**July No-Spend Challenge** - It's the last week of July! Finish strong!! - Page 32

[honeybee80]

7/1 = $16.97 diapers/wipes, $42.50 groceries (plus $32.66 for biweekly produce delivery)
7/2 = :
7/3 = $7 massage at work
7/4 = : $1.93 ice cream
7/5 = $38.87 gas, $4.98 milk
7/6 = :
7/7 = :
7/8 = $59.41 groceries
7/9 = :
7/10 = :
7/11 = :
7/12 = $2.49 milk, : $24 music festival
7/13 = $21.82 groceries, $23.37 gas, : $23.66 new SIGG bottle
7/14 = : $9 flowers for Grandma (unnecessary, but worth it ), $2 earplugs
7/15 = :
7/16 = $31.10 gas, : $6 coffee and treats for kiddos
7/17 = : $6 little bags of souvenir rocks for the kids
7/18 = $36.57 gas, $11.94 groceries, : $64.70 at Target on misc. things--some needed, most not
7/19 = $4.98 milk, $5.79 groceries, $13.94 wasp trap, : $6.45 + $11.83 thrift store, $38.74 skirt & bindis, $6 wine, $7 beer, $4 gelato
7/20 = :
7/21 = :
7/22 = : $16 margarita mix for dinner playgroup
7/23 = $66.51 groceries, $7.35 another wasp trap, $30.69 gas, : $46.20 ticket for Yonder at Red Rocks (unnecessary, but will be very fun )
7/24 = :
7/25 = :
7/26 = :
7/27 = :
7/28 = $3.50 milk
7/29 = :

: no spending 14/20
spending within budget
: unnecessary spending

Grocery total so far = $254.87/$250

[liangel]

My key:

:= groceries
=gas (that gets angry face for gas prices)
=necessary spending= dh b-day, car 10k mile check up
:= unnecessary spending
:=no money left my hands

7/1-:
7/2-:
7/3-: $14.96 a new environmentally friendly water bottle
7/4-:
7/5-:
7/6-:
7/7- $42 gas (didn't fill up), : $58 groceries
7/8-:
7/9-:
7/10-:
7/11-: $52 on various items some necessary, some maybe not, $42 gas
7/12-:
7/13-:
7/14-: $1.73 on Iced Coffee
7/15-: $4.65 Iced Mocha, $22.13 dinner out, $25 dvd
7/16- $10 gas on cc (to get me thru til Friday payday)
7/17-: $1.29 Panera, $4.23 Subway, $8.00 Mexican rest. $63.85 oil change, $86.49 DH b-day present
7/18-: $6 lunch, $32 Circuit City, $50 gas
7/19-:
7/20-:
7/21-:
7/22-:
7/23-:
7/24- $30 gas/ $10 dress alteration/: $50 mani/pedi, $7.42 bkfst and lunch out/ $19.58 Kmart/$2.65 PBS obligation/$4.31 Subway (for the car ride up to NY so we don't have to stop for fast food)/: $29.44 Bi-Lo
7/25- $50 gas for trip to NY (12 hour drive)
7/26-:
7/27-:
7/28- $53.53 gas for trip home
7/29-: $7 (approx) for "take to work lunches", so I am not tempted to eat out.

[scrapadoozer]

07/01
07/02 $10.00 Polly Pocket silliness for dd.
07/03
07/04
07/05
07/06
07/07
07/08
07/09
07/10
07/11
07/12 $2 yard sale, $2 target, $8 magazine subscription
07/13
07/14
07/15
07/16 $1.11 fabric. I really went crazy!
07/17
07/18
07/19 $15 assorted yard sale finds.
07/20
07/21 $7.33 swap shipping
07/22
07/23
07/24
07/25 $11.12 Fast food
07/26 $20.56 another meal out (Not fast food at least!)
07/27 $2 movie rentals
07/28 $4.75 swap shipping
07/29

20/23 No-Spend Days
$83.87/$100 Unnecessary Spending
$430/$250 Credit Card Debt

[FeelingBlessed]

Good News: We had a fantastic time on our beach camping trip.
Not-So-Good News: It was a tad "spendy" (think mini golf, meals, trolley fare, ice cream trips, etc.) - not going to award for camping days as went a little beyond budget, but also not counting as frivolous spending, as overall the vacation was very modest, a huge hit, and much needed by all!

