August No-Spend Challenge -- Congratulations no-spenders!!!! You made it to the end! - Page 43

[nadia105]

August 1: ! Only spent on gas and groceries.
August 2: ! Didn't even go to the farmer's market like I'd planned
August 3: $20 at garage sales. All okay except for 50 cents for a Sprite . Also $57 on Shaklee stuff last night (necessary)
August 4: $31 at coop, $10 wasn't necessary
August 5: !
August 6: !
August 7: kinda . Unplanned take out, but covered by food budget
August 8: I spent a ton of $$, but only $16 was unbudgeted.
August 9: !
August 10: !
August 11: $9.75 at the local bakery for scones and cupcakes .
August 12: ! (83.55 on a Melissa and Doug coop, but that's budgeted -- christmas and bday gifts)
August 13: . $25 on a Glamourmom top on the tp and $44 on Dh's bday lunch, both allowed expenses.
August 14: $2.29 on Andes mints at Target - impulse purchase when I went to get breastmilk storage bags. $41 on diapers (pretty necessary, ds is barely fitting in his smalls)
August 15: !
August 16: $14.97 at Papa Murphy's. Technically w/in food budget, but not necessary.
August 17: !
August 18: : $200 Hanna Andersson
August 19: !
August 20: !

Ruthiegirl, congrats on the new washer and dryer! I have been drooling over new energy efficient models for a couple years! What kind did you end up getting?

Prudence, you can beat July's no spend days! You went 19 days w/o McDonalds, that is awesome!

[imnotsupernanny]

Originally Posted by mamabeth

Aug 19-
Aug 20- ER visit, $12 on lunch and snacks for (uninjured) dd while ds got stitched up and I'm not even going to speculate on how much it will eventually cost us.... at least he's okay, right?

Poor guy! I hope he's ok!

[TRIBE]

Aug 14- $175 (groceries/snacks for at least 10 days, trying to stretch 14 days)
Aug 15- $44 (produce stand, 1 weeks fruit/veggies)
$240 (couches had to be cleaned after being in storage, egg sacks were on them *shudder*)
$320 (2nd half of car pymts)
Aug 16- $830 (transfered to savings for 1st mortgage pymt due on Sept 1)
$30 (kirby pymt, will be done in Oct woot)
Aug 17-$5 smokes :
Aug 18-$6.30 milk & toilet paper
Aug 19-
Aug 20- $45 Old Navy card

[imnotsupernanny]

Ruthiegirl I'm so glad you got your washer and dryer! Enjoy them!!

Today I spent my $19 a bus pass for the week! (normally a month pass is better,but I didn't start working until after the 5th really so I couldn't get the month pass)

I then went to get some groceries and cat litter and something to unclog the drain with : $24.79! Not to bad,but I did get 2 bags of chips and some Pepsi! It was a new flavor!!

I earned a few extra $$ at work b/c I stayed later then I thought and I was paid for my house sitting I did last week!

I now have $130 in my envelope that goes towards my debt!!

[pc51]

Aug 1
Aug 2
Aug 3 $115-$18 return ($86 unbudgeted ottoman/coffee table but still somewhat necessary)
Aug 4
Aug 5
Aug 6
Aug 7 (groceries & pet food, budgeted)
Aug 8
Aug 9: $5 food(I really need to kick this Baja Fresh habit, but it will come out of food budget, and I had a coupon!), $8 at Target for cheerios, a coloring book for the little girls I'm watching tomorrow, and some candy for DH & I
Aug 10 DH on the other hand...
Aug 11
Aug 12 DH got a haircut and some flowers for me for our anniversary, but I didn't spend any money, I was sick
Aug 13
Aug 14
Aug 15 (budgeted groceries)
Aug 16
Aug 17
Aug 18
Aug 19
Aug 20

I am doing well-have not bought any clothes, anything for the house(except the ottoman). It actually feels really good, knowing I'm not wasting money on things! I would say that 60% of the time I buy something for myself I end up regretting it because I don't like it as much as I originally thought. We are spent as far as our food budget goes; unfortunately DH didn't know that so we are going to eat with a couple from church on Sunday, but besides that I have enough food to get us through the month.

[nadia105]

Originally Posted by pc51

I would say that 60% of the time I buy something for myself I end up regretting it because I don't like it as much as I originally thought.

