ses
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Post by ses on Sept 1, 2012 16:55:26 GMT -5
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 Having a Startsmart Day is referring to when you have 20+ things on your must get done in a day and you accomplish them. Single Mom-KY aka Smokey; MittenKitten aka MK; Pt_In_NY aka Pointy; The Boy is Sheila in Cali's son. Blue is Red_Wagon's DH TBear is MizBear's older niece. ZBear is MizBear's younger niece.
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ses
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Post by ses on Sept 1, 2012 16:56:45 GMT -5
So, we've tried the idea of captains in the past but here's the thing we need volunteers! I know it's busy with summer and travel and all that jazz but if you wouldn't mind taking an hour this month to help the group here's what you would do:
* Create a question of the week (QOTW) and challenge of the week (COTW) related to the question and post it on Sunday * Pop in throughout the week to answer questions, give support, karma and cheer others on. * Post the tally on Saturday for the group for those tracking their numbers.
Wanna help? Just post here or message me and you can take a week!
Honeylioness had a wonderful answer I think really defines WHAT we are about:
"I will admit that during my first two months of lurking, I wondered just how in the WORLD someone could not spend any money at ALL for 25 days? Did they just pay all their bills one day a month, and that same day do the food shopping for the month? Like many new to the concept I saw it as horribly, and restrictively, black or white – an opinion first based merely on the name of the thread.
But once I came to understand that it was not so totalitarian and was more about finding a way that worked for you to track your spending and any “leaks” in the wallet, it has felt more like a tool and less like a punishment. I wish I could say that I have paid off five extra years from the mortgage, or now have an EF of six months take home – but alas that would not be true.
What I do have however is a better awareness of where my “leaks” are, what are my hot buttons that make me want to spend on things I really don’t need or really cannot afford right now. And an awareness of the fact when I AM spending money. I think that awareness is key to learning a new behavior or paradigm. Just like lumberlady (a member that hasn't been a regular lately but is still a much loved part of our community), some of us have had to look hard in the mirror and acknowledge that we had a problem. Until people can do that, be it an addiction to alcohol or drugs or credit cards ….. they will never really GET it."
Thanks Honeylioness!
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ses
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Post by ses on Sept 1, 2012 16:59:57 GMT -5
I just realized that it is September already without a thread. Since I have been on the computer today following the fire news I just started a new thread
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3catslady
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Post by 3catslady on Sept 1, 2012 17:56:38 GMT -5
September goals; 25 NSD/CSD.
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Sept 1, 2012 21:40:19 GMT -5
I'll jump in. 13 NSD / 13 CSD / 4 free days. Know that sounds weird [ 13 is normally unlucky] but my thought is that I can only spend once a week UNLESS it is under $5. Hope it works so that I can get a new windshield, bird flew into it on 680 when I was going 70 mph. Flew directly at me and I couldn't get out of it's way Spent $11.60 on groceries & $30 on gas today. 1 spend day down, only 3 left
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Sept 2, 2012 13:25:11 GMT -5
Just wondering: How do you define necessary vs discretionary spending and how does this impact your NSD / CSD? Example: Cable: - BF states that NFL station is a definite need, therefore the expanded cable service is needed
- I think the basic cable is just fine and don't count paying necessary bills when tracking NSD / CSD
- DS has no cable at all, stating anything worth watching will show on the net
- DD d/n separate what she pays out into necessary vs discretionary
Input?
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sbcalimom
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Post by sbcalimom on Sept 2, 2012 16:15:52 GMT -5
I'm in! After all this spending with the move, the car, daycare etc, I really need to buckle down until the end of the year. Doesn't help that DH went to Costco today without the list and bought mostly crap we didn't need.
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ses
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Post by ses on Sept 3, 2012 12:38:37 GMT -5
Just heard from moneysquirrel (by way of kcgal)--she now has electricity and has moved back into her home and is getting back to normal. She still does not have land line or internet access.
