An Austere August CS/NS

[ses]

Another Month Begins




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.

[3catslady]

I like that name.  Thanks for starting this again.

1/? NSD, 0/?CSD, 0/?eating out days.

[3catslady]

3catslady:  1/? NSD, 1/? CSD, 0/? eating out.

I paid the bills today and tomorrow will be a CSD because I have to get groceries and the 3 of us are eating out at a restaurant downtown.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 1/? NSD, 2/? CSD, 0/? eating out day.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 1NSD and 1 CSD


I'm in again.  Total spend day yesterday -- supplies for school and home at Office Depot.  

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Hi all!

So far for August, I spent on Friday and Sunday (all my errands, blah) but nothing on Saturday.  I used a free movie pass to see Guardians of the Galaxy and a gift card for my part of the group dinner before.  Ain't no better entertainment than free entertainment! 

NSD 1/CSD 0 

[3catslady]

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

[ses]

I haven't spent anything yet this month but I did order my new TV.  That bill won't arrive until September.  I spent much of the weekend on the computer pushing my savings around to have the money to pay for it and the last of my medical expenses.  It made me realize how sloppy I have been the past few months.  I now have a detailed plan for the rest of the year.

After that I inventoried the pantry and freezer and cleaned out the fridge.  Tomorrow I plan to get to to Walmart and the grocery store for my primary monthly shopping trip before it gets too hot.  I have the ads and my list ready to go first thing.  We will see how I do tomorrow.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

I'm at 1 and 1 as of yesterday.  1 NSD/1 CSD
Today should be a CSD.  I need a lot more of those this month than last month!

[3catslady]

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

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 3 NSD and 1 CSD

I am back at school and should be able to do better on the NSDs once I get back into the full swing of my normal routine.  I know I have at least one more stop at the teacher supply shop as I have run out of one of the items I use on a regular basis.  Had what I thought was an ample supply but ran out today. 

[ses]

Did my monthly stock-up today.  I allotted $110 and only spent $103.  I even splurged on a bag of tortilla chips, a jar of grape jelly and a jar of peanuts.  So far so good.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

1 NSD/2 CSD    I don't expect much in the way of spending for the remainder of the week.  Next week might be harder as we are preparing to go camping.  For a cheap vacation option, camping sure seems to cost me money! 

[3catslady]

3catslady: 3/? NSD, 3/? CSD, 0/? eating out days

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

2 NSD/2 CSD.  Although I planned some money-spending I will have to do later in the month, I didn't actually do any today.  That counts, right?

[3catslady]

3catslady: 4/? NSD, 3/? CSD, 0/? eating out day

[3catslady]

3catslady: 5/? NSD, 3/? CSD, 0/? eating out days

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 5NSD and 2 CSD as of 8/8

Only additional spend so far has been the items I needed for the classroom.  I have no idea what today holds so far as it is still extremely early. Too early for me on a weekend.

Welcome back -- Rocky!

[3catslady]

3catslady: 6/? NSD, 4/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

3 NSD/2 CSD   Sadly, Sunday was my only NSD this weekend.  I definitely need to improve on this. 

[3catslady]

3catslady:  6/? NSD, 5/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

4 NSD/2 CSD   Finally, two NSD's in a row!  It's the small things, y'know?

[3catslady]

3catslady: 7/? NSD, 5/? CSD, 0/? eating out day.

Tomorrow is going to be a CSD because I get my car inspected in the morning.  I hope and pray he doesn't find anything wrong.  My car is a 1990 Buick LaSaber and it only has 122,321 miles on it.  I have been told by 3 or 4 mechanics that it has at least 80 to 90 thousand yet to go.  I figure it will rust on me before I have to replace the thing.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

5 NSD/2 CSD


3catslady, I love that the WIR is one of the few places where you will hear the phrase, "my car ONLY has 122,000 miles on it!" 

[3catslady]

3catslady:  7/? NSD, 6/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

Rocky: Thanks for the laugh.  My car will be 25 years old in September.  I don't know of too many people that have a car that old with that few miles.  There is little rust on it even though it set out every day.  Like the little old lady that drove her car to church, I only drive mine to work 5 days a week(maybe 7 miles round trip), the laundromat once a week, to get groceries once a week and Church once a week.  I may visit my GF who lives 25 miles away but that is all I drive it. I haven't had a car payment for 10 to 15 years but I haven't had this car for that long, maybe 9 years.  It had 72,000 on it when I bought it.

[ses]

I got my new TVs installed today.  The under cabinet TV in the kitchen is wonderful.  I didn't really read the ad carefully.  I wanted a TV, but I got a DVD/CD player, an AM/FM radio and a kitchen timer as well.  I never will need to leave the kitchen.  Which is good because the TV that was to replace my TV that is almost dead (which I can't understand- it is ONLY 18 years old) does not work well at all.  It goes back ASAP.

Spending all that money at one time was somewhat traumatic for me, even though I have been saving for this for many, many months.  Hopefully, I can replace it this weekend so it will be on this months CC statement and I can get rid of that bill so it will won't be hanging over my head.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 7 NSD/?, 7/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

I had to spend today because the laundry detergent that I use was on sale, buy one get one free, so I saved over $5.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 8/? NSD, 7/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 9/? NSD, 7/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 9/? NSD, 8/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

I got groceries today and a minutes card for my phone.  I am good for another 3 months on my phone.