2020 Controlled Spend/No Spend

[Iggy aka IG]

Stopped at the store for the first time this month last night.  Food is obviously an essential spend, but what I wanted to share here is for you folks with a kroger or City Market nearby:  Their SeaPak items are discounted to $5 a box, at least they are at our store.  Between those and BOGO teriyaki salmon, it was a successful trip last night.  Berries are 2/$5 for a small container.    And some chocolate is Buy 2 Get 1 free.     The pasta and TP aisles are still decimated.

[moneysquirrel]

Also visited the grocery this morning.  Got everything on my list and a few other items.  Topped off the car as well while I was out.  Wiped down everything and put all clothes worn into the washer.  It was perfect timing.  I got there as the store opened and was done in less than 45 minutes.  Also was able to send some money to my church.  They started online giving a while back but I never took advantage of it until today. 

Only waiting for bills to show up as I have no plans for shopping other than groceries at this time. And then only rarely when I am out of the fresh stuff like produce and dairy.

[Blonde Granny]

I was sewing this afternoon (making the binding) and my iron died. Off to Walmart (new entrance etc, and that iron was at the far back of the store.....it was all I could do, even with my cane to get back to my car. Anyway, that was $45 for a new iron and was unexpected. Only good thing was "household" is a budget category so I'm still way in the black.

[vetswife]

Have spent nothing except for bills and birthday money for DS2 and DGS3.  I'm doing some of the household things I usually pay for myself so doing well so far.

[moneysquirrel]

Blonde Granny -- I think that a new iron was a needed item.  The quilting is one of your enjoyments and fills a need.  Enjoy the little things that make you happy.

vetswife -- I am on the same track.  Only money out of the house has been bill related.

Ladies, I think I read that you two like me are widows.  We need to do the small things that bring joy to us.  We have been though some tough and sad times so anything that brings us joy is worthwhile. Seize the happiness.

[shanendoah]

Update: April 9/18 NSD

Updating just to keep myself on track. I have a calendar I am writing everything down on to help myself keep track, and yet I still sometimes forget what day it is.


Running Year
Jan 11/10 NSD
Feb 10/9 NSD, 1 spend
Mar 13/10 NSD

[Blonde Granny]

Money Squirrel: I've been a widow since Dec. 1, 2015. He died in the local VA hospital and that's the reason I volunteer there.

[moneysquirrel]

Blonde Granny -- March 2006 for me.  A few months after Katrina.  I was too young for SS.  Was able to return to teaching in the fall.  Only part time for a few years then full time.  I get a small pension and have been living on the widow's SS since then.  I will be pulling my own SS starting next month as I will be 70 later this month.  Until this virus came crashing down on us I also did a little tutoring.   My craft shows pays for the majority of my supplies.  I have always been a saver and have little trouble squeezing as much as I can out of every penny. Lifelong lessons.  While I loved teaching it is not the most well paid profession.  

[Blonde Granny]

MS: My Dh retired when we were both 51. He died when we were both 70. He had been retired for 20 years. I live on my (his SS benefit) and my VA DIV benefit. Unless the house is on fire I don't take anything from investments. House was somewhat on fire when I had to pay $8K to replace a dormer on the front of the house a few years ago.. My checking account just didn't have the funds to cover it. Thank goodness for investments.

Im doing well being retired and using  those 2 sources of income  for 5 years now and I'm now 75. House paid for, new car paid for, nice cash stash in bank accounts, so life is good.

But, I'm cautious money wise, I don't run out just to buy stuff because it's on sale and cheap.  I use YNAB faithfully every month, and I can tell to the penny how much I've spent that month whenever I want to know.  My FA just laughs.....he hasn't seen my YNAB balances for a long time....his comment the last was: Do you really spend $100/mo on clothes.? I told him no, sometimes it's more.  He hasn't asked about it again.

[vetswife]

Ordered the shoes I wear all the time from Adidas with a 30% discount.  The ones I have are getting pretty worn and they are the ones that are most comfortable on my feet.  They are expensive but worth it.  Also got some wine delivered yesterday; unnecessary but nice to have.  Other than that, staying home and trying to stay safe.

