March No-Spend Challenge ~ The finish line is in sight...almost there! - Page 2

[Patrick's mummy]

1. I'm a SAHM to two boys aged 4 and 2, with a baby due in 2 months. My DH brings home a reasonable income but we have a lot of debt and also have to run two cars because we live in the middle of nowhere and DS1 has to go to school... this makes life pretty expensive and things are tight at the moment.
2. We have some considerable expenses coming up related to the new baby - like a second bed for the older ones to cosleep, car maintenance issues, a twin stroller... At the moment, these look impossible.
3.Plan is to continue to menu plan and keep a tight rein on groceries/other household expenditure. My weakness is picking up little edible treats when on school run etc. This needs to stop. Last month, I did 10/29 no spend days. It's a longer month and some of that was sweets etc so I am looking to increase that to 14 no spends.

[Scribe]

My first spending challenge for March: I have gained weight and need a few new items of clothing for spring to be presentable. I am trying to decide how much to budget.

[boigrrrlwonder]

1. I'm K, partnered and with a 12 month old in tow.
2. We're trying this challenge because I really want to build up a savings right now - we are hoping to start TTC our second child in a year AND buy a house in the next five.
3. The goals are:
16 no spend days
$250 on groceries
$50 on transportation
$0 on library fines

[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 3 girls. I am a wohm but am on maternity leave for the next year. I skipped last month because with a newborn it was hard to spend so I didn't do to badly. Back on the thread this month to make sure I keep that spending in check.

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

I am currenly off work and will have significantly less income to work with. I also want to reduce the amount we consume because I feel guilty and want to reduce our impact on the earth.

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?

1) Stay out of the stores and no internet shopping.

2) Do more cooking from scratch, use up the stuff in the pantry, freezer etc and buy a lot fewer convenience foods.

3) Find cheap/free activities to do with the kids

Grocery/Household items - $500
Take out - $100
Misc Spending - $100
Shoes for dd2 - $60

[josybear]

i just made march's meal plan, they're all 5$ (or less) meals with enough for lunch the next day. i'm gonna do it!

[PrettyBird]

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us anything you think it would help us to know about yourself.
I am PrettyBird (not my real name lol) and I am a SAHM/pt grad student and my DH is in the military. I have been wanting to participate in this thread for a long time but I get intimidated by the size of the thread!

2. Please tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of March. Memorize these goals and recite them to yourself before all purchases.
We recently moved and in the past 2 months have spent way too much. We have purchased a lot of stuff for the new place, plus DH had to buy a bunch of new uniforms ($$$!!!), plus my bi-yearly tuition $764 was due this month. We do have a good amount of disposible income because we have been reducing our bills, so I know we can do much better now that those expenses are out of the way.

Goals: I would like to have at least $500 left over to put in short-term savings after bills, retirement, and DD's college acct. are paid.


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
This month will be a good month for us. I am visiting my parents for the month and DH is out to sea so he can't spend any money besides the $20/paycheck that is sent to his account for toiletries, etc. I will probably buy some groceries so I don't overburden my parents (although they never let me buy when I am with them) and fill up their car when I am driving it but otherwise there is nothing we need to buy for the month. We also have a lot of food in the freezer/pantry for when we get back so I think April will be a good month too.

[kathirynne]

Originally Posted by monkey's mom

...some money for the kids to get/do some things $50? $100? This depends on the weather, I think....if it's warm and we can get outside more then it'll be less. If this cold stuff continues a trip to the thrift store/dollar store might be in order....

Could you make bread (or other baked goods) with what you already have on hand? I have found with my own children, that cooking can be a really fun indoor activity, and not very spendy if we make simple things.

[BrooklynDoula]

Woo-hoo. I feel like I rocked Feb. I did my taxes and we own about $1500 less than I thought we did. We are within sight of being cc-debt free. I feel good

My goals/budget for March is:


0/600 food budget (grocery, eating out)
0/100 kid budget (homeschool, clothes, trips, gifts, holidays, etc)
0/100 dh & I fun money
0/200 business/household (this month it will include a gift for my dad, a couple books I need to buy, supplies of dh's studio, etc)
0/1300 to cc
pay taxes!
0/300 - car repair? Not sure what it will cost, lets hope less!
0/45 metro/gas
0/45 laundry
0/10

= no spend on anything
= spent within budget (and only on needed things)
= blew it

[mamimapster]

March Goals:
No unbudget spend days goal 15/31 actual:0/31
No Drive Days goal: 10/31 actual: 0/31
No frivolous spending over 100 actual: 0/100
Sold items 0/50
Thrift/HB kit items: 0/40
Decluttering 30 min day 0/26
Grocery budget 0/350
Baked/bulk cooking 0/13
Study 30 min/day goal 20/31 actual:0/31

