Make It Count March NS/CS Thread

[mizbear]

Here we go again!




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

[mizbear]

I'm in! I already spent $100 on household stuff today, but I won't have another big bill like that for months. Literally.

Big news for March for me. I get my car back on the 12th because DB didn't do what he was supposed to. I won a full inside/outside detail for my car, so I won't have to pay for that and my tax refund will be enough to pay for most of the work that the car will need.

Yes, that means I have to pay my DB back for a portion of what he paid off on my car loan when he was going to buy it, but it will mean no car payment for me!

So I am here for March:

1 NS/1 S

[3catslady]

Thanks for starting the board, Mizbear.  I have a lot of things to get done this month and I don't think I have the time.  Oh well, I'll get done what I can and that will be that.

3catslady, 2/20 CSD, 0/10 NSD, 0/1 eating out day.

[grits]

I am hoping for 2S. 4CS, and 25 NS. We shall see what transpires.

[mizbear]

No problem 3cats. It's something I got out of for awhile, but I can still do while in school at least...

HAve I ever mentioned I missed you guys ?

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver:  4 CSD/0 NSD 

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Yay on the free detail and no car payments, mizbear! 

[mizbear]

1S/3NS

Working on school stuff and plans for my move.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 3 NSDs

I'm in again.  Not sure how often I will be posting but I do read most days.  Will be busy for the next week so I know that I will not be online then.
Have a good week all of you.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

I'm because it was going to be a NSD today... except I forgot all my carefully-planned work snacks at home and had to buy something from the cafeteria for breakfast.  I'm such a doofus!  On the plus side, though, I had remembered to at least bring my lunch.  One out of two ain't horrible, right? 

[mizbear]

1S/4NS

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver:  5 CSD/0 NSD

Well, at least yesterday stayed under the CSD limit.  Of course, today I have all my work food supplies restocked, so we'll hope for another NSD soon! 

[mizbear]

Well, I have half-good, half-bad news....

My brother gets his letter tomorrow to get the car in his name!!!!

So I get to go buy a new car... however, it's not totally a bad thing, because I won't have to pay for the repairs.

[grits]

Well, my two free spend days were $76 and some change, and $68 and some change. Not bad for a vacation total. Well, that is excluding the hotel. I have a favorite Residence Inn where I like to stay in Houston. A few blocks away is a Central Market. I bought lots of good food, and ate my evening meal in my room.  I snacked in there a lot too.  I brought some of the groceries home.  They were cheaper than what I'd be charged here. 

I had a delicious loaf of cranberry-pistachio bread, and lots of honey roasted pecans.  ooo I had a nice trip.

I bought $50 of groceries on the first day, and $50 of books the second spend day. 

[3catslady]

3catslady:  5/20 CSD, 4/10 NSD, 0/1 eating out days.

[mizbear]

today will be a spend because I need to get an HVAC filter and lightbulb for the pot lights in the kitchen.

the nice thing is that my cars are going to be all straight after today and the "mouse" will officially be my brother's

It is also grocery day, but I need very little since I have been making an effort to eat out of the pantry. However, I am itching for potatoes.

I also found out my car insurance is not going up nearly as much as I thought with the new car. The lady at the insurance company said that because I didn't change anything with the old car and have turned 35 (and then some) since I got the car, and the new one has an even better crash rating, this is why.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 7 CSD/1 NSD

I finally got our extra vehicle sold this weekend, so I'm pretty happy with that!  I got a good price, I think.  But as I'm deciding what to do with the 'profit' (after I pay myself back what I borrowed from general savings to buy the replacement vehicle), I find myself wishing I was one of those people that could just chuck logic and go buy an iPad and a big new flat-screen TV!

[mizbear]

rocky- If it makes you feel any better, I can't usually splurge either. I have a planned trip to New England this winter, but other than that- I try to stick to replacing clothes, glasses, and any outstanding bills when I have extra.

[ses]

So much for February being a frugal month.  After all the usual bills there were the bills for the doctor, the dentist, the eye doctor and the plumber.  I'm still waiting for the bill(s) for the furnace.  I want a redo!!!

March has had a slow start and I hope it stays that way.  The only expense I am considering is an auto computer backup system like Carbonite.  Anyone know anything about these systems you would like to share?  I should call Jereme, my computer guru and see what he has to say.

Gotta go the oven bell for the muffins just went off. 

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 8 CSD/1 NSD

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 7 NSDs , 2CSDs

Just a quick update as I am still catching up on laundry and sleep after going on a school out-of-town trip with several students and teachers.  It was a great experience and a lot of fun. 

Hope all of you are doing well!

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 9 CSD/1 NSD

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 9 NSDs and 4 CSDs

Just another quick update as I am continuing the process of catching up on the usual household chores and laundry.  Came home and crashed after school this week so I did not accomplish as much as I wanted then.  This morning was a CSD as I needed to feed the car and get to the grocery to restock the fridge.  Most of the items from the trip are packed away or are currently in the laundry.  Just have the same few flat surface dumping areas in the bedroom to clear -- again.  I also have a craft show next weekend and  a meeting one night during the week so I have to get myself organized for both of those events including finishing the necklace I am currently in the midst of.  So much to do so I have to get off of the computer and get busy. 

Till later.

[grits]

Well , this month is not going to meet goals but that is okay. Next month, we'll try again. So far, 3 FS (1 was $8), 6 CS, and 6 NS. I bought so many groceries today that I hope I don't have to have but one more CS this month.

[mizbear]

I had to revisit my goals with the change in plans with the car, but I can honestly say that I am not doing a lot of spending on things that I hadn't planned on.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 7/10 NSD, 9/20 CSD, 0/1 eating out day.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 14 CSD/2 NSD

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Rocky Mtn Saver: 15 CSD/2 NSD

[3catslady]

3catslady:  9/10 NSD, 13/20 CSD, 0/1 eating out day.

I don't know what today will bring, but I feel good about my spending so far this week.  I do have a question for any of you.  Do you keep a price book of what things cost at different stores?  At Wal-Mart, I can get a bag of cat food for $4.88.  The same size bag at the store where I work is $5.98.  These stores are about 7-10 miles apart.  For the past 2 or 3 months I have been bringing the things I need home with me from the store where I work instead of waiting until the weekend and going to the other store.  I have been spending more money for the convenience of not having to travel to the other store.  And, according to some people, I am becoming secluded.  I go to work, the laundromat, and out to eat once a month.  I don't go anywhere else.  They don't like my "excuse" of SAD and I am getting to the point of not wanting to be around most people.  They seem to bring me down even more.  One of the other drawbacks of my "seclusion" is that I have gained about 7-10 pounds this winter, even with all the walking I do at work for 4-6 hours.
Anyway, I just wanted to throw that out there and see what some of you think.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 16 NSDs and 4 CSDs

Didn't realize that it was so long since my last entry.  Several meetings after school this week led to a huge increase in NSDs but I am in the midst of writing out checks so today will be either a spend day or a CS day.  Most of these are planned but I am sure that something will turn up that I didn't plan or save for. 

Doing the usual never ending jobs of laundry, housework and correcting student projects.  Think that most of today will be spent doing the latter and I will not be finished by the end of the day.  Hoping that the current collection will be finished by the end of this week.

The dryer just buzzed so it is time to switch loads. Will try to check in later this week.