2022 Controlled Spend and No Spend

[Blonde Granny]

I had thought that my YNAB software was ready and organized for the first of the year......I was wrong and find small little errors frequently. As the first of Febr. year arrives, I will be taking the time to correct the items I was careless when putting YNAB together.

[laterbloomer]

ISO drinks a lot of coffee. Like 5 or 6 a day. Plus most company we have drinks coffee, and GW uses 2 pods for each of her coffees, it all adds up. We have been spending at least $75/month on coffee. A while back I bought a reusable filter for the Keurig. This week I bought a can of coffee. I did the math and this should say us $55/month. ISO is into the environment so he is willing to take the 30 extra seconds to prep his pod for his coffee.
Anyway, another no NES today. 19/31 $41 NES

[Iggy aka IG]

Other than an automatic magazine subscription renewal (which I'll remove ), I haven't spent anything since the 18th.

I confirmed there is grocery delivery where I am staying next month, so I'll save a Lyft trip.  

Total MTD non-essential spending $1,742.60.

[startsmart]

This week should be somewhat frugal until the weekend. I have a breakfast out with friends midweek but then leave for a couple days out of town. I've already paid for the hotel but will have the dog's kennel fee, fuel and food on the road. I do plan to bring snacks but the point of going out of town for a few days is to enjoy new places and that includes local restaurants. I've eaten out 2x so far in January so I'm not worried about the expense over the weekend.

Since I will be in a larger town I'm also hoping to do some shopping for things I don't have at home, maybe get a pedicure or manicure. I'm also planning to visit some free museums and take advantage of the hotel's pool and gym.

[laterbloomer]

Ok, today I did not buy lottery tickets ($10), a space heater ($50) or an adapter to turn a dumb tv into a smart tv ($50). $110 saved.
I did however make a $20 donation to my favourite charity.
19/31, $61 NES

[catsareme]

Inching along:  11/31 

No OOP expenditures today.

[laterbloomer]

20/31, $61 NES

I've been doing really well this month but I have 3 expenses I can't get around. $30 for a heater for my office in the basement, $20 (I hope?) for a bottle of melatonin, and $60 for my nails. The best I could do is put off buying them until next week, but I don't see any benefit to delayed spending. It's not true to the spirit of no spend for me.

[seriousthistime]

Just reading here, thinking I'd like to control my non-essential spending. I may start on Feb. 1.

All of my essential spending (including things like the exterminator and trash removal) is on auto-pay.  But defining "essential" is the trick. Cable TV/Internet/Phone bundle?  Extras like Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime?  

I have to think hard about this.

For those of you who have pets and use Banfield's Optimum Wellness plan, be aware that the plan works similar to insurance but it has some unique twists.  I was happy with the plan until after I had to have my dog put down due to old age/medical issues. The Optimum Wellness plan is a contract, and if you don't cancel at renewal time (which I don't recall ever getting a reminder about) it will be automatically renewed whether or not you still have your pet.  When my dog was put down, I called to cancel the monthly plan.  I found out I would be held to the contract even though I was only two months into a renewal period. They did some strange calculations about the benefits I had received during those two months, which were a lot because of her medical condition. But my non-essential spending will include payment for the plan through next June. Not a fun reminder of a sad time.

I guess I didn't read the fine print when I signed up for the plan to cover my senior rescue pup.  

[Blonde Granny]

I finally took the time yesterday to delete the old YNAB and "ring in the new".......it took me over a hour to post all the new results of the info then and make sure this time I had done it right. I also was determined that I was not going to take short cuts to make things a little easier and then hurry once again (which has caused all my problems.)

But, its time, and I am even not going to post anything until Febr. 1st,,,my lazy habits has caused too many problems.

[vetswife]

11 no spend days so far.  I do have to buy groceries this week but should wind up breaking even, at least.  I had to dip into my "slush fund" so I'll be working on getting it back up.

[catsareme]

NSD/CSD:  12/31   

Not certain if I will make my goal of 15 this month but I'm close. 

[laterbloomer]

It seemed like my furnace stopped working last night so I quickly ran out and bought 3 space heaters for $220. By the time I got back the furnace was working. I am going to return the heaters this weekend. Whew, that was close.

22/31 $61 NES

[laterbloomer]

Change of plans, I'm going to keep one of the heaters for $73. It is essential but it is unbudgetted so I'm counting it as spending.
23/31 $134 NES

[Blonde Granny]

I have still managed to control most of my spending.....I am still not posting in my YNAB as all that tends to so is cause errors when the first of the month comes.....this Febr. one seems to not make it at all.

Later bloomer: I have all my space heaters and only use one or two. My front bedroom (seldom used) is seldom used and my small office space has a small one it...I seldom use that one either. A couple of these were bought my my late DH and I had our motor home.. so I keep them now just for emergencies. Having natural gas heat in this house is a wondrous thing.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

We were gifted a two-night stay at a lodge/resort. Dinner the first night and breakfast the next morning were included. We did go out to eat for dinner the second night, and that was a $102 bill. I stayed out of the cute little shops, so I wasn't tempted to buy pretty things. I'm going to update YNAB now, and see how the month went. DH is going to the grocery store today, but that is essential spending. I don't see anything coming up tomorrow as it's just a regular work day with no other plans. I'll come back to edit this post with the month end controlled spending totals. (That last sentence is me giving myself directions   )

[laterbloomer]

ok, another change of plans. I took the $73 heater back and got one for $30. I also bought tomato paste ($5) and chicken bouillon ($3.50) at the corner store to make a late night soup for a friend with Covid. Jeans because mine are all baggy now $22, melatonin $14 and got my nails done for $65.

