2015 Controlled Spend/No Spend

[forwardwego]

Update 2 NSD 15 CSD 2 eating out as of January 22



woohoo page 3!!!

[shanendoah]

goals: 11 NSD - 13 CSD - 7 Spend (4 Eating Out)
shanendoah: 5 NSD - 12 CSD - 5 Spend (2 EO)

I actually got another NSD yesterday! I may make it to half my goal

Today will be a CSD, as C will go to CostCo, and we have a pretty expansive list this time around. Sunday is a planned eating out day, as we'll have lunch with Pop Tart's sister's family for the sister's birthday. We might also end up eating out on Saturday evening. Not certain on that one.

Hope everyone has a good Friday and a good weekend.

[3catslady]

3catslady: 10 NSD, 15 CSD, 0 eating out days.

Maybe the next 6 days will be NS.  I had to get gas 2 times and 2 other bills came due I wasn't expecting.

[shanendoah]

goals: 11 NSD - 13 CSD - 7 Spend (4 Eating Out)
shanendoah: 6 NSD - 14 CSD - 5 Spend (2 EO)

After a major CostCo trip on Friday, we somehow managed an NSD on Saturday. I still keep thinking back over our day, trying to figure out how that happened. I'm so used to us spending at least a little every day of a weekend, that I'm certain I must be forgetting something. But I'm not; I'm really not.

To go along with that, Sunday the only spending was my chai and muffin at my writing group. We did go out to lunch with Pop Tart's sister's family (for Pop Tart's sister's birthday), but they insisted on paying. And then we spent the afternoon looking at open houses, which doesn't cost anything.

[moneysquirrel]

Update : 19 NSD and 4 CSDs --

Hoping all are doing well.  Things have been busy and I know that I have several hours of correcting test and projects ahead of me tonight so figured that I would check in with you before I start that process.  I got the house straightened this weekend as I hosted a get together for friends yesterday,  This led to my spend day this weekend at the Walmart as I threw in a few items into the basket that were not needed.  Most of what I bought ware on the list but several items were not so I can't  even count it as a csd as I was not in control -- the object were.  lol

Need to get to work on those projects and tests.  Will try to check in later this week.

[forwardwego]

Update 2 NSD 20 CSD 2 eating out as of January 27


March will mark 5 years for me with WIRRs. Financially speaking they have been 5 of the most successful years of my life...very grateful. 


Keep up the excellent work controlled spenders 

[ses]

4/31 CSD  23/31 NSD

I had a "playdate" yesterday.  A neighbor and I drove to the next town to the east (15 miles) to go to the little grocery that has an outstanding meat market.  It is truly wonderful.  I can phone in an order (no order is too small or too large) and they deliver for no charge on Tuesdays and Fridays.  The meat is really delicious.  We both were happy to have found a good source for meat.  And the prices are not bad at all.  So this CSD is one I am very happy to pay up for.  I don't anticipate more spending this month. We will see.

[shanendoah]

goals: 11 NSD - 13 CSD - 7 Spend (4 Eating Out)
shanendoah: 6 NSD - 14 CSD - 9 Spend (2 EO)

I've spent every day this week. Vending machine/junk type stuff. I did buy myself two pair of reading glasses, and C did some grocery shopping, but every day, I bought myself junk.
Not proud of it, but need to acknowledge it and move on.

Truth is, for as aggressive as my goals were, I've actually not done too badly. Need to work on my vending machine impulses, but I can get there.

[moneysquirrel]

January Final Update : 21 NSD and 7 CSDs 

Yesterday was the 7th anniversary of my participation on this board.  I like the challenge of aiming for NSDS.  

I do much better during the school year as my schedule is so tight that I don't have the time to shop for more than the essentials -- food, gas, exercise, meds and an occasional haircut.

My purchase of GCs at the gym lin December while pricey at the time translates into a total long term saving of $200. Currently in the process of using them for my personal training as intended.  I think I have enough left for a few more months of training.  I am trying to put aside the equivalent amount each pay period for future sessions and to take advantage of the same special if they offer it later this year.

