Honeylioness
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Post by Honeylioness on Mar 3, 2013 23:51:39 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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grits
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Post by grits on Mar 4, 2013 0:18:05 GMT -5
Let me see if I can make this work out right. 1/23 NSD 2/8 CSD A NKCW results in a CSD of junk food. haha
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 4, 2013 10:14:53 GMT -5
A NKCW results in a CSD of junk food. haha I think that's a fair trade!
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 4, 2013 10:17:06 GMT -5
I had a relatively frugal weekend. Two CSD's, but no NSD's. We had friends for dinner on Saturday, which was nice. The little Maltese dog we rescued a few weeks ago was the hit of the evening. She loved it, too!
Rocky Mtn Saver: 0 NSD/2 CSD
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Mar 4, 2013 11:20:33 GMT -5
Update: 0NSD/2CSD/1Spend Goals: 13NSD/12CSD/6Spend
Friday the Cajun food truck was here at work. I would have been fine because I did not see it on my morning walk, but I left for the day at 11:30am and happened to see it. I stopped and bought lunch for both C and I. It was yummy. I then went to Emerald City ComicCon and got a comic signed by an author I respect, saw a few friends, and some great costumes (but didn't actually spend any money there). Saturday we went to the dog park, grocery shopped, and took the final for online class we were taking together. All of that so that I did not have to get dressed or leave the house on Sunday. In fact, I barely left the bed on Sunday, and it was heavenly. But C went out to meet up with some people and grabbed a couple things we forgot at the grocery store. Since I plan on us spending every day of the weekend, that still gives us a CSD.
I did look at our turbo tax account today and our return has been accepted, so hopefully our refund will show up in our account in the next couple of weeks. That and the escrow refund from the mortgage refinance should allow us to pay off the last of the adoption agency fees and the epic spend from last Friday (Feb 22), at which point I will feel much better.
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Mar 4, 2013 14:52:27 GMT -5
Okay, goal is 10 NS days. So far I have one. 1/10 NS days.
We didn't go anywhere Saturday. I have a miserable cold. I went grocery shopping with DD yesterday, and today I ordered a canvas print of an Instagram I took yesterday. If anyone is FB friends with me, it's my new profile pic. It's going to replace their newborn photo that's been up all of three weeks. They change so fast! The newborn photo will find a new home somewhere, though. Tomorrow we have a plumber coming to check out the hot water situation in our shower, but Weds should be a no-spend. I start my zumba class that day, very excited for that! And that's already paid for.
shanen - I'm jealous you submitted your taxes! Ours have been almost entirely done except I need to know what DH spent on books for grad school, and if he has any tax forms for his stocks. And getting him to deal with anything financial is like pulling teeth. So our refund is sitting with the gov't still. We're going to use it to put in granite countertops and a new backsplash and sink in the kitchen. Then the house is going on the market! After a deep clean, of course.
Good luck everyone!
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3catslady
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Post by 3catslady on Mar 4, 2013 17:54:02 GMT -5
goal for March: 27/31 NSD, 4/31 eating out days. I am allowing myself a day a week to eat out and that is more than at BK or McD. When I eat there, I only spend $3 or less so I'm not counting them. But I am not going to eat there except for once or twice a month. Eating out will include anything other than what you find at those places. Since I have all my bills paid for the month except the personal loan and the electric, there will be only one more CSD. update: 3/27/31 NSD, 1/4/31 eating out days.
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moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on Mar 4, 2013 20:23:45 GMT -5
Update: 1 NS day and 2 CS Days
I'm in again -- aiming for 15 NSDays. This past weekend had several social events so my NS totals may low this month but it is early yet so I will continue toward my usual number.
It was great visiting with family and friends this weekend. My wallet took a small hit but I was expecting to spend this weekend and I did spend close to my estimate maybe even a little less. Today was back to the usual routine -- full day of classes and duty. Reality hits!
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 5, 2013 9:29:49 GMT -5
Rocky Mtn Saver: 0 NSD/3 CSD
Still no NSD's this month so far. I need to work on that!
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Mar 5, 2013 10:46:51 GMT -5
Update: 1NSD/2CSD/1Spend Goals: 13NSD/12CSD/6Spend
redwagon - Luckily, the way I track expenses, we have a specific school category, so I can look at that and know which big expenses were tuition and the rest was books. (Parking fees get counted in the "car" category.) It makes it much easier on me come tax time.
We got our escrow refund yesterday. I'll go deposit it on my lunch today. That already has me feeling better. If we get our tax refund in the next three weeks, we won't even end up paying interest on our big spend from two Friday's ago- I'll be able to maintain our record of not carrying a balance. And we'll still have about $500 or so to put back into savings. C and I did make the decision to just pay $200 extra on the new mortgage amount (still gives us a savings of $400/month) so that we stay on the same payoff schedule we were on before.
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Mar 5, 2013 13:00:17 GMT -5
He pays on his cc, I don't see it, so I have no way to know. One financial task he'll have to do himself! It'll be good for him lol. And yay for escrow refund!
