February No-Spend Challenge -- How did you do? What will you do differently next month? What... - Page 52

[BrooklynDoula]

We made it!

I got at 10 of 10

I overspent my groceries by 83$ (and I think I need to up the budget by $50 because I have never once made it within the budget)

I overspent misc but only by $11 (and I gave a political contribution, so I feel okay about this)

Laundry was over by $10 but my son had the vomit flu so this was unavoidable

My metro/gas was under by $8

My kid budget was under by $2

My CC payment was an extra $115

AND I ENDED THE MONTH WITH MONEY!!!!!



I am happy at the end of the month this time around!

[mamimapster]

Feb 1: no drive,6.49-stuffed toy at FAO Schwartz
Feb 2:No Spend/No Drive (some food and transport were on stipend, but will be reimbursed)
Feb 3: No drive, 7.48-gifts, 22.00 museum fees
Feb 4: 9.98 printer ink (very necessary),22.95 mat/nursing clothes 18.45-groceries
Feb 5: Groceries:56.98,Gas 8.00, +400.00 to CC! I'm counting today as a no spend, because I didn't go out of budget by even a nickel AND I was under budget for groceries!
Feb 6: Midwife Co-pay 20.00B
Feb 7 15.98B Groceries (grrr...I forgot some things on my list the other day),25.00B Gas, 6.94B Ink,Post 5.05
Feb 8No spend
Feb 9: to ME! No Drive/17.09 pharmacy (including oatmeal bath for my VERY VERY itchy body-I tried plain oatmeal and it just wasnt enough). I had a lovely Shabbos birthday though. My five year old Dd gave me a pair of earrings that are gorgeous-she picked them out/bought them HERSELF!
Feb 10:20.00 Brunch out, 10.93 add on to GC for a couple of HABA things Dd wanted (birthday money)
Feb 1130.00B Sitter,14.00B Dr copay-No unbugeted spending
Feb 1215.21Thrift (10.00 was stock),20.00 B Gas,44.55Groceries (still need to hit produce place)
Feb 13Produce 11.09B,V-day present 10.09B,Gas 33.32B, Dd haircut 9.00B
Feb 146.27- extra lunch out: need to pack bigger lunches.. I am turning into a LOCUST, and going to WF for lunches isn't cheap!
Feb 15 Birthday outing 11.50,Birthday present 22.37 (found another reciept)
feb 16No spend/no drive
Feb 1710.09-grocery, got treated to dinner!
Feb 18Gas 22.33,groceries 71.20
feb 19 Whole Foods 6.27
Feb 20Coffee 4.27,Gas 3.00,Whole foods 3.21
Feb 21Lunch 5.88,Bras (spent over GC)4.21,Borders 8.64,Gas 17.75+40 to CC!
Feb 2225.85-gas,27.00 on food due to car breakdown:
feb 23no spend/no drive
feb 24+60.00 ebay BUT spent alot too26.00-dipe deal,28.00 for a Mei tai (these really were good deals),maternity skirt 10.88,coffee 5.35
Feb 25Groceries:91.36
Feb 26Car Repair 394.33-very unbugeted. very necessary. there may be more
Feb 2720.00 Midwife Copay,4.35 Coffee,11.50 Groceries,
Feb 283.50 Coffee,11.38 gas,6.55 Lunch
Feb 29Pre-Emptive No spend~!
Feb Goals:
No unbudget spend days 12/29 actual:11/29
No Drive Days 8/29 actual: 7/29
No frivolous spending over 100 actual: 127.01/100
Sold items 60/50-Listed 8 items today!
NEED Maternity clothes/nursing bras can spend up to 30 actual:42.25/30
Decluttering 30 min day 11/26(not counting first three days of month)
Grocery budget 352.59/350
Baked/bulk cooking 7/12

[noahandlinasmom]

