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~September No Spend Challenge~ Finishing Strong!

10K views 529 replies 58 participants last post by  liangel 
#1 ·
September is almost here!! For some of us that means winter weather
: is just around the corner and clothes shopping or holiday shopping
or more indoor time (which can mean shopping). Get on board and let's save some $$ this winter season!

I would love to hear what people are planning to do to be frugal around the holidays!

For those of us that are planning ahead, let's get started! Join in any time!

This thread is a support thread to help you ~not spend your money~. Everyone is welcome to join (we would love to have you) and you are welcome to start at any time. It doesn't have to be September 1st

The plan is simple (although very tough to execute):

1. Vow not to spend any money on unnecessary purchases.

2. Come on here everyday and record your spending.

Good luck Ladies!! Keep that money in your wallet.

Our no-spend threads tend to get very long...you don't need to read the entire thread (unless you want to). Just read the first few entries and jump right in. Start recording your spending today!

*****

Crunchy *VT* Mom's Tips for doing a no-spend challenge...

*Some of us record every penny that we spend, others only record unnecessary purchases. Groceries, utilities, clothing, transportation...we expect you to spend money on that. The "no-spend" in our title refers to unnecessary spending...things you could do without.

*Record whatever will cause you to spend the least. If you feel guilty about coming on here and fessing up -- then this thread is working perfectly.

*Please don't get discouraged if you spend -- our goal is PROGRESS not PERFECTION. We all will spend this month...let's admit that up front...Our ideal is no-spend...but we'll be happy if you just spend less.

*If you have time to read everyone else's post and do personals, thank you! That helps our thread do its job...but if you don't have time, then just post your tallies. We have plenty of successful no-spenders who do only that.

*****

You clicked on our thread and are thinking about joining for a reason...those reasons are what are going to motivate you during the tough, tempted-to-spend times this month.

Please give yourself some time to think about these questions and answer them in a way that is meaningful for you. These questions are to help you clarify why you are here and why you are doing this.

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us why you have decided to spend nothing (or spend significantly less) for the Month of September.

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?

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?
 
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#429 ·
9/1 :

9/2 :

9/3 :

9/4 :
Gas $40 /Groceries ~$36
9/5 :

9/6 :

9/7 :

9/8 :

9/9 :
Groceries $200
9/10:

9/11:

9/12:
Thrift store (fall clothes for ds1, fabrics for Xmas presents, couple toys for kids) ~$23
9/13:

9/14:

9/15:

9/16:

9/17:
Groceries $287.39 /Gas $84.40/ Vet $15
9/18:
Take out $25
9/19:

9/20:
Camping $52.50 /Ice $9
9/21:

9/22:


No spend
Budget spend
Over spend

Groceries $523.39
Gas $124.40
Misc. $109.50
Vet $15

We took our "summer vacation" this weekend. Went camping at a state park minutes from our house. Felt like a total "get away" without spending anything on gas.
 
#430 ·
Sept 120.88-lunch out (aniversary outing)
sept 2coffee 4.50,futon for dd 29.00
sept 3no spend

sept 4haircuts 22.00
sept 5groceries 17.00,gas 25.00 (bugeted)

sept 6no spend/no drive

sept 711.50 for food at all-school picnic RESISTED dinner out at favourite israeli restaurant.

sept 8+35.00 in sold NB dipes/clothing18.50 for medium dipes/shorties/shirts. 30.51 groceries
Sept 9Gas 40.08,Groceries 45.31
Sept 104.32 snacks
sept 114.57 coffee out
sept 12+40.00 sold30.84 lunch out
sept 13no spend/no drive
sept 1426.70 groceries, 29.54 hardware store-emergency shop vac parts-count as no unbudget.

