All Savings Counts April

[ses]

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

[ses]

It is already April??  Didn't we just have Christmas a couple of weeks ago?  I am afraid this might be an expensive month.  I am going sit down tomorrow and do some serious planning for the next couple of months.  It ain't gonna be pretty.

[3catslady]

3catslady:  0/15 NSD, 1/14 CSD, 0/1 eating out day.

I think I am going back to getting groceries once a week instead of every night I come home from work getting whatever I am out of at the time.  I am spending more money on things for the convenience.  Most items are at least $.75 to $1.00 cheaper at the big store not at my store.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

I'm going to keep reading and checking in, but I think I'm not going to actively track in April.  Too busy!  But I'm still here. 

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 2NSDs and 2CSDs

I'm in again.  School is keeping me busy as usual so I will continue to pop in when I can to update numbers and to catch up on everyone's activities.

Wishing all a good weekend. We are expecting a rainy weekend so I hope to catch up on many little things I have to do in the house.

[3catslady]

3catslady:  3/15 NSD, 3/14 CSD, 0/1 eating out day.

I am redoing my address book and if any of you ladies that I have known "forever" have moved could I have your new address?  I also started buying Christmas cards and some birthday cards but I haven't bought any stamps yet.  I have some of your birthdays.

[3catslady]

you can pm me on here

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 7 NSDs and 4 CSDs

Hope all are doing well.  I am as usual swamped with grading and keeping up with all of the school activities as well as the household chores.  I have been going through the closets and packing away the winter clothes.  I do a lot of layering so any cool days will be covered.  I have been slowing filling up boxes to donate.  I would like to get another box or two finished before I call for pickup.  If I continue to work on this at this slow pace I figure that I would be ready about the end of school.   I am fine with that as long as the boxes are in the garage and are not in the way.

I do have a few days off for Easter break at the end of this week so I suspect that I will be hitting the mall for some much needed items.  I have been collecting coupons from a number of places and hope to minimize the damage by cashing in several of those while I am picking up the items I need.

We finally have a nice stretch of weather.  I am hoping to get to the French Quarter Fest sometime this weekend.  Last year the weather was so bad that one morning activities were cancelled.  It is a great free music festival with a lot of local bands -- many with student musicians who are learning the traditional jazz that this area is so well known for. 

I haven't been able to get as much beading done as I wish due to the other commitments of school and home but hope to get a few things worked on this weekend and next.  I have one project started but I can tell that it will be a while before that one is finished.  I may try to work on some easier designs at the same time as I do have a craft show scheduled prior to Mother's Day and I want to have a few new spring items completed before then. 

Need to get myself moving on the errands this morning.  Will check in when I can.

 

[mizbear]

I am going back to work this week. Hoping to pay cash for school this fall

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 11 NSDs and 5 CSDs

Just a quick pop-in to say hello and to update the numbers.  I have off the rest of the week and I know that I will be doing some spending someday this week as I have some needed shopping to do at the mall.  I have been avoiding it for several weeks but no longer can postpone some of the planned purchases.  I figured I can go while I have some time off and then I can get everything on the list at one time instead of a little at a time.  I also have several discount coupons that expire at the end of the month from several of the stores that I planned to visit that will help the bottom line.

Definitely will not miss having to pull myself out of bed before 5:30 for a few days. 

Will check in when I can.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 9/15 NSD, 8/14 CSD, 1/1 eating out day.

Today will be a controlled spend because I need to get a few things from the store after work.  I am only getting what I need because my hours were cut from 21 this week to 12 next week and I need gas.  I am hoping I have enough to get me to work and home for 3 days next week because that is all I work.  That means I should get some things done here at home.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 16 NSDs and 6 CSDs

The Easter break was a busy one as I did get the shopping done, visited with friends and family and got some much needed sleep. I did get to the mall and got almost everything on my list plus a few items that were good deals. My wardrobe has much needed new items to mix with the other items in the closet. I also got quite a bit of housework done plus a few other projects completed. 

We are now back at school for the last few weeks of classes prior to exam time. This school year seems to have flown by. 

Time for bed. Will check back when I can.

[3catslady]

3catslady:  16/15 NSD, 13/14 CSD, 1/1 eating out day.

Tomorrow starts a new month.  MATTER OF $ CONTROL MAY?

[moneysquirrel]

Final April Update: 16 NSDs and 7 CSDs