2018 Controlled Spend/No Spend

[Blonde Granny]

Welcome everyone to 2018.   I'm all for making 2018 a great year for everyone.

BG

[nidena]

I forgot about this board.  I'm joining this one this year.  I tend to spend, socially, and want to curb that.  Having worked retail for so many years, I feel obligated to buy something any time I go into a store because I know every store is subject to conversion, to some degree.  So...I need to go into fewer stores.  lol.  Or...just learn to let go of that obligated feeling.  I'm taking it one day at a time.

[moneysquirrel]

Blonde Granny -- Thanks for starting the thread for us.  Appreciate it.

nidena -- Welcome to the CS/NS thread.  I am not on the boards as often as others but highly recommend it as a way to stay focused.  Anything to keep us accountable to ourselves is a win-win in my view.

I will be back again.  This was the first board I participated in and I do plan to remain somewhat active.  I joined back in 2008 on the old boards and have seen many others drop off.  Remaining somewhat active helps me keep that voice in the head -- need or want?

[Iggy aka IG]

I'm interested in joining, as I got a little off track in 2017.  I just looked at prior year's threads with this same name looking for guidelines to follow and didn't see any.  Are there any we should follow for posting purposes?

[NoNamePerson]

I was going to ask the same question Iggy aka IG. I might need to join in since I am out of control sometimes with unnecessary spending.

[moneysquirrel]

Iggy aka IG and NoNamePerson -- Welcome .

Had to look back to get the info you needed. 

Everyone decides how she wants to keep track of progress.  These were some of the suggestions posted a while back.  Had to go back a few years for the info so examples may mention 
posters from the old boards.

Here are some way to get your goals to stick:


#1. Post your numbers - just put it at the top of a post in bold and let us know how you're doin' and what you need help with



#2. Track your numbers - technically this should be #1 but you know it. If you need ideas for tracking post and ask the veterans for guidance



#3. Share your life but please keep it somewhat financially related - we know that everything influences finances especially when we're stressed, tired, excited and busy. BUT this is a financial accountability group, not a therapy session If you want to go off topic consider starting a fresh thread and posting a link so those who are interested can support you there.



For the new people there are no real set rules here, you set your own. The basic goal most if not all of us have are to keep track of the days we don't spend and hopefully by that work on saving money. Some are looking to put it into savings others to pay down debt.


For some they only count the day as a no spend day if they spend nothing at all. Others will count it if they keep their total under $5. Some count all spending others only count a certain part of their budget. For example MittenKitten personally take $400 out of the the bank in cash for everything that is not related to vehicle expenses (like gas, oil changes, insurance etc) or the house (mortgage, utilities, HOA) If I spend out of the $400 I count it as a spend day (although if it is less then $5 I usually count it as a no spend day.) You set your own rules. Any questions feel free to ask.



You can post your no spend days daily or whenever you want, just put it in bold at the top with the first number being the number you want me to record. If you are doing daily then:



Today (or yesterday) $0 Spend day


More then one day at a time:



4/31 days $0 Spend Which translates into 4 out of 31 days in July have been no spend so far. Some use the bigger number as their goal number so do 4/15 No spend Days which means they have a goal of 15 no spend days this month.

[moneysquirrel]

I don't count things like routine grocery, utility bills. gas etc.  Anything else that comes out of the regular budget will either be as spend or if it is planned a control spend.

I have been spending time at home so my totals for this month so far is NS = 0.

I have an appointment tomorrow to get my hair cut since that is a planned activity it will be a CS.

I think my oven is broken.  Hope that it will be turn into an easy and cost effective solution.  I will call my friend's son to take a look at it and hope that it is something that he can fix.  That will be a spend day as it is not planned.  

[NoNamePerson]

Thanks moneysquirrel

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 2, 2018 17:15:28 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Thanks moneysquirrel

thank you!

[TheOtherMe]

I am doing great so far because I haven't left the house.  So January 1 and 2 are NSD.

