November No-Spend Challenge ~ Don't let little purchases gobble gobble up your savings. - Page 12

[tealsmith83]

No spend =  

Budgeted spend = 

Unbudgeted spend =  

1.      Supper with my grandmother

2.    No spend!  Yay me!  

3.        Oh well...can't be good every day...

4.No spend!

5.       Chicken feed, stock up on gasoline while it's down to $3.17/gal.  On the upside, resisted eating out for supper!

6.No spend!    4 out of 6 so far...pretty good!

7.  Woohoo!   Tomorrow SHOULD BE a budgeted spend.  

8.    Ordered new carpet for the LR.  Big spend!  Supper at McDonald's.  Will hope for a better day tomorrow.

9.    No spend!   6 out of 9

10.     Spent today (groceries, gas, breakfast, snack money for DS for his class, etc.)  

11.    Lunch at Arby's

12.  No spend!

13.     Budgeted spend on school trip to Chicago.  Woohoo!

14.  

15.  

16.  

17.  

18.  

19.  

20.    budgeted spend - Christmas presents

21.    b-fast and lunch out while shopping for furniture

22.   Won't be going anywhere other than thanksgiving at my parents so I'm posting this ahead of time.   Happy Thanksgiving everyone!    

23.    Black Friday shopping.  Budgeted Christmas money.

24.  

25.            13/25  On track to meet my personal goal for the month.

26.     Had to stop at Target on the way home from the dr. today.  Didn't spend much, but it was still a spend.

27.

28.

29.

30.

[SweetSilver]

11/26    Well, we are not going to make our monthly food budget.  Dh forgot a couple of things, so I'll have to pick those up tomorrow.  I think I might keep this under $800 and at least do better than last month.  However, nothing has been extravagant, just a big chocolate bar for dh and I to share.  And still really good compared to months past.  I think we can get under $700 without feeling the pinch, we just need to keep changing our habits.

Food bill $738 for the month.  Goal is under $750.  Not going to make it.  New goal, under $800. ???????

[SweetSilver]

11/1)     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.  $11 Goodwill trip--not really worth it but could have spent way more.  Oops.  Forgot the coffee stand.    Oh well.  At    least we are sticking to our grocery list.

11/17   No spend

11/18    No spend

11/19    No spend

11/20     Groceries, a bit over budget today, considering how many days are left in the month.  Gymnastics tuition.  MIL visiting, we stopped at DQ after gym.  Not budgeted, but at $22 I'm not sweating this and I didn't count this against the food bill.  Gas.

11/21    No spend.  Staying home to bake pies and veggies for Thanksgiving.

11/22    Stocked up on jello stuff for dd2 with an upset tummy.   Coffee stand at the start of our trip.  Not sweating this.

11/23    No spend.

11/24    No spend.

11/25    No spend.  Worked on no-spend mittens, and started a hemming project for a skirt I haven't worn in 3 years.

11/26    Groceries.  Nothing we didn't need, except some chocolate, but we are not going to make our spending goal.

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

11/27    Azure delivery.  Credited $36 towards this month, the rest towards December.  Girls are both sick, so we are staying home.  And I'll be knitting some mittens!  

Food bill $774 for the month.  Goal is under $750.  Didn't make it.  So far I have 13 no-spend days, and 5 (only 5!!?? ) budgeted spending days.  Must turn more spending days into Happy Veggies.

 

 

[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.

18.      Ordered DD2's b-day present (she's in early January).  Totally budgeted, felt good getting it done early before the hub-bub of the Christmas season AND baby prep that will be happening late next month.

19.      I *looked* at zulily today and convinced myself that I didn't need to buy anything.  When the littlest went down for her nap, I sewed patches on a couple scout shirts (a side thing I do for the parents in our pack that *hate* to sew.  I make some change for it, and feel good about helping out), AND I sewed a new top for me.  Used up some stash fabric I've been saving and now I have a cute new top that will take me through the rest of the pregnancy and after.  DH worked from home and really wanted McD's for lunch but then recognized how we need to stick to the budget.  for small feats!!

20.    Not sure if I'm going to get to knitting tonight, hoping to, but we're prepping to go out of town to the ILs for Thanksgiving and I've got to work on packing my rugrats.

