2015 Controlled Spend/No Spend

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 14NSDs and 5 CSDs
Off for the week and starting it off with no voice due to allergies/sinus.  Have a lot of school work to do today as I want to get it finished so I can at least enjoy some of my holiday.  Had another craft show this weekend and was able to put some money away for future needed supplies.  Still have two left of this holiday season.  

Have a good week all!
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[moneysquirrel]

UPDATE: 17NSDs and 5CSDs

Managed to some things done this week but still have a major list of things to do.  Just feel like as soon as I finish something there are several more items added to the list.   

Back to school tomorrow.  Still have a few things to do later today for school but should be able to knock those out within an hour or so.  Being sick with the sinus issues have slowed me down this week.  Managed to host Thanksgiving for the family and to keep going but at a much slower pace. 

Will check in when I can.

[Ombud]

Nov 20, 2015 17:02:16 GMT -5 Ombud said:

DIL Mom: maple pumpkin jar candle 59c (marked down from $10)

-- another 59c candle in stockpile

I also have 2 nearly new baskets. Here's a weird thought: save for 2016. DIL Mom isn't coming, I think I'm laid off ( no hrs = laid off, right?), 2016 might be no better than 2015

[3catslady]

3catslady:  19 NSD, 10 CSD, 1 eating out day.  This is November's total.

[moneysquirrel]

November Final Update: 19 NSDs and 6 CSDs 


December Update: 4 NSDs and 1 CSD


Not sure what today will bring. I will be trying to get some more planning for school this weekend.

[moneysquirrel]

Update : 9 NSDs and 3 CSDs

Exams start this week.  Have not done a thing for the holidays as of yet.  Been too busy with school, craft shows and just keeping up with the necessary chores -- laundry and groceries. Will be grateful when this week is over.

[3catslady]

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

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 11 NSDs and 8 CSDs

The semester is over and I'm playing catch up with the housework.  Got most of the Christmas items out and whatever isn't by now will not go out this year.  Gifts are wrapped and I am ok with the state of things that while not quite my usual still make me happy. 

The chores are slowly getting done.  And I am finally getting a few items of jewelry done for me.  Almost finished the last piece from this summer classes.  Still have to do the other patterns I bought from it.  Hope to get started on one of them this break. Also have a list of items I need to remake of try for next year.  

Plan to get some school work done next week.  This week I am taking a break from the planning.

Back to work.

[ses]

I am almost ashamed to post since I have been AWOL for so long.  But I guess it is time to 'fess up and climb back on the wagon.  The last three months have been financial quicksand for me.  I had some major automotive repairs done, some major yard work I had been delaying for a couple of years, replaced a recliner and had extensive HVA/C inspections, went on my first vacation in four years and bought a Kindle (and have become addicted).  Now that my various emergency funds have been hit so severely, I am having major panic attacks every time I work on my financials.  

I know I can replace the funds if I get myself back on track and pay attention to what I spend.  I am considering going back to the "envelope budget" for a few months just to reinforce the good habits I had developed here over the past few years.  Also, I don't like what I am hearing about the possibility of a big market drop.  

I don't know whether to ashamed of myself for spending all that money or proud that I had it in the emergency funds.  This week between Christmas and New Years is the time I get "down and dirty" with my annual budget plans.  I honestly don't know what to expect this year.

I will set up a new thread for 2016 some time this week so it will be ready to go in the new year.

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.

[ses]

YIKES!! i just remembered homeowners Insurance is due next week

This is going to be a terrible year

[moneysquirrel]

Update:16 NSDs and 9 CSDs
I have been staying at home and enjoying my time off.  Getting a lot of reorganizing done-- which will fall apart once school begins again next Monday.  Making a headway with some of the beading projects.  Trying to get a few household and beading things done before I start the spring semester. Managed to recycle some electronic items today after I got my car serviced.  Glad to get those out of the house.

 Mom is improving and should be out of rehab in a few days. All of us will be happy when that happens.  

SES -- we both know that everything that you spent were on needed items or on things that have been on your list for an extended time.  Don't beat yourself up over it.  That is what the EF is for.  This year was a costly one for several of us but with EFs we can handle it without placing ourselves in financial peril.  We may not like the reduced amounts in our accounts but we had them just for purposes like we used them for.

[3catslady]

3catslady:  20 NSD, 11 CSD, 0 eating out days.   

I did good but I want more.

ses, are you going to start the new thread for the year?  I am going to set weekly goals and see how that works.  My plans are to get groceries on Sunday, do laundry on Sunday and pay the bills on the 1st of the month and then when the electric is due.  I don't want to buy during the week unless it is with my "cash allowance".  What I don't spend for the week goes in my bank book and the change goes in my blue teapot.  That means I have to clean it out tonight so it is empty for tomorrow.  I am also going to transfer to savings any left over monies, yeah right, to my savings account and get that built up.

