2019 Controlled Spend/No Spend

[moneysquirrel]

Nov 30, 2019 22:05:07 GMT -5 nikiz628 said:

 I say a little because it's not a total fail- we are learning and monitoring where are money is going and that can never be a fail in my opinion. 

Moving on to December, going to try a No Spend month again! 

nikiz628 -- This is one of the most important things in my opinion to getting a handle on spending.  If you are aware of where the money is spent then you can evaluate several things.  It also helps to identify what are the needs and what are the wants.  It is the impulse items or those habits we do remotely that are sometimes the culprits.  There will be months that we "fail"but overall the awareness will eventually lead to success.  Keeping track as you have been doing is a good system and as you progress in this process you will find that things will have to be tweaked as you go.  You will find a system that works for you.  Give it time.

[shanendoah]

Had a pretty good week last week. I didn't get Starbucks last Wednesday, and instead of treats, I ordered pizza for the office. And then we went out to our favorite Chinese restaurant for dinner. I went to the grocery store twice on Friday, but because of that, managed not to have to go on Saturday.
I am babysitting tonight. I don't know exactly what I'll do for dinner, so I have an option to eat out. Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, and I almost always donate to at least one charity on that day, so have a plan for that. And given that it is December, I put gifts down for today, but the truth is, throughout the month, any Christmas (or birthday) gift spending is planned.

Last week's (planned) v actual spending:
b]Monday:[/b] (Starbucks) Starbucks
Tuesday: (----) ----
Wednesday: (Starbucks, treats) Dominos, Dinner
Thursday: (----) ----
Friday: (Groceries) Groceries
Saturday: (Groceries) ----
Sunday: (----) ----

This week's (planned) spending:
Monday: (Starbucks, Dinner, Gifts) Starbucks
Tuesday: (Charity, CostCo, Gas)
Wednesday: (----)
Thursday: (----)
Friday: (Starbucks)
Saturday: (Groceries)
Sunday: (----)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
November	(1)0 (2)2 (2)1 (2)3 (1)3	(1)1 (3)3 (3)3 (3)4 (3)2	(1)2 (2)2 (2)3 (2)0 (2)1	(Current Planned - 30 days) Current Actual - 30 days
December	(1)1 (2)	(0)0 (3)	(0)0 (2)	(Current Planned - 8 days) Current Actual - 1 day

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January	(8)6	(19)13	(4)12
February	(6)9	(13)12	(9)7
March	(8)9	(14)16	(9)6
April	(10)9	(16)14	(4)7
May	(10)13	(11)8	(10)10
June	(9)7	(12)14	(9)9
July	(9)10	(13)16	(9)5
August	(8)4	(13)18	(10)9
September	(6)7	(18)16	(6)7
October	(8)12	(14)14	(9)5
November	(8)9	(13)13	(9)8
December

[nikiz628]

Goals for 12/1-12/7

12/1- No Spend-- Accomplished! 
12/2- No Spend-- Accomplished! 
12/3- DS1 has a dr. appt in Indy, so it will be a spend day (lunch). I want to stop by IKEA again for some Christmas shopping while we are over there.   -- We had a fun family day in Indy (and DS's appt went good- it stemmed from his femur fracture last year, so getting good news was a relief for this mama). We spent $28.11 on food. And $24.31 at Target on some clearanced out Cubs shirts ($5.98 each, regularly $20 a piece!) We also spent money at IKEA, most of it was Christmas gifts so I won't count that as spending, but I did buy myself a succulent and the boys got chocolate bars at the checkout- so I will count $6.39 towards "non essential spending"- Total for the day: $58.81
12/4- No Spend. -- Accomplished! 
12/5- No Spend.-- Accomplished! I did treat myself to a nice big coffee at Starbucks while I was out running errands, but I paid with a gc I received for my bday! 
12/6-No Spend, minus budgeted bi-weekly grocery trip-- Spent $5.09 on drinks at the gas station. 
12/7- No Spend. -- Our friends invited us to go bowling with them and their kids (DS1s best friend). We spent $31.67  for a few hours of bowling and some drinks. 

Spending Tracker for December: 
12/1 $0.00
12/2 $0.00 
12/3 $58.81
12/4 $0.00
12/5 $0.00
12/6 $5.09
12/7 $31.67
12/8 
12/9
12/10
12/11
12/12
12/13
12/14
12/15
12/16
12/17
12/18
12/19
12/20
12/21
12/22
12/23
12/24
12/25
12/26
12/27
12/28
12/29
12/30
12/31

[moneysquirrel]

This has been a week of spends.  Almost finished with Christmas shopping and within budget, some medical expenses and a few other items needed for me of the house.  Mostly needs and planned for but some items were not.  

