September No-Spend Challenge: We're in the home stretch! Stay Strong Finish with us - Page 68

[nina_yyc]

1-
2- $82 - $42 overdue internet bill, $35 really cute shirt, $5 "Eco" shampoo bar
3 -
4 - $99.59 in groceries
5 -
6 - $27 on eating out!!
7 - $45 on...(this is sad) BPA Free sippy cups
8 - $6 on postage for BookMooch obligation
9 - $10 on parking at the airport
11 -
12- $20 night out
13 -
14 - $85 groceries
15 -
16 -
17 - : $47 on replacement glass shelf for the fridge which I broke last month, $200 deposit for day home.
18 -
19 -
20 - $20 over budget on electrical bill
21 -
22 -
23 - made $5 on Craigslist, spent $2 parking at film fest...but did get $24 in tickets for free.
24 - $33 groceries
25 - made $60 on Craigslist
26 -
27 -
28 -
29 - $2 advocacy button at breastfeeding challenge
30 - $11 Last minute grocery run for surprise lunch guests

Budgeted spending: $217.59/440
Unbudgeted expenses: $462
Made on Craigslist: $65

Net ~ about $185 over budget. Not that bad, but not stellar either.

I'm going to need to change the budget for October. Clearly it isn't working for us. While some of the unbudgeted spending was on our joint account, and thus OK since we had such a frugal month on groceries, a lot of it was on my personal chequing account and WAY over my whopping allowance of $25. However I did pay off my credit card completely ($400) and we still made our savings goal, so all in all it was an average month. I guess what I learned is that average isn't good enough - I need to change my habits if I'm really going to save. Maybe I need to cut down on paying with plastic or just plan a little better.

[lisac77]

Sept 1 - spent $7, saved $29.60
Sept 2 - spent $35.05 (groceries), saved $1.55
Sept 3 - spent $19.54 (eating out), saved $17.06
Sept 4 - spent $0, saved $36.60
Sept 5 - spent $36.97 (eating out) , saved -$0.37
Sept 6 - spent $24.94 (groceries), $10 (cash for carnival on Sat.) , saved $1.66
Sept 7 - spent $24.05 (lunch out - planned), $12 (gas) , saved $0.55 - $95.04 in unplanned cc charges
Sept 8 - spent $15 (co-pay), $10 (antibiotics), $61.49 (inhaler spacer), $6.37 (snacks at the drug store), $8.96 (dinner out) , saved -$65.35
Sept 9 - spent $5.61 (dinner for work), saved $30.99
Sept 10 - spent $10.14 (dinner for work), $12.45 (groceries), saved $14.01, PAID OFF cc charges $23.45 (gas), 22.41 (lunch out) PAID OFF
Sept 11 - spent $35.71 (groceries), saved $0.89
Sept 12 - - spent $16.04 (groceries), $11.02 (lunch), and $5.74 (lunch @ work yesterday), saved $3.80
Sept 13 - spent $33.12 (groceries), saved $3.48
Sept 14 - spent $23.65 (lunch out), 7.54 (shampoo), saved $5.41
Sept 15 - spent $10.72 (lunch out), 24.49 (potty treat, groceries, medicine), saved $1.39
Sept 16 - spent 9.73 (dinner @ work) , saved $26.83 spent $32.46 from the savings fund for new pants
Sept 17 - spent $13.12 (lunch), $23.17 (groceries and medicine), $4.77 (pizza @ work) , saved -$4.46
Sept 18 - spent $33.21(lunch w/family) , saved $3.39
Sept 19 - spent 7.28(dinner@work) , saved $29.32
Sept 20 - spent $22.47 (lunch), $6.49 (contact solution) , saved $7.64
Sept 21 - spent $13.86 (lunch), $9.62 (groceries), $10.45 (Starbucks) , saved $1.84
Sept 22 - spent $37.90 (groceries), saved -$1.30
Sept 23 - spent $14.08 (lunch) , saved $22.52
Sept 24 - spent 15.00 (co-pay), $39.08 (medicine), and $8.32 (snacks), saved -$25.80
Sept 25 - spent $10.26 (lunch), $15.00 (dinner for family), $9.60 (dinner for me) , saved $1.74
Sept 26 - spent 9.64 (groceries), $32.24 (lunch out), saved -$5.28, $20.00 for chiropractor
Sept 27 - spent $38.64 (lunch, dinner for me, dinner for family), saved -$2.04
Sept 28 - spent $37.34 (blanket and pillow for DS's school), $11.09 (lunch out) , saved -$12.37, $20.00 for chiropractor, +$27 for clothing return
Sept 29 - spent $36.91 (groceries) , saved -$0.31
Sept 30 - spent $6.58 (lunch) , saved $30.02

Total saved so far this month: $109.44

Total on credit cards: $95.04

At work now so I don't think I'll spend any more money today. So my September total was 19 days under budget, 11 days over budget, but for the whole month I was under budget by 109.44!

