Micah_Mae - hey $50 in Redbox fines is huge - so sorry! We are OK with Redbox/Library fines, but that is an area where I am trying to do better this year. FYI once you hit a certain point it is often cheaper to replace the item than to return the item and pay the fine.
So, as a public school mom I have to say - I LOVE IT WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT :) I love, love, LOVE the extra time with my guys and we have a great time and avoid typical "kid places". Tomorrow I get 4 extra sweet boys and am up to a lucky 7 
Aw, I don't blame you, mama 
Micah_Mae - hey $50 in Redbox fines is huge - so sorry! We are OK with Redbox/Library fines, but that is an area where I am trying to do better this year. FYI once you hit a certain point it is often cheaper to replace the item than to return the item and pay the fine.
How do you replace it? I don't know what to do about it personally except to avoid those type things all together which makes me sad. I can't always return things and I can't depend on DH to do it. :(
Key
No Spend/ Budgeted Spending
Unbudgeted/ Unnecessary Spending
Crafted for at least 30 minutres
1. Not exactly how I wanted to start the year/ month, but all well. Another $200 spent at Home Depot for more shelving for my kids' rooms, $40 spent at the grocery store while we continue to wrap our head around the food allergies.
2.
3.
4.
5. $$ bought DDs's birthday cake and ice cream for DS2. Blew up the birth pool, gathered birth supplies, & put crib together.
6. $75 at Home Depot. Shelves are working out so well in the kids' rooms, DH and I decided to put some in our room. Making split pea soup for after birth from a ham bone my mom saved.
7. Frugal accomplishments for today: started cutting out cloth wipes to sew for new baby, packed all our snacks and brought our water bottles to the 3hr meeting today that I had to take the kids w/ me to, cooked dinner at home even though I was exhausted after my meeting, including greens from our garden we have in a low tunnel, pulled out next size up clothes from storage for DD2 and DD3 (still need to go through DD3's drawers to pull out too small clothing, hopefully tomorrow)
8. $17 spent at grocery store for milk, pasta, and a jar of sauce (not frugal, I usually make my own sauce, but hey, we didn't eat out 
). Frugal accomplishments for today: went through DD3's clothes, separated all of the clothes I've pulled from the drawers the last few weeks and started a donation bag, raked half my front yard and moved the leaves into the garden beds, dug a trench and buried 5 gallons of kitchen scraps in one of the beds, brought our change to the coinstar machine and got an amazon gift card.
9. $6 on an amazon grocery order for soy free chocolate chips, sorghum flour, and chia seeds. Frugal accomplishments for today: used amazon gift card from yesterday for majority of amazon order, cut DS2's hair, ate all meals and snacks out of the pantry/ freezer
10. Planned food shopping list for Saturday, cut cloth wipes from upcycled flannel sheet and towels, DH picked up our bulk foods co-op order last night so I was able to make a loaf of gluten-free bread for lunch and muffins for breakfast, also eating dinner at home, started taxes, opened windows in house to get some fresh air in (we're in a warm streak), took the end of the loaf of bread I made and set it aside to make gluten free bread crumbs
11. DH made a pretty big purchase today. We put it on our CC and will pay it off next month b/c it was a last minute, completely unbudgeted purchase. Also bought some groceries. Frugal accomplishments for today: wintersowed 5 containers (3 onions and 2 broccoli) using seed starting soil from last year and jugs I've been saving.
12. Did our big, once-a-month grocery shop. Apparently I wasn't paying as close attention when I made my list b/c I ended up buying quite a bit of duplicates of things we didn't really need, though they can go in the stockpile now. We overspent our food budget by about $90, but I'm not sure how much of that is food cost increases, allergen free ingredients that are slightly more expensive, or a just a general need to increase the food budget that I don't want to come to terms with, 
.
13. Had to pick up mailing labels for a project for DD1's troop. It wasn't in the budget, but I told my co-leader I'd take care of it.
14. Pack meeting pot luck at scouts, except it was "Bring your fave pizza from your fave pizza place" night. Ugh, we can't have pizza now because of DS2's allergies, so I packed sandwiches on homemade gluten-free bread and made gluten free rice krispie treats for dessert. Picked up 50lbs of potatoes on the way home ($17).
