November No-Spend Challenge ~ Don't let little purchases gobble gobble up your savings. - Page 8

[FillingMyQuiver]

Key

  No spend/ budgeted spending

  Unbudgeted spending

  Crafted for at least 30 minutes

1.      Starting the month off right

2.     

3.   

4.    I've already spent a chunk on some Christmas presents for the ILs and DH.  I wasn't planning to spend this much, but the gifts I got are *perfect* for them and they're so incredibly generous with us, I don't feel the least bit sad or guilty about it,   Also, we're doing our big monthly grocery shop at Costco.  DH isn't coming w/ us, so hopefully I'll have an easier time sticking to the list and budget.

5.      DH had a dr appt and needed a prescription, thankfully we have a medical sink fund to cover the co-pays.

6.   

7.      I have got to stop going on zulily.  I just dropped another chunk on some probably unneeded Christmas gifts

8.   

9.    Budgeted spending today-  picked up DS2's birthday present.  Quite happy because we got it on sale AND had a gift card we were able to apply to it, so although I budgeted $100 for it, we only ended up spending OOP $75.  ALSO, I had a coupon for a $10 gift card if you spent a certain amount, so I have another $10 gc in my wallet now to apply to future gifts

10.      I knew today would be a spending day.  We bought "gifts" to fill our Operation Christmas Child boxes for church and we finished out the monthly grocery shop.  We went over the grocery budget because I let DH convince me to get lunch meat and I found a good deal on potatoes, 50lbs for $17, so I bought a sack.  Also, though I had intended on making DD1's birthday cake for tomorrow, I just don't have the time or energy, so we bought one.

11.      More Christmas gifts.  *sigh*

12.    Whew, finally.  Most of today was spent prepping for our scout pack meeting potluck.

13.    Not going anywhere today.  Hopefully I'll make some progress on homemade gifts.

14.      I altered a pair of maternity jeans today.  I hated the way they fit and I already had a pair of bootcut maternity jeans so I made them into skinny jeans to wear with my favorite knee high boots that I've been wanting to wear but couldn't b/c I had no skinny maternity jeans.  Yesterday I didn't make any progress on gifts. but today my intent is to sit and knit after dinner.

15.      I feel pretty safe giving myself a No Spend for today.  I finished a scarf last night and hopefully later today I'll finish the main body of another gift.  I'm determined to keep up the momentum I've built over the last few days.

11 No Spend days and 10 Crafting days, I'm half way to my goal.    Here's to finishing strong the last half of the month.

[SweetSilver]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Today is a dangerous day because I have to go to Costco.

But if i just buy groceries (which I never count against myself) and the things on my list (cat flea preventative, photobook...) and stick within my budget, then I'm going to be happy with today.

Good luck getting past all the stuff on the way to the food!  Costco makes it difficult because you just never know if that deal will be there next time.  Same for the thrift store, which is my trouble.  I never can keep myself of the aisles for the dishes and kitchen stuff, nor the skirts.  The only way to keep off is to keep out.  Very difficult *just* to check for girls' pants.

Unfortunately, groceries are our biggest bugaboo, and I do count them against myself, not so much for a no-spend day but just because I overspend here chronically.  In the past, it was not unusual to have *food* bills (minus cat food and household expenses) mount to $1200, and always over $1000.  This is such a problem for us because as self-employed people, our hourly rates haven't gone up in about 10 *years*, while gas and food prices have skyrocketed.

So, today, dh is bringing home another small batch of necessaries.  I pay for their riding lesson tuition today, but for extraneous purchases it is otherwise no-spend.  

Odd definition of no-spend, but oh well!  

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Yeah!!  Success!  I bought some stuff, but it was all budgeted and planned for.  No impulsive spending on stuff we don't need.  :)

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

01.. 

02.. 

03..  $195 Christmas presents

04.. 

05.. 

06.. 

07..    

08..  $87 Christmas cards and pictures

09..  $40 hair

10.. 

11..  $15 ski repair

12.. 

13..  $20 donuts

14.. 

15..  

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..  Happy Thanksgiving!  

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30.. 

