Austere August--No spend and Controlled spend

[ses]

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.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 2 NSDs
I'm back at school and managed to get two days of ns under my belt.  This will not be continued tomorrow as Office Depot has its Teacher Appreciation Breakfast and Sale.  Have a list started -- mostly items I need for the house that I have been needing but I knew this was coming and nursed the old items along hoping that they could remain on life support until I got a better sale price.  I hope that I can just get the items I need and that I don't find more needs as I walk through the aisles.  It is also a No State Sales Tax day so I will benefit that way also. 

Will now try to get a few things done tonight.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 2 NSD, 0 CSD, 0 eating out days.  Off to a good start but we will see what the rest of the month brings.  I have to get my car inspected and it needs a muffler.  I am prepared for that but I don't know what else it may need.  I hope it passes inspection, though.

[Ombud]

I'm in for August. Just paid Marching Band out of checking ($625) instead of savings so I want to see if I can keep within my checking balance until next big deposit 8/30. No bills due until then.

3cats: sending good mojo your way. My car needs to be smogged before tags are renewed 9/14 and I'm not looking forward to that bill next month

☆ checking balance $314.58

[3catslady]

3catslady:  4 NSD, 0 CSD, 0 eating out days.  I wrote the bills out today but I am not sending them in until tomorrow.  I will count them as a CSD then.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Good morning everyone!!

Rocky Mtn Saver:  0 NSD/2 CSD

The weekend was a mixed bag re: spending.  My friends and I hit a sale at the resale shop on Friday, so I spent some money.  But on the other hand, I got some awesome deals!! 

[redwagon]

Had to buy replacement bottle parts and the next size nipple. So there goes $50 already. At least I got free shipping! Also had to do baptism gift and baby shower gift so it was a pricey weekend. Today I spent $2 on donuts because I was tired and weak lol. Better luck the rest of the week...

[3catslady]

3catslady: 4 NSD, 1 CSD, 0 eating out days.   I sent the bills and bought a few groceries and got gas.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver:  1 NSD/2 CSD

Finally got my first NSD of the new month.  Woo-hoo!  Today should be a CSD.  I have to book a hotel room, but I won't be charged for it today, so that shouldn't count. 

ETA:  I can't book the room today anyway.  So a CSD for me! 

[mizbear]

I cheated on NSDs this week.
I left my father's celebration of life Saturday, went to one of the county fairs and took 3rd place in a talent show. I took my $100 I won and got Mom her funnel cake she has been jonesing for, took her out to eat (with a coupon no less LOL), bought my new restaurant shoes for school, and still have money left. That will be gone when I get done running to the college tomorrow LOL.

All of my spends this month were budgeted, so thus far I am at 5 NSD. However, I am going to go get a Bux to bring home from the grocery store while I do my housework. Hot chocolate with a shot of espresso.

[Honeylioness]

Hello Ladies, 

 No – this is not a hologram I really am still alive. I juststepped back from a few things the last several months as it was all becomingmuch too overwhelming to keep up with. I am still not feeling all that “steady”yet but it is a process yes? 

Pauline went back to German and Chavisa returned to Thailand– and I looked around my house and screamed ARRGGHHHHH. Honestly  - I guess the phrase “Clean your room”mutates as it travels from my mouth to a teenagers ears and they perceive thatI said “Only clean what you can see”. I never look forward to moving their bedsafter they leave – though it is a bit like an archeological dig.  I have at least one more week of being a house slug and noteven having to think about cooking real meals and then it starts again: Sakifrom Japan and Aleksandra from Denmark. 

 I also have been trying to use these few months to get ahandle on some personal issues that I just cannot seem to get resolved or evenface in some cases. Issues around what I want to do in the next five years, mycondo, money, my weight and an issue that arose with one of my best friends.Though to be honest I am not sure she even knows we HAVE an issue. 

 I would love to say that I have been hired, have benefitsand am loving my job. However I am still working as a contractor which haslittle stability and zero benefits.  


 Other than that – everything is hunky-dory.  And as you might surmise being stressed and distracted meansI have not been keeping in touch with my money. I still enter everything Ispend into my monthly spreadsheets – but there is no planning really. Nositting down and considering when to pay things off or whether purchasing ABCis actually in the budget. So I need to start over.  Because it is conceivable that this contract gig will juststop one day and things will become very tight again. 


Looking forward to catching up with folks.

[mizbear]

Honey!!!!!!     I miss you!

I think it's something genetic with many teens that they do not clean their rooms. My brother's room was always hideous and my mother still doesn't like to clean and she is pushing 60....

