you have been shopping for online and then show those little adds in the sidebars with the exact thing you were looking for...and a few other models just like it.  They know how to push my buttons.

I think today my plan is to CLEAN my house.  Cleaning all this stuff usually helps make me not want to buy more of it.

Today will be a very hard day for me.  I really want to earn a no-spend today.

[honeybee80]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

I need to get a handle on my emotions and try to figure out why I go through these spend, spend, spend periods.  Part of it is too much time on the internet.  Internet adds work very well on me. 

I do the SAME thing!  I think it's related to PMS and feeling inadequate about things for some reason.  I've also been journaling trying to figure out if I can nail down what exactly it is that makes me spend.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by honeybee80 

I've also been journaling trying to figure out if I can nail down what exactly it is that makes me spend.

That's what this thread is for me!  My online journal when the spending gets out of hand.  Lol

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

So far I wanted to go out shopping, but a close friend couldn't go with me and talked me down.  I stayed home and cleaned instead.  I'm making dinner right now.  If I can stay busy, I won't shop.

My plan is to rake the yard and keep cleaning the house.  I'm giving myself a pre-emptive  for the day.  I hope it is still there tonight!

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

11..  

12..  

13..  $92 snow boots, snowshoes, long underwear.  Winter is long in Vermont.  You need gear.

14..  

15..  

16..  $51 Christmas presents

17.. 

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Goal:  15 No Spend Days this month 

Progress:  5 days so far 

[sk8boarder15]

Today I'm going shopping, its all long awaited budgeted stuff, (pants, tools, groceries) but its all the latte's along the way that are the hard part! Maybe since its one of my few days out without a kid tagging along I'll treat myself to one beverage. But this is when it gets hard. At home, there are few temptations its when I need to venture out it gets hard! 

[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 

My DD's birthday is tomorrow and I spaced that birthday party day is a different day, meaning I'd need a cake of sorts tomorrow, as well as the cupcakes I have planned for Saturday.  Well, my grandma came to the rescue (totally unexpectedly!)  She sent DD a card in the mail today with a 10 dollar bill and a note to get ourselves a treat with it, so we're gonna go to Whole Foods tomorrow after dinner and DD will get to pick out something special from the bakery there.  Perfect timing and that means I don't have to spend tomorrow!  

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Yes!  Yesterday stayed a no-spend day.  A small victory...but a hard one to win.

Today the girls are going out for pizza with friends...but if I can just spend the pizza money and nothing else, I'll be content.

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

11..  

12..  

13..  $92 snow boots, snowshoes, long underwear.  Winter is long in Vermont.  You need gear.

14..  

15..  

16..  $51 Christmas presents

17.. 

18..  $ Pizza for the kids

19..

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Goal:  15 No Spend Days this month 

Progress:  5 days so far 

[tealsmith83]

Ugh...not a terrible day yesterday, but did spend $9.00 at DQ on ice cream after church.  Also had to put more time on my phone so that cost me another $50.00.  Will have to go to the grocery store this afternoon, but I consider that budgeted spending.  All in all, I guess we could be doing better, but I'm not totally upset.  At least the spending has been somewhat curtailed since school started back.  During the summer, it seemed like a free-for-all! 

[FillingMyQuiver]

Key:

  No Spend/ Budgeted spending

  Unbudgeted Spending

  Crafted for at least 30min

1. 

2. 

3.   

4.   Had to bring DS2 in to the dr for a uti, appt was right at lunch time and didn't pack anything.  $25 copay, $45 for antibiotics, $30 for lunch for me and 5 kids.  expensive day

5.   

6.    Ended up having to buy a few extra things at the Scout Shop and overspent the grocery budget, frustrating b/c we stuck to the grocery list, prices on some of the items have gone up.

7. 

8.    Registration for DS1 and DH for scouting (budgeted).  Ended up being less than I thought it would be (thankfully).

9.   

10.    Ate out for lunch $30!!  Ugh, this should be the last time for the month.  Had a MW appt and needed to eat right after, poor planning and all.  Also, DH had a dentist appt, $75 OOP.

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15.    DH was working from home and decided to grab lunch out for all of us, $40 later   Also bought some clothes on zuliliy for myself ($95), something I haven't done in a long time and DH said I should indulge in.  Now I'm feeling guilty, even though what I bought was at great prices and are classic pieces I'll wear for a long time and often.

16. 

17. 