I've been trying to harness my inner "Prudent Homemaker" and am going through how I can frugally prep for this trip.  I have some pumpkin puree in the fridge I need to use up so I'm baking pumpkin bread and muffins to have for breakfast before we leave and for snacking.  I'm trying to use up the leftovers to minimize our food waste before we leave.  I'm making a list of things DH and I are going to price out on Black Friday (I know we'll spend $$ that day), like basic undershirts, jeans for DH, possibly a laser printer (we homeschool and print a lot in b/w, a laser printer will seriously save us $$).

21.      Budgeted lunch and snacks out for our trip.  Got to make quite a bit of progress knitting a gift.

22.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!   DH's cousin and I go to Michael's every year I visit so I know I'll be spending.  I've made a list and my goal is to *stick. to. the. list*  Oh, and I got work done on some presents.

23.      DH and I went shopping.  We hadn't budgeted for it, but we knew we were going to spend anyway.

I'm proud of myself for sticking to the lists I made for shopping on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.  I got some really good deals from sales and coupons.

24.      Breakfast from the local bagel shop (budgeted), and the day spent with my younger brother and his girlfriend (we only get to see him a couple times a year).  Already got my knitting in for the day

25.    Trip home.  Budgeted spending on lunch, had to make a quick grocery stop for half and half, bread, and beer for DH   Going to try and squeeze in my knitting after kiddos are in bed.

26.      2 of the kiddos have well child checks and we've got scouting tonight.  There will be NO money leaving my hands or account.

27.   

20 No Spend days and 20 Crafting days.  WooHoo!!!  Goal has been reached!!!   Now I'd like to finish the month with a collection of No Spend Days!!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I love to go out with my buddies.  I've held it in check pretty well this month, so I'm okay with occassional trips out for a drink or coffee.

This was, however, a TREMENDOUS success because we went out shopping together and while my friends were spending triple figures on home stuff...I didn't buy any thing.  That is huge for me. 

At one point, I had my cart full of stuff for my table...then I put it all back. 

Because I remembered how good it is going to feel to pay off our final loan.  And we should be able to do that December 15th, if I just keep it tight for the next month.

So spending $10 on a cocktail was actually a bargain for such a fun evening.

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 Pizza Hut

20.. 

21.. $20 more pizza

22.. 

23..  $11.83  Giant stuffed Elephant

24..  $40  Out drinking with friends

25.. 

26.. 

27..  $10 out with friends again

28..

29..

30.. 

My goal = 20 No Spend Days

My progress =  15  days so far

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

Food bill $738 for the month.  Goal is under $750.  Not going to make it.  New goal, under $800. ???????

I think you are being very, very wise.

Because if you set your goals to rigidly...too stringent...you won't make them.  They need to be just a ~tad~ over what you currently spend.  Because that will motivate you to make it so much better than unrealistic goals that make you frustrated and cause you to give up.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by FillingMyQuiver 

WooHoo!!!  Goal has been reached!!!   Now I'd like to finish the month with a collection of No Spend Days!!

You are very inspiring to me.  Way to go, Jenn!

[tealsmith83]

No spend =  

Budgeted spend = 

Unbudgeted spend =  

1.      Supper with my grandmother

2.    No spend!  Yay me!  

3.        Oh well...can't be good every day...

4.No spend!

5.       Chicken feed, stock up on gasoline while it's down to $3.17/gal.  On the upside, resisted eating out for supper!

6.No spend!    4 out of 6 so far...pretty good!

7.  Woohoo!   Tomorrow SHOULD BE a budgeted spend.  

8.    Ordered new carpet for the LR.  Big spend!  Supper at McDonald's.  Will hope for a better day tomorrow.

9.    No spend!   6 out of 9

10.     Spent today (groceries, gas, breakfast, snack money for DS for his class, etc.)  

11.    Lunch at Arby's

12.  No spend!

13.     Budgeted spend on school trip to Chicago.  Woohoo!

14.  

15.  

16.  

17.  

18.  

19.  

