~ March No-Spend Challenge ~ Budgeting our way to a pot of gold! - Page 2

[honeybee80]

3/1: no spend 

[micah_mae_]

Key:

No Spend/Paying Bills 

Budgeted Spend 

Unbudgeted Spend 

Did Something Frugal at Home 

So we are paid biweekly, I'm going to split my goals up. 

**2/7 No Spend/Budgeted Spend Days**

**$60/$60 Grocery/Diaper Budget**

**$110/$180 Gas**

February 28:  I paid our car payment ($417) and insurance ($99), hopefully our rent payment goes through (first time paying it from our bank instead of through the realty company, we'll see..$675) and I'll be paying water (~$75?)

March 1:  Carpet cleaning for the old house ($125). 

March 2:

March 3:

March 4:

March 5:

March 6:

March 7:

March 8:

March 9:

March 10:

March 11:

March 12:

March 13:

**0/8 No Spend/Budgeted Spend Days**

**0/$280 Grocery/Diaper Budget**

**0/$150 Gas**

March 14:

March 15:

March 16:

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March 19:

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March 28:

[Natalie12]

3/1 No spend!

3/2- I know that there will be some spending today, because I'm taking dd and her friend to the movies today and to lunch. I'm estimating $30.00, but let's see how close I come to that!
 

[AprilMary]

Hi I'm Jennifer, currently on mat leave with my beautiful daughter. I participated last month in the no spend challenge and it was a great way to track my family's spending. We're going on a vacation at the end of this month so I want to make sure we stay on track.

We're going to eliminate our weekly spending $$ this month because lately we spend it only on special food/takeout and if we haven't spent it by the end of the week I feel like we should and make a not so good food choice. We'll see how it plays out.

 = no spend / budgeted 

 = spend / unbudgeted 

= stayed within grocery budget

March 1 

March 2 going out with my Mom and daughter today, likely a little  but we'll see..... Ended up spending 30, bought 5 pairs of dress pants at thrift store, a mattress cover and a cantaloupe. 

March 3 big time spend day, bought 2 new pairs of pants, lunch out, Starbucks, husband got a new coat, sweater book and DVD. What a day, we have decided that we are definitely not spending anymore this month until vacation. Other than grocery budget of course. Everything we bought was on sale today which was nice. Spent about 225.

March 4 

March 5  spent $8 grocery budget

March 6  spent $4 on coffee (gift card)

March 7

March 8

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March 30

March 31 vacation

Edited by AprilMary - 3/7/13 at 4:40am

[Ruthiegirl]

Should be a no spend day here.   We have play time scheduled with friends and dinner is prepped.  

Frugal acts today:

I gave ds a haircut this morning -- that saved me $20!  After paying for 4 (!) haircuts in January, I am committed to doing them at home.  It is so expensive and the kids never like their haircuts from the barber.  When I do them at home, I leave it a little longer, which they like.  

And I made baked oatmeal for breakfast.  Where have I been hiding that I didn't know about baked oatmeal?!?  It was so easy and warm and filling and wonderful on a cold, wet morning.  So good.  And cheap!!!

  No spend/Budgeted spend

   Unbudgeted Spend

Save 30% of paycheck -- done!

Groceries -- $127/$300

Gas -- $60/$60 for van, $45 for car

March 1 --   groceries, gas, bills, and socks

March 2 --   

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7   

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11 

March 12

March 13

March 14

[micah_mae_]

Key:

No Spend/Paying Bills 

Budgeted Spend 

Unbudgeted Spend 

Did Something Frugal at Home 

So we are paid biweekly, I'm going to split my goals up. 

**3/7 No Spend/Budgeted Spend Days**

**$60/$60 Grocery/Diaper Budget**

**$110/$170 Gas**

February 28:  I paid our car payment ($417) and insurance ($99), hopefully our rent payment goes through (first time paying it from our bank instead of through the realty company, we'll see..$675) and I'll be paying water (~$75?)

March 1:  Carpet cleaning for the old house ($125). 

March 2: 

March 3:

March 4:

March 5:

March 6:

March 7:

March 8:

March 9:

March 10:

March 11:

March 12:

March 13:

**0/8 No Spend/Budgeted Spend Days**

**0/$280 Grocery/Diaper Budget**

**0/$150 Gas**

March 14:

March 15:

March 16:

March 17:

March 18:

March 19:

March 20:

March 21:

March 22:

March 23:

March 24:

March 25:

March 26:

March 27:

March 28:

[honeybee80]

3/1: no spend 

3/2: budgeted spending  $8 coffee & tylenol

[SweetSilver]

March 2

 Spent $18 at a roller skating party.  What fun!  Came out of the Family FUNfund, funded by what is leftover from the girls' snack-and-treat budget, saving dh's change, and now........drumroll..... being UNDERBUDGET on our groceries.  I recalculated from my actual recording, so my ending total is a few dollars more, but we did it!!!!  We finally made our target!!!!  WOOO HOOOOO!!! 

