An Austere August CS/NS

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 11 NSD and 3 CSD 


Doing better on NSDs during the week now that I am back at school.  Did spend both days this weekend.  Still have a few things to do before I turn in later tonight.

[ses]

I have only $140 left to pay on my medical bills from the surgery and the expenses from my TV replacement to deal with.  I also have my property taxes to pay by the end of the month.  Totaling these expenses and what I need to replace the funds I had to use for medical care expenses I think I will get back to where I was before everything got spent by Christmas.  It will be a very tight budget this fall.  I am rather thrilled that I will get it all paid this quickly.  I really don't like having any debt at all.

After stocking up on groceries on 8/5 and getting some fresh stuff today I have $16.67 left of my $140 for groceries this month.  I also have $40 left for gasoline this month that I may not need, so I am doing OK.  I still don't like any debt.

I think of you all, peering over my shoulder, every time I am tempted to spend.  Thanks. 

[3catslady]

3catslady: 10/? NSD, 9/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 10/?NSD, 10/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

I did laundry today so that is a CSD

[3catslady]

3catslady: 11/? NSD, 10/? CSD, 0/? eating out days

[3catslady]

3catslady: 12/? NSD, 10/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 15 NSD and 3 CSD
I'm not sure what today brings as I have no major plans.  I do have to fill up the car and I am almost out of my vitamins so I have to get those sometimes this weekend.  Hoping that I spend the rest of the weekend at home.  Temps are predicted to be close to 98+ this weekend.  Have quite a few things to get done at home so that should be my focus this weekend.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 13/? NSD, 10/? CSD, 0/? eating out days.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 13 NSD, 11 CSD, 0 eating out days.

I got groceries today, hence the controlled spend.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 14 NSD, 11 CSD, 0 eating out days

[3catslady]

3catslady: 15 NSD, 11 CSD, 0 eating out days.

[forwardwego]

Hello, I'm visiting/lurking. I'm on the WIRRacer South board. I "won" my race against credit card debt in 2010-2011, and am now racing my automobile debt. I was a lot better about not spending when I was doing the first race, but now I seem to be spinning my wheels. I'm thinking I'd like to join you here, and maybe the savers' board later to help me get rolling. So:

NSD is no spend day? and CSD is controlled spending day??


moneysquirrel, I like your Owen Young quotation 

[3catslady]

3catslady: 16 NSD, 11 CSD, 0 eating out days.

Welcome, forwardwego, and yes NSD is a no spend day.  CSD is a controlled spend day.  I also keep track of my eating out days because I used to eat out 3 to 4 times a week.  Now I am down to 2 to 3 times a month as long as I keep track of them on here.  You can keep track of whatever you want or however you want.  Have a great time with it.

[forwardwego]

Thanks 3catslady! Tracking the eating out days is a great idea. That has been an issue at our house too. And good job for you with no eating out in August 

I think I'll keep watching and asking questions, and jump on board Sept 1, since that's so close.

So what are some of the ways you all define your controlled spend days? Needs VS wants? Dollar limit? Within budget vs over budget?

[3catslady]

My no spend days are just that: no spend days.  Others put a dollar limit.  Some pay themselves and if they use that money, it is still a no spend.  My controlled spends are bills, groceries, hair cut, gas, and doctor appointments.  I set up an EF , emergency fund, and when property taxes or car inspection come due, anything like that, I take it out of there and it is a controlled spend.  You can set up your own system and keep track here.

Did you look at the first post on the first page?  It explains a lot there.  But don't be afraid to ask questions.  We will help you out whenever we can.  A few of us have been together since the old MSN board which for me was in January of '09, I think.  These people have helped me through a lot. 

[forwardwego]

I think I'll have "no spend" be exactly that, because I think it's the small spending that is adding up on me. Plus it will be simpler. And have "controlled spends" be required payments, necessary items, or things bought with my personal allowance.

I'm feeling very optimistic that this is going to help me be more thoughtful and careful in my spending. (I read the opening page which was helpful, and our discussions helped me define my NS and CS, thank you). 

[3catslady]

When I first started, I took a small notebook with me every where I went and listed all the money I spent and what it was for.  It helped me see where my money was going, a soda there, a candy bar there and eating out.  I just started deleting one thing and continued until I am where I am today.  At first it was hard but I finally conquered the spending and can now go in a store and not buy anything except what I have on my list.  I do look but the voices from the ladies and gents on this thread are always in the back of my mind asking me if it is a want or a need.  Usually it is a want so I put it back although a couple of times I slipped up and bought a want but I didn't get upset about it like I did at first.  I allow myself something once in a while. It is like a diet.  If you deny yourself something for too long, you really crave it and go off the diet so you have to do things in moderation and don't get upset about it.