2/1
2/2: Yay, made it through the rest of trip without impulse spending! Also came home to check mail and find $100 Wal-mart gift card (work bonus), $10 cash from relative, and $40 extra check from husband working a few hours last week. Since husband is seasonally laid off this is all really needed!
2/3 - found a new way to save money today after realizing I was paying double the price for trash bags with the drawstring. I think I spent $6.50ish on a years worth of trash bags today!
2/4 :
2/5: So I spent $3.47 on 5 great pieces of clothing, but it was not in our budget, and they are out of season, so they weren't exactly needed yet, unfortunately, clothing is not in our regular budget right now. I spent part of my son's haircut money for the clothes.
2/6 : My husband forgot his lunch and had $3 to eat out, I figured he'd get some dollar menu items, but he ordered a value meal putting us $2.27 over spent
2/7 :
2/8 $109.90 spent on filing taxes, : $6.98 husband ate out again
2/9
2/10:
2/11
2/12:
2/13 $5.42 Emergency food for kit my husband is working on
Guide:
2/14
2/15
2/16 : Yikes, we went on a day trip that was totally out of budget and spent $68.42 over budget on food and shopping and that doesn't include the gas that I will have to refill my tank with to get through the week. I am sad I spent so much, but we did have a fun family day with good talks and we did buy clothes that we will use, so maybe not completely frivolous. Also all our clothing was used from Salvation army and kids consignment shop- I like buying used.
2/17 : $15 gas to cover yesterday, $3.29 husband's deodorant- obviously needed- but we were out of money for it,and : hubby decided that he wanted to treat the family to eating out- definitely not in budget $13.44
2/18:
2/19:
2/20: Plus $208 added to savings woohoo!!
2/21
2/22 : Taxes back so today was a really good day, we put a good portion into savings and paid of a credit card and two medical debts
2/23 Big Spend day, but all in budget
2/24
2/25
2/26
2/27
2/28
2/29

: No Spend
Spent Within Budget
Necessary but Unbudgeted Spending
: Impulse or Unneeded Purchase/Spending

$1553.51 Added to Savings

So this month was pretty good. My husband worked only part time most of the month and I am a SAHM, but our tax return was excellent, and we paid off a lot of debt and put a lot into savings.

Total Tally
8 No Spend Days/$1553.51 Added to savings/1 Credit Card & 2 medical debts paid off/$118.61 Necessary but Unbudgeted Spending/$102.60 Impulse or Unneeded Purchase/Spending

[HydeParkB]

Well, I finished out the end of the month kind of rough. Not a crazy amount of spending, a McDonalds coffee here, personal care items that I couldn't find in the house.

The beginning of the month was good, and I'm looking forward to March.

While it doesn't fit into no-spend directly, I went to a job interview today. I was going to wait until I finished my schooling in August, but now I am going to keep my eyes open for new opportunities. I am hoping to increase my salary by at least 10K, which would have a huge impact on the family.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

01..
02..
03..
04..
05.. $28.48 Indian food
06..
07.. $8.03 McDonald's
08..
09.. $75 for paint for house
10.. $12 Ice Cream Sundae fixings, $2 Valentines
11..
12..
13.. $28 paint at Home Depot
14..
15.. $4.50 Valentine's candy, $6.89 Subway
16.. $20 Gymboree
17..
18..
19..
20..
21..
22..
23..
24..
25.. $12 Burger King
26..
27..
28..
29..

21/22 No-Spend Days
5/10 Let the Car Rest Days
25/28 Fast-Food-Free Days

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Wrap-Up for the month:

I'm happy with 21 no-spend days in a 29 day month...that is practically a record for me.

EVEN so, I'm not so happy with all the fast-food buying that went on this month...and I came close to spending $200 on "extras" this month and really that money could better be sent elsewhere.

So for next month, my goal is to STAY OUT of the drive-throughs. That food is not good for me, and it is an addiction, pure and simple. I only buy fast food when I'm tired and bored -- it has almost nothing to do with hunger.

And no more baby clothes -- this baby has more clothes right now than she can possibly wear as a newborn. I don't want to buy anything else until she is here.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can start letting the car rest more...in the middle of winter in Vermont the sidewalks are snowy and impassable for a women with two girls in a stroller. Once that snow melts some we can start going places that don't involve driving.

Overall, a good month for my family. I hope to do even better in March!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I also realized that I can save an enormous amount by simply staying home! Not spending money on gas and not being in "consumer environments" has been huge!

