~September No Spend Challenge~ Finishing Strong! - Page 6

[mommyto4grits]

:Yeah- No spend or drive day!:
I do have to drive tonight 20 miles total to a homeschooling meeting, but no needless running around during the day, no money spent!

[PhotoJournMama]

1)$2.00 on drinks for me and dh
2)
3)groceries = $91.58
4)$5 for a book, 21.20 for baby gift

[Nora_SEA]

Originally Posted by liangel

Hey has anyone ever made Ramen Noodles and added an egg (or 2) to it? How do you do it? Do you just crack the egg in while the noodles are cooking in the water or do you wait for the noodles to be soft, then add the egg? How long do you cook it with the egg in it for?

I've first cooked the noodles (usually added veggies also) as per directions and then wisked the egg and then slowly poured it in and stirred for 30 seconds or so until the egg has cooked.

[Scribe]

I made it today!

Sept 1:
Sept 2: $7 lunch
Sept 3: $29 shipping; $7 breakfast/coffee
Sept 4:

[Nora_SEA]

9.1: $20 groceries, $60 gas
9.2: $54 groceries + plus paid many of our Sept bills online, $11 @ Dollar Store on coloring books/paper for girls... unnecessary since they have some already!
9.3:
9.4: -$3 on shake at gym since I forgot to eat breakfast before a 2 hour workout.
9.5:
9.6:

__________________________________________________ _______
=NO SPEND DAY
=BUDGETED SPEND
=UNNECESSARY SPEND

I'm going to aim for:
1 /18 no spend days.
$74.00/400.00 on food.
3/16 days to the gym=32 hours of exercise! Hopefully drop 10 pounds!
/$700.00/$400.00 to savings. 9.2.08 tx'd 700.00 to savings! Now to not have to use it!
$2500.00+ to debt reduction (not inc. mortgage).
/1 Eating Out
Total Unnecessary spending = $14

[Purple*Lotus]

Originally Posted by CityChic

Hi! We decided on 45 days at the start. From the time we started the fast until our vacation (Sept 19th).

It is helping! More than anything it has sparked really good conversation between DH and I. He is much more of a spender and I can really see him planning ahead for things now and it makes me

The thing I am learning about myself is that I spend money and try to justify it away. For instance I used to spend $5 at Starbucks and classify it as a break I deserved when in reality I always got everything to go, never stayed at Starbucks to relax and in all honesty it is really hard to take a "break" if you are running to work with your coffee in hand.

I have also learned what "regular" things we do that are really worth doing. Every Sunday evening we eat out with friends. It seems like a lot of money to spend over a month (We could probably save $100 - $150/month if we didn't do this). However, these friends are so dear to us and those meals that we are eating together are really important to them - it is "their thing" to eat out on Sundays and we are so lucky to be a part of it. I am glad we budget for it and am not ready to cut it out of our weekly routine.

: Thanks for asking!

I do the same thing! I can justify anything! Like when DH got the speeding ticket that was the first thing that went through my head. "Oh now I deserve to spend $150!" But I prayed about it and DH made a mistake. This is the first ticket he has ever had, so it is not like he does this every week. And God would want me to forgive him, and I have had my fair share of mistakes that have cost money.

I was quite proud of myself for not spending money, honestly Because in the past, I so would have!

A friend keeps asking to meet for coffee. I don't drink coffee and never have, but I think I might use some of my "allowance" money to go tomorrow. But I just have this irrational fear that I will like it and thus will want it all the time. And that stuff is expensive!

[Nora_SEA]

Originally Posted by Bunnyflakes

I was quite proud of myself for not spending money, honestly Because in the past, I so would have!

This is a huge victory!! I know!

[3lilmonsters]

I spent no money today

'course I didn't go anywhere, so it was easy . I do have to place an order for work supplies tonight, but that's coming out of my work budget so I don't figure it counts.

Totals:
1 no spend day
1 : no drive day

[FeelingBlessed]

One of those busy days where things were hopping every minute, but looking back it is hard to recall exactly what you did - anyway, it was a , so all good!

Sept. 1:
Sept. 2:
Sept. 3:
Sept. 4:

Kim :

GOALS:
* Less than $50 in frivolous spending: month to date $0
* At least 25 days (no spend or spending w/in budget): 4/25
* Pack snacks/water for outings: 4/31
* NO library fines: month to date $0
* Stay within grocery/eating out budget: $224.21/$500
* ORGANIZE/declutter (lack of organization = spending): 4/25
* Exercise (feeling good = decreased emotional spending): 4/25
* Meal plan created: 0/4 weeks
* Sell rental house by 10/31/08: SIGNED P&S ON 9/2!!!!!!!!!!!