That was with over $400 in eating out : and $200 in unexpected medical costs (we are usually healthy as horses!). Next month things will be drastically different, as we are saving money on child care, my work schedule will now allow me to be home in the evenings to make ONE dinner for everyone. No more of this lunch out and dinner out for two groups (me and then the family) insanity.

I'd like to give a huge shout out to the whole thread! YEAH! We did it! I feel so accomplished.

[AGlimmeringHope]

Sept 30:

I stopped myself from going shopping today even though I wanted to just so I could come put the thumb's up on here. Because of joining this challenge, this is the first month I can think of in recent months where we didn't overdraw our checking account once! We did have to borrow once to keep it from going $2 over, but normally we overdraw once or twice. YAY US! And DH has agreed to get on board with me for October!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I had to come on here and amend because I didn't buy bagels at the church after all.

I actually spent a TON of money ($500+++) today...but it was on beds and bedding for the girls and we have been shopping and price comparing for months, so I consider those a necessary purchase. Right now my daughters are ~literally~ sleeping on the floor in their room. So they need beds.

01..
02.. $12,
03.. ,
04..
05.. ,
06.. ,
07.. ,
08.. ,
09..
10..
11..
12.. ,
13.. ,
14.. ,
15.. $25 picture frames, batteries
16.. $4 Starbucks
17..
18.. ,
19.. ,
20.. $10.46 slippers
21.. ,
22.. $2.99 Apple Cider Donuts at Apple Farm
23.. $2.18 Starbucks
24.. $18 Moms group dues
25.. ,
26..
27.. ,
28..
29.. $27.89 Orange Jacket
30..

My goals:

1. No-Spend Days = 22/20 days
2. Let the Car Rest Days = 14/15 days
3. McDonalds Safely Avoided = 30/30 days

Tally of evil for this month: $103

[mumkenna&lucas]

Sept 1 72.87 in textbooks (but budgeted)
Sept 2
Sept 3
Sept 4
Sept 5 38.24 payment for coop that I couldn't get out of this late
Sept 6
Sept 7 $3.99 on a magazine + $15 on yummy fabric
Sept 8
Sept 9
Sept 10
Sept 11
Sept 12 $42 on dc Christmas gift
Sept 13
Sept 14 $20 haircut, $7.98 magazines
Sept 15 $6 farmers market, $6.75 coffee shop
Sept 16 $20 eat out, $10 birthday gift, $20 drinks etc while gone.
Sept 17
Sept 18
Sept 19
Sept 20 $24 clothes for ds
Sept 21 $8.50 christmas gift, $20 invitations for dd birthday, $40 clothes
Sept 22
Sept 23
Sept 24
sept 25 $27 clothes for dd
Sept 26
Sept 27
Sept 28 $23.49 natural food store
Sept 29 $35.00 apple farm festival
Sept 30 $75 kmart:

No spend days: 18/20
No Diaperswappers: 28/26
Save $$: $350/700
Pay cc down $300: 153.17/300
Less than $300.00 in non-essential spending: 337.95/300
Park the car days: 6/7


I can't wait to get started tommorrow on next month! I have totally fallen off the wagon for the last 3 days of Sept: So I am ready, budget in hand!

[scrapadoozer]

September 10
September 11
September 12
September 13 $2.50 @ Goodwill (toboggan for dd & some really cool vintage stitchery magazines.)
September 14 $17.50 @ Goodwill (ice skates, princess dress up gown, dragon dress up costume, butterfly wings, little lace gloves for dd, 1 yard cotton knit), $2 @ Wal-Mart (yard stick)
September 15 $1 @ Dollar Tree (stencils)
September 16
September 17
September 18
September 19
September 20
September 21
September 22
September 23 $35 dinner out with relatives
September 24
September 25 $5 on paper back fusible web and a pattern DH insisted I buy.
September 26
September 27
September 28
September 29 $17 on quilting supplies, $2 toy for dd, $20 to purchase computer Boggle.
September 30

Total spent: $102

Well, we didn't do terrible this month but there is still much room for improvement. Here's to a thrifty October for everyone!

[Beachlivnmom]

I flew cross country Sept 24 and now my folks have been paying for everything. So Sept 25- 30 all

I did much better this month. and next month will be nice because my parents will still be spoiling us!

Congrats everyone on the great month and see you in Oct!

