2019 Controlled Spend/No Spend

[3catslady]

All bills for December are paid.  Now to work on January.

[laterbloomer]

$2 for a Timmy's today. Don't judge me! I've been really good!

[shanendoah]

TheOtherMe - The utility situation SHOULD be easier than that, but apparently...
So, in our new neighborhood, there is apparently someone else who drinks the exact same type of Coke we do (Diet with Splenda) and knows the day they stock it, or something. Because while our Safeway has a spot on the shelf for it, there is never any on the shelf (or even in the back) when we are there on weekends. We need the splenda version as aspartame is a migraine trigger for C. So yesterday, on my way from Weight Watchers to BFF"s house, I drove by a different Safeway and popped in to see if they had any of our Coke. They did. I bought 6 12 packs to get us stocked back up. It's a spend, because I don't like grocery shopping on weeknights, but I'm good with that.
Also, we made definite plans for BFF & BFFIL to come to the new house for dinner next week while Grandma gets dedicated baby time, and added the possibility of going to a movie this weekend when an Auntie has volunteered to babysit. So that's being added to the plan. 
The holidays and schedules have meant that it's been like a month since I've been to their place for dinner after WW, and I don't think about missing it, but it's amazing how much of a reset it is for me to have that time hanging out with three of my favorite people.

This week's (planned) v actual spending:
Monday: (Starbucks, Counseling) Starbucks, Counseling
Tuesday: (----) ----
Wednesday: (Starbucks) Starbucks, Coke
Thursday: (Dinner Out)
Friday: (Massage Tip, CostCo, Safeway)
Saturday: (House stuff, Trader Joes, Movie?)
Sunday: (----)
Monday: (Mani/Pedi, Lunch)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
January	(1)2 (2)1 (2)1	(4)3 (5)3 (4)1	(1)1 (0)3 (2)1	(Current Planned - 21 days) Current Actual - 16 days

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

[laterbloomer]

Sigh, it's been a $100 day, $80 for Dad's birthday gift and $20 for lunch out with the boss. 

[TheOtherMe]

I'm happy that shanendoah gets to spend time with her 3 of your favorite people.

I am good about sticking to my grocery list.  I bought nothing that was not on the list today.

[shanendoah]

Quick update from last week. Then off to two hours of meetings for the day@taxpro

This week's (planned) v actual spending:
Monday: (Starbucks, Counseling) Starbucks, Counseling
Tuesday: (----) ----
Wednesday: (Starbucks) Starbucks, Coke
Thursday: (Dinner Out) ----
Friday: (Massage Tip, CostCo, Safeway) Massage Tip, CostCo, Gas, Trader Joes
Saturday: (House stuff, Trader Joes, Movie?) Movie
Sunday: (----) ----
Monday: (Mani/Pedi, Lunch) Mani/Pedi, Lunch, Starbucks

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
January	(1)2 (2)1 (2)3	(4)3 (5)3 (4)3	(1)1 (0)3 (2)2	(Current Planned - 21 days) Current Actual - 21 days

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

[shanendoah]

My mom is in town for a couple days this week to help me organize the house. Pop Tart will be in town this weekend. Plan is to get together with her, but don't know exactly what day or for what, so placed on Saturday for now.
I did some significant body damage to the car on Friday. I was parking next to a giant truck, and didn't quite realize how far out their anodized steel bumper went from the back of the truck. Really crunched the front end of the car. Body damage is super expensive to repair, so we'll probably end up doing an at fault insurance claim for it, but hoping the dealership can give and estimate today while it's in for the oil change/regular service, so we have an idea of how much more than our deductible it will be.

This week's (planned) v actual spending:

Tuesday: (Car Service, Dinner Out)
Wednesday: (Starbucks)
Thursday: (House stuff)
Friday: (Safeway)
Saturday: (House stuff, Pop Tart visit)
Sunday: (----)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
January	(1)2 (2)1 (2)3 (1)	(4)3 (5)3 (4)3 (4)	(1)1 (0)3 (2)2 (1)	(Current Planned - 27 days) Current Actual - 21 days

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

[laterbloomer]

I'm having trouble getting a no spend day in! Our new dog is a runner so I had to invest in a dog tag with out phone number on it. I put is name on one side and "I'm a runner, Please call 555 555-5555 on the other side" Then some firends came over to install my new low profile over the range microwave yesterday and had to buy $30 worth of parts.

