Due Diligence December - Controlled/No Spend Thread

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Here we go again!




A few months back Honeylioness had an impassioned plea to get us back to the focus of our thread. The fundamentals. The basics. Plus the friendship. Did y'all know we've successfully planned vacations together? Life keeps on going with new babies, relationships, homes, challenges, jobs and financial hurdles but we stick to it. So, get sticky!

Here are some way to get your goals to stick:

#1. Post your numbers - just put it at the top of a post in bold and let us know how you're doin' and what you need help with
#2. Track your numbers - technically this should be #1 but you know it. If you need ideas for tracking post and ask the veterans for guidance
#3. Share your life but please keep it somewhat financially related - we know that everything influences finances especially when we're stressed, tired, excited and busy. BUT this is a financial accountability group, not a therapy session If you want to go off topic consider starting a fresh thread and posting a link so those who are interested can support you there.

For the new people there are no real set rules here, you set your own. The basic goal most if not all of us have are to keep track of the days we don't spend and hopefully by that work on saving money. Some are looking to put it into savings others to pay down debt.

For some they only count the day as a no spend day if they spend nothing at all. Others will count it if they keep their total under $5. Some count all spending others only count a certain part of their budget. For example MittenKitten personally take $400 out of the the bank in cash for everything that is not related to vehicle expenses (like gas, oil changes, insurance etc) or the house (mortgage, utilities, HOA) If I spend out of the $400 I count it as a spend day (although if it is less then $5 I usually count it as a no spend day.) You set your own rules. Any questions feel free to ask.

You can post your no spend days daily or whenever you want, just put it in bold at the top with the first number being the number you want me to record. If you are doing daily then:
Today (or yesterday) $0 Spend day

More then one day at a time:
4/31 days $0 Spend Which translates into 4 out of 31 days in July have been no spend so far. Some use the bigger number as their goal number so do 4/15 No spend Days which means they have a goal of 15 no spend days this month.

Here's a handy guide to some of our terminology:
NSD: No Spend Day
CSD: Controlled Spend Day
BFF: Best Friend Forever
DH/DS/DD/DSS: Dear Husband, Dear Son Dear Daughter, fiance, boy friend, Dear Step-Son
DIL, MIL, BIL, SIL: Daughter in law, Mother In Law, Brother in Law, Sister In Law
NKCW: No Killing Co-Worker Day (could also be no kill DH NKDH etc)
NS or NSD: No Spend or No Spend Day
NEO: No eating out
HTH: Hope This Helps
KWIM: Know What I mean
FWIW: For What It's Worth
IMHO or IMO: In my Humble Opinion or In My Opinion


 

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver:  1 NSD/0 CSD

I started the month off well, with a NSD on Sunday.  I bought tickets to an event but I had received a free pass so it didn't cost me anything!  Woo-hoo, onward and upward! 

[Ombud]

I should be starting at $410.15 this month.

[ses]

I am still closing out November with 187.00 left!  My December starts next Thursday and until then I am just going to hunker down and endure the subzreo arctic blast coming my way--so I doubt there will be any spending. 

[3catslady]

3catslady:  1 NSD, 1 CSD, 0 eating out days.


 $857.85  beginning balance
 -$25.00  waste removal
 -$65.00  Sewer
-$632.13  Mortgage #1
 -$94.33   Mortgage #2
   -$8.45   groceries
___________________
$32.90 until Wednesday when I get my check.

[3catslady]

3catslady:  2 NSD, 2   CSD, 0 eating out.


  $32.90
-$13.55  groceries for cats
+$69.47  my check
______________________
$88.82 until weekend when the rent is due to me

Today would have been an eating out day except my DGS had his partner bring down 2 Little Ceaser's and gave me some.   DIL is in the hospital with contractions.  She went in yesterday morning.  She isn't due until the 15th of February.  They are trying to stop the contractions but so far no luck.  Needless to say, I didn't sleep much last night nor much today.  I am really tired and will go to bed early.  That is why I was going to eat out or order in.  Please send prayers.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 2 NSD/0 CSD


Today was a no-spend since it's too darn cold outside to go anywhere!

[Ombud]

Guess what? I underpaid one of the cell phones by $0.27 last month. So they charged me a $5 late fee. Had to call up and explain to them that I'm way too long of a customer for them to lose just because their machine won't take coins as payment. And I don't pay that kid's cell phone bill through my bank account, I go into their store (AT&T) and pay it on their machine which only takes dollar bills. Nice lady reversed the charge

3 cats, saying a prayer that your DIL is OK

[ses]

Ombud--you go girl!

