2016 controlled Spend/ No Spend

[moneysquirrel]

July Update: 4 NSDs and 4 CSDs
Have no idea what the rest of today will bring.  Trying to be productive at home and getting some things done.  Still getting stuff out of the freezer for meals as a way to get it down to almost nothing -- hurricane season prep for me.  

[moneysquirrel]

July Update: 10 NSDs and 5 CSDs

Been staying in and getting some things done in the house because between the heat and the rain I don't want to venture out. 

[ses]

I am embarrassed to show my face here. I have been a member on this thread since Jan 1, 2008. You would think I could do a better job with my finances by now.  Since the end of April I have used almost 80% of my EF.  At least I had it to use!  I had to replace an old dead computer,  attend a family wedding, go out of town to be with my BFF during her surgery for a week, replace my water heater (I upgraded to a tankless water--I  should recover  the cost in about 2 years I am told). ln order to get the water heater I had to upgrade the electrical from 100amps to 200amps- it needed to be done if I plan to sell in the next 10-15 years, I can't imagine household usage declining in that time.  I had almost a week with no emergency expenditures.  Then the clock on my yard irrigation system died during a stretch of 100* days that toasted the lawn. It had worked for 25 years--why die this year. This month I have to cover 1/2 property taxes, an expensive lawn treatment and some medication.  If I make it to August without more unexpected expenses I should be able to replace the EF in 13-14 months if I am careful.  I am just proud that I didn't have to touch any of my retirement funds.


I have been reluctant to address these issues to you all, but it feels good to get it off my chest.  Now I just need to get back on the wagon, I am sure I won't be alone for long.

[3catslady]

I bought my AC and boy does it feel good.  I am glad I worked those 6 day stretches, (2 weeks in a row).  I hope I am out of the woods now and can get back to saving again.  It is to be in the 90's for the next 10 days or more.


July update:  10 NSD, 10 CSD.  

[moneysquirrel]

July Update: 11 NSDs and 6 CSDs
Have been doing some shopping so not too many days to add to my list.  School is starting soon and my numbers always increase then as I am so busy then.  I did get some needed items and I will be doing some additional shopping prior to the end of the month as there are a few additional items I would like to get if I can find a good deal on them. 

[ses]

three birds and a bat...and a giant grasshopper.  These are the "gifts" I found on the deck this morning.  I guess they are giving their opinion of the cheap cat food.

I have been to the bank for a savings deposit and the other bank for some "walking around" cash, visited Walmart and Safeway then got my monthly fill of gasoline.  I planned to stop at the courthouse to pay property tax but I didn't get there before it closed for lunch, and it is too hot to go back out this afternoon.  There is always tomorrow.

As soon as I finish hauling in the rest of the shopping I am going to get out the checkbook and do a deep analysis of this last month. I think it will be OK. I really monitored my spending closely. Besides it is too hot to shop if I don't have to.     

[moneysquirrel]

The end of July was a lot of spending as I tried to get a lot of things done before returning to school.  

August Update: 3 NSDs  

[Ombud]

Aug 4, 2016 7:28:35 GMT -5 micky said:

It's been a while since I've seen the topic but I'm gonna try a Buy Nothing August. If it isn't a necessity, I'm not spending a dime. Want to see at the end of the month how much I can save just for fun. Can't think of any "fun" things I want this month anyway, don't need any new clothes, have subscription to Netflix for video entertainment, have the beach nearby for free outing and already belong to a gym, may even get creative with cooking to see how much of my pantry I can use up and only buy the groceries I absolutely must have.

[3catslady]

August update, 1 CSD (paid all bills and got groceries), 2 NSD.

[Ombud]

$10 Kohls coupons are out! Got a cookie sheet for 42c after stopping off at Kohls on my way in this morning

[wvugurl26]

Where did you get the coupon ombud?

[Ombud]

It was mailed to me! I usually get 2 (1 to occupant & 1 to me), waiting on 2nd one.

[moneysquirrel]

August Update: 5 NSDs.   Have no idea what today will bring so this number is as of August 6th.  Back at school and most of the spend days have been school related.  Hope all ate doing well. 

[mamasita99]

Hello, YM! I'm new to this challenge, but it is desperately needed! Summer is an expensive time for us with vacations and birthdays. Then of course the back to school expenses with 2 teenagers. We already picked up the school supplies a few weeks ago, before they ran out. About $75 for my 2 girls, but that includes a few "non essentials" that my youngest snuck in. We will see how the clothes shopping goes. They know they need to mix what they already own with new stuff, not to mention it will be shorts weather for a while here.