The first insurance bill came in and will be paid this coming week.  (I have four that come in December - February -- all are major expenses).  I do put these on  the CC as even a little percentage back helps.
All of you are doing well. 

[shanendoah]

BFF bought my dinner last Monday since I was babysitting for her. I did give quite a bit to charity on Tuesday. Stayed home sick on Friday, so no Starbucks. Saturday I was out briefly to pick up a new debit card (my old one is lost somewhere in my house) and bought a birthday gift for one of Pop Tart's sisters, whose birthday is next Monday. Pop Tart was in town this weekend, so I went out to lunch with her, her other mom, and two sisters on Sunday. That was very nice.  This week should be quiet, with the exception that I need to get serious about getting Christmas gifts purchased.

Last week's (planned) v actual spending:
Monday: (Starbucks, Dinner, Gifts) Starbucks
Tuesday: (Charity, CostCo, Gas) Charity, CostCo, Gas
Wednesday: (----) ----
Thursday: (----) ----
Friday: (Starbucks) ----
Saturday: (Groceries) Gifts
Sunday: (----) Pop Tart lunch

This week's (planned) spending:
Monday: (Starbucks, Gifts) Starbucks
Tuesday: (CostCo, Gas)
Wednesday: (----)
Thursday: (----)
Friday: (Starbucks)
Saturday: (Groceries)
Sunday: (Hair)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
December	(1)1 (2)3 (2)	(0)0 (3)3 (3)	(0)0 (2)1 (2)	(Current Planned - 15 days) Current Actual - 8 day

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January	(8)6	(19)13	(4)12
February	(6)9	(13)12	(9)7
March	(8)9	(14)16	(9)6
April	(10)9	(16)14	(4)7
May	(10)13	(11)8	(10)10
June	(9)7	(12)14	(9)9
July	(9)10	(13)16	(9)5
August	(8)4	(13)18	(10)9
September	(6)7	(18)16	(6)7
October	(8)12	(14)14	(9)5
November	(8)9	(13)13	(9)8
December

[nikiz628]

Goals for 12/8-12/14
12/8- No Spend. -- H had a coupon for McDonald's and brought home frappes for us before we went to volunteer at DS1s school. $4.11
12/9- No Spend. -- Accomplished! 
12/10- It's a fundraiser night for DS1's grade at our McDonalds. Will spend $ for dinner, budgeted expense. -- Accomplished. 
12/11- No Spend. -- Accomplished. 
12/12- No Spend.-- Spent $4.11 on coffee today to get me through an entire school day of elementary age Christmas shoppers. 
12/13- No Spend. -- I spent 8+ hours at DS1's school coordinating and setting up the Christmas movie night (complete with Santa) because nobody volunteered to help. It was myself, H, and two of my fellow PTO officers running the entire event. Needless to say, it kicked my butt and I caved and sent H to Taco Bell for dinner after. Spent $28.00. 
12/14- No Spend. -- Spent $4.11 on coffee at McDonalds today. 

Spending Tracker for December:
12/1 $0.00
12/2 $0.00
12/3 $58.81
12/4 $0.00
12/5 $0.00
12/6 $5.09
12/7 $31.67
12/8 $4.11
12/9 $0.00
12/10 $0.00
12/11 $0.00
12/12 $4.11
12/13 $28.00
12/14 $4.11
12/15
12/16
12/17
12/18
12/19
12/20
12/21
12/22
12/23
12/24
12/25
12/26
12/27
12/28
12/29
12/30
12/31

[shanendoah]

Got almost all of the gift shopping done on Friday. I thought about whether or not to put the Groupons on here because I paid for them out of the Paypal account, which is where the money from my side gig goes, and is not figured into our budget at all. And while we did go out to dinner on Saturday, it was also about half cost because when you're a Red Robin rewards member, you get a free burger during your birthday month. 
Yesterday I used one of the Groupons I bought to get a massage, but did need to give a tip. And then had my hair appointment.
This week, I have a couple last things that need to get bought on Amazon today (a baby gift and some cake tins). Tomorrow at CostCo I'll pick up items for the toy drive we're doing at work. Saturday (my actual birthday), we're using another of the Groupons and going to a Brazillian steakhouse for lunch. And Sunday, we are going to see the new Star Wars movie with a group of friends. The tickets were purchased a while ago, but I expect there will be snacks.