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 6, 2013 9:37:36 GMT -5
Rocky Mtn Saver: 0 NSD/4 CSD
I'm hoping for a NSD today. Everything is in place, so I just have to stick with the no-spend plan for 12 hours!
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Mar 6, 2013 10:38:56 GMT -5
Update: 1NSD/2CSD/2Spend Goals: 13NSD/12CSD/6Spend
Decided to pay for my registration for the financial bloggers' conference last night. They are running a 2 day sale where registration is only $99, so I decided to go ahead and book it. The conference isn't until October. Last year, I roomed with our very own Mrs_Lynch, and will likely spend a lot of time hanging out with her again.
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Mar 7, 2013 10:35:25 GMT -5
Update: 1NSD/3CSD/2Spend Goals: 13NSD/12CSD/6Spend
Last night we had a vet appointment for old man Howie. Those don't actually cost us any money because the rescue pays his vet bills. However, there is this great German deli between the vet and our house, and we stop there after every vet visit. This time, we were disappointed to find out they don't have pretzel loaf on Wednesdays, but we did get three Jarlsberg stuffed sausages for dinner, and the staff there came out to the car to meet Howie and gave him one the "ends" of a piece of liverwurst (I think). It was huge and Howie loved it. It was nice that he got a great treat, since this vet visit involved not only his quarterly urine test but also two shots, x-rays, a blood draw, and an eye stain. Poor old man.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 7, 2013 15:51:50 GMT -5
Rocky Mtn Saver: 1 NSD/4 CSDWell, I did manage to get a NSD yesterday, due partly to the fact that we were sent home from work yesterday afternoon due to a bomb threat! I never made it back from lunch, so I couldn't really complain. Sadly, we are back at work this afternoon. Too bad we couldn't finagle a full day off!
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Mar 8, 2013 11:03:54 GMT -5
Update: 1NSD/4CSD/2Spend Goals: 13NSD/12CSD/6Spend
The way things are going, I may have a hard time meeting my NSD goals this month. Yesterday I bought the study guide I need for the professional certification I'm going for. Most places it's over $100. I found it at one place for $40, so I snatched it up. Because this falls under our planned educational expenses for the year, I'm counting it as a controlled spend.
As some of you may have seen on a couple other threads, as of yesterday, I am 95% certain I will be receiving a layoff notice the last week of this month. I expect my last day of work will be May 3. Emotionally, I'm good with this. It's something I've been expecting since we did layoffs in fall, and on some levels, it feels very freeing to know it's coming. My severance package will be good (24 weeks), and with luck, we will actually end up better off financially than if I did not get laid off. (That does require me to find a new job in the 6 months covered by my severance, which I know isn't a guaranteed thing, but I still think likely.) I am moving forward with the professional certification because it will be very helpful in finding a new position.
That's pretty much everything from here. I expect it will be a quiet weekend for us, as this is the 1 year anniversary of MIL's passing.
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Mar 8, 2013 11:50:55 GMT -5
Good luck with your job search shanen!!
Rocky - yikes about the bomb threat!
I'm getting all spendy with meals out at work. I need to get better about bringing my lunch. Totally forgot today. Oy.
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moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on Mar 9, 2013 23:25:22 GMT -5
Update: 6 NS day and 2 CS Days
This week was very busy with schoolwork/housework so I racked up a few more NSDs than I thought I would. I do have quite a list of items that are needed so I will be on the lookout for certain items in the near future. I do have to get to the grocery tomorrow as my pantry is currently copying Mother Hubbard's. I still have a few items but my perishables are gone and several items are needed as well.
Hope all of you are doing well. Will check in when I can.
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3catslady
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Post by 3catslady on Mar 10, 2013 12:31:15 GMT -5
update: 9/27/31 NSD, 1/4/31 eating out day. Didn't eat out so far except for the one day.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 11, 2013 8:48:13 GMT -5
Rocky Mtn Saver: 2 NSD/6 CSDWell, today will probably be a spend day. I had a flat tire this morning! Argh.
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Mar 11, 2013 9:30:04 GMT -5
Update: 2NSD/6CSD/2Spend Goals: 13NSD/12CSD/6Spend
So Friday we find out from the vet that Howie's kidneys are starting to fail- that means new diet for him. While doing research on what he should get, we think we figured out what has been causing June's random bad tummy days- pancreatitis, so new diet for her, too. In the end, we decided we were going to make our own dog food. That created a HUGE shopping trip on Saturday (40lbs of yams) and all day cooking. So far, it's a hit with Larry & June, but Howie isn't so sure. His food is a little different from theirs and we food processed his, which we're not certain we'll do in the future, so it might just be that it's a little hard to eat. Still, this morning he wasn't interested even in a cookie. I'm no panicking yet, though, because he does go through periodic bouts of not wanting to eat, and then after a few days, his appetite picks up.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 11, 2013 9:33:33 GMT -5
Sorry you're having doggie troubles, Shanendoah! Our little rescue dog we've only had a couple of months has already been back in to the vet twice, once for stomach troubles and last week for kennel cough. Fortunately, neither has been too bad. I hope you get the food situation resolved soon and everyone's eating like horses!