My goal = 20 No Spend Days

My progress =  10  days so far

[honeybee80]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Yeah!!  Success!  I bought some stuff, but it was all budgeted and planned for.  No impulsive spending on stuff we don't need.  :)

  YAY!  Nice work! :)

[honeybee80]

11/1: no spend 

11/2: no spend 

11/3: budgeted spending  Costco $130 (once a month trip), Grocery store $42, Stamps $9, Gas $33

11/4: no spend 

11/5: no spend 

11/6: no spend 

11/7: no spend 

11/8: no spend 

11/9: no spend 

11/10: budgeted spending  thrift store $13 - $3 (returned ski pants)

11/11: budgeted spending  $57 groceries, $37 gas,  $10 glass of wine (unbudgeted)

11/12: no spend 

11/13: no spend 

11/14: budgeted spending  $20 Christmas present for my parents (I'm gonna count it as budgeted, as it came out of my sinking fund)

11/15: no spend 

[honeybee80]

One of my 2 yearly extra paychecks got put in my account today and it's already gone--but in a good way! (well kinda)  I owed a friend of a friend money from a crayon laundry disaster over the summer, so I wrote out the check to her and sent it off.  I also paid off my kids' ski lesson packs.  The really great part is that I put the rest of it in savings!  YAY!  First time I've EVER done that!  Usually I see the extra money as play money and I blow it on dumb stuff.  Today may or may not be no spend.  It will be as long as I don't buy any drinks when I go out to see music tonight.  My friend hooked it up again, so I get to go see ALO for free--woohoo!! :)

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

We're having a party tonight so I had to run out and get some last minute things.

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

01.. 

02.. 

03..  $195 Christmas presents

04.. 

05.. 

06.. 

07..    

08..  $87 Christmas cards and pictures

09..  $40 hair

10.. 

11..  $15 ski repair

12.. 

13..  $20 donuts

14.. 

15..  

16..  $57 Party food

17..

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..  Happy Thanksgiving!  

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30.. 

My goal = 20 No Spend Days

My progress =  10  days so far

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Yeah Honeybee!!!!!  Way to go!!!!!

Originally Posted by honeybee80 

 The really great part is that I put the rest of it in savings!  YAY!  First time I've EVER done that!  

[FillingMyQuiver]

Great job, Honeybee!!

Key

  No spend/ budgeted spending

  Unbudgeted spending

  Crafted for at least 30 minutes

1.      Starting the month off right

2.     

3.   

4.    I've already spent a chunk on some Christmas presents for the ILs and DH.  I wasn't planning to spend this much, but the gifts I got are *perfect* for them and they're so incredibly generous with us, I don't feel the least bit sad or guilty about it,   Also, we're doing our big monthly grocery shop at Costco.  DH isn't coming w/ us, so hopefully I'll have an easier time sticking to the list and budget.

5.      DH had a dr appt and needed a prescription, thankfully we have a medical sink fund to cover the co-pays.

6.   

7.      I have got to stop going on zulily.  I just dropped another chunk on some probably unneeded Christmas gifts

8.   

9.    Budgeted spending today-  picked up DS2's birthday present.  Quite happy because we got it on sale AND had a gift card we were able to apply to it, so although I budgeted $100 for it, we only ended up spending OOP $75.  ALSO, I had a coupon for a $10 gift card if you spent a certain amount, so I have another $10 gc in my wallet now to apply to future gifts

10.      I knew today would be a spending day.  We bought "gifts" to fill our Operation Christmas Child boxes for church and we finished out the monthly grocery shop.  We went over the grocery budget because I let DH convince me to get lunch meat and I found a good deal on potatoes, 50lbs for $17, so I bought a sack.  Also, though I had intended on making DD1's birthday cake for tomorrow, I just don't have the time or energy, so we bought one.

11.      More Christmas gifts.  *sigh*

12.    Whew, finally.  Most of today was spent prepping for our scout pack meeting potluck.

13.    Not going anywhere today.  Hopefully I'll make some progress on homemade gifts.

14.      I altered a pair of maternity jeans today.  I hated the way they fit and I already had a pair of bootcut maternity jeans so I made them into skinny jeans to wear with my favorite knee high boots that I've been wanting to wear but couldn't b/c I had no skinny maternity jeans.  Yesterday I didn't make any progress on gifts. but today my intent is to sit and knit after dinner.

