Attentive April Controlled/No Spend Thread

[3catslady]

update; 8/30 NSD, 8/30 NEO, $250 in savings.
I did buy a book of stamps but since I can't find the other book I bought, I am not counting it. Any way I will use the stamps for Christmas Cards when the time comes.

[redwagon]

nuttin - thanks so much! I might have to take you up on that!

I've been rather spendy. It's hard to know what my stomach will be able to handle so I've been buying breakfast and lunch out, and dinner plans change on a whim and I go to the grocery store. Sigh. Hoping morning sickness doesn't last for long or else this is going to be very expensive!

[startsmart]

Just stopping in to celebrate! My new biz partner blue eyes and I closed our first new client together ;D It's a great hourly rate and the client is amazing. Finalizing the NDA tomorrow and beginning calls with his client base first thing in the morning!

Of course my day went like this:
8-10a client 1
10-11a client 2
11-11:30a intern
11:30-12p accountability partner
12-12:30 lead 1
12:30-1p lead 2
1-2p lead 3
3-4p lead 4
4-5p client 2 again
5-6p lead 4 again

So if anyone is glamorizing the life of entrepreneurship: don't. It's a ton of work on the phone, selling and marketing and while it's really cool to talk to a businessman in Columbia I am now spending my evening creating proposals, writing for my business and then, much later: sleeping.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Apr 10, 2012 17:07:10 GMT -5 startsmart said:

LOL, thank you! Being on here helps, because instead of "oh what's a couple of bucks?", it's "I don't wanna ruin my NSD!"

ahahahaha, you're one of us! welcome to the no spend frame of mind vortex

Oh now, I've been assimilated!! ;D

Rocky Mtn Saver: 5/30 NSD, 2/30 CSD (<$5) I kept it under $5 yesterday, but today might be a NSD if I play my cards right. No time to stop anywhere today, and I just have to keep myself from strolling past the cafeteria at work!

[redwagon]

resistance is futile

[financialpeace]

Update 7/20 NSDs

Feeling kind of down today. Apparently I work too efficiently so my hours are going to be cut. I would like more time at home, but I don't want a decrease in pay. I followed that news with getting the bill for a biopsy I had done recently. I will have to pay $575. Ouch. I should feel blessed that I can afford it, but instead I am completely annoyed because it is going to derail my savings progress. My savings goal for the year is pretty aggressive, and I can't afford setbacks like this, especially since my paychecks are going to go down. Actually, now that I see red wagon's name, I do feel better. I could have something like a whole extra baby to squeeze into the budget ;D

Rocky- I know what you mean. I also do not like to ruin my no spend days. I don't update here often, but I do keep up on the reading, and it keeps the no spending in my mind.

start- You have a PM about the articles you wrote.

Red- I am no longer jealous of you I was a couple days late this week, and I experienced possibly pregnant panic. It made me realize that being financially ready is really important to me. I wouldn't mind having twins someday but certainly not right now.

[startsmart]

Today was a spend day. I took my Mac in for some work and while that was free I took advantage of being at the mall for the first time in ages to get more foundation (makeup). It's been about 2 years since I bought any so the costs are low when looked at over time. I also had dinner out since I drove out to sacramento, then home, then out to the Delta to meet my mom and pick up her dogs. I'm now dog sitting for 2 weeks. OY.

And since blue and I closed our first new client together today and I did my first on the job training with a customer it felt like celebration time

[ses]

Red-Big congrats!!!

Rocky-You are making fantastic progress

FP- aggressive saving is wonderful, but don't set yourself up for the impossible

I did my monthly visit to Walmart and got out for under $50!!

I am not enjoying this return to colder weather, seems I am cold all day long. I am so ready for Spring to really arrive.

Startsmart- I am amazed at how much you have accomplished since we started here. Will you send me a link to your articles?

[redwagon]

FP - yes, being financially ready is huge. We felt ready for one. Two is causing a wee bit of panic but we'll figure it out. I'm actually hoping to find some time today if it's a slow day to map out a budget for the rest of the year to ramp up the baby fund and pay off some CCs aggressively. We'll see how that goes.

ses - thanks!! my cats are pissed though. they SO know what's going on, somehow.

[sheilaincali]

Red- During my entire pregnancy my dog never left my side. If I had morning sickness she would follow me into the bathroom or sit outside the door howling. DH used to have to drag her out of the house on walk because she would get so upset by my throwing up. Every nap I took she climbed into bed with me. When DS was born she would pace outside his bedroom door if she heard him crying or fussing. She was the sweetest thing but she didn't let anyone or anything come between her and her baby. In 13 years she never chewed on a single baby toy or stuffed animal of his.

