August No-Spend Challenge -- Congratulations no-spenders!!!! You made it to the end! - Page 3

[MeganW]

I'm Megan WOHM to Prue 2.5 and Asher 6weeks. DH is a SAHD but does some little side work here and there. (sometimes it covers his cs sometimes not)

I'd like to have a little padding in the bank and I'd also like to save some money for Me. I've spent the last 3 yrs buying and doing everything for everyone else and well I feel like it's my turn.

I know that last month we spent about $500 at our fav restaurant. : and who knows what we spent at other places sooo my goals for this month include

reducing the amount we eat out to maybe 1x per week.
Not buying dd any *junk* (we always end up with something) and next month is her bday.

On paper I make enough to take care of a lot more than I do soo I really need to get a handle on where it's all going. I come from a long line of packrats and tend to think I NEED things that I don't really need so hopefully checking in here daily will keep me from needing as much.
also I'm going to try NOT to use my cc's.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Tomorrow is the big day...are you ready?

Freeze those credit cards, take your cash out of your purse, lock away that checkbook, erase your paypal password...

It is time to SAVE YOUR MONEY.

[MeganW]

Ok can I start?

I have a question first....Um I have access to accounts that I don't have to pay back do I need to include that spending?

Right now I'm contemplating whether I need to purchase a couple more nursing bras and tops. I have one of each. Also if I should buy two sets of new flanges for my pump or just the bigger hard ones? And if I should spend the money on new clothes while I'm struggling to lose weight or just suffer through the next few weeks till it's time to buy fall clothes and see if I've lost anything by then?


I'm sure I'll be back with some sort of shopping confession tomorrow.

[doublesnap]

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.

I'm Jenny, SAHM to 6 month old Nicolas and partner of a wonderful man who works FT and attends university.

2. Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of August. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.

I'm a SAHM and we're living on 1 income so that I can best take care of our little one. We also want to save up and move out of our apartment into a home so that Nic can one day play in his own backyard.

3. No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?

I started this challenge in July and I'm going to continue working with the same plan -- Minimize eating out as much as possible, buy in bulk at Costco whenever possible, obtain baby items from Freecycle/Craigslist/Friends, and sell items no longer needed or donate to Freecycle.

YAY for August.

[Sol_Solved]

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.
Hi! I'm Sol, I live in Seattle. My DH is a grad student and I can't work because of my visa, so we need to be really careful with money.

2. Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of August. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.

We don't have any debt, but we're moving across country in November and travelling to Greece in October and we were really dipping into our savings for unnecessary things. I started tracking and adjusting our budget 2 weeks ago, and even though there were many unexpected expenses, the particular categories I was keeping an eye on did really well.

3. No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?

• I alloted myself a $50 biweekly allowance in cash, that I can spend however I like, but that includes absolutely anything I purchase during those 15 days, be it lunch on the run, clothes or bandaids. No more swiping the debit card! Whatever is left after those two weeks, I get to save or keep for emergencies (e.g., taxi money)
• $100 biweekly go for the grocery store, and we really need to stick to going only on Saturdays and stretching things on Thursdays and Fridays instead of buying more. I'm doing great at this lately, I buy only organic produce and non-processed foods to avoid going over $50. I'm pretty sure it's helping my diet at the same time.
• $50 biweekly to eat out and go to the movies, and anything else DH might spend on. I don't track or limit his spending, he's frugal naturally We've been going to free movie screenings instead of paying for the movie and that has helped a lot. Tomorrow we'll see Becoming Jane.
• I have lots of things to sell on ebay (including my wedding gown!) but I can't seem to get started. I would like to list at least one item this month.

Right now I just feel that even if I manage to stick to this plan there will be lots of expenses out of my control (medical bills, utilities I forgot about, expenses related to the upcoming trip, etc.) that will make it not worth it. But I will just continue tracking only my personal expenses, our grocery bill and our entertainment money because that's the only thing I can actually change.

[Om Girl]

Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.
Hi, I'm Summer and I have a 16 mo DD. I SAH and WOH 2 evenings/week, 1 weekend/month. DP works on a comission basis so my job is a necessity ATM. July No-Spend was kinda a bust, so August will definately be better!

Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of August. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.

• Buying our first home
• Starting a savings account
• Creating an EMERGENCY fund

No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?

• Create a budget
• Utilize our joint checking account so that we're both held accountable for purchases
• Utilize the 3 day wait period for big purchases
• FIRST put money in savings, NEXT in Emergecy Fund, NEXT pay bills and finally divide out cash to respective envelopes
• AVOID SHOPPING OUT OF BOREDOM...