15.      I feel pretty safe giving myself a No Spend for today.  I finished a scarf last night and hopefully later today I'll finish the main body of another gift.  I'm determined to keep up the momentum I've built over the last few days.

16.    Feeling good today.  DH is working from home and it's always iffy w/ him around because he wants fast food for lunch.  Today I stuck to my guns and we ate from the pantry.  Now to figure out dinner.

12 No Spend days and 11 Crafting days, I'm over half way to my goal.    Here's to finishing strong the last half of the month.

[CookiePie]

Budgeted         Not Budgeted/went over      Saved $, got freebee, paid something off, worked an extra shift           hung clothes out         

November
1.  DD2 sport workshop $62  budgeted   Working an extra shift tonight    and just  

2 *   No spend day! I resisted getting lunch out after school.  Instead I came home and made eggs & toast. I hung 2 loads of laundry   Picked up extra shift

3  * No spend day! 

4    Bought $10 of groceries, also got budgeted wood heating pellets and

5   *   No spend!   Working an extra shift

6   * Working an extra shift today

7  * No spend!  I'm working an extra shift tonight!

8. *   No spend! Worked extra shift

9.  Budgeted spending on groceries

10. Budgeted raw milk & dry goods from bulk bins

11.* No spend. Made a really frugal venison soup with soup bones veggies and barley I'm becoming so aware of how much barely worn stuff gets thrown in by line drying  

12. * No spend Deep cleaned my kitchen.  Culturing a batch of yogurt and making homemade granola

13. *   No spend

14.    Got a couple Christmas gifts out of Christmas fund, and other household needs.

15. * No spend

16.  Bought budgeted wood pellets. I called oil company today & lowered our budgeted monthly oil payment since the furnace just heats our water now.  Got paid for all those extra hours that I worked last week, I made more that I thought         

[SweetSilver]

1/1)     Budgeted 

11/2)   No spend

11/3)   No spend

11/4)   No spend

11/5)     Almost no spend

11/6)     Groceries, a bit over budget

11/7)   Budgeted groceries, day 2.  .

11/8)   Forgot more groceries, but budgeted.

11/9)    ....and some more groceries.  Gas.

11/10)    No spend

11/11)    No spend

11/12    Almost no spend

11/13    Budgeted groceries.  Planned trip for french fries and that ice vanilla soy.  Finished my no-spend hat!!

11/14    No spend.  Baked goodies.  

******************************************************

11/15    A few more budgeted groceries.  Riding lesson tuition.  Baked bread!!! 

11/16    Budgeted groceries, hopefully this will last us until next week.  Usually it takes several stops at different stores to get everything we need.  We have an itty-bitty fridge, so we make more frequent stops.  Hard to get an absolute no-spend day that way, but we've been pretty good about non-grocery purchases.....

.....until tonight, thought I'd hit a different Goodwill on the way home from work.  Dh and and the girls were not expected home until around 8.  Not as great a stop as I had hoped--only found one pair of pants for the girls (they like those stretchy pants and I am forever looking for replacements) and some shirts.  Got out of there under $11.  Two things I tried on for myself weren't 100%.  They must be 100%--no doubts whatsoever-- or I make myself not buy them.  Good girl!  But overall not worth the stop.  My usual Goodwill is at least as good as this one.

Oops.  Forgot the coffee stand.    Oh well.  At least we are sticking to our grocery list.

Food bill about $530 for the month.  I'm not going to be counting ingredients for Thanksgiving pies against this.  $220 to go before I blow my budget.  Will I make it??  I think I will.