[Iggy aka IG]

Similar to TheOtherMe , I didn't leave the house yesterday so no spend. 

What I do is look at my total expenses at year end kept in an Excel spreadsheet.  I track every personal and business penny I spend.  Some are fixed expenses such as office rent, utilities and insurance as well as my part of our home mortgage, utilities, and insurance.  (I understand we can tweak certain behaviors to reduce electricity use as well as call our agent to reduce insurance costs, but that is a different subject.)

Line items I will focus on this year:

Gifts/Holidays/Birthdays/Vacation (boy was I generous last year!)
Food/HBAs - This was up an average of $100 a month last year
Entertainment (including booze!)

So far this year I've spent $1 as a tip at Starbucks.  Though I had a gift card, the person in front of me paid for my coffee. 

[TheOtherMe]

I need to create a spreadsheet where I track every penny.

Gifts is not an area I need to work on.  It's only dad who gets a gift from me.

It's eating out and impulse buys from Amazon that I need to watch.  I have to take dad to Dairy Queen on the weekends.  It is not where I would choose to spend my money.  His response when I ask if we can't go elsewhere is always "I like it there".  Okay, he wins as he is 93.  

My entertainment consists of watching sports online (don't pay extra as somebody gave me log in).  I also like to read.  I have a lifetime of books on my Kindle.

My other weakness is concerts.  I have some scheduled through May that are paid for.  

If I want to go to Colorado in 2018, I can not go to expensive concerts.  Local casino concerts cost $35 or $40.  I can afford those.

[Iggy aka IG]

TheOtherMe, I hear you.  My mom, though still in her 60's, is very set in her ways.  For instance, Applebee's is "her" place. 

[shanendoah]

Welcome everyone! This was the second thread I joined over on the old boards (after the Racers), and while I've left it, I have also come back. Right now, this is about accountability to me. But as moneysquirrel mentioned, everyone here has always had their own rules. For example, I don't count bills/mortgage/credit card payments, etc. They are scheduled to get paid the day they are scheduled to get paid and have to get paid one way or another.
What I do count are the daily decisions I make to spend or not spend. Did I get a drink from Starbucks? Do I have a copay due for a doctor visit? Did I go grocery shopping?
If I had planned to spend the money, it was a controlled spend day. If it was a day of decision, it was a spend day. I counted even a single penny, because vending machines are one of my great weaknesses.
But then last year, I found that I was putting too much stock in whether or not I got an NSD, trying to plan my spending around getting an NSD vs what actually made sense. Just because I have a counseling appointment, and therefore a copay on one day does not mean that's the best day to do a grocery store run, but I was doing that to try and get NSDs. So I switched to tracking my plan for the week and had I stuck to the plan, which has helped tremendously. But it turns out I miss counting my NSDs.
So I am adapting my tracking method again.

I post my complete plan on here, and my actual spending as well. I do this because this is what works for me. Please do not think it's a requirement of this thread to be as transparent as I am in my spending. You can post as many or as few details as you want, as long as it's working for you.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 3, 2018 10:54:38 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

TheOtherMe , I hear you.  My mom, though still in her 60's, is very set in her ways.  For instance, Applebee's is "her" place. 

Dad is 93 and will go nowhere except for Dairy Queen.  I am a vegetarian who is lactose intolerant.  It doesn't matter.  It's where I take him.  There is one item I will eat on the menu and I drink water.  

I will call that forced spending.

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 3, 2018 18:00:43 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jan 3, 2018 10:54:38 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

TheOtherMe , I hear you.  My mom, though still in her 60's, is very set in her ways.  For instance, Applebee's is "her" place. 

Dad is 93 and will go nowhere except for Dairy Queen.  I am a vegetarian who is lactose intolerant.  It doesn't matter.  It's where I take him.  There is one item I will eat on the menu and I drink water.  

I will call that forced spending.

Very kind of you to take him and spend time with him. 