[shanendoah]

laterbloomer - I have more than once struggled with this methodology. For a while, I would avoid going to the grocery store if that was the only shopping I was going to do that day in order to get an NSD. The problem was, groceries still needed to be bought, and then I was trying to squeeze in a grocery store run on a day that was much more busy. Or, if I had a spend, say we decided to go out to eat last minute, I'd be like, well, it's already a spend day, might as well just spend willy nilly. For a little while, because I was having a hard time getting NSDs, it was really hard for me to want to keep tracking. So what I did for a bit was just say - these are the planned expenses for the week, plus an additional $50. If I don't spend more than $50 on unplanned expenses for the week, then I am "In Plan" and give myself credit for that. And all I tracked was In Plan or Out of Plan for the week. (I've found I am NOT good at having a comprehensive plan for a full month. About one week is as far as I am realistically able to look into the future.)
I also remember back when I first started on this board, some people said "This is my budget for the month for house stuff". As long as I stay within the monthly budget for house stuff, house stuff is always a controlled spend. Nothing becomes a spend until I am over budget. Others would set thresholds for NSDs, for example, it was an NSD as long as they didn't spend more than $5. This allowed for the occasional candy bar pick me up without ruining an NSD. (I never went that way, because one of my weaknesses at the start of this journey was vending machines.) 
And some people tracked their NS & CS days together - they only had two categories, Controlled Spend (or No Spend) & Spend.
So the point is, if you're having a hard time staying motivated because you feel the need to get NSDs, and they just aren't in the cards right now, find a way to track that will help keep you motivated.

We did go out to dinner last night, but Mom paid.
We are confirmed for Pop Tart visit on Saturday. She wants to go to the mall. Mom gave me $50 for her for Christmas, so it's possible we'll just spend that, but who knows.


This week's (planned) v actual spending:

Tuesday: (Car Service, Dinner Out) Car Service
Wednesday: (Starbucks) Starbucks
Thursday: (House stuff)
Friday: (Safeway)
Saturday: (House stuff, Pop Tart visit)
Sunday: (----)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
January	(1)2 (2)1 (2)3 (1)	(4)3 (5)3 (4)3 (4)	(1)1 (0)3 (2)2 (1)	(Current Planned - 27 days) Current Actual - 21 days

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

[shanendoah]

Also, laterbloomer - pic of new dog?

[moneysquirrel]

Still have a few items from my list on the 16th to book/pay for.  Making an effort to stay away from stores have helped.The fee for the class I am taking is being paid tomorrow and I received an email that the tool that was was on back order has been shipped.  So will be paying that bill off this week as well if all is ok with it.  The check for the retreat has been sent so the only major thing left to do is book the plane ticket.  I am leaning to waiting until the middle of next month for it -- still several months before the need to fly.  That way it will be after the billing date of my CC.  
.
I have been bleeding money because of insurance premiums. Umbrella (annual), car (semi-annual) and homeowners( annual) all hit December- January.  Flood is February -- currently sitting on that one for a few more days before I put that one on the CC.  Figured that way I will at least get some points for it. Once all of these are over I will be saving a little each month for the coming ones and for next December start of the rinse and repeat.

[laterbloomer]

This is Sam the Runner

[laterbloomer]

This would be Charlie

[laterbloomer]

So now I am making the shower/bath upstairs accessible for ISO. I love him and I'm happy to do it but I don't what to be spending $500 right now!!! That's only $60 in labour! ISO is chipping in on this one!

[countrygirl2]

Our big spend months are April May.  $5k for personal ins and property taxes, about $6k for business property taxes and ins.  I hope we can pay it all.  We can pay property taxes in May and October but I would just like to get it done and over with. Then $900 for property taxes in Sept and $650 in Aug for ins, both business.  I like to pay them all at once or it feels like I'm never done.

Then pay estimated taxes, I am hoping I overpaid on est this year and may get some back or apply to next years.  Not sure kind of tried a rough est, just not sure.

[shanendoah]

Wednesday, Mom wanted to buy us a new vacuum at CostCo, so we just did a full CostCo run.
Yesterday, it was all work around the house. Mom did full clean of our kitchen (which we've been in for only a month), and at dinner time was like "lets go out so you don't mess up my clean kitchen", so we went out for burgers. But I still called that controlled, since we didn't pay for dinner out on Tuesday.