Isn't that the truth? For me that makes a HUGE difference...not only on how much I spend (a lot less) but also on how satisfied with life I am. If I don't see all this stuff that I want to buy (and I always want to buy it...all) then I don't miss it as much and I feel more content with what we have.

For me, staying out of the stores is what keeps money in my wallet.

[monkey's mom]

*sigh* Today we drove an hour to go to a hs game day where we were ignored and my kid ended up bursting into tears after an hour. So on the hour drive home I stopped at Sonic and spent $4.01 on french fries and tater tots for the kids........b/c they just needed something for a treat. I'm not sorry I spent the money, but I'm bummed that the thing sucked and we did all that driving. I'm not even amending my list. It is what it is. Bleh.

[MissLotus]

2/1: $1 at the library book sale (found a book I am selling on Amazon!)
2/2: spent nothing
2/3: $2.90 pizza / $33.52 bulk household items/ $32.42 storage baskets
2/4: spent nothing
2/5: $9.91 groceries/ $9.95 post office (I sold four books on Amazon.com!)
2/6: spent nothing
2/7: $44.93 groceries/ $2.45 post office/ $2 library book sale
2/8: $23.16 gas/ $7.23 groceries/ about $7.85 post office (postage and mailing supplies)/ $6.98 pet supplies/ $8.65 dollar store/ $17.50 hibatchi lunch for two
2/9: $9 pizza take-out
2/10: Mexican brunch for two $21.35/ milkshake for my boy $2.48/ $8 cider, apples, etc. at farm
2/11: $2.47 post office/ $3.69 groceries
2/12: $2.05 postage/ $ 41.75 groceries, household and pet supplies
2/13: spent nothing
2/14: $7.82 flowers, snacks
2/15: $10. 67 groceries / $2.47 post office
2/16: $48 haircut with tip/ $3.22 snack/ $108.50 groceries, household supplies, mailing supplies, fabric for curtains, and pet food/ $6.50 matinee movie
2/17: $43.72 Target (not on credit card)
2/18: $4.77 groceries
2/19: $11.58 post office (mailed 4 things I sold on Amazon) / $10.15 groceries
2/20: $3.70 Dunkin' Donuts snacks/ $35.50 round-trip train tickets into city (includes 2 tickets to use in the future)/ $4 subway/ about $24 lunch & snacks in city
2/21: $14.57 groceries/ $2.47 post office
2/22: spent nothing
2/23: $23 Mexican brunch
2/24: $22.57 gas/ $19 diner/ $4.66 snacks
2/25: $4.26 post office/ $18.50 groceries
2/26: spent nothing
2/27: $96.82 groceries, household, pet supplies
2/28: $19.23 gas / $9.05 Dunkin' Donuts
2/29: $2.48 grocery stop/ $4.10 drug store/ $14.00 take-out

I wasn't going to spend any money on take-out, but I've had such a stomach-ache for 3 days, I need something appealing to eat, plus I really don't feel like cooking, so I got us take-out.



Spending totals so far:
$407.49 groceries/household items
$151.91 eating out/snacks on the run
$39.91 postage (selling 17 items on Amazon)
$74.96 gas
$202.97 miscellaneous

[katheek77]

Um, found out my dad has cancer a couple of days ago, and kind of fell off the wagon since I wasn't thinking too hard about what groceries to buy or what to cook. Anyway....I'm back on, but, the last couple days messed me up. I have to revise my goals for March - we can't go out to stay with my parents b/c part of my dad's treatment is topical chemo, and he can't be around babies while he has it.