March 3

 Staying home, no spend.

= No spend

 = Doin' just fine

 = planned but painful

Grocery target= $740

Remaining=$6 ................AND THAT'S IT!  WE DID IT!

 = # of weeks out of 4 that I've hit my target ($166, approximately)

I need these things this month:

CHICKS AND DUCKLINGS!!!!! 

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

Seeds: daikon

Photos from camera card

Herb starts, etc. for garden

Deposit for Girl Scout day camp (hopefully this will be waived with financial aid)

More pants for dd1

Materials to make dd1's dress design?

More 4-H publications

[Natalie12]

3/2 A very spendy day, but that's ok because it was budgeted and planned. $35.00 lunch for the little girls and I.

$17.50 for movie tickets.

$35.00 for my niece's birthday gift.

$1.00 for a song on itunes.
 

[MaryElizabeth]

Hello all :) I admit to not having been active on here for almost a year! --- eek!

I am a Stay at home---Work from home---Photographer mommy :) My hubby just left for a 6 month deployment so I have taken time off from working to stay home with our 2 littles ---

3 yr old daughterand 1.5 yr old son

We are pretty well off financially --- when I keep myself in check! We bring in a good salary and then are able to supplement it even more with my business. We are set with savings and the only debt we have is our mortgages. We own two homes and rent one to cover expenses.

My goals are to

Set up better retirement contributions

Be faithful in tithing

Only spend what is allocated for that category

* I am working on getting the house "decorated" and put together. We moved in a year ago and I still have unpacked boxes!

March 2013

1- Set up tithe!

    Called to get better deal on insurance.

   Cancelled several memberships that were simply $$ suckers.

   Listed extra furniture for sale.

   Booked anniversary vacation 1/2 of $ already saved

2- no spending!

3-no spending!

4-Costco - $250.00 (here's to hoping it will last me for at least 6 weeks!)

5- 9-- Mom and Grandma visited. Way too much shopping/eating out. Going to go through everything and have a big returning trip .

        Vow to not spend more than $50 on food for the remainder of March!

Edited by MaryElizabeth - 3/9/13 at 7:01am

[CookiePie]

  No spending      Budgeted spending    Not budgeted/went over budget    Did something to save $ or make extra $       Hung clothes out

    MARCH   

01  

02    Grocery shopped

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

[micah_mae_]

Key:

No Spend/Paying Bills 

Budgeted Spend 

Unbudgeted Spend 

Did Something Frugal at Home 

So we are paid biweekly, I'm going to split my goals up. 

**3/7 No Spend/Budgeted Spend Days**

**$65/$60 Grocery/Diaper Budget**

**$110/$170 Gas**

February 28:  I paid our car payment ($417) and insurance ($99), hopefully our rent payment goes through (first time paying it from our bank instead of through the realty company, we'll see..$675) and I'll be paying water (~$75?)

March 1:  Carpet cleaning for the old house ($125). 

March 2:  Had to send DH to the store for potatoes (I made a roast and when I went to make the potatoes realized they had gone bad :( ). Although that looks like a lot for 5 potatoes so I'm wondering if he got something else as well. I'll have to ask him. ($4.56).

March 3:

March 4:

March 5:

March 6:

March 7:

March 8:

March 9:

March 10:

March 11:

March 12:

March 13:

**0/8 No Spend/Budgeted Spend Days**

**0/$280 Grocery/Diaper Budget**

**0/$150 Gas**

March 14:

March 15:

March 16:

March 17:

March 18:

March 19:

March 20:

March 21:

March 22:

March 23:

March 24:

March 25:

March 26:

March 27:

March 28:

[Ruthiegirl]

Another no-spend day here.  Quiet weekend at home.  

  No spend/Budgeted spend

   Unbudgeted Spend

Save 30% of paycheck -- done!

Groceries -- $127/$300

Gas -- $60/$60 for van, $45 for car

March 1 --   groceries, gas, bills, and socks

March 2 --   

March 3 -- 

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7   

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11 

March 12

March 13

March 14

[honeybee80]

3/1: no spend 

3/2: budgeted spending  $8 coffee & tylenol

3/3: budgeted spending  $30 subscription to Taproot magazine

[micah_mae_]

Key:

No Spend/Paying Bills 

Budgeted Spend 

Unbudgeted Spend 

Did Something Frugal at Home 

So we are paid biweekly, I'm going to split my goals up. 