I don't know what today is going to look like. It might just be a planned quick run to Safeway, or I might get an afternoon Starbucks or something else. I have to go sign the open adoption agreement for Pop Tart this afternoon, and it's just hard. I know I am doing the right thing for her, and that's why I am doing it, but its still hard. And I know a hot chocolate or chai won't make it any easier, but it's still one of my coping mechanisms. 
And then, I'll have a visit with her tomorrow morning, and I seriously don't know right now if that makes this easier or harder.


This week's (planned) v actual spending:

Tuesday: (Car Service, Dinner Out) Car Service
Wednesday: (Starbucks) Starbucks, CostCo
Thursday: (House stuff) Dinner Out
Friday: (Safeway)
Saturday: (House stuff, Pop Tart visit)
Sunday: (----)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
January	(1)2 (2)1 (2)3 (1)	(4)3 (5)3 (4)3 (4)2	(1)1 (0)3 (2)2 (1)1	(Current Planned - 27 days) Current Actual - 24 days

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

[TheOtherMe]

shanendoah  Yes, this is going to be hard.  Have the Starbucks or whatever to help you cope.  

Good luck when you see Pop Tart tomorrow.  

[moneysquirrel]

shanendoah -- Hope everything went ok for you this weekend.  Be kind to yourself because you have been under a lot of stress lately.

I think that I have stopped the major bleeding in my finances.  Still have a few things I have to do and have been sitting on them for a bit.  Will need to work with a few of them this week.  Money is saved for them just wanted the CC to have a little while between charges.  I know this week at least 2 of the four upcoming expenses will be placed on the card.  

I did spend some money yesterday on beading supplies but I used the money from the last few craft shows to pay for them so it did not come from my refular budget.

Hope all of you have a good week.

[shanendoah]

I did okay this weekend. I did get Starbucks on Friday, in addition to groceries. Saturday was really low key. I gave Pop Tart a $50 gift card with the money my Mom had sent for her Christmas gift (so not counted as a spend at all), and then we just got a quick breakfast at Starbucks before wandering the mall. Came home and did nothing.
Sunday was actually my emotional low day. Instead of getting up and walking the dogs, I got up and watched a couple episodes of the new Queer Eye - something that gives me an excuse to cry if I need it. I did end up craving something cheesy/savory. Instead of ordering Dominos Parmesan Bread bites, I ran to the store and got shredded cheese to make the Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix I had in the cupboard, and then some chips, salsa, and cream cheese. So an extra grocery store trip, but not super expensive, and I have biscuits, chips, and salsa.

This week's (planned) v actual spending:

Tuesday: (Car Service, Dinner Out) Car Service
Wednesday: (Starbucks) Starbucks, CostCo
Thursday: (House stuff) Dinner Out
Friday: (Safeway) Safeway, Starbucks
Saturday: (House stuff, Pop Tart visit) Pop Tart visit
Sunday: (----) Safeway

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
January	(1)2 (2)1 (2)3 (1)0	(4)3 (5)3 (4)3 (4)3	(1)1 (0)3 (2)2 (1)3	(Current Planned - 27 days) Current Actual - 27 days

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

[shanendoah]

Today is already a spend. One of my nieces is raising money for her flag team to go on a major trip. She was $30 away from her goal, so I donated $30. I am not super close with my step-sister and couldn't honestly call myself the girls' Aunt (I'm just not a presence in their lives), but I do like my step-sister and try to support the girls in ways like this. However, I don't really feel like going to Starbucks this morning, so that's one less bit of spending. However, that might be the only less bit of spending this week.

Thursday is C's BFF's daughter's 2nd birthday. I'll likely get a $25 Amazon card sent to them today. Wednesday, I have lunch with a friend planned. Friday, the furnace is getting serviced. This weekend is the Super Bowl, we have friends in town, and I have a hair appointment, so goodness knows what its going to look like.

EDITED: I forgot that we need to buy a programmable thermostat. I think we'll do that via Amazon tonight. Also, I have the couch we want in the cart over at CostCo.com, but it's back ordered. Need to finally click the buy button on that so that we eventually get it.



