2/10
Groceries $18.98, $18 to file taxes
I mended one of my skirts today.
I filed my taxes and the good news is that we are actually getting a refund.
I was able to work a lot today and my mom babysat for free 
February 11
Unfortunately, dh being down with a bad cold ensures a no-spend today. Tomorrow is grocery day. I've been able to keep grocery days to Tuesdays and Fridays. It can't possibly be that way every week, but I think it's nice to keep out of the stores as much as we can.
= Doin' just fine
= Spoiled no-spend, but necessary
= Unnecessary spending due to poor planning
= No spend
Grocery target= $740
Remaining=$489
I can't have this be a perfect no-spend month. I need these things:
Underwear
Girl Scout dues
4-H publications
Valentine's Day stuff
Gymnastics tuition
Materials for chicken tractors
Camping reservation
Printer ink? Maybe I can make it until March.
Gah! Had to take away my preemptive *sigh*
Key:
No unplanned/unbudgeted spending:
Unbudgeted spending:
Ate at home all day: 
Did something mindfully frugal: 
No-unbudgeted-spending days: 5/15
2/1: Bought lunch for kids at co-op because I didn't leave enough time to pack stuff *sigh*
2/2: Bought snacks and drinks for kids at art class because I didn't leave enough time to pack stuff *sigh*
2/3: Only bought a few groceries and necessary garden supplies (grow light bulbs, seed starting supplies, spring is coming, woohoo!). Funds for both came out of the appropriate budget categories.
2/4:
2/5: Overspent at Whole Foods, though most of it was from stocking up to catch a really good sale and case discount.
2/6:
2/7: Spent the day at home after the sleet and freezing rain canceled our day and evening plans. I did go to the grocery store to buy ingredients for a knock-off of Panera's broccoli cheddar soup (OMW, so good!) and apple crisp, but that's in our grocery budget.
2/8: Spent the day at home, keeping warm and reading while the kids played out in the snow with friends most of the day.
2/9: $15 for our share of a group take-out dinner at a friend's house (but I already had the veggies and brownie mix on hand to make up a veggie tray and dessert, which is a big deal for me!).
2/10: Bought bagels for a sledding party, then Moe's for dinner.
2/11: Bought a Kindle book for DD7 to read for co-op this week (thought we owned it but we don't), and bought a $2 piece of hardware to make my wireless headphones work properly again (I hope!).
2/1: no spend 
2/2: budgeted spending $123 Costco, $50 grocery store, $23 Target
2/3: no spend
2/4: no spend
2/5: no spend
2/6: budgeted spending $3 pitched in to share french fries with friends
2/7: no spend
2/8: no spend
2/9: budgeted spending $50 ink cartridges for printer (ouch!), $56 grocery store
2/10: no spend
2/11: budgeted spending $18 haircut for DD (couldn't take the rat's nest every day anymore!), $7 ibuprofen (needed for my knee--it's killing me to be taking this so much, but it's necessary for me to keep working)
2/11 budgeted spending
Groceries $71.19, Drugstore $42 (medication), amazon $27 (garden tool, washing soda, disposable gloves for my son's school)
frugal things today:
I got a free tube of toothpaste at Rite aid (after rewards and a coupon).
I made chocolate bread pudding from a loaf of homemade gluten free bread that no one liked. It was actually really good! Also, my son can't eat egg yolks so I used just the whites in the bread pudding and saved the yolks to make lemon curd soon.
Another no-spend day here -- schoolwork this morning, play time and then a walk to the playground to see friends.
No spend
Budgeted spend
Unbudgeted Spend
Exercised
February 1 --
February 2 -- groceries and birthday present
February 3 -- more groceries, shower curtain and bathroom scale
February 4 --
February 5 --
February 6 -- field trip to science center
February 7 --
February 8 -- gas and groceries
February 9 --
February 10 -- piece of pipe to finish sink repair
February 11 -- gave dh a haircut
February 12 --
February 13
February 14
February 15 -- $30 night out
My goals:
Save 20% of Feb 1st paycheck -- 15%, heating bill was over-budget
Save 20% of Feb 15th paycheck
Save entire tax return -- done!