[forwardwego]

I have never recorded every expenditure before, seemed daunting. But I'm going to try it, I put a spare check transaction register in my purse. My husband and I each have a personal allowance established, but in the past I've used from "my" money to chip in on a bill, and then felt justified spending house money when I probably shouldn't have. So gonna try to rectify that. Personal allowance is personal, and house $$ is house money. Thank you for your suggestions and support.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 18 NSD and 2 CSD
Just a quick pop-in to say hello. I'm continuing to increase my nsds since I usually come straight home after work.  I think I have finally finished all of the projects from my beading classes this summer.  I have more things to do but none of them are incomplete projects from classes.  My students first projects are coming in this week so I will be tied to the computer correcting Word documents.  I am slowing chipping away at them during my planning periods at school but will still have a nice amount to do this weekend.

Forwardwego -- I do want to wish you a warm welcome.  I am not on here as often as some of the others (see above for reasons) but do try to visit once or twice a week.  I tend to read the thread more often then I post.  3cats has given you a lot of advice.  She is one of the success stories.  I remember at the beginning how much she struggled but she had made great progress over the years.

Will try to catch up later this weekend. Tough weekend for remembering -- tomorrow is the 9th anniversary of Katrina hitting this area.


Back to work.
 

[3catslady]

3catslady:  17 NSD, 11 CSD, 0 eating out days.

I may make it through the month without eating out.

[forwardwego]

yesterday was a good "practice day"

bought groceries, needed items only, ingredients to make pizza at home, avoid eat out price

and Sonic cold drinks are half price 2-5 PM, so $1.71 for 2, out of my personal allowance
 
so that scores me a CSD 

Going strong on the no eat out 3catslady 

Thanks for the welcome, thinking of you moneysquirrel as you mark the 9th anniversary of Katrina. I shared your Owen Young quote on FB, and got a lot of conversation going!

[3catslady]

3catslady: 17 NSD, 12 CSD, 0 eating out days.

Only 2 more days to go till the end of the month.  I hope I can hold out and not eat out.  I am getting hungry for a hoagie but I will wait.
I had to spend today because I ran out of tp, of all things to run out of.  I used to use paper towels or Kleenex but I don't have either of those on hand either.  I am running out of everything.

[ses]

Welcome forwardwego!!!  I am just "passing through" today and don't have time for a proper welcome.  Tonight or tomorrow I will be back and have the time to be thoughtful about my time on this thread and how it has worked for me.  I am really glad to see you here, I have been considering joining or lurking on the WIRR and can use your advice.

I am on my way out of town for the first time since my last visit with the surgeon on 6/12/2014.  My 100 days of recovery are up, I can live a life again!  

It is time to set up a new thread again.  The only thing I can think of is "Suddenly September."  If anyone can be more creative let me know and I will start it tomorrow. 

[3catslady]

"Suddenly September" sounds appropriate since this month seemed to fly by, and "suddenly" the kids are back in school.  Now it's time for some serious savings since Christmas is coming and I don't have a thing picked up.  I have to get ready for work so I will come back here later.

[forwardwego]

Thanks for the welcome ses 


And thanks to those who created and maintain this thread. The WIR resources have been so helpful to me. 

Speaking from my experience "racing" my credit card debt, I recommend the WIRR boards. They were way more active when I joined in March 2010 and it was an MSN site, but it can still be very helpful. The regions seem to have a lot less active racers, I think people just are not hearing about it without that MSN connection. But, please feel free to ask anything about the debt racing! 

Whoo hoo for "suddenly september". 

[3catslady]

3catslady:  18 NSD, 12 CSD, 0 eating out days.

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 19 NSD and 2 CSD
Managed to get to the grocery yesterday before the heavy rains came.  It was a spend day as I got several items that were not on the list.  I think today is going to be a spend day also as a friend just texted me about going to the movies tonight.  Can't remember the last movie I went to in the theater to see a film -- usually wait months and get them free from the library. I will probably take her up on that offer as the rest of the day will be spent correcting word documents.  I will need the break. 
I hope to get to do some beading done this holiday before I return to school -- have a few repairs to do as well as a few earrings to make for friends. Those will not take long once I get to doing them.  I need to put some of the more complex patterns on the back burner until I get these things done.

SES -- Suddenly September sound great to me.  Cannot believe how fast this year is flying by.

3cats -- You are doing so well on your not eating out days.  I don't have too many of those but usually they are times shared with friends whom I don't get to visit with as often so I allow them with feeling guilty.  I have gotten pretty good about not picking up something on the way home when I have a busy day. Will occasionally slip up though. 

forwardwego -- This is a process.  We also were on the old boards and miss the larger group we had.  We lost several when we switch over to this new home.  We also lost a few due to new lifestyles -- marriages, babies, older children and homework, etc. Some have met their goals and moved on.  I  enjoy company on this thread.  We have similar views and goals.  I like SES thought about joining the Savers thread but I have been doing a similar process for years before I even knew about the Women in Red so I don't need the reinforcement of the thread.  Also I barely have time to check in here some weeks.  Again if you have questions, please ask.  We will do all we can to answer them.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 18 NSD, 13 CSD, 0 eating out days.

One month without eating out.  It can be done.

[ses]

Suddenly September is up.