2021 Controlled Spend and No Spend

[startsmart]

Jan 16, 2021 9:13:40 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

When do you get the vehicle back startsmart?

I hear you on no deliver, Uber or rental cars.  None here either.  

Yeah, I got it from the shop on the 5th but the wheels are so bad I can’t drive it far. For example, tomorrow I will drive it 3 blocks to the laundry mat because I have a month of laundry to do. Then it’ll be back to sitting in my driveway until I decide if it’s getting repaired or replaced.

My unofficial deadline for that decision is February because that’s when my car insurance and registration renews.

[startsmart]

I finally got my laundry done yesterday (except blankets/sheets) and everything but the towels is also put away. Since it was a spend day I bought groceries and then some sweaters on sale online. Every time I think I should just suck it up and walk to the grocery store, I remember that their bags rip between my car and my house and I definitely don't want that happening in the middle of town. 

14 NSD - 3 CSD

My goal is 21 NSD this month and I'm fairly sure I'll make it! 

[laterbloomer]

Holding steady, no non essential spending this week.

[shanendoah]

Update: January 9/15 NSD, 1 Spend

I'm up to 9 NSDs! This puts me on target for the month at just under half the days being NSDs. I think I may institute a 1/week ordering from Amazon limit. So often right now, we think of something we need and just order it, and then the next day think of something else we need and order it, too. I feel like we need to start an Amazon list like a grocery list, and just one day a week, order everything that is on that list. Or, look at the list and decide it can wait another week...

I made chili yesterday, so we should have food for the week, but the other habit we had at the start of the pandemic that I want to get back into is somewhat regular ordering from our favorite restaurants. One take-out night a week. 

[Blonde Granny]

I was at Joanne Fabric this morning, and they actually had the nylon large eye needle identical to what my Mom used to have. Cost $2.00 for 2 of them. I'm going to duplicate what my Mom did to a small wick basket....going to start sometime today.

[moneysquirrel]

Blonde Granny -- Did you have a coupon for Joann's?  It is one of those places I rarely shop without one.  Sounds like a great project.

I ran a quick errand to wallyworld this morning as I had an RX to get.  Picked up two other items I needed and left.  Filled the car up as well while I was out.  Except for bill paying this is the only spending I have done in several days.  

To all the others, you are doing well.  Keep up the great progress. 

[startsmart]

Blonde granny - if you have a smart phone the Joann app always has coupons in it. I, sadly, always find things on clearance that coupons won’t apply on!

Shenandoah - I make my Amazon cart a waiting list too. Started a couple years ago and got down to once a month orders. Now I rarely shop there even though it’s way more convenient than driving 30 miles to the store.

UPDATE: 16 NSD, 3 CSD so far

I am also talking to someone who might buy my truck but we are talking prices now.

[Blonde Granny]

It was only $1.99 and I didn't last long enough to look at anything else. As it turned out, the large needles didn't do what I needed or what I thought my MoM had done, so I re-did the re-do and it looks cute. Just a tiny wicker wastebasket to sit by my recliner. If I know how to post it I would.

[vetswife]

I've had 9 NS days this month; not as good as I had hoped.  Most of the spending has been controlled but I have bought a few unexpected items:  new Fitbit, as my old one died; dressy sweater on sale at Macy's; and a birthday card for a friend.

[Blonde Granny]

I have had 5 Spending Days this week other than normal spending for utilities etc. and all that is budgeted for.

[Iggy aka IG]

Was out of town last weekend and spent only $10 for a tip.

Total MTD non-essential spending $143.94.

[startsmart]

Decided to stay in today and watch the festivities so that’s 17 NSD and 3 CSD. I did make cupcakes and shared them with my neighbor. 

Next week I finally have an appointment to get my hair cut so I may try to have just one spend day until then. A few bills will get paid this week (cell, internet, car insurance) but those are all on autopay.