[moneysquirrel]

Just a quick stop in to say that I hope all are well.  Only spending have been on normal household monthly bills as they come in. Still waiting on a few.  

[Blonde Granny]

I bought an older oak Bernina sewing desk from a friend yesterday for $200. It's in pristine condition and is perfect for someone like me who quilts. She showed me the new sewing chair she just bought from Staples for $70 so after trying it, my bar stool will go back to the kitchen island and I'll make a stop today to get one like it, it's perfect for us short people.

The desk I was using is back in the sunroom and the TV is back on that where it belongs. I'm making some progress during this down time.

This upcoming Wednesday will be the beginning of week 7 for me, and frankly I've had about enough.

I did receive an email yesterday from my car insurance company.  They are refunding money for the months of April and June, it's not a whole lot but it makes up a little for not getting the stimulus check.

[moneysquirrel]

Broke down today and ordered a kit and a few supplies for my hobby.  Kit was on sale and I got a discount on a few of the supplies.  Had my eye on this kit for a while and will enjoy the items once they come in.  Have another item on my wish list for this month that I will order before the end of the month.
Placed an Amazon order for vitamins this week.  One I was completely out of and running low on the other.  My other ones were not listed or out of stock.  Hope these come in as promised.

Other than that I have not spent anything -- just the usual monthly bills and I have two of those coming in sometime this month.

[Iggy aka IG]

It was payday last Wednesday.  Stuck to my list of bills, groceries and supplies.  I spent $47.87 at the liquor store.  I also bought a few gift cards, but those will be used as a business tax deduction.  I bought a blender, only because our old one died.  I consider this a health purchase as I make smoothies for veggie/fruit nutrition purposes.

MTD non-essential spending $47.87

[shanendoah]

Update: April 13/18 NSD

A bit more spending last week. We got our stimulus check and made a payment on C's cousin's car. (She's having a medical issue not related to the pandemic that has made it impossible for her to work.)


Running Year
Jan 11/10 NSD
Feb 10/9 NSD, 1 spend
Mar 13/10 NSD

[Iggy aka IG]

Ahem.  Shopped enough the past few days that my bank sent me a fraud alert email and text this morning, LOL!

$66.69 Niece2 finally chose a university for the fall, so I bought some swag for DH and me to represent here at home

$499.49 Received my 2019 bonus and bought a top handle and a few other Coach items I'd been coveting and planning for the past 3 months.  They happen to be having a 30% off sale.

$20 to DH to cover my take out portion last night

$634.05 total MTD non-essential spending.

Yesterday I also bought several blends at Black Rifle Coffee Company.  Veteran owned, I highly recommend them.  I consider coffee health related for me, and a requirement to keep everyone safe around me. 

Happy weekend, everyone.

[moneysquirrel]

Paid the last of the monthly bills yesterday.  Started a target curbside list.  Nothing immediately needed but figured I would start one and when the mood strikes I will place the order.  

[moneysquirrel]

Was pleasantly surprised to find out that my DS and DDIL contacted the place I ordered my craft kit from and picked up the tab for it as a gift for my birthday.

[Iggy aka IG]

How kind of them!  Happy Birthday, moneysquirrel!

End of the month, non-essential spending tally:

$634.05 prior balance

$50 niece1 for her BD

$150 approx adopt a senior swag (Primarily gift cards, I spent more than I normally would have as it's niece2's boyfriend.)

$100 niece2 graduation cash gift

$9.99 lunch/dinner today

$5.00 Starbucks/tip earlier this week

$112-ish at the liquor store @ 10% off (wine stock up, and two different bottles of something else for 2 client friends)

$1,061.04 Total.  Stimulate the economy indeed. 

My agency also bought supplies for a volunteer event this weekend, and I tipped the window art people a little more than usual, since they had been self-quarantined.  All of these are business expenses, however.

