2018 Controlled Spend/No Spend

[shanendoah]

I got Starbucks yesterday, but I used a free drink, so No Spend! I like the way this week is going - now if I can just keep it up through the rest of the month...

Today, with my new schedule, I get off work at Noon. The plan is to take the dogs to the dog park this afternoon if the weather cooperates, and otherwise just hang out with the doggies for the afternoon. I have my first yoga class (thanks to the Living Social coupon I bought) this evening, and I think I'll swing by the grocery stores on the way home from that. If I plan things correctly, I can also get gas tonight, so I don't have to do it tomorrow, and grab snacks for the Pop Tart visit on Sunday, so I won't have to spend on Sunday.
I don't think I need a whole lot, grocery wise, but what I do need is fresh fruit/veggies, which are a little more expensive in winter, so I think the goal will be to spend $150 or less (this includes the $40 budgeted for Pop Tart visit) for both TJs and Safeway. If I manage that, it will be a controlled spend. If I go over, a spend.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14			3/1
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

[moneysquirrel]

Jan 7, 2018 15:10:40 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

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.

I did get word that the part is available and the oven will be able to be fixed.  I am glad that I don't have to buy a new appliance.  I don't cook/bake as much as I used to -- cooking for one = not cooking much. Also it will be more cost effective for me.

I have been keeping within budget for other items.  Ran to the grocery to get a few things needed as I was out of the basics.  I did get a few things at the craft store and at the dollar store as well. So today was a spend day. But I did have one CS day and 3 NS days this week so I good with that. 
 

[Iggy aka IG]

Used the Starbucks gift card today, so just $1 for the tip.  Stopping by the liquor store tonight for about $16.

8/12 NSD

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 8-14  3 NSD
                3 CSD    

Tomorrow will be lunch at Dairy Queen so FSD

[zibazinski]

I’m a failure due to this house. I sent a check to my investment guy which basically wiped out my savings and the refrigerator that I want is basically a wash with what I can get for the old one that’s too big so I’m getting it. If I can get a good price on the stackable washer and dryer, I’ll get them as well.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 12, 2018 16:44:45 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jan 7-13  3 NSD
                3 CSD    

Tomorrow will be lunch at Dairy Queen so FSD

Jan 7-13  3 NSD   3 CSD  1 SD when I bought the Jackson Galaxy ticket

[moneysquirrel]

I stayed close to home this weekend so I added 2 more NSD and 1 CSD to the  month.  I think tomorrow will be a spend day as I have several places to go and things to get.  Hopefully it will be a CS day instead, 

[shanendoah]

Last week went entirely according to plan, or better than plan. That doesn't happen very often.
Friday I went to TJs and Safeway, and got gas. I spent around $97 at the grocery stores, so well under the $150 limit I'd placed on myself. 
Saturday, I got Starbucks but used another free drink (promotions around the holidays earned me a few of them), so it turned out to be an NSD.
I had not planned as well as I thought on Friday (problem with going to the grocery store after 7p, but before eating dinner), so I did do a quick stop to get a few more items for the Pop Tart visit, but only spent around $17, for a total of $114 of the $150 limit I placed on myself. So that was good.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14	Y	$0	4/3
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				Safeway ($80) Trader Joes ($17) Gas		Safeway ($17)

[shanendoah]

This week started out with a little unplanned spending, but not much - and up to $50 unplanned still puts me "in plan" for the week.
It's going to be a busy week. We start family counseling this week, or, I do, as the first visit will just be me talking to the counselor about my view of the situation and what I am hoping for from counseling. 
I did put money in a HSA this year, so I'll grab the HSA card and pay using that.  
I've signed up for the same Friday evening yoga class, as that was really nice. I need to decide when I want to go to CostCo this weekend - Friday or Saturday, and I'll allow myself extra money to buy the BladeRunner 2049 DVD. I do need to make a list for CostCo shopping and try to stick to it as much as possible.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14	Y	$0	4/3
Jan 15-21		$10.50
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Gas Cash ($40)	Starbucks Counseling (HSA)	Starbucks		CostCo Gas		Starbucks
Actual	Gas Cash ($40) Snacks ($10.50)	Starbucks

[Iggy aka IG]

Planned purchases of groceries and a few bills (cell, office and home utilities) yesterday.  Success at the grocery store by saving 28%.  I budgeted $200, and spent $188 (I shop once a month for proteins and other menu items, and DH fills in the blanks the rest of the month with fresh produce, etc.).

