On With Savings October NSD/CSD

[mizbear]

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.

[mizbear]

Miz Bear October Goals: 25 CS/NSD

Captains: Unless there is already a captain for this week, I can captain this week.

Last month's numbers- I am clueless, just got my computer back, sorry. I am still reading and catching up.

QOTW/COTW- Christmas is coming and is a big time for incurring debt. Have you started Christmas shopping or whatever holiday shopping you may do? Do you have a budget/ list/ plan?
If so, how do you control your expenses?
If not, make yourself a plan/ budget to try and control possible overspending at the holidays.

[mizbear]

QOTW- I give my nieces a date to turn me in a list by. They are fully aware that I a) do not buy video games and b) do not buy things just because it's on the list.

COTW- This year, I am not only getting the lists, but I am setting a firm dollar amount.

[Ombud]

Well, it's coming [shortly] whether we're ready or not. I planned to give a breakfast basket to my sisters but then I went to get the pectin. WOW. Big price jump. Another in sugar prices. So I'm trying to figure out the basket which normally comes out of the weekly / monthly grocery budget. All else comes from money saved.

• DS = $50 restaurant certificate, sweater
  
• DS's gf: ??
  
• DD = $100 school bookstore gift card [in college]
  
• her bf = $25 restaurant certificate / would do Starbucks but he d/n drink coffee
  
• GS1 =
  
• GS2 =
  
• GD1 =
  
• GD2 =
  
• 3 SISTERS = themed basket
  

I've got $240 saved which will cover all but the kids. Have 2 months to get that together, because once I'm out of money, I stop. Sure is a lot easier doing Hanukkah instead of Christmas [not as much pressure to spend].

[Ombud]

letting myself spend 1 day a week. LOL

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Good morning and Happy October! I'm going for 20 combined NSD and CSD (<$5). I had 18 last month, so I need to get back on the wagon a bit. Happy Saving!

[dakota4600]

I'm in. With the projects at our house I'm just going to try for 10 NS days. We are in the process of putting up a dog run in our backyard. (Hopefully after spending close to 2 hours at Lowe's we have all the parts we need.) Then after that we will be ripping out the sinks in the master bath and replacing them. The counter top (It hits me about mid-thigh) is just really low and since DH & I are tall it just doesn't work for us. Plus the only storage is in the cabinets under the sink and I feel like I have to get down and lay on the floor to find anything. Our plan is to get normal height cabinets and new counter top with built in sinks. Then put in 3 inset medicine cabinets with mirrors and some different lighting. Right now we have the movie star lights above the enormous mirror. The only storage up high is a set of open shelves. When we do all of that we will also put in a door between the sink area and master bedroom.

[mizbear]

1/25 NSD

Woo Hoo!



Side note on the QOTW- I don't know why I call it Christmas shopping because I myself do not celebrate Christmas proper, but a conglomeration of many holidays and traditions, something my nieces and I started. Go figure.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn. Saver: 1 NSD/0 CSD (<$5) Day one of the new month? An NSD. Woo-hoo, as Mizbear said, that's the way to start it off right! ;D

[dakota4600]

1 NSD and today looks promising too. My parents are having us over for dinner tonight, so no need to spend.

QOTW- We really don't have a holiday gift budget. Since we've gotten married we have decreased the number of gifts we buy. We no longer buy gifts beyond our parents/siblings & their families. This was mutually agreed on by all parties, for both extended families. We do participate in the annual "Greed" gift swap with my cousins, but that is pretty inexpensive, sometimes it is something we have around the house. I buy things as I see them throughout the year for those that we buy for. We probably spend about $900 and most of it is for the 3 of us. We each usually get one big thing and then 3 smaller presents, plus stockings. Though this year DH & I will probably forgo a big gift since we are spending so much on projects around the house.

I found out last night that the vanity in our master bath is the largest they make and run over 2K. So DH & I are going to do some planning and put in a floor to ceiling cabinet and reduce the length of the vanity by at least 20 inches, so that we can either buy a stock vanity or get unfinished oak cabinets and configure our own. We could do 3 24inch base cabinets and still have plenty of counter top space. We'd buy a full counter top to cover the span of cabinets. Then we also have to figure out lighting and medicine cabinets.

