~December~ No-Spend Challenge -- Is your shopping finished? Time to come join us! - Page 6

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by wildmonkeys 

I am going to try not to spend, but my goals are also going to be making reasonable meals at home, turning the thermostat down, and finding deals on some things we really need. I haven't been on here in awhile and I feel like we have sort of lost our way financially.

Welcome wildmonkey -- or are you the Mom of Wild Monkeys?  That's where I'm guessing your name came from.  :)

Nice to have you back at MDC. 

And good luck with the challenge!  You can track your spending you can track your mealmaking, you can track whatever it would help you to track on our thread.  We're here to encourage you in whatever way we can.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by micah_mae_ 

Staying home today. It's cold and I need to clean. Hubby is coming home tomorrow or Friday from a 2 month TDY out of state.

 

Welcome back for your husband!!

I'm home cleaning today too.

[micah_mae_]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Welcome back for your husband!!

I'm home cleaning today too.

Well nevermind on that. He got an hour towards home before his truck completely broke down. Not sure how he's getting home, what he's doing with the truck or how we can afford to fix it.. *cry*

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by micah_mae_ 

Well nevermind on that. He got an hour towards home before his truck completely broke down. Not sure how he's getting home, what he's doing with the truck or how we can afford to fix it.. *cry*

Oh no!  sorry to hear that, Mama. 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

My goal for the month = 15 no-spend days 

My progress so far = 6 days

01..  $166 ski stuff

02.. 

03..  $8.50 bagels

04.. 

05.. 

06..  $215 Christmas

07.. 

08..  $35 eating out

09.. 

10..  $50 more Christmas

11.. 

12..

13..

14..

15..  PAY OFF our 2nd Mortgage. 

[meandk0610]

Originally Posted by meandk0610 

key:

no spend-     

budgeted spend-       

over budget or not budgeted-   

extra shift, freebee awesome deal-   

hung clothes on line-

12/1:   

12/2:   

12/3:

12/4:

12/5:

12/6:   never made it to walmart

12/7:   

12/8:  went to Costco unbudgeted but used a Costco cash card that i got back from having HVAC done in June so not out of budget.

12/9:

12/10: finally made it to walmart

12/11:  

12/12:

[FillingMyQuiver]

Key

  No Spend/ Budgeted Spending

  Un-budgeted/ Unnecessary Spending

  Crafted for at least 30 minutes

1.  Unbudgeted lunch out, budgeted grocery shopping.

2.      Didn't go anywhere.  DH fixed a faulty outlet in the kitchen, then we put together our free bed frame.  This is how we need to spend our weekends, getting household projects done, NOT shopping.

3.      Bought the very last thing on the Christmas gift list (I've been watching zuliliy for it for weeks now), but it was budgeted.  There shouldn't be anymore spending happening today, hopefully raking and garden bed upkeep will get done instead.

4.      Budgeted spending today, but I feel   DS2 has a virus that ended us up in the dr's office (rash & fever), had to get him an Rx for some steroid cream for his flaring eczema, stopped at the grocery store and grabbed some quick things for dinner (thankfully there's money in the food budget).

5.      Stayed home, stayed away from online shopping, got a gnome for DD3 knit, will be working on more crafting after the rugrats go to bed.

6.      Stayed home again, no spending.  Lots of crafting for the holidays happening.

7.      REALLY wanted to get fast food for dinner but DH and I decided he'd make a quick run to the store instead.  $$ for groceries is in the budget, fast food isn't (especially when it's almost $40 for our family at McDs).  Made cookies with the kids for a cookie exchange I'm going to tomorrow.

8.      Cookie exchange and holiday crafting.  No spending.

9.      3 sick kids , $30 ordered pizza for dinner, totally unbudgeted.

10.   Budgeted spending, placed my seed order for 2013's growing season.  Rest of the day I carried around a sick toddler. so NO crafting was done.

11.    Unbudgeted spending.  DS2's allergist appointment involved skin testing, we bribed him with a toy from WM ($24).  No plan for dinner, DH stopped at the store and picked up our first try at wheat free pasta and sauce ($13).

12.   No crafting today, 8yo DS1, 4yo DD2, and DH all are sick.

9/20 No Spend Days

9/20 Crafting Days

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Still car-less today.  they weren't able to fix it yesterday so we're staying home today and I should be able to get another no-spend if I just stay away from internet shopping. 

[FillingMyQuiver]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Still car-less today.  they weren't able to fix it yesterday so we're staying home today and I should be able to get another no-spend if I just stay away from internet shopping. 

You can do it!!!

[tealsmith83]

 = No spend/budgeted spend

 = Unbudgeted spend

1.    Breakfast out

2.    Lunch out after church

3.    Supper out tonight with a dear cousin who is going through a rough patch

4. 

