~December~ No-Spend Challenge -- Is your shopping finished? Time to come join us! - Page 8

[honeybee80]

Today I decided I needed to get some paint pens to make a cute little sign for my classroom, so I went to Joann's.  The awesome guy working there gave me 50% off of all of them!  I only ended up spending $8 for 5 paint pens!  And look at the cute sign I made! :)

I also found out today that there's a group of my friends going out to celebrate my friend's birthday on Wednesday.  Sushi...yum!  That will probably be a little pricey, but it will be worth it.  I am back on my meal planning kick, too.  I had the whole month planned out, I'd just strayed a little bit in the last couple weeks.  The good thing is I did quite a bit of cooking yesterday, so meals are covered through tomorrow, plus I should have enough leftovers for lunches this week...yay!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

That is cute!!!! 

[wildmonkeys]

Cute sign Honeybee - enjoy your sushi!

Today looks like another no spend day  Though the light in my car went off (as if it was a gas cap issue) but then came back on...

In good news, I have been getting lots of work projects (which is sort of difficult this time of year) but I am glad to be getting the cash.

SweetSilver - I have to tell you that our mortgage is over $2000.  We don't live in a fabulous house or anything either (I like it and it is comfortable) but it was built in the 80s and has the original kitchen counters/cabinets, bathrooms, roof & furnace.  We are in a great school district, but my husband also has a 1 hour train ride each way so we could move out here to less expensive real estate.  If we were to go to a good school district closer to the city, we could EASILY triple our mortgage.  

The cost of housing varies so much that it baffles me - we just have to find other places to save to make our budget work as nearly ALL of our income goes to housing.

[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.

13.   $35 at supermarket.  Tried our first gluten free bread, wasn't too bad.  It'll do great in a pinch for times I don't have time to bake.

14.   Dr copay, DH had a consult for "minor surgery".

15.   Overspent on the grocery budget by about $50.  Still nursing sick kids and now I'm sick.  No crafting.

16.   Picked up our Christmas tree.  All of us are still sick

17.   Still sick, decorated the tree today.

18.     Most of us are still sick, but I did get to work on some knitting.  I need to work a little faster as I only have a few days left   At least ebing sick is keeping us home and not spending, silver lining and all, right?

14/20 No Spend Days

10/20 Crafting Days

Edited by FillingMyQuiver - 12/22/12 at 7:28pm

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Oh it's happening...the last minute run-out-and-get-stuff before Christmas spending.

But at least I'm seeing it for what it is and hopefully this will be the last impulse purchase.

My kids are getting a trip to Disney from relatives (both sets of grandparents are collaborating on this) so yesterday they wanted me to find some stuffed animals to put in the present under the tree.  then I started thinking I needed a new curtain to provide more privacy...and the next thing you know big sums of money have flown out of the bank account.

But I'm reeling it in today.  No more spending on anything but FOOD.

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

My goal for the month = 15 no-spend days 

My progress so far = 10 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..  $20 eating out with my ballerina

15..  $7 hot cocoa + flowers for the ballerina

16.. 

17.. 

18..  ~$100 French door curtain, stuffed mickey mice  (mouses?)

19..

20..

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by wildmonkeys 

The cost of housing varies so much that it baffles me - we just have to find other places to save to make our budget work as nearly ALL of our income goes to housing.

Same story in Vermont.  Nothing like DC, but still...more than it would be in another state.  We live in a modest house...but our mortgage is HUGE.  The Northeast is just expensive.

[micah_mae_]

I'm still around, I just don't have much to post because we're at that point that we won't be spending because we're out of money -_- . January will be better with no Christmas to do.

[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.  Made bread today.

12/14   No spend
 

12/15 & 12/16   Groceries & Christmas shopping.  Not entirely sure how to process this one.  I think I did OK.  But I did still spend a whole lot of money, so I am not feeling all that celebratory.  

12/17  No groceries.    Flowers for Mom& Dad's grave for wedding anniversary.   

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

12/18    Minor Christmas purchases for dh, under $20, mostly stocking stuffers we needed to buy anyway.  Groceries and treats, $25.  $171/$156 for the week.  We went over-budget this weekend, but we appear to be keeping further grocery purchases down, and this feels like it will even carry into next week   I could have given myself an "oops" for the treats, but it was minor, and another reminder to let dh do the shopping!

12/19    No spend.  Staying home.

Here are my goals for the next 2 days:

12/20  Expect a no-spend

12/21  Getting cash from bank for presents for the teenagers.  Doc appt. in town

 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by micah_mae_ 

I'm still around, I just don't have much to post because we're at that point that we won't be spending because we're out of money -_- . January will be better with no Christmas to do.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

My goal for the month = 15 no-spend days 

My progress so far = 11 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..  $20 eating out with my ballerina

15..  $7 hot cocoa + flowers for the ballerina

16.. 

17.. 

18..  $100 French door curtain, stuffed mickey mice  (mouses?)

19.. 

20..

21..

22..

23..

24..

25.. 

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I have a couple more days before our holiday guests arrive.  Today could be a no spender for me if I just keep myself busy with housework and the gym and playing with my kids.

I have to pick up our farm share today...but nothing to buy at the farm. 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

, and another reminder to let dh do the shopping!

Oooh...I'm jealous!  I wish I could talk my husband into doing the shopping.  That would definitely save us money too!

