2017 controlled Spend/ No Spend

[shanendoah]

Yesterday was a spend. C picked me up from work, bringing me hershey's kisses and then we picked up a Papa Murhpys pizza for dinner.
Starbucks this morning.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Feb 1-4		3	1
Feb 5-11	2	1	1	3
Feb 12-18	1	1		1
Feb 19-25
Feb 26-28
Total	3	5	2	4
Goal	<6			>6

Starbucks: 6 (goal <10)

[shanendoah]

Starbucks only yesterday.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Feb 1-4		3	1
Feb 5-11	2	1	1	3
Feb 12-18	1	1	1	1
Feb 19-25
Feb 26-28
Total	3	5	3	4
Goal	<6			>6

Starbucks: 6 (goal <10)

[shanendoah]

Yesterday was a no spend, though honestly, if I hadn't brought left over pizza (from our Valentine's Day dinner) for lunch yesterday, it would have been a spend. Spent 75% of my day yesterday dealing with literal Nazi propaganda posters that had been posted on our building - well, I actually spent very little time dealing with the posters, I spent most of the time dealing with the fall out helping faculty, staff, and students manage their responses and channeling the need to "do something" in a productive manner. I needed grease/comfort food for lunch yesterday.
I started today with a Starbucks

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Feb 1-4		3	1
Feb 5-11	2	1	1	3
Feb 12-18	1	1	1	2
Feb 19-25
Feb 26-28
Total	3	5	3	5
Goal	<6			>6

Starbucks: 7 (goal <10)

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 15 NSDs 3 CSDs

Only purchases this week was Rx for sinus and gas for the car. Those were the same day and I am counting that as CSD.  The other purchase was dinner from panara.  Part with a gc but forgot the other one at home so a spend day.  It was needed as I was feeling horrible and wanted something tasty instead of the same old soup. 

[shanendoah]

Starbucks only on Friday. Controlled spends on Saturday (groceries) and Sunday (writing group and movie with Pop Tart - both planned). 
Today should be a No Spend, as I am home with no plans to leave the house.

moneysquirrel - Sometimes you have to take care of yourself. And forgetting the one gift card from Panera just means that you'll have it to make you next purchase there less expensive.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Feb 1-4		3	1
Feb 5-11	2	1	1	3
Feb 12-18	1	2	2	2
Feb 19-25		1
Feb 26-28
Total	3	7	4	5
Goal	<6			>6

Starbucks: 7 (goal <10)

[shanendoah]

Got the no spend yesterday, even though, at 8pm last night, C asked me if I wanted him to go to the store and buy us ice cream. It was tempting, but I said no. 
I did not get starbucks this morning, so am hoping for another No Spend today. Tomorrow will be a controlled spend, as I have plans to take Pop Tart out to dinner.

One full week left, and I have already met my No Spend goal, and I am only at half of my spend allowance. I am happy with these numbers and thinking I may need to step up the game for March.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Feb 1-4		3	1
Feb 5-11	2	1	1	3
Feb 12-18	1	2	2	2
Feb 19-25		1		1
Feb 26-28
Total	3	7	4	6
Goal	<6			>6

Starbucks: 7 (goal <10)

[shanendoah]

Tuesday ended up being a spend day. 
Wednesday was a controlled spend. 
I have had a Starbucks today, but that's it so far.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Feb 1-4		3	1
Feb 5-11	2	1	1	3
Feb 12-18	1	2	2	2
Feb 19-25	1	2		1
Feb 26-28
Total	4	8	4	6
Goal	<6			>6

Starbucks: 8 (goal <10)

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 20 NSDs 4 CSDs
Filled up the car and that was the only spend so far.  I do need to get some vitamins this weekend.  Used the last one this week and need to stay on the calcium.  I have some time off next week so I am sure that I will have at least a spend day or two. 

[shanendoah]

On track for meeting all my goals.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Feb 1-4		3	1
Feb 5-11	2	1	1	3
Feb 12-18	1	2	2	2
Feb 19-25	1	3	1	2
Feb 26-28
Total	4	10	5	7
Goal	<6			>6

Starbucks: 8 (goal <10)

[shanendoah]

Last day of the month.
Yesterday was a SB only day, and today is on track for an NSD.
Fairly happy with how this month has gone.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Feb 1-4		3	1
Feb 5-11	2	1	1	3
Feb 12-18	1	2	2	2
Feb 19-25	1	3	1	2
Feb 26-28		1	1
Total	4	10	6	7
Goal	<6			>6

Starbucks: 9 (goal <10)

[shanendoah]

Final February Update: 
Goal - 6 or more No Spend Days
Actual - 8 No Spend Days

Goal - 6 or fewer Spend Days
Actual - 4 Spend Days

Goal - 10 or fewer trips to Starbucks
Actual - 9 trips to Starbucks

I am really happy with how I did in February. This may actually be the fewest spend days I have ever had in a month. I am hoping to carry some of this momentum over into March, as it is looking like it might be a bit higher stress as things start ramping up in the family legal issue.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Feb 1-4		3	1
Feb 5-11	2	1	1	3
Feb 12-18	1	2	2	2
Feb 19-25	1	3	1	2
Feb 26-28		1	1	1
Total	4	10	6	8
Goal	<6			>6

Starbucks: 9 (goal <10)

[shanendoah]

Okay, I have some time this afternoon, so here are March's goals.

