~October No Spend Challenge~ The economy declines, MDC familes SAVE!!!!!! - Page 18

[Scribe]

The USPS would fail without me, I swear.

Oct 1: $12 bar tab; $15 GW
Oct 2: $14 GW; $46 group lunch; $5 t-shirt; $21 new S'bucks card
Oct 3: $6 Taco Bell; $30 Gap Outlet (jeans and dress); $18 L'Occitane Outlet (soap and lip gloss); $15 Crate & Barrel outlet (dish towels); $68 Banana Republic outlet (shirts); $9 ice cream; $24 dinner/drinks
Oct 4: $32 REI (skirts, going to be returned); $13 lunch; $26 natural soap company
Oct 5: $12 lunch
Oct 6: $2 PO; $7 lunch; $3 snack
Oct 7: ~$15 on food at work (breakfast, lunch, and snack)
Oct 8: $19 GW; $6 McDonald's
Oct 9: $43 cash from ATM
Oct 10:
Oct 11:
Oct 12:
Oct 13: $6 lunch
Oct 14:
Oct 15: $13 PO; $49 Target (new headphones and car jack for the iPod, dish soap, hand soap, nail polish, and deodorant); $15 Goodwill (new dog beds, yay!); and $62 Jockey (new much-needed bras)
Oct 16: deposited $650 freelance check; got $100 cash for the rest of the month
Oct 17:
Oct 18:
Oct 19: $9.60 PO

September Stats: 14 no-spend days, $301 total misc. spending

[captain crunchy]

Oct 1
Oct 2 ($20 in cash budgeted for grocery store)
Oct 3
Oct 4: $60 cash budgeted for weekly grocery store (pretty good for three people eating mostly organic!!) but also .. $5 taco bell -- then, $10 at a church bazaar which was not budgeted but did go 100% to charity... ... but it wasn't budgeted or planned so...
Oct 5: We got gas on a FREE gas card from our apartment complex (incentive for moving in, they give us $50 gas card every time we pay rent for the first 6 months!) :
Oct 6: $3.58 thanks dh
Oct 7:
Oct 8: $4.08(dh) + $10 (me)
Oct 9: $55.00 for groceries, in budget and $20 from paypal funds so only $35 out of our budget
Oct 10:
Oct 11:
Oct 12:
Oct:13: $16.93 groceries + $17 in gas left over from *free* gas card : so I am not counting that.
Oct:14:
Oct 15:
Oct 16: : -- $10 copay for dh's inhaler, $10 in gas -- and got a $25 gift card for switching a prescription -- so used that $25 in conjunction with coupons and got $32 worth of household/body/vitamins for free!! (the copay is the same regardless)
Oct:17: -- $13 pregnancy tests (negative btw)
Oct 18: groceries $26.18 + gas $20 : carnival outing paid for by my mom
Oct 19: $18.26 (how funny those two numbers are reversed!!) the rest of groceries for the week...


The average food cost for a family of three in our age group is $414.20 monthly for the thrifty (lowest cost) plan -- we are going to try to half that -- eating an organic-when-possible, whole foods, from scratch and vegetarian diet. source

$209.13/212.10 (this includes all food, including any eating out etc)


Key:

No spend:
Spent money but was planned, needed, or budgeted:
Overspent or spent money that wasn't planned, needed, or budgeted:
Saved money or received unexpected money: :

[northcountrymamma]

I know we are nearing the end of the month...but as a typical non-spender, I suddenly have this urge to buy.

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of October.
I'm deciding to join to remind myself why I choose to keep all purchases to those that are necessary for our well-being.


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?
My game plan is to clearly evaluate the need for each item I look at. My worst enemy are items at the market that I buy just because they are there. That and shoes. I have an overwhealming urge to buy shoes for dd and I at every possible opportunity. I plan to purchase each of us a pair of winter boots to curtail that urge, since they are necessary

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 to not spend a cent on unnecessary items for the remainder of the month (to start). At the end of the month I will alot a $50 bonus to put towards something we are wanting. If I fail and spend I will charge myself a 10% interest which will go into a no-spend jar.

