~ February No-Spend Challenge ~ Come save with us, Valentines! - Page 11

[fifasmama]

Originally Posted by fifasmama 

2/22 no spend- resisted the coke machone at work.

2/23 no spend

[fifasmama]

Originally Posted by fifasmama 

2/22 no spend- resisted the coke machone at work.

2/23 no spend

[SweetSilver]

February 23 & 24

Stayed home both days.

 = Planned, but painful

 =  Doin' just fine

 =  Spoiled no-spend, but necessary

 = Unnecessary spending due to poor planning

 = No spend

Grocery target= $740

Remaining=$175

 = # of weeks I've hit my target ($166, approximately)

I can't have this be a perfect no-spend month.  I need these things:

Materials for chicken tractors: plastic, boards, pipe, connectors, brooder thermometers, extra heat lamp bulbs

Camping reservation

Seeds: daikon

Printer ink

Photos from camera card

[honeybee80]

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 

2/13: no spend 

2/14: no spend 

2/15: budgeted spending  $40 gas, $5 chai, $25 friend's birthday dinner

2/16: budgeted spending  $51 groceries, $22 gloves, $32 dish rack & typewriter ribbon

2/17: no spend 

2/18: no spend 

2/19: no spend 

2/20: no spend 

2/21: no spend 

2/22: no spend 

2/23: budgeted spending  $64 groceries, $30 market basket I've been wanting for awhile now, $40 HA underwear for DS

2/24: no spend 

Giving myself a slightly premature no spend, but it's a crazy snowy day here, so I'm not planning on going anywhere, which generally means no spending for me.  It's a stay-in-pajamas-all-day kind of day ;)

[AprilMary]

Originally Posted by AprilMary 

Feb 18 - bought 2 coffees on our walk, budgeted from husbands spending $$ :)

Feb 19 - no spend :)

Feb 20 - spent 21.00 doing taxes online, budgeted :)

Feb 21 - actually came under budget on groceries - yay:) Spent $50 on a couple of gifts, detergent and a new book (40% off - yay)  :)

Feb 22 - no spend :)

Feb 23 - spent budgeted spending $$ + 16 extra:(

Feb 24 - spent 30 impulsively on onesies and a few outfits for my little one :( but :) too because I rarely spend $ on her clothes.

[Ruthiegirl]

Whew!   Expensive weekend and my wallet knows it!  We had two showings on Saturday, so we cleaned all morning and went out for lunch.  Sunday was all about housework and groceries.  Feels like I spent money all weekend.  I know it wasn't quite like that, but I am a little overwhelmed at the rising food budget in my house.  With 4 growing kids, we are eating so much more.  We used to have leftovers and those days are gone.  My kids eat everything I make and ask for more.  

  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 --   Valentines and chocolate 

February 13 --  ice cream to make up for a tough day

February 14 --  gas and groceries

February 15 --  night out

February 16 -- 

February 17 --  expensive day!  Lunch and trip to city...$$$

February 18 --  roller skating

February 19 --  groceries 

February 20 --  few household things

February 21 -- 

February 22 --   motor to repair dryer  

February 23 --  lunch out

February 24 --  groceries

February 25 --   

February 26

February 27

February 28

My goals:

Save 20% of Feb 1st  paycheck -- 15%, heating bill was over-budget

Save 20% of Feb 15th paycheck -- 15%

Save entire tax return -- done!

Make every dollar matter

[honeybee80]

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 

2/13: no spend 

2/14: no spend 

2/15: budgeted spending  $40 gas, $5 chai, $25 friend's birthday dinner

2/16: budgeted spending  $51 groceries, $22 gloves, $32 dish rack & typewriter ribbon

2/17: no spend 

2/18: no spend 

2/19: no spend 

2/20: no spend 

2/21: no spend 

2/22: no spend 

2/23: budgeted spending  $64 groceries, $30 market basket I've been wanting for awhile now, $40 HA underwear for DS

2/24: no spend 

2/25: no spend 

[SweetSilver]

February 25

  Decided to add on an open swim to our day, with our riding lesson in the afternoon.  Worked out very nicely and saved us some gas and drive time, the pool is, like everything else, so far from our house.  We had time for a DQ trip (the girls' snack fund being renewed today) and a stop at the library.  DQ $12.  Open swim is $10-- and they are both either underwater, or swimming across the pool!  Yeah for open swim!

 = Planned, but painful

 =  Doin' just fine

 =  Spoiled no-spend, but necessary

 = Unnecessary spending due to poor planning

 = No spend

Grocery target= $740

Remaining=$163

 = # of weeks I've hit my target ($166, approximately)

I can't have this be a perfect no-spend month.  I need these things:

Materials for chicken tractors: plastic, boards, pipe, connectors, brooder thermometers, extra heat lamp bulbs

Camping reservation

Seeds: daikon

Printer ink

Photos from camera card?