sept 15groceries 47.76 + 6.00 sold10.00 lunch out 35.00 to cc
sept 16nospend/no drive

sept 17lunch out 6.51
sept 18snacks 4.50 +4.00 sold
sept 19no spend

sept 20no spend, no drive

sept 2115.00 nursing shirt for holidays,31.00 lunch out with bubbe (not frivolous, is a mitzvah)
sept 2217.49 RH clothes,37.28groceries+15.00 sold4.50 coffee out

September Goals
No unbudget spend days goal 15/30, 8/30
No Drive Days goal: 7/30,4/30
No frivolous spending over 100 actual: 85.78/100
Sold items 110/50
Thrift/HB kit items: 29.00/20
Decluttering/organizing 20 min day 13/24
Grocery budget 204.48/370.00
Baked/home cooking:4/10
Study/Daven daily 2/15

August Goals
No unbudget15/30
,No Drive,7/30,
102.00/100
Sold items 67/50

Thrift/HB kit items: 18.70/20
,Decluttering/organizing 20 min day 14/24

Grocery budget 397.72/350.00
,Baked/bulk cooking:6/10
Study/Daven daily goal 7/15


July Goals
:Awesome!:
No unbudget spend days goal 17/30 +2,No Drive Days goal:11/30+1
No frivolous spending93.56/100 7.00 under!, Grocery budget 341.73/375-30.00 UNDER
 
#432 ·
9/1:
$30.03 groceries;
: $27.98 wasp trap, grill brush & lighter, ceiling hooks
9/2:
:
9/3:
:
9/4:
:
9/5:
:
9/6:
$60.32 groceries, $9.45 baby wipes, $6.36 bday presents for DS at the $ store;
: $7.49 outfit from thrift store for costume party
9/7:
:
9/8:
:
9/9:
:
9/10:
:
9/11:
: $10 really cool patchwork skirt at thrift store, $20 dinner/drinks with a girlfriend, $2 parking meter
9/12:
:
9/13:
$110.67 groceries,
: $40 sushi for friend's bachelorette party
9/14:
: $55.08 + $35.09 organic cotton pants, $53.15 new bag for me
9/15:
$32.50 gas (first fill up in 3 1/2 weeks!!), $16 yarn for hat for DS, bought with birthday money;
: $.60 candy bar
9/16:
:
9/17:
:
9/18:
:
9/19:
$4.07 groceries;
: $10.74 thrift store, $22.30 socks & razor cartridges, $14.39 coffee beans & iced coffee, $30 show & drinks
9/20:
$29.68 groceries;
: $7.52 thrift store, $25.26 Hobby Lobby (included wedding present for friends), $41 show & drinks
9/21:
:
9/22:
:

No spend days 14/18
Grocery total: $234.76/$225

My key:

: no spend
budgeted spending
: unnecessary spending
 
#433 ·
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-

9/5-

9/6-
$15 CVS Aspirin and Razor with xtra blade,
$2.65 Panera Bread
9/7-

9/8-

9/9-

9/10-
$6-Zaxby's,
$1.17 P.O. and $19 CVS,
: $12.36
9/11-

9/12-
$8 Subway,
$35 gas
9/13-

9/14-

9/15-

9/16-
: $59 groceries,
$2.58 PBS obigation,
$63 for nails,bkfst &,haircut.
9/17-

9/18-

9/19-
$10 laundry detergent,
$5 McD's.
9/20-

9/21-

9/22-
 
#434 ·
No spending is so much easier when you don't leave the house...

Sept 1:

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

Sept 5: $16 shipping
Sept 6:

Sept 7:

Sept 8:

Sept 9: $11 Goodwill
Sept 10:

Sept 11: $5 coffee/banana
Sept 12: $7 coffee/turnover
Sept 13:

Sept 14: $36 on sports bras and socks
Sept 15: $6 coffee/muffin
Sept 16:

Sept 17: $29 craft supplies; $5 afternoon snack/coffee; $6 McD's dinner
Sept 18:

Sept 19: $5 lunch; +$50 PP
Sept 20: $24 Goodwill, +$20 PP
Sept 21:

Sept 22:
 