[3catslady]

3catslady: 5 NSD, 1 CSD, 0 eating out days.
Honey:  Glad you are back although I have been following you on face book so I haven't missed much.

[Ombud]

Hi Honeylioness!!

Well, I guess I can't get out of week 1. Computer had a temper tantrum I couldn't fix. $60 down ....Still trying to make the month work:

★ Checking Balance $254.56

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 1 NSD/3 CSD


Great to hear from you Honeylioness!! 

[redwagon]

sorry work isn't permanent yet Honey! And I fear I still clean my room like a teenager. Can't remember the last time I cleaned under the bed... oops ;-)

Bought a few birthday presents for the babies. Probably all they are going to get from us. I had a gift card so I'm not sure it even counts. Scary that I need to start planning their parties (one up in MA, one down in NY). That'll be a spend.

[3catslady]

3catslady:  6 NSD, 1 CSD, 0 eating out days.
I was thinking about ordering a pizza but settled for a ham salad sandwich and peaches.  I have some cinnamon crackers and diet soda for a snack.  Tomorrow I'll have my chocolate rice cakes with peanut butter and a cup of tea.  For lunch I'll have some soup over cooked rice.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 4 NSDs 2 CSDs

Being back at school has been great on limiting the spending.  The only thing that I'll spend money on was items needed for my classroom.  Tomorrow I will be having lunch with several of my colleagues before the major onslaught of classes begin on Monday so it will definitely be a spend day.  The classroom is decorated, the first month of lesson plans are done, and several of the little projects are done.  The handouts for training for Friday are done and ready to hand out.  This is my busy time so I am not sure how often I will be on the board.

Honey -- Welcome back.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 2 NSD/3 CSD

Another NSD yesterday. Woo-hoo!  I did make a plan to spend some money in the near future (planning a trip), but theoretical spending doesn't count, right?  

[Ombud]

254.56
-45.11 gas
-50.00 partial synagogue
159.45☆

[3catslady]

3catslady:  6 NSD, 2 CSD, 0 eating out day.  I bought 3 potatoes for the microwave.  So now I have 7 meals for the next week.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 2 NSD/ 4 CSD

[ses]

NSD 1/31

Honey so glad to have you back!!!!!

Have spent only one day, other than regular bills, so far this month.  My new microwave just arrived, but not the bill yet, so I won't count it until I pay for it next week.  I can't wait to get it installed and the old one out of my kitchen.  Hopefully this weekend.  

Leo is healthy and frisking around the yard again.  Although, I have noticed him staying closer to home and inside more if the time--usually on whatever room I am in or circled up on my bed.

The most wonderful thing happened last week!  My neighbors GAVE me a kindle.  He decided he couldn't give up the feel of the printed page.  I haven't get figured it out yet,  some things came up and I haven't gotten back to it yet.  But I will soon--and there goes my budget.

My afternoon severe thunderstorm is announcing its presence, rather loudly, so I think I will get off the computer for a bit. 

[Ombud]

You'll love your Kindle, SES. GD1 (7yo) saved up some money and bought a Kindle Fire for herself. It really is just a tablet. Which is great because it's a tablet at under $150 rather than a tablet over $300. Hope you enjoy yours as much as she enjoys hers

So I have a little dilemma. GD1 is 7, DS has gotten a stepdaughter who is 9. Do I rename GD1 as GD2? She is the younger one

[3catslady]

3catslady:  8 NSD, 1 CSD, 0 eating out day.

[Ombud]

Rocky, I missed it. Where are you going? Are you 'banking' CSD/NSD to cover what time as you will most likely spend? (Did I just venture OT?)

Sitting here @starbucks listening to "Im busted" as I enjoy my drip coffee.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 7 NSDs 3 CSDs

Just a quick drive-by to update totals and to say hello.  Tomorrow is the first day of classes and I am preparing PowerPoints to get the year started. So glad that the meetings are over -- at least for now. Taking a quick break for lunch and thought I would stop in to catch up. Will try to pop in when I can. 
Take care all!

[Ombud]

159.45
+13.32
172.77☆

Unexpected rebate + family Sunday dinner out of cupboards / freezer

Should get the Staples printing paper rebate soon. ($11.98 + 5.99) It's like getting 3 pkgs for free -- just 9% sales tax

[3catslady]

3catslady:  9 NSD, 2 CSD, 0 eating out days.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 3 NSD/ 5 CSD

Ombud, I'm generally the family travel agent, so I do the planning for family trips.  I don't have anything exciting planned, but some friends of mine want to go to Southern California next summer, so I was dealing with our hotel reservations last week.  I have to do some hotel reservations for a trip to South Dakota next spring, too.  The hotels around Mt Rushmore seem to fill up quickly.