[Blonde Granny]

I called QVC tonight to check on 2 returns....They refunded both on the spot and I am now $225 richer. One of my goals for this year is to stop buying from QVC....so far so good!!!

[startsmart]

As predicted, I have become the most boring person ever this month. No way to leave town is starting to get very boring and I need to make decisions about this dang truck. 

I am slowly getting things done at home and signed 3 new clients this month so work continues all around. 

[laterbloomer]

I've been holding strong! Still no spending, on anything, not just non essentials.

[startsmart]

New plan is to go all weekend without spending because it looks like I’m buying a car next week.

[buystoys]

We;re over budget for this month.  It's because I didn't have enough in for DH's partials.  Our policy changed and they don't cover anything this year where they covered 50% of them last year.  I have more in for dental next month, so we should be back on track again.  Of course, my implant won't be started until April and I don't think I put enough in for it.  We'll have to see.

[laterbloomer]

So I finally got ISO on board with only buying the groceries we need and not everything we might ever want. He was really sold on it when I came home with a grocery bill of only $49.50. Doing it his way the bill was never under $150. He 's especially happy since he pays for groceries.

[moneysquirrel]

Jan 19, 2021 19:31:06 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

It was only $1.99 and I didn't last long enough to look at anything else. 

I still would have used a coupon.  That is just me. If I have a coupon available that is.  My closest Joann's has moved further away from me so I have only been once in the last several months.  It use to be right in the neighborhood and I was a regular.  My goal recently is to create with items I have in my stash.  My yarn supplies have been decreased a bit -- another scrap afghan and a laptop bag plus several dishcloths.  Still have some left to work with when the mood strikes.

This month has been an expensive one and with the exception of three items all of the spending has been insurance, food, monthly utilities and the deposit for the house siding project. And today I got the renewal for the flood insurance in the mail. What joy!  I will add that to the CC sometime late next week.  Except for maybe a trip to the grocery I may not leave the house next week.  If I can avoid the grocery even better.  Think I have enough on hand that I might be able to even avoid that.

[empress of self-improvement]

Jan 23, 2021 16:23:15 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

So I finally got ISO on board with only buying the groceries we need and not everything we might ever want. He was really sold on it when I came home with a grocery bill of only $49.50. Doing it his way the bill was never under $150. He 's especially happy since he pays for groceries.

I'm working on that for myself. Now that it's just me, I'm finding I'm not really interested in buying/making anything so I am at least starting to see savings there. I order out once a week and it usually lasts me 2 or 3 days.

[startsmart]

After looking at my options I’ve decided to pull money from my savings to buy the new car outright and set myself the goal of 3 months to replenish it. This week I brought in 4 new clients so that will help substantially. I still need to call my insurance company Monday and get a price quote on car insurance, I am hoping it doesn’t go up too much.

I’ll trade in the truck because they’ll give me 30% more than the guy I spoke to last week. It was good to have his number though so I could negotiate. That lowers the taxable amount a bit and saves me time and money getting new plates. Plus I don’t have to pay registration for the old truck in February or that insurance bill.

Oh and the dealership is including an extended warranty which covers most of the expensive repairs in case anything comes up after buying it. I’ll still have some regular maintenance costs but that would happen anyway.

It should all get wrapped up next week and then I need to set new no spend goals because this month has been cheap since I stayed so close to home.

[laterbloomer]

Jan 23, 2021 17:04:28 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

Jan 23, 2021 16:23:15 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

So I finally got ISO on board with only buying the groceries we need and not everything we might ever want. He was really sold on it when I came home with a grocery bill of only $49.50. Doing it his way the bill was never under $150. He 's especially happy since he pays for groceries.

I'm working on that for myself. Now that it's just me, I'm finding I'm not really interested in buying/making anything so I am at least starting to see savings there. I order out once a week and it usually lasts me 2 or 3 days.

When I'm on my own again (ISO is much older and bad health) I will use Costco premade meals often. Cheaper than take out, delicious and one meal will do me 2 or 3 suppers.