20.    budgeted spend - Christmas presents

21.    b-fast and lunch out while shopping for furniture

22.   Won't be going anywhere other than thanksgiving at my parents so I'm posting this ahead of time.   Happy Thanksgiving everyone!    

23.    Black Friday shopping.  Budgeted Christmas money.

24.  

25.            13/25  On track to meet my personal goal for the month.

26.     Had to stop at Target on the way home from the dr. today.  Didn't spend much, but it was still a spend.

27.     Thought about eating out, but the place we wanted to go was closed.  So just ended up making alfredo spaghetti for supper.  14/27

28.

29.

30.

[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.

18.      Ordered DD2's b-day present (she's in early January).  Totally budgeted, felt good getting it done early before the hub-bub of the Christmas season AND baby prep that will be happening late next month.

19.      I *looked* at zulily today and convinced myself that I didn't need to buy anything.  When the littlest went down for her nap, I sewed patches on a couple scout shirts (a side thing I do for the parents in our pack that *hate* to sew.  I make some change for it, and feel good about helping out), AND I sewed a new top for me.  Used up some stash fabric I've been saving and now I have a cute new top that will take me through the rest of the pregnancy and after.  DH worked from home and really wanted McD's for lunch but then recognized how we need to stick to the budget.  for small feats!!

20.    Not sure if I'm going to get to knitting tonight, hoping to, but we're prepping to go out of town to the ILs for Thanksgiving and I've got to work on packing my rugrats.

I've been trying to harness my inner "Prudent Homemaker" and am going through how I can frugally prep for this trip.  I have some pumpkin puree in the fridge I need to use up so I'm baking pumpkin bread and muffins to have for breakfast before we leave and for snacking.  I'm trying to use up the leftovers to minimize our food waste before we leave.  I'm making a list of things DH and I are going to price out on Black Friday (I know we'll spend $$ that day), like basic undershirts, jeans for DH, possibly a laser printer (we homeschool and print a lot in b/w, a laser printer will seriously save us $$).

21.      Budgeted lunch and snacks out for our trip.  Got to make quite a bit of progress knitting a gift.

22.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!   DH's cousin and I go to Michael's every year I visit so I know I'll be spending.  I've made a list and my goal is to *stick. to. the. list*  Oh, and I got work done on some presents.

23.      DH and I went shopping.  We hadn't budgeted for it, but we knew we were going to spend anyway.

I'm proud of myself for sticking to the lists I made for shopping on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.  I got some really good deals from sales and coupons.

24.      Breakfast from the local bagel shop (budgeted), and the day spent with my younger brother and his girlfriend (we only get to see him a couple times a year).  Already got my knitting in for the day

25.    Trip home.  Budgeted spending on lunch, had to make a quick grocery stop for half and half, bread, and beer for DH   Going to try and squeeze in my knitting after kiddos are in bed.

26.      2 of the kiddos have well child checks and we've got scouting tonight.  There will be NO money leaving my hands or account.

27.   

28.    Today will be a spending day, neither budgeted nor expected, but completely necessary.  Our kitchen sink drain came apart and no matter how I tried, I couldn't fix it.  Plumber is coming and we'll be getting an estimate (and possibly going forward with) replacing all the plumbing, the sink, and faucet vs just repairing (we've had multiple problems w/ this drain, the previous owners plumbed it wrong). 

On the positive side, the drain came apart in the middle of dinner prep last night and I resisted the urge to order something and pushed through with dinner plans using the bathroom sink for water and washing.  Small feats add up

[FillingMyQuiver]

So the repair cost $159 and we're waiting on an estimate for redoing the sink and faucet.  Should get that in a few days and hopefully we'll be able to work it into the budget.

[SweetSilver]

11/28   Groceries.  Stayed home. Baked bread.  Knitted mittens--finished one, started another.

Grocery goal was $750.  We are now at $815.  I'm trying for under $800 next month, but I've made some mistakes this month that I know contributed to not hitting our goal.  Still, better in general.  Overall spending could be better, but not bad.  We are staying afloat, and this time of year that is a victory all by itself.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Wow -- I'm doing a lot of socializing in restaurants this week.  I wouldn't even have realized this if I wasn't keeping track on this thread.  That's why I love tracking.  It keeps me aware and influences my choices.  I've spent almost $100 meeting these same friends this week.  We all have houses -- why are we spending so much time in restaurants?