[excitedtobeamom]

Thanks for all the support and encouragment! We had an awesome month and we plan to continue it next month. We paid off so much debt and really got a working budget!

[FamilyFriendlyLife]

Sept. 1:
Sept. 2:
Sept. 3:
Sept. 4:
Sept. 5:
Sept. 6:
Sept. 7:
Sept. 8:
Sept. 9:
Sept. 10:
Sept. 11: $10 lunch, $15 parking ticket, $20 excessive DS shoe purchase
Sept. 12:
Sept. 13:
Sept. 14:
Sept. 15:
Sept. 16:
Sept. 17: $13.07 - takeout pizza
Sept. 18:
Sept. 19: $14.95 eating out + est. $40 unnecessary Target spending
Sept. 20: $6.43 eating out
Sept. 21:
Sept. 22: groceries over budget (DH picked up based on my list; need to get total)
Sept. 23:
Sept. 24:
Sept. 25:
Sept. 26:
Sept. 27: $3.10 packaged snacks
Sept. 28: $16.82 lunch, $100.60 groceries @ Co-op (over budget)
Sept. 29:
Sept. 30:

Really, really, really wanted to call for dinner delivery tonight, or at least go out for ice cream. Instead, put together a totally random dinner, and made a gingerbread cake for dessert. I am very glad the urges were resisted, as I also really wanted that . See you all in October!

GOALS:
* Less than $150 in frivolous spending: month to date $128.37
* At least 20 days (no spend or spending w/in budget): 22/30
* No McDonalds: 30/30
* Avoid Target: 28/30
* Pack snacks/water for outings: 27/30
* NO library fines: month to date $0
* Stay within grocery budget: $598.19/$430

Kim

[nina_yyc]

Originally Posted by FamilyFriendlyLife

* Less than $150 in frivolous spending: month to date $128.37

That is awesome! Good job.

[mamimapster]

End of month totals-I'm not so happy about overall spending, but I am happy about the way the month ended!
9/1-
9/2-Bowling for kiddies 9.45-Dinner out for anniversary 33.00B
9/3-26.34B@ village half price sale,10.00 Drinks out for five
9/4-4.67-coffee,17.04Bgas,80.23 had to buy a school book:,49.01B groceries,
9/5-4.67B groceries
9/6-
9/7-
9/8- made 16.00
9/9-17.01B Gas/22.47B /7.25 Snacks-
9/10- Errands: 9.24B in Essential Oils and Herbal Armor (the Mosquitoes are Fierce!), Dd winter tights, and tights for RH Spent 3.01B,
9/11- 25.00 flat tire,30.02B gas,1.84 coffee,93.45B Groceries,
9/12-groceries 15.00B,coffee2.03,post office5.05B
9/13-
9/14
9/15-thumb
9/16-:gift 20.06 unbugeted,groceries 11.82B,12.51B Dd school supplies,
9/17-:village 6.87B (not Roscoe! ),lunch 5.41.
9/18 (all bugeted)40.48B-groceries,5.70B post, 30.28B gas
9/19
9/20-:8.82 coffee & snacks-baaad! +388.00 pell grant refund check-this will pay "back" my credit card, since I used it to buy books and save $$ by not using school bookstore-180.00 to CC, 200.00 to varnish/fix rest of floor.
9/21-:5.42 Coffee & snacks
9/22-:
9/23:Post sukkah building Ice cream for 5: 13.26 +35.00 from
Ebay to CC!
9/24:Gas/carwash:45.60 our gas is the most expensive in the NATION!,doc 12.00B,post 3.92, groceries 17.63,2.53 Coffee. I spent at least 3+hours in the car today
9/25:69.76B groceries, 4.23 snacks.
9/26: 1.63 Coffee,7.25 post,11.00 Dd haircut
9/27:4.53-coffee/snacks,43.48B paint,20.31B paint supplies 2.63 groceries
9/28:13.29 gift for birthday party,20.04 More GAS
9/29
9/30 +15.00 ebay


GOALS(thanks to those with wise ideas!):

1.At least 15 days: 14/30
2.Pack snacks/water for outings/School: 14/30
3.At least two no-car days per week 6/8
4.NO library fines: month to date $0 (have to pay 14.00 already)
5. Come here lots
6.Make lists and stick to them
7. Avoid buying my sweets and bake more. 3/5
Acceptable spending:
Myself-Black dress shoes that fit with orthotics-tabled to october
lunch container (self) NEED THIS!-wetbag not a solution.
Sellable Items-partially done!
Meds for IVF round #3-I've got the go-ahead! meds happening soon!
Tally Of Evil 123.79
hurrahs:
24.83 UNDER grocery budget
50.00 in sold items
saved $$ by painting iving room ourselves

[mamimapster]

9/29- I was a bad girl today. Here is the damage:
$35.81- Target for a Brita Water Pitcher, a replacement filter (so I

don't have to buy another in 2 months), and a birthday card for my nephew.