I've been a long time committed no spender...it should be easy..we shall see!

[mags.bubble]

Finally finished the next years budget. It includes the next 2 months as well. For the last several years, we haven't used a budget. We were living within in our means, but our means was really good. Anyway, I have realized if that keeps up, I am taking away dh choices in his career. I don't want him feeling like he is stuck because we let our spending creep up.

I also put together the envelope system. Used it when we were broke, it will be great to have those boundaries again. I feel like I am meeting my October goals, even if I have quite a few ! Novemeber/December will be better!

10/1 $30 impromptu cocktail hour with dh, $30 for sitter, $50 clothes
10/2
10/3
10/4 $70 Oktoberfest, $3.99 word search book for ds6, $10 fundraiser
10/5 $4.60 library fines
10/6 : $128 vet, $4 scholastic books,
10/7 : $80 dd's snowball retreat, $5 coffee for self & Dad
10/8 $1 croissant
10/9
10/10 $15.00 lunch
10/11 $21 at REI for a tshirt
10/12 $26 coffee and pastries before Sunday school
10/13 $10 for parking at MSI
10/14 $16 starbucks, :$12 charity, $7.50 overspent at grocery store, :$2 prek cooking class food, $6 scholastic books
10/15
10/16
10/17 $65 for sitter
10/18
10/19

Key:
no spend day or spent within budget only
: not budgeted but necessary $226
oops $306.09

October goals:
Track every cent spent
Spend within budget only - no nickel/diming myself
Think thrify/frugal
Learn to budget monthly for things, rather than just yearly

Ultimate goal: Stay focused on 6mo emergency fund (1/3 there)

[leomom]

I need to jump in! I've overspent and need some encouragement to get back on track.

My goals:

Cook from pantry and not go to grocery store (100 dollars left for produce/dairy/meat)

No unplanned spending

Only eat our once a week

[allborntogrow]

Once again, diaperswappers will be my end . . . I do have a bunch of stuff up on eBay though, so maybe I'll recoup some of my losses . . .

1: : 2.65
2:
3:
4:
5:
6: Target 29 : 4.34 on a book for J
7:: 3.99 shampoo 3.25 : frozen yogurt 4.60 & 65.00 for a brand new Babyhawk (come on we all know how good of a deal that is)
8: : 21.74 gift for J's friend
9:
10: : 32.61 b-day gift for another one of J's friends (of course his two best friends have parties the same weekend)
11: : 3.68 on some trolli brite crawler eggs (any notice candy is my weakness?)
12:
13:
14: : $60 at diaperswappers.com . . . get me off that site
15: 17.24 food for a school fundraiser and : 2.50 ice cream bars
16:
17:
18: : & Target
19: : an amount I am too ashamed to disclose on diaperswappers . . . :

Truly no spend
Budgeted or needed spending
: Groceries
: unnecessary spending

[honeybee80]

10/19: $3.49 milk; $14 diapers (this unpottytrained 3 year old is killing me!); $13 supplies to make a tutu; $125 fleeces, snowpants, mittens for kids (used their bday money); $20 new coffee mug for me; $27 gas

Today is a new day I think I might need to resort to the envelope system to get myself back under control. Going to think about that more today....

[PhotoJournMama]

01.
02. $52.91 on a sleep sac and baby proofing supplies
03. $15.58 on 3 springform pans
04.
05.
06.
07. $5 chocolates plus $78.25 for a haircut
08.
09. $1 drink
10. $19.88 food/coffee while driving
11. $6.73 coffee/water
12.
13. $4.28 coffee
14.
15. $4 Kitchen supplies
16.
17. $14.62 on socks – which I left at the store.
18. $120.98 on little things, $10.26 fast food lunch
19. $58.92 dinner out


252.80/400: Groceries
15/50: Gifts
133.45/150: Gas

[Scribe]

The post office again.