[sheilaincali]

Goal 20 NSD

Update: 1/20 NSD

This month shouldn't be as hectic as last month but it will probably end up being just as crazy before it's all said and done. Have DH's surprise birthday party on the 20th. So I have been sneaking in bits and pieces for that (napkins, plates, etc).
Hoping for a nice and calm month.

QOTW: We don't have a set budget- more of a goal. We've been trying to streamline and cut out the extra crap that you get sucked into with the holidays. Only buying for those actually on my list this year. I usually feel bad and end up buying for all the nieces and nephews when I only have to buy for BFF's DD & DS, godchildren (2) and one niece or nephew. In the past I've bought things for all 9.

COTW: I plan to stick to my goal. Miss Pants only wants a guitar, her baby brother will get a few little things, $25 limit on the godchildren and one niece or nephew. DS is the hardest- it's all DH's fault. He had crappy Christmas experiences growing up so he goes a little overboard. I have to keep him in check because he is forever wanting to buy more than DS wants/needs/expects/etc.

[sheilaincali]

Dakota- check out www.ikeahackers.net for some ideas. Even if you don't use Ikea stuff it's nice to get some examples of ways to configure spaces like that. We looked at adding a tall skinny bookcase type thing to one side of DS' vanity in his bathroom to increase storage without having to beef up the vanity size.

[startsmart]

Yesterday was a spend for more supplies for the funeral service that I picked up at the printer's and pizza for dinner. My aunt is here from Texas and staying with me for 3 days.

Today we bury my cousin so while I don't anticipate spending I will also probably be crying all day long. Whew. At least I knew not to put on mascara.

[redwagon]

startsmart - lots of hugs for you today.

QOTW: I have a spreadsheet with everyone we usually buy gifts for and an amount we'd like to stick to. This year will be different since I don't give a rat's a$$ with the babies coming lol. I picked out gifts for our niece and nephew ($50 each), and the four other kids in the family we buy for (they get $15 gifts, just a token something). My parents nixed gifts for them last year, although they still get us gifts (money towards our summer vacation, last year. probably something baby-related this year). So really we just have to "buy" for Blue's parents and siblings. And they are all getting framed portraits from the newborn portrait session we are doing. Nice and easy. And then we do a secret santa swap thingy on my stepdad's side, with a budget of $50. Going to buy all that stuff online and make it easy. I might buy all the kids' gifts now and wrap them and store in the attic until Christmas. Just get it done before babies, ya know?

My dad and his GF are here tomorrow through Saturday morning. They have a hotel, thank goodness. But i still need to clean the house tonight as I'm sure they'll want to see the nursery, etc. I'm taking off Thurs/Fri, which has me very excited. More days to sleep in!

Six weeks and babies will be here. so much to do! Anyone have suggestions for freezer crockpot meals? Someone once posted salsa chicken but I've lost track of the recipe...

[Ombud]

Hugs, Startsmart

[ses]

No spending yet this month.

QOTW Most gifts are home baked holiday goodies. Most of my friends and family are too busy for this and in the long run it is cheaper for me.

COTW A friend is going to take me on a shopping trip to Sam's Club later this week to do a major pantry stock up, including baking supplies. I want to stock up on what I can before food prices start to inflate.

I am carefully watching my monitor and studiously "ignoring" Calleigh. She found a new "toy" this morning. It was cold enough this morning that she found a sluggish garter snake about 15" long which she promptly brought inside and dropped just inside the door. I just as promptly tossed it back into the garden. We went through this ritual twice, poor gnawed upon-but still alive snake! The third time she got past me too fast for me to get the snake before she hid it. If i ignore her long enough she will get bored and eventually bring out the comatose snake to play with, which I will promptly confiscate.

I should have expected something like this. I put in a new pheromone "plug-in" last night. Calliegh is a bit of a Nervous Nellie and these pheromones help calm her and make her happy. It is obviously working, she can't get enough lap time and petting, and this morning I woke up to a very finely shredded roll of toilet paper carefully spread across the bedroom floor. Whenever she is this relaxed and happy I can expect anything.

Gotta go find and deal with a snake

[3catslady]

Guess who is using pregnancy test strips again.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

[mizbear]

2 NSD/CSD

HUGS start

HUGS 3cats.

