2021 Controlled Spend and No Spend

[laterbloomer]

And then there was Mother's Day, another $75.

$100 non essential spending in May

[moneysquirrel]

Things are still at a standstill for the house renos. Possible patio gutter cleaning will be done this week or the next.  Dirt fill is scheduled toward the end of the month.  New gutters not in yet for the front.

Today the car had its yearly maintance service but I have money put aside for that.  Everything else is at a standstill.  Next week will be the start of the monthly utility bills. 

Last year I started a new sheet in my spreadsheet where I am tracking my daily expenses.  Definitely keeping me aware of the outflow.  I am on the computer pretty much on a daily basis so it only takes a minute to update it.  Interesting to look at towards the end of the year.

[vetswife]

Today I had the car's oil changed and tires rotated.  I had a $20 coupon so that helped.  I also purchased some housecleaning items at Ace; had two $5 coupons to bring that cost down.  A total of about $93, coupon savings $30.  Then I did unplanned spending of a $4.50 cappuccino at Starbucks

[shanendoah]

Update: April 03/15 NSD, 1 spend
Managed all of 3 NSDs so far. The 1 spend is that a tree from our yard came down early Friday morning onto a neighbor's house. Luckily no one was hurt, but we did need to pay to get the tree removed from our property. I now have requests out to get estimates on taking down the two other giant trees in our back yard (likely to be in the $5-10k range) that almost certainly need to come down. We also have a request in for an arborist to come out and look at all the trees on our property (over 10) to see if any of the others need to come down. This is not what we'd been planning on using the HELOC we just took out for, but hey, we just took out a HELOC, so I at least know how we're paying for this without putting it on credit cards.

Running Totals
January 17/15 NSD, 1 Spend
February 18/15 NSD
March 17/18 NSD
April untracked

[Blonde Granny]

My landscaping is all done and all the bills paid. It looks so good and makes me happy that so many neighbors are walking by telling me how much they like it.

Now that it's early May I can get back to normal living and keep track of my spending.

[moneysquirrel]

The gutters are in.  Downsprouts will be replaced when the correct color comes in.  Ordered gray but currently have white as a temporary measure.  There is a small repair to  the siding to be done prior to me having to pay the bill.  Gutters on the patio in the back have not been cleared out as of yet.  The weather has been horrible the last two days.  Yesterday some of the area had over seven inches of rain come down within an hour or so.  Heavy wind damage this morning in other nearby areas.  I am grateful that I do not need to anywhere special on days like this.

I ran a few errands yesterday after the heavy downpour in the morning.  Managed to just complete the errands including a quick trip to the grocery and was on the way home when the next downpour started.  Only one monthly bill has come in yet.  I think most of the rest will come in within the next few days.  

[Iggy aka IG]

Congrats on the gutters, moneysquirrel.  I wish you could send some of that rain this way.

I hope everyone had a lovely Mother's Day.

I'll check in w/ MTD non-essential spending soon.  It's a doozy.  Meanwhile, I am pleased to report I set up the SEP IRA and will start contributing with this month's commission check.

[shanendoah]

Update: May 7/15 NSD, 1 spend

No spends Monday-Thursday last week, which was nice. Getting ourselves back on track, though soon we're going to have to pay to take down two more trees in our back yard before they fall. But, now we know and can build that into the plan.
Hope everyone is doing well.

Running Totals
January 17/15 NSD, 1 Spend
February 18/15 NSD
March 17/18 NSD
April untracked

[moneysquirrel]

Thanks all.  Well the bank account is really taking a hit this month.  Scheduled the last payment on the siding for today.  Since the bank is giving me nothing in interest and I had the money in my sinking funds I figured that it would be in my best finiancial interest to just pay it from my account instead of going though the company's finance policy with interest.  Tomorrow I will be getting a load of river sand delieved and spread so that will also be another hit to the account.  However, those are the last two bill bills that I expect to pay on the house this year.  I did take advantage of the 0% from Loew's for the washer and dryer that I replaced a few months ago.  Plan of getting those paid off before the end of the year which is months prior to the deadline.  And then I hope to have a few years before other major replacements are needed.  

Other then these needed repairs I am keeping a tight rein on the everyday spending.  This morning I made a quick trip to WM to get a RX.  Picked up a few other needed items and no impulse purchases.  However they didn't have some vitamins that I take.  Neithe did the two other places I checked on the way home.  Next time I am out running errands, I will look again before I look online.  

Keep up the good work all!

[TheOtherMe]

Since my money was making nothing in the "high yield" savings account, I paid cash for my car.  I totally understand.  They were trying to get me to finance at 0% for 72 months.  I don't want a car payment at all and certainly not for 72 months.  That's 6 years.

