~ February No-Spend Challenge ~ Come save with us, Valentines! - Page 5

[melissel]

I overspent at Whole Foods yesterday, though most of it was from stocking up to catch a really good sale and case discount. I'll stretch the overage over the next few pay periods and pay off the "debt" that way. I also agreed to get their really good seafood soups for a takeout lunch because the kids chipped in for it, but still, it was money I didn't need to spend. I also picked up some more leggings for my oldest, who's between sizes in her favorite yoga pants right now, so leggings are working best for pretty much everything. My intentionally frugal activities were that I combined several errands into one, even though I really didn't want to, and I held off from buying gifts unnecessarily (party guilt!) for a "no gifts" party.

Today was a no-spend, eat-at-home day, though I didn't manage a frugal activity (I did make bone broth though!). 

Tomorrow we'll need to go to Michael's to buy supplies for co-op Valentines and a crafting party, but the kids have gift cards, and with some proper planning, I'll avoid having to buy snacks during the long drive to our outing. 

Key: 

No unplanned/unbudgeted spending: 

Unbudgeted spending: 

Ate at home all day: 

Did something mindfully frugal: 

No-unbudgeted-spending days: 3/15

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:

2/8: 

2/9: 

2/10: 

[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. 

I did get a free dinner and glass of wine, though, tonight!  My friends' band is in town and I ate dinner with them and then got to see them play for a little bit.  They are staying with me tonight (which saves them a bunch of money), so we usually do a trade where I get to go to their shows for free (and sometimes get drinks, too!)  Works out great! :)

Tomorrow and Friday should be no spend days for me, I think.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

My goal = 15 no-spend days

My progress = 4 no spend days so far

01 

02  $71 Valentine's stuff for the kids

03 

04 

05  $25 dinner out with friends

06 

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Last post from Jenn was three days ago. 

I think she's snuggling a baby. 

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Last post from Jenn was three days ago. 

I think she's snuggling a baby. 

[melissel]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Last post from Jenn was three days ago. 

I think she's snuggling a baby. 

[Ruthiegirl]

Signing in early to keep myself motivated.  We are doing schoolwork, housework, cleaning the garage some more and I am headed to a body pump class tonight.  No spending, no driving, eating at home.  

  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

February 9

February 10

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

Edited by Ruthiegirl - 2/8/13 at 6:34am

[sexysisam]

Such a great thread. So many good ideas. I love the idea of intentionally doing something frugal every day.

I am Mimi, sahm to 3 kids with another one coming in May/June. I already did my big monthly shop ($300) so all I have for the rest of the month is my Azure Standard pick up on Monday, fondue stuff to get for V-day, raw milk from the farm, and prob some buckwheat for making waffles. I find it best if I just stay OUT of stores so I've started doing all my grocery shopping at the beginning of the month. We are gluten free so that makes no eating out pretty easy for us.

My biggest obstacle is having NO willpower at all. We put almost $2000 on our overdraft credit card (linked to our checking account) the last month and a half. So my goals are paying THAT off. Sticking to my budget and keeping it up to date. And paying for our birth center birth. ETA: dang, I forgot about our 1/2 cow we bought that is coming this month $$$. I also like the idea of doing something intentionally frugal every day and sewing for 30 minutes each day, except weekends probably. So here we go!

7.
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11. Azure standard pick up
12.
13. Get fondue stuff for vday
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Edited by sexysisam - 2/7/13 at 6:57am

[SweetSilver]

February 7

Would have been a no-spend, but I needed those 4-H publications.  I think $9 out of the $30 I spent was shipping.  

 =  Doin' just fine

 =  Spoiled no-spend, but necessary

 = Unnecessary spending due to poor planning

 = No spend

Grocery target= $740

Remaining=$549

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

Underwear

Girl Scout dues

4-H publications

Materials for chicken tractors

Camping reservation

Seeds and starts for the garden

Gymnastics tuition

Valentine's Day stuff

Printer ink

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom 

Last post from Jenn was three days ago. 

I think she's snuggling a baby. 

