Delightful December Controlled / No Spend thread

[Honeylioness]

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.

[Honeylioness]

If everyone will post their numbers here I will do an updated list early next week.

[3catslady]

update from November; 29/30 NSD/CSD, 0/5 NEO.
goal for December; 31 NSD, 0 NEO.

[reeneejune]

November final numbers: 8/10 NSD
December goal: 15 NSD

For me, vending machine purchases out of my weekly allowance are not considered a spend. Nor is paying my regular monthly bills. Eating out, regardless of in budget or not, is considered a spend day.

[3catslady]

Please take my name off the Christmas card and gift list. Things have come up and I will only have time for spot hellos.

[pointy]

November final numbers: 21/21 NS and 26/25 No QVC Days
Goals for December: 20 NS and 225 No QVC Days

[ses]

This is the beginning of my crazy season. I got all of the frozen berries and fruit out of the freezer and cooked them down for juice and ended up with well over 2.5 GALLONS of juice. It smells like a candy factory in here. I calculate I will end up with about 4.5 dozen jars of jelly, jam and fruit syrups.
Yesterday I hit Walmart and got the supplies for my Christmas baking. I will be making 6-8 kinds of cookies, and 5-6 kinds of homemade candy ( a couple of these are bar "cookies" that are so rich I cut them small and call them candy). I'll also be making buckets of caramel corn and cinnamon corn.This year I think I might make some spiced nuts if there is time.
Even though the ingredients are really costing more and more, homemade goodies are still an economical gift for everyone I need gifts for

[moneysquirrel]

Update 1 NSD

I''m in again.

Major expense months are beginning now through April. All of the major insurance policy premiums are coming, property taxes,
irs and that dentist visit where another crown will be added to the ones I already have.

Not really sure how often I will be able to pop in this month -- exams are in the process of being developed, followed by adminstration and grading of same. Only halfway done with the development of them and the first part will be given early next week.

Also have in the works -- finishing the Christmas shopping, hosting two parties and working the last craft show of the season. I am also trying to plan to take pictures of all my jewelry designs. Heaven alone knows when that will happen.

I did get most of the inside decorations up. Still have to get the wreath out and a few little things for home.

I plan to get the small tree decorated for the classroom tomorrow. Would have done it today but forgot one thing at home.

I have been working on updating and adjusting my excel spreadsheet for 2013. Adding some items while deleting and rearranging others. I think I almost have it set.

Will check in when I can.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Hi ladies,

My account got eaten by the angry bear for a couple of days. But I'm okay again! I'm not sure I will track NSD's in December and January because I'm involved in a lot of different things: cleaning out and moving, training for my tax prep job in January, and a bunch of volunteer work. But I'll be around either way! You can't get rid of me that easily!

[mizbear]

Please take me off the Christmas card and gift list. Mom and I have to move due to a change in income limits immediately. I will not be posting much at all for awhile. I keep my FB open while I am working so anyone who wants to keep track of me, msg me and I will give you my IRL name to look me up or use the name on your Christmas card lists to find me and make sure you msg me so I don't ignore you- I seem to attract strange men.

However- We need to find a nickname for the boyfriend- he is a keeper!

[redwagon]

Will be trying to stay un-spendy but not really good at tracking these days.

Is anyone actually organizing the Christmas card exchange this year? Or do we want to skip it as so many people seem so busy?

[mizbear]

red- I was going to and then all you-know-what broke loose here.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Well, that was a truly hideous weekend! I had the mother of all colds this weekend, literally wasn't vertical for more than an hour at a time for three days. Argh! I'm pretty sure it's finally waning. Of course, just in time to go back to work.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 3 NSDs and 2 CSDs

Had another busy week capped off with hosting a luncheon this past weekend. Many trips to pick up forgotten items limited my numbers -- I do have quite a bit of leftovers that made it to the freezer so I hope to avoid a few trips to the grocery in the future except for perishables. I will be hosting another gathering shortlly after Christmas but that one is more of a potluck activity then me doing a lot of cooking.

My last craft show is this weekend. Would be nice of several of my items sold. I don't think I will have time to make a few new items but I do have a sizable inventory of now. If I have time I will try to get some additional earrings made. I did get several bracelets made a few weeks ago. These were the one that take several hours and involves me sewing the beads into the design. I did a variety of colors -- my usual ones and two new combos.

I also managed to get the exam preparation done. I am beginning the first part of the process this week. Exam week is next week followed by a few days off. I definitely will enjoy a few mornings where I can sleep later than 5 am.