[moneysquirrel]

May 19, 2021 18:16:42 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Since my money was making nothing in the "high yield" savings account, I paid cash for my car.  I totally understand.  They were trying to get me to finance at 0% for 72 months.  I don't want a car payment at all and certainly not for 72 months.  That's 6 years.

That was my thought as well.  When I purchased my car 2.5 years ago I did finance it but for only 39 months.  Paid extra every month and paid it off in 1.5 years.  Didn't want to pull so much out of savings at one time.  In hindsight I could have reduced the time quite a bit.  I do try to cash flow items as much as possible.  Got the Loew's card when I needed the dishwasher, paid that off and a few months later the washer and dryer needed to be replaced.  Fridge was purchased after Katrina so now is almost 16 years old and my double oven is only functional in the smaller oven.  So I know that both of those items are upcoming expenses.  Now that the major house repairs have been done I will focus on repaying the 0% on the W/D while concurrently rebuiding my home repair sinking fund.  Only other home repairs are smaller ones and will check with my handman in the next month or so to see what his schedule is.  I am a spreadsheet geek and my yearly to date graph shows that 61% of my expenses have been on the house.  That percentage should start lowering for the balance of the year. 

[shanendoah]

Update: May 9/15 NSD, 1 spend

So not going to meet goal this month. We got pizza last Tuesday, on Thursday C got something on Amazon, and then we ended up doing some shopping every day (Fri-Sun) this weekend. On Thursday, I drive across the state to go see Pop Tart's school play. I drive back on Friday. Saturday might be an NSD, but Sunday I have a hair appointment, and we're having people over on Monday. Planning on a backyard BBQ for a number of our vaccinated friends. Looking forward to that.

Running Totals
January 17/15 NSD, 1 Spend
February 18/15 NSD
March 17/18 NSD
April untracked

[Iggy aka IG]

Almost month-end, and I have a few minutes so I'm checking in.

Month end non-essential spending $611.88.  This includes graduation and baby gifts, new shorts and capris for me, some new washcloths, dining out and alcohol.  Compare this to 2020 non-essential at $512.01.  Alcohol is down this year, but gifts are up by $199.

And the huge difference this year is the fully funded Roth, new SEP IRA account, and money in the EF.  

[moneysquirrel]

Keeping things pretty normal this week.  A few small purchases to get items needed but nothing expensive.  Think I have enough on hand to avoid any major purchases in the next week or so. 

Upcoming major expenses this summer:
*Car Insurance 6 month
*'Monthly payments on Washer/Dryer -- Going to try to add to the amount I normally send.  Payoff per store is September 22, my goal is December or earlier 2021.
*Annual fees: Computer Firewall Virus protection, Safety Deposit Box

[Blonde Granny]

With all the spending due to the landscaping of the front & side of the house I'm paid little attention to my spending. I just checked my 3 active credit cards and each one has a $0 balance that should carry until the end of the month.

[I'm certainly happy to see it all done and everything paid.

[vetswife]

Pretty good month with 11 no spend days.  Extra expenses included one birthday, 3 graduations but I came out okay even with that.  Next month am going out of town so will spend more.

[moneysquirrel]

May 27, 2021 8:02:14 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

With all the spending due to the landscaping of the front & side of the house I'm paid little attention to my spending. I just checked my 3 active credit cards and each one has a $0 balance that should carry until the end of the month.

[I'm certainly happy to see it all done and everything paid.

 Feel the same way but for me it was the siding, gutter cleaning and river sand.  Those are done for quite a while now.  Siding should last pass my lifetime.


Picked up some needed items when I got my RX this morning. No unexpected expenses since my last entry. Even had a little bit left over to throw into a sinking fund -- not much but every little bit adds up.

[laterbloomer]

I've bought some area rugs and raised gardening bed this month. I justified it saying I would use my allowance for the next couple of months to pay it off. So I need to do a no spend on non essentials summer.

[shanendoah]

FINAL: May 11/15 NSD, 1 spend
Goal: June 15 NSD

Had a great weekend. I loved seeing Pop Tart having fun in her school play. We'll try for a more substantial visit later this summer. We went out with friends on Saturday to a new cidery's grand opening and got food from a food truck there. Sunday we grocery shopped, and I got my hair done. Sunday I did a quick run for dog treats and ended up buying a couple Adirondack chairs for the backyard. And then we had friends over for a BBQ. It was wonderful, but a bit spendy.

And we're starting today out having two trees removed from our back yard. I am going to try for 15 NSD again this month. Otherwise, just plugging along. Hope everyone had a good weekend.