[shanendoah]

Okay, trying to get my new charts down for how I want to try and track this year. I've been sick the last few days, which should mean less spending, but sadly, it's meant that when I've been at the grocery store, I haven't been thinking clearly and forgotten a thing or two, necessitating another run to the grocery store...

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7			1/0
Jan 8-14
Jan 15-21
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

So there's the monthly tracking - did I stay in plan that week, how much unplanned spending was there, and how many NS/CS days did I have. I'll add the note that I consider myself "In Plan" if my unplanned spending for the week is $50 or less. That allows for the fact that you just can't plan for everything. Now for the weekly tracking, which I'm going to try doing a bit differently this year, too.

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned			Therapy Copay	Starbucks	Starbucks	Vet Dinner out? ($40)	Starbucks Gas
Actual		QFC - $19	Plumber - $725 Therapy copay Safeway - $45	Starbucks

I am going to try and put a limit on what I am spending for planned things like groceries, costco, dinner out, etc. Not so much with dinner out, but with Groceries and CostCo (especially CostCo), I've been going in and spending and just calling it all planned, even if the plan was to get apples, almond milk, and dog food, and I walked out with 2 movies, 3 shirts, and 6 other things I didn't plan on. My dollar limit will still allow for some of that, but not all of it.
Things like Gas I put on best guess day. There's a chance I'll get gas on Saturday. That won't be considered out of plan if it's not done on the exact day I plan it for

Notes for this week: Sunday is my BFF's birthday, and I expect we will go out to dinner one night, I just don't know which. I put in ton Saturday as that seems the most likely, but it won't be considered "out of plan" if we go on Friday or Sunday.
I also pondered very heavily as whether or not to call the plumber planned or unplanned, as I knew on Sunday (and my planning week starts on Monday) that I would need to call a plumber. But this was NOT a planned house expense. This was a "my kitchen sink is backed up" and oh look, the back up isn't in any of the pipes in the house. So calling it unplanned. Necessary, but not planned. And since my budget is so tight this year, I do want to keep track of that sort of thing. 
However, due to all the random grocery shopping I've been doing, I don't think I'll need to grocery shop this weekend.

So this is my new tracking. We'll see how it works.

[nidena]

Well, I won't say there's been many "no spend" days; more like "mindful spending."  Today, not so mindful.  Snow storms are BORING!!  I went to Walgreens for a diversion, came home with ice cream and cough drops.  lol.

[Iggy aka IG]

Received a refund at the grocery store yesterday from a purchase last week.  Used that money plus an extra .06 on fresh produce.  So, 3/5 no spend days this week.

I also went to the post office last night to mail something to a client.  Since the spending I do here at the office is (usually) required, I won't count that on this thread.

$1.06 spent this week/year. 

[shanendoah]

Yesterday went as planned (yay!) with only Starbucks. Hoping for another "as planned" day today, which should also be only Starbucks, as I haven't heard anything about dinner out for BFF's birthday yet.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7		$789	1/1
Jan 8-14
Jan 15-21
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned			Therapy Copay	Starbucks	Starbucks	Vet Dinner out? ($40)	Starbucks Gas
Actual		QFC - $19	Plumber - $725 Therapy copay Safeway - $45	Starbucks

[moneysquirrel]

Jan 2, 2018 17:13:05 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

I think my oven is broken.  Hope that it will be turn into an easy and cost effective solution.  I will call my friend's son to take a look at it and hope that it is something that he can fix.  That will be a spend day as it is not planned.  

Well the oven is broken. My friend's son recommended someone and they are trying to find a part to fix it.  I am not feeling hopeful as I think my oven is so old that the parts are no longer available.  It is a double oven so the lower oven is still functioning and therefore I will have some time to get it replaced once the word comes down.  I can get by for a while using the lower oven.

As of today I have 5 NSD and 1 CSD.  My only spend day was for the appliance troubleshooting mentioned above.  I do know that I am meeting friends for lunch this week (that is planned and I will count it as a CS) and I do have at least a few monthly bills coming in this month but those I don't consider in this thread.  Only the items that I have more control over is considered.  Not looking forward to the large bill coming in this month for home insurance and the one next month for flood insurance.