  

[meandk0610]

a. Who you are:  sarah, mom to dd(7). we homeschool and i work PT as director for a local after school child care program where i can take my daughter. we're homesteading too!

b. Where you are going (your financial goals) and:  working on trying to stay current. i don't get paid when school is out so i'll have to keep the budget super tight due to time off for christmas/new year's break. it's already hand-to-mouth pretty much here so i'm not sure what's going to be able to bend.

c. How you plan to get there:  i already track everything. i have started rack drying as much as possible. i'm trying to do a load a day so that i don't get buried and too tempted to use the dryer. i'm drying things in the living room to help with humidity in the house (plus the fireplace is in the LR). the heat is down to 64 and i've been using the fireplace like crazy while we've been off work during break. i had several days where i only heard the house heater on about 3 times during the day because the fireplace had it so warm. i guess i may end up paying for it in wood if i can't find a way to find more free. we have a heater in the bedroom (i share with dd) that we'll put on 68 when we got to bed i tried putting this on 67 but i'm just too cold (i have fibromyalgia and adrenal fatigue). i started bringing a hot water bottle to bed also. ooh, i also cancelled netfli this month; we don't have any other tv except dvds.

key:

no spend-     

budgeted spend-       

over budget or not budgeted-   

hung clothes on line-

used fireplace at least part of day

2/1:

2/2: Had to buy lunch out due to not cooking and packing enough for our weekend trip.

2/3:

2/4:

2/5: Not sure what to put here. Had to take car to get bumper fixed after being rear-ended. They're covering everything but I had to pay the gas to go back and forth about 70 miles round trip because we don't live closer to a State Farm body shop.

2/6:

2/7:  

[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.

February's Goals

5/ 20 No Spend Days

I'll check-in in a few days and update.  Lots of newborn snuggles going on here   Thanks for all the commiseration, encouragement, and support, Mamas!!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Congratulations Mama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wildmonkeys]

Hi everyone, I haven't been on here and I am doing terrible in the spending department.  Last week my dog (who was 14 but VERY healthy) laid down after a perfectly normal walk and was never able to get up again.  He was always afraid of the car and the vet so we paid extra to have the vet come here and she put him down at the house (which was much more peaceful, but very expensive).

Then the entire family was so sad - we did a few things to cheer ourselves up over the weekend that were also not free.

I am going to try to get back on track, but I have to be honest - the dog has wiped me out more than I expected...I am having difficulty getting motivated about much of anything.

Edited by wildmonkeys - 2/7/13 at 12:09pm

[LoveOurBabies]

Originally Posted by wildmonkeys 

Hi everyone, I haven't been on here and I am doing terrible in the spending department.  Last week my dog (who was 14 but VERY healthy) laid down after a perfectly normal walk and was never able to get up again.  He was always afraid of the car and the vet so we paid extra to have the vet come here and she put him down at the house (which was much more peaceful, but very expensive).

Then the entire family was so sad - we did a few things to cheer ourselves up over the weekend that were also not free.

I am going to try to get back on track, but I have to be honest - the dog has wiped me out more than I expected...I am having difficulty getting motivated about much of anything.

Oh my gosh I am so, so sorry mama I wish I could give you a hug!

[Sdelgadillo389]

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

My February Goals:

No Spend/Budgeted Days = 5/20
Sewing Days = 2/20
Frugal Days = 4/15
Meals At Home Days = 6/25

Gas = $45.62/$120

[Sdelgadillo389]

Originally Posted by wildmonkeys 

Hi everyone, I haven't been on here and I am doing terrible in the spending department.  Last week my dog (who was 14 but VERY healthy) laid down after a perfectly normal walk and was never able to get up again.  He was always afraid of the car and the vet so we paid extra to have the vet come here and she put him down at the house (which was much more peaceful, but very expensive).

Then the entire family was so sad - we did a few things to cheer ourselves up over the weekend that were also not free.

I am going to try to get back on track, but I have to be honest - the dog has wiped me out more than I expected...I am having difficulty getting motivated about much of anything.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

[honeybee80]

Congrats, Jenn!! :)

And wildmonkeys, SO sorry to hear about your dog :(

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 

Almost stopped at Whole Foods on my way home from work to get cookies that I shouldn't eat anyway (I've totally been cheating on the GF thing and I need to get back on track!), but decided if I really want those cookies, I can make them at home.  I need to figure out some kind of good sweet (and cheap!) GF treat that I can make at home!

ETA:  OMG I found the most amazing GF snickerdoodle recipe!!  Super easy too!  http://urbanposer.blogspot.com/2012/06/snickerdoodle-cookies.html

Edited by honeybee80 - 2/7/13 at 7:21pm

[CookiePie]

HAPPY BABY-MOON JENN!!!!!!!!!  

[JunebugsMom]

2/7

 $2.45 for an ice cream bar for DD

Frugal things: took the kids to free yoga at the library.  Made a very frugal dinner (mashed potato-lentil bake and kale chips).  Used the crockpot to cook some dried chickpeas that have been in the pantry for a while.  I will use them for 1 or 2 meals and if there are any leftovers I will freeze them.

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by FillingMyQuiver 

5.    DD4 was born this morning   42wks exactly!!

Congratulations!!!!!!    So happy for you!!!!!!!            Enjoy your new baby snuggles!