Today I'm going to Costco. The bill will be high.
My farm share is over so today I'm paying "real world" prices for produce and my family eats a LOT of produce.
Plus I'm going to the health food store for some stuff that Costco doesn't sell (grains, kefir, kale) and that usually ends up being a big chunk of change too (because OF COURSE I don't buy just those things...I can't leave the yogurt-covered almonds on the shelf)
So I'll be spending today. But tomorrow I'm back on the wagon.
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. 
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As expected, spent a ton of money at Costco. A lot.
Most of it was food (which I don't count against myself) but some of it was pictures and new boots and a sparkly dress for my daughter. So definitely unnecessary.
It was a spend day.
01..
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03.. $195 Christmas presents
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08.. $$ Costco
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My goal = 20 No Spend Days
My progress = 6 days so far
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'm trying Prudence, I r-e-a-l-l-y am 
I spent some time in my studio today cleaning up and realizing I have so much fabric and yarn in my stash, I should really be shopping down there.
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.
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
11/1) 
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, a bit over budget
11/7) Budgeted groceries, day 2. .
11/8) Forgot more groceries. Lost my no-spend day, but budgeted. Case of cat food which will last 2 months. Total $52
Food bill (not counting cat food!) about $370 for the month. Yikes.
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 supposed to be working an extra shift tonight!
8. No spend! Worked extra shift
9. Budgeted spending on groceries
Getting my hair cut today. That costs money. It is not a necessity, however, because I could let my hair grow longer and have a cut that needs less maintenance. But I don't because I like short and flippy.
So I know it is a luxury.
01..
02..
03.. $195 Christmas presents
04..
05..
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07..
08.. $87 Christmas cards and pictures
09.. $40 hair
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12..
13..
14..
15..
My goal = 20 No Spend Days
My progress = 6 days so far
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
honeybee80: I am SO impressed! I wish my status looked like that!
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.
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11/6 budgeted spend - dance tuition for DS
11/7 no spend
11/8 unbudgeted spend - weather stripping for a door that was leaking in cold air - $12
11/9 paid bills and gas for car - budgeted
honeybee80 and CookiePie are ROCKIN' this thread! You guys are my role models.
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!
This (bolded) is sooo true!!! I realized not too long ago that if I waited 10 days to go to the grocery store instead of 5, I save $50 bucks easily (now, the problem is committing to using it all up, especially produce...).
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! ;)
You are definitely on a roll! I love days where I strangely seem capable of bypassing the world of thingsIdon'treallyneed (especially at thrift stores). It's great! And when I can make a homemade swap (no spend and no store hassle!).
Ok, playing catch up...
- extra thrifty
- no spend
- normal expense
- unplanned extra
1. groceries
2.
3. $20 birthday present for niece - this is borderline, because we could have spent a lil less if I'd made something or bought something small, but we did cash (of course, the difference would probably have been eaten up by time and gas money...)
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6. (DH brought home a pizza - I'm not counting this! 
)
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8. MOSTLY budgeted items at grocery store, but I've been super nauseous lately (stupid mini pill) so @ health food place I did splurge on a big bottle of ginger juice w/ honey & lemon and some yummy sweet and sour tofu that I split with DS @ the playground 
- total unbudgeted: $10
9. Walked through autumn air, past drugstore AND delicious coffee shop to make it to library and playground and back (free fun - whoo hoo!) - planning to make a mug of hot ACV with cayenne and honey as treat instead (toddler nap nursing).
honeybee80 and CookiePie are ROCKIN' this thread! You guys are my role models.
You are definitely on a roll! I love days where I strangely seem capable of bypassing the world of thingsIdon'treallyneed (especially at thrift stores). It's great! And when I can make a homemade swap (no spend and no store hassle!).
honeybee80: I am SO impressed! I wish my status looked like that!
Thanks, guys! I'm kind of rockin my own world right now--LOL! I've NEVER had this much self-control with spending. I think I've finally gotten to the point where I've realized that I don't need everything I want right NOW. The month-at-a-time meal planning is huge in making my grocery spending work out well. I've never planned like that before the last few months--I've always been a week or 2 at a time planner (and not stuck to it). I make sure to have my grocery lists for the month written out at the beginning of the month and then I add other things I've run out of each week. I've also started to estimate how much I will spend at the store before I go and that helps keep my spending down, too. It also helps that I'm a teacher and super busy all the time, so weekends are often the only time I have to really get out and run errands.
I think you all are doing a great job, too! It starts with being aware of what you're spending and seeing the patterns that may emerge regarding spending habits. It just takes time to get used to a routine and try to change things that aren't working.
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
I'm going to try to make Sunday my spend day this weekend. I need to go grocery shopping and get gas. There's a chance I may attempt to do the thrift store thing and find those $%^ ski pants for my DD that I've been on the hunt for. Tomorrow most of the stores around here are 50% off, so we'll see if I end up feeling like taking the kids and braving the crowds (I really don't like taking them with me when I'm thrifting, but it could work out in my favor, as I won't be tempted to hang around and browse too much).
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
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Been pretty good the past few days, but had a big spend day today. We put the kids gifts on Layaway but should have them paid off in the next 10 days. We also saved almost $20 because of promotional specials going on at that store today, so it was almost a 15% savings (or more than one gift, free) It looks like we're going to be able to make a double car payment this month (so close to paying it off) and I paid $40 off on the loan we're trying to pay down too. All in all not bad.
Tomorrow hubby is going to Kohls, but he has a $10 off coupon, 2 $10 promotional gift certificates, and a $25 birthday gift certificate, so hopefully with about $55 to spend he will be able to get some nice winter things without actually spending anything. :)
I'm a day past my due date, so I'm a little lost right now as to what I should be doing with my days (especially since I am on leave from work, and was honestly expecting to have the baby before leave started). I got part of DD2's Christmas present today, that wound up saving us about $30, since I am going to add to it myself to make it "custom" and even more "her." :) The Christmas stuff was all in budgeted spending, so not too shabby.
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 
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.)
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I'm glad that my posting here is helpful! Thanks! I know it helps me to be accountable! And I've been really enjoying hanging the clothes on the line! I fell out of this habit lately with how busy I have been, so it has been really great to get back into the swing of it!
I'm also on the getting out of debt thread, so that is major motivation. We are so close to being done with debt forever, the closer we get the more I want to payoff. I feel like we are sooooo close!
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 supposed to be 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
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.
11/1: 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
I found really nice ski pants for DD for $3 at the thrift store today...yay!! I also got an iron, a plate, and the kids bought a typewriter (only $12.50--total steal!) Everything was on my list of things I can buy at thrift stores (handy list to have!) My kids are SO stoked about the typewriter...I was hoping to find a manual one, but this one will do for now ;)
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