Last week's (planned) v actual spending:
Monday: (Starbucks, Gifts) Starbucks
Tuesday: (CostCo, Gas) ----
Wednesday: (----) ----
Thursday: (----) ----
Friday: (Starbucks) Starbucks, gifts
Saturday: (Groceries) Groceries, dinner, groupons
Sunday: (Hair) Hair, massage tip

This week's (planned) spending:
Monday: (Starbucks, Amazon)
Tuesday: (CostCo, Gas, Toy Drive)
Wednesday: (----)
Thursday: (----)
Friday: (Starbucks)
Saturday: (Birthday lunch, Groceries)
Sunday: (Star Wars!)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
December	(1)1 (2)3 (2)3 (2)	(0)0 (3)3 (3)2 (3)	(0)0 (2)1 (2)2 (2)	(Current Planned - 22 days) Current Actual - 15 day

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January	(8)6	(19)13	(4)12
February	(6)9	(13)12	(9)7
March	(8)9	(14)16	(9)6
April	(10)9	(16)14	(4)7
May	(10)13	(11)8	(10)10
June	(9)7	(12)14	(9)9
July	(9)10	(13)16	(9)5
August	(8)4	(13)18	(10)9
September	(6)7	(18)16	(6)7
October	(8)12	(14)14	(9)5
November	(8)9	(13)13	(9)8
December

[nikiz628]

Goals for 12/15-12/21
12/15- No Spend. -- Fail. Spent $20.38 unbudgeted. 
12/16- No Spend. - Accomplished! 
12/17- No Spend. -- Decided to join friends for dinner after DS1s Christmas program. Budgeted spending since we usually hit taco Tuesday on this day. 
12/18- No Spend. 
12/19- No Spend. 
12/20- Taking the kids to dinner and to see the Christmas lights display at the park. Budgeted spending. 
12/21- No Spend. 

Spending Tracker for December:

12/1 $0.00
12/2 $0.00
12/3 $58.81
12/4 $0.00
12/5 $0.00
12/6 $5.09
12/7 $31.67
12/8 $4.11
12/9 $0.00
12/10 $0.00
12/11 $0.00
12/12 $4.11
12/13 $28.00
12/14 $4.11
12/15 $20.38
12/16 $0.00
12/17 $0.00
12/18
12/19
12/20
12/21
12/22
12/23
12/24
12/25
12/26
12/27
12/28
12/29
12/30
12/31

[moneysquirrel]

Another spending week.  Had the plumber come over to locate and fix the leak. Had the money in the household EF and was able to pay for it.

Also insurance bill#2 came in recently.   Put that one on my CC for the points.  Have money in the sinking funds and will pay it off asap.  (whenever the bank permits me to do so.  Have to wait until it is no longer pending.)

I did pay extra on the car loan this month.  Wanted to get it below a certain threshold for this year.  Since I have some money saved for the monthly payments (at this point in my life it will all come out of savings I am just not wiping it all out at once.  Will need to supplement the amount saved for the car with other saving but not just yet.)  Major goal is to have it gone by the end of 2020.  I think that toward the end I will just bite the bullet and pull the last bit out of the saving account. 

All Christmas shopping has been completed.  I don't have a large list and our policy is not to overdo on the gifts themselves but spending time with loved ones.  Just need to wrap them.

Keep up the good work all and if I don't get the chance to get back here I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

[TheOtherMe]

I put my Medicare bill on a card for the points.  As soon as it posts, I will pay it off.

[moneysquirrel]

Still spending.  Got a few new tops at the closing sale at dressbarn ran to Walgreens as I was out of one of my vitamins and I needed to ask a question, picked up a few items at the dollar store.  We are expecting heavy rain the next two days so I plan to get everything wrapped, finish up some of the organization changes and rest.

Took the bill from the plumbers to the water department and they have adjusted the amount owed.  It will be a credit and should be close enough to pay the usual amount that I am charged.

[Blonde Granny]

I had the fire dept. here last week when an unreachable C/O detector started beeping. It was either I call them or wait until ADT decides to do it for me. So, I had the weird battery and they changed it out.

Today I had the electrician here bright and early due to half of my house not having electricity. I will forgo telling how this all happened, but in the middle of it yesterday, ATT decided to install some new network stuff and the TVs stopped working. Also yesterday Alexa (both) stopped working as did the Smart Plugs (5).

As I was sitting here late this morning, the C/O detector started beeping again. Off to Walmart to buy the stupid 123 batteries, and I stopped at the fire dept 2 miles away and asked if they could come out again. 15 minutes later here come the Marines.....Final decision, the C/O is defective and had expired. It is not however hard wired into the house or to ADT. I already had bought an expensive one that is close to the bedroom, so this old one is going in the trash. It's not supposed to be sitting on the ceiling anyway. C/O drops unlike smoke that rises.