23/31 $201 NES

This is really really good for me. I often hit $700 -$1000 with what I call my allowance. Not letting myself say "it's only $20" made a big difference. Even today I almost bought a pkg of underwear at Costco. I just don't need them yet. I have a bunch here that have never been worn yet because I bought them a smaller size than I was at the time. I also talked myself out of going to the grocery store for things that will still be on sale Wednesday when I do my regular groceries.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Clothing: 42.50, 12 ~belts and socks for DH
Coffee: 3.50 
Restaurants: 9.78, 42.09, 102, 52.80
Lodging: 61.72, 122.64, 127.84*, 84, $13.69.  *paying the deposit for the RV park for  a late February weekend trip. 
DD's Bday gifts/dinner: 360, $33.60, 267.50, 6.90
Gas: 58.71, 77.92

So, that's $1,477.47 in non-essential spending. 

We've gone out of town every weekend:
1) to see DS#1, DS#2, and Miss Grandbaby
2) to see DD#2
3) for BIL's funeral
4) to just hangout together 

of the 31 days in January (assuming tomorrow has no non-essential spending)
Thats 20 days of not spending anything necessary. 
Hopefully February will be as successful. 

[laterbloomer]

Knee Deep in Water Chloe what part of the country are you RVing?

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 30, 2022 16:11:53 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Knee Deep in Water Chloe what part of the country are you RVing?

I live in the PNW, so for weekend trips we don't go outside of that. 

[laterbloomer]

Jan 30, 2022 16:31:55 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Jan 30, 2022 16:11:53 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Knee Deep in Water Chloe what part of the country are you RVing?

I live in the PNW, so for weekend trips we don't go outside of that. 

It seems kind of cold for camping, what do you do?

[startsmart]

15 NSD total for the month. I was thinking about getting groceries tonight because weather will be terrible the rest of the week. Decided to eat from the pantry instead and stay in. I have enough to make a few soups and plenty of pasta, salad fixings and coffee. You know, essentials.

[laterbloomer]

24/31 $201 NES for January and $532 for groceries. My goal is $500/mth for groceries. Really it's $400 but I need to take it in stages. I need to get in the groove with sales, especially the meat sales. Anyway, for me this is a big improvement.

[catsareme]

NSD/CSD:  16/31.  I made my goal for January but just barely.  

My goal is for a really frugal February.  Except for perishables I plan to stay out of the grocery store and NO on-line spending (that is going to be painful  ). 

[moneysquirrel]

January Totals:

21/31 totally no spend days (no money left the accounts for any reason)

8/31 Bill paying days -- including new battery for car and medical appointment payment

2/31 spending days -- $93.88 (including N95 masks and GC -- these two came to $72.49)

I did really well toward the end of last month.   Continuing to keep a tight rein on my spending.  Today was a combination spending day.  Paid the premium for the Flood Insurance, paid for my monthly lawn care, got my hair cut and picked up a new thicker yoga mat.  My knees needed a new mat.  A quick trip to the dollar store ended up with only 4 items -- 2 for organizing and 2 for garden.  Not too bad.  I know that I have some Rx's to pick up this week.  The first of the usual monthly bills will start arriving next week.  

Keep up the good work all!  I will check in when I can.

[laterbloomer]

This is getting easier as I go along. I'm getting my hair trimmed Saturday, that will be about $30. I'll hold off getting it coloured again until the spring. Other than that the nagging desire to buy stuff is easing up.


2/28

[startsmart]

I am snowed in and unwilling to go out in the bad weather so I should have a handful of NSD to start the month as long as I don’t shop online.

What’s helping me is staying focused on what I have (plenty) and things I’ve already bought and not used (loads) - from puzzles and paints to food, books, movies and clothes. I’m burning the nice candles, enjoying the good coffee and wearing my most comfy clothes while staying home which helps me to not feel deprived.

[catsareme]

DH and I both need our hair cut.  Shaggy is not a good look for either of us. 

While picking up perishables at the store I fell victim to a box of in-store bakery chocolate chip cookies.  I did use a $1 off coupon for them - $3 NES

I used beef, chicken and veggies from the freezer for a stir fry making enough for 2 meals.  

CSD/NSD - 2/28  



   

[nikiz628]

Feb 1-4 have been good. No spending thanks to being snowed in! 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jan 30, 2022 19:05:47 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Jan 30, 2022 16:31:55 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I live in the PNW, so for weekend trips we don't go outside of that. 

It seems kind of cold for camping, what do you do?

Um…here’s my version of camping.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

I'm proud of myself for not buying any clothes in January. DH will need a new white dress shirt this month, but my goal is to not make any other clothing purchases in February. 

3/3 controlled spend days for February!