**July No-Spend Challenge** - It's the last week of July! Finish strong!! - Page 33

[allborntogrow]

1: : $5 lunch & 6.80 organizer thing and frozen juice concentrate
2:
3:
4: :3.00 & 38.95 sis's birthday gift & 9.79 organizer & : .97 candy for me
5: 3.01 ice cream for dad . . . he just had surgery
6: 63.27 at Target - underwear for hubby and some baby stuff . . . 13 dollars worth is going back tomorrow . . . was it necessary? I don't know I think so
7: + 12.70 returns at Target
8:
9: : 62.85
10:
11: : 3.66 lunch and soda at work
12: 250 exactly . . . won't get into it but it was all budgeted (although not fun)
13:
14: : 1.94 food and 1.25 soda at work . . . I've got to get on the ball! I'm doing a horrible job bringing my lunch this week and it's only monday!!! Also 9.79 on a micro SD card - not planned for but a GREAT deal (1G) and I will use it : 30.18
15:
16:
17:
18: : 7.72 on food and a drink at work . . . my friday/payday treat. 46.45 on clothes for my son. They grow like freaking weeds.
19:
20: : 2.00
21: : 3.89 on a chocolate bar and candy . . . skittles were on sale for .30!!!
22:
23: + 21.20 in returns at Target
24:
25: tons that I haven't even added up yet! We did get basically all of the baby stuff, though. I'll add it up very soon but I think today's total was around 500. That includes a : 15.00 lunch.
26:
27:
28: : & : 4.28 snacks
29:
30:

Truly no spend!
: Groceries
Necessary or planned spending
: unnecessary spending

[OkiMom]

Overall I think I did pretty good this month. I really need to get the grocery bill down. I have a TON of stored up food I think Ill use that next month and try to keep spending to a minimum.

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: : :
July 31: : :


Goals
25/25 No Spend Days
23/20 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

[FeelingBlessed]

Worked too much yesterday to spend!

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 printerly 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:
July 30:

GOALS:
* Less than $50 in frivolous spending: month to date $63.60
* At least 25 days (no spend or spending w/in budget): 20/25
* Pack snacks/water for outings: 29/31
* 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): 22/25
* 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!!!!!!!!!

[CityChic]

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.
7/30

Specific goals...

Total Overspend: $170.05 :
No Spend Days: 17/20
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 :

Originally Posted by OkiMom

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.

It sounds like you have a lot going on right now...can you maybe do a weekend or a set day (ie every Monday you do a financial fast). I think no matter how much time is spent doing it, it can be beneficial.

DH and I are going full force (July 31 - September 19)...I'm a little nervous, but excited too!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Go Rachael Go!!! you can do it!!!

What all are you doing to prepare for the financial fast? do you have to stock up on groceries? Pay bills early? will you only fill your car up with gas once during that month?

I'm very curious because I would like to try this again too.

[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..
31..

My goals:

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

: Yahoo!!!!! Made my 20 days!!!!

It was not a record breaking month, but getting 20/20 days is great for me so I'm happy with that.

See you guys over on the August thread!

[mamimapster]

July 1No Spend:
July 2No Spend
July 330.00 on a rather iffy lunch :-(
July 423.96 thrift (1/2 price day!),10.25 Snacks out
July 5 No spend/No Drive:
July 670.00 target-last minute baby/HB supplies
,7.00 Ice cream for stressed family
July 7100.04-Groceries,19.39 Phone minutes (both budgeted so counting as No Spend
July 8Gas 25.05- (budgeted so no-spend)
July943.00-movie & snacks for four it was an outing to celebrate one of my last days before maternity leave, but two of the kids hated the movie-so kind of a waste did have a partial stipend for this, so only counting 1/2 as frivolous
July 10No Spend
July 1110.00 gelato outing
July 12No spend/No Drive!
July 13No Spend/No Drive:-see what a day of unproductive contractions can achieve
July 14errands-Co-op 9.56,11.13-wedding presnt for cousin,12.79whole foods,2.00 atm fee
July 15No spend/no drive-Happy birthing Day Julia!!!::July 16No spend/no drive-in hospital
july 17charge phone minutes 67.88
july 18no spend-first time home
july 19last payment to AWESOME hb midwife
july 20no spend no drive
july 21no spend/no drive
july 2250.00 ER co-pay,doctor incompetence priceless::july 23no sp/no dr-hospital
july 2410.00 pediatrician copay
july 25no sp/no dr
july 2610.00 great deal on new carseat base
July 277.23 first baby outing for ice cream
july 289.00-wipes&diaper bits/no drive
July 29no spend
july 304.00 coffee
July 31preemptive no drive/no spend

July Goals:
No unbudget spend days goal 15/30, 17/30
No Drive Days goal: 10/30,11/30
No frivolous spending over 100 actual: 93.56/100
Sold items 12/30-may not be able to do this pending babymoon
Thrift/HB kit items: 45.96/40
Decluttering/organizing 20 min day 10/24
Grocery budget 341.73/375-Extra for price increase & extra person in household. House now has right amount of people as of 7/14!!!!!
Baked/bulk cooking:3/13
Study/Daven daily goal 9/15

[CityChic]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

Go Rachael Go!!! you can do it!!!