[Ruthiegirl]

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.

Amy, SAHM mom to 2 kiddos. Pregnant with #3.


2. Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of August. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.


Minivan! We are in need of a bigger car and want to eliminate our home equity loan in the next 2 months before we buy a used van. We have some big payments to make!


3. No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?

I will need to spend a little. My son needs pants, but I hope to make some for him. He is a weird size and I have neen unable to find anything for him. So, I'll need a bit of fabric, but will look for it used. I may even have some in my sewing stash.

We start our homeschooling year soon. Most of what we need is bought, but we will have some postage to cover in August.

We are very good with our budget and I don't see too many pitfalls this month. Dh will be on a ship for 3 weeks and will have no access to money of any kind, so that makes it easier for me.

Okay, I am so glad to be starting a new month. July was very expensive for us -- we had to pay for a new sidewalk and that ate up our savings. :

[Hollysmom]

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.

My name is Kristine and I am Mom to two girls with another surprise on the way in January. I work outside the home, but will going on maternity leave in January and will be off for a year.

2. Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of August. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.

Well, I bombed out in July mainly due to ongoing all day sickness. I spent WAY too much on food because I really couldn't plan what I was going to eat. Now that August is here I am hoping to be feeling better and therefore bring my lunch to work pretty much everyday. We also have some debt that we seriously need to get rid of if I am going to be off again.

3. No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?

a) Stick to our new budget
b) no online shopping
c) no new co-ops (I am addicted)

[loitering]

I'm so NOT READY! I mean, technically I'm prepared, but I feel so weak right now. I do have a few projects planned over the month that will take some time, effort, and careful shopping, so hopefully those will get me through my shopping withdrawl. I'm going to:
-decorate my living room
-set up a little garden in my front yard
-go camping

None of these should be very expensive, but they will take some thought. I've never actually decorated a room with a colour scheme, etc, so it'll be fun.

Today I went to get laundry detergent, TP, and all that and somehow came out spending $65..it's a good thing that today's the last day of July!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Megan -- Clothes are a necessity. Unless you have a closet full of them and you are going to add your eighth Prada bag...then they are not so necessary and that Prada bag would need to be recorded here.

But you need to get out and get yourself some nice looking summer clothes that fit. AND buy yourself some more nursing bras. AND both sets of flanges. Isn't one of your goals to have more money to spend on yourself?

Save in other areas -- but don't dress in unattractive clothing while you wait to lose weight. Nice clothing will HELP you want to lose weight.

Sol Solved -- I think you have the right attitude. Expenses that are out of your control are out of your control. Don't worry about those. I wouldn't record them. Just what you can control and what you know you shouldn't have spent money on. You can do this!

[MeganW]

Prudence,
thanks for the reply. you are the only person I've met with dd's name.

Yes my goals are me. I feel bad buying things for ME. DH wears true religions ds and dd gymboree and cach cach me kohls from last year. I'm always worried about them and what I shouldn't spend for me to be comfortable for only a couple months (hopefully)

i will let you all know when i get another bra and a couple more tops.
I am about to add my second douney and bourke should I record that?
my clothes do not fit though.

[Sol_Solved]

Thanks Crunchy*VT*Mom! I just sucked it up and finally put my wedding gown up on ebay. I had an enquiry within two minutes of posting it!

We could really use the money for the trip. We've planned so many vacations and canceled them last minute because we don't feel it's worth spending so much money on, or because something happens (including our honeymoon!). This is the first time we'll actually go somewhere, and I really want to see it happen.

Ebay still scares me a bit (I'm more used to Craigslist), but I think I will post a couple more items just to see how they do, although I shouldn't forget that there's a fee for listing too.

[nadia105]

Okay, I need to make sure I post here and really stay accountable this month. Last month wasn't bad for spending, but I didn't really keep track like I could have.

There are some expenses that I will have this month -- my sister's bday, dad's bday, Dh's bday, and we are shopping for a new fridge. Dh is getting an extra paycheck in August b/c his company is switching the dates of the pay periods. Fine by me, we are going to use it to buy a new fridge. THe task is for us to shop carefully and get one that is a great deal and has the features I want (energy star, bottom freezer, icemaker). We will also have to pay to have a water line put in for the icemaker, but that should be no problem if we shop well. We have $ set aside for the bday presents, so that is no problem.