Kim :

July 1:
July 2:
July 3:
July 4:
July 5:
July 6:
July 7:
July 8:
July 9:
July 10:
July 11:
July 12:
July 13:
July 14:
July 15:
July 16: $19.60 library fines
July 17:
July 18: groceries overbudget (incl. MIL's b-day celebration)
July 19: big dumb color laser printer purchase (not frivolous, as it supports my businesses, but crazy expensive if you factor in toner)
July 20: $9
July 21: $20 pizza
July 22: $15 makeup application for photo shoot (mag piece on my business)
July 23:
July 24: overbudget groceries
July 25: Beach camping vacation
July 26: Beach camping vacation
July 27: Beach camping vacation
July 28:
July 29:

GOALS:
* Less than $50 in frivolous spending: month to date $63.60
* At least 25 days (no spend or spending w/in budget): 19/31
* Pack snacks/water for outings: 28/31
* NO library fines: month to date $19.60
* Stay within grocery/eating out budget: $867/$500
* ORGANIZE/declutter (lack of organization = spending): 15/25
* Exercise (feeling good = decreased emotional spending): 21/25
* Meal plan created: 0/4 weeks
* Sell rental house by 8/31 - push hard in July (um, make that Aug.)...
* Sell motorcycle by 7/15: SOLD!!!!!!!!!

[FeelingBlessed]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

BUt listen girls -- the next 45 days HAVE to be no-spend for me. I mean it. There is only so much money left in there and with my DH being a teacher he's not getting paid again until September 15th.

We have to live close to the bone. I've got to get hard core about this.

YOU CAN DO IT...WE CAN HELP!

Okay, believe that phrase is property of Home Depot, but it certainly applies here. You have provided so much support and encouragement to the rest of us; we are here for you now! Tell us if you are thinking about spending; we will convince you not to. Think of us if you are planning to spend; we are eagerly awaiting your daily . Be clear on your plan and goal; you CAN do this!

Kim :

[josybear]

we just got home from holidays and i did well.

july 1:
july 2:
july 3:
july 4:
july 5:
july 6:
july 7:
july 8:
july 9:
july 10: : made 60$ on craigslist!
july 11:
july 12:
july 13:
july 14:
july 15:
july 16:
july 17:
july 18: 24$
july 19: 26$
july 20:
july 21:
july 22:
july 23:
july 24:
july 25: 16$ at ikea
july 26:
july 27: 4$ for coffee
july 28:
july 29:

week 4: 80$
2$ remaining for the month

(the budget is 75$/week for food, transportation, outings, etc, 100$ a month for clothes, gifts, craft stuff, etc)

march: 48% no-spend days
april: 56% no spend days
may: 52% no-spend
june: 33% no-spend

[lunamama]

July 1:
July 2: $61 no drive
July 3:
July 4: $147.53
July 5:
July 6:
July 7:
July 8: $40.01 no drive
July 9: $188.14
July 10: no spend I did drive to the river
July 11: $178
July 12: no spend I drove to a friends house for dinner
July 13:
July 14: $317.56
July 15:
July 16:
July 17: $1252
July 18: $12
July 19: $124
July 20:
July 21: $13.50 no drive
July 22: $71.36 no drive in our van
July 23: $15.00 No drive
July 24:
July 25:
July 26: $439.11
****I did pay $1353.95 to pay off 3 credit cards today!!!*****
July 27: $45.95 signed up for weight watchers again no drive
July 28:
July 30:

[CityChic]

Originally Posted by FeelingBlessed

Good News: We had a fantastic time on our beach camping trip.
Not-So-Good News: It was a tad "spendy" (think mini golf, meals, trolley fare, ice cream trips, etc.) - not going to award for camping days as went a little beyond budget, but also not counting as frivolous spending, as overall the vacation was very modest, a huge hit, and much needed by all!

Kim :

So glad you took a much needed vacation! Quality family time and relaxation is worth more than money can buy! :

[Scribe]

No more happy hours for me for awhile! But I made another $63 on Ebay today, so it's not all bad!