Starbucks: There are 14 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the month during which I would get myself a Starbucks. So I am going to make my goal be 13 Starbucks visits or less.
I look at this and think- that's not a stretch. But then I remind myself that as recently as December, I was getting Starbucks minimum 5 times a week (which would be 23 visits to Starbucks this month), so that 13 really is a considerable cut down from what I had been doing.

Lunch on Campus: While I don't officially track it, my goal is once/week, spending $10 or less each time. I had thought about trying to get it down to once/2 weeks. Last month, I got lunch on campus 3 times. However, we're leaving the "nothing happening steady state" of our legal situation and ramping up on activity, which is stressful to me. I am trying to be realistic about my goals in relation to my stress, for for now, the goal will be 4/month (since I'm putting $20/paycheck, and I get paid 2/month). And I still won't really track it. But as long as I stay within the 1/week, 4/month guideline, it will be considered a controlled spend.

Spend Days: I love that I only had 4 spend days in February. Again, I really do think it's the fewest I've ever had. I would love to make that my new goal, but see above about stress levels and trying to be realistic. I am going to keep my goal at 6 spend days (or fewer) for March.

No Spend Days: The days I am most likely to get No Spend Days are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. There are 13 of those in the month. But I already know that I'm taking Pop Tart to see Beauty and the Beast on Sunday, 3/19, so that would take us to 12. I'd like to make my goal 12, but currently my counselor is extra busy, and I have no idea what day of the week my next appointment will be on - it could be a Tues or a Thurs. Or if I'll have a meeting with a lawyer on one of those nights, and decide I just really need to pick up a pizza for dinner. So, while I am going to increase my goal of No Spend Days from 6, it is only going to go up to 8 (which is how many I got in February), to allow room for some of these other issues.

Combined Goal: I love that in February, a full half of the days, I either spent nothing or only got Starbucks. So, I have a goal of reaching 14 days (2 full weeks) of that again. 

[shanendoah]

And so it begins - March, that is.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		1
Mar 5-11
Mar 12-18
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total		1
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 1 (goal <13)

[moneysquirrel]

February Final Update: 23 NSDS and 3 CSDs
Managed to stock up on vitamins.  Several were on sale so I got them while I was able to get them at that price.  I was only able to get one bottle of the one I needed but it was better than none.  Will keep them on my radar in case they are on sale prior to me running out again.

March Update: 1 NSD and 1 CSD
Met at friend for lunch and it was planned so  I am counting it as a CSD.  I did get a new item for the yard but had a gift card so nothing out of pocket.  Been looking for an additional one for several years now so I am happy that I found one I like.

I think that my makeup is having gift time soon.  Need to check as I definitely need to get the one item that I use daily.  Currently using one of the sample size that I got as a gift while waiting for the special.  That will be a csd once I get the item as it will be planned.  

[shanendoah]

The fact that I managed a No Spend day yesterday is kind of amazing. It was a ridiculously long day. Honestly, I only pulled it off because I had a free starbucks on my card.
Making it to Friday seems like a bigger accomplishment than it should this week. I blame it on the fact that last week I only worked two, non-consecutive (Tues & Thurs) days.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		1		1
Mar 5-11
Mar 12-18
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total		1		1
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 2 (goal <13)

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 2 NSDs and 2 CSDs
Picked up the makeup as bonus time is here. Also got a few groceries as I will be back at school and needed things to make lunch.  Would have had another CSD if I didn't decide to pick up seafood gumbo on my way home the other day.

[shanendoah]

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11				1
Mar 12-18
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total		3		2
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 3 (goal <13)

[shanendoah]

Massage yesterday (needed and planned), so a controlled spend.
I got Starbucks this morning, but with a gift card given to me by my roommate, so it doesn't count.
I am planning on buying lunch here on campus today, which falls into my once/week rule, so today should also be a controlled spend.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11		1		1
Mar 12-18
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total		4		2
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 3 (goal <13)

[shanendoah]

Got lunch on campus yesterday (as planned).
This morning, I got to Starbucks and decided the line was longer than I wanted to stand in, so just came straight to the office. I have hot chocolate.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11		2		1
Mar 12-18
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total		5		2
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 3 (goal <13)

[shanendoah]

Thanks to that line at Starbucks, yesterday was a no spend day. Going for another one today.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11		2		2
Mar 12-18
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total		5		3
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 3 (goal <13)

[moneysquirrel]

Update: 4 NSDs and 2 CSDs
Had a couple of spend days.  Had to get a new battery as the car wouldn't start yesterday.  Also discover a leaking pipe and had to have that repaired as well plus I paid the taxes.  Interest rates are so low I figured why wait plus I have to start the quarterly taxes next month. Thank goodness for my EF and sinking funds.