Make every dollar matter
No spending 
Budgeted spending 
Did something to save $ or make extra $ 
Hung clothes on the line
February
01 Paid all bills in bill box, should cover the next 2 weeks! (I got paid today! I'm every other week, DH is every week) Need some groceries, going to try to hold off until tomorrow.
02 Bought groceries $141. Spent a little more than I wanted to but it should last us a while. Washed throw rugs & hung out to dry
03 I made a batch of hummus from the chick peas I froze last week. We ate the whole batch with veggies. Then I made a huge pot of chicken stock which I'm freezing for future use. Then I made a huge pot of venison stock, which I turned into minestrone soup for tomorrow night. I also made a batch of chocolate syrup since we were out & dd2 like chocolate milk 1 C water, 1 C cocoa powder, 2 C sugar. Mix water & cocoa powder, until combined, add sugar. Boil for 3 minutes. Cool, store in fridge. Make sure your pot is big enough so it doesn't boil over like mine did!!! I don't want to step foot into the store again for at least another week, so I'm so glad that I remembered that I used to exclusively make my own chocolate syrup years ago so I dug out the recipe.
04
05 The only spending planned for today is paying admission to get into DD's game tonight. I didn't make it to the game because of work. Dh paid to get in & he also picked up a loaf of sourdough from Panera to go with the soup $3.18! Went in to work early, because I have so much to get done.
06 As tempted as I am to go buy apples today I'm holding off (we have 2 left in the house), but we have other fruit! Did taxes, our refund is on the way
07 Paid to do my taxes online using H&R Block, paid we we owe State taxes...
08
09 The storm kept me from going to work, but we didn't spend any money! Shoveled 2 feet of SNOW!!! We need to budget a snow blower, ours crapped out!
10 Went to Aldi spent $37, mostly produce! Feb grocery spending so far... $178! Cooked tonight's dinner & prepped dinner for tomorrow! Made a batch of hummus from frozen chick peas, had some for lunch, will have more for lunches all week. Meal planned for the rest of this week
11 No spend! Brought veggies & hummus to work. Kids had no school, DD texted me at work pics of a brand new snow blower that someone dropped off by our back door. She didn't see who left it...WTH? I knew it was my Dad! He surprised us & bought a top of the line snow blower!!!! OMG this is so amazing! Now we don't have to save up! I feel like we just won the lottery!
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My B-day
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Key
No Spend/ Budgeted Spending
Unbudgeted/ Unnecessary Spending
1. Starting off the month right!! WooHoo!! Still waiting on the new bean 
2. $100 on groceries for Super Bowl and easy food for DH to make when baby comes. Still here, no baby.
3. SNOW!!! 
Not going anywhere today except for DH dropping our trash/ recycling at the collection site. Started cooking DH's food requests for the game later. Want to get 2 loaves of bread going a little later for tomorrow. DH and I will be working in our utility room to set up more shelving and move my canning supplies/ food storage down there.
4. $$ spent at Target and fast food lunch
5. 
DD4 was born this morning 42wks exactly!!
6.
7. Fast food lunch.
8. Take out pizza for dinner.
9.
10.
11.
12. Giving myself a pre-emptive No Spend Day since we're not going anywhere and I have a plan for lunch and dinner.
February's Goals
9/ 20 No Spend Days
DD texted me at work pics of a brand new snow blower that someone dropped off by our back door. She didn't see who left it...WTH? I knew it was my Dad! He surprised us & bought a top of the line snow blower!!!! OMG this is so amazing! Now we don't have to save up! I feel like we just won the lottery!
Wonderful!
