~September No Spend Challenge~ Finishing Strong! - Page 5

[ColoradoMama]

Okay, I can see that my number one issue will be organization. With four kids going four way, plus two adults who try to have lives once in a while - I have got to stay organized. My biggest issue is meal planning, and I have got to get my husband involved with it. So far this month though, I haven't spent money on anything that wasn't budgeted, so for me!

[lactivistmama]

My first few days of Sept. have been good for no spending, but I really need (yes, need ) Some new scrubs for work. I really need maybe 2 pairs of pants and 1 shirt. I only have 2 pants total, and with washing them constantly to be reworn, they are fading and not at their best And I need to get ahold of 2 books that my library doesn't have. So my no spend days maybe short lived

9/1
9/2
9/3

Sept No Spend Goals:
No spend days: 3/25
Non-necessary spending <300

[lactivistmama]

Originally Posted by ColoradoMama

Okay, I can see that my number one issue will be organization. With four kids going four way, plus two adults who try to have lives once in a while - I have got to stay organized. My biggest issue is meal planning, and I have got to get my husband involved with it. So far this month though, I haven't spent money on anything that wasn't budgeted, so for me!

This is a biggie for us too!

[FeelingBlessed]

Honest to goodness no spend today, but also decided to purchase a Savvy Rest mattress - possibly tomorrow - not technically in budget but I want the family to sleep "greener" and more comfortably...guess I really need to get cracking bringing in new clients now!

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

Kim :

GOALS:
* Less than $50 in frivolous spending: month to date $0
* At least 25 days (no spend or spending w/in budget): 3/25
* Pack snacks/water for outings: 3/31
* NO library fines: month to date $0
* Stay within grocery/eating out budget: $220/$500
* ORGANIZE/declutter (lack of organization = spending): 3/25
* Exercise (feeling good = decreased emotional spending): 3/25
* Meal plan created: 0/4 weeks
* Sell rental house by 10/31/08: SIGNED P&S ON 9/2!!!!!!!!!!![/QUOTE]

[FeelingBlessed]

Originally Posted by lactivistmama

My first few days of Sept. have been good for no spending, but I really need (yes, need ) Some new scrubs for work.

Unsure if there is one near you, but our area Big Lots (www.biglots.com) has scrubs on sale in this week's flyer; believe for $7 per piece.

Kim

[PhotoJournMama]

1)
2)
3) : $91.58


Key:
= no spend
: = groceries
= unnecessary spending

[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:



________

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

Progress:
1/16 no spend days
1/26 no unnecessary spend days
1/5 no driving days[/QUOTE]

[slsurface]

9/1: $14 for 5 pants, 4 shirts, and shoes for ds at thrift store,
9/2: $2.50 coffee for DH and I, $9.50 for city trash bags,
9/3: ,
9/4: $12 for eyebrow threading (I haven't had it done in over a month and I'm beginning to look like sasquatch ),

My KEY:
= No spend
= Budgeted or necessary spending
= Un-Budgeted spending
= Put money in savings
: = No driving or biking only
= Normal driving
= Unnecessary driving
= Saved money

MY GOALS:
1/15 No Spend Days
0/2 Eating Out
$21.50/$600 Groceries & gasoline
$14/$25 Winter clothes for ds
$0/$150 Home Improvement
0/5 Bike to work days
$0/$500 Put in household savings
Total Un-Budgeted spending = $2.50

[CityChic]

We are on a 45 day journey of being extremely frugal. We have decided to only spend on things we have already committed to. We have a few over 15 days left in the challenge. (http://www.45dayfinancialfast.blogspot.com/)

Sept 1 - Labor Day - We stayed in and did things around the house, it was really relaxing.

Sept 2 - Back to work, gave my notice that I was quitting :

Sept 3 - : $5.25 on "extra" food for my lunch



*****

Total No Spend 2/25
: Total Overspend $5.25

[CityChic]

Originally Posted by ColoradoMama

Okay, I can see that my number one issue will be organization. With four kids going four way, plus two adults who try to have lives once in a while - I have got to stay organized.

This is us exactly. The more organized the less we seem to spend...

[ColoradoMama]

Glad to see I'm not alone in the organization boat! I went through my cupboards to make a menu for this week, and I only ended up spending less than $20 for four days worth of meals. We're halfway between paychecks and so far exactly (and even a little ahead in some areas) on budget! To stay organized, I just have to be a "do ahead" person. At the end of the day, sometimes I am so tired, and I just want to collapse into a chair and veg for a while. I've been forcing myself to get everything ready for the next day - including making lunches ahead of time. So far - so good. I just have to keep it up. Dh actually jumped in and helped last night without me even asking - that was nice. I think he felt sorry for me yesterday because I was feeling crappy! Whatever - I'll take it.

[liangel]

I kind of slacked off towards the end of August-but I am ready for Sept.

My key:
:=grocereries
=anything else deemed necessary. gas, health and beauty products
=not necessary
=no money left my hands at all

9/1-
9/2- $42.21 on Desperate Housewives Season 4 (down from $50) and a gelato from Liquid hwy.
9/3- $50 gas and $2.58 Paperback Swap obligation. : $14 lunch for the week.
9/4-

[Scribe]

I am telling myself over and over that I won't spend any money today. I got over my first big hurdle by not buying coffee this morning and my second by bringing my lunch. I didn't bring any snack, though, so if I am starving this afternoon, that might be an issue.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

01.. $74 babysitter and latte
02.. $10.29 Wendy's
03..
04.. :
05..

Goals:
2/20 No Spend Days
1/10 Let the Car Rest Days :

Stayin' HOME today.

When I stay home, I don't spend.

I just have to re-learn that home is a ~fun~ place to be. When I allow myself to get bored here, then I want to get out and spend spend spend.

After all, we are doing all this money-pinching so that we can afford for one of us to stay home. So why am I so eager to get away from home all the time?

I'm going to clean my house, play with my children, take a walk, whatever. Just stay here and not get in that car. There are plenty of fun things to do here. I'm adjusting my attitude.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Rachael -- I thought you were doing the fiscal fast for thirty days. Have you changed it to 45 days? Is that because it is helping? What all are you learning from this fast? Is it liberating?

[CityChic]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

Rachael -- I thought you were doing the fiscal fast for thirty days. Have you changed it to 45 days? Is that because it is helping? What all are you learning from this fast? Is it liberating?

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!

[3lilmonsters]

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 in! I really need to work hard on my finances. This month is awful, since two of the kids I watch for money went back to school, so I'm losing income, and I'm spending a painful amount on college stuff. Also, my car needs to be inspected but can't be until I get about $200 of parts for it, and my van needs to be registered. I come from a great line of shoppers, so my first instinct in times like this is a little spending therapy . I'm going to need all the help I can get.

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?

I'm trying to stay focused on a cruise I'm looking to take with my brother and his fiancee in a few months : and Christmas. I need to save for those. I'm also trying to work hard on becoming more organized and better at planning, so that I can hopefully bring our grocery bill down and do less driving (though it will still be alot more than I'd like).

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?

My goal is simple. Just spend as little as possible. I can't really even begin to guess how much that will be because expenses seem to be popping up left and right lately.


How's this for accountability - I have *no* idea how much money I spent the last couple of days.

[Scribe]

Gah. As expected, it is 1:30 and I am starving.

[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?

[lunamama]

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


no spend
: no drive