[honeybee80]

11/1: no spend 

11/2: no spend 

11/3: budgeted spending  Costco $130 (once a month trip), Grocery store $42, Stamps $9, Gas $33

11/4: no spend 

11/5: no spend 

11/6: no spend 

11/7: no spend 

11/8: no spend 

11/9: no spend 

11/10: budgeted spending  thrift store $13 - $3 (returned ski pants)

11/11: budgeted spending  $57 groceries, $37 gas,  $10 glass of wine (unbudgeted)

11/12: no spend 

11/13: no spend 

11/14: budgeted spending  $20 Christmas present for my parents (I'm gonna count it as budgeted, as it came out of my sinking fund)

11/15: no spend 

11/16:  $8 tequila drink (with club soda and pineapple juice--so yummy!  and so unbudgeted ;))

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by FillingMyQuiver 

16.    Feeling good today.  DH is working from home and it's always iffy w/ him around because he wants fast food for lunch.  Today I stuck to my guns and we ate from the pantry.  Now to figure out dinner.

12 No Spend days and 11 Crafting days, I'm over half way to my goal.    Here's to finishing strong the last half of the month.

You are doing great, Jenn! 

Originally Posted by CookiePie 

I'm becoming so aware of how much barely worn stuff gets thrown in by line drying  

Me too!!!  I'm not line drying but I'm becoming more conscious of how often we run loads of laundry full of clothing that my daughters wore for fifteen minutes.  Or stuff that they took off the hanger and then threw in the hamper rather than hanging it back up.   I'm becoming the laundry police because running a hot water wash costs $$$$.  Is your clothes line indoors or out?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

Food bill about $530 for the month.  I'm not going to be counting ingredients for Thanksgiving pies against this.  $220 to go before I blow my budget.  Will I make it??  I think I will.

Good job, SweetSilver!  You can do this.

Originally Posted by honeybee80 

11/16:  $8 tequila drink (with club soda and pineapple juice--so yummy!  and so unbudgeted ;))

Somethings are worth a little unplanned spending. 

[FillingMyQuiver]

Thanks, Prudence.

Everyone's doing great!!

I found myself reading the archives of weekly frugal accomplishments at The Prudent Homemaker Blog for inspiration on holding onto my money AND frugal tips for saving money.

[honeybee80]

Originally Posted by FillingMyQuiver 

I found myself reading the archives of weekly frugal accomplishments at The Prudent Homemaker Blog for inspiration on holding onto my money AND frugal tips for saving money.

Fun blog!  I made a list today of upcoming expenses and I'm a little worried about it!  I have to get my oil filter in my car changed on Wednesday (somewhere between $30 and $50, I think--I actually have no idea) and get my driver's license renewed ($21).  In my perfect world, that money would just be waiting for me in my sinking fund, but I've just been building that for 2 months now and have spent most of it on Christmas presents.  It will be added to at the beginning of December, so I'm going to try to hold off on all other purchases that are absolutely not essential until then.  My food budget is also dwindling this month, but I think I can stay within it.  We may just need to eat out of the pantry the last week of the month (which is totally possible).  And of course I say all this, but I'm planning to go thrift shopping today with a friend of mine ;)  I've got my list of things I can buy, so I'm going to stick to that as far as any possible purchases, but I'm gonna focus on finding those ski pants for DD...they must be out there somewhere!  I'm running out of time, as I'm sure we will be going up to ski in the next few weeks!  So today may be a spend day, but it so, hopefully it will be just things on my list.  Tomorrow will be my grocery shopping day, so it will be a spend day also.  Last night and Sunday are further proof that in order to really stick to my budget, I need to be a homebody--one drink here and there really adds up! ;)

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

 I need to be a homebody too!

Lots of social time and Zumba this weekend...I'm hoping the rest of the weekend will be curled up in front of the fireplace with the kids.  Money safely in the wallet.

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

01.. 

02.. 

03..  $195 Christmas presents

04.. 

05.. 

06.. 

07..    

08..  $87 Christmas cards and pictures

09..  $40 hair

10.. 

11..  $15 ski repair

12.. 

13..  $20 donuts

14.. 

15..  

16..  $57 Party food

17..  $40 Zumbathon + $9 Apple Ginger Cider

18..

19..

20..

21..

22..  Happy Thanksgiving!  

23..

24..

25..

26..

27..

28..

29..

30.. 

My goal = 20 No Spend Days

My progress =  10  days so far

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Oooh I like that blog.  I book marked it.  Thanks Jenn!