11 No spend! Brought veggies & hummus to work. Kids had no school, DD texted me at work pics of a brand new snow blower that someone dropped off by our back door. She didn't see who left it...WTH? I knew it was my Dad! He surprised us & bought a top of the line snow blower!!!! OMG this is so amazing! Now we don't have to save up! I feel like we just won the lottery!
That's so Awesome! have to love surprise like that! We need one bad but are doing the save up thing for next year... our driveway is a sheet of ice now anyways :(
5. DD4 was born this morning 42wks exactly!!
I must have missed this! Congrats!
The month of LOVE! I already know I'm going to have a huge hiccup as our bank is updating their online system over our long weekend (Feb8-12). It's right after the husband gets paid so I'm going to have to be super prepared and this scares me lol we do everything online and I only transfer a small amount at a time! <----- Transferred money this morning... hoping to make it through ;) I know we will as both DH and I transferred more than either of us can spend in a month but it's really shocking to see how much I rely on the the online banking system! <---- we made it, and the system is back up so I can go back to obsessively using it!
Also both the kids need dentist appointments,
and the dog needs to go to the Vet.
Plus I'm going on a 2 day vacation "home" to my dad's retirement party,
oh and it's my birthday this month and Vday. <---- Dh spent money over his allowance but I'm not counting his stuff... I guess its a Vday present for me or maybe a birthday present as well... I don't know. But we usually ask about purchases over $50-100 and this was higher. So I'm just trying to let it go...
= No Spend = Groceries/Gas/Ok spending 
= Unnecessary spending = Exercised = Ate all meals at home 
= Made something new for dinner 
= Spending on Kids 
= Did something Frugal
February
8: $36.87 & $ 14.11
9: $29.32 & $173
10: $ 14.53 a friend cut DH and DD2's hair. She did it for free in trade for a birthday cake I made her daughter in Dec
11: $12.53 & $46.48
12:
13:
14: 
Week Two Feb 8-14 2013 <--- My totals could still change from the weekend as the online banking is still catching up on their posting...
$253.30/$200 week Grocery
$0/$?? week Gas/Car
$14.53/$?? week Stuff
$59/$?? week EatingOut
$0/$?? week Kids
$23/$50 month Dog
No Spend
Budgeted Spend
Unbudgeted Spend 
Meals At Home All Day
Something Frugal For The Day
Sewed For 30 Minutes Or More 
Made/Found Money 
February 1: - Paid $130 phone bill and DH $15 bank credit card bill
- Got $40 refund check - Made reusable Swiffer WetJet pad and no heater use(warm day}
February 2: 
- Stayed home all day! 
- reused salsa jar, no heater use(warm day) and made bread sticks from scratch
February 3: 
- $45.62 for gas - Play date with grandparents and aunties, no heater, made spinach cheese bread this morning! I also got to pick up my serger and the rest of my fabric and patterns to start sewing again!
February 4: 
- Husband used his credit card and spent $20 on his stupid video game. 
- Made toddler skirts for my shop - Reused spray bottle and made natural orange cleaner!
February 5: - McDonald's for DH lunch $9.59 
- Made $11.50 for being a mystery shopper for BestMark and made $20 for selling junk
February 6: - Cut out boy and girl undies patterns
February 7: - Bought household supplies $29.69 but went over budget , Bought pet supplies $6.40 and Bought tax software $35.70 and got a $10 gift card - Made $11.50 for being a mystery shopper for BestMark
February 8: - Paid car payment - Didn't really sew but cut out more patterns - Used redbox code to get a free rental
February 9: - Paid $25 Walmart credit card bill
February 10: - Had to pay for my hyenacart store it's only $5 but forgot to put it in this months budget and spent $4.59 on 1 box of Duraflame logs(we need them for fireplace) - Made $11.50 for being a mystery shopper for Bestmark
February 11: - Dinner at Olive Garden for V-Day, $34.24 - Sensory Playdate and used fireplace
February 12: - Paid Rent $500 and Electricity $113(
it was twice the amount it was last month, must use fireplace instead of heater!!!), Gas $52.25 - Playdate at the mall
My February Goals:
No Spend/Budgeted Days = 9/20
Sewing Days = 3/20
Frugal Days = 7/15
Meals At Home Days = 9/25
Gas = $97.87/$120
11 No spend! Brought veggies & hummus to work. Kids had no school, DD texted me at work pics of a brand new snow blower that someone dropped off by our back door. She didn't see who left it...WTH? I knew it was my Dad! He surprised us & bought a top of the line snow blower!!!! OMG this is so amazing! Now we don't have to save up! I feel like we just won the lottery!