[CookiePie]

  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! 

13    Picked up raw milk & oats $10.  Got a couple valentines things at the dollar store $4.25

14    I picked up pizza & salad from our favorite place with gift cards that we got for Christmas and a coupon!   We didn't dine in because of the wait plus tip would have cost us more.  Dh asked me what I wanted & I told him that I didn't want anything.  The thing that would make me happy is if he hung up my bird feeder.  We took it down because the bears were visiting in the summer.  I have been watching my neighbors bird feeder & wishing that we remembered to hang ours back up!  So he did that for me & he also made me a card complete with a sweet poem!  I gave DH a card and made him rum balls. 

15     Fed tax refund posted to our account today!!!   

16     Groceries $132.62  (So far this month I've only spent $320.62 on groceries!) With just over a week left we should be in great shape this month!  Made hummus & chicken stock 

17     Did some CVS-ing for contact solution & TP.  Ordered DD's contact lenses online with coupon code & through Ebates which saved us 50% over what the doc charges.  Picked up Chinese take out

18    Made cauliflower soup & salad topped with hummus and warm whole wheat pitas for a quick dinner

19  Picking up Dd's glasses today with Amazon $ that I got from selling my text books!   Vanguard account is all set up.  They withdrew from my checking instead of savings!  My fault, I forgot to put in the 2 digit code, now my bank is charging me $5 for transferring funds from my other account to cover it   Now my checking account is all messed up & I have to try to sort it out!

20    Filled car with gas.  DD had to have surgery today which wasn't covered by our insurance.  I was expecting to have to pay $600-$800 but the doc is writing off whatever insurance doesn't cover, so if they pay nothing, I still pay nothing!  I didn't ask for a deal or anything turns out the doc is good friends with my boss Got check from Ebates today for $23 from Christmas shopping         If anyone wants to get started with Ebates please PM me!!!  I will give you an invite & we will both get bonus $    

21    Picked up a few things at Aldi, under $20!

22    I grabbed a pizza on my way home from work, we are way under budget for groceries & I was too tired to cook!

23  I worked at my part time job today!

24     Went thrift shopping with Christmas money!  Got $30 worth of groceries at Aldi!

25     Was supposed to have a provided lunch meeting at work, so I didn't bring any lunch.  It was cancelled so I bought lunch $8 (We are still under budget for groceries even with the more than usual take out!  I wrote a check for DD's sport fee $60.

26 

27 My B-day

28

[honeybee80]

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 

2/13: no spend 

2/14: no spend 

2/15: budgeted spending  $40 gas, $5 chai, $25 friend's birthday dinner

2/16: budgeted spending  $51 groceries, $22 gloves, $32 dish rack & typewriter ribbon

2/17: no spend 

2/18: no spend 

2/19: no spend 

2/20: no spend 

2/21: no spend 

2/22: no spend 

2/23: budgeted spending  $64 groceries, $30 market basket I've been wanting for awhile now, $40 HA underwear for DS

2/24: no spend 

2/25: no spend 

2/26: no spend 

Tomorrow will be a spending day.  I need to get skis for my DD and I think I'm going to pick up supplies to start a quilt for my DS, which I've been wanting to do for a long time.  I have cash to cover these purchases, so I will consider them budgeted spending :)

[Ruthiegirl]

I am hanging in there, but limping my way to the end of the month.  I am out of laundry detergent, but well supplied with dirty laundry, so I need to fix that.  No other spending planned.  

  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 --   Valentines and chocolate 

February 13 --  ice cream to make up for a tough day

February 14 --  gas and groceries

February 15 --  night out

February 16 -- 

February 17 --  expensive day!  Lunch and trip to city...$$$

February 18 --  roller skating

February 19 --  groceries 

February 20 --  few household things

February 21 -- 

February 22 --   motor to repair dryer  

February 23 --  lunch out

February 24 --  groceries

February 25 --   

February 26 -- 

February 27 --  

February 28

My goals:

Save 20% of Feb 1st  paycheck -- 15%, heating bill was over-budget

Save 20% of Feb 15th paycheck -- 15%

Save entire tax return -- done!

Make every dollar matter

[AprilMary]

Originally Posted by AprilMary 

Feb 22 - no spend :)

Feb 23 - spent budgeted spending $$ + 16 extra:(

Feb 24 - spent 30 impulsively on onesies and a few outfits for my little one :( but :) too because I rarely spend $ on her clothes.

Feb 25 - no spend 

Feb 26 - $25 from grocery budget 

Feb 27 - preemptive no spend for today- lots of snow so staying home and making soup 

Feb 28 - posting ahead of time because I know today will be a budget-busting day, going to buy my daughter a swim outfit and hitting up a 75% off sale at our local recycled kids store - yay!