I can justify the Brita, in that I won't be buying the cases of water anymore and wasting all that plastic.

P.s.- you can usually buy britta filters on ebay/craigslist in lots for chaper than retail. I LOVE my britta

[mamimapster]

I'd like to give a huge shout out to the whole thread! YEAH! We did it! I feel so accomplished.

I couldnt have said it better myself!

[mamamilkers]

09/02: no spend!
09/03: $2 on balloons for the girls
09/04: $1 on a book at Goodwill
09/05: $24 at Target for work-out shorts for me and two Halloween playground balls for gifts
09/06: no spend!
09/07: no spend!
09/08: no spend!
09/09: no spend! We packed a lunch for the park when we normally would have eaten out. It was great!
09/10: no spend!
09/11: I fell off the bandwagon To my defense, I ordered $161 worth of stuff from a Melissa and Doug co-op and it's all at a great price and all for Christmas gifts. Sigh. I couldn't pass it up.
09/12: $6 at the indoor pool. We went during "happy hour" and saved almost 50%, so that's at least a little good, right?
09/13: $12.50 on tie-dye materials and a sno cone for my DD
09/14: no spend! We even went to Goodwill for a little trip out of the house and I didn't bring my wallet. I am so glad! I would have spent $$ if I had it!
09/15: DP and I went on a date and spent $30 at the movies. Then we took the kids to a local festival. I was sure it would be cheap, but of course, the tickets to play games and such are $1 each. We ended up spending another $30! Grrrr. It was sort of bugeted. DP and I badly needed a date, but I wish we wouldn't have spent so much at the festival.
09/16: no spend!
09/17: $11 on lunch. I hadn't planned on it
09/18: no spend!
09/19: no spend!
09/20: no spend!
09/21: no spend!
09/22: no spend!
09/23: no spend!
09/24: no spend!
09/25: no spend!
09/26: $5 on mochas for DD and I. I specifically got these as a treat for us. We haven't had very many this month and so we went to the super cheap place to get them. Usually they are like $4 a piece, plus tip!
09/27: no spend! I actually tried to spend money, at Goodwill, but nothing that we needed was there!
09/28: It was a big spend day, though I knew it was going to be. My DDs and I were out of town today. $30 on lunch. $2.25 on ice cream. $6 on drinks. $20 on dinner.
09/29: $8 on parking downtown.
09/30: $17 on pizza

GOAL: more green than red days! As of today, 17 green days and 12 red days!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! One month completed! This was fun, mamas. On to October!

[michelle524]

The month didn't end on such a good note for me. I spent $72 at Carters. (Let me justify by saying I have only personally purchased 4 outfits, 3 hats and 2 pairs of shoes for him since he was born. Seriously. I got so many gifts and hand me downs, I didn't need to. But there was a 70% off sale so I got 2 pairs of pants for this winter, 2 sets of pjs and 8 items for next spring through fall. Average price of $6 per item can't be beat (well, for name brand new that is!). His bday and Christmas are coming, so I'm sure I won't need to buy more for the year.

But, DH and I ate take out or actually out Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That was bad.

Overall, I can say that I don't spend on too much unnecessary stuff other than food. Not counting DHs lunches out (every day at work) or some of the take out he bought with his spending money, we spent about $310 on food out. And that's on top of the $250 we spent on food for in.

Opened my eyes, I'll say that much.

Great month everyone!! See you in the Oct thread!

[CandyApple]

Ok - I want to finish this month, but I've been absent from this thread for over a week! Here's the monthly list


Sept 1: +$30 SIL's yard sale
Sept 2: $21 on comfort food, $31 on fabric for friend's baby quilt
Sept 3: $5 on chick flick rental and junk food
Sept 4:
Sept 5: $20 school books
Sept 6: $14 mothering mags, $10 pizza
Sept 7: $5 happy hour with girls

Week 1 Total: $76

Sept 8: $30 kids consignment shop (partial need), $5 paint sample , $10 decoration stuff, $2 snacks
Sept 9:
Sept 10:
Sept 11:
Sept 12:
Sept 13:
Sept 14: $10 at consignment shop, $10 in kitchen stuff, $10 over groc budget
Sept 15: $13 in canning supplies, impulse drink

