November No-Spend Challenge ~ Don't let little purchases gobble gobble up your savings. - Page 4

[Surfacing]

Originally Posted by FillingMyQuiver 

  Completely agree.  We have to re-evaluate our grocery budget and find a way to increase it.  I think all of my children are going through a collective growth spurt, and the "baby" (she's actually 18mo) is eating almost as much as her 8.5yo brother.  Purchases that used to last us the month are now only making it 3/4 of the way through.

And food prices *ARE* going up.  Every time I go to the store I'm surprised at the price increases!!

Thanks for weighing in Ladies.

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

    I'm not counting his purchase.  This is MY no-spend thread, not the family's.  I didn't spend any money yesterday.  I had a paintbrush in my hand all day! 

Good idea!!!!

1) $1.65 coffee at work

2) $1.65 coffee at work, really exhausted and had a guest so had dh order pizza instead of cooking supper after work

3) Weekend grocery shopping a bit overspent. Date night with dh - free overnight at a hotel plus $27.00 for parking!!! Argh!!!! $50 dinner and $20 for evening snacks.

4) No spend!

5) $1.65 coffee at work & budgetted spending for pull ups for dd2

[SweetSilver]

11/1) Errand day, so no-spend not possible, but we managed to get out of Trader Joe's under $30 and the co-op under $50.  

        Gave $20 for a DVD from their riding instructor, intended as part of dd2's birthday presents

11/2)  No spend 

11/3)  No spend 

11/4)  No spend 

11/5     Couldn't quite make this a no spend day because no way was I going 2 mornings without half-n-half for my coffee.  So, $2, plus a newspaper.  I call that good.  Just made a mama and her family a new baby dinner, and as I was making it I realized that I had spent a lot of money for the ingredients.  Between that dinner and 2 parties last month, no wonder my food bill was sky high last month.  Let's hope.

Tomorrow is errand day and I expect some grocery bills, so no-spending not possible, but once again, I can try to bypass the expensive treats and see if I can keep the food bill down.  Food budget goal, including eating out, is $750.  That is mostly organic.  Today's purchase put at us at $166 for the month.  

[lactatinggirl]

Missed coming on a couple of days! 

11.1 $11 eating out
11.2 No spend!

11.3 $5 DH's birthday breakfast (tried to make it at home, but no potatoes!)

11.4 $5 Gas

11.5 Payday! $75 groceries, $45 gas, $6 lunch (got half it free though!) 

Not doing so well on the no spend days yet, but now that I've gotten some big stuff out of the way today, I'm anticipating more no spend days. 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

ugh.  stomach bug.  didn't even think about spending money. 

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

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My goal = 20 No Spend Days

My progress =  2  days so far

[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

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[Basylica]

1 - dinner for myself at culvers (8 bucks?) - getting over cold and wanted quick food!

2 - nada!

3 - nada!

4 - nada!

5 - milk, bacon, lunchables (kids love those nasty things!), honey, lunchmeat at store. 10 dollar kindle book

oops! almost forgot. bought 20 dollar itunes UK gift card because downton abby season 3 is on uk itunes. can't use US debit on uk itunes...

6 -

I paid mortgage, moved over my acct surplus into savings friday when I got paid.

Dad said he's sending me a check for plane ticket I bought in july (I told him he didn't have to!) so that should be going into savings this week, and I got my CS deposit notification today (ex gets paid every 2 weeks on same schedule so I know when it happens now!) so I need to hit ATM and take out bulk of $$ and xfer to savings.

Oh, and it's a bad move financially (sorta) but in an effort to get my credit healed, I applied and was approved for capital one secured card. I really don't WANT a CC.....but alas. I want to get my credit all better so I can get approved for a mortgage for a new house when I find one and rent my current one.

I just don't know if I should actually BUY stuff with it and then turn around and pay it the same day, or just having it around helps. *ponder*

Edited by Basylica - 11/6/12 at 6:38am

[Basylica]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Here's why I join and participate in these threads:

I love to shop.  I love to spend money.  Spending money gives me an endorphin rush.  I don't know why this is, but I like to buy new things and when I buy them I feel like we are moving ahead.