I have been trying to be creative and decrease my supply of beads by trying out new designs using the items I have already on hand.  I did have to place an order at the end of 2014 but hoping to avoid any major purchase for several months.  I do occasionally have to get the basics as I use up my supply.  I think I am okay with what I have on hand now to avoid any large outlay for several months.  I do plan to go to another bead weekend this summer and probably will have to purchase a few items for any classes I plan to take.  I usually have some of the required items on hand but last year I was able to get some kits form the teachers and to purchase some of the items needed to supplement what I had on hand.

I almost finished another small project and need to begin a new one hopefully today.  I did get a someone original design done a few weeks ago.  Used the concept from one I did earlier, had to get the graph paper out to figure out the amended design and colors, and stitched it. It met the expectations.  It was somewhat a commission piece as a friend wanted it but I wasn't sure if I could design it.  She was pleased with the result and bought it. Best part was that I had all of the beads on hand and did not have to purchase anything else for it. Score!
 
I also decided that I needed to start using up all of the yarn I had on hand so last night I pulled out the crochet hook and some yarn and started a scrap afghan.  I haven't done any crocheting in several years so it was time to get to work on decreasing the yarn supply that was given to me last year.  It will be a long term process as I am sure that I will have to work this in during some down time which as you all know for me is very limited.  

Time for me to get my day started.  Will check in when I can.  






 

[3catslady]

3catslady's January final numbers:  13 NSD, 18 CSD, 0 eating out days.

For February, I want to get more NSD than CSD which means I don't want to get groceries from work during the week, just on Sunday when I do the grocery shopping.  I want to pay the bills on 3 separate days which means I have to get gas on one of my bill paying days or grocery days.

[shanendoah]

goals: 11 NSD - 13 CSD - 7 Spend (4 Eating Out)
FINAL JANUARY NUMBERS: shanendoah: 6 NSD - 15 CSD - 10 Spend (3 EO)

I'm pretty certain I bought something from the vending machine on Friday. I don't honestly remember, but given the way last week went, I'm just assuming.
Saturday was a CSD. We got some needed items from Ikea, bought a few groceries, and we went out to dinner. For dinner, we took out the two friends who watched Pop Tart for 4 hours last Saturday and almost 8 hours this Saturday. They kind of deserve to be taken out for dinner.

While I did not meet my NSD goals, I am very happy we met the eating out goal I'd set, given that so much of our spending last year was on eating out.

[shanendoah]

February goals: 8 NSD - 12 CSD - 8 Spend (4 Eating Out)
shanendoah: 1 NSD - 0 CSD - 0 Spend (0 EO)

Okay, here's the plan for February. My goal is 2 NSDs/week, allowing 2 SDs/week and 3 CSDs/week. We're once again going to work on limiting ourselves to eating out 1/week.

I got a boost right at the start as we didn't spend any money on Sunday. We cleaned the house, took doggies on a walk, looked at some model homes, and hung out at a Super Bowl party- all free.

Hope everyone has a good February!

[moneysquirrel]

February Update: 3NSDs and 1 CSD.

January Final Update: 21 NSDs and 7CSDs

Popping in for a quick update.  Hope all are doing well.  Weather has been miserable so no desire to do anything I don't absolutely have to.

 

[3catslady]

3catslady: 3 NSD, 1 CSD, 0 eating out days.

On the first of the month, I got groceries and paid all the bills except electric and it's not due until the end of the month.  I just got an estimate on a repair for my car, $250-300.  My turning signal needs replaced, or rather the switch does and my mechanic doesn't have the tools.  I will have to take it to the garage Tuesday night and have someone take me back to get it.  Such is life.

I will have to get gas and milk before Sunday so I will do that tomorrow night. 

[shanendoah]

February goals: 8 NSD - 12 CSD - 8 Spend (4 Eating Out)
shanendoah: 2 NSD - 1 CSD - 1 Spend (0 EO)

I started out the month with 2 NSD in a row. On Tuesday, I bought myself the allowed chai, but nothing else, so got a CSD. Yesterday I bought some junk (though it included junk for the office), so it was a spend day. If I'm good, today can be an NSD, and then I'll be ahead of the game, which would feel really nice.