[shanendoah]

Naturally, the HSA card wouldn't work for the counseling payment. I'm still going to call it a controlled spend, because I knew I was going to have to make that payment. It is what it is.
Otherwise, we're still going according to plan. I'm going to try and sit down tonight and make my CostCo shopping list. 

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14	Y	$0	4/3
Jan 15-21		$10.50	0/2
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Gas Cash ($40)	Starbucks Counseling (HSA)	Starbucks		CostCo Gas		Starbucks
Actual	Gas Cash ($40) Snacks ($10.50)	Starbucks Counseling	Starbucks

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 14-20  So far, so good.  No uncontrolled spending.  2 NSD, 3 CSD

[shanendoah]

Stay on target, stay on target...

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14	Y	$0	4/3
Jan 15-21		$10.50	1/2
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Gas Cash ($40)	Starbucks Counseling (HSA)	Starbucks		CostCo Gas		Starbucks
Actual	Gas Cash ($40) Snacks ($10.50)	Starbucks Counseling	Starbucks

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 18, 2018 18:41:25 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Jan 14-20  So far, so good.  No uncontrolled spending.  2 NSD, 3 CSD

Jan 14-20  No uncontrolled spending   

[moneysquirrel]

Stayed in most days due to the bad weather.  Had 2 CSDs and 5NSDs. 

This week have a few planned spending days -- need a grocery run and have a dentist appointment scheduled.

[Blonde Granny]

In the categories I tend to go over in each month this is the status now:

Fuel: Budgeted $100 $33 left for the month and I currently have a full tank

Food: budget $200 $122 left till end of month

Misc: budget $100 $ 43 left till end of month

Restaurants: budget $100 $35 left

[shanendoah]

Less than $100 spent at CostCo on Friday. That's a win. No Spend on Saturday, and really a No Spend on Sunday, too, as I used a free drink at Starbucks.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14	Y	$0	4/3
Jan 15-21	Y	$10.50	3/3
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Gas Cash ($40)	Starbucks Counseling (HSA)	Starbucks		CostCo Gas		Starbucks
Actual	Gas Cash ($40) Snacks ($10.50)	Starbucks Counseling	Starbucks		CostCo Gas

[shanendoah]

Okay, looking at both work and personal calendars, this looks like it should be a fairly quiet week. I'll take that. Though Sunday will be expensive with a hair appointment that includes color for both me and Pop Tart.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14	Y	$0	4/3
Jan 15-21	Y	$10.50	3/3
Jan 22-28
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Starbucks		Starbucks		Safeway Trader Joes Cash ($40) Gas		Hair
Actual	Starbucks

[Iggy aka IG]

DH and I stayed the night in the big city Saturday night since it was niece2's birthday party.  I ended up spending $45 unplanned dollars while out of town, mostly for booze for 3 and a tip.  For the hotel room, instead of buying beverages at the liquor store or utilizing expensive hotel vending machines, we stopped at our favorite grocery store.  Bought a gallon of water and 2 Powerade Zeros for $2!!!

We did use a gift card for lunch Saturday, and at Starbucks yesterday, so that saved a bit.

[countrygirl2]

We have spent a small fortune on the kids, sure did make up for all the years we didn't!

It has to stop, I have some curtains coming for me and that's the last hurrah for quite awhile.

We have car tags, insurance, and property taxes coming up, so likely $6k for that. Need to

save the rent money for the next 3 months to pay all of that. Only other thing I'm doing for

awhile is painting.  DD is going to be mad, but we just can't afford a trip to Florida this spring.

I don't want to take money out of investments for frivolous things, we can save up. 

I don't think we have any major expenses coming up for awhile so should be able to get back

on track and quit pulling out money. I have $11k tucked back from money pulled out as RMD's

but I fear that and more will go for federal and state taxes, sigh.