2/1 No spend No Drive
2/2 No spend No Drive
2/3 No spend No Drive
2/4 No spend No Drive
2/5 Big spend, but all necessary and budgeted Groceries: $85.32, Laundry Quarters: $5.00, Postage $2.47, Gas: $32.30. And I drove to the bank (to deposit rebate checks) and library, as well.
2/6 No spend Drove to church for Ash Wednesday. Forgot all about it.
2/7 No spend No Drive
2/8 Spend, but all budgeted Postage $4.94, Baby formula, et. al @ Target $60.58, Clothing $4.27 - $26.74 on yummy wings/fries. Also put 1500 into the IRA
2/9 Spend, budgeted, but not necessary. $6 parking at museum, $6.35 for lunch for DD and me. Moved 4700 into savings.
2/10 No spend
2/11 No spend No Drive
2/12 No spend No Drive (snowed in!)
2/13 Huge spend day. All budgeted and planned, though, so it's all good. Groceries and Razors: $95.96, Postage: $2.47, Car Registration: $36.00, Book Coop: $41.45, Cheese Coop: $46.13, Frontier Order: $254.33 (includes membership fee). Gas (DH): $17.83
2/14 No spend No Drive
2/15 No spend No Drive.
2/16 Spend on groceries. $68 exactly. Transferred $724.88 (to get a round number in savings) to savings. Beer - $26
2/17 Lunner (Late Lunch/Early Dinner) $41.93.
2/18 No spend No Drive.
2/19 No spend No Drive.
2/20 No spend No Drive.
2/21 $2 Laundry Quarters, $13.51 Groceries, $130.68 Tierra Farms
2/22 Myeh $26.74 Wings, Unknown quantity of gas (DH), No drive
2/23 46.79 - Groceries. This puts me over budget. :
2/24 No spend. Did drive.
2/25 Routine Car Maintenance $42.52. I'm counting this as a no-drive since DH just took my car into work instead of his, in order to drop mine off for maintenance (so, one of our cars sat here).
2/26 $15.61 - Takeout No Drive
2/27 $66.99 Groceries, $34.69 Gas
2/28 $28.35 Take out
2/29 No spend No Drive

16/19 no drive days
16/19 no spend days
23/24 no eat out/take out days
$380.54/275.00 on groceries
$7224.88/1493.7 into s/i/Is (so far, 6224.28 in savings; 1500 in IRAs) Goal MET for month!
$10424.88/17924.40 into s/i/Is for the YEAR (so far, 6424.88 in savings; 4000 IRAs)

Prelim Goals for March:
No coops
$340 dollar groceriesContinue Disaster Stockpiling

[monkey's mom]

Kathee, I'm so, so sorry! Been there.

I ordered take out tonight. Just too tired and depressed. It was $38 and now my stomach hurts. Double bleh.

[annethcz]

Attempting to catch up and categorize all of the overspending I did this month.

Onward and upward, right? Next month will be better!

February 1- stayed within budget: $38.35 for pizza, paid bills
February 2- stayed within budget: $110.02 household/misc., $297.39 groceries
February 3-
February 4- stayed within budget: $37.35 gas, paid kids' bowling league fees for the month
February 5-
February 6-
February 7- stayed within budget: $80.27 at Target for school stuff (household/misc)
February 8- stayed within budget: $63.88 DD's birthday party (eating out budget), : $13 chicken feed and bedding, which puts me $3 over my household/misc budget for the month.... unless I count chicken feed as a grocery expense since we get eggs in return for the feed???? I'll have to think about this one.
February 9-
February 10- stayed within budget: $76.47 groceries, $39.01 gas
February 11- stayed within budget: $25.19 take-out
February 12- : went out for lunch with DH $25.07, picked up a wafflemaker at Goodwill $5.31, met a friend for dinner $8, then went shopping and bought a ton of clothes I didn't need $69.33.
February 13- stayed within budget: $55.07 gas, $19.95 school lunches (grocery) : Lunch with DH: $23.85, $30.96 new undies for me (Happy Valentine's Day to DH).
February 14- and +$26.94 clothing return
February 15- stayed within budget: $34.50 groceries
February 16- stayed within budget: $44.91 gas : went out with DH and my sister- $64 for dinner and $27.75 for a movie
February 17- : over budget: $44.91 gas
February 18-
February 19-
February 20- : over budget: $15.93 birthday gift for niece, $13.62 lunch out, $36 kids' school field trip
February 21- : over budget: $130 flowers for MIL's funeral we unknowingly were expected to pay for (misc), $27.46 groceries
February 22- : over budget: $50 gas
February 23-
February 24- : over budget: $155 Let's Dish (groceries)
February 25- : over budget: $35.40 groceries
February 26- : over budget: $34.86 pizza takeout
February 27- : over budget: DH put $20.25 gas in my van
February 28- : over budget: $22.47 Papa Murphy's, $24.27 Target
February 29- : over budget: $49.75 gas