That is so me! I am always 100% convinced that I REALLY, REALLY want something, and then once I have it, it's not as great as I thought. I'm trying to figure out how to avoid this and only get the things that ARE really important and WILL be worth it.

[mamimapster]

Whew! I've been out of towl lots this month, so Her'es the Katch-up:
1. Snacks for return home 3.90B, Lunch out w/inlaws 18.90:
2. 14.08 we were at the airport for HOURS:
3.:2.00-parkingB,52.31groceriesB (30.00 under budget!)44.12- early dinner out for 5
4.
5. 6.00B(T)-lemonade at Lollapalooza
6.14.99-outing for kids,11.86 school supplies at K-martB3.00 socks for bouncy thing needed during outing.
7.8.00Bmuseum parking, 30.39gasB,13.87groceries(still 16.13 under B),13.24museum
8.
9.11.24B-lightbulbs etc. from store
10. 17.10gasB 8.98-Ice cream
11.:
12.:
13.2.48-Coffee,19.36-Thrift,68.51Tj's(groceryB),16.36 Stanley's (GroceryB)-these are groceries for trip
14.11.47-Sbuks,35.00-Gas (trip)B
15.10.00-Indiana Beach,
16.34.05B Groceries,13.79UB
17.22.50-Gas (return Trip),18.55-Fair Oaks Farm
18.:
19.2.00BLibrary fees,16.95B thrift
20.39.00-Lunch for four.


shooting for 1/2 month w/no spending 5/15
Tally of Evil :177.05[/QUOTE]

[kijip]

Since my last update we have done ok, not great but ok. The extra 5 mouths to feed are gone now so that eased up the food budget a lot. We have had a number of no spend days but we have also bought some things that we either needed or decided we wanted. Have not needed to go to the grocery store, because we are well stocked.

Needs:

Gas
Stamps
Veggies and Fruits at farmer's market.

Wants/sorta needs:

Clothes for fall/school for 4 year old son. Everything was too small for him, had limited used success and ended up spending a about $160 between Target, Pumpkin Patch, Old Navy and Land's End Overstocks for him. A lot for clothes, but we can afford it and it takes him through winter and likely into next summer for jeans etc.

Donation to charity for $150

Campaign Donation of $100

$15 at that Build a Bear thing. My brother had a coupon and offered to go splits on a bear for my son. We have had a ringer of a week and it was a fun thing for him to do so we agreed.

Looking to end the month with 10 no spend days and a big fat deposit into our investment accounts. :

[lulugemini]

I was going through my past magazines for my 'decluttering task' and I came across an article in my june/july babytalk issue.

5 questions to ask yourself when you feel the need to shop

#1-Why am I here?
#2-Do I need this?
#3-What if I wait?
#4-How will I pay?
#5-Where will I put it?

------------------

Now I'm sure these questions have been posted b4, but we can all use a little reminder right?

I know I sure can..I went to a 311 concert last night, I took $40 with me and I came home with $3......

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Oooh...I'm going to print those questions out and put them on my bulletin board. Good ones!

[CityChic]

Originally Posted by nadia105

That is so me! I am always 100% convinced that I REALLY, REALLY want something, and then once I have it, it's not as great as I thought. I'm trying to figure out how to avoid this and only get the things that ARE really important and WILL be worth it.

I Third this .... I always get things and then wish I hadn't. It's a good reminder of my needs vs. wants ...

Originally Posted by lulugemini

5 questions to ask yourself when you feel the need to shop

#1-Why am I here?
#2-Do I need this?
#3-What if I wait?
#4-How will I pay?
#5-Where will I put it?

Thank you for reposting!

[seraf]

I'm joining late, hope that's ok.

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

I'm Seraf, haven't been a regular poster on MDC in a couple of years. I have a 4 year old boy and a 2 year old girl and I'm newly single and building a house.

I spend too much on impulse food buys and excessive driving.

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 need to save money for building the HOUSE.


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 pack lunch for work.

I will pack snacks for outings with the kids.

I will drive into town only for work and 1 extra day a week.

[CityChic]

Welcome Seraf! Good luck on saving for the house, you've come to the right place!