Week 1:
Monday, June 30: no spend, no drive
Tuesday, July 1: no spend
Wednesday, July 2: $541.24 credit card payment; $4.54 at McD's, $19.49 GW
Thursday, July 3: $5 GW
Friday, July 4: no spend
Saturday, July 5: no spend, no drive
Sunday, July 6: $6.06 postage, $75 prescriptions

Week 1 totals:
$35.09/$40 fun money :
$541.24/$1,000 CC
2/1 thrift trips
2/3 no drive days

Week 2:
Monday, July 7: +$35 books sold, -$18.90 for a new book for Mark and a DVD for both of us
Tuesday, July 8: $12.51 PO; $1.85 muffin; $5.41 GW; $3.54 Taco Bell :/
Wednesday, July 9: $2.75 afternoon snack
Thursday, July 10: $5.14 GW; $3.88 Taco Bell
Friday, July 11: $14.96 PO
Saturday, July 12: $2.75 turnover; $15.97 GW
Sunday, July 13: No spend, no drive, $159 CC payment

Week 2 totals:
$85.81/$79.91 fun money
$700.24/$1,000 CC
3/1 thrift trips
1/3 no drive days

Week 3:
Monday, July 14: $13.40 PO
Tuesday, July 15: $3.88 Taco Bell; $4.50 GW; $4 Starbucks
Wednesday, July 16: no spend
Thursday, July 17: no spend
Friday, July 18: $7 breakfast; $3.52 GW; $3.88 Taco Bell
Saturday, July 19: no spend
Sunday, July 21: $5.95 GW, +$29 from Ebay

Week 3 totals:
$46.13/$63.10 fun money :
$700.24/$700 CC :
3/1 thrift trips
0/2 no drive days

Week 4:
Monday, July 21: $3.75 coffee
Tuesday, July 22: $29.70 GW; $3.34 Taco Bell
Wednesday, July 23: $9.60 PO; $5.19 GW; $5.96 lunch; +$18.19 Amazon; $30 Happy Hour, $18 new Portishead CD
Thursday, July 24: $3.32 Taco Bell; $4 GW
Friday, July 25: $5.14 GW, $9 GW
Saturday, July 26: $3.79 GW
Sunday: no spend, no drive

Week 4 totals:
$130.81/$75.16 fun money
$700.24/$700 CC :
6/1 thrift trips
1/2 no drive days

Week 5:
Monday, July 28: $3.34 lunch; +$66 Ebay
Tuesday, July 29: $23.54 swap shipping; $62.79 Old Navy; $26 Happy Hour
Wednesday, July 30: +$63 Ebay; $20 Happy Hour
Thursday, July 21: $17.39 GW

Goals:
$40/week fun money
$700/month to CC
1 thrift trip/week
2 no-drive days/week

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

01.. $7.50 ECHO museum pass
02.. $31 white noise machine, ice cream
03..
04..
05.. $27 pictures from Costco
06..
07..
08..
09.. $10.97 baby stickers and pictures
10..
11..
12..
13.. $10.76 scrapbooking adhesive
14..
15..
16..
17..
18..
19..
20.. $32 workout shorts
21.. $5.42 Burger King
22.. $12 dinner at restaurant
23.. $6 bagel shop, $10.50 plastic animals
24.. $13 diapers, $2 coffee
25.. $53 fair tickets, $8 mp3 downloads
26.. $54 Isis pants, $21 pewter earrings
27..
28..
29..
30..

My goals:

19/20 No Spend Days
Tally of evil: $274.92

Our washing machine is broken so I had to schlep three hampers of laundry (including dirty cloth diapers...not pleasant) to a laundromat this morning.

$10.50 to just WASH the clothes (they are hanging on our clothes line drying). We do laundry every two days!!!! $35 a week to do laundry. This is going to prove to be a very expensive habit so I'm just crossing my fingers that the washing machine repair people get us up and running ASAP.

Can you imagine what a financial hardship going to the laundromat must be for low income families that can't get their own washer and dryer? Sheeesh!!!

I'm not counting this expense though because it is hardly frivolous. We have to have clean clothes.