Running Totals
January 17/15 NSD, 1 Spend
February 18/15 NSD
March 17/18 NSD
April untracked
May 11/15 NSD, 1 Spend

[catsareme]

May - 10 NSD  The budget got a bit squeaky tight at the end of the month but managed to put another principal-only payment on the mortgage.  Keeping the 2022 pay-off goal in plain sight.  June is starting out spendy.  Had 40 cu yds of mulch delivered to spread at the periphery of the yard.  Once it's down it will make mowing near the fence line easier.  The gardening budget is now maxed out for this year. Happy Summer to you all!

[Iggy aka IG]

Already almost halfway through the year.  Crazy.  I'll post a mid-year update at the end of the month.  Meanwhile, I want to share the fact I've decided to go even more hardcore on slashing expenditures.  I've been sifting through online calculators and my current and post retirement budgets. Ideally I'd like to retire at 62, but that's probably unrealistic. So, I'll tighten up even more to pay off my truck and mortgage.

~Am going to try store brand lotion equivalent to my current brand for a $3.50 per bottle savings
~Just went through the pantry, fridge, and freezer to make sure I use up odds and ends
~Read articles on how to save money buying meat, and how to stretch it once it's brought home
~No more new clothes, at least for awhile
~Become strict again when it comes to avoiding fast food, donuts, and Starbucks
~And the biggie: Reduce adult beverage consumption

[moneysquirrel]

May ended calmly as no other major spending took place.  

June bills have not come in as of yet.  They should start arriving later this week.  Nothing other than some annual or semi-annual premiums are on tap foe the next couple months.  I have the money in my sinking funds for them.  And of course, continuing to pay on the w/d as I don't want to take more out os savings.  Trying to tighten the monthly budget to pull this out of my ss check so that I can built up the sinking funds a little more before the next unexpected item pops up.

Keep up the good work all!

[Blonde Granny]

Things have been going well, but a trip to the dentist this afternoon. A regular checkup will likely add a root canal to one that is already attached to a bridge. In just checking, the amount I add to my 'Personal escrow" is $1200/year for dentist work....looks like a good decision this year.

[shanendoah]

Update: June 1/15 NSD


It was all spending on little things during the week, but, with the exception of Thursday, we spent money every day last week. Trying this week to not buy stuff. We'll see how it goes.


Running Totals
January 17/15 NSD, 1 Spend
February 18/15 NSD
March 17/18 NSD
April untracked
May 11/15 NSD, 1 Spend

[nikiz628]

I really really really need to get a handle on our spending. It's out of control. This always happens when we are super busy. It's just harder for me to keep up with it, so I just spend without thought. 

[Blonde Granny]

My trip to the dentist is going to end up costing me about $15K. I have a bridge that is failing in the center portion and it just went downhill from there. My financial advisor has already been notified that I need money as my escrow account doesn't have the funds to cover it.

Some days I just can't seem to be prepared for what can and will go wrong. At least my car only has 9500 miles on it and the warranty doesn't end until 50k miles. Tires of course, are likely to be another story.

[moneysquirrel]

Blonde Granny -- Yikes on the future dental bill.  I know that it is a need but I also know how hard it is to spend money that was saved.

As for me, nothing outstanding.  June has started off slowly as most of the monthly bills won't start arriving until next week.  Have a few new RXs to pick up and another medical appointment next week.  Other than that just the usual routine.  Online craft workshop later this month but all of the expenses for that have been paid previously. 

Continuing to (re)built the sinking funds used for home repairs.

[Blonde Granny]

Money: What bothers me at this point is that I'm going to be 77 in December and I wonder when it is time to stop some of the nonsense. I had a mammogram a few weeks ago, and I am a survivor of breast cancer since 1994. Would I really have cancer treatments again at my age? All these expensive dental things done? When is it time to call it done 0h well, I'm just wondering......

I wonder about this too.....The church is constantly wanting more money.  I've given what I feel is over and above my financial situation, but it still never seems to be enough.  I did finally figure out that the church won't pay my bills and assisted living costs, so I think I'm done paying for theirs.....at some point this constant demands for more and more money need to stop.

Sheesh, I'm not in the best mood this morning....maybe another cup of coffee is necessary.

BG

[TheOtherMe]

I have made those difficult decisions about health and dental issues.  I am not doing transplants or anything that expensive.  I have survived colon cancer since 1995 and I am done with colonoscopies too.  

BG, when I was the church secretary, the church went after those who donated large sums of money.  Then the church was closed by the Synod because it was broke.  I've often wondered how the people who had donated to try to save the church felt.  There were donations of $10K to try to save it and it didn't work.

[laterbloomer]

The province opened up a bit yesterday and some in store shopping was allowed. I did not go! I'm counting that as a win 😁