Anyhow... gotta start somewhere!

August Update: 0 NSD

[moneysquirrel]

Welcome mamasita to this thread.  This is a process and it you have any questions please ask.  I am not here daily but do try to pop in at least weekly.  Also it takes some time to refine your spending.  All of us fall off the wagon at times but don't panic.  Just dust yourself off and climb back on.
     

[Ombud]

Welcome mamasita99 from a lurker here!

This week I only spent once and I got Planters 16 oz honey roasted peanuts for free. It showed on my Safeway app

[moneysquirrel]

August Update: 10 NSDs I have no idea what today will bring.
Have not been in the stores except for yesterday.  Heavy rains every day this week. Less than an hour north of me is where all of the flooding being shown on the news is happening.  I have not had any issues with it in my area and am hoping that this wet system continues to move away from us. 

[Ombud]

I think there's something wrong with Safeway. Yesterday I got 16 ounces of Planters nuts for free. Today I go on the app and not only is there 16 ounces of Planters nuts for free but there's also free Aquafina and free taquitos. So I got those three free items. But I got home and I got an email from Safeway that I have free Aquafina, taquitos, and peanuts, so I think there must be something wrong with their app

[countrygirl]

We went on a weeks trip in the motorhome, took DD. We spent

around $800 to $1000 I think, have to go back and take a look.

I know $300 for fuel and a fillup when we got back. By the way

9.26mpg, which isn't bad considering we ran the generator for

10 hours straight for AC and running the w/d on the way back,

included food, outings, etc.

I use Epsom salts a lot for pain in my bath water.  It's gotten

expensive, I just ordered 50 pounds from apothecary.com

for $.99 a pound.  Hope they don't think I'm using it for something

else but got tired of always being out.  Takes at least a cup or

two per tub of water, it sure does help.  We still have fresh veggies

locally and lots of stored foods here so groceries aren't bad.

All our expenses for houses are self supporting, hope to start taking

a $1000 to $2000 a month out after they are all rented to help

support us in the style we have become accustomed too!!

[countrygirl]

Bought 3 tops at Walmart, they had them on a sale rack for $1.00 each, normally $7 or so. I'm

sure they were trying to get rid of them, got bright yellow, blue and white patterned, and bright

pink, did I need them? No, but $1!!  Couldn't pass that up.

[moneysquirrel]

August Update: Lost track of numbers but had more NSDs and CSDs.  I have been staying out of stores.  Have been trying to wear what is in the closet. Especially those items that I have not worn in a while.  So far have several items to start the new donation box.  Things that must have shrunk in the dryer.   That is my story and I am sticking to it.  I think that this new donation box will have some additional items added to it as I continue trying to wear what is available.  I will be sorry to see the end of the purple skirt but since it was beginning to cut into the waist I have to let it go.  Still looks good but I got several years of wear out of it and it was uncomfortable when I wore it earlier this week. 

Will check in when I can.

[3catslady]

August update:  14 NSD, 17 CSD.

Time to start a new month.

[3catslady]

September update:  3 NSD, 1 CSD.

I got groceries and will pay the rest of the bills plus do laundry.  That should be the extent of spending for this week.

[moneysquirrel]

September Update: 2 NSDs

Picked up my makeup while the gift special was going on.  Try to only purchase my needed items at this time.  Also picked up several items at the dollar store and a quick trip for essentials at the grocery.

Will check in when I can.

[3catslady]

update, 10 NSD, 4 CSD

[moneysquirrel]

September Update: 12 NSDs and 5 CSDs 
Keeping busy and out of the stores.  Hope everyone is doing ok. 

[countrygirl]

Bought 50 pounds of potatoes for $12 the Shriners sell those and onions

here once a year.

Even if we don't eat them all we will save money on them.

[moneysquirrel]

September Update: 17NSDs and 5 CSDs


Lots going on, keeping busy and little time to shop.  Grocery and a few items today and fed the car this week.  That was the extend of this weeks spending. 

[3catslady]

finally figured out my spends.  10 CSD, 12 NSD.

[moneysquirrel]

Just checking in -- I have no idea what my numbers are.  Have not been spending except for needed items for the most part.  School is keeping me busy and this is also my active craft show time so really little time for shopping except for the needed groceries, gas and rxs.  
Hope all are well and keeping active.