5.    Man, this month is hard to get a grip on.  Supper out, husband made 2 purchases (one at school and one on-line). 

6. 

7. 

8.    Big spend!  Belated birthday party for DS, went to local water park.  DH did the shopping while I was out with DS and friends.  Had lots of stuff to get so big spend there too.

9.    Pizza for supper with MIL  only $12.00 but it still adds up.

10.   Budgeted spend...Christmas shopping for DH and a couple of extras for DS.  I have a Christmas budget every year.

11. 

12. 

13.  Man, I can't wait till this month is over.  I did so much better last month.

[wildmonkeys]

12.12.12 - First day and I already spent some money  : 2 recessed lighting light bulbs $14, sweat pants for son's costume in school play (though he will get other wear out of them) $6, b-day party gift $10 & 3 sports tshirts for Christmas presents $1 each  - $33 okay for a Target run this close to Christmas.  What worries me is there is suddenly a light on in my car

[SweetSilver]

Originally Posted by wildmonkeys 

  What worries me is there is suddenly a light on in my car

I haaaate spending money on the car!  Must be done, but it hurts.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by tealsmith83 

13.  Man, I can't wait till this month is over.  I did so much better last month.

December is SUCH a hard month.  But at least you are still tracking and still with us! 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

I haaaate spending money on the car!  Must be done, but it hurts.

Me too!!!!  especially because you give them huge sums of money...and they give you back the exact same car you started with. 

I just spent $250 replacing our car window that some vandalizing no-gooder broke.  $250.  For NOTHING.  Grrrr...I'm forgetting about it and driving on.  It is nice to have a car back after four days without one.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

My goal for the month = 15 no-spend days 

My progress so far = 8 days

01..  $166 ski stuff

02.. 

03..  $8.50 bagels

04.. 

05.. 

06..  $215 Christmas

07.. 

08..  $35 eating out

09.. 

10..  $50 more Christmas

11.. 

12..  

13.. 

14..  PAY OFF our 2nd Mortgage

15.. 

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

[SweetSilver]

12/1 Waldorf Winter Faire.  Cost went up--spent $35 .  Spent $8 on Christmas ornaments, so an itty-bitty .  Still, I packed lunch as planned, and made no other stops.  So I deserve something, and this little Bouncy-Dude is just right. 

12/2    No-spend day 

12/3    No spend day  Made that awesome, no-spend, handcrafted Christmas wreath you can see on post #29.

12/4  Groceries $92  Stuck to the lists!!   I just didn't make the very best lists.  

12/5  Groceries $34.  That's $126/ $156 for the week ending Friday.

12/6   Online Christmas shopping.  I get a Dancing Banana today, but I don't know how I'm going to stick the Christmas budget dh and I agreed on.  

12/7   Had about $30 in this week's food budget left to keep on target for the month, spent $29.34!!  Dinner at DQ tonight instead of tomorrow $16.

12/8     It had to happen sooner or later.  Groceries $89.  Hot chocolate stop $4.  Including last night's DQ $16, that puts us at $108 out of $156 for the week that just started!

12/9  Christmas tree shopping.  Cost of trees doubled.  Ouch!

12/10    No spend today.  Made a big ol' pot of soupy beans, smoky with bacon.  Mmmmm.  And cheap!

12/11    Errand day/ Well-child appt./ Groceries  I am back in the groove!!  I packed lunches and snacks.  I deserved an extra Happy Veggie.

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

12/12    Work day.  No spend.

12/13      Another day deserving an armada of Dancing Veggies.  DH came home with the groceries, and we came in at $151/ 156 for the week!  Nearly midway through the month we are at $478/$800, which includes the Azure Standard order.

Here are the goals for the next 4 days:

12/14  This should be a no-spend

12/15 & 12/16 Heading to the Big City and have some Big Spending planned for Christmas shopping and groceries.  I must make good lists.  I must stick to the lists.  I must give myself a weensy bit of wiggle room for the vagaries of Christmas shopping.  The Big Co-op trip sometimes gets figured into the monthly food budget the way I do Azure Standard:  I spread the cost over 4 weeks, since I make this trip no more than every other month.  That helps even out the spending on groceries, at least on paper.  Prevents the accounting from showing $700 one month and $1000 the next.  Gets me closer to seeing the average, and I can make a more realistic goal from that.