I'm going to make different choices next month.

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 Pizza Hut

20.. 

21.. $20 more pizza

22.. 

23..  $11.83  Giant stuffed Elephant

24..  $40  Out drinking with friends

25.. 

26.. 

27..  $10 out with friends again

28..  $40 Christmas presents

29..  $30 Bookclub (=out with friends again)

30.. 

My goal = 20 No Spend Days

My progress =  15  days so far

[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.

18.      Ordered DD2's b-day present (she's in early January).  Totally budgeted, felt good getting it done early before the hub-bub of the Christmas season AND baby prep that will be happening late next month.

19.      I *looked* at zulily today and convinced myself that I didn't need to buy anything.  When the littlest went down for her nap, I sewed patches on a couple scout shirts (a side thing I do for the parents in our pack that *hate* to sew.  I make some change for it, and feel good about helping out), AND I sewed a new top for me.  Used up some stash fabric I've been saving and now I have a cute new top that will take me through the rest of the pregnancy and after.  DH worked from home and really wanted McD's for lunch but then recognized how we need to stick to the budget.  for small feats!!

20.    Not sure if I'm going to get to knitting tonight, hoping to, but we're prepping to go out of town to the ILs for Thanksgiving and I've got to work on packing my rugrats.

I've been trying to harness my inner "Prudent Homemaker" and am going through how I can frugally prep for this trip.  I have some pumpkin puree in the fridge I need to use up so I'm baking pumpkin bread and muffins to have for breakfast before we leave and for snacking.  I'm trying to use up the leftovers to minimize our food waste before we leave.  I'm making a list of things DH and I are going to price out on Black Friday (I know we'll spend $$ that day), like basic undershirts, jeans for DH, possibly a laser printer (we homeschool and print a lot in b/w, a laser printer will seriously save us $$).

21.      Budgeted lunch and snacks out for our trip.  Got to make quite a bit of progress knitting a gift.

22.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!   DH's cousin and I go to Michael's every year I visit so I know I'll be spending.  I've made a list and my goal is to *stick. to. the. list*  Oh, and I got work done on some presents.

23.      DH and I went shopping.  We hadn't budgeted for it, but we knew we were going to spend anyway.

I'm proud of myself for sticking to the lists I made for shopping on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.  I got some really good deals from sales and coupons.

24.      Breakfast from the local bagel shop (budgeted), and the day spent with my younger brother and his girlfriend (we only get to see him a couple times a year).  Already got my knitting in for the day

25.    Trip home.  Budgeted spending on lunch, had to make a quick grocery stop for half and half, bread, and beer for DH   Going to try and squeeze in my knitting after kiddos are in bed.

26.      2 of the kiddos have well child checks and we've got scouting tonight.  There will be NO money leaving my hands or account.

27.   

28.    Today will be a spending day, neither budgeted nor expected, but completely necessary.  Our kitchen sink drain came apart and no matter how I tried, I couldn't fix it.  Plumber is coming and we'll be getting an estimate (and possibly going forward with) replacing all the plumbing, the sink, and faucet vs just repairing (we've had multiple problems w/ this drain, the previous owners plumbed it wrong).  On the positive side, the drain came apart in the middle of dinner prep last night and I resisted the urge to order something and pushed through with dinner plans using the bathroom sink for water and washing.  Small feats add up   The repair cost came to $159.

29.      I've already gotten knitting done this morning since the littlest one woke early and I couldn't go back to sleep.  I'm giving myself a pre-emptive No Spend because I'm NOT going anywhere and I don't NEED to buy anything.

21 No Spend Days and 21 Crafting Days

[tealsmith83]

No spend =  

Budgeted spend = 

Unbudgeted spend =  

1.      Supper with my grandmother

2.    No spend!  Yay me!  

3.        Oh well...can't be good every day...

4.No spend!

5.       Chicken feed, stock up on gasoline while it's down to $3.17/gal.  On the upside, resisted eating out for supper!

6.No spend!    4 out of 6 so far...pretty good!