[SweetSilver]

February 26

  Oooooh I think I'm gonna make my weekly grocery target again this week!  Which means I'm gonna make my monthly target for the month!!!  I've been trying for months and months and finally, I think due to diligence on my part, and the girls being so patient with all of mamas schemes for "finding" money in the budget.  Spent $99 today, leaving us with about $30 or so for the rest of the week..... and I honestly think I can do this!  If I can't it will be amazingly close.  Azure Standard delivery also came in yesterday morning, adding about $19 to the week's bill, leaving March with under $90 to be added to that month's accounting.  Wow!  I just added the bill to my totals down below.... is that right???  WOOO HOOO!!  

 = Planned, but painful

 =  Doin' just fine

 =  Spoiled no-spend, but necessary

 = Unnecessary spending due to poor planning

 = No spend

Grocery target= $740

Remaining=$55

 = # of weeks I've hit my target ($166, approximately)

I can't have this be a perfect no-spend month.  I need these things:

Materials for chicken tractors: plastic, boards, pipe, connectors, brooder thermometers, extra heat lamp bulbs

Camping reservation

Seeds: daikon

Printer ink

Photos from camera card?

[SweetSilver]

Crunchy*VT*mom hasn't been online for a couple of weeks now.  I hope all is well!

Is someone else going to fire up the March thread?

[honeybee80]

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 

2/13: no spend 

2/14: no spend 

2/15: budgeted spending  $40 gas, $5 chai, $25 friend's birthday dinner

2/16: budgeted spending  $51 groceries, $22 gloves, $32 dish rack & typewriter ribbon

2/17: no spend 

2/18: no spend 

2/19: no spend 

2/20: no spend 

2/21: no spend 

2/22: no spend 

2/23: budgeted spending  $64 groceries, $30 market basket I've been wanting for awhile now, $40 HA underwear for DS

2/24: no spend 

2/25: no spend 

2/26: no spend 

2/27: budgeted spending  $69 skis for DD, $58 fabric & yarn, $20 gas

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

Crunchy*VT*mom hasn't been online for a couple of weeks now.  I hope all is well!

Is someone else going to fire up the March thread?

I started one!  March is a huge, HUGE month for me and I a have big plans for savings and some spending and a lot of budgeting.  

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1375579/march-no-spend-challenge-budgeting-our-way-to-a-pot-of-gold

[FillingMyQuiver]

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.

13.

14.

15.   Take out pizza for dinner

16.   $20 for a haircut for DH (I usually cut his hair but it just didn't work out this time) $42 on bread & cold cuts for lunch

17.   Fast food for dinner, overspent slightly on grocery budget

18. Starbucks coffee

19. 3 puking kids

20. 1 puking kid, 2 recovering kids

21.

22.

23.   pizza delivery for dinner

24.

25.

26. bought a food allergy bracelet for DS2 on zulily

27.

28.

February's Goals

19/ 20 No Spend Days

So close to goal!!  It's okay.  Hopefully March will be a better month!

[Ruthiegirl]

Paid the library fines today.  Not a terrible end to the month.  It was a tough February!  This month always reminds me that I don't like February.  It is cold and windy and dreary out and I have no motivation to do anything.  I feel lucky that I got through the month with only a few hits against bank account.  It could have been so much worse.  On to March!

  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 --   Valentines and chocolate 

February 13 --  ice cream to make up for a tough day

February 14 --  gas and groceries

February 15 --  night out

February 16 -- 

February 17 --  expensive day!  Lunch and trip to city...$$$

February 18 --  roller skating

February 19 --  groceries 

February 20 --  few household things

February 21 -- 

February 22 --   motor to repair dryer  

February 23 --  lunch out

February 24 --  groceries

February 25 --   

February 26 -- 

February 27 --  

February 28 --  library fines

My goals:

Save 20% of Feb 1st  paycheck -- 15%, heating bill was over-budget

Save 20% of Feb 15th paycheck -- 15%

Save entire tax return -- done!

Make every dollar matter

[SweetSilver]

February 27

 No spend

February 28

  DH is bring over a handful of groceries today.  So happy with how we handled the groceries, especially since last month exceeded $1300 after being within reason for months.  Since the 4 weeks I'm counting ends March 3rd, I will update the totals there.  

Made camping reservations at the beach for August.

 = Planned, but painful

 =  Doin' just fine

 =  Spoiled no-spend, but necessary

 = Unnecessary spending due to poor planning

 = No spend

Grocery target= $740

Remaining=$55

 = # of weeks I've hit my target ($166, approximately)

I can't have this be a perfect no-spend month.  I need these things:

Materials for chicken tractors: plastic, boards, pipe, connectors, brooder thermometers, extra heat lamp bulbs

Camping reservation

Seeds: daikon

Printer ink

Photos from camera card?

Edited by SweetSilver - 2/28/13 at 12:00pm

[SweetSilver]

All in all I did really well this month.  Let's see about March now!  Hopefully this streak of good work isn't just a fluke.

Ciao, ladies!