QOTW/ COTW- I would also like to start doing more baking and less buying.

sheila- There are some very reputable starter guitar kits if she is serious about the guitar. My first guitar was a plastic Mickey Mouse guitar circa 1978/9, that I lovingly referred to as my "Beetar". My newest one is a Dean Acoustic with electric pickup- black and pearlized grey with a mother of pearl inlay around the sound box. Mom and I have 2 other guitars.
I would recommend if you think she is serious about it and want to get her a "real" guitar- I would give her a card with a "IOU" in it and take her to the music store and have her fitted for one. I can't remember how old she is, but she may need a student or 3/4 size guitar or just a thinner profile with a standard size neck. Or she may just want a toy guitar. I definitely recommend starting with an acoustic.

dakota- If you want to stay with the big oversized vanity, you could look for an old buffet or dresser, etc that can be retrofitted as a vanity.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn. Saver: 2 NSD/0 CSD (<$5) I'm on a roll, baby! ;D

[sheilaincali]

Oct 2, 2012 14:48:28 GMT -5 Rocky Mtn Saver said:

3cats: I am sorry that they cause you so much stress. I seriously wish you could sneak out in the middle of the night, change your name and move.

[sheilaincali]

Update: 2/20 NSD

Today will be a spend day- budgeted for but still a spend. Had the parents meeting for Youth in Government last night and tonight is the parents meeting for Knowledge Bowl. $125 deposit due for YIG by Friday and $160 for KB. Same teacher is the adviser/coach for both so I'll pay for both tonight at the parents meeting for the second one.

I have to say- I am really impressed with the Boy this year. He is really putting himself out there and participating in things. So far this fall he is doing : The Play (set building), Youth in Government and Knowledge Bowl.
However:
I did have to scold him a bit last night. There is a kid that's a year younger than DS and he has a tendency to be really annoying. DS and him did KB together last year in Jr High and skype and play some computer games together. The kid really is kind of a brat- youngest of 3, dad is a very wealthy doctor, no one ever tells him no, etc. As a result he has very few friends. He came up to DS last night and sat down and DS just looked at him and said "What?" in what I felt was a rude manner. I told him that K doesn't have a lot of friends and that DS needed to treat him nicer than that. It gets complicated because G, Stephen's BFF was there last night too and he really really doesn't like K. So DS is stuck in the middle between them and it gets frustrating having to referee.

mizbear- My niece is 6. When the Boy was that same age he wanted a guitar so we got him a 3/4 one and he took lessons for a couple of years. He enjoyed it but was really lazy about practicing. Thanks for your suggestions

[mizbear]

3/25 NSD/CSD

sheila- Maybe (Lord willing and the crick don't rise) if S and G take K under wing, he would mature into a less annoying and more self-sufficient young man. Of course they probably don't realize that. We had to explain that to TBear about ZBear this year. Oy vey.

3cats- You can come stay with me and DM if you want. You can have my bed- I am sleeping on the couch anyway- Mom snores.

I am really proud of me. I had a bunch of my spends already budgeted- and I have stayed within budget- therefore I don't have to count them! GO BEAR!

The recovery disk came for the laptop from ACER yesterday so next week we will go to get that fixed.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Oct 3, 2012 16:48:28 GMT -5 mizbear said:

The recovery disk came for the laptop from ACER yesterday so next week we will go to get that fixed.

Sadly, the computer repair shop informed me today that my laptop is now a rectangular paperweight. Now I'll have to look at the budget and see about getting a new one. Boo!

[mizbear]

Oct 3, 2012 16:51:30 GMT -5 Rocky Mtn Saver said:

Sadly, the computer repair shop informed me today that my laptop is now a rectangular paperweight. Now I'll have to look at the budget and see about getting a new one. Boo!

That's not cool.
We got the new desktop at Best Buy.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Oct 3, 2012 16:48:28 GMT -5 mizbear said:

The recovery disk came for the laptop from ACER yesterday so next week we will go to get that fixed.

Do you like ACER?