[shanendoah]

The weekend went mostly as planned. We went to the movies on Saturday and out to dinner on Sunday for BFF's birthday. I paid for everyone's move in Saturday. Her wife paid for everyone's dinner on Sunday.
The vet bill was $875 - joy of both dogs being seniors and it being time for all their 3 year vaccinations. They're worth it, but between the car repair in November ($750), the plumbing work last Monday ($725), and now the vet bill, the $2500 I am going to be selling the other car for is pretty much all spoken for.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14
Jan 15-21
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned			Therapy Copay	Starbucks	Starbucks	Vet Dinner out? ($40)	Starbucks Gas
Actual		QFC - $19	Plumber - $725 Therapy copay Safeway - $45	Starbucks	Starbucks	Vet Movie - $62	Starbucks Gas

[shanendoah]

New week, new plan. And let's hope it's a less expensive week than last week, yee gads.
I start a new schedule this week, working 9 hr days Mon-Wed in order to work a 5 hour day on Fri. I am hoping to use the yoga pass I bought on living social on Friday, and also get my grocery shopping done that day, though that may get done on else where in the weekend. However, I don't need to go to CostCo this weekend, so at least that's a plus.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14
Jan 15-21
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Starbucks			Starbucks	Safeway Trader Joes	Starbucks Gas	Pop Tart visit ($40)
Actual

[Iggy aka IG]

Sorry to hear about your oven, moneysquirrel. 

Have a good visit with Pop Tart, shanendoah!!

Didn't go anywhere this weekend.  No go/No spend. 

[shanendoah]

Thanks Iggy aka IG.
Turns out, the Pop Tart visit should be way less than $40 (but I'll still keep that as the base), because she just wants to hang out at the visit house this weekend. (Visit supervisor and I both reminded her that was an option last regular visit.) So instead of wandering through the mall, or going to a movie, and spending money, we'll hang out at a house, probably watch a movie via netflix or one I bring. I'll bring some snacks. She'll likely do my hair. But is should be a nice, low key visit. Which is good.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14			/1
Jan 15-21
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Starbucks			Starbucks	Safeway Trader Joes	Starbucks Gas	Pop Tart visit ($40)
Actual	Starbucks

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 1-7  4 NSD, all others CSD
Jan 8-13  So one NSD and one CSD  will edit was week goes along



shanendoah  I like that Pop Tart does your hair.  Nice bonding time

[shanendoah]

Looking good TheOtherMe

No spend yesterday. Should be a No Spend today. Tomorrow might even be a No Spend, even with getting Starbucks because I've managed to get 2 free drinks saved up, so I can use one tomorrow.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14			1/1
Jan 15-21
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Starbucks			Starbucks	Safeway Trader Joes	Starbucks Gas	Pop Tart visit ($40)
Actual	Starbucks

[Iggy aka IG]

Had  a few errands to take care of in the big city yesterday.  However, I was smart about it.  I brought snacks to eat instead of going to a drive-thru.  And, I would have purchased fuel anyway, so I won't count that.

I did, however, buy myself an orchid plant today.  It is somewhat planned because it's part of my reward myself program as I continue to lose weight.  This was for 7 pounds gone (down 8 so far).  I chose the least expensive plant at $10+ tax, which is less than I would have spent on a treat of alcohol.

7/10 NSD

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 8-13 So one NSD and one CSD will edit was week goes along


Today ended up being a spend day.  I returned an impulse purchase and will get $100 back.  I did take myself out for breakfast and buy gas while I was in town.

I came home and bought a ticket for Jackson Galaxy from My Cat From Hell in April.  That was not planned.

[shanendoah]

I like it when things go as planned.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14			2/1
Jan 15-21
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Starbucks			Starbucks	Safeway Trader Joes	Starbucks Gas	Pop Tart visit ($40)
Actual	Starbucks