[liangel]

8/1-
8/2-
8/3-$12.39 Ingles (Personal Items)
8/4-$10.30- Lunch/Dinner out
8/5-
8/6- $3.55-McDonalds
8/7- $72- floormats for my new car (I want my car to stay clean!!!!!)
8/8-
8/9- $37 Nails (Manicure/Pedi)
8/10-$5-Bunko, $6.50-Movie
8/11-$11.52 CVS personal items.
8/12-
8/13-
8/14-
8/15-
8/16-
8/17-
8/18-
8/19-
8/20-
8/21-

I am working today til 7:30, and after that, I just want to go home. The last place I want to go is to the store. This thumb will stick! I've been doing pretty good if I may say so myself. I think Wed will be a spend day though- we ran out of laundry detergent so I might pick some up then or later on in the week.

I think I am going to base my no spend challenge on frivolous items and personal things- like manicures and my monthly Bunko game, getting fastfood or icecream when DH is at work and I have to eat by myself,going to BestBuy or Circuit City to by a DVD. The other stuff- gas, groceries, laundry detergent are necessities.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Liangel -- You ARE doing fantastic! Way to go!!!

Seraf -- Welcome!!!

Everyone Else Hanging on to the End of August -- these monthly no-spend threads are always hopping at the beginning of the month, then people get discouraged because they spend more than they want to and they drop off. By the end there are often only ten or so of us still plugging away.

If you are still with us, I'm giving you a round of applause!



Because it is tough sticking it out -- especially since you have probably spent more than you thought you were going to (I know I have...and it happens every month) -- but the point is you are still trying.

Keep hanging with us! There are only 10 more days in August...finish out your month strong!!!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

01..
02.. $31.80
03..
04.. $134
05..
06.. $27
07..
08.. $27
09..
10..
11..
12.. $11.12
13.. $30
14..
15..
16..
17.. $25
18.. $45
19.. $65
20.. $11.71
21.. $39.01 More storage bins and postage

My goals:
1. No diaper shopping 17/31 days
2. No McDonalds 20/31 days
3. Beat June's no-spend days 10/19 days

[frog]

This month--not good. I've stopped keeping track. I've started smoking again. I'm going to therapy more often and there are some other expenses we're going to need to add to our budget if we're going to make our relationship work. :

I'll keep track again in September, but for now, I'm just going to read.

[Ruthiegirl]

August 1 --
August 2 --
August 3 --
August 4 --
August 5 -- ($55 printer cartridge : )
August 6 --
August 7 -- ($10 second hand clothes and books)
August 8 --
August 9 -- ($20.00 dinner out)
August 10 --
August 11 -- ($33.89 supplies for kids)
August 12 --
August 13 --
August 14 -- ($4.06 ice cream)
August 15 --
August 16 -- ($4.08 video rentals)
August 17 --
August 18 -- :
August 19 -- ($5.75 bagels and coffee)
August 20 -- ($23 pizza and ice cream, $1 from the tooth fairy )
August 21 -- ($4.70 more ice cream, $3.50 bagels)

Uhoh, I have come to confess my pregnancy weakness for ice cream and bagels. After being so sick during the first trimester, I seem to be making up for it and eating a lot of crap lately.

[TRIBE]

Frog! I know how you feel I was doing really well not smoking or buying cigs and I broke down Thurs and bought a pack :/ Hang in there with us, post updates even if you feel you can't post what you have spent, although I doubt any of us would look down on you for falling off the wagon or needing to spend.

As for me, we have 4 meals left of my grocery shopping last week (which I have managed to spread out fairly well!) but are low on bread, milk and fruit. I normally spend about $45 at the farmers market on fruits and veggies so that leaves me $55 for 7 more meals (plus milk & bread) that need to be meat free/tofu free. I'm not sure I can do it and really hope DH has funds left in his acct to help out.

I know I can make my own bread which would save a few dollars, and my own tortilla shells. Just not sure what else I can do.

[CityChic]

August 1
August 2
August 3
August 4 $10
August 5
August 6 $1.75
August 7 $2.35
August 8
August 9
August 10 $15
August 11 $50
August 12
August 13
August 14
August 15
August 16 $96
August 17
August 18 $50
August 19 $100
August 20 +$40 / -$20 Our sitter yesterday didn't want to be paid but instead of putting all the cash back in the bank we pocketed $20 for spending. GRRRRRR.
August 21

Total Overspending - $305.10