7.  Woohoo!   Tomorrow SHOULD BE a budgeted spend.  

8.    Ordered new carpet for the LR.  Big spend!  Supper at McDonald's.  Will hope for a better day tomorrow.

9.    No spend!   6 out of 9

10.     Spent today (groceries, gas, breakfast, snack money for DS for his class, etc.)  

11.    Lunch at Arby's

12.  No spend!

13.     Budgeted spend on school trip to Chicago.  Woohoo!

14.  

15.  

16.  

17.  

18.  

19.  

20.    budgeted spend - Christmas presents

21.    b-fast and lunch out while shopping for furniture

22.   Won't be going anywhere other than thanksgiving at my parents so I'm posting this ahead of time.   Happy Thanksgiving everyone!    

23.    Black Friday shopping.  Budgeted Christmas money.

24.  

25.            13/25  On track to meet my personal goal for the month.

26.     Had to stop at Target on the way home from the dr. today.  Didn't spend much, but it was still a spend.

27.     Thought about eating out, but the place we wanted to go was closed.  So just ended up making alfredo spaghetti for supper.  14/27

28.     Hair cuts for myself and DS (budgeted) but supper out before church (not budgeted). 

29.  Should just have a budgeted spend tonight when I go to take my grandmother to supper.  Will post again later in case that changes.

30.

[SweetSilver]

11/1)     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.  $11 Goodwill trip--not really worth it but could have spent way more.  Oops.  Forgot the coffee stand.    Oh well.  At    least we are sticking to our grocery list.

11/17   No spend

11/18    No spend

11/19    No spend

11/20     Groceries, a bit over budget today, considering how many days are left in the month.  Gymnastics tuition.  MIL visiting, we stopped at DQ after gym.  Not budgeted, but at $22 I'm not sweating this and I didn't count this against the food bill.  Gas.

11/21    No spend.  Staying home to bake pies and veggies for Thanksgiving.

11/22    Stocked up on jello stuff for dd2 with an upset tummy.   Coffee stand at the start of our trip.  Not sweating this.

11/23    No spend.

11/24    No spend.

11/25    No spend.  Worked on no-spend mittens, and started a hemming project for a skirt I haven't worn in 3 years.

11/26    Groceries.  Nothing we didn't need, except some chocolate, but we are not going to make our spending goal.

11/27    Azure delivery.  Credited $36 towards this month, the rest towards December.  Girls are both sick, so we are staying home.  And I'll be knitting some mittens!  

11/28   Groceries.  Stayed home. Baked bread.  Knitted mittens--finished one, started another.

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

11/29  Gas.  Potato chips.  Candy??!!  

 (I don't know why my little dude won't go on the line above.  Hm!)

See, this is the kind of thing that should make me madder than it did.  Why?  It was just $8. What's the big deal?  Well, it adds up.  It wasn't on the list. This happens far too often, especially with the girls.  Their candy came from their allowance, though, so it was actually 6.50.

I almost finished the second mitten to the first pair today.  They are really fun to knit!  

Grocery goal was $750.  We are now at $822.  I'm trying for under $800 next month, but I've made some mistakes this month that I know contributed to not hitting our goal.  Still, better in general.  Overall spending could be better, but not bad.  We are staying afloat, and this time of year that is a victory all by itself.

Goal next month is to turn my "oops" days into more rockin' dudes and dancing veggies.

[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         

17. * No spend

18.    Bought DD the coat she wanted online 50% off!!! I went CVS-ing with my sister for some great deals.  I ended up with some Christmas gifts, a few stocking stuffers (both out of the Christmas budget) and some household stuff.  I also have extra care bucks to go back there with.  Not giving myself a sad face because the deals were amazing and I will save the next times I go there.  I haven't CVS-ed in so long so starting this up again during Christmas shopping is a good idea!

I got lots of venison from my Dad and a tons of soup bones!  I love soup!!!!

19. * No spend!     Making 2 gallons of Kombucha today and making stock   May edit if I make it to the grocery store today!