I need an apartment.....it's getting more and more likely there will be a for sale sign next spring.

The only big bill will be the electrician and I'm guessing $150.

on ed: Just got off the phone with ADT.  They are sending someone out this afternoon to install a new one....and no cost to me.

[shanendoah]

Making note of things now, otherwise I'll forget.

Last week's (planned) v actual spending:
Monday: (Starbucks, Amazon) Starbucks, Amazon
Tuesday: (CostCo, Gas, Toy Drive) CostCo, Gas, Toy Drive
Wednesday: (----) ----
Thursday: (----) Safeway
Friday: (Starbucks) Starbucks
Saturday: (Birthday lunch, Groceries) Birthday lunch, Board Games
Sunday: (Star Wars!) ----

This week's (planned) spending:
Monday: (----)
Tuesday: (----)
Wednesday: (Dim Sum)
Thursday: (Starbucks)
Friday: (Dentist)
Saturday: (Groceries)
Sunday: (Dinner)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
December	(1)1 (2)3 (2)3 (2)2 (2)	(0)0 (3)3 (3)2 (3)3 (3)	(0)0 (2)1 (2)2 (2)2 (2)	(Current Planned - 29 days) Current Actual - 22 day

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January	(8)6	(19)13	(4)12
February	(6)9	(13)12	(9)7
March	(8)9	(14)16	(9)6
April	(10)9	(16)14	(4)7
May	(10)13	(11)8	(10)10
June	(9)7	(12)14	(9)9
July	(9)10	(13)16	(9)5
August	(8)4	(13)18	(10)9
September	(6)7	(18)16	(6)7
October	(8)12	(14)14	(9)5
November	(8)9	(13)13	(9)8
December

[TheOtherMe]

The only resolution I will make. In January I will track my Amazon spending again

[laterbloomer]

I did pretty good this year. I got all my big projects done so this year I'm ramping up my retirement savings. I'll be saving 22% of my net. For me that is really good. I will still get one or two trips in. That makes me very happy.

[moneysquirrel]

Just stopped in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah!

[nikiz628]

The choas of the holiday caught me and I kind of lost track of the last week or so re: spending/not spending. I am extending myself some grace and I am not going to stress out trying to figure out what I spent on what day lol. I will just call Decembers tracking a wash and start fresh in January- we are really excited to get some new financial goals set and hit the ground running! 

[bobosensei]

I know we are at the end of 2019, but decided to go ahead and join up with this mindset to get ahead for 2020.  I'm trying to use up groceries from the freezer for the next couple of weeks.  I learned some lessons on not freezing food I didn't like to avoid throwing it out because I end up throwing it out later after dealing with letting it thaw so I can scrape it out of the container.  Working on cooking less so I don't have as much leftover to need to freeze.

Today I'm going to cull the freezer to throw out things I don't like, and inventory what is there.  See if I can come up with a plan to use 2-3 things each week until they are gone.  My boyfriend's mother got me an Instant pot cookbook for christmas.  I'm also going to start cooking one recipe a week from there to try new things.  Hoping overall to stop the weekly pizza habit that I got into this year which followed by eating out 2-3 times during the weekend.  This will help save money and lose weight.

[moneysquirrel]

I know that she has not been active on the boards in several years but I learned yesterday that SES has died within the last few weeks.  Those of you from the old MSN board may remember her as she was very active there.  She last posted on this site in 2016 but I thought some of you may remember her.  I have kept in touch with both her and her sister on a semi-regular basis since then and heard from said sister yesterday.  

[countrygirl2]

I have been spending way to much since Thanksgiving, with the excuse was for Christmas.  Today was not good, yes, items severely discounted but spent way to much, then just ordered me cologne.

Need to put the credit card away for awhile and stop, I don't really need anything, just think I do.  This time of  year, I tend to get out of control, then need to rein in.  We have taxes, insurance, registrations all coming due by May, so its time.

[Blonde Granny]

I just issued the check to pay my HOA dues for the year. Slight increase so now it's $1044/yr. Good news is they take care of all the lawn and outside work for plants and bushes.

I escrow for this bill so it was a planned expense.

[bobosensei]

Yesterday I did go to the grocery store, but I cut down what I was going to buy after going through the freezer.  I ate something from the freezer for lunch and made my BF a sandwich from leftover prime rib.  For dinner I made prime rib soup and used the bones to make stock.  I was also able to freeze 2 quarts of stock for later.  There is more soup, but I may throw it out.  It was okay, but I am not sure if it is something I will want to eat from the freezer later on.  I have more prime rib left, and need to figure out how to use it.  I think we will use it for one more lunch meal, and maybe the rest will be frozen.  I have 4 chicken breasts to do something with today.  I may use half for chicken tortilla soup and half to cut up for lunch salads.  I also moved a piece of pork butt to the upstairs freezer to use for my New Years day meal.  I was going to get pork chops on sale, but I already have this pork  butt.