My goals for February:
Track Grocery Spending: $646.17/$550
Track eating out/take out/entertainment spending: $346.58/$150
Track my gasoline spending: $341.25/$180
Track household/ misc. spending: $488.15/$200
Track frivolous spending: $78.66/$0
True no-spend: 11/18 days
No frivolous spending: 25/29 days
No credit card use: 29/29 days
Stay within 15 miles of home: 16/22 days
No-drive: 6/12 days
Exercise: 480/1000 minutes on the treadmill

[ReikiMommy07]

Another couple hundred dollars worth of spending today... But budgeted!

Key:
no spend at all
budgeted
unbudgeted but necessary
: unbudgeted and unnecessary

Goals:
11/9 spend days
18/20 no-spend
2 trips and $63.73/0 groceries until Feb 13
4 trips and $131.24/200 groceries for Feb 13-Mar 13
$21.19/? safety gate for DS
$172.54/10 household supplies, etc
$9.87/20 clothes
$21.17/12.48 gift-making supplies, DH and DS valentines
$92.83/0 looms...
$47.70/43.51 DS bday in March
$270.94/30 health
$583.38/0 unbudgeted spending (unnecessary groceries, gift supplies, DS bday presents, looms; necessary plumber/household, health, textbook) O!M!G!!! Pick me up off the floor, will ya???

Fri 1
Sat 2
Sun 3
Mon 4
Tue 5 $21.19 safety gate for DS
Wed 6 $4.73 drinking water, $163.07 plumber
Thu 7
Fri 8 : $59 groceries
Sat 9 $9.60 DH's Valentine
Sun 10
Mon 11
Tue 12
Wed 13 : $11.57 Lion Brand stuff ($8.69 over budget)
Thu 14
Fri 15
Sat 16 $41.52 groceries, got my LB stuff in the mail already--YAY!
Sun 17
Mon 18
Tue 19
Wed 20
Thu 21 $4.03 groceries, : $47.70 DS bday presents ($4.19 over budget), $105.94 health--reflexology and detox ($75.94 over budget), $9.47 household (over budget)
Fri 22
Sat 23
Sun 24
Mon 25
Tue 26 : $92.83 looms (calling it mental health/sanity and charity donations)
Wed 27 $165 health, $20.46 textbook (less than anticipated!)
Thu 28 $19.13 groceries, $9.87 shoes, $728.52 rent/utilities, $38.90 org. membership dues
Fri 29 $76.56 groceries, $332.90 fuel oil, $50 utilities, $8 bday supplies, $1 MS donation

[mamaof6]

So I ended the month off with a No Spend. All in all the month wasn't too bad. Went over of groceries again and on coffee, but I haven't used a credit card in 2 months. That is a miracle. Looking forward to March. I will stay within my budget one of these months.

