2020 Controlled Spend/No Spend

[shanendoah]

Update: December 6/16

Going with a goal of 16 NSDs again, since it's December and there will be birthday and Christmas spending. Plus, it's my last few weeks in my current job. I expect there will be some spending.
We've been doing pretty good. Last Saturday we did all of our shopping for the week in one day, so we've had a great start.

Glad to see everyone else is doing well and looking to make some changes for next year. We'll make some changes too, but not certain exactly what they'll be since my new job will be paying me $15k more per year.



Running Year
Jan 11/10 NSD
Feb 10/9 NSD, 1 spend
Mar 13/10 NSD
Apr 19/18 NSD
May 16/18 NSD
Jun 15/18 NSD, 1 spend
Jul 17/18 NSD
Aug 14/18 NSD
Sep 20/18 NSD
Oct 17/15 NSD
Nov 17/16 NSD, 1 spend

[Iggy aka IG]

Liquor store visit and last week's coffee = $32.30 MTD non-essential spending.

I put my hairdresser on hold until further notice.  She was understanding and I'm sure it's not just me. 

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.

[moneysquirrel]

Good Morning all!

Normal spending is back under control.  The few items I needed for Christmas have been purchased and paid for. 

Other info:
*I did break down and purchased the dishwasher.  A friend volunteered to pick it up and install it for me and that should be completed sometime today.  I did put that on a 0% for 6 months special but it will be paid off before then.  
*Umbrella insurance premium is paid.
*Termite retreatment and prepayment for 5 years is paid.
* Met with the collusion company about repairs to my car.  Scheduled repair for first week of January.  Just figured that them having my car over the holidays was not the best idea.  Told that it will take about 1.5 weeks for the repair itself.  Insurance will pick up 80% of a rental so will arrange for that to take place. Part of the January expenses.
*Informed delivery indicated that the property tax bill will be delivered later today. Have the money for that in the sinking funds.  My tax for that has been frozen due to my age so I expect it to be the same or similar to last year's bill.  
* Still have three of the monthly bills to come in.  At least two of them should be paid next week.  The last one won't be in until just after Christmas I think.
*Car insurance should also be in later this month.  Should get the co-vid reduction on this renewal.  I do have the money for this in sinking funds as well.
*Not planning to do any shopping except for necessaries for the rest of the month.  I do have 1 Rx to renew later this month and will need to pick up perishables as well.

Grateful that I do have enough items on hand to keep me busy and occupied.  

All of you are doing so well.  Stay safe my friends.

[Blonde Granny]

I'm so bored right now I'm thinking of doing my YNAB for 2021 now. Of course, I do have a football game to attend to in 15 minutes....Go Huskers




















11

[shanendoah]

Update: December 9/16

Did well last week. I started some Christmas/Birthday shopping on Thursday, and we got all of our weekly shopping done on Friday. We didn't leave the house on Saturday or Sunday. There will be some spending this week, as I intend to go into the office on Wednesday to clean out my office, and on Thursday I will be providing my roommate a ride to and from outpatient surgery. It's far enough away and a short enough surgery that I will be hanging out near the surgery center, which means I will almost certainly get something from Starbucks.



Running Year
Jan 11/10 NSD
Feb 10/9 NSD, 1 spend
Mar 13/10 NSD
Apr 19/18 NSD
May 16/18 NSD
Jun 15/18 NSD, 1 spend
Jul 17/18 NSD
Aug 14/18 NSD
Sep 20/18 NSD
Oct 17/15 NSD
Nov 17/16 NSD, 1 spend

[Iggy aka IG]

Payday has come and gone.  This new budgeting plan of mine is working.  I budgeted $300 for groceries, etc. and spent $286.86.  Based on the amount of proteins and produce purchased, this amount is sustainable.  DH fills in the blanks throughout the month by buying fresh produce and eggs.

I budgeted $40 for fuel which topped off my truck nicely.

I bought one Christmas gift yesterday (for my dad and his wife, could be considered essential...), went to the liquor store last night, and bought a coffee this morning, bringing my MTD non-essential spending to $163.09.  Much better than prior months. 

And I just said "good-bye" to the window painters.  That was rough.    I put it on my calendar to check in with my budget next summer to see if I can commission their services at that time.

[Blonde Granny]

Yea Iggy!!!!

[moneysquirrel]

Dec 12, 2020 11:43:32 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I'm so bored right now I'm thinking of doing my YNAB for 2021 now. Of course, I do have a football game to attend to in 15 minutes....Go Huskers
11

Blonde Granny -- I have been prepping my 2021 budget.  I have been using Excel in the past but have uploaded that spreadsheet into google sheets now and will be using that format now.  My new computer is a Chromebook and I figured that it would be better than starting my budget in Excel on the old laptop and having he laptop crash on me.  