Sorry- feeling nostalgic today. DS turns 14 at the end of the month and this morning I discovered that he is only an inch shorter than I am. Made me cry.

[redwagon]

sheila - aww how sweet. Yeah, Boomer is being nice for once, but Dax is mad because she's my cuddler and knows she won't be for long. So funny how they know. Can't believe DS is going to be 14!! Wow!

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 5/30 NSD, 3/30 CSD (<$5): So, I did manage to get another CSD yesterday, but today I have to stock up on some nutrition bars because I'm completely out. That'll take me a bit over my CSD $5 limit, but still won't be too bad. Looking ahead to the weekend, I think I should get at least one NSD out of the 3 days. I'm a little behind on the work for my last Accounting class, so I need to stay focused on that anyway. I have to go grocery shopping, but that will be it unless I get talked into going to a movie. My friends want to see the Hunger Games a second time! Oh well, I have a designated movie money envelope, so it won't hurt. But only if I do my darn homework first!

[redwagon]

Have you seen it yet? Haven't read the book yet but might have to use my free movie passes on going again with DH!

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

I saw the movie and liked it a lot, but haven't read the books yet. I was waiting until after I saw the film version, because I tend to enjoy them both more that way. My friend will loan me her book after my semester is over. But some of my younger friends are HUGE fans and want to see it again. I told them I will be super supportive of HG as long as the are super supportive of my Avengers obsession next month! ;D

[financialpeace]

I liked the Hunger Games books, but they honestly scare the crap out of me. I worry about the future of the world, and the story is way too plausible for me. I can totally see something like that happening.

Ended up staying home from work today because of a UTI I was looking forward to today because they were having Olive Garden cater lunch for us. Not leaving the house meant another NSD, though, so that's good.

[3catslady]

update, 10 NSD, 10 NEO, $250 in savings.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Apr 12, 2012 21:22:28 GMT -5 financialpeace said:

I liked the Hunger Games books, but they honestly scare the crap out of me. I worry about the future of the world, and the story is way too plausible for me. I can totally see something like that happening.

Ended up staying home from work today because of a UTI I was looking forward to today because they were having Olive Garden cater lunch for us. Not leaving the house meant another NSD, though, so that's good.

Boo to missing out on a free catered lunch! I'm all about taking advantage of any free lunches at work - they're the only perk we get these days! . But yay for the silver lining of a NSD! Good attitude.

I agree about HG being a little scary. There's a lot of social commentary in it that relates directly to our current day. Yikes!

I had a CSD myself today. Spent $4.94.

[startsmart]

Read Hunger Games and want to re-read it before seeing the movie. That's on the list in the coming weeks IF I can get out of the house!

Yep, I have 5 dogs for 2 weeks and it's raining with thunder and lightening outside. Gonna be a LONG day!

Things are going well so far with the new client, blue and I have our third training in 3 days today (we're teaching) and I'm so excited to get our content out there.

Bonus good news: I've been invited to speak and the location isn't clear but it may be at the State Senate! So excited about that one... and in a few weeks at a conference/workshop I'm attending I'll be on the success panel to promote my business in front of 300 people (plus it will be broadcast and sold after the event). All of this means... I have to go shopping. I hate shopping but it's inevitable since I need (yes need) some professional clothes. Probably this weekend.

[pointy]

update: 10/22 NS and 11/28 No QVC

[redwagon]

startsmart - congrats!!

We have Ben Bernanke speaking at one of our conferences today. Kinda cool. Glad I'm at work where it's quiet though. I needed a quiet day.

As for free work lunches, I pay $2.22 for lunch that I don't even eat. It's such BS. But they won't let me opt out of the lunch club, so I just eat all their fruit and drink their coffee and I've started using their milk to make my Instant breakfasts in the morning (I have to gain some serious weight with twins) so I think maybe I'm getting my money's worth that way. Their fatty foods at lunch are just not worth it to me, so I go get protein-rich, healthy salads up the street. Not the best for the wallet, but best for my health I think, seeing as I gained weight like crazy when I ate their lunches for my first year here. Can't win them all. However, if Olive Garden catered one day, I'd so be there!

I'm pretty excited that as a result of our refi we won't have to make a payment in May. So that money is being split between the EF (bulking it back up after Irene) and paying off one credit card. And I think I'm taking back one of our house credit cards from DH in the attempt to make him use debit first instead of CC, which he never tells me about until I see it on the statement. Eventually he and I will get in sync, I hope. Hard to get a NS day when he's on the loose.