[honeybee80]

9/1: $30.03 groceries; : $27.98 wasp trap, grill brush & lighter, ceiling hooks
9/2: :
9/3: :
9/4: :

No spend days 3/18
Grocery total: $30.03/$225

My key:

: no spend
budgeted spending
: unnecessary spending

[ladyinred]

Okay, I think I can do this no spending thing this month. Going well so far! Plus I just got a new tutoring client so that's some more income soon.

09/01 -
09/02 -
09/03 -
09/04 - (half day substitute teaching)

My Key
No spend -
Spend -
Work -
Income -

Goals:

- Spend absolutely NOTHING until I get some income
- Get a full time job : And get some part time teaching work
- Pay off some of CC - Done
- Re-apply for interest relief on student loan Done

[monkey's mom]

9/1 :
9/2 :
9/3 :
9/4 : Gas $40 /Groceries ~$36


No spend
Budget spend
Over spend

[summerbabe]

9/1: :
9/2: groceries : $6 take-out breakfast at a meeting (unhealthy, I might add--double
9/3: : $3 more take-out (healthy at least!)
9/4: $4 special treat for DS--carousel rides. No mad smilie for that!



________

My key:
No spend
unavoidable or budgeted spending
: unnecessary spending
: no driving

Progress:
1/16 no spend days
2/26 no unnecessary spend days
1/5 no driving days
2/17 send lunch to work with DH

[AGlimmeringHope]

Haven't been here in a while, and I've missed the no spend challenges!!!!
1. Please introduce yourself and tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of September.

I'm Denise and am married to an amazing DH and we have to beautiful little girls. I want to do the no spend challenge because, to put it simply, we have NOTHING to spend. We didn't realize DH's check would be late this week from the holiday (it hasn't been late other holiday weeks) and all of his check was eaten up in gas and overdraft charges. We have bought a house (yay!) but with that came a lot of expenses and so did the new car we bought (before we anticipated finding a house). Now we have four loan payments every month and things are beyond tight. We need to get our money under control rather than letting our money have control of us!

2. 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 out of the mall, taking lunch to work and snacks to school, and not going to the gas station for snack foods. Also, I'm leaving my wallet when I go to work- I work at BRU and always manage to find something I *have* to get for the girls.

3. Be specific! What are your goals? How many no spend days is right for you? Do you have a savings goal? Debt repayment goal?

I want to not fear the bills coming each month. I want to get through the day without obsessing over every cent. I have PPD and obsessive disorder while revolves around finances. I know if we had a better control over our finances I wouldn't obsess over it so much.

[ColoradoMama]

I had to pay a co-pay at the doctor's office today, but I didn't even sweat it because I knew we had money in our medical expenses fund!

Not using the debit card is making it so much easier to keep track of the checkbook. Before, something always seemed to slip by - something I forgot or something dh forgot to tell me about. Now - nothing unexpected! Woo hoo. I'm loving it. Plus, I haven't done any frivilous spending.

[Purple*Lotus]

1st
2nd
3rd : $164 speeding ticket
$141.75 budgeted household/clothing/grocery items
4th

Key:
No spend:
Spend :
Budgeted Spending

[lunamama]

Sept 1~ :
Sept 2~ $30.52 gas and lunch
Sept 3~ :
Sept 4~ :


no spend
no drive :

[ananas]

Just subbing for now, I'll come back with my plan and everything

[kalisis]

Yesterday was an ok day - I stopped at Wendy's even though I shouldn't have. It wasn't that much, so I put it on a gc. Those are in finite supply tho, so I have to be careful. Then, the mkt was fine (except one of the tofu's I bought was rotten.... Today, I plan on a no spend day b/c dinner is already cooking away in the crockpot.

1. No spend, No drive
2. $1140 Rent (1/2 was mine), $311 daycare (both budgeted for)
3. $13 Boston Mkt (cash), $70 gas (both budgeted)
4. $3.80 Wendy's (gc) $16 market for fresh fruit and tofu

Tally:
16/400 groceries
70 gas

Money Made:
2. $52 on ebay


Acceptable Spending:
1. Oil Change
2. Dishwasher Soap
3. Keyboard to fix laptop so I can sell it.
4. Two more glass containers for kids' lunches ~$10
5. Postage to send pkgs.

[Scribe]

Back at the PO this morning, but hopefully that will be it for the day.

Sept 1:
Sept 2: $7 lunch
Sept 3: $29 shipping; $7 breakfast/coffee
Sept 4:
Sept 5: $16 shipping