The wild fires here are 45% contained (150 sq miles burned) and the fire 30 miles to the east are about 15% contained(currently 150 sq miles burned). All major highways are open, most county roads are still closed. The State Park near me is still closed, the photos I saw showed a lot of damage in the very wooded area. Most of the evacuees were allowed to return, beginning yesterday evening. But best of all I can breathe and it does not smell like I am three feet from a campfire. I will get a new furnace filter and eventually the house will clear out.
What a way to spend a holiday weekend. I think I will celebrate and get Chinese for lunch!
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Sept 3, 2012 14:43:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the update, SES. That really puts it all into perspective. We're lucky here in the Bay Area. Mt Diablo has not had a fire in years Spend Day = 1 NSD = 2 [just a picnic today] CSD = 0 Wandered into Brighton and would have bought a great purse for $169 + tax but I want blue or burgundy, not brown. Fortunately it only comes in brown or black.
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Sept 3, 2012 16:52:21 GMT -5
Sunday was a spend day so I'm at 2 NSD already. Really been focused the last 2 days on the New York Times article which turned out really great and resulted in tons of new traffic to my website.
Working with blue eyes to get everything finalized before we fly to Florida on Sunday and getting super excited!
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pointy
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Post by pointy on Sept 3, 2012 20:08:22 GMT -5
I'm in for September: 22 NS and 27 No QVC
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Sept 4, 2012 7:59:04 GMT -5
HI all, sorry I'm tardy to the party! ;D But I did well on NSD's over the weekend. We even went out for dinner on Saturday, but someone else picked up the tab. I love that! Rocky Mtn. Saver: 2 NSD/1 CSD <$5
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dakota4600
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Post by dakota4600 on Sept 4, 2012 9:40:38 GMT -5
I'm not going to be tracking this month as we move in 2 weeks! But when I have time I'll stop by and say hi!
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sapphire12
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Post by sapphire12 on Sept 4, 2012 11:12:43 GMT -5
Hi All --
I've been missing for a while. It's been a busy and hectic summer. I mostly relaxed during over the weekend and watched tennis. I've been downsizing in my home. I've found it to be invigorating.
SES, I had no clue there are fires near you. It has been a season of natural disasters. Glad that you are okay.
dakota -- good luck with the move.
Ombuds -- For me, necessary is the bare minimal I need to survive. While, I have cable, in no way do I consider it a necessity on any level. I do think you should enjoy life, but after the necessary goals are met.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Sept 4, 2012 11:23:31 GMT -5
Just wondering: How do you define necessary vs discretionary spending and how does this impact your NSD / CSD? Input? For NSD/CSD tracking purposes, essentially, anything I use my allotted personal spending cash for is included. House (utilites, rent, groceries), medical, or car/fuel expenses are budgeted elsewhere in my budget and don't count against my NSD's. As for necessary vs discretionary in general terms, it would depend on my financial situation at the time. At the moment, I consider my DVR and wireless service necessary, although I fully admit that they're both really very discretionary! But if I were hurting financially, they would definitely be on the table to cut.
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azmom
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Post by azmom on Sept 4, 2012 17:23:43 GMT -5
1 NSD
Hey All. I'm back and I'm in My goal this month is just to get as many as I can. I don't need to spend money on anything other than our BIL and a few budgeted items.
I took DD to get her braces on today but before I did I took her out to lunch with cash from my fun money. So far today is a NSD because the Orthodontist is prepaid and I already counted my fun money as a spend day when I withdrew it last week.
I'll try and catch up with everyone tomorrow. We are in the midst of busy around here with football and softball. I do LOVE how you all made sure Moneysquirrel and others were okay. I LOVE, LOVE that about this group and I am so thankful for the updates.
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moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on Sept 4, 2012 19:05:14 GMT -5
I'm in again. I have no idea what my August final numbers are. I do know that the total went up since I was house bound for the last week.
Thanks to kcgal for keeping all of you updated on my situation. I have roof damage -- will probably need at least half a roof. Lost shingles in several places and water spots showed up in one roof. Had someone look at it today and will get the estimate for repair later this week. I would like to get that fixed as soon as possible. Other than that part of a fence is leaning.
I want you to know that the areas that were affected were on the outskirts of the major cities and were in areas that have never been damaged in prior storms. The new levees did the job of keeping the metro area dry. The major damage we faced in the city was wind damage and uprooted and broken trees.