[Blonde Granny]

Well, I seemed to have failed this month. Text message last night telling me I had a hair appt. this morning for color. I thought it was next month and didn't budget for this large expense.

Good think a few columns are empty and if I move some funds around I can cover this.

Pay attention Granny! this is what shoots your budget sometimes.

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 23, 2018 9:29:50 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

Well, I seemed to have failed this month. Text message last night telling me I had a hair appt. this morning for color. I thought it was next month and didn't budget for this large expense.

Good think a few columns are empty and if I move some funds around I can cover this.

Pay attention Granny! this is what shoots your budget sometimes.

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuttttttttttttt hair color is way more important than most items on the spend list

[Blonde Granny]

Actually NNP, you are right. But instead of covering up my gray hair I have her add a lot more to it. I wish I had my Moms beautiful head of silver white hair instead of the crummy looking mess I have.

Anyway, it's time to get back to our actual topic of counting our spend days vs no spend. We've wandered off topic long enough.

[shanendoah]

The no spend yesterday was easy, as mostly I snack (read: look for ways to spend money) when I have extra time on my hands. Yesterday, I arrived at my desk by 7a. I spent 2 hrs preparing for my 9am meeting, and then was in a variety of meetings, or in transit between them, from 9a-4:45p.
I am grateful that today, I only have one meeting on my calendar, because I have a ton on my to do list after all of yesterday's meetings.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14	Y	$0	4/3
Jan 15-21	Y	$10.50	3/3
Jan 22-28			1/1
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Starbucks		Starbucks		Safeway Trader Joes Cash ($40) Gas		Hair
Actual	Starbucks

[countrygirl2]

Wrong place

[shanendoah]

Only Starbucks yesterday.
Today should be a No Spend.
Tomorrow, however, might end up being a big spend. 
C cannot come back and live at our current house. For now, we have friends who are willing to let him come live at their place (hoping it will be approved) right at the start, but we would really like to be in a place where we can be together. So I have to move. But, I don't want to buy a place to have the state tell me he can't live there, which means I need to have the address approved (which can take a few weeks), which adds a really odd contingency to any house I would want to buy, and in our current market likely means that another offer would be accepted over mine, especially since I will also have the contingency of selling the current house (though a competent real estate agent should be able to tell people that's not really a concern). Given all of that, buying new construction seems like it might be the best option, if I can find new construction in a location that I think will work. Because that gives me time to have the address reviewed, and plan on selling my current house.
I have found a new construction neighborhood that might work. I am going to view it tomorrow. The biggest issue is that they are close to sold out. I need to try and find out how quickly they think these last few lots will go. Do I have a week or two to wait before I put down earnest money? Or do I need to put down earnest money tomorrow, and hope the state will approve (but then only be out the earnest money if they don't)? But how much earnest money are they asking?
Anyway, it is possible I will put down earnest money on a house tomorrow. Hoping not to, but possible.

WEEK	IN PLAN?	UNPLANNED SPENDING $	NS/CS DAYS
Jan 1-7	N	$851	1/4
Jan 8-14	Y	$0	4/3
Jan 15-21	Y	$10.50	3/3
Jan 22-28			1/2
Jan 29-Feb 4

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Planned	Starbucks		Starbucks		Safeway Trader Joes Cash ($40) Gas		Hair
Actual	Starbucks		Starbucks

[Blonde Granny]

I have no advice for you, but a couple of question instead: What about Poptart...where does she stay? Would prospective neighbors if you bought or rented a different house be notified in advance of your DHs status as a registered offender? Hopefully these questions are easy answers for you.....Please know I wish you only the best going forward.

[zibazinski]

Maybe a rural setting like MPL’s?

[Iggy aka IG]

Went to STBX this AM and used a gift card.
The postage purchase later today is a business expense.
I need to buy fuel, but I'll receive points off using my grocery store value card.
While on that side of town, I'll pop in to the grocery store and pick up two free items for which I have e-coupons on my value card.

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone. 

[MJ2.0]

I did amazing this week until today - over $1000 worth of car repairs.