[shanendoah]

Update: January 12/15 NSD, 1 Spend

I feel so much better about last week. It was back to normal. I had one day where I bought some Girl Scout Cookies. I will be buying more this week. I am trying to support as many friends' kids as possible, since the Girl Scouts' normal distribution methods aren't available right now. Luckily, I can place orders to simply donate cookies, so I won't end up with too many in my house.
The hectic early weeks of constant "meetings" in order to actually meet people is ending, and my calendar looks like I'll have time to breath again. 
I got my first paycheck from the new job, only for one week, and without retirement contributions taken out, so I am not exactly certain what the new paycheck will look like.
I also go the last paycheck from my previous job, which was mostly a month of vacation time payout. Most of that will go into savings, but I'm going to leave some in the account to provide a buffer now that I am going back to getting paid every 2 weeks, instead of on the same two days every month. My budget had really been set up around I get paid the 10th and the 25th, so all bills get paid right around those dates, too. I don't really expect there to be an issue going to the every 2 weeks, but last time I was on an every 2 week pay schedule, our finances weren't in as good a shape, so sometimes there was an issue. So, giving myself a buffer as we adapt is my answer to that.

Glad to see everyone on the board. I hope to be around a little bit more as things calm down in the new job.

[startsmart]

Reached my goal of 21 NSD this month, which is fortunate because the rest of this week will be spendy. In addition to the new used car I have registration and insurance to pay.

[Iggy aka IG]

Liquor store visit since my last post.  $171.57 MTD non-essential spending.

[laterbloomer]

$8 on lottery tickets today. That is my whole entertainment budget for the month.

[startsmart]

Brought home the new used car today and really enjoy it so far. The local dealership sent it to get an oil change and adjust the alignment (a known issue) which is super nice. I kept the hitch from my truck and will get the title from the dealer once the check clears. In addition to buying a car I also went to the store for groceries, filled up with gas, bought lunch and got my hair done. It's weird spending money again. 


Hoping Wednesday, Friday and Sunday will be NSD and thinking about what I want to set my goal for Feb. 

[vetswife]

Ready to start February.  I had 19 no spend days in January; ended the month able to put 300 in savings.  Hoping to do as well in February.

[moneysquirrel]

I just realized that with the exception of monthly bills, annual premiums, deposit for the upcoming home repair, food, RXs and gas that while my January saw large expenditures that I only spent 2 days on non-essentials.  Included in the planned spending was a few medical items and paying for the deductible and rental car while the repairs on my car were completed.  And the bonus was that the few non-essential items that I purchased that was unplanned came to less than $20.   On the whole an expensive month but with a few items that I won't have to deal with until 2022.  Figured that over a third of my projected annual big expenses were were paid in January.  Hopefully the rest of the year's expenditures are more spread out as I projected they would/should be.  

Upcoming Expected Expenses for February:

• Usual monthly expenses
• Flood Insurance Premium (Annual)
• Supplemental Insurance (Quarterly)
• Home Improvement (if the job is completed in February -- otherwise on hold)
• Possible Craft Retreat Balance -- have a small balance due but not sure if it will be in person or zoom which will have an effect on cost.

January Final Totals:

NSDs = 19
CSDs (all scheduled/planned expenses) = 10
SDs = 2

All of you are doing well.  Keep up the good work!

[catsareme]

January 2021:  10 NSD.  Hoping to meet, if not exceed, the same in February. 

All monthly bills (utilities and insurance) are budgeted for.  No surprises just a steady drain...

I checked back on 2 returned items that had not been credited back to my VISA.  Two brief e-mails and the refunds were issued.

All coupon savings, refunds, etc. are being funneled into replenishing the savings accounts.  I also do a zero sum budget and whatever monies I have "leftover" go into the savings payback as well.  It's painful to see the current paltry balances in the savings accounts I all but emptied to accomplish the UTV payoff but paying zero interest on cost of the vehicle was the trade-off.