Oh...and don't get me started on the termite exterminator who is coming on Thursday. That will be $300 easily.

This is proving to be a very expensive month.

Thanks Kim and Rachel for your support!!!! you guys are the best.

[CityChic]

Has anyone ever done a financial fast with their spouse? I am thinking of proposing this to my DH for the month of August. Unless it is already on the calendar for the month or it is a bill, we don't spend anything for a month.

We recently read some material on being content and "stuff" is a huge stumbling block for DH. I was just thinking if we did something like this together, maybe it would be easier.

Any insight is appreciated...

*****

7/1 & : It's a good day!
7/2 : $6.87 for lunch because SOMEONE STOLE MY LUNCH at work!! :
7/3 & : If you want to see what I've been working on check it out here - www.rachaeljudd.wordpress.com
7/4 We had a nice day celebrating with the in-laws
7/5 : $7.00 makeup
7/6 : $67 dinner on the CC , DH and I both thought the other had grabbed cash...ick!
7/7 and :
7/8 and : Used a gift card for some dessert, woo hoo!
7/9 No Spend! I didn't work on writing but will today, I am adjusting my goal to 20 days of working on my business as it seems more realistic.
7/10 : $9.08, ice cream
7/11 : $12.96 - Movies, but we had free dessert at the 7/11
7/12
7/13 : $13.50 breakfast but we packed a lunch and went to the park so that was nice!
7/14 and : what a great day!
7/15 and $15 extra on CC planning to : when I get home!
7/16 : $5.50 on cold drinks during our walk
7/17 : $3.50 on doughnuts :
7/18 Today is going to be no spend! Plus, I got to bill my first freelance client $455 :
7/19 : $25 I let DH talk me into going for brunch...ugh
7/20 : $3.30 Stopped at Starbucks...why coffee...why!!!
7/21 : $12.20 for contact solution and a snack, didn't need the snack
7/22 Yay! I just keep telling myself that we need to pay off the CC
7/23 It will be no spend, there is no reason to spend.
7/24 : $4.14 on snacks
7/25 : $10 outside of budgeted entertainment :
7/26 Yes, a weekend with a thumb, awesome!
7/27 spent only budgetd money, this is a good Sunday for us!
7/28 Pre-emptive no spend!
7/29 We went to the park after dinner and I left the wallet at home.

Specific goals...

Total Overspend: $170.05 :
No Spend Days: 16/20
Debt Payment: $15/$400
**Extra debt payment is not likely to happen this month because DH's work has been slow.
30 minutes/day on business 9/20 :

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Rachael -- I read about financial fasting in that book "The ultimate cheapskate" by Jeff Yeager

(a very funny book, by the way)

and we tried to do a two week financial fast in May...I paid all my bills ahead and just hunkered down.

I was trying to do it just to get a ~feeling~ for what it would be like to truly not spend a dime...would it change the way I felt about money?

Alas, it did not work. I think I spent more in those two weeks than I did the rest of the month.

[nadia105]

7/1: $81 in groceries, $7.50 for coffees out of misc spending budget
7/2: No Spend!
7/3: No Spend!
7/4: $25 groceries, $4 coffee
7/5: No Spend!
7/6: $3.94 on tomato plants
7/7: No Spend!
7/8: : $30 Target, $3.25 Cold Stone Creamery, $20 dr copay
7/9: $15 strawberries:, $7 bagel shop lunch
7/10: $5 Farmer's market, $34 at coop
7/11: $16 perlite for garden
7/12: $20 groceries $20 Home Depot for garden supplies
7/13:
7/14: : $10 Target, incl Dr Pepper
7/15: /: $10 Taco bell. Wasn't that good.
7/16: : $126 on new pillows
7/17: $18.25 farmer's market :$380 car repair
7/18: $14 lunch, $14 for transcripts
7/19: $35 Fleet farm and DQ
7/20: $18 ice cream
7/21: $40 groceries
7/22:
7/23: $9 ice cream
7/24: $11 gas
7/25:
7/26: $60 groceries
7/27:
7/28: $$$ land's end for back to school
7/29: $111 Target $40 groceries $20 copay
7/30:

9/12 true no spend days
26/31 spend w/in budget days
$406/$450 total food spending
$382/$150 total misc spending (household, treats,etc)
$100 saved for dd's school
27/31 no Dr Pepper bought
$18.75/$200 made selling unused items
$56/$100 earned with Pampered Chef

[Logan's Mom]

July 1st - Spent $1.05 on a drink
July 2nd - Spent $1.25 on a drink, $3 on cotton candy at the fair, $11.26 JT co-op shipping (goes under food budget)
July 3rd - Spent $63.91 @ BJs (DH) + $7.00 grocery store - No Drive
July 4th - No Spend
July 5th - No Spend, No Drive
July 6th - $2.50 @ CVS - cookies & m&ms
July 7th - $76.71 Groceries
July 8th - $28.00 pedicure + gas $23.46
July 9th - $1.00 CVS - cookies
July 10th - $85 on a massage - was very stressed about job thing
July 11th - $25.00 celebration dinner (dont have receipts)
July 12th - No spend/No Drive
July 13th - $85.65 Groceries
July 14th - No spend/no drive
July 15th - No spend
July 16th - No send
July 17th - $2.70 on sodas for myself and a friend
July 18th - $2.80 on a lg Iced Coffee
July 19th - $8.64 CVS
July 20th - $52.72 Groceries
July 21st - BJs $92.62 + Target $4.11
July 22nd - $75 waxing and pedicure
July 23rd - $ 6.00 - Lunch
July 24th - $ 6.00 - Lunch = $82.50 -- early xmas presents from co-op
July 25th - $ 6.00 - Lunch
July 26th - $ 1.05 - Ball for DS
July 27th - $ 6.00 CVS + $45.00 Groceries
July 28th - no spend/no drive
July 29th - no spend
July 30th - $215 dentist + $50 books (recommended by DS' psych) + $3 ice coffee

unnecessary spending = $ 328.85
food/groceries = $ 452.01
no drive = 5/31
no spend = 8/31

[scrapadoozer]

07/01
07/02 $10.00 Polly Pocket silliness for dd.
07/03
07/04
07/05
07/06
07/07
07/08
07/09
07/10
07/11
07/12 $2 yard sale, $2 target, $8 magazine subscription
07/13
07/14
07/15
07/16 $1.11 fabric. I really went crazy!
07/17
07/18
07/19 $15 assorted yard sale finds.
07/20
07/21 $7.33 swap shipping
07/22
07/23
07/24
07/25 $11.12 Fast food
07/26 $20.56 another meal out (Not fast food at least!)
07/27 $2 movie rentals
07/28 $4.75 swap shipping
07/29
07/30
07/31 $34.03 fabric

20/23 No-Spend Days
$117.98/$100 Unnecessary Spending
$430/$250 Credit Card Debt PAID OFF!

[lunamama]

July 1:
July 2: $61 no drive
July 3:
July 4: $147.53
July 5:
July 6:
July 7:
July 8: $40.01 no drive
July 9: $188.14
July 10: no spend I did drive to the river
July 11: $178
July 12: no spend I drove to a friends house for dinner
July 13:
July 14: $317.56
July 15:
July 16:
July 17: $1252
July 18: $12
July 19: $124
July 20:
July 21: $13.50 no drive
July 22: $71.36 no drive in our van
July 23: $15.00 No drive
July 24:
July 25:
July 26: $439.11
****I did pay $1353.95 to pay off 3 credit cards today!!!*****
July 27: $45.95 signed up for weight watchers again no drive
July 28:
July 29:
July 30:

[OkiMom]

July 1: ::
July 2: : :
July 3: 100.00 Grocerys 20.00 annual zoo passes for me and DH 5.00 lunch at zoo; 30.00 Diapers for new baby
July 4: ::
July 5: ::
July 6: : :
July 7: : :
July 8: : :
July 9: : :
July 10: 45 dollars for a Moby wrap and New native Sling, 5 for a new bobby pillow.
July 11: : :
July 12: 320.00 Chest Freezer, 30.00 meal out, 10.00 wooden puzzles for DD, 5.00 outfit for new baby coming, 30.00 misc household items 30.00 delievery fee for freezer
July 13: :
July 14- : :
July 15-::
July 16- 171 Groceries.. 10 sling..
July 17- : :
July 18- 150 Misc household things. 15.00 eating out
July 19- : :
July 20- : :
July 21- : :
July 22: :
July 23: : :
July 24: : :
July 25: : :
July 26: : :
July 27: :
July 28: 110 for groceries
July 29- : :
July 30: : :