20. Went grocery shopping and with the "Prudent Homemaker" in mind I bought 3 turkeys!  And plan to go to another grocery store today and get another one!  I read that Nov-Dec is the best time to buy Turkey.  Why not stock up for the rest of the year?  We have a good sized stand up freezer in the basement that I want stocked up for the winter.  I think that even with these stock ups I will still come out under budget, as we are nearing the end of the month.  I also bought more clothes hangers, we are running out, I hang clothes on hangers to dry in the house when the weather is too bad to hang on the line outside.  But today was nice so I got to hang out on the line today

21. I went on a grocery shopping Extravaganza!  I spent $550 for the month I wanted to be closer to $450, but still not bad considering!  How on earth do you set your grocery budget anyway?   I have been tracking for the last 3 months Sept =$430, Oct= $725, Nov =$550

22.    I did a load of laundry in the am hung it out   then headed to the high school football game.  We went to our family's house for dinner, with pies in hand, we came home late, tucked the kids in bed, then got online to determine if I wanted to venture out & brave the crowds.  I decided to stay home, there was really nothing that looked good to me and last year I stayed home for BF & got lots of Cyber Mon deals!  I spend about $80 online got free shipping & 40% off for DD1. 

23. * BLACK FRIDAY NO SPEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

24. Today I'm taking DD2 shopping and out for lunch.  We have been planning this for some time, so it is budgeted!  If I do any shopping it will be for Christmas gifts and will come from my Christmas fund!  I let DD pick out a small gift for her Big Sis & Daddy.  I also bought a new clothesline at local hardware store with 50% off coupon, mine is fraying so badly that it is going to snap at any moment.  I was so glad to find and take advantage of the coupon!  DH redid the clothesline and I cant wait to use it!!!

 25. * No Spend!  I went to NYC with my boss, on business & didn't spend a dime!

26.    Today I'm looking for cyber deals to make best use of my budgeted Christmas spending!

27. *  No spend!

28. Went a little over board at Ikea!  I've decided I'm going back & returning one of my big impulse buys, which will put me back on track with my budgeted holiday spending!  Dh got pizza because I was so late getting home!

29.  Budgeted Christmas spending!  Ate lunch at home!  Organized bathroom drawers in both bathrooms!

30.   I've got lots of homework to do today!  I'm thinking it may be a no spend day.  I'll be back to update later! 

[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.

18.      Ordered DD2's b-day present (she's in early January).  Totally budgeted, felt good getting it done early before the hub-bub of the Christmas season AND baby prep that will be happening late next month.

19.      I *looked* at zulily today and convinced myself that I didn't need to buy anything.  When the littlest went down for her nap, I sewed patches on a couple scout shirts (a side thing I do for the parents in our pack that *hate* to sew.  I make some change for it, and feel good about helping out), AND I sewed a new top for me.  Used up some stash fabric I've been saving and now I have a cute new top that will take me through the rest of the pregnancy and after.  DH worked from home and really wanted McD's for lunch but then recognized how we need to stick to the budget.  for small feats!!

20.    Not sure if I'm going to get to knitting tonight, hoping to, but we're prepping to go out of town to the ILs for Thanksgiving and I've got to work on packing my rugrats.

I've been trying to harness my inner "Prudent Homemaker" and am going through how I can frugally prep for this trip.  I have some pumpkin puree in the fridge I need to use up so I'm baking pumpkin bread and muffins to have for breakfast before we leave and for snacking.  I'm trying to use up the leftovers to minimize our food waste before we leave.  I'm making a list of things DH and I are going to price out on Black Friday (I know we'll spend $$ that day), like basic undershirts, jeans for DH, possibly a laser printer (we homeschool and print a lot in b/w, a laser printer will seriously save us $$).

21.      Budgeted lunch and snacks out for our trip.  Got to make quite a bit of progress knitting a gift.

22.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!   DH's cousin and I go to Michael's every year I visit so I know I'll be spending.  I've made a list and my goal is to *stick. to. the. list*  Oh, and I got work done on some presents.

23.      DH and I went shopping.  We hadn't budgeted for it, but we knew we were going to spend anyway.

I'm proud of myself for sticking to the lists I made for shopping on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.  I got some really good deals from sales and coupons.

