~ November No-Spend Challenge ~ - Page 2

[Amys1st]

Thanks for the welcome!! I went to the Oct thread and got some ideas. I think I will list bills paid etc

[SuzyLee]

I have never done this before but we are really trying to tighten our belts, and I have gotten in some very bad habits.

Who I am: Sue, working mama to William, 13 months, DH J who works long hours.

Goals: 1. Fully fund my 2008 Roth in Dec without having to take money out of savings
2. Not waste any money on stupid crap/keep my home clutter free
3. Afford DC#2 ASAP which first requires paying off our HEL (10,000 to go). Originally we wanted it paid off by Feb, but I think we will miss that since my bonus at work was tiny and I sort of forgot about funding the Roth.

The Plan:
1. I spend way to much money on crap. Still formulating my plan on this. However I am going to buy 2 picture frames but most will be paid for with a Kohls GC.
2. Curtail holiday related spending.
3. No date nights with baby sitter and dinner out. (We have to get a sitter one night to do our will but that is it!)
4. 1 cheap date with my parents babysitting and no other dining out.

[mommyto4grits]

I'm in again. I am getting much better, my worst spending this month was on eating out.

Here is my key...
My KEY:
= No spend
= Budgeted or necessary spending
= Un-Budgeted spending
= No drive days
= Mindful spending/purchase

MY GOALS:
12 No Spend Days
5 Eating Out Days
6 No Drive Days

$500 Groceries
$175 Gas
$300 Costco
$50 other consumables
$200 Crafts (I am WAAY Behind in scrapbooking)
$100 towards making gifts for christmas
$200 for Clothes (for baby, myself, and DH)
Total Un-Budgeted spending $80

My Plan: Pay off 1/2 of Business Credit Card, pay off Dell Credit Card, spend time doing crafts, painting some rooms in the house. Stay home!!
Start exercising again. Yoga, walking, bike riding, something each day.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

One more day until we start.

I just sent some money off to our credit card...I wanted to commit that money so that it won't be in my bank account, waiting to be spent.

Because if it is there, I'll spend it.

I'm really hoping this November will be my BEST no-spend month ever.

[lactivistmama]

Ok lets try this again
I need to remember to post more this month!!

a. Who you are: I am a part time Nurse, full time Mama to my 2 children..

b. Where you are going (your financial goals): We have a Disneyland vacation planned for the first part of Dec., Christmas is coming QUICK!, and we really need to start increasing our savings!

c. How you plan to get there: I am a shopaholic! For this month I am feeling pretty confident, since I know that every dime I spend this month, I can't spend at Disneyland!! It is after Dec. is over with that I need to get a better plan in place for saving $!

Goal: 25 no spend days!
:

[Amys1st]

So today is Parents Day out day. I usually reserve this time for errands, drs appts etc. I did some errands that require spending money including buying a few items of clothing for me for some upcoming events. Sadly, I cannot just wear what I have since I also lost all the nursing/baby weight and size 12/14s looks bad really big. So its 8/10s! But got all on sale and will get me thru some church things as well as Thanksgiving. All harvesty colors too!

Also stocked up on snack items, got a grocery run in, and a block of zella cheese. We will shred this and freeze for pizza and other recipes.
I need to take the sale ground meat and make a vat of chili. DH is redoing the girls' bathroom and will need a quick meal w a lot of punch. Perfect to reheat and then get back to work the next few weeks.

Thinking about this the last few days, I can see why people post what to do to get thru this. I can already see where somethings will be an issue.
I have at least 2 days weekly with no car using (very walker friendly area) but since its walk friendly, everything to drop your money at is close by!

[simonsmama]

a. Who you are -
Hi, My name is Ashley, and I am a spendaholic *droops head* Seriously though, this is the toughest challenge in my life so far. I have been lurking for awhile, and I am finally at a point where I want to formally join the thread. I am wife to B, and SAHM to DS (3 1/2 yo) and DD (almost 2 yo). I am training to become a doula.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals) and
1. Save up MORE than $200 a month (as rumors of job cuts at Hubby's work circulates)
2. Keep the thermostat between 65-68 for the whole month
3. Have 15 no spend (at all!! can I do it? ) days
4. Combine trips to save on gas
5. No spur of the moment shopping.

c. How you plan to get there

1. Don't go shopping without a list in hand.
2. Pack snacks and water for shopping/outings of any kind (with two toddlers, I often end up buying expensive single serve and unhealthy snacks just so I can finish grocery shopping)
3. stay home as much as possible
4. wear sweaters and have blankets handy to stay comfortable with temps being cooler in house:
5. cook more from scratch....make my own snakcs and treats if I NEED them that day (healthier and cheaper than store ones anyway)
6. drink only water and milk (goes for hubby and kids too)
7. If kids need clothes....shop at thriftstore. Or beg In laws to buy it for them for christmas. Refuse to buy new.
8. Figure out a way to sell my knitted stuff to make a little extra money
9. Don't go all out for Thanksgiving dinner.
10. (the most important one in my opinion) Make all christmas gifts this year....with materials we already have!


Do you think I am asking to much of myself??

Wish me luck.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Glad to have you Ashley!

Do you think I am asking too much of myself??

No. But only if you recognize that you are STARTING this challenge and it is okay to make mistakes. Progress not perfection. Learning how to not-spend your money takes a long time.

Be sure not to set the bar too high and then just quit or drop out when you make a mistake.