Oct 1: $12 bar tab; $15 GW
Oct 2: $14 GW; $46 group lunch; $5 t-shirt; $21 new S'bucks card
Oct 3: $6 Taco Bell; $30 Gap Outlet (jeans and dress); $18 L'Occitane Outlet (soap and lip gloss); $15 Crate & Barrel outlet (dish towels); $68 Banana Republic outlet (shirts); $9 ice cream; $24 dinner/drinks
Oct 4: $32 REI (skirts, going to be returned); $13 lunch; $26 natural soap company
Oct 5: $12 lunch
Oct 6: $2 PO; $7 lunch; $3 snack
Oct 7: ~$15 on food at work (breakfast, lunch, and snack)
Oct 8: $19 GW; $6 McDonald's
Oct 9: $43 cash from ATM
Oct 10:
Oct 11:
Oct 12:
Oct 13: $6 lunch
Oct 14:
Oct 15: $13 PO; $49 Target (new headphones and car jack for the iPod, dish soap, hand soap, nail polish, and deodorant); $15 Goodwill (new dog beds, yay!); and $62 Jockey (new much-needed bras)
Oct 16: deposited $650 freelance check; got $100 cash for the rest of the month
Oct 17:
Oct 18:
Oct 19: $9.60 PO; $55 prescription (and that was WITH a $25 coupon! bah!)
Oct 20: $12.02 PO; $25 doctor co-pay; $10 prescription

September Stats: 14 no-spend days, $301 total misc. spending

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

The USPS would fail without me, I swear.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I spent money on the registration fee for a half-marathon next month. I could just keep hammering out the long runs on my own, but sometimes you need that boost of racing with other people.

Clearly I'm not going to make my 20 day no-spend goal...so I'm adjusting the goal. Now my goal is 15 no-spend days.

I just need five more days...

01..
02.. , :
03.. $150 gas grill
04.. $113 fleece and new shoes and latte
05..
06..
07..
08..
09.. , :
10.. $50 babysitter and dinner
11.. $1.83 coffee
12..
13.. $120 preschool tuition, $10 girl scout fees
14..
15.. $57 Groceries that were just extras (fancy coffee, sweets)
16..
17.. $8 McDonald's
18.. $16 Adventurous Book of Outdoor Games
19..
20.. $25 registration fee for half-marathon

Goals:

10/15 No Spend Days
2/10 Let the Car Rest Days :

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Amanda -- Did you get those socks back?!?

[leomom]

Resisting the urge to buy dd some cloth pull ups...resisting...resisting...

Dinner is cooking...straight from pantry and freezer...

[lauratheexplorer]

1st: $7.65 on Root Beer and Onion Rings at A & W (but, it wasn't dinner, which would have been about $20!)
2nd:
3rd:
4th: Day trip to Wolfville Mostly bought produce, which I budgeted in as food, so But also got coffee and cookies $12.31 while out
5th:
6th:
7th: Week long video game rental for DH (who had two teeth removed.. oww..) and DS $11.65
8th:
9th:
10th: : Garrrggh.. Takeout pizza, $23.65!!
11th: Birthday Gift: $20 Juice @ party place b/c there was only pop (ds won't drink) $1.41--I need to keep a few juice paks in car, that's awful for juice!
12th:
13th: + Sold a box of used minidiscs via Kijiji and made $30! and someone is stopping by later on to buy an old bundle-me for $15, I ROCK!
14th: All budgeted: Gas $45, $18 Swimming fees for school, $12 School Pictures, Groceries $18.83
15th: All budgeted: Breastpads @ SDM $14.11, DS's, med $4.11, Groceries $6.11, Sold an old 2MP digicam via Kijiji for $40! (Used funds to buy ds a Halloween Costume and dinner @ McD's)
16th:
17th: $53.90 Groceries
18th: $16.65 Zellers discount soup, pudding, corned beef, jam.. did great! $12.03 Bulk Barn (bread making supplies), $39.91 Superstore (breadmaking and food for potluck), Farmer's Market $9.73
19th:
20th:

Month to date:

Groceries: $443.09/$600 Looking good! , esp. since this includes Thanksgiving (Cdn) : ! Yay!
Medical Expenses: $268.87 + $4.11 for ds's meds for tooth removal and meds for pain, antibiotics, etc. : (but it can't be helped)
Gas: $95/$150 (STILL! I think we may end up under for gas this month.. woo!)
Dining (coffee, food, etc): $51.22/$35 Blarrgrh..
Entertainment: $11.65/$50

I'm really pleased with the amt. we've made on Kjiji this month, and getting rid of the clutter. Yay!