This week's (planned) v actual spending:
Monday: (AJs Birthday, house spending) JL Fundraiser
Tuesday: (----)
Wednesday: (Starbucks, Lunch)
Thursday: (----)
Friday: (Furnace service, Safeway)
Saturday: (Eating out?)
Sunday: (Eating out?, Hair)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
January	(1)2 (2)1 (2)3 (1)0 (2)	(4)3 (5)3 (4)3 (4)3 (2)	(1)1 (0)3 (2)2 (1)3 (0)	(Current Planned - 31 days) Current Actual - 27 days
February	(0)	(1)	(2)	(Current Planned - 3 days) Current Actual - 0 days

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January	(8)	(19)	(4)
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

[shanendoah]

Did not buy the thermostat last night. Turns out, the thermostat we have is actually a really fancy wifi thermostat, it's just not hooked up to a power source that lets it access the wifi, and it's not programmable at the terminal (you can only program it through the wifi app). We have people coming to service the furnace on Friday. They'll be able to let us know if we even have the wiring that would let the thermostat be on wifi. If we do, we're good. If we don't, we'll have to figure out the costs to make it work vs just buying a cheaper, non wifi, programmable thermostat.
The couch is also still just sitting in my cart on the CostCo site.



This week's (planned) v actual spending:
Monday: (AJs Birthday, house spending) JL Fundraiser, AJs Birthday
Tuesday: (----)
Wednesday: (Starbucks, Lunch)
Thursday: (----)
Friday: (Furnace service, Safeway)
Saturday: (Eating out?)
Sunday: (Eating out?, Hair)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
January	(1)2 (2)1 (2)3 (1)0 (2)	(4)3 (5)3 (4)3 (4)3 (2)	(1)1 (0)3 (2)2 (1)3 (0)	(Current Planned - 31 days) Current Actual - 27 days
February	(0)	(1)	(2)	(Current Planned - 3 days) Current Actual - 0 days

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January	(8)	(19)	(4)
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

[shanendoah]

C bought a steak for us this weekend, but then decided he wanted to make it with polenta, so ran to the store last night to get that - too late to make it for dinner last night. I think the steak will be dinner on Thursday.

How is everyone else doing?


This week's (planned) v actual spending:
Monday: (AJs Birthday, house spending) JL Fundraiser, AJs Birthday
Tuesday: (----) Safeway
Wednesday: (Starbucks, Lunch)
Thursday: (----)
Friday: (Furnace service, Safeway)
Saturday: (Eating out?)
Sunday: (Eating out?, Hair)

Current Month - (P)vA Running total	NS	CS&HS	Spend	Notes
January	(1)2 (2)1 (2)3 (1)0 (2)	(4)3 (5)3 (4)3 (4)3 (2)	(1)1 (0)3 (2)2 (1)3 (0)2	(Current Planned - 31 days) Current Actual - 29 days
February	(0)	(1)	(2)	(Current Planned - 3 days) Current Actual - 0 days

Year long tracking:

Month (P)vA	NS	CS/HS	Spend
January	(8)	(19)	(4)
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

[Blonde Granny]

I had a dermatologist appointment yesterday. Besides freezing off a few things he gave me an RX for some hydrocortisone cream, that was $4.40 a I had to order some specialty soap. I ordered the bars of soap from Amazon as it appears I now have (my error) a prime membership and that was another $20 for 5 bars. So, my day was definitely a spend one that was not expected.

Today I have an appointment with the attorney to go through the review of my trust and will. If everything is satisfactory, there will be another $500+ bill to pay. Oh well, it had to be done.

[moneysquirrel]

Doing ok.  One of the four upcoming expenses I mentioned in my last post was paid off today and I charged one of the other three.  Once I pay that charge off then I will take care of one of the other two. I do have the money saved for it and the other two that I am sitting on. I just don't like all of that money going out all at once even if I know that it will all go soon.  All of these expenses will go on the CC to build up my reward points.  I figure that since I have to spend that money anyway and since I pay off my CC each month that I might as well take advantage of the bank's offer of 1.5% back.  I will be cashing in those rewards for cash soon and it will go into one of my fun budgets.  

Also, I have started the habit of putting of putting a small amount of cash in an envelope to pay for the craft supplies that I need to get for projects.  Most of my purchases are less than $5 when I use a coupon and this way I can get what I need to get to finish what I am working on.  
 