**3/7 No Spend/Budgeted Spend Days**

**$73/$60 Grocery/Diaper Budget**

**$110/$170 Gas**

February 28:  I paid our car payment ($417) and insurance ($99), hopefully our rent payment goes through (first time paying it from our bank instead of through the realty company, we'll see..$675) and I'll be paying water (~$75?)

March 1:  Carpet cleaning for the old house ($125). 

March 2:  Had to send DH to the store for potatoes (I made a roast and when I went to make the potatoes realized they had gone bad :( ). Although that looks like a lot for 5 potatoes so I'm wondering if he got something else as well. I'll have to ask him. ($4.56).

March 3:  My mom and grandma met us to trade the kids back (they took them for the weekend so I could rest), they sent us home with dinner, scones and filled us up on gas! Oh and another season of Big Bang Theory because I mentioned I wanted to borrow it from my brother (mom decided buying it would be easier). :D I'm so blessed.

March 4:  Probably going to have to get groceries today even though we are out of money. ($8)

March 5:

March 6:

March 7:

March 8:

March 9:

March 10:

March 11:

March 12:

March 13:

**0/8 No Spend/Budgeted Spend Days**

**0/$280 Grocery/Diaper Budget**

**0/$150 Gas**

March 14:

March 15:

March 16:

March 17:

March 18:

March 19:

March 20:

March 21:

March 22:

March 23:

March 24:

March 25:

March 26:

March 27:

March 28:

Edited by micah_mae_ - 3/4/13 at 9:01am

[MonkeyPrincess]

I'm here to keep myself accountable for some very much anticipated allotted spending.  As well as to help me maintain my monthly budget from now on, now that we are finally in a position to actually HAVE a budget again!

I'm also looking for some suggestions, if anyone has any, on some budgeting tools. I'd love for my husband and I to both have access (an app on our phones, perhaps?) to track our spending, but linked  together so we can each see what's going on. 

Going to check the last few days, and come back with an update. 

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by MonkeyPrincess 

I'm also looking for some suggestions, if anyone has any, on some budgeting tools. I'd love for my husband and I to both have access (an app on our phones, perhaps?) to track our spending, but linked  together so we can each see what's going on. 

I have heard good things about Simple  https://www.simple.com/

I don't have a smart phone, so I have not tried it, but the reviews have been favorable.   

[Ruthiegirl]

No spend day here again.  Goodness, it will be a no-spend week.  The heating bill came it over budget again.  It has been crazy cold and windy lately, so no shock that we are paying more for heat this winter.   And my dh is traveling for work this week and needed cash for the trip.  All told, I have grocery money and $69 till our next pay day in 11 days.  Not horrific, just tight.  

I really want to increase our savings rate.  I set aside 30% of last week's paycheck, which leaves us with enough cash, but not a lot.  I am trying to be super optimistic about our choice to save more.  I know it will be beneficial for us in the long run, but it is a bit of a squeeze.  This needs to be the new normal for us though.   We have lived without enough savings for much too long.  

  No spend/Budgeted spend

   Unbudgeted Spend

Save 30% of paycheck -- done!

Groceries -- $127/$300

Gas -- $60/$60 for van, $45 for car

March 1 --   groceries, gas, bills, and socks

March 2 --   

March 3 -- 

March 4 --   heating bill

March 5

March 6

March 7   

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11 

March 12

March 13

March 14

[Natalie12]

3/3 $188.18 on groceries

$8.00 to wash the car

3/4 no spend!
 

[SweetSilver]

March 4

 Grocery shopping.  Began a new 4-week period (today through 3/31), again with a target of $740.  Less the Azure order ($86 for March), that leaves approximately $164 per week.  That includes normal eating out, coffee stand stops, etc.  Does not include food for special events.  

Made day camp reservations for the girls, $50.  Financial assistance will not cover that portion, but that's alright.  I was just hoping......

= No spend

 = Doin' just fine

 = planned but painful

Grocery target= $740

Remaining= $598

I need these things this month:

CHICKS AND DUCKLINGS!!!!! 

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

Seeds: daikon

Photos from camera card

Herb starts, etc. for garden

Deposit for Girl Scout day camp 

More pants for dd1?

Materials to make dd1's dress design?

More 4-H publications