2/1 No Spend
2/2 $174.94 groceries; $50 household (Costco membership)
2/3 $43.00 donations; $86.69 groceries; $53.24 gifts for Valentines Day (budgeted)
2/4 $88.00 bowling fees; $56.76 gas; $26.00 allowances for kiddos
2/5 No Spend
2/6 $2.34 coffee; $9.30 clothing (much needed sweatshirts for myself) $2.21 household (lunchboxes for kiddos) .80 school supplies; $53.18 DS birthday gift and balloon; $21.34 milkman
2/7 $2.35 coffee; $1.91 household
2/8 $28.73 Chuck E. Cheese w/kids
2/9 $2.34 coffee (Should've been a no spend
2/10 $36.00 charitable contributions; $5.00 gift for friend; $2.35 coffee; $118.03 groceries
2/11 No Spend
2/12 $1.33 coffee; $12.85 McDonalds for kids; $28.17 bowling w/kids
2/13 $4.26 valentines & stickers; $11.00 bowling fee; $6.00 dh HAD to buy two rounds of drinks at bowling (somehow this is a requirement )
2/14 $3.78 coffee; $1.70 fruit for kids (frivolous ) $4.56 dinner money for ds#1.
2/15 $60.00 gas; $157.45 Chiro; $40.02 groceries
2/16 $47.00 Melaleuca order
2/17 $20.00 charitable contributions; $44.82 groceries; $2.35 coffee
2/18 $25.00 nutritionist consultation; $80.00 haircut & color; $104.44 groceries; $17.63 household
2/19 No Spend
2/20 $15.00 kitty litter; $2.73 coffee; $11.00 dh's bowling league; $8.00 round of drinks at bowling; $32.23 groceries
2/21 $6.00 dh lunch :
2/22 $4.37 coffee; $33.03 dinner; $39.57 groceries & diapers; $67.10 clothes (frivolous ; $74.45 gas
2/23 $5.38 pantyhose; $25.00 money for dinner for kids; $4.50 groceries; $1.80 coffee
2/24 $2.34 coffee (Should've been a no spend
2/25 No Spend
2/26 No Spend
2/27 $137.74 groceries
2/28 $4.22 coffee; $6.90 snack for kids (frivolous spending)
2/29 No Spend


Jill


My Plan

Groceries: $799.65/$750
Household: $148.09/$150
Gas: $191.21/$200
Coffee: $32.30/$25
Frivolous Spending: $62.70/$100
Birthday for DS #2: $53.18/$50
10 no spend days: 7/10
25 no stores days (grocery or Big Box): 20/25
No Credit Cards: 29/29
2x eat out with hubby and/or kids: 3/2
22 hrs decluttering: 6.5/22

[mumkenna&lucas]

2/1
2/2
2/3
2/4
2/5
2/6
2/7 $20 bookstore, $41.72 target, $19 lunch
2/8
2/9 $4.80, $10.00 dd valentines gift
2/10
2/11 $10.25 book, $44.73 co-op, $14.25 co-op
2/12
2/13
2/14
2/15
2/16
2/17
2/18
2/19 $8.00 Book for me $5.50 book for ds
2/20 $7.00 book, $41.00 co-op
2/21
2/22
2/23 $8 necessary hospital parking
2/24 $23 pizza
2/25
2/26
2/27 $30 co-op
2/28
2/29 $25 dinner with a friend, $9.50 birthday gift

February Spending Goals:
No Spend days: 20/25
No etsy/DS/ebay: (except ds trades only!)26/25

[mumkenna&lucas]

Originally Posted by mamaof6

but I haven't used a credit card in 2 months. That is a miracle.

Thats GREAT!! Way to go!!

[mommyjoy7021]

Wrap Up:)

Well....here's the wrap up....

I feel like I did great with grocery spending and gas spending. The grocery spending was way, way down for us. And...I think the gas was down because we had so much sickness. My oldest son got his wisdom teeth out and then 3 out of the 4 of us had strep, so we spent a lot of time at home.

I was disappointed with my working out this month. Again, I think that was partly due to all the sickness. I'm hoping to improve on this next month.

Also, I can see that I have issues with McDonald's coffee. I just love it so much, and I'm constantly by there, and it's hard to refuse....Plus, I budget for it, so I don't feel too bad about it. But...I am going to try and do better next month....even if it's just one less.

I think reporting my spending this month really made me think about every purchase. I'm excited about doing it again next month!!!!

See ya in March!