I will try to get the cards out but at this stage things will be hit and miss.

[ses]

8/31 NSD (so far)

I have been busy testing the last few weeks. Why does everyone procrastinate so? I keep getting requests for "just one more test date." The two next week are the last of the year. Definitely!!!!!

I have been busy the past week, I have 73 jars of jelly sitting on the counter right now. The cats are wondering why their feet stick to the floor by the stove, and why am i in the kitchen so much and not providing a lap whenever they demand. They will not be much happier when I start on caramel corn and cinnamon corn tomorrow. At least the popcorn will be something to chase around the kitchen floor. The fudge and other candies will be started next week.

ETA: The jams and jellies are Wild Plum. Chokeckerry, Nanking Cherry, Plum Peachy, Rose Hip Spiced Cider, Mixed Fruit, Cherry Jam, Peach Jam and Cinnamon Peach Jam. I'm not doing this again for at least five years!!!

My Christmas menu is planned, down to which platters and bowls will be used and when and where the finished product will set on the buffet. I even have a detailed oven chart of temperatures, times and sequences, so I can enjoy all of my guests and not be chained to the kitchen.

Even with all the entertaining and gift expenses I haven't gone over the budgeted $100. I am so lucky all of my recipients appreciate, and look forward-if not right out request, my home prepared gifts. Probably because I deliver several days before Christmas so they don't have to find the extra time to make goodies themselves.

I can see not doing a card exchange since everyone is so busy and I am OK with that.

[Honeylioness]

Just so people are aware - I sent out quite a few cards on my own. I know we are not really doing a card exchange - I just felt as though I wanted to do this.


Had a good day aside from hearing the news from CT. There is a large used bookstore near me that is closing. They had adjusted prices this week - 10 books or more and they would take 70% off the marked price.

I bought 20 books.
Original list price $339.84
Store discount price $95.29

I paid $26.48

[mizbear]

Honey- I'm going book shopping with you!

[redwagon]

Honey and Sheila - got your cards! I'm working on mine, off last year's list.

I was out grocery shopping when I heard the death toll from CT. Walked through the door at home, picked up Nio, and didn't let him go for a good hour. Blue already had Nora in his arms. How do you ever let your kids out the front door in this world? It seems nowhere is safe anymore. I also immediately wanted to hug my mother, who is a third grade teacher in a similarly-sized town in MA. The gunman pretty much took out a class the size of hers, which just seems unfathomable.

[3catslady]

Just checking in. 16/31 NSD, 16/31 NEO.
very quiet here. I can remember having a page a day and now it is a page in 16 days or more.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Yeah, it's been quiet around here this month. I haven't been too much of a help in that, as I'm not tracking this month. Too busy! I think most people are just really busy this time of year. It'll probably pick back up after the new year.

[mizbear]

I haven't been tracking either- in not=go-crazy and try-not-to-drive-everyone-else-crazy mode right now.

It's not working.

[sheilaincali]

Red- I had to text the boy at school just to be able to "hear" something back from him. So very tragic what happened.

[Honeylioness]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SES!!!! I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.....

[muttleynfelix]

Happy Birthday SES!

[mizbear]

Happy birthday!

I have to say I got some good news today- IF we have to pay the movers ourselves, then we at least are saving $20/hour off the original estimate. They gave us a $20/hour break.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 9 NSDs and 2 CSDs

Happy Birthday, SES!!!


3 cats -- I think that the board is quiet a plus several of us have new reslot due to several reasons. We have lost several members from the older boards plus several of us have new responsibilities and activities at work or with our families. the holidays are upon us and the boards usually slows down at this time.

Currently falling asleep at the keyboard -- so I will sign out now.

[mizbear]

I'll be back to the boards FT in January after the move.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 9 NSDs and 3 CSDs

Slowly finishing up at school. One more day of exams, finishing up grades and luncheon then two weeks where I don't have to crawl out of bed around five each morning.

Did manage to get a few cards out, some shopping done -- I try to get one or two items done each day.

Slow progress but progress.

[mizbear]

Am making some progress- ready to be done and moved.

[3catslady]

According to my clock, we have 5 hours and 42 minutes to go until the day is over. Maybe the world as well? I hope, like everybody else's predictions, they are wrong. I have yet to be aware of the Rapture and will await the future Coming of God. I apologize for the reference. I am just jittery because I have had 2 cups of coffee and 2 bottles of Coka Cola.