3catslady - I just want to say, you inspire me. I honestly don't know how you do it, but I very much want to be like you when I grow up.

[3catslady]

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

[forwardwego]

The good news I've been so busy that I haven't spent much, the bad news is I haven't kept track so can't accurately report here. Need to get my tracking going. Will try today.

[shanendoah]

February goals: 8 NSD - 12 CSD - 8 Spend (4 Eating Out)
shanendoah: 4 NSD - 2 CSD - 2 Spend (0 EO)

Only 8 days in, and I'm already half way to my NSD goal!
However, while I'm going to track and see if I can hold onto my goals, this month did just get a little crazy.
We agreed to a same day foster placement on Friday, so a little 7 year old girl joined us late that afternoon. While is is almost the same size as my daughter, I do think we'll need to pick her up some things of her own, like another pair or two of shoes (she only has one pair).
Also, she is African-American, so I'll be making an appointment with the niece of a former co-worker who is a beautician to teach me what I need to know to care for her hair. I expect though, that we will be adding in somewhat regular appointments for her to get her hair done. I can't do white girl hair. There is no way I can do black girl hair. And while my daughter desperately wants to play with the new girl's hair, she's 11, and I just don't see that being a long term solution.

Today will be a spend. I didn't sleep well the entire weekend or last night. I'm off to get myself some chai. In addition, I didn't pack a full lunch, so I'll need to buy myself lunch this afternoon.

[moneysquirrel]

February Update: 7NSDs and 2 CSDs

Another quick drive-by posting.  Hoping to get a few more things done tonight before I crash so I have to get off the computer and not waste my alert minutes browsing.

Hope all are doing well.  Will check in when I can. 

[forwardwego]

This little month of February is quickly getting away from me, and my tracking has faded out, but happily my spending though frequent would be considered controlled, and will be deductibles.  We are painting and regrouting at the rental house. New renters come in Feb 25th, so I'm giving myself forgiveness til then. Happy weekend controlled spenders. Nice work on tracking, moneysquirrel, shanendoah, and 3catslady. Nice January final ses. 

[moneysquirrel]

February Update: 10 NSDs and 3 CSDs

 Happy Valentine Day to all !

Trying to get laundry done early this morning prior to meeting family later this afternoon.  I suspect that this coming week will include a few spend days as I have the week off due to Mardi Gras. This gives me the opportunity to get caught up on chores and errands.  Therefore, I will be in a few stores this week.  I can't remember when I last visited any other than grocery, drugstore or wallyworld.  I have a few things I need to get and I hope to stick to the list as much as possible. Also hope to get to the gym more often then once this break. 

 My spend day this week was due to booking my plane for this summer.  Totally unexpected opportunity came up to experience an event with family this summer in a place I have not been and has been on my list of places I always wanted to visit. Thanks to my squirreling away money I had the money in my travel account.  

I do have about 230 assignments to correct this break but will have the chance to pick away at them instead of having to do marathon sessions (unless I get into a zone).  I am continuing to work on some beading as my friend and I have two craft events scheduled in May and I need a few more designs with summer colors.  I also have started to work on a scrap afghan in order to work my way through the yarn I have been gifted.  Not enough of any one color to do much with but this project will definitely put a dent in the supply.  Plus I hope to use it as a Christmas gift so a win-win if I get it finished in time.  Attempting to do at least a couple of rows per week.  Two rows per color.  

forwardwego -- home/rental expenses are needed and I am sure that you will eventually recoup those once the place is occupied.  You are aware of what is going in and out and that is the purpose of this board.  We all slip up at times but the awareness of our expenses is key to being in control.

Need to switch loads and get moving this morning.

[3catslady]

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

I am counting today as a CSD because I am getting groceries and doing laundry when it gets above 0 out.  That should be around noon and I plan to be done with everything by 4 pm when it is to back to 0 or below.