15. Set aside pieces from yesterday's bread loaves to use for breadcrumbs, finished cutting out rest of the upcycled baby wipes (over 6 dozen total, we totally need them, the wipes I'm using now are falling apart & some are approaching 8yrs old) hopefully I'll get them serged up tonight, made sure the hose/ siphon for the birth pool was clean, also started a crockpot full of chicken stock from 2 frozen carcasses
16. Not going anywhere, no money should be spent. We haven't seen the sun in about a week, we've had 3 days of rain, and we're all going stir crazy in this house. Finished the 6 dozen cloth wipes, went through the wipe stash and pulled out the unusable ones, cut out the pieces to sew 2 wool pilot caps for the babe on the way
17. Didn't leave the house, "they" were calling for snow (we've gotten none). All meals eaten at home, DH worked from home so no gas usage, started sewing the wool pilot caps, started cutting some pocket inserts for DD3's Fuzzi Bunz (the ones we're using are falling apart).
18. $45 spent at Five Guys for dinner. Frugal things for the day: cut more pocket inserts for DD3's diapers, finished some leftovers for lunch, DH worked from home
19. $40 spent at grocery store, not budgeted. Going to try to work on serging pocket inserts and maybe some diapers for DD3. Will get 2 loaves of bread rising before bed for lunch tomorrow and hopefully gather supplies up to make soap, deodorant, and lotion bars tomorrow, too.
20. Ugh. $15 spent at store for new cheese grater, instant read thermometer, and a candy thermometer. DD3 is sick, so I haven't gotten much sewing or fabric cutting going. I *did* manage to make deodorant and our "boo boo lotion" yesterday. Went to the hardware store for lye, but they were already closed 
21. DH spent $6 at Chik Fil A for ice cream for the boys (there was some scheduling confusion w/ scouts and it ended up being canceled. All the other parents took their kids to Chik Fil A for ice cream and playtime, DH felt like the boys would miss out if he didn't go), $18 spent at Lowe's fro more cinder blocks for our "overflow pantry" shelves that DH started setting up. Soap is made, no lotion bars though b/c I realized I think my mom has the rest of the stash I previously made, I'll get them from her so I don't waste precious supplies on excess lotion bars. Cut DS1 and DH's hair. Made dinner at home, getting ready to start 2 loaves of bread for lunch tomorrow.
Tomorrow is my due date, not that it means anything since 4 of my 5 have come past their dates, but hey, it's to be celebrated. I'm hoping for labor soon, though.
13/ 20 No Spend Days
8/ 20 Crafting Days
Ooooh!! Good luck mama!! How exciting 
Fingers crossed for an easy labor 
We have good news! We accepted the offer on our house! The deal seems pretty good, we would have liked a bit more money (who doesn't?), but really, I think we are very lucky to be able to sell without losing any money.
So, paperwork is signed. Now I need to start clearing out more stuff. I accomplished a goal and sold the freezer on Craigslist. Someone is coming to pick it up next Saturday. Fingers crossed that goes well. I have never sold anything on Craigslist. That will be $150 in our pocket.
That's awesome news!
~~~ Good luck Jenn and easy labor vibes!!!!!! ~~~~
All three of my girls went way past their due dates. They laugh at the idea of 40 weeks. Ha ha! but its not funny when you are so ready to have that baby in your arms. We'll be thinking of you!!
So my dog (who was the cause of unexpected spending this week) is now very ill and they don't know what is wrong. (Sorry if this is off-topic) but our budget for the month is totally blown now. Oh well, its worth it. Got home from the grocery store and he was panting hard, drooling, standing with an arched back and obviously in pain. I was worried about bloat, and took him to the vet, its not bloat, but at this point they don't know what it is. They did tests and there is some minor issues (not sure what) on the x-ray, and he has elevated RED blood cell count. Hes on IV fluids and pain meds for now and thats it. I won't go off topic about him again here, but I know there are a few of you that might be interested. You can follow his progress on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AidenWolfhound if you want to, so I can stick to the no-spend here. Today we are going to be spending lots of unbudget money, probably tomorrow too, if I'm not around a lot, its cuz I'm busy. I'm hoping later this week to get back on track. 
Oh, I am so sorry. Sounds like everything that can be done for home is being done. I wish his a quick diagnosis and speedy recovery.
Edited to add: I looked at his FB page. What a beautiful dog!!! Oh my, I am in tears. Fingers crossed for him.
~~~ Good luck Jenn and easy labor vibes!!!!!! ~~~~
All three of my girls went way past their due dates. They laugh at the idea of 40 weeks. Ha ha! but its not funny when you are so ready to have that baby in your arms. We'll be thinking of you!!