When I find that I've set my standards too high for myself, I will shift them down lower. Mid-month. Seriously, I change them when it looks like I'm not going to make it.

Because the people who see changes in their behavior from using this thread are the ones who keep plugging along each month and make it to the end. You WILL get better at this, I promise.

So set your standards high! But be prepared to cut yourself some slack.

[missmich]

I'll be joining again for November.

My name is Michelle and I've had my "new job" for just over a month and have just figured out the pay schedule/cut off dates. I spent October getting my bills on track and organizing a little. I "think" I've come up with a workable plan to pay my bills on time as they arrive and still have enough to put towards my debt. Nothing for savings yet though.

My goals for November:

-pay all bills as they arrive and on time (then file)
-keep a big enough bank balance to cover bills between checks (this goal probably won't happen in November though)
-plan more meals and bring food to work
-budget for some new clothes

How will I reach my goals?

-stay organized with my new bill payment system
-read the grocery flyer and try harder to learn to meal plan
-keep thinking about how happy I'll be when I'm finally debt free!
-keep track of my spending here

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I'll be haunting this thread like a bad goblin this next month because...seriously ladies...this is MY month.

You will need a crowbar to pry a dime out of this wallet.

[USAmma]

Our rule this month and all the way until December is if we can't eat it, we can't buy it. My 7yo was begging for a toy and I told her sure I'd buy it but she had to eat it. She said nevermind.

It seems to keep us on track. Due to allergies and Celiac Disease and being vegetarian we hardly ever eat out.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

Kim -- Here's hoping your house closing went smoothly today!!! ~~ Good luck~~~

[PhotoJournMama]

I haven't posted my intro yet but of course I am doing the challenge again this month! It really did keep both me and DP in check last month :


a. Who you are
Amanda, I am currently on mat leave and planning on freelancing (photojournalism) once my mat leave is up in late February. I have baby boy who is going to grow up knowing that money is hard earned, and things are not disposable! I am partnered and he is more frugal than me, even - to a point. We both have out extravagances and we both keep each other in line.

b. Where you are going (your financial goals)
I am paying off my first year of student loans - I only have a couple thousand $$ left to go. Then I will start saving to finish up my schooling. DP will have to give up his job and we will have to move to do this, so money will be tight for a while. DP would also like to go back to school eventually (he has a great job, but seeks glory!)

c. How you plan to get there
Staying accountable, setting up and RESP for my son, paying off my student loan, and setting up some kind of savings account for school next year (fingers crossed)

[missmich]

I think I may have a problem all ready for November!: I'm paid every 2 weeks and so far my next paycheck (for November 13th) isn't looking very good at all. I'm only scheduled for 14 hours so far! I might be able to get another 8 hours on the schedule before the cut off date though. So that would give me 22 hours but I really need a minimum of 30 hours to pay my bills and get groceries between November 13th and the next check on November 27th. I'll talk to the "scheduler" today and see what he can do about giving me a few more hours this week.

[Scribe]

I'm in. I had a bad month last month, and things are not looking good between now and the first of the year for me+my money. I have to get serious.

Last month I spent a total of $1,035 unplanned dollars, at least $784 of which weren't necessary, and had 10 no-spend days. I'm going to have to do a whole lot better in November to make my budget (which I"m going to be posting here in a minute) work.

Thanks for the shout out, Pru. I had been meaning to get over here but needed to be reminded.

[unlegal]

Hi again, guys!

Last month was my first month doing the no-spend challenge, and I think it really helped me. So, I'm here to join up for November!

My name is Nicole, and I am a SAHM right now to two lovely kids. Just quit my job earlier this month, and working on getting my doula business started so cash is tight.

My goals are to keep unnecessary spending as low as possible, and cook all our meals. I did really well this month, and I want to keep it up! I have debt I would love to pay off, but right now I'm focusing on spending on our needs, and saving until I can get some clients.

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I'm making my chart now. I know I will be spending $80 on the first for a marathon registration (I have to spend that right away because this Vermont marathon fills up fast and some years I haven't been able to get a spot) but there are no other big expenses on the horizon.

I scheduled our babysitter for November 8th, but I'm going to call her and cancel. She can come in December.

I have to keep reminding myself that there is nothing in November that I can't buy in December or January after our CC is paid off.

We have paid off all but 3K...our original debt was 30K. It is so clooooose I can almost taste it. But that is what got me into trouble the past two months. I felt like it was almost paid off so I spent.

No spending until that balance reads: $0


01..
02..
03..
04..
05..
06..
07..
08..
09..
10..
11..
12..
13..
14..
15.. Payday and CC payment day

Goals for this month:

0/20 No-Spend Days
0/10 Let the car rest days :
0/$2,000 Pay 2K on the CC

[unlegal]

Originally Posted by Crunchy*VT*Mom

We have paid off all but 3K...our original debt was 30K.

That's so awesome, Prudence! You ARE almost there. Think of how awesome it will feel to pay that all off

[Scribe]

Wow Pru, that's really impressive!

My debt is at about $5K now, down from $11,300 on January 1 of this year. Getting much better, but not as paid off as I'd like. I'd originally hoped to have it gone in 2008, and that's not going to happen w/o a miracle cash influx.

[Scribe]

OK. November Budget:

Take home pay: $3,296

Fixed expenses:
To joint account: $2,000
To student loan: $227
To credit cards: $700
To savings: $100
Total: $3,027

Variable expenses:
Prescriptions: $75
Spending/cash: $150
Total: $225