Spending will get back to normal next month. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Busy weekend!

$33 for 2 take and bake pizzas and tip

$10 Jimmy John's Unwich and tip

$21 Liquor store

$4.41  Starbucks and tip

$5 hotel room tip

$73.41 total

Continuing to tip a bit more than usual due to the slowdown and subsequent reduction in employee's income. 

[shanendoah]

Update: April 19/18 NSD Final.  May 1/18

We are just chugging along here. I am actually pretty busy with work and not spending a lot of time on the boards. But we're good. I generally go somewhere 2x a week - once on Friday to pick up whatever food we ordered and once to go grocery shopping over the weekend. We often get Papa Murphys pizza on Tuesdays (free extra topping day), but either C or D pick that up on their way home from work. But that's pretty much my entire life right now.

I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy.


Running Year
Jan 11/10 NSD
Feb 10/9 NSD, 1 spend
Mar 13/10 NSD
Apr 19/18 NSD

[Blonde Granny]

My late DH had a heavy duty leaf blower. I tried using it and managed to carry it around until last week. I was trying to use it on the walkway to the front door and ended up dropping it. As usual, the whole situation ticked me off: As it hit the concrete, I looked up and saw a neighbor walking by, and of course, being the gentleman he is/was he continued walking, all the while looking to watch me struggle with it.

Someday his wife will be in my situation and I hope he can watch some other guy just "walk on by". Anyway, to my story. I called my handyman and asked him to find me a new lightweight battery operated leaf blower. He showed up yesterday with a Black & Decker that weighs about 5# and is battery operated. I happily paid him his $100. It is now charged and ready to go.

I wish things didn't always have to be so complicated.

[moneysquirrel]

Blonde Granny -- Sounds like that purchase was a need not a want.  

shanendoah -- Glad things are going well for you considering the times we are living in.

Iggy aka IG -- Thanks for the birthday wishes.  It was last Thursday.  

Update: Nothing has been happening for the most part.  I will be venturing out to get groceries later this week.  Last time was a month ago so I did well there.  Next week I am taking my car in for its checkup.  I also decided to apply my stimulus money to the car note.  Definitely bringing down the balance to a level that I will be comfortable to say heck to it and pull money out of savings to pay it off.  Definitely happening sooner than later as I am not earning a lot in interest in the savings.  Just didn't to hit it all at once.  Level should be comfortable very soon.  Also my craft retreat has been cancelled so the money saved for that will roll over to next year's retreat and I won't have to save as much monthly as I have been since I will have a nice cushion to start with.  Hotel and airfare have been cancelled.  Have a voucher for future flight. 

[Blonde Granny]

It was a need Money, I just couldn't handle it any more. I was in the garage early this afternoon and cleaned up the one I'm going to sell, then made sure I knew how to put the battery in the new one, and off I went. It was so easy, it did the job and all the little dust bunnies, leaves etc. in the garage was easy to get out the door. Can't wait for the old one to be gone.

[vetswife]

It's been a hectic two weeks, as DS1's wife died suddenly of a heart attack on April 19th.  There was a funeral limited to immediate family only which I, DD, and DS2 went to DFW for.  Between talking with DS1 on the phone every day and doing the basics, I haven't gotten much else done.  And of course, it is renewing all the feelings I had after DH's death, just as I was getting a bit better.  But at least I understand where DS1 is coming from and can help him somewhat.  As far as spending, I did get a tree ordered for DGD's house; 3 years after DH and I had planned to do it but better late than never, I guess.  She was thrilled with it so hope it grows well.  My garden is doing well; getting cherry tomatoes every day, so that's nice.  Otherwise, just paying bills and groceries, but there are two birthdays this month so that will be extra.

[TheOtherMe]

I am so sorry vetswife  

[NastyWoman]

TheOtherMe, I send you a PM

[NastyWoman]

I'm sorry for your family's loss vetswife

[nikiz628]

vetswife, I am sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself <3 

[Iggy aka IG]

I am so sorry, vetswife.