There are a couple thins I am 'allowing' myself to buy: picture frames for the LR for the professional pics we had done a while ago (going to wait for 50% off or more at Kohl's and use a 15% off coupon ) and a nursing shirt or two. We have been going to lots of places liek parks and people's houses lately, and I would like to be able to nurse discreetly (I hate the cover the baby with the blanket thing, not practical in 90 degree heat).

[TICKLEDPINK]

Hello to another military mama!!! I take it your DH is AF? We are Navy and just PCSed from Jax!

Hi, yes we are AF. I think that its great to see other military mommas on here! It makes me feel that we, dh and myself are not alone!

[Sap]

Oh I like this idea, but this could be hard. I'll have to see if I can get DH on board.

I'm Steph, married and SAHM to my 9mo dd. We all just moved accross the country (Alberta to New Brunswick) so that we could afford a house and I wouldn't have to go back to work.

We have issues with spending money without thinking, especially on junk food. Unnecessary baby items are a close second, with movies and video games coming up up third - so really just bad habits, nothing huge.

Doing this will make it possible for us to make a bigger down payment on a house and for my husband to have less stress about providing for his family. We would also like to TTC again in the next year, and I wouldn't have any maternity benefits this time.

So I'm in. Let's see how this goes.

[UUMom]

No can do! We have our first college tuition bill due this week.

But the rest of you, rock on! You don't need anymore crapola!

[SusanInItaly]

Originally Posted by UUMom

But the rest of you, rock on! You don't need anymore crapola!

Got it!!!

Let the month begin!!!!!!

[snowbunny]

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.
I'm Jenny, and I'm a working mother. My husband stays at home with our nearly 2-yr old son. Our biggest challenge is living one (not so grand) income in an area with an extremely high cost of living.

2. Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of August. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.

• We have some pretty significant medical bills that need to be paid.
• We need to build a three-month emergency fund and slush funds for unexpected or large annual expenses.

3. No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?

• Will develop and stick with an envelope budget.
• Will really push the issue with DH who LOVES to spend on random stuff.
• Will meal plan so that we don't eat out since eating out is our biggest non-necessary expense.
• Will skip the thrift stores and ebay.

[loitering]

I need help already, ladies!

My sunglasses broke today. They're the second pair I've broken in the last two months. The first pair were about $10 from Reitmans (womens clothing store) and these were $15 and the drug store. I didn't beat these up, they were just cheap I guess. I do need sunglasses, especially for driving. So what should I do? Is there a brand that is more pricey but reliable? There's always the slight chance I could lose them so I don't want to spend too much.

[MaddieMay]

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.

I'm Nicole and live with my DH and dog. DH is in the military and I'm going to graduate school and work in the local school district.

2. Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of August. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.

DH and I are not in debt by any means, but we have traveled so much this year. We have trips that we have to take in October, November, and December. Since DH is military and we live far away, it's expensive to travel that much. Obviously, if we couldn't afford these trips we wouldn't go. We can afford them, but I'd really like to balance it out by cutting back otherwise. We already have our Roth IRAs on a 10 month schedule, so that will help towards the end of the year. Did I mention tuition will be due in September? (Last tuition check we'll have to write though-yeah!) DH also would like to finish his private pilot's license. At $175/hour for plane rental, we *really* need to save more for this!

3. No spending is hard work. You need a plan. Please tell us your game plan -- how do you plan to approach no spending for a month?

I'm not going to say no spending, we really just need to be more mindful and careful of what we do spend. Plans:

-We don't eat out a ton, so that will be easy. However, friends invite us out to eat with them a lot. DH already politely declined an invite for tomorrow night!

-Plan, plan, plan! If it's not an emergency, we can wait or do without.

-I need to work on building up our (small) pantry a little bit, so we're not scrounging towards the end of every week.

-I'd like to detail our purchases this month to see exactly where our money is going. I have a rough idea, but not percentages.

-I'll hold off on new work clothes for now. I can wear last year's for now, work doesn't start until mid-August anyways.

-I have $15.00 for selling a textbook that I will allow myself to use for swaps (shipping) or for the Chicobags coop. This will be a hard choice! I love both, but maybe I can ask for Chicobags for Christmas? Hmm.

-Stay home! The more we're out and about, the more likely we are to spend. We've been traveling so much lately, this one might be easier than we think.

The good news is that I will start working again this month. I'm not contracted, so my pay can vary. However, all my pay will go into savings to be used towards DH's flight lessons or our travel expenses in the coming months.