[moneysquirrel]

December Final Update: 17 NSDs and 9 CSDs.


I was doing OK this month until I realized that AT&T was eliminating their 2 year contract plans.  That is usually how I save when I need a new phone. Since my phone was almost 5 years old and beginning to have some issues I visited them yesterday and got a new phone with the two year contract.  Figured that if I waietted for spring as I intended it would cost me about $400 more.  With my luck my old one would break the day after the 2 year contract was eliminated. 

I have purchased a few clothing items this month as I need to update my wardrobe some.  Still need a few items but they can wait. 

I went back through the thread and figured out my yearly totals:
2015 Totals: 241 NSDs and 80 CSDs which means that I only spent on 44 days.  Regular expenses - groceries, gas, utilities, planned items do not count in my totals.

I think that I will join the organize/declutter group this year.  I work really well from a list.  That will keep me accountable.

[attitude21]

Hi all...

   I am in. this is first time. By reading all the posts I think I understand the basic concept is controlled spending.

Our goal first 6 mos of year is to pay as much possible on debt that we want paid. So spouse and I talked and we came up with 6 mos plan.
We plan to live lean... and make do with what we have. We had planned on doing some  painting... but decided it can wait.
So goal next 6 mos is any extra money goes to the debt. Focus on work, health...wellness.... Paying down debt and maintaining 401k is main focus. Our plan is to try to cook frugally.... and hone our skills in that area. We are both on board... so it will be fun to see what progress we can make.

So far...
1/1 NSD
1/2.... I did buy 13.00 of half price stuff at walgreens.....bubble bath and a a little make up.... half off from xmas.... not planned so I juess that means Spend?
I take controlled spend to be things you know you have to pay for or regular expenses, etc. 1/2 regular grocery shopping so that is CDS correct?

I also joined the organize /declutter group. This is great and look forward to it.
Yes, it is nice to be back in the groove.

[moneysquirrel]

January Update: 2 NSDs 0 CSDs

attitude21 - Welcome.  I think SES will be starting a 2016 thread soon but I plan to continue posting here until she does.  This is a process and all of us have fallen many times in this journey.  We have found that writing down where we spend allows us to see where our budget leakages are.  After a while we have plugged those holes.  Also you will hear a little voice asking if it is a need or a want.  

Ask if you have any questions.  I usually am not on here daily -- life happens but I try to check in at least weekly.  I do not count budgeted items -- groceries, gas, monthly bills,etc. -- those are a required spending for me.  The extra items that jump in the basket turns the ns day into a spend one.  

[Blonde Granny]

Oh the joys of YNAB. A simple entry into the "check register" part of YNAB has a way of staring you in the face when it shows you the total amount you have spent month to date.

Discretionary spending was whatever we wanted it to be each month until I decided it was time to get serious.  Each month I was taking funds from savings accounts to pay credit card bills or to fudge the spending.  I finally tired of all that, and sat DH down and gave him the bitter truth.  We were spending each month more that we were receiving as income.  And I don't mean to point blame, but most of it was a case of me wanting to see to it that DH bought what he wanted when he wanted it.

In hindsight I'm happy I was able to handle the over spending, but I am happy it's over.

As for NSD, I currently have 3 and haven't gone out to eat for 1 week.  I also contacted Uverse and lowered the monthly bill from $289/mo to $ 220.  And my Verizon bill has been lowered   from $112 to $47.  This past month my weekly grocery bill has not been higher that $32/week. 

Now I'm beginning to get nervous over the 2015 taxes.  I've contacted my tax attorney and will likely get news I don't want to hear, not only for 2015 but what I need to do for 2016.  Married filing jointly has now gone to widowed & filing single.

[wvugurl26]

It's been some time since my grandpa died and I did those returns but I think you get to claim something in 2015. Now for 2016 it would be widowed and single. The attorney should know though. The CPA my grandma went to was an idiot and I had to fix those returns but that was 2008 so my memory is sketchy.

[Blonde Granny]

At least my tax attorney is a good friend, if he gives me bad news I can holler and swear at him.

Thanks WVG, that info gives a little bit of hope for this 2015.  Curious if I will have to move some investments into some tax free things.

[moneysquirrel]

January Update: 7NSDs and 1 CSD

Back at school and long days which translates into no time to shop.  My numbers are always better when I am in school.


Blonde Granny -- I don't know what the rules are now but when I lost my DH @ ten years ago, taxes for married for the year of his death.  Since then filed as single (which I never think is a good label for me).

[ses]

Things didn't cut and paste like i thought but the information is there.

[ses]

the 2016 Controlled Spend/No Spend is up and running as well as I could figure out how to do it.

See you over there!!!

[Jaguar]

ses, do you want me to lock this thread now ?

[ses]

Wait to lock this thread until February 1 so everyone will get the notice and post any 2015 year end reports they might want to include for 2015.