What all are you doing to prepare for the financial fast? do you have to stock up on groceries? Pay bills early? will you only fill your car up with gas once during that month?

I'm very curious because I would like to try this again too.

Thanks for the encouragement (I need it for sure!) Here is the blog post I wrote about the fast today...I think it explains it...

The big difference between the fast and the no-spend challenge is that A) we are doing it together and holding each other accountable B) we are not spending money in budgeted categories (clothing, entertainment, etc.) C) We are going to use the time we would be spending on ourselves to contribute to our family, faith or neighborhood.

The blog http://www.45dayfinancialfast.blogspot.com/

*****

It’s July 31st 2008 and we (my husband and I) are fasting. Not from food or TV but from money, a financial fast so to speak. So, if you want to follow along, check out this facebook live blog daily. I will be updating our progress, struggles and successes.

So why the fast: We recently read the chapter on contentment from Tim Stafford’s book “Never Mind the Joneses”. It quickly began a family discussion about contentment. What does being content mean? Are we content? How do we gauge if we are content? Thanks to the reading we were really struck that contentment was a spiritual discipline, an idea that we had never thought about before. If contentment was a spiritual discipline then we realized we had a long way to go and a lot of things to learn.

From our reading we found that some ways to spur on a content spirit are by:

-Increasing Opportunites for Generosity (of our time, talent and treasure)
-Living Simply (not being cheap, but being simple)
-Family Fasting (this event)
-Counting our Blessings (being thankful)
-Daily Prayer

We hope to incorporate these things into our lives in the next 45 days.

After a lot of talk about our possessions, our time and our money we found our biggest area of discontent, doing. As a family we “do” things for ourselves, selfishly, in order to be content. A lot of selfish doing for us includes indulging in treats (Starbucks, ice cream, spontaneous events out) which means we also indulge in spending. The amount may not be big and the event may not be large but we struggle with being satisfied with going to the park, sitting on the back deck or helpfully participating in the lives of others.

And the birth of the financial fast began. From now (July 31st) until our vacation (September 19th) we will not spend. For us not spending means that we will not be indulging in constantly “doing”. We hope to spend that time not spending/doing being productive with family time. If contentment is a spiritual discipline we need to focus on things of the spirit. So here are some commitments we are making:

-We will spend on necessities (groceries, house payment, etc.)
-We will spend on events we have already committed to (a dinner with a friend, a Sunday brunch)

-We will replace “doing” with “being” - taking the time and money we spend doing things for ourselves to be something to others. This may involve being a family, being a better neighbor, being in prayer, etc.
-We will eliminate un-necessary things in our life - starting by cutting down the cable TV package we have. Do we really need 550 channels? Nope.
-We will say no to doing activities that focus on us and instead say yes to doing activites that focus on others.
-We will actively seek counsel from others and God’s guidance for this specific task of fasting and learning about contentment.

Tim Stafford said it best:

“To produce contentment we need to battle. These battles are not won in church, though church has its role. They are won through a family culture that minimizes covetousness, cultivates generosity and encourages trust.”

Philippians 4:11-13

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

[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:
7/31: groceries, gas and 2.50 on coffee

9/12 true no spend days
27/31 spend w/in budget days
$406/$450 total food spending
$382/$150 total misc spending (household, treats,etc)
$100 saved for dd's school
28/31 no Dr Pepper bought
$18.75/$200 made selling unused items
$56/$100 earned with Pampered Chef

We filled up the van and hit Trader Joe's for all of our staples, we are set for a great start to August!

[mumkenna&lucas]

]7/1 $235 don't ask
7/2
7/3
7/4
7/5
7/6 $70 bag
7/7
7/8
7/9
7/10
7/11 $21 coop
7/12
7/13
7/14 $62 coop, $55 target
7/15
7/16
7/17
7/18
7/19
7/20
7/21 $25 movies
7/22
7/23 $115 dream wrap
7/24
7/25 -7/30 fell off wagon! AND didn't post
7/31 $32 dress

July Spending Goals:
No Spend days: 18/20
No etsy/DS/ebay: 20/25

July Savings Goals:
Disneyland: 50/300
Swim: 0/250
Car: 0/100

[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 no drive
July 28:
July 29:
July 30:
July 31:

Well, July was an eye opener for sure! I am planning a very frugal August. Of course I have things that I would like to buy but my plan is to not buy them. I am budgeting $$ for dh's weekends and then using the rest of the Fred Meyer money we bought on the 17th for groceries. $660 for the month should work, especially since we have CSA veggies already paid for and 3 cases of cereal. I think it is really doable and I am excited! I do need to allow for some fun money for the month, I think. Like 20 a week or something to get the kids ice cream here and there and a coffee or something. Then I can treat it as a treat and its only 20 bucks and it will hopefully keep me from buying something really expensive online or at the store because I feel super-restricted. So, even though I spent a lot...I paid off over 1300 in credit cards and I still have 600 plus left from the giftcards. Overall...productive month that realyl brought about some major awarenesses!!!