With that said please pray for all of those in the outer areas. I know of at least three of our school families who lost everything. Several others were in the areas that had major damage.
I just wanted to check in and thank all of you for thinking of me and for your support.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Sept 4, 2012 19:26:30 GMT -5
Great to hear that things are mostly okay (if a bit soggy) for you!
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Sept 5, 2012 11:45:49 GMT -5
moneysquirrel - good to hear from you! glad your area was relatively okay.
Hmm... my goal will be 10 NS days I guess. We'll see how I do. I know there will be a lot of getting baby stuff that remains on my registry and that we need (I will resist buying up all the fun stuff). And we do eat out more because we're both just wiped out. Over the weekend I think we slept almost 12 hours each night. We obviously needed it.
My second baby shower is this weekend (with Blue's family) so that should be fun. I just really want this humidity to go away. It makes it so hard to move and breathe and makes me feel almost sick. Resisting the urge to ask my doctor to put me on bedrest lol.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Sept 5, 2012 11:57:02 GMT -5
Late to the party. I am shooting for a goal of 20 NSDs. so far we are at
3/20 NSD.
Saturday we drove up to the cities (Minneapolis/St Paul) at hit up the used bookstore, Trader Joes, the Apple-barn on the way home, etc. Sunday we only purchased groceries (which I don't count as a spend) and Monday the Boys went to a rampage (miniatures tournament) and I made some desserts for the cookout.
The Boy is officially a Freshman in High School. He had a great first day yesterday. He is becoming so much more confident in life. He walked in the door, went straight to the teacher standing there with the clipboard and said "Hi, I'm a freshman and I'm not sure where to go, what do you recommend?" She instructed him to go organize his locker and return to the auditorium in 15 minutes for an assembly. He lost his schedule once during the day and just went to the office and asked for a replacement. Apologized to the teacher for being late and explain why. Even explained his whole orthodontic expander to his German Teacher so she wouldn't mark him down for pronunciation issues between now and Christmas (when he gets the expander removed). Seriously- for a kid that used to be terminally shy this is HUGE.
I showed up at the Rampage for the cookout and the Boy is standing there carrying on a conversation with a handful of adults. He saw me, waved me over and introduced me to the guys he was talking to. Crazy! I am in shock every day that he is 14 and in high school. But he is growing up to be so comfortable in his skin and with his life. I am so proud of him.
This month- We are going to the Renaissance Festival on Sunday (I have 2 free tickets but we'll have to pay for the Boy) and at the end of the month we are going to Nebraska for a big Junk Jaunt (300 miles of flea markets and yard sales). Otherwise the month should be pretty quiet.
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Sept 5, 2012 11:59:29 GMT -5
Sheila - I cannot believe he's a freshman already! And it sounds like he's going to do just awesome. You raised a good one, there!! And that Junk Jaunt sounds great!!
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Sept 5, 2012 12:00:48 GMT -5
- Spend Day = 2 [GS2 has no shorts that fit, here it is September and he's out! With at least 2 hot / warm months to go he cannot keep wearing his brother's]
- NSD = 3
- CSD = 0
moneysquirrel - I don't mean to minimize your damage and that is bad news, but at least it can be repaired. Will definitely put a dent in the savings even with insurance. It never covers it all redwagon - kudos on the pregnancy. Guess I missed that one! axmom - like the concept of 'fun money!' If this month doesn't go as planned, perhaps I'll try that next month. Still want to try going all cash this month
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Sept 5, 2012 12:09:53 GMT -5
ombud - thanks! it's twins! yikes! still adjusting and I've known for 22 weeks lol.