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Mar 12, 2013 10:24:26 GMT -5
Update: 3NSD/6CSD/2Spend Goals: 13NSD/12CSD/6Spend
Finally! Another NSD. Today will be a spend. We're going to a concert tonight, and we're almost guaranteed to pick up another concert t-shirt and probably another CD from the band. They are one of our favorites and always put on an amazing show, so I don't mind supporting them with our money.
Last night, someone turned on Howie's tummy. He had a before dinner snack (to get his meds in him), then ate most of his dinner. Later, he started pawing me again like he does when he's hungry, so I took him out and then put his dinner back down. He ate it all. He then came to the kitchen and was sniffing around like he was still hungry, so I put out some of his left over food from previous batches this weekend, and he ate about another half meal's worth. The vet says to bring him back in a month and we'll do another blood test and find out if his kidneys have improved on the new diet, remained stable, or if they're just failing.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 12, 2013 12:36:05 GMT -5
Rocky Mtn Saver: 3 NSD/6 CSD
Well, I didn't get the tire replaced/fixed yesterday (long story), so I had a NSD overall. No vehicle available means no going anywhere to spend money! Shan, glad to hear Howie ate so much! That's a good sign, if you ask me.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 12, 2013 17:19:52 GMT -5
Woo-hoo, the tire could just be patched!
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Honeylioness
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Post by Honeylioness on Mar 13, 2013 14:41:03 GMT -5
Morning everyone,
Well February was a little better than I had anticipated thought I do think I spent more days than I had intended to - and mostly on outside food costs. The office where I am working at the moment has a very nice cafeteria and I need to be much more disciplined about only allowing myself to purchase lunch, or a lunch "add on" once a week or so.
For the record - a lunch "add on" works like this in my world. After dinner the night before I dish up my lunch for the next day. But suppose it was spaghetti and meatballs and the girls have eaten ALL the meatballs for dinner. I put the spaghetti and sauce into my Tupperware then the next day at work will do an "add on" for some protein. Like a plain beef patty, or slices of turkey - depends on what the cafeteria has made that day.
I also need to factor in beverages as the vending machine prices are simply HORRENDOUS in my mind. Much better off buying these at the grocery store and storing them in my desk at work. I also made the mistake of grabbing a piece of fruit from the Cafeteria one day .. yikes! I just about had a stroke at check out. So time to get more organized and focused on that front.
grits - I think that in the grand scheme of things the cost for the junk food is a much better way to spend money than bail for killing a co-worker.
Rocky - The nice thing about new pets, and sometimes older pets, is their relatively "free" entertainment factor.
Shanendoah - I forgot to mention this last month but congratulations on your decision to adopt! And glad to hear Howie is feeling better.
redwagon - Selling the house? So soon? Is this because Indigo and Periwinkle are already acquiring too many things?
3catslady - Allowing myself perhaps a few eating out for lunch spends is sort of what I am going for also this month. Just as a little treat for myself. I agree that perhaps fast food is not really "food" some of the time. And perhaps you will start to feel a little better.
Moneysquirrel - Sometimes it seems that being around family and friends can lead to spending even when we think "Oh, this will be a cheap way to spend the weekend."
RockyMountain – Always good when a patch will do ya ….
Ladies, I am trying to resolve a money receipt issue for myself. If you would be so kind as to take a look and let me know what you think I would appreciate it.
notmsnmoney.proboards.com/thread/31419/money-strangers<o:p></o:p>
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 13, 2013 14:46:20 GMT -5
Rocky Mtn Saver: 3 NSD/7 CSD I spent just a few dollars yesterday, and probably will do the same today. My finances are finally getting nicely back on track after moving in January. It's amazing how much money/effort moving requires, no matter how you do it. I still need to pay off the remaining furnace repair that's sitting on my convenience card, but my weekend job has been paying for that. I hope I earn enough by Tax Day to not have to take any from savings for that repair. I'll miss the extra income, but it'll be nice to have my weekends back April 15!
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Mar 14, 2013 9:51:25 GMT -5
Update: 3NSD/6CSD/4Spend Goals: 13NSD/12CSD/6Spend
Tuesday was a spend, as I bought myself a Flogging Molly scarf at the concert. Yesterday was a spend as we bought tickets to a local theater production of Jesus Christ, Superstar. I'm hoping today can be a no spend, but this month seems to be getting away from me.
Good news is that the tax return showed up in our account yesterday. We'll be able to pay off the Direct Buy membership without paying any interest and also be able to get back to saving. That makes me feel better.
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Rocky Mtn Saver
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Post by Rocky Mtn Saver on Mar 14, 2013 9:53:08 GMT -5
Rocky Mtn Saver: 3 NSD/8 CSD I'm totally on a roll now!! Like the Dow!
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Mar 14, 2013 14:01:30 GMT -5
shanen - yay tax return. I still have yet to file because DH is taking forever to give me his few bits of financial info I need. Going to start really harassing this weekend I think. We need the money!
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