[Deleted]

I am at 6 NSDs this month. Whoot whoot.

I even came under budget on my grocery bill for the week! Yeah!

I was even able to have money left over from last pay period and transferred $400 to savings. That is a nice feeling.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Angel: Great job on all three counts! Having $400 left in the month would be awesome! Feel free to send some of it my way!

Today turned into an unexpected NSD. I accompanied my mother to a minor medical procedure, so she sprang for a small lunch afterward. I can't remember when I last went out for a sit-down meal... So it was nice. I need the NSD's because I forgot to save up earlier for my haircut next week. Oops!

Rocky Mtn Saver: 6/30 NSD, 4/30 CSD (<$5)

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 10 NSDs 1 CSD

Just a quick pop-in to say hello. I spent most of tonight correcting papers and suspect that most of tomorrow will be more of the same.

This week was as busy as usual with the addition of a concert at school one night. The concert was a nice break and on top of it all was free. It was nice to be able to hear a professional orchestra free of charge.

Bedtime for me. Hope to stay longer one of these days.

[3catslady]

update: 12/30 NSD, 12/30 NEO, $250 in savings.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 7/30 NSD, 4/30 CSD (<$5). Today is grocery-buying day, so I definitely will be over my CSD limit! LOL. But I'm happy with my month so far. I saved enough thru NSD's to get my hair cut so I won't look like a Wolfman (Wolfwoman?). Now I have some frugal party planning to do too, so that should be... interesting, but a fun challenge. I'll start with the dollar store today and see what I can find.

Someday I want to be as good at this as you, 3catslady!

[3catslady]

As of today, I am still at 12/30 NSD and 12/30 NEO. I ordered a large pizza for supper tonight and the rest will be for supper or lunch tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday. I am counting this as a spend because I don't feel like getting dressed and going to get groceries.
Rocky Mt; I don't count getting groceries as a spend nor do I count paying bills or getting gas or getting my hair cut. Anything in budget is not counted in anything. I budget $50 every week for groceries. I budget $75 a month for gas because I don't go anywhere except to work 3-4 days a week, groceries once a week, hair salon once every 6 or 7 weeks and my GF's Mountain Home once or twice a month just to get out of the house. Now when my cuz and SIL and I go out to eat that is out of cash that I withdrew for the month so that is not a spend either.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

3cats: Yeah, I don't count paying utilties or getting gas (because that seems like a utility to me). Maybe I should not count groceries too, at least the biweekly planned/budgeted trips. Any individual trips I should probably include because it's outside the planned system I have.

On the other hand, I have to include things that are in my budget or my cash I withdraw for the pay period, because there's literally nothing left! LOL I budget to within an inch of my life, because I'm still behind on some savings goals. I think there's literally $12 in the bank right now that's not already earmarked, budgeted, moved, or otherwise already accounted for. ;D

One question. The amount you add as savings in your tagline -- is that what you saved via NSD/CSD for the month? Or is it cumulative?

[3catslady]

Rocky Mt Saver; That is cumulative for that month. I have certain weeks that I don't have any bills coming out of my check except groceries. I get paid weekly, or weakly what ever the case, and I try to put at least $40 or $50 away in savings. At the first of the month when I pay all the other bills, whatever is left over I put into savings and leave $50 as a cushion in checking. Sometimes I only have $50 left but the bills have been lite for the past 2 months so I was able to put more away than I planned. That probably is as clear as mud but I just got up and I am not with it yet. I have been up all night for the past couple of nights and just getting to sleep when DS knocks on my door, and the D doesn't stand for DEAR today.

[startsmart]

Yesterday was a SD as I picked up a new pair of khakis and a shirt for my conference coming up soon. Normally I wouldn't really fuss but I found out I'm speaking on the panel in front of 300ish people. Eeek. Less than $50 total but it was more frustrating because I think clothes out there now are hideously ugly.

Today will likely be a CSD since I need to go to the bread store, Costco and print copies of my book (the one I wrote in Nov). If I can get the freebie codes to work then I can get 5 free copies shipped to me and I'll start with 1 for final editing. Looking forward to seeing it!

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Apr 16, 2012 11:11:19 GMT -5 3catslady said:

That probably is as clear as mud but I just got up and I am not with it yet. I have been up all night for the past couple of nights and just getting to sleep when DS knocks on my door, and the D doesn't stand for DEAR today.

LOL, no I think I got it! You're good. Go have some coffee. ;D