[wildmonkeys]

Well, I spent a lot yesterday.  I am a room mom and I didn't collect much for ds3's teacher so I threw in some extra...I also finished my Christmas shopping.  Even though I spent money - I am feeling good about the gifts I bought.  I also bought some groceries and stamps.  I haven't even added it all up

Well today should be better.  I have a load of work to do which should keep me busy until the kiddos get home from school and we have an elementary school band & orchestra concert to entertain us tonight

Good job everybody - this is the hardest month to think about spending - I think everyone is doing a great job!!!

[SweetSilver]

12/18    Minor Christmas purchases for dh, under $20, mostly stocking stuffers we needed to buy anyway.  Groceries and treats, $25.  $171/$156 for the week.  We went over-budget this weekend, but we appear to be keeping further grocery purchases down, and this feels like it will even carry into next week   I could have given myself an "oops" for the treats, but it was minor, and another reminder to let dh do the shopping!

12/19    No spend.  Staying home.

12/20    No spend.

Here are my goals for the next 3 days:

12/21  Getting cash from bank for presents for the teenagers.  Doc appt. in town.  Grocery stop for a couple of things.

12/22  Expect a no-spend 

12/23  Same

 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by wildmonkeys 

I am a room mom and I didn't collect much for ds3's teacher so I threw in some extra...

     Money well spent.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

My four year old broke two...yes, TWO...snow globes at a store today.  I didn't learn my lesson after she broke the first one. 

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

My goal for the month = 15 no-spend days 

My progress so far = 11 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..  $20 eating out with my ballerina

15..  $7 hot cocoa + flowers for the ballerina

16.. 

17.. 

18..  $100 French door curtain, stuffed mickey mice  (mouses?)

19.. 

20..  $23 Broken snow globes and breakfast

21..

22..

23..

24..

25.. 

26..

27..

28..

29..

30..

31..

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

We're heading out to buy holiday groceries today...but if I can just get food and nothing out, I'll count that as a success.

[willfulmama]

Okay, so, realizing that it's near the end of December.... I would still like to join in! 

My husband gets paid once a month so it's when we have the largest chunk of money come in to pay bills with so we run our months from the 25th-24th. Since that means we're getting ready to start January, it seemed like an appropriate time to chime in here with our goals for the next 12 months. :)

Who Am I?

I'm a WAHM to two boys - my oldest is 2 years old and the youngest is 2 months. My work-from-home job is awesome - I've got a super cool job at a really great company and being able to stay home to watch my boys is absolutely priceless. The flip side of that, though, is my job is actually sort of stressful and it sometimes does not help to try typing around a toddler. :)

Where Am I Going? 

As I mentioned above, it seemed like an appropriate time to look over our lives and choose some financial goals to work towards over the next year. I guess I'd think about it as intentional living--while we make enough money between the two of us to live comfortably, we take it for granted and don't really plan for things very well. I'd like to work towards using the next year to sorta "grow up" a little bit and start acting like parents. :)

Some of our financial goals include:

• planning a written budget for every month
• STICKING to the planned budget. :)
• pay off 4 debts in full (This shouldn't be very difficult, but will at least get our snowball rolling!)
• fund our baby emergency fund
• finish Financial Peace University (We made it a few lessons in and then life happened.)
• balance checkbook every month
• be fully committed to no more debt!

How Do We Get There?

Well, trying to make decisions intentionally means that we need to put a lot more thought/planning into what we do over the course of a month. We need to get familiar with the word "no" and both my husband and I need to find our weaknesses and try to find out exactly WHY we spend random, unbudgeted money. (One of my weaknesses, for example, is being up with our newborn alone in the middle of the night and finding myself on Amazon. Instead, I'd like to try to find another behavior to replace that habit with - perhaps a book light and a good book to keep me awake while I'm nursing him back to sleep.)

We're also very committed to sticking to our budget. We both agreed this past month that we're not very happy when we don't have a budget and we're not sure what's going on with our bank account. It's SO much easier on us all when we know what's happening with our money and we've talked about it beforehand.

Currently...

Our holiday shopping is done and I just got paid this morning. We've planned out all of our purchases from now until DH gets paid on the 24th. The only thing we should really be spending money on is food, which we've budgeted $200. It's a lot for just a few days but we've been largely eating out of the pantry/freezer over the last week and a half and need to stock up on some basics. We should have no-spend days outside of whenever we go grocery shopping which will either be today or tomorrow. :)

[SweetSilver]

12/18    Minor Christmas purchases for dh, under $20, mostly stocking stuffers we needed to buy anyway.  Groceries and treats, $25.  $171/$156 for the week.  We went over-budget this weekend, but we appear to be keeping further grocery purchases down, and this feels like it will even carry into next week   I could have given myself an "oops" for the treats, but it was minor, and another reminder to let dh do the shopping!

12/19    No spend.  Staying home.

12/20    No spend.

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

12/21    $76 groceries.  That leaves $56 left for 10 days to make $800 for the month.  I don't think there will be any big days, but I thought this day would be less, too.  So, I'm not that optimistic.  

Here are my goals for the next 3 days:

 

12/22  Expect a no-spend 

12/23  Same

12/24  Last Christmas gifts.  Some groceries for trip to ILs.  

 

 

 

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Welcome aboard willfulmama!

SweetSilver -- $56 for 10 days doesn't seem like enough....EXCEPT that you might already have a houseful of groceries since you bought today.  Do you have enough in your pantry to hold you over?  Can you look at this as a challenge to use up foods that you already have?  If you can, great!  But if you can't...don't beat yourself up over that.  Very few families could eat on $56 for 10 days.