With all the Thanksgiving leftovers and a high of 5*F, there was absolutely nothing that could tempt me out to shop.  Especially when I can hear the wind howling around the corner of the house, I don't want to know the wind chill.  It was about -14*F two or three hours ago, who knows what it might be now.
I'm off to make some hot cocoa!

[Ombud]

ses said:

-14*F

& we complain when it drops to 27° at night!! I can't even comprehend -14°. Definitely a good book & cocoa or hot spiced cider weather 

[3catslady]

DIL is home but I don't know anything else.

[3catslady]

3catslady:  3 NSD, 3 CSD, 0 eating out day.

   $88.82
+$161.70  My actual check.  The other check was my Christmas Bonus.
  -$14.81  Groceries
________________
$235.71

I am counting today as a NSD because my car registration hasn't come back yet.  It ran out on November 30th and I won't drive anywhere without it except to work.  I renewed it online but I printed out the wrong paper and I don't know if they will accept it as proof.

[ses]

Last night was -27*F, I don't even want to know the wind chill!  Tonight is only to be -11*F--we're having a heat wave.  I haven't gone out since last Monday.  I'm getting a little cabin fever, but nothing like the cats have.  All three line up in front of the door and demand to go out---until I open the door (after I have assured them it is cold out there) they look out and fall all over each other in their haste to get away from the door.  Once they are huddled on the rug in front of the heat vent they just glare at me until we do the same dance an hour or two later.  Another three or four days until this is all over.  Needless to say--no spending.

[3catslady]

3catslady:   3 NSD, 5 CSD, 0 eating out days.

$235.71
-  $7.10   cat treats, food
- $92.34  groceries, cats litter, pampering me products
+ $50.00  rent from the kids
_________________________
$186.27

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 2 NSD/3 CSD

Ses, I think we bottomed out at -15 degrees a couple of nights ago. We're on the upswing now... it was only -3 degrees this morning when I left for work. Supposed to get up to 40 by the end of this week!  Woo-hoo! 

I hope everyone stayed warm!

[Ombud]

Back to 29° last night. It's headed your way

[3catslady]

3catslady:  4 NSD, 5 CSD, 0 eating out day.

[Ombud]

Spent yesterday:
$410.15
- 25.00 Starbucks
- 16.23 Urban Outfitters
$368.92

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 2 NSD/4 CSD

I'm officially tired of the uber-cold weather.    I'd like to be able to go outside again without getting frostbite. 

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 2 NSD/5 CSD


It's going to be 34 degrees this afternoon.  It's like a heat wave! 

[Ombud]

Im out until January. Major car repair bill which will also cut into band trip savings

[3catslady]

3catslady:  5 NSD, 6 CSD, 0 eating out day.

  $186.27
   - $3.73 breakfast food stuff
+$100.00 from savings
+$141.29 my check
-$200.00  electric bill
__________________
$123.80

[Ombud]

Thankful correction to above post:
$368.92
-300.00 partial auto repair, rest on debt
$68.92

[moneysquirrel]

Sorry, I have been MIA this month. I also have no idea what my numbers are. I am finishing up with exams this week and hope to get some of the shopping done

after school each day.  I have very little to get since thankfully most of the ones I do give gifts to enjoy the gift card routine. My house has not been done and is in need of major work.  The good news is that I am up to date on all the grading and only have to type in the exam grades as they are completed.  I have managed to get some things done this morning and will make the effect to get a few more things completed while laundry is being done.  If I finish the major items I may thy to run out to the closest mall for a short time before the game comes on this afternoon.

Take care and stay warm.  Will check in when I come up for air later this week/month.

 

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 3 NSD/5 CSD

Hope things slow down for you, MoneySquirrel!

[3catslady]

3catslady:  7 NSD, 8 CSD, 0 eating out.

$123.80
   -$6.58  groceries
   -$8.77 groceries
 -$29.14 groceries
________________
$79.31

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 4 NSD/5 CSD

[3catslady]

3catslady:  8 NSD, 9 CSD, 0 eating out.



 $79.31
-$16.20  gifts 
 -$4.67  soda
_________________
$58.44

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 5 NSD/5 CSD

Today should be a NSD or CSD, as I'm just too busy to spend any money.   

Hope everyone is doing well!

[3catslady]

3catslady:  9 NSD, 10 CSD, 0 eating out days.

    $58.44
+$172.84  my check
________________
$231.28