24.      Breakfast from the local bagel shop (budgeted), and the day spent with my younger brother and his girlfriend (we only get to see him a couple times a year).  Already got my knitting in for the day

25.    Trip home.  Budgeted spending on lunch, had to make a quick grocery stop for half and half, bread, and beer for DH   Going to try and squeeze in my knitting after kiddos are in bed.

26.      2 of the kiddos have well child checks and we've got scouting tonight.  There will be NO money leaving my hands or account.

27.   

28.    Today will be a spending day, neither budgeted nor expected, but completely necessary.  Our kitchen sink drain came apart and no matter how I tried, I couldn't fix it.  Plumber is coming and we'll be getting an estimate (and possibly going forward with) replacing all the plumbing, the sink, and faucet vs just repairing (we've had multiple problems w/ this drain, the previous owners plumbed it wrong).  On the positive side, the drain came apart in the middle of dinner prep last night and I resisted the urge to order something and pushed through with dinner plans using the bathroom sink for water and washing.  Small feats add up   The repair cost came to $159.

29.      I've already gotten knitting done this morning since the littlest one woke early and I couldn't go back to sleep.  I'm giving myself a pre-emptive No Spend because I'm NOT going anywhere and I don't NEED to buy anything.

30.      Last day of the month and I'm not going anywhere.

22 No Spend Days and 22 Crafting Days 

---

This is the first month in a LONG time that I've actually completed the challenge and NOT dropped mid-month AND that I've reached or exceeded my goal!!

Thank you, mamas, for all of your support.  This month I really focused on where our spending was happening.  Between the accountability on this challenge, listening to Dave Ramsey's channel on iheartradio and reading the Prudent Homemaker Blog and other frugality blogs, I was able to keep our spending in check and keep my end goals at the forefront of my mind.

[tealsmith83]

No spend =  

Budgeted spend = 

Unbudgeted spend =  

1.      Supper with my grandmother

2.    No spend!  Yay me!  

3.        Oh well...can't be good every day...

4.No spend!

5.       Chicken feed, stock up on gasoline while it's down to $3.17/gal.  On the upside, resisted eating out for supper!

6.No spend!    4 out of 6 so far...pretty good!

7.  Woohoo!   Tomorrow SHOULD BE a budgeted spend.  

8.    Ordered new carpet for the LR.  Big spend!  Supper at McDonald's.  Will hope for a better day tomorrow.

9.    No spend!   6 out of 9

10.     Spent today (groceries, gas, breakfast, snack money for DS for his class, etc.)  

11.    Lunch at Arby's

12.  No spend!

13.     Budgeted spend on school trip to Chicago.  Woohoo!

14.  

15.  

16.  

17.  

18.  

19.  

20.    budgeted spend - Christmas presents

21.    b-fast and lunch out while shopping for furniture

22.   Won't be going anywhere other than thanksgiving at my parents so I'm posting this ahead of time.   Happy Thanksgiving everyone!    

23.    Black Friday shopping.  Budgeted Christmas money.

24.  

25.            13/25  On track to meet my personal goal for the month.

26.     Had to stop at Target on the way home from the dr. today.  Didn't spend much, but it was still a spend.

27.     Thought about eating out, but the place we wanted to go was closed.  So just ended up making alfredo spaghetti for supper.  14/27

28.     Hair cuts for myself and DS (budgeted) but supper out before church (not budgeted). 

29.     Budgeted spend eat with grandmother.

30.    I already know we are eating out tonight, not budgeted.    15/30    Met the goal I set for myself (just barely, but I made it)  Bring on December!

Does anyone know if a December thread has been started yet?

[SweetSilver]

Originally Posted by tealsmith83 

Does anyone know if a December thread has been started yet?

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1368983/ho-ho-ho-keep-that-money-jingling-in-your-savings-account-the-december-no-spend-challenge

11/30 Running a few errands today, so it's a Spend day, but trying to stick to the list.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Ending my month on a good note!

On to December!

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 Pizza Hut

20.. 

21.. $20 more pizza

22.. 

23..  $11.83  Giant stuffed Elephant

24..  $40  Out drinking with friends

25.. 

26.. 

27..  $10 out with friends again

28..  $40 Christmas presents

29..  $30 Bookclub (=out with friends again)

30.. 

My goal = 20 No Spend Days

My progress =  16  days so far