[mizbear]

Rocky: We have 2 Acers- one is Momma Bear's netbook and one is my laptop- we like them, but I will admit, with the exception of those- all of my other computers have been Compaq/HP and I have been very satisfied. I like both. One note with Acer- make sure there is a recovery disk with it or immediately make one. I have never bought an HP or Compaq that didn't come with the recovery materials or come with a big paper that said "MAKE A RECOVERY DISK". Also- if you have an older printer, you may have to replace it because some of the printers will not gel with Windows 7. My Brother 4 in 1 was close to 10 years old so that was why.

Get my new glasses tomorrow.

Loving my smart phone. Are there any apps that you think are absolute "must haves" to make it worthwhile?

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 2 NSDs and 1 CSD

I am a little late to the thread this month. Things have been busy as usual for me. I am chin deep in printouts from over 100 students to finish asap before the next set of projects come due later this week. My activity this month on the thread will be spotty as a lot of school related functions where my presence is required occur this month as well as several personal commitments, I am usually quite relieved when this month's activities are over.

Hope all are doing well. Will have to read the earlier posts later as I am falling asleep as I type this.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn. Saver: 2 NSD/1 CSD (<$5) So, October's starting out pretty good with spending, but I'll have to spend some money today to pick up some things I've been putting off and mail a package.

This weekend is going to be our first cold snap of the winter here. I'm not ready for winter!

[dakota4600]

Yesterday was a NS. So I'm at 2 NS for the month. Today should also be an NS as both DH & I have to work late, so by the time we get home we will be tired to go shop for anything.

My DH is a rockstar. He was putting up the chain link fence for the dog run last night and figured out how to seamlessly join 2 sections of fence so that it looks like one pc. Which means we can take back some of the hardware that he had bought to do the joint. It won't be a lot of money, but better than having to go buy more parts. The down side is that as hard as he tried the fence is too high in some areas and too low in others. But we will dig a shallow trench where it is too low and use that dirt to build up where it is too high. Then we figured out what to do with the 8" gap between the shed and the fence post (Couldn't get the post any closer because of the pad for the shed). He has a 2 X10" laying around that we will paint white and screw it in to the side of the shed, it hopefully won't be too obvious of a patch job. I'm thinking that if we screw from the inside of the shed into the board it won't look bad at all. Then we still have to install the gate and the short fencing on the other side of the shed. That will be a pain, because we have to hand dig because of buried cables lines (at least they aren't electric!)

Rocky- We are getting the cold snap this weekend too. We probably won't be as cold as you will, but we aren't ready for it either. It was 80 yesterday and the high tomorrow is only going to be 50.

Money- Good luck getting the projects graded.

MizBear- Here are a few of my favs. I have an iPhone, so not sure if they are available in Android or not.
KeyRing - You scan in your loyalty cards and then just pull the bar code up on your phone for them to scan.
GroceryIQ- I'm pretty sure Red recommended this one. You can keep your grocery list on your phone and you can sync it with other users.
Red Laser/Amazon/Google Shopper?- Some app that has a price scanner, usually I find the price is in line with other places, but the other day at Lowe's the TV mount was double what I could get it for on Amazon.
Groupon- So you don't have to print your groupon's out if you use them.
Gas Buddy- Especially helpful if you aren't near home.

Just fun ones-
SkyView Free- Lets you see the stars on your screen. Just point the phone to the sky and it will show where the constellations are. If you get the paid version you can search for a constellation, but the free version is still cool, it does label the constellations.
Flashlight app- If you have a flash on your camera there are apps that turn it on and I've used it more than I thought I would.
Cable provider apps- I can program my DVR from my phone, also use my phone as a remote if needed.
Kindle reader- You can download lots of free books. reading on the small screen doesn't bother me, but some people can't stand it. Plus it gives me something to read if I'm stuck in a waiting room somewhere. (Also check and see if your local library has an app so you can "check out" digital books.)
Frontflip- Don't know if this is just local, but you download the app & scan the QR code at restaurants and can get discounts. We've gotten BOGO entrees a couple times, 10-20% off our bill, or free app or dessert. Sometimes you don't get anything, but it seems if you go once and don't get anything within a few days there is a gift from them in the app for you with some discount.
ProBoards- There is a proboards app and it is good to read on the fly, but unless you have good voice recognition and can speak your replies, posting is a hard on the tiny keyboard.

Games-
Angry Birds
Where's my water