But we are not.  We are actually falling behind. 

Because 9 times out of 10 we need the money in savings more than we need a new shower curtain with pretty purple flowers on it.

But I can't seem to see this when I'm in the store...only when I'm thinking about it in hindsight. 

Money is intangible to me.  Seeing the numbers go up in our savings account does not give me pleasure.  A new Isis jacket gives me pleasure.

So I try to find ways to "trick" myself into feeling like we have gained something when we don't spend money.  Toting up no-spend days and little  icons gives me a small jolt of happiness.  (Granted -- very very small -- but at least it is something)

I need something to help me curb my impulse to spend.

Also just to make me more aware of what I do spend our money on.  If I have to write it here, then I think about it for a milisecond before I buy it.  Sometimes that milisecond is all it takes to make me realize the thing I'm about to purchase is a want...not a need. 

I find the "leave your money at home" trick helps a LOT for this. they say you should only bring as much cash as you need for budgeted spending, and if you want that impulse item you need to go home and fetch your debit/credit/cash to buy it.

while I never carry cash and always carry my debit, I consider it the same way generally.

I really hate being around people and crowds. meandering people who get in my way annoy me. I'm there to get in and get out and go home. Even when browsing I walk (i'm told this) exceptionally fast. I walk faster than most people jog. Life is short, you know ;)

So if I find something impulsey....I tell myself I have to come back another day to buy it. Between the desire to avoid said store, and fact i'm usually pretty busy....I end up thinking "nah, not worth the trip into the store again.....it's just a shower curtain I don't need"

heck, i've gone and drooled over dysons at target and other stores I can't even tell you how many times....probably 2-3x a year for 10yrs now. I saw mother's day sale last year and considered it for 5 min before going "nah, mine works fine...silly to pay that when I don't need it...plus crazy expensive!"

I regretted that when my vac crapped out on me this summer. I'd bought 3 cheap ones in probably 7-8yrs and I really don't use them very often. I found a good price (still wishing for MD discount tho!) online and went for it. but in reality i'd been shopping for one for 10- years!

[tealsmith83]

Originally Posted by 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!

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Hoping for at least 15 no-spend/budgeted spend days this month. 

[greenmamato2]

Spent about $30 on something totally frivolous yesterday online.  Too much time at home just thinking with nothing to do.  :(

Not planning on spending $ today.

[orangemomma]

crunchy VT mom - stomach bug - that's a drastic way to cut down on your spending! Hope you feel better soon.

11/3 - no spend

11/4  - unbudgeted spend AUGH. went to Target to spend $10 - budgeted for socks for the toddler and OTC meds for me. Forgot about needing dog food - total bill $22.49

11/5 - no spend

[tealsmith83]

Originally Posted by tealsmith83 

Originally Posted by 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!

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Hoping for at least 15 no-spend/budgeted spend days this month. 

[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 

[Basylica]

6 - no spend

7 -

I may have to travel to oklahoma tomorrow for work so that would mean paying and expensing a bunch of stuff which is always a pain :P

and I need to buy a winter jacket for my eldest and i've settled on target 3in1 jacket (55) and since the guys here (very few women) wear polos and khakis, and I LOATHE polos (the wonky collars offend me) but the boy sizes of the shaun white polos at target fit me and have a plain fabric collar they don't bug me as much....I have one. So i'm thinking of ordering a few more.

[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   Might get milk & groceries (Depending on how much I accomplish today)~  I'm supposed to be working an extra shift tonight!

Snow is coming today!  I just got word that the kids are being dismissed early from school do to weather forecast!  I have homework to get done and a conference call meeting scheduled in a couple hours.  There was so much that I wanted to get done today...we need groceries and milk delivery is today but the farmer might not make his delivery with snow coming!  At least we have some almond milk left.  I was thinking I was desperate for groceries but I just took inventory and discovered that I can make chili with ground turkey and canned beans!  Might put off the store until another day.  It seems the more I put it off the better I manage stretching what we have!  I also need to get to the hardware store because one of my clothesline separators broke and I need a new one. Better run so I can see how many things I can scratch off my list!     