It's going great this month. I also started baking my own bread again, which has helped with the food budget, I think.

Also, this marks another month of no, "huh??" moments. Previously, in our "spendier" times, I would look at the bank accounts and say, "huh? you took out $40/60/80, why? where did it go?".

[missmich]

Day 20:

Another good No Spend day for me today. I resisted the urge to get a drink from the machine at work and the urge to get a bubble tea after work! I do need to start bring a drink to work now though. I get so thirsty and my mouth gets dry and I stumble over the words that I' supposed to reading word for word (even though they sometimes dont' make sense to me or my respondent)!

I have a cute little water bottle (the woman I had an interview with the other day gave me some bottle water) that I washed out tonight that I will fill with something nice to drink,maybe some home made iced tea or just rescue remedy and water. Mmmmmm....that might be nice to sip on at work

[honeybee80]

10/19: $3.49 milk; $14 diapers (this unpottytrained 3 year old is killing me!); $13 supplies to make a tutu; $125 fleeces, snowpants, mittens for kids (used their bday money); $20 new coffee mug for me; $27 gas


10/20: :

And I sold my engagement and wedding rings today finally! ::does the happy dance:: I deposited most of it and kept some to put in envelopes for my spending the rest of the month. I also had the place I forgot to close my tab at cut up my credit card, so that temptation won't be there either

[leomom]

No spend!: Can't believe how hard it was and how many times I almost spent without thinking about it!

Cook from pantry: 1/10

Eating Out: 0/2

No unplanned spending: 1/12

Groceries: 0/100

[ladyinred]

Df has changed his budget around and now I get to change mine around so I'm giving him less money this month and more next month so I can pay off more of my CC. Still getting lots of work, still no full time job.

1/10 - $12.00 Lunch $16 bus tickets : (am)
2/10 - $30.00 shampoo, conditioner, deoderant :
3/10 - :
4/10 - $5 food at farmers market
5/10 -
6/10 -
7/10 -
8/10 -
9/10 - $13.00 cab :
10/10 - $30.00 dinner with Df :
11/10 - $25.00 dinner, drinks and cab
12/10 -
13/10 - (Happy Canadian Thanksgiving)
14/10 -
15/10 -: (AM)
16/10 -:
17/10 - $6.00 at $store :
18/10 - and $18.00 at Farmer's Market
19/10 -
20/10 -:


My Key
No spend -
Unnecessary Spending -
Necessary Spending -
Taught - :
Tutored -
Income -

Goals:
- Have at least 10 substitute teaching days - 8/10
- Tutor 8 days - 4/8
- At least 20 no spend days 12/20
- Get a full time job :
- Pay off $320.00 on CC

October Budget
Income: $1900.00
To Df: $600.00/$600.00
Savings and student loan: $60/$370.00
To CC: $120.00/$720.00
FOR ME!!!: $155.00/$270.00

[PhotoJournMama]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

Amanda -- Did you get those socks back?!?

Nope : it's pretty frustrating. I thought that would be the only socks he needed for a long time - 17 pairs! In two sizes! Socks are one of the very few things I buy new instead of used. Blegh. I called the store but they couldn't find them, and the receipt I put in my pocket must have fallen out when I answered my cell phone. GRRRR!!!!

[PhotoJournMama]

On a more positive note...

01.
02. $52.91 on a sleep sac and baby proofing supplies
03. $15.58 on 3 springform pans
04.
05.
06.
07. $5 chocolates plus $78.25 for a haircut
08.
09. $1 drink
10. $19.88 food/coffee while driving
11. $6.73 coffee/water
12.
13. $4.28 coffee
14.
15. $4 Kitchen supplies
16.
17. $14.62 on socks – which I left at the store.
18. $120.98 on little things, $10.26 fast food lunch
19. $58.92 dinner out
20.


252.80/400: Groceries
15/50: Gifts
133.45/150: Gas