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dakota4600
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Post by dakota4600 on Sept 5, 2012 13:23:13 GMT -5
Ooooooo where is the junk jaunt? That sounds like a fun mother daughter trip, probably not this year with the move.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Sept 5, 2012 14:15:05 GMT -5
Junk Jaunt: This if from their website: Welcome to NEBRASKA'S JUNK JAUNT® It is a 300 mile continuous Yard Sale in central Nebraska. Each of 35-40 towns organizes a 3-day yard sale. Most towns will have at least one “Central Set-Up” location for vendors. Last year, this fun event drew 20,000 people from 34 states and 79 of 93 Nebraska counties. www.junkjaunt.comIt's an annual thing over the last weekend in September. DH and I LOVE flea marketing and garage sale-ing. The Boy comes with us quite often so we are really excited for this. It's our family version of a vacation, camping trip, what have you. There is a big several city long garage sale in Red Wing, MN every year that we do. We'll leave on the Thursday after work/school. Drive to Nebraska and stay in a hotel. That way we'll have all day Friday and the bulk of Saturday to shop/junk/etc and we'll head back on Saturday so we have Sunday to recuperate. Omaha is 5 1/2 hours from where we live. Red- Thanks- I like to think we are doing a good job raising him. But honestly he just makes it so darn easy. He is a great person to just hang out with and be around.
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3catslady
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Post by 3catslady on Sept 6, 2012 8:11:21 GMT -5
I miss the chattiness.
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dakota4600
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Post by dakota4600 on Sept 6, 2012 8:29:49 GMT -5
Shelia- That does sound like fun! I will have to remember that for next fall.
Honey- Have you heard anything about the job?
3cats- me too!
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Ombud
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Post by Ombud on Sept 6, 2012 11:28:53 GMT -5
Enlighten me as to why it stopped?
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ses
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Post by ses on Sept 6, 2012 11:32:17 GMT -5
I need to get this posted before Jereme comes to pick up my computer for a major check up.
Welcome back everyone, especially the return of some of our long time members.
Sapphire--There have been many wild fires in the Southern Black Hills Region this year--especially the areas we toured last year-- due to the extreme drought. Luckily none of them were too close, until last week when we got three. They are all contained and well on the way to being put out.
Sheila, AZmom--I can't believe how big "our kids" are getting. Of course it is close to SIX years since I started here. So many changes in my life since then--thanks to you all for many of them.
Ombud--Thanks for bringing up the idea of necessary vs discretionary spending. I try to periodically review my budget to avoid what i call "comfort creep" (letting those little expenses for luxuries get out of hand) and I haven't done that recently. I consider expanded basic cable a necessity, but not all those extra tiers. Without cable I can get only one local station and one PBS station. My town is so rural and isolated TV is one of the major entertainments--other than visiting the many bars.
I am going slowly nuts, my kitty Onyx is howling to go outside. She is NOT going to go outside. She has been disappearing for a day or or two at a time and when she does come home she is just exhausted and only wants to sleep. I visited with my neighbor Sunday and learned what has been happening. A wild mama cat had a litter of four kittens under the deck of one of our neighbors' houses. The house has been empty much of the summer so mama cat found a quiet safe place to raise her kittens. My neighbor, who lives closer, has been putting out food and water and has seen Onyx at mealtimes with the new family. It seems Onyx has been a part-time nanny. She watches the kittens at mealtimes and participates in washing them up and supervising "playtime" in the yard. It is getting to the time when mama cat will be moving the kittens to another safe place and I don't want Onyx to go with them, so she will become an inside cat for a few months. Also, the chief of police is pushing the city counsel to institute a leash law for CATS! I mean they are cats! I know you can leash train cats if you start as a kitten, but I can't imagine even trying with an adult cat.
I'll check in when I get my computer back--whenever that may be.
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Sept 6, 2012 12:10:22 GMT -5
Just plugging along this week! I was tempted to get a coffee when I was out last night photographing the beautiful pink sunset but I came home instead.
4 NSD already!
Next week will be all CSD because I'm on vacation and will need to spend for food and a few fun things. I am soooo excited to get back in the water and snorkel and just sleep on the beach!
Today should be another NSD as I just need to drop off some bills around town, return library books and finish packing.
I've also found the source of the little bugs that kept popping up in my pantry so I'm finishing the wash down and restocking the pantry with sealed containers ONLY. Jeeze, what a pain!
Finally I'm cleaning up the house tonight so when I come home it's pretty again and I can settle in for a few weeks before New York.
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