Week 2 Total: $90

Sept 16: $9 on shirt for ds
Sept 17:
Sept 18:
Sept 19:
Sept 20: $25 Harvest Festival, $18 extra groc
Sept 21: $8 food out
Sept 22: $3 Kettle corn at H. Festival, $14 propane refill

Week 3 Total: $77

Sept 23: $10 McDs breakfast/snacks, $7 Cider Mill
Sept 24: $30 Gift Card Thank you to friend
Sept 25:
Sept 26:
Sept 27: $12 Cookbook
Sept 28: $3 Happy Hour w/girls
Sept 29:
Sept 30: Saved $30 on groc this week

Week 4: $32

Total non essential: $285

This seems like a lot, but I'm happy with it. This is all our extra spending beyond the $100 week for groc and gas. Our budget allows $65/wk for extra spending, and I've only gone over $25!!

Hoping for a great October!

[anarchamama]

1- made $70 selling our extra carseat!
2- $3 but thats all dh and I spent on a date at the movies, we had free passes and bought chips at sev.
3-
4- Groceries 79.02, license renewal 12.00, parking 6.50
5- Groceries 20.68, pregnancy tests 8.02$
6- 220.00$ on textbooks. grrrr. such a scam.
7-library $4, bus far $3.50 (but didn't drive downtown so saved on parking), fries to go with dinner $7.60.
8- Groceries 124.00, internet sub I forgot to cancel 35.00
9- Credit Card fee 120.00$
10- Gas $35.00
11- Parking $2, financial calculator $53.00 (it better do laundry)
12-
13- 1.75 on parking
14- 192.00$ on groceries, 22.06$ on pizza
15-15$ me and ds spend money going to a fundraising party
16- Tuition $838.27, dp made $50 playing a show
17- $387 mtg, $hydro 285.30, phone/internet $110
18-20$ donation, 22$ bus tix, $2 parking
19-
20- 2$ parking, $42 used snowsuit for ds, dh carpool $88.00
21- water bill $171.43, 1$ snack at swimming, $89.29 house insurance, $26.99 value village haloween costumes, $64.20 dp club fees
22- Groceris $117, $68.33 Y membership, 21.06$ dp book subscription
23-
24-
25-43.47 gas, 1.75 parking
26-144$ union dues, 10$service charges
27- $2 parking, 34$ bday gift for my brother, groceries 24.10
28-6.78 postage, 390 mtg, 75 taxes, 212.67 hydro, 139.91 phone, 12 massage, dh and i spent 30 at a lecture
29-made $150, groc 151.71, 10.16 laundry soap
30-23.18 bank fees
31-

[Hollysmom]

Sep 1 - = Expensive backpack
Sep 2 -
Sep 3 -
Sep 4 - Another good day. Only bought a loaf of bread and batteries for the camera to tide me over until groceries tommorrow
Sep 5 - $2.12 for coffee & a bagel for breakfast $3.12 for soup and a cookie to go with my sandwich at lunch...I was so hungry.
Sep 6 - Unplanned lunch out with a friend $16.00
Sep 7 -
Sep 8 - Paid for a printer my sister got with her laptop for $20 (which we really needed - ours was from 1998) which was fine since it was planned, but then I realized I forgot to bring some stuff for the baby that we really needed so I spent $20 I really shouldn't have needed to spend:
Sep 9 - Truck had more problems: so I had to buy coolant and oil, not frivolous, but not planned.
Sep 10 - Bought breakfast this morning because I was tired and cranky.
Sep 11 - Only spending today was on some Christmas presents that were budgeted for.
Sep 12 - Ended up going out for lunch
Sep 13 - Only budgeted spending
Sep 14 -
Sep 15 - No spend day
Sep 16 - Only spending was on a planned trip to Canada's Wonderland
Sep 17 - No spend day
Sep 18 - Bought a coffee this morning and my lunch today. The macaroni & cheese I brought just wasn't appealing today.
Sep 19 - Bought take out for breakfast, lunch & dinner today :
Sep 20 - No spend day
Sep 21 - Only budgeted spending today
Sep 22 - Bought groceries today and stayed within budget. We are home for the rest of the day so there should be no more spending.
Sep 23 - No spend day
Sep 24 - Only planned spending today
Sep 25 - Bought my lunch
Sep 26 - Sparks got me again - had fast food because I didn't have time to eat...well, at least the kids got fed at home.
Sep 27 - Went out for lunch, but it was planned
Sep 28 - went out for lunch (again) because I was too lazy to make my lunch last night.
Sep 29 - No spend day
Sept 30 - only planned spending today.

No Spend Days: 7/30
No Restaurant/Take-out Days: 15/29

Well not too bad. Going to try and make October even better