[TheOtherMe]

I spent too much at Christmas and it was all on me (except for gift cards for dad to Dairy Queen).  

I've got it reigned back in now and am not spending except on needs.  I consider the monthly cleaning a need as they do a great job and they get to the things that I don't tend to do.  I'm still doing some cleaning weekly.

My car insurance and umbrella policy will hit my credit card in early February.  My tax refund will cover those if it makes it in to my bank account by payment time.  If not, it will come out of savings until the tax refund appears.

My bills for heat and water are going to be higher due to the frigid cold air we have right now, but I can't let the pipes freeze and I have to have heat.

[Blonde Granny]

Jan 30, 2019 13:30:49 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I had a dermatologist appointment yesterday. Besides freezing off a few things he gave me an RX for some hydrocortisone cream, that was $4.40 a I had to order some specialty soap. I ordered the bars of soap from Amazon as it appears I now have (my error) a prime membership and that was another $20 for 5 bars. So, my day was definitely a spend one that was not expected.

Today I have an appointment with the attorney to go through the review of my trust and will. If everything is satisfactory, there will be another $500+ bill to pay. Oh well, it had to be done.

Well, the attorney appt. was a bust.  I called this AM to confirm the appt.for 2:30 PM  got there on time, put into a conference room...tick tock, tick tock, the the mouse ran up the clock and the clock struck 3 PM.  Got up went back to receptionist, said I've been sitting here for 30 minutes and my appt. was at 2:30.  "oh my gosh".....as she got up and ran off, told me to go back to conference room.  Little while later para legal came in and asked why I was there.  Told her I had appt.....she was to review my trust and will......she didn't do it....hadn't even seen it.  So what did I want to talk with her about.  Hair catching on fire.....I told he she didn't do her job, went on a little more and told her half dozen times she didn't do her job.  Finally told there was no point to this, got up with notebook and my papers and walked out.  For this I've paid $500.  As I was walking out I told her I would  be finding a different attorney.

She can easily shove this under the rug with the receptionist as the attorney was in another room and didn't even know I was there.

[shanendoah]

Blonde Granny - that sucks. I wouldn't pay the $500. If they bill you for it, email the attorney directly and explain what happened and that they are lucky you aren't billing them for your wasted time.

[TheOtherMe]

Jan 30, 2019 18:09:13 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

Blonde Granny - that sucks. I wouldn't pay the $500. If they bill you for it, email the attorney directly and explain what happened and that they are lucky you aren't billing them for your wasted time.

This is what I would do.  No way would I pay $500 for their no show.

[Blonde Granny]

They gave me the bill on my first appointment, so I had to pay it...turns out it was for a consultation.??

I think I will email him directly (thx for the idea) tell him what happened and I want my initial payment refunded as I will not be returning to his office.

[zibazinski]

Jan 30, 2019 17:52:01 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

Jan 30, 2019 13:30:49 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I had a dermatologist appointment yesterday. Besides freezing off a few things he gave me an RX for some hydrocortisone cream, that was $4.40 a I had to order some specialty soap. I ordered the bars of soap from Amazon as it appears I now have (my error) a prime membership and that was another $20 for 5 bars. So, my day was definitely a spend one that was not expected.

Today I have an appointment with the attorney to go through the review of my trust and will. If everything is satisfactory, there will be another $500+ bill to pay. Oh well, it had to be done.

Well, the attorney appt. was a bust.  I called this AM to confirm the appt.for 2:30 PM  got there on time, put into a conference room...tick tock, tick tock, the the mouse ran up the clock and the clock struck 3 PM.  Got up went back to receptionist, said I've been sitting here for 30 minutes and my appt. was at 2:30.  "oh my gosh".....as she got up and ran off, told me to go back to conference room.  Little while later para legal came in and asked why I was there.  Told her I had appt.....she was to review my trust and will......she didn't do it....hadn't even seen it.  So what did I want to talk with her about.  Hair catching on fire.....I told he she didn't do her job, went on a little more and told her half dozen times she didn't do her job.  Finally told there was no point to this, got up with notebook and my papers and walked out.  For this I've paid $500.  As I was walking out I told her I would  be finding a different attorney.

She can easily shove this under the rug with the receptionist as the attorney was in another room and didn't even know I was there.

Should have raised your voice.