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Tough tough day today.   I've been a little down about stuff and that makes me want to spend money. 

But we FINALLY put a good chunk of money in savings and I ~~~~really~~~~ want to keep it there.

There is some planned spending tomorrow.  I have to pick up my daughter's skiis that we were having work done on, I have to pick up our christmas cards and some photos at Costco, and I have to buy the dreaded GROCERIES.  That will be a big hunk of change.

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

01.. 

02.. 

03..  $195 Christmas presents

04.. 

05.. 

06.. 

07..    <---  THIS was very hard to earn today.

08..

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10..

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My goal = 20 No Spend Days

My progress =  6  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

[SweetSilver]

11/1)  Budgeted expenses& groceries

11/2)  No spend 

11/3)  No spend 

11/4)  No spend 

11/5    Almost no spend: under $3

11/6    Groceries today and tomorrow.  Did OK, but I did the shopping, and that means I have the girls with me which means I overspend a bit, but not too bad today.  Didn't bypass my Trader Joe's treat, but made it last 2 days (well, overnight anyhow.)  Spent $70 on a gymnastics event the girls are looking forward to.  Forgot about this one.  Oh well, I had planned it.  Talked with the girls about having to forgo a couple of outings they were asking about.  No problem.. They wouldn't miss this for the world.

11/7   Budgeted groceries, day 2.  Random stops, like Costco and the other coop for the right  cereal, etc.

All told, I spent $195 on groceries over 2 days.  This should last us a few days, and it included the expensive meat.

That brings grocery bill for the month to $360, which seems a bit scary considering it's just been a week, but that includes a monthly Azure purchase.  Unfortunately, this month includes 2 of those, but I've started figuring that total over the weeks between deliveries, so next delivery will be divided in 5, and 1 week added to November.   An accounting trick, for sure, but gives a more accurate spending picture.

Tomorrow, I expect a no-spend, Friday will should be a gas fill-up and nothing more.

[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 

I actually tried to spend money today, but didn't go through with it!  I saw on Joann's website last night that velour fabric was on sale and that's what I've been wanting for fabric gift bags, so I went to Joann's to get some.  Well, when I got there, it ended up not being on sale, so I didn't get it.  I even walked around the store and still didn't buy anything!  To top it all off, I went in not one, but TWO thrift stores tonight and didn't buy anything!  I'm still in search of ski pants for my DD (I didn't order the ones from LL Bean like I thought I was going to do last month.  I'm holding out hope that I can find them used).  Oh, and I thought about stopping to get a dessert-ish treat, but decided to make peanut butter oat balls at home instead (easy, no bake, and gluten/dairy free!)  The gluten-free thing tends to kill me in the sweets department, as I love to bake, but haven't gotten around to figuring out the art of gluten-free baking yet.  Tomorrow should also be no spend...I'm on a roll! ;)

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

For me it is backcountry.com.  When I'm cold, I love to shop for warm stuff. 

Jenn we have to step away from the internet.  Let's do this together...one...two...three...

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

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

You ARE on a roll!!!  Great job!!! 

Originally Posted by 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 

I actually tried to spend money today, but didn't go through with it!  I saw on Joann's website last night that velour fabric was on sale and that's what I've been wanting for fabric gift bags, so I went to Joann's to get some.  Well, when I got there, it ended up not being on sale, so I didn't get it.  I even walked around the store and still didn't buy anything!  To top it all off, I went in not one, but TWO thrift stores tonight and didn't buy anything!  I'm still in search of ski pants for my DD (I didn't order the ones from LL Bean like I thought I was going to do last month.  I'm holding out hope that I can find them used).  Oh, and I thought about stopping to get a dessert-ish treat, but decided to make peanut butter oat balls at home instead (easy, no bake, and gluten/dairy free!)  The gluten-free thing tends to kill me in the sweets department, as I love to bake, but haven't gotten around to figuring out the art of gluten-free baking yet.  Tomorrow should also be no spend...I'm on a roll! ;)