Holy moly, what a sweet gift! Such a dad thing to do
What a spectacular fail of a day. We went out to run errands today and ended up spending like crazy as a result. Some of the things have been needed for awhile and I've just been putting off shopping for them, like bras for DD10 (
); jeans for me (I was down to one pair and discovered yesterday that there was a big hole inside one of the thighs); a new shower curtain (the mold won't wash off the old one anymore); and the new black loafers I've been searching for for months now. Of course, the $9 in library fines, the $13 at Panera, the new laundry hamper for DD7, and the multitude of new, shiny binders for schoolwork were probably not quite necessary. (At least I'll get 100% back in store rewards on the binders in a few weeks.)
So, yeah, bad day, lots of spending. Hopefully the bras and jeans fit when they come, because I'm so tired of shopping for both and not finding what we need!
Key:
No unplanned/unbudgeted spending:
Unbudgeted spending:
Ate at home all day:
Did something mindfully frugal:
No-unbudgeted-spending days: 5/15
2/1: Bought lunch for kids at co-op because I didn't leave enough time to pack stuff *sigh*
2/2: Bought snacks and drinks for kids at art class because I didn't leave enough time to pack stuff *sigh*
2/3: Only bought a few groceries and necessary garden supplies (grow light bulbs, seed starting supplies, spring is coming, woohoo!). Funds for both came out of the appropriate budget categories.
2/4:
2/5: Overspent at Whole Foods, though most of it was from stocking up to catch a really good sale and case discount.
2/6:
2/7: Spent the day at home after the sleet and freezing rain canceled our day and evening plans. I did go to the grocery store to buy ingredients for a knock-off of Panera's broccoli cheddar soup (OMW, so good!) and apple crisp, but that's in our grocery budget.
2/8: Spent the day at home, keeping warm and reading while the kids played out in the snow with friends most of the day.
2/9: $15 for our share of a group take-out dinner at a friend's house (but I already had the veggies and brownie mix on hand to make up a veggie tray and dessert, which is a big deal for me!).
2/10: Bought bagels for a sledding party, then Moe's for dinner.
2/11: Bought a Kindle book for DD7 to read for co-op this week (thought we owned it but we don't), and bought a $2 piece of hardware to make my wireless headphones work properly again (I hope!).
2/12:
February 12
Today should have been errand today, leaving tomorrow a no-spend, but dd2 was too sick to go to class today, and not well enough for more than one errand. I did *not* want to drive nearly an hour, do one errand, discover she's too tired and cranky to have come but still need to take dd1 to gym class, then make the long haul home. So, I promised an extra trip into town tomorrow. They have allowance they want to spend. I have some co-op shopping to do. At least tomorrow we can cut the day short when the going gets tough. Poor girl, she is getting stir crazy. She missed a fun 4-H meeting, a riding lesson *and* gym class! And yesterday, with dh so sick he was unable to entertain her that well.
Anyway, I was really wanting to rack up the no-spend days this month and avoid extraneous trips into town, but I'm feeling like this time it was practically necessary.
We added $2.50 to the FUNfund, an improvement over last week. We've decided to also use the money for arts and craft supplies as well as open gyms and swims, etc.