[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 = :
7/31 = :

: no spending 16/20
spending within budget
: unnecessary spending

Grocery total= $254.87/$250

I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with how well I did this month! 16 no spend days and $255 for groceries is really good for me. I hope to do about the same in August, which might be a bit tricky with everything I have going on, but I'm going to do my best.

[miss_sonja]

I think I did pretty good this month. I spent some unplanned $ on my car. We only ate out a few times, gosh, I can't believe how much we used to spend eating out. I bought one, new hardcover book but it was planned for not an impulse. I actually almost decided to take it back, but dropped it on the way to the car, and thus had to keep it. Ha ha.

Having a produce delivery really helps with the impulse buying at the grocery store. Ditto buying a ton of meat at Costco and keeping it in the freezer. Keeps me out of the store, where lurks temptation.

...like dark chocolate & pomegranite Haagen Daaz ice cream bars, which are in my freezer. That's my impulse buy. At least they taste good and won't clutter up my house.

[OkiMom]

Originally Posted by CityChic

It sounds like you have a lot going on right now...can you maybe do a weekend or a set day (ie every Monday you do a financial fast). I think no matter how much time is spent doing it, it can be beneficial.

DH and I are going full force (July 31 - September 19)...I'm a little nervous, but excited too!

That might work a little better. Its just so much all happening at once it seems. Im going to talk to him tonight about it. I want to get him to track his spending anyway since I know he is spending a LOT more than he realizes on little things he could take to work from home.

[allborntogrow]

1: : $5 lunch & 6.80 organizer thing and frozen juice concentrate
2:
3:
4: :3.00 & 38.95 sis's birthday gift & 9.79 organizer & : .97 candy for me
5: 3.01 ice cream for dad . . . he just had surgery
6: 63.27 at Target - underwear for hubby and some baby stuff . . . 13 dollars worth is going back tomorrow . . . was it necessary? I don't know I think so
7: + 12.70 returns at Target
8:
9: : 62.85
10:
11: : 3.66 lunch and soda at work
12: 250 exactly . . . won't get into it but it was all budgeted (although not fun)
13:
14: : 1.94 food and 1.25 soda at work . . . I've got to get on the ball! I'm doing a horrible job bringing my lunch this week and it's only monday!!! Also 9.79 on a micro SD card - not planned for but a GREAT deal (1G) and I will use it : 30.18
15:
16:
17:
18: : 7.72 on food and a drink at work . . . my friday/payday treat. 46.45 on clothes for my son. They grow like freaking weeds.
19:
20: : 2.00
21: : 3.89 on a chocolate bar and candy . . . skittles were on sale for .30!!!
22:
23: + 21.20 in returns at Target
24:
25: tons that I haven't even added up yet! We did get basically all of the baby stuff, though. I'll add it up very soon but I think today's total was around 500. That includes a : 15.00 lunch.
26:
27:
28: : & : 4.28 snacks
29:
30:
31: : 9.28 & 27 on a baby thing & : 1.00 on a bagel . . . I was about to take a final and feeling lightheaded, so I guess you could say it was necessary but I should have planned to bring something!

Anyway, it's over! Now on to August! Woohoo!!!

Truly no spend!
: Groceries
Necessary or planned spending
: unnecessary spending

[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!

[p1gg1e]

I hope to stay on top of next months better. It was a rough month here and really not much spending just disorganized and busy

[CityChic]

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.
7/30
7/31

Great month! This is by far my lowest overspend month! :

Specific goals...

Total Overspend: $170.05 :
No Spend Days: 18/20
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 :

[CityChic]

Originally Posted by OkiMom

That might work a little better. Its just so much all happening at once it seems. Im going to talk to him tonight about it. I want to get him to track his spending anyway since I know he is spending a LOT more than he realizes on little things he could take to work from home.

Sounds great, you never know, he might have some ideas too! Let us know what you come up with!!!

Originally Posted by p1gg1e

I hope to stay on top of next months better. It was a rough month here and really not much spending just disorganized and busy

You will! Just thinking about not spending is a step in the right direction!

[FeelingBlessed]

Alas, no more for July - spent $ on pizza yesterday to bring when visiting friends at their lake house. Wacky schedule and poor planning resulted in unnecessary spending, but a great time was had by all.

On to August and a fresh slate!

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 printerly 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:
July 30:
July 31: $24.84 takeout pizza

GOALS:
* Less than $50 in frivolous spending: month to date $88.44
* At least 25 days (no spend or spending w/in budget): 20/25
* Pack snacks/water for outings: 29/31
* NO library fines: month to date $19.60
* Stay within grocery/eating out budget: $892/$500
* ORGANIZE/declutter (lack of organization = spending): 15/25
* Exercise (feeling good = decreased emotional spending): 23/25
* 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!!!!!!!!!