Feb Goals:
No unbudget spend days 11/29
No Drive Days7/29
No frivolous spending over 100 actual: 127.01/100
Sold items 60/50
NEED Maternity clothes actual:42.25/30
Decluttering 30 min day 11/26
Grocery budget 352.59/350
Baked/bulk cooking 7/12

[noahandlinasmom]

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

My name is Donna, and we are a family of four soon to be 5. I am a SAHM and my husband is currently employed only part-time, with varying hours. I am hoping he will have full-time employment by the end of the month. This is my second month with the challenge.

Previous challenge results:
Feb. 2008
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

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

We need to continue to downsize debt, we eventually need a different car, and we just don't have a lot to waste.

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?

0/8 Stay Home Days
0/$0 Added to Savings- we don't have this budgeted, so anything added is excellent
0/$160 Towards Debt
0/10 Trips to the Grocery Store
0/4 Eating Out- but must fit into budget
0/$0 Impulse or Unneeded Purchase/Spending

I don't track every expense, just extra good news or over budget spending.

Guide:
: No Spending
Spent in Budget
Necessary but Unbudgeted Spending
: Impulse or Unneeded Purchase/Spending

[leomom]

Ok, I am jumping back in. Been MIA since December when I fell of the wagon...just recovering from the fall.

I have decided to join again for March because I've recently realized that I continue to spend every. penny. I. come. across.

And I simply do not want to be that way. I see my mom who has more than enough coming in every month, but nothing to show for it and no security b/c she spends every penny that she makes. and then some.

So...my goal this month is to tweak the budget a bit and stick to it. And to have some left over (even if just a penny) in every category at the end of the month.

How am I going to do it?

Stay home/off internet (shopping/ebay/etc.) days 0/8
DR Snowball method 0/2100
Follow the pantry challenge...0/30
Cut down on eating out 0/6

[katheek77]

Still on track

1. Who am I?
I am Kathee, SAHM to Katie, 20 mos. DH is in the military. I did the no-spend challenge for the first time last month. Last month we spent only 68% of our income (I didn't count our tax refund in my calculations as that went straight into savings, anyway). This included all of our expenses - rent, utilities, groceries, eating out, etc. The rest went into savings/investments/529. I'm pretty stoked about it. My goal for the year is to put 30% of all our income into savings/IRAs/investments. I fell short on days regarding no spend/no drive/no eat out. They were 16/19, 16/19, and 23/24. Our weaknesses are groceries and dining out.

2. Why are we doing this?
This month, we will be living on less as my DH has to go away for military courses for five weeks and we will be paying out of pocket until he gets his reimbursement. I had money direct deposited into his individual account to cover everything except the hotel - that will come from the joint account...for 35 days, I'm expecting it to cost anywhere from 1-2000 - we don't know right now. So, not only are we living on significantly less to begin with, there will be a significant chunk taken out...I'd rather not dip into savings for it, but, if I have to, I will and just put the reimbursement back in when we get it.

I'm going to keep the same general goals. Even if I don't make them, it still makes me think about them.
*20/31 no spend days
*20/31 no drive days - I *have* to plan my driving out ahead. I know I need to go to the PO, library, video store, ATM, and car wash (laundry quarters) tomorrow. I need to think about if there is ANYWHERE else I need to go for the next few days.
*26/31 no eat out days
*$225 grocery spending - this *should* be easy since DH will be gone after the 10th or so. I'll eat anything, including cheap stuff like beans and rice. I also plan to knock off some of the millions of boxes of cereal in the house. I'm going to try to NOT buy any cheese this month. LOL. DD is pickier, and I will need to buy fruit, a little dairy toward the end of the month, a little meat toward the end of the month, and salad for her (this kid LOVES salad).

[monkey's mom]

Originally Posted by kathirynne

Could you make bread (or other baked goods) with what you already have on hand? I have found with my own children, that cooking can be a really fun indoor activity, and not very spendy if we make simple things.

Thank you for this. Baking and cooking is pretty much just part of our normal lives. And we've just raided the cupboards for cornstarch and water, vinegar and baking powder, and all the old flour to make lots and lots of "dough." And then we tried to dye it with food coloring. And we've made more craft projects than I can list. And paint. And pasta play. And a bean bin. And soapy water in a bin. *sigh* We're bored. We're ready for spring. And since I've cut back on the musuem visits and outings, I want to get some new things for them. The thrift store has so many great deals on games and such. I don't HAVE to buy new Haba games at my favorite waldorf toy store for $40. In theory. So, we'll see. But thanks for thinking of us!