2/1: Groceries $155.00 / Gas $40.00 / $14 Prescription / $21 Pizza for dinner
2/2: McDonald's Coffee $1.35
2/3: NO SPEND!!!!
2/4: McDonald's Coffee $1.35 / McDonald's $7.50 / Eye Doctor $73.00
2/5: McDonald's Coffee $1.35 / Subway $6.00 / Prescription $6.50
2/6: McDonald's Coffee $1.35 / McDonald's $2.75 / Prescription $58.00 / Candy at CVS 57 cents - This
prescription today was definitely NOT in the budget I'm SO sick of this strep throat stuff!!!!!!!!!!
2/7: McDonald's Coffee $1.35 / Lunch $2.14 / Prescription $6.50 - argh.....
2/8: McDonald's Coffee $1.35 / Lunch $2.42 (Had another coffee-oh my...)/Gas $10.00/Groceries $16.50
2/9: NO SPEND!
2/10: NO SPEND!
2/11: Book @ conference $31.80
2/12: McDonald's Coffee $1.35 / movie & popcorn $10.00
2/13: Lipstick $5.85 / snack $4.00 / gas $50.00 / groceries $147.00
2/14: McDonald's Coffee $1.35 / Mary Kay Make-Up $68.00
2/15: McDonald's Coffee $1.35 / Lunch $2.41 (McDonald's Coffee)
2/16: Gift for birthday party $21.00
2/17: Groceries $12.78 / CVS $16.43
2/18: Yippeeeee.....NO SPEND...it's been awhile
2/19: McDonald's Coffee $1.35 / Dinner $8.07 (McDonald's Coffee)
2/20: NO SPEND!
2/21: Lunch $5.36 (McDonald's Coffee) /Stamps $4.10 / CVS Prescription $8.86 / Chair Glides $4.58
2/22: Groceries $169.95 / Gas $74.00 / Lunch $8.42 (McCof)/ Dinner $14.32 / Movie $45.50 / $2.67 Candy
2/23: I'm anticipating a no spend day...no stopping at McDonald's for a coffee on the way to work
2/24: Date Dinner $70.80 (This was a belated VDay dinner-saved for)/ Target $59.82 (Gift Card Purchase)
2/25: McDonald's Coffee $1.35 / After school care $5.00
2/26: Cranberry Juice $2.78
2/27: Cranberry Pills $9.00
2/28: Lunch $3.62 / McDonald's Coffee
2/29: Lunch $3.37 / McDonald's Coffee





Key:

True NO SPEND day
Spending, but within a budgeted area
Spending, not budgeted or over a budgeted area


19/15 Cups McDonald's Coffee (and that is cutting WAY back for me)
6/15 Times Working Out
28/29 Days Staying within budget
6/15 Days TRUE no spend days (this will be HUGE for me)-(not including paying bills)

Tracking Spending:

$501.23 Groceries
$174.00 Gas

[FeelingBlessed]

Had a couple of minor frugal victories yesterday: instead of purchasing tablecloths for DH's b-day party, I used fabric we had on hand, and rather than running out to p/u ice to keep drinks cold, I opened the door and filled some containers with snow (we currently have an unlimited supply). These victories were offset by a run through the McD drive-through for fries/ice cream on the way home while kids were napping in their seats. Thought I had that McD habit kicked this summer...

Kim

Feb. 1:
Feb. 2:
Feb. 3:
Feb. 4: $8 calendars (already had one)
Feb. 5:
Feb. 6:
Feb. 7:
Feb. 8: $70 pillows; also hit Target - but only bought TP/paper towels
Feb. 9: $4 movies
Feb. 10: $35.50 library late fees
Feb. 11:
Feb. 12:
Feb. 13:
Feb. 14:
Feb. 15: groceries overbudget
Feb. 16:
Feb. 17:
Feb. 18: groceries overbudget
Feb. 19:
Feb. 20: groceries/takeout pizza overbudget
Feb. 21:
Feb. 22: eating out overbudget
Feb. 23:
Feb. 24:
Feb. 25: overbudget - entertaining (DH's party)
Feb. 26:
Feb. 27: :library late fees
Feb. 28:
Feb. 29: $3.30 McD fries/ice cream

GOALS:
* Less than $75 in frivolous spending: month to date $131.80
* At least 25 days (no spend or spending w/in budget): 18/25
* Avoid Target: 28/29
* Pack snacks/water for outings: 29/29
* NO library fines: month to date $46.50
* Stay within grocery/eating out budget: $668/$430

[ladyinred]

Wow, ended the month better than I thought. I figured since it was the end of a week of working I might be tempted to go out and celebrate but ended up staying in to celebrate with wine from the fridge and food in the cupboards and inviting a friend over to watch girly tv

Looking forward to March!