Iggy aka IG -- Glad the new budget is working.  I find that I am constantly making little changes to mine.  Some months have different needs.  I have several sheets in that spreadsheet I reference above.  One page is simply a monthly listing of upcoming quarterly, semi-annual, and annual expenses.  Not the routine monthly stuff -- just things that I expect each month that I only pay a few times a year. Helps me not to forget that a certain bill only comes in July for example.
.  
I paid the property taxes and several of the monthly bills.  Discovered that I needed to get stamps so made that run to the post office yesterday.  I called in a Rx for pickup tomorrow at WM.  Will get a few grocery items that I need while I am there.  Plan to get there early in the morning to avoid crowds of people. 

Hope all of you continue to do well.  Have a great week and I will check in when I can.

[Iggy aka IG]

Thank you, BG and moneysquirrel.  I'm watching a Til Debt Do Us Part rerun where Gail breaks down the categories.  I then compared them to mine as I haven't done so since after the recession.  Fascinating... 

[TheOtherMe]

I wish that show was still on.  I learned a lot from her.

[Iggy aka IG]

YouTube!  I discovered the reruns a few weeks ago.  I (still) love that show...

[moneysquirrel]

I use to watch that one as well.  I have been watching a few shows on YouTube recently.  I have no streaming service and mainly have the TV on for background noise at night since I usually am doing something else at the time.  Discover that a lot of the Agatha Christie shows from BBC are there as well.  

[Blonde Granny]

I've been watching the Science channel a lot lately. It's mainly Volcanoes, icebergs, bottom of the ocean..etc....it's just nice to watch something that is interesting and quiet.

[moneysquirrel]

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!

[Blonde Granny]

I have returned the last 2 purchases from QVC and I'm determined not to spend any more money with them. Christmas day my door lock from the hall way into the garage quit working, hopefully the locksmith will be here tomorrow. It's a nuisance going from house , then outside, open garage door etc. Tuesday the plumber will be here, I'm guessing all together it's going to cost me around $500 for both jobs.

At this time, I'm just happy I have the funds to cover it. At least this has all happened in 2020 rather than 2021.......I certainly don't want to start a new year like this.

[moneysquirrel]

Good afternoon all!

Have not spent anything since before Christmas.  Think that I can go the rest of the year without spending anything other then the $25 fee at the gym.  Have not been to the gym since March and this will extend the membership two months.  Can't decide if I want to do it or not.  I won't be going to the gym until after I get the vaccine and then some.  I may just let it lapse and rejoin later.  I have been walking either in the park or at home with YouTube and doing a stretching class online when it is offered. Decisions.

On the positive note I cashed in the points on two of the three credit card that offer it.  The third will not allow me to transfer to an account at this time.  I will use the rewards to pay off a bill on that account later.  

I figured that I earned more money on credit card cash back rewards than I did in the savings/checking accounts at the same banks.  I wanted to start earning new rewards with January and will be able to do so on the two.  Will keep note of the amount at the end of the year and adjust my "records" accordingly.  

Wishing all a Happy New Year and a much better 2021.

[Blonde Granny]

I was looking at my CC earned money......Maybe I'll wait until the bills are sent before I do. But truly, there is no reason to just leave that money there.

My lock smith bill from this morning was $116 and I have no idea what the plumbing bill will be.  But, both need(ed) to be done.The plumber will be here sometime in the morning.

[vetswife]

I'll break even this month,  unexpected expenses happened but at least the month's almost over.

[moneysquirrel]

Blonde Granny -- Would you be able to start the 2021 No Spend Thread?

I did get out for lunch earlier this week which I did not expect.  Finished spending for this year but know that I am facing some home improvement projects in the coming months.  

Like a lot of you I am looking toward a better 2021.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Not going anywhere for 7 days helped not spend any money.      Finally was out and about yesterday, and went to the liquor store after work last night, and bought a coffee this morning (I used a gift card, but tipped $1 cash).  Total MTD non-essential spending $192.03.

Annual non-essential spending TK.

[Blonde Granny]

Dec 31, 2020 13:35:23 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

Blonde Granny -- Would you be able to start the 2021 No Spend Thread?

I did get out for lunch earlier this week which I did not expect.  Finished spending for this year but know that I am facing some home improvement projects in the coming months.  

Like a lot of you I am looking toward a better 2021.  

I'll update it tomorrow morning.  I spent $10 this morning for a dozen donuts at Krispy Kreme donuts for my friends.  I have a dermatology appt. this afternoon at 3 PM (Medicare covers that as does my supplement)......that will be the end of my spending for 2020....

[vetswife]

Spent gift card money at Starbucks this morning on goodies for DD, DGD2, DGS2 and myself and had a nice visit with them, and got a call from DGD1.  Also picked up groceries paid for by an HEB gift card.  Have finished my bookkeeping for the year and can't complain.  It's pouring rain here; I'll spend the rest of the day at home.  Today would have been DH's 74th birthday so it helped to get out and visit with loved ones.

[Iggy aka IG]

vetswife