Goals
24/25 No Spend Days
22/20 No Drive Days
330/200 Food budget
50/50 Household budget
115/100 New baby budget
Make 200.00 off selling things we don't need/want/use: to date 455/200
900/1000 pay off most of car

[OkiMom]

Originally Posted by CityChic

Has anyone ever done a financial fast with their spouse? I am thinking of proposing this to my DH for the month of August. Unless it is already on the calendar for the month or it is a bill, we don't spend anything for a month.

We recently read some material on being content and "stuff" is a huge stumbling block for DH. I was just thinking if we did something like this together, maybe it would be easier.

Any insight is appreciated...

I was thinking of trying something simlar with DH for two weeks in August. We want to pay off 2000 on my car back in the states and we have to get insurance on it (even though its in storage its financed and CA still requires it to have insurance). I was thinking more like two weeks instead of the entire month but I don't know how well it would work for a couple of reasons:
1) DH goes through at least a tank of gas a week
2) I need to start getting stuff for the baby, I start my 3rd trimester next week and I don't have anything other than clothing, carriers and one or two diapers
3) Im not sure he would go for it
4) DH is on the range (shooting for the Marine Corps) next month and I don't think he would remember it after being out from 4am-8pm and I don't want him to skip getting water/food because he forgot his and thinks Ill get upset.

We will see though, Im going to talk to him tonight or tomorrow about it.

[josybear]

july 1:
july 2:
july 3:
july 4:
july 5:
july 6:
july 7:
july 8:
july 9:
july 10: : made 60$ on craigslist!
july 11:
july 12:
july 13:
july 14:
july 15:
july 16:
july 17:
july 18: 24$
july 19: 26$
july 20:
july 21:
july 22:
july 23:
july 24:
july 25: 16$ at ikea
july 26:
july 27: 4$ for coffee
july 28:
july 29:
july 30: : 89$ groceries and house stuff

week 4: -7$
0$ remaining for the month

(the budget is 75$/week for food, transportation, outings, etc, 100$ a month for clothes, gifts, craft stuff, etc)

march: 48% no-spend days
april: 56% no spend days
may: 52% no-spend
june: 33% no-spend

[honeybee80]

7/1 = $16.97 diapers/wipes, $42.50 groceries (plus $32.66 for biweekly produce delivery)
7/2 = :
7/3 = $7 massage at work
7/4 = : $1.93 ice cream
7/5 = $38.87 gas, $4.98 milk
7/6 = :
7/7 = :
7/8 = $59.41 groceries
7/9 = :
7/10 = :
7/11 = :
7/12 = $2.49 milk, : $24 music festival
7/13 = $21.82 groceries, $23.37 gas, : $23.66 new SIGG bottle
7/14 = : $9 flowers for Grandma (unnecessary, but worth it ), $2 earplugs
7/15 = :
7/16 = $31.10 gas, : $6 coffee and treats for kiddos
7/17 = : $6 little bags of souvenir rocks for the kids
7/18 = $36.57 gas, $11.94 groceries, : $64.70 at Target on misc. things--some needed, most not
7/19 = $4.98 milk, $5.79 groceries, $13.94 wasp trap, : $6.45 + $11.83 thrift store, $38.74 skirt & bindis, $6 wine, $7 beer, $4 gelato
7/20 = :
7/21 = :
7/22 = : $16 margarita mix for dinner playgroup
7/23 = $66.51 groceries, $7.35 another wasp trap, $30.69 gas, : $46.20 ticket for Yonder at Red Rocks (unnecessary, but will be very fun )
7/24 = :
7/25 = :
7/26 = :
7/27 = :
7/28 = $3.50 milk
7/29 = :
7/30 = :

: no spending 15/20
spending within budget
: unnecessary spending

Grocery total so far = $254.87/$250