Hubby did just barter for new truck tires, so we've got one of those to hang in the back yard! And some excess lumber to cut up and sand. So hopefully, we'll get some warmth and can get outside!!! : << sick of this!!

[katheek77]

Monkey's Mom,

I don't know where you live, but have you looked into a family pass for the museum or zoo? Here in Pitt, we have a family membership to the zoo for $70/year, and a family pass to the Carnegie Museums for $130/year...(and the carnegie museums are anywhere from $11-15/person, I believe). For us, it's totally worth it, and we can go as many times as we want. Sometimes, the deals on museum/zoo passes are quite good, especially if you have a larger family or expect to visit often.

[monkey's mom]

Yes! So funny that you mention this, Kathee....it's on my list of things to get. The gas is also an issue--just b/c we live about an hour's drive from the museums--but, I'm definitely considering it! There's been a huge conversation about it on my local list. And now that my little one is getting older, it's much more fun for him, too. Over the course of one year it would *totally* pay for itself. Thanks for the prompting!!

[annethcz]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

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

I'm Ann, married mama of 4 living out in the country. My kids started school for the first time ever last month, and I'm still trying to figure out what our new lifestyle is going to look like without having my kids with me 24/7.

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

I rocked this challenge in December and January, but fell hard last month. By now, I know what my triggers are. If I feel stressed or out of control I spend money in an attempt to make life easier. We still have some credit card debt left from when we moved last year, and I want that debt GONE. In order to erradicate that debt I need to keep a handle on my spending.

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?

To start with, I've readjusted my budgeted amounts since I went over in EVERY category last month. If I make good decisions I'll have plenty of wiggle room in the budget.

I will menu plan. I spend less on groceries and my days go more smoothly when I religiously meal plan. I will do a minimum of 2 weeks of planning at a time.

I'm also planning to drive less. Just because my kids are in school does NOT mean that I need to drive and go out to lunch every day with DH. I have plenty of projects to accomplish at home, I don't need to go out for entertainment.

In previous months I've also tracked my no drive and exercise goals on this thread, just so I can keep everything in one place. I'll continue that this month.

My goals for March:
0/15 true no-spend days
0/31 no credit card use
0/5 no drive days
0/10 drive more than 50 miles in a day
$0/$600 groceries
$0/$300 household/misc.
$0/300 gas
$0/200 eating out/take out/entertainment
0/1000 minutes on the treadmill

[mumkenna&lucas]

This will be my seventh month here! Although I didn't do to well last month Spending wise.
I am a SAHM to a 4 year old dd and a 2 year old ds,
We have home renovations approaching, cc debt, student debt, and car payments. Not easy with one income so I have to keep more control of our money and where it goes! I really want to see our savings account #'s go waaay up! I was able to put alittle more than i thought I was going to in our savings last month so now it needs to stay there and I hope this month I can add quite a bit more!

My goals this month are:

• compact!
• only 2 co-op this month!!
• No Credit Cards!
• Save, Save, Save!
• declutter and simplify

March Spending Goals:
No Spend days: 25/31
No etsy/DS/ebay: 27/31
Non-necessary Spending: <200

Exceptions that I won't count against me
A few items for dd and ds's easter baskets
Kids pictures taken
1 new to me pair of jeans

[leomom]

One day at a time...

Today I have some free time on my hands. Planning to spend it reading at a coffee shop where I have a gift card.

[Twinklefae]

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

I'm Sarah, SAHM to Orion, 6 mo. DF works but money's tight.


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

Last month DF, usually the more frugal one, let loose and we WAY overspent, and lost our savings. It wasn't smart, but our day-today budget is so tight, that once we started it got out of control really fast. We need to start putting money back in savings... we'll need it to pay for the wedding in August!

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?

Staying at home is a good one. I can't seem to go to the grocery store for one thing without spending $30 these days.

Planned spending includes:
$10 for Easter for baby.
$70 on Diaper and stainless steel sip cups for baby
$20-ish for good friends b-day

The biggest way to cut our spending will be to avoid running out mid week for "treats". We spnd way too much money on food. It will be hard though, as DF acts like we're starving when it's suggested that we not get them... I think I'll have to plan snacks in with the groceries (About $100 a week) and convince him to eat those!

[scrapadoozer]

Originally Posted by josybear

i just made march's meal plan, they're all 5$ (or less) meals with enough for lunch the next day. i'm gonna do it!

That's great! Would you be willing to share your meal plan?