My babies always overstayed their welcome too My girls were 40w6d, 40w5d, 40w (due date).. but I had a very stressful event/shock that day as well as a CT scan and I strongly believe I would have gone to 40w3d-40w4d with her had it not happened.. I went into labour within an hour of the scan and prior to that, had no signs of having that baby any time soon. My son was 40w2d. My kids still have to be dragged from their beds to this day. 
So, as a public school mom I have to say - I LOVE IT WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT :) I love, love, LOVE the extra time with my guys and we have a great time and avoid typical "kid places". Tomorrow I get 4 extra sweet boys and am up to a lucky 7
This is beautiful! So glad you got some good time with your children. And seven! You are a powerhouse.
Tomorrow is my due date, not that it means anything since 4 of my 5 have come past their dates, but hey, it's to be celebrated. I'm hoping for labor soon, though.
Happy Due Date Mama!!!! So excited for you!!!!
~~~ Good luck Jenn and easy labor vibes!!!!!! ~~~~
All three of my girls went way past their due dates. They laugh at the idea of 40 weeks. Ha ha! but its not funny when you are so ready to have that baby in your arms. We'll be thinking of you!!
Yes, this would be my children, too. My last 4 were 40w4d, 41w3d, 42w2d, and 41w1d, so I'm anticipating a long wait.
Thanks everyone for the good labor vibes. I have no indication that this babe will be joining us any time soon, though
So exciting, Jenn! Best to you. I have 3 and I've never made it past 38 weeks 
No spending today, though I know we are spending on heat. Crazy cold out there and the boiler has been going all day. Snuggled with my kiddos watching Dr Who, dinner is prepped and not much going on. A lovely, quiet winter's day.
No spend
Budgeted spend
Unbudgeted Spend
Do something frugal at home
January 1 -- lowered temperature on hot water heater
January 2 -- $10.50 food at airport soaked beans for dh and kids
January 3 --
January 4 --
January 5 --
January 6 -- $3 tea at airport
January 7 -- well baby check up soaking more beans for meals, lowered heat 2 degrees
January 8 -- delayed our grocery shopping for another day
January 9 -- delayed our grocery shopping for yet another day
January 10 -- grocery shopping
January 11 -- shut down the heat due to warm temps
January 12 -- dh repaired kitchen faucet
January 13 --
January 14 -- $20 shoes, $20 birthday present, $30 haircuts
January 15 --
January 16 --
January 17 -- grocery shopping
January 18 --
January 19 --
January 20 --
January 21 --
January 22 --
January 23
January 24
January 25
My goals:
Save 50% of Jan 4th paycheck -- done!
Save 20% of Jan 18th paycheck -- nope, only made 16%
Do something frugal every day
Make every dollar matter
Key
No Spend/ Budgeted Spending
Unbudgeted/ Unnecessary Spending
Crafted for at least 30 minutres
1. Not exactly how I wanted to start the year/ month, but all well. Another $200 spent at Home Depot for more shelving for my kids' rooms, $40 spent at the grocery store while we continue to wrap our head around the food allergies.
2.
3.
4.
5. $$ bought DDs's birthday cake and ice cream for DS2. Blew up the birth pool, gathered birth supplies, & put crib together.
6. $75 at Home Depot. Shelves are working out so well in the kids' rooms, DH and I decided to put some in our room. Making split pea soup for after birth from a ham bone my mom saved.
7. Frugal accomplishments for today: started cutting out cloth wipes to sew for new baby, packed all our snacks and brought our water bottles to the 3hr meeting today that I had to take the kids w/ me to, cooked dinner at home even though I was exhausted after my meeting, including greens from our garden we have in a low tunnel, pulled out next size up clothes from storage for DD2 and DD3 (still need to go through DD3's drawers to pull out too small clothing, hopefully tomorrow)
8. $17 spent at grocery store for milk, pasta, and a jar of sauce (not frugal, I usually make my own sauce, but hey, we didn't eat out ). Frugal accomplishments for today: went through DD3's clothes, separated all of the clothes I've pulled from the drawers the last few weeks and started a donation bag, raked half my front yard and moved the leaves into the garden beds, dug a trench and buried 5 gallons of kitchen scraps in one of the beds, brought our change to the coinstar machine and got an amazon gift card.