#436 ·
9/10 -- $28.00 on gas
9/11 -- $20 on co-pay, $12 on parking & $6.97 on lunch
9/12 -- $3.09 breakfast, $4.70 lunch
9/13 --
:
9/14 -- $73.28 Groceries
9/15 -- $6.71 lunch + $8.35 CVS + $31.50 TJs
9/16 --
:
9/17 --
:
9/18 -- $6.95 LL Bean + $5.94 Gymbo
9/19 -- $5.00 CVS + $68.43 groceries
9/20 --
:
9/21 -- $9.00 - Noodle, Noggin & Bean (playspace for DS)
9/22 -- $1.88 CVS
 
#437 ·
DD (easily) talked me into a first day of autumn ice cream; was giddy from signing lease with fantastic new tenants and having deposit in hand. Though it was not a no-spend day, definitely still an overall positive day on the financial homefront.

Sept. 1:

Sept. 2:

Sept. 3:

Sept. 4:

Sept. 5:

Sept. 6:

Sept. 7:

Sept. 8: parking ticket ($10)
Sept. 9:

Sept. 10:

Sept. 11:

Sept. 12:

Sept. 13:

Sept. 14: $8 toys/puzzles
Sept. 15: $34 library late fees + $5 parking ticket
**** LASER FOCUS ON FINANCES RE-COMMENCING SEPT. 15TH
:
:
Sept. 16:

Sept. 17:

Sept. 18:

Sept. 19:

Sept. 20:

Sept. 21:

Sept. 22: $4 ice cream

Kim
:

GOALS:
* Less than $50 in frivolous spending: month to date $61
* At least 25
days (no spend or spending w/in budget): 18/25
* Pack snacks/water for outings: 22/31
* NO library fines: month to date $34
* Stay within grocery/eating out budget: $506/$500
* ORGANIZE/declutter (lack of organization = spending): 20/25
* Exercise (feeling good = decreased emotional spending): 16/25
* Meal plan created: 0/4 weeks
* Sell rental house by 10/31/08: SIGNED P&S ON 9/2; ALL SYSTEMS GO!!!!!!!!!
 
#438 ·
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
), $11 for yarn to finish ds' sweater, $77 in gas to fill up both cars (gas at a record low of $3.75/gal - hasn't been that low here in over 6 months),
put $500 of paycheck into savings!
9/5:
$65 for sandals at Endless.com, $20 dinner out with sister
9/6:
$82 for groceries,
$61 for school supplies (actually for ds' Christmas) & two sheet sets, $14 clothes at thrift store, $100 for window installation, $20 for router & table DH bought from friend
9/7:
DH's parents want to go to IKEA, we budgeted $50 for trip and spent $55 (not bad)
9/8:
(I've gotta be good the rest of this week to make up for the damage done over the weekend)
9/9:
$6.50 for support hose & $10 for Dr visit
9/10:
$53 for meds and vitamins
9/11:

9/12:
$16.80 for stamps
9/13:
$90.97 for groceries, $16.70 for winterizing supplies,
$10.82 for breakfast out
9/14:
,
:
9/15:

9/16:

9/17:
$15 for costumes at thrift store,
$50 for my months worth of milk, eggs, cheese, and beef from the cow-share
9/18:
$10 for copay at my DO, $9 for bread, peppers, and corn flour at farmers market
9/19:

9/20 -/21:
$40 for gas in both cars, $96 for food (over $50 of that was for bulk flour/baking items in prep for winter baking), $10 misc items for yard clean-up/tree pruning.
9/22:

9/23:


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

MY GOALS:
9/15 No Spend Days
2/2 Eating Out
$592/$600 Groceries, gasoline & household expenses
$25/$25 Winter clothes for ds
$185/$150 Home Improvement

$500/$500 Put in household savings

Total Un-Budgeted spending = $124.50
 
#439 ·
Okay I know I am really late in the game for September, but I really need support not to spend....I am out of control. Especially clothes for the girls. So I have already spent about $75 today so I am starting this for tomorrow. I really need support....
 
