Due Diligence December - Controlled/No Spend Thread

[3catslady]

3catslady:  12 NSD, 11 CSD, 0 eating out days.


$231.28
  -$5.39  dip ingredients
________
$225.89

Looks like I won't have to transfer so much from savings to pay the bills this month.  I will just have to do the mortgage amounts and groceries. I hope I can keep it up.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: All I know is that I have more NSDs than SDs. LOL!

Finished with school for two weeks.  Have made a little dent in the housework and have finished all of the Christmas shopping -- still have a few things to wrap.  Few Christmas cards were written -- one area where I did not do as usual.  The tree is up and decorated but not all of the ornaments are on.  I will not be doing any major entertaining this holiday so I didn't push as much as I did in the past.  Also I had several more craft shows than usual this season and that cut into my time.  I made enough to pay for the next order of supplies so I am happy about that.  I was running out of the basics  and needed to replace them. 

 I also made a trip to the outlet mall last week with a friend and got several items to replace pieces of my wardrobe.  Several items are hitting the donate box on a regular basis now.  As I notice something past its prime -- piling, fading, etc.-- I am trying to immediately wash and place in the donate box.  Of course, I usually notice it as I am wearing it so I have to remember to pack it away as soon as it is out of the dryer -- otherwise, I will more than likely forget and continue to place it in the closet and wear it again.

I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas now since I don't know if I will have time to log in again before the actual day.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 8 NSD/6 CSD

I may not be checking in for the remainder of the month since I'm due to travel to visit friends out of state on Friday.  So if I don't make it back before the end of the month, see you next year!

[3catslady]

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU

[ses]

Merry Christmas to all!

The past 10 days gave been chaos.  Last Tuesday my kitchen looked like Walmarts baking aisle exploded over my kitchen.  Now, 17 dozen cookies later, 5 types of candy, 2 batches of spiced nuts and 3 batches of party mix have turned into 10 platters of Christmas goodness and ALL delivered!!!  The ham is in the oven, the scalloped potatoes are ready to bake and the 4 dozen dinner rolls are rising.  I can now relax and enjoy the gathering later today and all the goodies the others are bringing.  I won't even have to go near a stove until the next gathering next weekend!  Perhaps then I can visit here more regularly.

[3catslady]

3catslady:  13 NSD, 12 CSD, 1 eating out day.

  $225.89
   -$29.87   groceries and cash
   -$37.93    last of gifts
     -$9.32    soda
+$104.53    my check
   -$12.26    soda and litter
___________
$275.04

[Ombud]

$68.92
-15.66 groceries 12/23
-20.00 gas today
- 8.13 Chicos today
$25.13 fingers crossed / auto deposit Monday or Tuesday

Wow, Ses, you're a baking Diva!!

If I don't check in Mon / Tues, Happy New Year Everyone 

[moneysquirrel]

I hope all of you had a great Christmas.  I have been enjoying my time away from school.  I have been catching up on sleep and getting quite a bit of things done in the house.  I do have a few more things to accomplish before I even begin to think about lesson plans and the such.  I finally got around to seeing the Hunger Game: Catching Fire movie this week and if I can squeeze in another movie this break I will be delighted.  Also am in the middle of finishing  two  projects for my classroom.  Both of these have been in the back of my mind for several months.  Glad that they are beginning to tt.  ake shape and I hope to have them completely done before I get back. 

I have been trying to reorganize and get a box (or more) of stuff ready for donations.  I have at least one box finished and have a second one started and almost complete.  I try to get at least four filled before I call for a pickup.  I also plan to go through some of the paper files and shred a bunch.  I usually try to do that several times a year as well but sometimes it escapes me.  Today is a dreary, rainy and is a good day for me to get some of this done.  I will not get everything done but every I can dispose of is one less that I have to deal with later.

I still have no idea of the total number of NSDs this month but I have not been doing a lot of shopping while off. I have been trying to eat out of the freezer/cupboard as much as possible. I will have to make a major trip to stock up before I return to school but I want to get a few more things finished/used up/eaten before I make that trip.

Well I have to get back to doing something.  If I don't get a change to get back before Wednesday I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy New Year.

[3catslady]

Any ideas on what to start the new year with, name wise?  I am ready for this year to be over.  I did manage to increase my savings by $500.  It would have been more but with DIL in her condition, and them losing their insurance and food stamps,  rent was a little skimpy the last 2 months.  And now with the holidays over, hours are being cut at work so I am really trying to cut back on a lot of things.  I think I am going to take my girlfriend up on doing my laundry at her place each week.  I haven't figured out if I still owe her $1100 or more.  She is supposed to look it up on her end and let me know.  She has told me that I don't have to worry about it, to just get it to her when I can.  I am going to take 10% of my check each week and write her a check and take it down when I go down.  I told her that I would hold on to them for a month and then bring them down.  If I needed them within that month I would use them and start over again.  She said that would be fine with her.  Well, I am going to figure out what I will need to but next year and go from there.

[moneysquirrel]

Happy New Year to all of you.

[3catslady]

3catslady:  16, NSD, 13 CSD, 2 eating out days.

$275.04
   -$8.29  groceries
   -$9.44   hoagie, soda
   -$5.75   soda
_____________________
$251.56
  -$5.50   laundry
______________________
$246.06

Is anyone going to start January?  Just Saving January?  Joint Adventure January?  

[3catslady]

The Grocery Thread has a 2014 thread.  The Get Fit has a 2014 thread.  the Declutter and Get Organized has a 2014 thread.  Maybe I'll try to get something started.