9. $6 on an amazon grocery order for soy free chocolate chips, sorghum flour, and chia seeds. Frugal accomplishments for today: used amazon gift card from yesterday for majority of amazon order, cut DS2's hair, ate all meals and snacks out of the pantry/ freezer
10. Planned food shopping list for Saturday, cut cloth wipes from upcycled flannel sheet and towels, DH picked up our bulk foods co-op order last night so I was able to make a loaf of gluten-free bread for lunch and muffins for breakfast, also eating dinner at home, started taxes, opened windows in house to get some fresh air in (we're in a warm streak), took the end of the loaf of bread I made and set it aside to make gluten free bread crumbs
11. DH made a pretty big purchase today. We put it on our CC and will pay it off next month b/c it was a last minute, completely unbudgeted purchase. Also bought some groceries. Frugal accomplishments for today: wintersowed 5 containers (3 onions and 2 broccoli) using seed starting soil from last year and jugs I've been saving.
12. Did our big, once-a-month grocery shop. Apparently I wasn't paying as close attention when I made my list b/c I ended up buying quite a bit of duplicates of things we didn't really need, though they can go in the stockpile now. We overspent our food budget by about $90, but I'm not sure how much of that is food cost increases, allergen free ingredients that are slightly more expensive, or a just a general need to increase the food budget that I don't want to come to terms with, .
13. Had to pick up mailing labels for a project for DD1's troop. It wasn't in the budget, but I told my co-leader I'd take care of it.
14. Pack meeting pot luck at scouts, except it was "Bring your fave pizza from your fave pizza place" night. Ugh, we can't have pizza now because of DS2's allergies, so I packed sandwiches on homemade gluten-free bread and made gluten free rice krispie treats for dessert. Picked up 50lbs of potatoes on the way home ($17).
15. Set aside pieces from yesterday's bread loaves to use for breadcrumbs, finished cutting out rest of the upcycled baby wipes (over 6 dozen total, we totally need them, the wipes I'm using now are falling apart & some are approaching 8yrs old) hopefully I'll get them serged up tonight, made sure the hose/ siphon for the birth pool was clean, also started a crockpot full of chicken stock from 2 frozen carcasses
16. Not going anywhere, no money should be spent. We haven't seen the sun in about a week, we've had 3 days of rain, and we're all going stir crazy in this house. Finished the 6 dozen cloth wipes, went through the wipe stash and pulled out the unusable ones, cut out the pieces to sew 2 wool pilot caps for the babe on the way
17. Didn't leave the house, "they" were calling for snow (we've gotten none). All meals eaten at home, DH worked from home so no gas usage, started sewing the wool pilot caps, started cutting some pocket inserts for DD3's Fuzzi Bunz (the ones we're using are falling apart).
18. $45 spent at Five Guys for dinner. Frugal things for the day: cut more pocket inserts for DD3's diapers, finished some leftovers for lunch, DH worked from home
19. $40 spent at grocery store, not budgeted. Going to try to work on serging pocket inserts and maybe some diapers for DD3. Will get 2 loaves of bread rising before bed for lunch tomorrow and hopefully gather supplies up to make soap, deodorant, and lotion bars tomorrow, too.
20. Ugh. $15 spent at store for new cheese grater, instant read thermometer, and a candy thermometer. DD3 is sick, so I haven't gotten much sewing or fabric cutting going. I *did* manage to make deodorant and our "boo boo lotion" yesterday. Went to the hardware store for lye, but they were already closed
21. DH spent $6 at Chik Fil A for ice cream for the boys (there was some scheduling confusion w/ scouts and it ended up being canceled. All the other parents took their kids to Chik Fil A for ice cream and playtime, DH felt like the boys would miss out if he didn't go), $18 spent at Lowe's fro more cinder blocks for our "overflow pantry" shelves that DH started setting up. Soap is made, no lotion bars though b/c I realized I think my mom has the rest of the stash I previously made, I'll get them from her so I don't waste precious supplies on excess lotion bars. Cut DS1 and DH's hair. Made dinner at home, getting ready to start 2 loaves of bread for lunch tomorrow.
22. DS2 had a follow up allergist appointment today. Breakfast was homemade muffins in the car on the way to the dr, lunch was sandwiches on homemade bread, dinner will be from the pantry and freezer. Cut the soap and set it out to cure. I'm not giving myself a Crafting Day yet, but I'm hoping to get some pocket dipe inserts done or maybe start knitting a pair of mittens for DD3.