1/02 - $30 student loans
2/02 - Not sure
3/02 - Not sure
4/02 - No spend (worked am & pm)
5/02 - No spend (worked am & pm)
6/02 - Not sure (worked am)
7/02 - ECMA show for free (worked am & pm)
8/02 - Around $15.00 at ECMA shows : paid 2.50 for using another bank's ATM
9/02 - Around $15.00 at ECMA shows
10/02 - Not sure
11/02 - No spend (worked am & pm)
12/02 - No spend (worked pm)
13/02 - No spend (snow day)
14/02 - $30.00 Student loans
15/02 - $560.00 to Dbf for Feb. bills, $21.xx CD for baby shower, $11.xx picture frame and ricola, $32.xx winter boots (I waited till they were on sale )
16/02 - No spend
17/02 - No spend, Dbf bought brunch and groceries
18/02 - No spend, didn't leave the house (rain storm)
19/02 - No spend, went for a walk, tutored
20/02 - No spend, worked am
21/02 - No spend, tutored and finally paid for two weeks of work and applied for interest relief on my national student loans for another 6 months
22/02 - & : $17.xx at Bulk Barn, flour and honey necessary, chocolate chips and gummy bears, not necessary $7.xx at Dollarama household supplies and tutoring supplies, : $7.xx at Reitmans on a skirt, unnecessary but useful and on sale from $40.00. : $9.xx on thigh highs to go with skirt at Shopper's, again, not really necessary, but my old thigh highs bit the dust a few months ago $12.00 dinner out with Dbf's work
23/02 - No spend and got lots done around the house, getting ready for a full week of work. Dbf bought groceries and we bought more than expected
24/02 - No spend, got the basement floor painted in one room finally!
25/02 - paid back $50.00 on CC, worked am & pm but tutoring got cancelled
26/02 - No spend, worked am & pm and tutored
27/02 - No spend, didn't work, another @(&$# storm day: so I also won't get paid for it.
28/02 - No spend, worked am & pm, tutored one child, the other cancelled AGAIN, thinking of dropping the second tutoring job if this keeps up. She cancels more often than not lately.
29/02 - $440 to Dbf for March bills (yay $120 less than expected!) $30 student loan (unexpected extra payment but in the long run it's good)


= No spend
= Bugeted spending
= Unbugeted but necessary spending
: = Unbugeted and unnecessary spending
= wasn't keeping track

Budget:
$560 - Dbf for bills
$60 - Student loans
Any tutoring money (about $150 this month) goes towards entertainment, supplies for the house/work and clothing (spending money)
Pay cheque money beyond bills and student loans goes to pay back CC

[CityChic]

2/2 : $43 on CC at jewelry party, ugh
2/3
2/4 Plus an unexpected work bonus (DH just lost his job so this is perfect timing!)
2/5
2/6
2/7 : $11.75 on cold medicine for DH, $23.50 in additional groceries, not budgeted
2/8
2/9 : $23 on a gift for a birthday party, $35 in additional groceries
2/10 : $26 on lunch, $3 Starbucks
2/11 : $13 on wine for dinner
2/12 (Decided not to buy new chair, go me!)
2/13 Planning a no spend.
2/14
2/15
2/16
2/17 : I received a work bonus. We had planned on putting a set amount toward dept. We decided to keep $200 more than planned for ourselves. I know its a bonus, but I feel guilty for taking more than planned.
2/18
2/19 : .65 on a Coke, $6 on a cab (carpool didn't come through, ugh), $35 late fee (how I missed this bill is beyond me, it is supposed to be on automatic pay, still working on this!)
2/20 : $1.90 in the vending machine, $32.50 on funeral flowers (not budgeted but a needed gesture for a close friend).
2/21 : $30 Gas, $15 lunch, $25 Sitter ugh, ugh, ugh
2/22
2/23 : $21 baby gift, $8.15 on additional groceries
2/24 : $16 on dinner out
2/25 : $5 on household supplies
2/26
2/27 : $10 unbudgeted milk for DS, $60 moving costs
2/28
2/29 : $20 birthday gift

Total overspending in February $666.45
Total no spend days - 14



Key:
- No Spend/Spending in Budget
: - Not in Budget/Not Necessary