Quote:
Originally Posted by
Crunchy*VT*Mom
Suprise snowstorm = wet, slippery roads out there.
I'm giving myself a pre-emptive no-spend because I have no plans to leave this house today, now that I'm back from work.
Its snuggle up by the fireplace time.
I wish this was us today. I could use some fireplace snuggle time, but alas, it's well child checks for some kiddos and scouting tonight. Stay warm, Prudence, and have some tea for me
Key
No spend/ budgeted spending
Unbudgeted spending
Crafted for at least 30 minutes
1.
Starting the month off right
2.
3.
4.
I've already spent a chunk on some Christmas presents for the ILs and DH. I wasn't planning to spend this much, but the gifts I got are *perfect* for them and they're so incredibly generous with us, I don't feel the least bit sad or guilty about it,
Also, we're doing our big monthly grocery shop at Costco. DH isn't coming w/ us, so hopefully I'll have an easier time sticking to the list and budget.
5.
DH had a dr appt and needed a prescription, thankfully we have a medical sink fund to cover the co-pays.
6.
7.
I have got to stop going on zulily. I just dropped another chunk on some probably unneeded Christmas gifts
8.
9.
Budgeted spending today- picked up DS2's birthday present. Quite happy because we got it on sale AND had a gift card we were able to apply to it, so although I budgeted $100 for it, we only ended up spending OOP $75. ALSO, I had a coupon for a $10 gift card if you spent a certain amount, so I have another $10 gc in my wallet now to apply to future gifts
10.
I knew today would be a spending day. We bought "gifts" to fill our Operation Christmas Child boxes for church and we finished out the monthly grocery shop. We went over the grocery budget because I let DH convince me to get lunch meat and I found a good deal on potatoes, 50lbs for $17, so I bought a sack. Also, though I had intended on making DD1's birthday cake for tomorrow, I just don't have the time or energy, so we bought one.
11.
More Christmas gifts. *sigh*
12.
Whew, finally. Most of today was spent prepping for our scout pack meeting potluck.
13.
Not going anywhere today. Hopefully I'll make some progress on homemade gifts.
14.
I altered a pair of maternity jeans today. I hated the way they fit and I already had a pair of bootcut maternity jeans so I made them into skinny jeans to wear with my favorite knee high boots that I've been wanting to wear but couldn't b/c I had no skinny maternity jeans. Yesterday I didn't make any progress on gifts. but today my intent is to sit and knit after dinner.
15.
I feel pretty safe giving myself a No Spend for today. I finished a scarf last night and hopefully later today I'll finish the main body of another gift. I'm determined to keep up the momentum I've built over the last few days.
16.
Feeling good today. DH is working from home and it's always iffy w/ him around because he wants fast food for lunch. Today I stuck to my guns and we ate from the pantry. Now to figure out dinner.
17.
I knew we were going to spend money today, I'm just not sure whether to count it against me or not. It was DS2's b-day and I needed to pick up last minute food items for his b-day dinner, cupcakes, and dessert, We bought other groceries (all on sale and pantry stocking) and bought a bunch of can/ boxed goods to donate to the Cub Scouts outside the store collecting for the local food pantry. All unbudgeted, but we'll use/ eat everything we bought.
18.
Ordered DD2's b-day present (she's in early January). Totally budgeted, felt good getting it done early before the hub-bub of the Christmas season AND baby prep that will be happening late next month.
19.
I *looked* at zulily today and convinced myself that I didn't need to buy anything. When the littlest went down for her nap, I sewed patches on a couple scout shirts (a side thing I do for the parents in our pack that *hate* to sew. I make some change for it, and feel good about helping out), AND I sewed a new top for me. Used up some stash fabric I've been saving and now I have a cute new top that will take me through the rest of the pregnancy and after. DH worked from home and really wanted McD's for lunch but then recognized how we need to stick to the budget.
for small feats!!
20.
Not sure if I'm going to get to knitting tonight, hoping to, but we're prepping to go out of town to the ILs for Thanksgiving and I've got to work on packing my rugrats.
I've been trying to harness my inner "Prudent Homemaker" and am going through how I can frugally prep for this trip. I have some pumpkin puree in the fridge I need to use up so I'm baking pumpkin bread and muffins to have for breakfast before we leave and for snacking. I'm trying to use up the leftovers to minimize our food waste before we leave. I'm making a list of things DH and I are going to price out on Black Friday (I know we'll spend $$ that day), like basic undershirts, jeans for DH, possibly a laser printer (we homeschool and print a lot in b/w, a laser printer will seriously save us $$).
21.
Budgeted lunch and snacks out for our trip. Got to make quite a bit of progress knitting a gift.
22. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
DH's cousin and I go to Michael's every year I visit so I know I'll be spending. I've made a list and my goal is to
*stick. to. the. list* Oh, and
I got work done on some presents.
23.
DH and I went shopping. We hadn't budgeted for it, but we knew we were going to spend anyway.
I'm proud of myself for sticking to the lists I made for shopping on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. I got some really good deals from sales and coupons.
24.
Breakfast from the local bagel shop (budgeted), and the day spent with my younger brother and his girlfriend (we only get to see him a couple times a year). Already got my knitting in for the day
25.
Trip home. Budgeted spending on lunch, had to make a quick grocery stop for half and half, bread, and beer for DH
Going to try and squeeze in my knitting after kiddos are in bed.
26.
2 of the kiddos have well child checks and we've got scouting tonight. There will be NO money leaving my hands or account.
19 No Spend days and 19 Crafting days. So close, just 1 more day to reach my goal!!
Here's to finishing strong the last week of the month.