[greenmamato2]

Doing.... OK.  Definitely not doing no-spend, but I am budgeting ok.  We paid up a month early on the car last month, and may try to do that again this month if things fall into place financially to do so. I think it should.  We're caught up on all our main bills - the ones we need to survive. 

One thing I am realizing as I work through this challenge is that I need to set specific financial goals and work on them bit by bit.  Measured success is a good thing, and helps me keep moving forward.  We've been trying to pay down a debt too, and managed to put $40 on it that we didn't *have* to this last paycheck.  It feels good to at least make a small dent.

My big downfall right now is eating out.  I"m not sure how to correct that.  I need to get better about packing lunches.  I don't know why it seems like such a challenge.  Part of the problem is that I am in the car most of the day and often have my clients with me.  I don't feel comfortable eating in front of them, especially if I don't bring them something.  It usually winds up that I grab something out for me AND my client, which is totally undoing the whole point of me working.  It is hard not to feed them though - they are low-income and rarely have food to spare, and are usually hungry by the time I pick them up.  Maybe I can start bringing snacks for clients as well, like a baggie of pretzels and a banana and a bottle of water.  I don't really know what else to do.
 

[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)

[Surfacing]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

The shopping bug has bitten me.

I've already ordered more stuff on line for the girls for Christmas.  The stuff is in my "cart" but I haven't clicked check out yet.  I'm fighting this urge tooth and nail.  It comes in waves.

And that wave seems to coincide with payday...which was Monday.

I need to get a handle on my emotions and try to figure out why I go through these spend, spend, spend periods.  Part of it is too much time on the internet.  Internet adds work very well on me. 

It is insidious how they pick up on what you have been shopping for online and then show those little adds in the sidebars with the exact thing you were looking for...and a few other models just like it.  They know how to push my buttons.

I think today my plan is to CLEAN my house.  Cleaning all this stuff usually helps make me not want to buy more of it.

Today will be a very hard day for me.  I really want to earn a no-spend today.

Crunchy*VT*Mom - you did an amazing job!!! Congratulations for making it a no spend day. Sometimes the desire to spend is overwhelming, isn't it? I'm so proud of you. :o))))))

[Surfacing]

Originally Posted by Surfacing 

15/10 - $15 Parking (unplanned)

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

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

18/10 - $15 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.
 

:o(((((( My issues seem to be: Unplanned things coming up with the kids, not saying "no" to the friend and children (even after lots of consideration re: ukelele club - it was not on impulse).

And the debt just keeps piling.

That's gotta stop.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I had some banking issues yesterday (read: bounced a check)   so it should be easier than ever not to spend today. Grrrrr...

This weekend I need to sit down with my budget and figure out what went wrong. 

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..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

Goal:  15 No Spend Days this month 

Progress:  5 days so far 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by greenmamato2 

My big downfall right now is eating out.  I"m not sure how to correct that.  I need to get better about packing lunches.  I don't know why it seems like such a challenge.  Part of the problem is that I am in the car most of the day and often have my clients with me.  I don't feel comfortable eating in front of them, especially if I don't bring them something.  It usually winds up that I grab something out for me AND my client, which is totally undoing the whole point of me working.  It is hard not to feed them though - they are low-income and rarely have food to spare, and are usually hungry by the time I pick them up.  Maybe I can start bringing snacks for clients as well, like a baggie of pretzels and a banana and a bottle of water.  I don't really know what else to do.
 

I don't see this as your downfall, but as a really really NICE thing to do.  Since it happens so regularly, I would start packing lunches for yourself and your client ("I'm going to have a sandwich while we drive...I have an extra...would you like one too?") and chalk that up as a charitable contribution to society.  You are a good person.

[honeybee80]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

I don't see this as your downfall, but as a really really NICE thing to do.  Since it happens so regularly, I would start packing lunches for yourself and your client ("I'm going to have a sandwich while we drive...I have an extra...would you like one too?") and chalk that up as a charitable contribution to society.  You are a good person.

I agree!

[greenmamato2]

Thank you guys so much - I really appreciate that.  We're not in a great financial situation, but I have a job and a car and that's more than most of my clients can say (and more than we could say a year ago so I can relate and want to help).

I am going to work on doing better with planning my lunches.  I plan our dinners and snacks at home throughout the week without any problem. I just need to make it a habit.  I even went and found a bunch of containers at the thrift store that wound up being free after my "reward points" there, so I don't have any excuses, except lack of planning.  I am not going to work again until next week, so I have plenty of time to plan. :)  We'll hope next week goes better.