I actually didn't have much to dispose of in the freezers.  This is partially because I am not cooking like I used to, but also I put more stuff in the freezer in the winter.  I'm adding mac and cheese and green bean casserole to the freezer from my Christmas meal.

[3catslady]

Dec 28, 2019 12:24:15 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

I know that she has not been active on the boards in several years but I learned yesterday that SES has died within the last few weeks.  Those of you from the old MSN board may remember her as she was very active there.  She last posted on this site in 2016 but I thought some of you may remember her.  I have kept in touch with both her and her sister on a semi-regular basis since then and heard from said sister yesterday.  

 So sorry to hear this

[laterbloomer]

Dec 28, 2019 12:24:15 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

I know that she has not been active on the boards in several years but I learned yesterday that SES has died within the last few weeks.  Those of you from the old MSN board may remember her as she was very active there.  She last posted on this site in 2016 but I thought some of you may remember her.  I have kept in touch with both her and her sister on a semi-regular basis since then and heard from said sister yesterday.  

Was SES short for something?

[shanendoah]

Dec 28, 2019 12:24:15 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

I know that she has not been active on the boards in several years but I learned yesterday that SES has died within the last few weeks.  Those of you from the old MSN board may remember her as she was very active there.  She last posted on this site in 2016 but I thought some of you may remember her.  I have kept in touch with both her and her sister on a semi-regular basis since then and heard from said sister yesterday.  

So sad to hear. I remember her from when I joined this board forever ago. She was always so supportive. Thank you for sharing the news with us.

[shanendoah]

Today is my 10 year anniversary on WIR. I am in such a different place financially than I was when I joined. A lot of that is due to outside factors, but I can honestly say that being a member of the boards in general, and this thread in particular, has really helped me pay better attention to my money and where I am spending it.
Thinking I may change my tracking a bit for next year. Things have gotten back to enough of a routine that I am often assuming 2 NS, 3 CS, and allowing 2 Spend days each week. So not certain I need to be tracking each day and putting out the weekly detailed spend anymore. (Though it definitely helped me get back in the mindset.) Not exactly certain how I'll change things up, but I think I will be starting next week.

Last week's (planned) v actual spending:
Monday: (----) Dominoes, Walgreens
Tuesday: (----) ----
Wednesday: (Dim Sum) Dim Sum
Thursday: (Starbucks) Starbucks
Friday: (Dentist) Starbucks, CostCo
Saturday: (Groceries) ----
Sunday: (Dinner) Snacks

This week's (planned) spending:
Monday: (Starbucks) Starbucks
Tuesday: (----)
Wednesday: (----)
Thursday: (Starbucks)
Friday: (----)
Saturday: (Groceries)
Sunday: (Breakfast)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
December	(1)1 (2)3 (2)3 (2)2 (2)2 (1)	(0)0 (3)3 (3)2 (3)3 (3)3 (1)	(0)0 (2)1 (2)2 (2)2 (2)2	(Current Planned - 31 days) Current Actual - 29 days
January	(1)	(2)	(2)	(Current Planned - 5 days) Current Actual - 0 days

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January	(8)6	(19)13	(4)12
February	(6)9	(13)12	(9)7
March	(8)9	(14)16	(9)6
April	(10)9	(16)14	(4)7
May	(10)13	(11)8	(10)10
June	(9)7	(12)14	(9)9
July	(9)10	(13)16	(9)5
August	(8)4	(13)18	(10)9
September	(6)7	(18)16	(6)7
October	(8)12	(14)14	(9)5
November	(8)9	(13)13	(9)8
December

[moneysquirrel]

I think that I am done spending for 2019.  All bills are paid, have enough food on hand for the time being, enough gas in the car for any little errands I may do later today and tomorrow.  In the process of setting up and making adjustments to the 2020 spreadsheet that I track my spending on. 

My major goal for this coming year is to try to pay off the car by the end of the year.  I may have to pull a little out of savings toward the end.  Being on a fixed income means that I am making the payments out of a sinking fund anyway so it is no major issue.  I pay extra on the principal every month but I did pay a little extra this month to get the principal down to four figures.  Have already knocked four months from the original final payoff date.  


Blonde Granny -- Will you set up the 2020 thread.