#440 ·
01.. $74 babysitter and latte
02.. $10.29 Wendy's
03..

04..
:
05.. $13 baked goods for playgroup
06.. $130 two shirts and two nursing tank tops
07..
:
08..
:
09..

10..
:
11.. $15 for nursing tank top
:
12.. $10 fancy schmancy diaper salve
13..

14.. $40 fleece, $2 coffee, $5 map
15.. $28
16..
:
17..

18.. $363 running shoes, tank tops
19..
:
20..

21..

22..
:
23..


Goals:
14/20 No Spend Days

8/10 Let the Car Rest Days
:
 
#442 ·
9/17

9/18
: $42.08 on cc beer/wine for entertaining inlaws for dinner
9/19
drink for kids while picking up CSA $7.41 on cc
:
9/20
gave into my dh to order pizza $35.00
9/21
bfast out prior to sunday school $43.88 (may add to budget for 1xmo)
9/22
: 31.86 cold weather clothes for ds6,
$8.50 rain boots from thrift store that ds4 really liked

stuck to list other than the rain boots. Not bad, since I went to thrift shop, target, trader joes and health club (free amenity from my job) yesterday with ds4. Today I am taking the kids for haircuts (budgeted). So, I am thinking I may get a
for today!

Goals:
put weekly budgeted item in writing
use cash not credit
stop spending outside of budget

Key:
no spend day or spent only within budget using cash
: spend day within budget but used credit
oops[/QUOTE]
 
#443 ·
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-

9/5-

9/6-
$15 CVS Aspirin and Razor with xtra blade,
$2.65 Panera Bread
9/7-

9/8-

9/9-

9/10-
$6-Zaxby's,
$1.17 P.O. and $19 CVS,
: $12.36
9/11-

9/12-
$8 Subway,
$35 gas
9/13-

9/14-

9/15-

9/16-
: $59 groceries,
$2.58 PBS obigation,
$63 for nails,bkfst &,haircut.
9/17-

9/18-

9/19-
$10 laundry detergent,
$5 McD's.
9/20-

9/21-

9/22-

9/23-
 
#444 ·
I've missed the last month and a half and I can really tell when I look at my receipts/cc-bank statements. I'm back and need some big time support. I just found out that for 2009 my requirements for additional meetings at one of my job sites have tripled...was on the fence about continuing there and now really sitting precariously...

09-18:
$25.00 for Paths to Becoming a Midwife (used copy), $30.46 Totinos
09-19:

09-20:

09-21: $9.50 baby girl clothes at garage sale
09-22:

09-23:
 
#446 ·
I have hives for no reason, so I just had to go to the campus pharmacy and buy cortizone creme. And it would have been a no-spend otherwise!


Sept 1:

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

Sept 5: $16 shipping
Sept 6:

Sept 7:

Sept 8:

Sept 9: $11 Goodwill
Sept 10:

Sept 11: $5 coffee/banana
Sept 12: $7 coffee/turnover
Sept 13:

Sept 14: $36 on sports bras and socks
Sept 15: $6 coffee/muffin
Sept 16:

Sept 17: $29 craft supplies; $5 afternoon snack/coffee; $6 McD's dinner
Sept 18:

Sept 19: $5 lunch; +$50 PP
Sept 20: $24 Goodwill, +$20 PP
Sept 21:

Sept 22:

Sept 23: $2 pharmacy
 
#448 ·
9/1:
$30.03 groceries;
: $27.98 wasp trap, grill brush & lighter, ceiling hooks
9/2:
:
9/3:
:
9/4:
:
9/5:
:
9/6:
$60.32 groceries, $9.45 baby wipes, $6.36 bday presents for DS at the $ store;
: $7.49 outfit from thrift store for costume party
9/7:
:
9/8:
:
9/9:
:
9/10:
:
9/11:
: $10 really cool patchwork skirt at thrift store, $20 dinner/drinks with a girlfriend, $2 parking meter
9/12:
:
9/13:
$110.67 groceries,
: $40 sushi for friend's bachelorette party
9/14:
: $55.08 + $35.09 organic cotton pants, $53.15 new bag for me
9/15:
$32.50 gas (first fill up in 3 1/2 weeks!!), $16 yarn for hat for DS, bought with birthday money;
: $.60 candy bar
9/16:
:
9/17:
:
9/18:
:
9/19:
$4.07 groceries;
: $10.74 thrift store, $22.30 socks & razor cartridges, $14.39 coffee beans & iced coffee, $30 show & drinks
9/20:
$29.68 groceries;
: $7.52 thrift store, $25.26 Hobby Lobby (included wedding present for friends), $41 show & drinks
9/21:
:
9/22:
:
9/23:
:

No spend days 15/18
Grocery total: $234.76/$225

My key:

: no spend
budgeted spending
: unnecessary spending
 
#449 ·
9/1 :

9/2 :

9/3 :

9/4 :
Gas $40 /Groceries ~$36
9/5 :

9/6 :

9/7 :

9/8 :

9/9 :
Groceries $200
9/10:

9/11:

9/12:
Thrift store (fall clothes for ds1, fabrics for Xmas presents, couple toys for kids) ~$23
9/13:

9/14:

9/15:

9/16:

9/17:
Groceries $287.39 /Gas $84.40/ Vet $15
9/18:
Take out $25
9/19:

9/20:
Camping $52.50 /Ice $9
9/21:

9/22:

9/23:


No spend
Budget spend
Over spend

Groceries $523.39
Gas $124.40
Misc. $109.50
Vet $15
 
#450 ·
9/10 -- $28.00 on gas
9/11 -- $20 on co-pay, $12 on parking & $6.97 on lunch
9/12 -- $3.09 breakfast, $4.70 lunch
9/13 --
:
9/14 -- $73.28 Groceries
9/15 -- $6.71 lunch + $8.35 CVS + $31.50 TJs
9/16 --
:
9/17 --
:
9/18 -- $6.95 LL Bean + $5.94 Gymbo
9/19 -- $5.00 CVS + $68.43 groceries
9/20 --
:
9/21 -- $9.00 - Noodle, Noggin & Bean (playspace for DS)
9/22 -- $1.88 CVS
9/23 -- $4.00 lunch + $25 Ikea
 
#451 ·
I have lurked in this thread for a little while now.
: I am now going to join. I have a home daycare and would like to go back to being a full time sahm soon. In order to do this I need to do some extreme no spending. I know with the help of the thread I will be able to do it. Glad this thread is here!
 
#452 ·
I am finally going to join this thread. Today I went to Costco for no apparent reason and spent $115!
: Granted, that is food, but it is not food that I would normally buy, especially all at once.

My reason for joining is that DP gets regular pay raises as an apprentice and once he becomes a journeyman, he will hit the top. When he started almost 4 years ago we were surviving on half this amount. I thought when we got to this point we'd be able to save boatloads of money, but alas, it seems that we always manage to spend the money we make. It's very frustrating and I know I can do better so I'm really going to try!

Also, I"d really like to pay off some debt and then start paying off our mortgage early. So anyway, here I am!
 
#453 ·
9/17

9/18
: $42.08 on cc beer/wine for entertaining inlaws for dinner
9/19
drink for kids while picking up CSA $7.41 on cc
:
9/20
gave into my dh to order pizza $35.00
9/21
bfast out prior to sunday school $43.88 (may add to budget for 1xmo)
9/22
: 31.86 cold weather clothes for ds6,
$8.50 rain boots from thrift store that ds4 really liked
9/23


Goals:
foucus on 6mo emergency fund
put weekly budgeted item in writing
use cash not credit (reinstate envelope system)
stop spending outside of budget

Key:
no spend day
spent only within budget using cash
: spend day within budget but used credit
oops
 
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