14/ 20 No Spend Days
8/ 20 Crafting Days
Oh, I am so sorry. Sounds like everything that can be done for home is being done. I wish his a quick diagnosis and speedy recovery.
Edited to add: I looked at his FB page. What a beautiful dog!!! Oh my, I am in tears. Fingers crossed for him.
ITA. I hope they can figure out what is wrong quickly and get him feeling better 
I held out in the face of a begging child and boring at-home dinner options today. Now we're home, and I'm about to make chocolate chip pancakes and eggs for all of us. However, I splurged at the eye doctor. I could have made do with my 7-year-old glasses, but DH wanted me to get some stylish new ones, and DD10 needed new lenses, so rather than having them inserted into her old frames, I opted to get her new glasses so we could have the old ones as a backup in case of loss or breakage (the prescription change is small enough to make that possible). So I'm not going to consider it a no-spend day, since I did spend more than I really needed to. I really like my new glasses, at least!
Key:
No frivolous/unbudgeted spending:
Unbudgeted spending:
Ate at home all day: 
12/30:
12/31:
1/1:
1/2:
1/3: $15 at Starbucks
1/4: $9 in library fines
1/5:
1/6:
1/7: $60 on clothes, $15 on sneakers, and $20 on desk organizer
1/8: $40 on desk organizing supplies, $15 on pizza for dinner
1/9: $42 on black loafers, $2 library fine
1/10: $25 on lunch out
1/11: $25 on bagels and lunch, $25 on pizza for 6
1/12: $23 on Moe's for dinner
1/13:
1/14:
1/15:
1/16: $6 library fines, $38 dinner at Panera
1/17: $4 on gardening book, $7 on a quick lunch for starving kids
1/18: $4 on hot dogs at Costco in between activities
1/19:
1/20:
1/21:
1/22: $481 for three exams and two sets of frames and lenses at the eye doctor
1/23:
1/24:
1/25:
My month begins on the 15th of every month as that's pay day and we are paid monthly.
Any day where I spend on groceries and still come under my monthly allowance of $1000 is counted as a no spend day. For me, our groceries are right up there with mortgage and bills in the "essential" category.
Tuesday 15th January: $15 Flowers for neighbour, $225 Electric mincer
Wednesday 16th January: No spend
Thursday 17th January: No spend
Friday 18th January: No spend
Saturday 19th January: $33 Lego on clearance
Sunday 20th January: No spend
Monday 21st January: No spend
Tuesday 22nd January: No spend
Wednesday 23rd January: No spend
Wednesday 23rd January:
$97.22 on budgeted groceries (
but I had to continue stocking up)
$404.20 / $1000 Grocery budget
$147.95 / $200 Gas budget
What I did today to save money:
Only bought those groceries which were 40-50% off their original retail. Clipped coupons to save on gas for my and dh's car refill with next month's pay. Stayed at home (other than the groceries) and cooked out of fridge/freezer/pantry. We got a little bit bored upon waking, so we pulled out all the craft stuff and are having a morning till night crafting day, with dance music pumping in the background.. Even the 9mo is dancing.
Micah_Mae_ We lost a Redbox DVD and just sent them an email and told them and they charged the cost of the DVD on our credit card. Not ideal, but it did end up costing less than the fines :)
Fines are actually something that I am really focusing on this year. We don't get that many, but they edged up recently and it is one of the kinds of spending that drives me the most crazy!!!
1/22 no spend!
My DD (4) saved me today. I asked her if she wanted to pick up burritos for lunch and she said nah, I just want to eat something at home.
frugal things: I started making some more cloth handkerchiefs. I hung the diapers outside to dry. Before I go to bed tonight I'm hoping to bake some muffins for the kids lunches. Maybe I will start a loaf of bread as well.
However, I splurged at the eye doctor. I could have made do with my 7-year-old glasses, but DH wanted me to get some stylish new ones, and DD10 needed new lenses, so rather than having them inserted into her old frames, I opted to get her new glasses so we could have the old ones as a backup in case of loss or breakage (the prescription change is small enough to make that possible). So I'm not going to consider it a no-spend day, since I did spend more than I really needed to. I really like my new glasses, at least!
I am right there with you. I need new glasses, dh needs them and dd has one pair, but no back up. I keep putting it off, because I know it will be a huge hit of cash. I need to look into on-line places to buy glasses again. I tried it once with Zenni Optical, but my crazy stigmatism makes it tough to get the prescription right.
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