[shanendoah]

Two NSDs in a row! Haven't had a starbucks yet today, but I'm at work/on campus until 7p tonight, so I'm planning on getting one this afternoon.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11		2		3
Mar 12-18
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total		5		4
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 3 (goal <13)

[countrygirl2]

This is something I need to do, spent nothing today but that is rare.

[shanendoah]

Friday ended up being a Starbucks only day. Saturday was controlled spend - only grocery items. Sunday was a no spend. 
Today is a spend. On my way into work this morning, I passed a young woman (probably a freshman, she was so very young) who was throwing up in the bushes outside the student union. I asked if there was anything I could do to help her, and she asked if I could get her a bottle of water. She offered to pay me back, but I waved that off. She figured it was just nerves, as she has two finals today. I told her she needed to head into the union and sit or lie down for a bit (as she does not live on campus). Poor thing. 
And now that today is already a spend, I will ponder the possibility of swinging by the grocery store tonight and picking up some tomatoes. We didn't buy any on Saturday, but last night in talking with friends, we decided to make tacos on Tuesday, and I currently have no fresh tomatoes. I may need to change that.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11		3	1	3
Mar 12-18	1			1
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total		6	1	5
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 5 (goal <13)

[shanendoah]

countrygirl2 - I'll be honest, at first all this did was encourage to get all my spending done on as few days as possible. So if I knew I was going to spend, I'd just SPEND, but all on the same day. That's why it's so important for me to count CONTROLLED spend days as separate from spend days. Controlled means I had planned for it. Spend means it just happened. I allow some spend days because I know it will happen (like this morning with the student), but really working on mostly only spending money when I PLAN on spending money has been the biggest help this board has given me. From there, the No Spend days come a little easier, because you realize that most of the time, you have no real need to spend money every day.

[azucena]

Mar 13, 2017 11:24:56 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

Friday ended up being a Starbucks only day. Saturday was controlled spend - only grocery items. Sunday was a no spend. 
Today is a spend. On my way into work this morning, I passed a young woman (probably a freshman, she was so very young) who was throwing up in the bushes outside the student union. I asked if there was anything I could do to help her, and she asked if I could get her a bottle of water. She offered to pay me back, but I waved that off. She figured it was just nerves, as she has two finals today. I told her she needed to head into the union and sit or lie down for a bit (as she does not live on campus). Poor thing. 
And now that today is already a spend, I will ponder the possibility of swinging by the grocery store tonight and picking up some tomatoes. We didn't buy any on Saturday, but last night in talking with friends, we decided to make tacos on Tuesday, and I currently have no fresh tomatoes. I may need to change that.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11		3	1	3
Mar 12-18	1			1
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total		6	1	5
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 5 (goal <13)

This shouldn't count as a spend day. It was a lovely good deed.

I admire your courage in this difficult time. My best friend went thru a trial with her husband 2 yrs ago. He is a teacher and football coach and was accused of embezzling the booster fundraising money, about $50 over 6 yrs. I've known him for yrs, doubtful he did it. But he kept craptastic records and co-mingled funds with her pesonal acct. After 3 yrs of waiting and trial he was found not guilty. It was horrifying to watch. About once a week I'd call and have pizza delivered because I was too far to do much else. Anyway all that to say, I'm glad you are making goals and allowing them to be realistic in the face of extreme stress.

[shanendoah]

Yesterday really did end up being a spend, as I went to the grocery store (on a non-grocery store day) and bought fresh tomatoes - for making tacos tonight, which we're now not going to do - and cabbage, because the grocery store didn't have any cabbage on Saturday.
Today is on track to be a No Spend.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11		3	1	3
Mar 12-18	1			1
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total		6	1	5
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 5 (goal <13)

[shanendoah]

Yesterday was a No Spend. Today should be a controlled spend. I had a meeting at a downtown coffee shop (not a starbucks, but still in that vein), which would count as my planned Starbucks for today. Also, because I was starting the day downtown and then having to come back to campus, I chose not to pack a lunch, but for today to be the day I buy lunch on campus.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11		3	1	3
Mar 12-18	1			2
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total	1	6	1	6
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 6 (goal <13)

[shanendoah]

Controlled spend yesterday. No Starbucks this morning. Should be a No Spend day.

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11		3	1	3
Mar 12-18	1	1		2
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total	1	7	1	6
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 6 (goal <13)

[shanendoah]

No Spend yesterday. Working from home today, so no Starbucks. 

	Spend	Controlled	SB Only	No Spend
Mar 1-4		3		1
Mar 5-11		3	1	3
Mar 12-18	1	1		3
Mar 19-25
Mar 26-31
Total	1	7	1	7
Goal	<6			>8

Starbucks: 6 (goal <13)