12/17  This will be no-spend

[wildmonkeys]

12.12.12  First day and I already spent some money  : 2 recessed lighting light bulbs $14, sweat pants for son's costume in school play (though he will get other wear out of them) $6, b-day party gift $10 & 3 sports tshirts for Christmas presents $1 each  - $33 okay for a Target run this close to Christmas.  What worries me is there is suddenly a light on in my car

 12.13.12  No spend today  Found out that the light in my car can be caused by the gas cap not being on tight enough and was told to give it a couple of days. Have my fingers crossed that that is all it is.   

[tealsmith83]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

My goal for the month = 15 no-spend days 

My progress so far = 8 days

01..  $166 ski stuff

02.. 

03..  $8.50 bagels

04.. 

05.. 

06..  $215 Christmas

07.. 

08..  $35 eating out

09.. 

10..  $50 more Christmas

11.. 

12..  

13.. 

14..  PAY OFF our 2nd Mortgage

15.. 

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

Crunchy*VT*Mom - Today's the big day!!!  Woohoo!  So sorry that some no-good stinker vandalized your car!  That stinks big time.  People can be just flat mean.

SweetSilver - great job on the groceries!  Keep up the good work.

wildmonkeys - Our van works that way, if you don't get that gas cap on just right the light comes on...it's happened to us a couple of times.  Hopefully that's all it is.

 = No spend/budgeted spend

 = Unbudgeted spend

1.    Breakfast out

2.    Lunch out after church

3.    Supper out tonight with a dear cousin who is going through a rough patch

4. 

5.    Man, this month is hard to get a grip on.  Supper out, husband made 2 purchases (one at school and one on-line). 

6. 

7. 

8.    Big spend!  Belated birthday party for DS, went to local water park.  DH did the shopping while I was out with DS and friends.  Had lots of stuff to get so big spend there too.

9.    Pizza for supper with MIL  only $12.00 but it still adds up.

10.   Budgeted spend...Christmas shopping for DH and a couple of extras for DS.  I have a Christmas budget every year.

11. 

12. 

13. 

14.  There's always hope for today...right??? 

[SweetSilver]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

My goal for the month = 15 no-spend days 

My progress so far = 8 days

01..  $166 ski stuff

02.. 

03..  $8.50 bagels

04.. 

05.. 

06..  $215 Christmas

07.. 

08..  $35 eating out

09.. 

10..  $50 more Christmas

11.. 

12..  

13.. 

14..  PAY OFF our 2nd Mortgage 

15.. 

16..

17..

18..

19..

20..

 WOOOHOOOO!!!!!  

[micah_mae_]

12/1  We were traveling and I forgot to feed us breakfast before we left. Spent $15.

12/2  Today will be budgeted Christmas spending only.

12/3  Oil change and I'll spend about $10 on the way home. Tomorrow should be my first no spend day!

12/4  Ok so I spent about $95 on groceries which is $5 under budget even though $7 was unnecessary stuff and I spent $7 at starbucks because my kids pushed me to my coffee point. :(

12/5  I was good all day until I went through chick fil a. $17. I didn't even think about it! It was like...subconcious or something, afterwards I was like "NOOO, my no spend day!!!" Sigh.

Stuff I did to be frugal at home: We had oranges with breakfast and I had lemon water, I put all the peels in a big jar and covered with vinegar to make a citrus cleaning solution. We are also making granola bars for snacks and I'm using the leftover granola bar stuff to make a homemade cold cereal for me to snack on after the boys go to bed (bran flakes, dried blueberries, cranberries and strawberries, chopped almonds, coconut).

 

12/6  $5 on breakfast and I'm about to go to Wal Mart to get my 2 yo his own undies since he randomly decided to poop and pee on the potty today.

 

12/7  Well I'm traveling again today. I'm packing snacks and drinks for the boys and myself. I'll probably spend less than $3 on coffee/coke to stay awake. (It's 3.5 hours through central/west Texas..very boring and makes me literally fall asleep if I'm not careful).

Besides that though, no spend days will be plentiful do to the fact that we are out of money. :P

Oh I'm counting today as a no spend because the $3 will all be change scrounged up, not from the budget.

12/8 Today I'm at my parents house and they tend to pay for anything while we're here. It makes me feel silly since I'm a grown woman but right now I will be grateful and I'll pay them back as we go on.

 

12/9 $6.25 on drinks for my parents and me after church.

 

12/10  $10 traveling

 

12/11 Bought $45 in groceries. $10 in gas. $15 in eating out. I made almond milk for the first time. I'm not sure about it. 

 

12/12  Staying home today. It's cold and I need to clean. Hubby is coming home tomorrow or Friday from a 2 month TDY out of state.

 

12/13  Food money spent

 

12/14  Rest of grocery money spent and gas card bought.

 

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6/20 No spend days

 

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Key

 Did something frugal at home

 No spend

 Budgeted spend

 Unbudgeted Spend