= Doin' just fine
= Spoiled no-spend, but necessary
= Unnecessary spending due to poor planning
= No spend
Grocery target= $740
Remaining=$450
I can't have this be a perfect no-spend month. I need these things:
Underwear
Girl Scout dues
4-H publications
Valentine's Day stuff
Materials for chicken tractors
Camping reservation
Printer ink? Maybe I can make it until March.
Seeds?
2/1: no spend
2/2: budgeted spending $123 Costco, $50 grocery store, $23 Target
2/3: no spend
2/4: no spend
2/5: no spend
2/6: budgeted spending $3 pitched in to share french fries with friends
2/7: no spend
2/8: no spend
2/9: budgeted spending $50 ink cartridges for printer (ouch!), $56 grocery store
2/10: no spend
2/11: budgeted spending $18 haircut for DD (couldn't take the rat's nest every day anymore!), $7 ibuprofen (needed for my knee--it's killing me to be taking this so much, but it's necessary for me to keep working)
2/12: no spend
Thanks for all the support guys! I know that my Dad is really proud of us for getting the CC debt paid off & I think that was part of him splurging on a snow blower for us.
No spending Budgeted spending 
Not budgeted/went over budget Did something to save $ or make extra $ Hung clothes on the line
February
01 Paid all bills in bill box, should cover the next 2 weeks! (I got paid today! I'm every other week, DH is every week) Need some groceries, going to try to hold off until tomorrow.
02 Bought groceries $141. Spent a little more than I wanted to but it should last us a while. Washed throw rugs & hung out to dry
03 I made a batch of hummus from the chick peas I froze last week. We ate the whole batch with veggies. Then I made a huge pot of chicken stock which I'm freezing for future use. Then I made a huge pot of venison stock, which I turned into minestrone soup for tomorrow night. I also made a batch of chocolate syrup since we were out & dd2 like chocolate milk 1 C water, 1 C cocoa powder, 2 C sugar. Mix water & cocoa powder, until combined, add sugar. Boil for 3 minutes. Cool, store in fridge. Make sure your pot is big enough so it doesn't boil over like mine did!!! I don't want to step foot into the store again for at least another week, so I'm so glad that I remembered that I used to exclusively make my own chocolate syrup years ago so I dug out the recipe.
04
05 The only spending planned for today is paying admission to get into DD's game tonight. I didn't make it to the game because of work. Dh paid to get in & he also picked up a loaf of sourdough from Panera to go with the soup $3.18! Went in to work early, because I have so much to get done.
06 As tempted as I am to go buy apples today I'm holding off (we have 2 left in the house), but we have other fruit! Did taxes, our refund is on the way
07 Paid to do my taxes online using H&R Block, paid we we owe State taxes...
08
09 The storm kept me from going to work, but we didn't spend any money! Shoveled 2 feet of SNOW!!! We need to budget a snow blower, ours crapped out!
10 Went to Aldi spent $37, mostly produce! Feb grocery spending so far... $178! Cooked tonight's dinner & prepped dinner for tomorrow! Made a batch of hummus from frozen chick peas, had some for lunch, will have more for lunches all week. Meal planned for the rest of this week
11 No spend! Brought veggies & hummus to work. Kids had no school, DD texted me at work pics of a brand new snow blower that someone dropped off by our back door. She didn't see who left it...WTH? I knew it was my Dad! He surprised us & bought a top of the line snow blower!!!! OMG this is so amazing! Now we don't have to save up! I feel like we just won the lottery!
12 No spend. I can't believe how many no spend days we've managed so far this month & not a single sad face! This weeks paycheck won't be great for me, because of all the snow days. We made omelettes & home fries for dinner!
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27 My B-day
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Hi - sorry I haven't checked in for a few days. And apparently I need to check in to keep myself accountable!
I haven't spent anything outside of planned expenses, but I have spent more than I'd like, if that makes any sense. And not checking in means that I can't really assign days. Suffice it to say that I'm starting fresh today for the rest of the month. :)
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