[honeybee80]

11/1: no spend 

11/2: no spend 

11/3: budgeted spending  Costco $130 (once a month trip), Grocery store $42, Stamps $9, Gas $33

11/4: no spend 

11/5: no spend 

11/6: no spend 

11/7: no spend 

11/8: no spend 

11/9: no spend 

11/10: budgeted spending  thrift store $13 - $3 (returned ski pants)

11/11: budgeted spending  $57 groceries, $37 gas,  $10 glass of wine (unbudgeted)

11/12: no spend 

11/13: no spend 

11/14: budgeted spending  $20 Christmas present for my parents (I'm gonna count it as budgeted, as it came out of my sinking fund)

11/15: no spend 

11/16:  $8 tequila drink (with club soda and pineapple juice--so yummy!  and so unbudgeted ;))

11/17:  $4 thrift store - did I really need the rainbow mug, vintage handkerchief, teacher magazine, and hand knit hat?  At least they were cheap ;)

[FillingMyQuiver]

Key

  No spend/ budgeted spending

  Unbudgeted spending

  Crafted for at least 30 minutes

1.      Starting the month off right

2.     

3.   

4.    I've already spent a chunk on some Christmas presents for the ILs and DH.  I wasn't planning to spend this much, but the gifts I got are *perfect* for them and they're so incredibly generous with us, I don't feel the least bit sad or guilty about it,   Also, we're doing our big monthly grocery shop at Costco.  DH isn't coming w/ us, so hopefully I'll have an easier time sticking to the list and budget.

5.      DH had a dr appt and needed a prescription, thankfully we have a medical sink fund to cover the co-pays.

6.   

7.      I have got to stop going on zulily.  I just dropped another chunk on some probably unneeded Christmas gifts

8.   

9.    Budgeted spending today-  picked up DS2's birthday present.  Quite happy because we got it on sale AND had a gift card we were able to apply to it, so although I budgeted $100 for it, we only ended up spending OOP $75.  ALSO, I had a coupon for a $10 gift card if you spent a certain amount, so I have another $10 gc in my wallet now to apply to future gifts

10.      I knew today would be a spending day.  We bought "gifts" to fill our Operation Christmas Child boxes for church and we finished out the monthly grocery shop.  We went over the grocery budget because I let DH convince me to get lunch meat and I found a good deal on potatoes, 50lbs for $17, so I bought a sack.  Also, though I had intended on making DD1's birthday cake for tomorrow, I just don't have the time or energy, so we bought one.

11.      More Christmas gifts.  *sigh*

12.    Whew, finally.  Most of today was spent prepping for our scout pack meeting potluck.

13.    Not going anywhere today.  Hopefully I'll make some progress on homemade gifts.

14.      I altered a pair of maternity jeans today.  I hated the way they fit and I already had a pair of bootcut maternity jeans so I made them into skinny jeans to wear with my favorite knee high boots that I've been wanting to wear but couldn't b/c I had no skinny maternity jeans.  Yesterday I didn't make any progress on gifts. but today my intent is to sit and knit after dinner.

15.      I feel pretty safe giving myself a No Spend for today.  I finished a scarf last night and hopefully later today I'll finish the main body of another gift.  I'm determined to keep up the momentum I've built over the last few days.

16.    Feeling good today.  DH is working from home and it's always iffy w/ him around because he wants fast food for lunch.  Today I stuck to my guns and we ate from the pantry.  Now to figure out dinner.

17.    I knew we were going to spend money today, I'm just not sure whether to count it against me or not.  It was DS2's b-day and I needed to pick up last minute food items for his b-day dinner, cupcakes, and dessert,  We bought other groceries (all on sale and pantry stocking) and bought a bunch of can/ boxed goods to donate to the Cub Scouts outside the store collecting for the local food pantry.  All unbudgeted, but we'll use/ eat everything we bought.

12 No Spend days and 11 Crafting days, I'm over half way to my goal.    Here's to finishing strong the last half of the month.

[SweetSilver]

11/17   No spend

We're not going anywhere for the next couple of days, so I can confidently post this ahead of time:

11/18    No spend

11/19    No spend

Big grocery day on Tuesday.