[shanendoah]

February goals: 8 NSD - 12 CSD - 8 Spend (4 Eating Out)
shanendoah: 5 NSD - 6 CSD - 5 Spend (1 EO)


We're doing mostly good here. We spent every day this weekend, but that was mostly so that we didn't spend one entire day shopping (which makes me cranky). I do consider buying the things a new foster placement needs to be controlled spending.
We went out for lunch on Sunday, but that had been part of our plan, so I'm good with that.

Next Saturday we will be having a birthday party for Cupcake (new foster), so that will be a chunk of change. Also going to consider it controlled spending though, as we set ourselves a budget for birthday spending and are sticking to it.

[3catslady]

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

[moneysquirrel]

February Update: 12 NSDs and 4 CSDs

Happy Mardi Gras! I didn't participate as this is my usual allergy season,  Haven't in years so I corrected projects while having the tv coverage on as background. Took breaks whenever the laptop battery needed to be recharged.  That forced me to take breaks so I wouldn't sit in front of a computer all day.  Managed to get some laundry done as well.

Spent most of today correcting those projects I had to do.  Only managed to get about half of them done.  Plan to get some additional ones done tomorrow and so on until they are completed before I return to school.  The rest of this week will also include running errands, some shopping and plans to get together with friends. 

Time for bed.

[shanendoah]

February goals: 8 NSD - 12 CSD - 8 Spend (4 Eating Out)
shanendoah: 7 NSD - 6 CSD - 6 Spend (1 EO)


I am only 1 away from making my NSD goal! That's pretty exciting to me. However, it looks like I might be in danger of over spending on days when we plan to spend, since it looks like I might end up with more spend days than planned and fewer CSD days.

Today we will take Cupcake out to dinner for her birthday. Tomorrow, we will have her birthday party, and also do our grocery shopping. Sunday, I have my writing group, and C is having people over. There will be spending every day, but it should all be planned/controlled.[/font][/font]

[shanendoah]

February goals: 8 NSD - 12 CSD - 8 Spend (4 Eating Out)
shanendoah: 7 NSD - 9 CSD - 6 Spend (2 EO)

Right around $100 spent on the birthday party on Saturday, so we stayed nicely within budget.

[moneysquirrel]

Final February Update: 21 NSDs and 6 CSDs

Hope all are doing well.  I have been reading but haven't had time to post.  Things are going well.  I am mostly caught up on grading.  Only a few late projects to do tomorrow before the next group.  That one is due on Wednesday and contains about 125 projects.  Also have a few others due in smaller batches later in the week.  I am continuing to try to keep up with the house and to do some type of craft activity on a regular basis.  Seeing some improvement in all areas plus at least maintaining exercise -- not as often as I should but getting there at least once a week is better than last year's zero times. 

Hope all are doing well as we March on!

[3catslady]

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

My goal for March is  6 possibly 8 CSD.  There might be 1 or 2 eating out days.  I am getting tired of my chicken and veggies meals.  I am hungry for liver and onions.  I am hoping for at least 15 NSD but I'd like to hit 20.  That gives me 3 days to play with.  the CSD will be new glasses, my ears pierced again unless I find my other piercing earrings and a hair trim.  I am going back to tracking my spending everyday and see what I am doing.  I will probably track on here to keep accountability.  

Thanks to all who expressed concern for me.

[shanendoah]

February goals: 8 NSD - 12 CSD - 8 Spend (4 Eating Out)
shanendoah FINAL FEBRUARY NUMBERS: 7 NSD - 12 CSD - 9 Spend (3 EO)


So close to my goals, but just not quite. I got not a single NSD last week. I have chosen to be okay with that, as it was a week of meltdowns among the kids that left me exhausted. Most of my spending was on extra caffeine or lunch at work, just to get through the day. (With a note that on Thursday night, I went to bed at 7pm - I really was just running on empty.) And really, $1.50 was all that kept me from meeting my goal, as, on Thursday, I got myself a coke from the vending machine, but otherwise spent no money.
We've continued to meet our eating out goals, and I can see it in the numbers on YNAB, so I am pretty happy about that.


Will be back with a post for my March goals.