2022 Controlled Spend and No Spend

[laterbloomer]

Feb 4, 2022 10:38:40 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

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

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

Um…here’s my version of camping.

That is beautiful. But do you ski or hike or something?

[Iggy aka IG]

Knee Deep in Water Chloe, that looks SO good right about now!

Covid found its way to our home, and I am back in the office today for a few hours.  Earlier this week, I spent $$ on an RX, and yogurt, but that's it.  However, I did achieve the following:

$204.75 Insurance co-pay refund
$20 Refund for supplies for a cancelled party due to Covid
$260 Hair appointment postponed due to Covid
_____________
$484.75 in my account.  Guess Covid is good for something.     Happy effing birthday month to me indeed.

I'll spend half the co-pay refund and put it toward tonight's grocery pickup, and the other half will be petty cash during an upcoming trip.

Zero month to date non-essential spending.  Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.

[laterbloomer]

It's that time of year again. I had to renegotiate my internet and tv package. I got $50 off and Crave TV for free. I'll take it.

4/28 No NES or NBS (Non Budgeted Spending)

[moneysquirrel]

Treated myself to breakfast yesterday after having blood work.  One that I had to fast for.  Used a GC so OOP was only $3.  Definitety worth every penny. 

[nikiz628]

Feb 1-5 complete no spends! Tomorrow should be the same

[laterbloomer]

5/28
I have a dental cleaning up. It's essential but not budgeted. Part of why I'm doing this is to find out how much the essentials I haven't budgeted come to.

[catsareme]

Stayed at home all weekend and out of on-line shops.  Hoping to convince DH to stay home on Monday and do all our errands on Tuesday.  

Received an unexpected settlement check on Saturday.  A few more $ to savings.

CSD/NSD:  4/28

[laterbloomer]

I bought a box of 100 4x6 photo papers today. We print our own pictures and trade out the ones on display at least yearly. $30

5/28 $30 NES

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

5/28 Non-essential spending

Feb 6th had lunch with my daughters. $15 total. Had facial waxing done, and that was $25. 

[seriousthistime]

I should know from past experience. I go to the Farmer's Market to get fresh veggies and get caught up in the impulse buys.  

I am scrambling to use all the veggies I bought 8 days ago. I have had to throw some of it out, it just went bad too quickly. 

I used to do a veggie delivery package every two weeks, but it was the same deal; hard to use all the veggies I got.  I still have some veggies in my freezer from my last delivery package over a year ago.

I'm finding that online ordering for curbside pickup at the grocery store is the best way for me to curb impulse buying. I don't know if they offered curbside pickup before the pandemic, but I hope they keep it going long term.  

[Iggy aka IG]

seriousthistime , I sometimes have the same issue with fresh produce.  I find if I don't add it to my meal plan, then I forget what I bought and need to use.  A few weeks ago, I had stocked up right before Covid hit our house.  Because we were eating only soup and other mild food, Saturday much to my chagrin I threw away an English cucumber, 2 portobello mushrooms, 1/3 bag baby spinach, and some fresh basil.  I despise wasting food.  Last night I cooked up the bag of cauliflower which seemed to survive.     And, yes, I agree, curbside pickup is good for impulse buying.  I like it because I can keep the order within a certain dollar amount, depending on how much I have to spend.

ETA:  I did remember to toss the bananas DH didn't get to into the freezer for a future banana bread.

ETA2:  I also took some energy to cook up the pound of ground beef I'd pulled out for supper at one point last week.  I made them into four patties and put them into a freezer bag and tossed them into the freezer once cooled.

[catsareme]

Errands for tomorrow:

First thing: Haircuts for us both.  Budgeted expense.  

A long overdue stop at the Goodwill donation station in town.  Painful reminder that I do not need to shop for more stuff.

The UPS Store to send 4 boxes to DS2 (he's paying the shipping costs). 

As of COB today:  NSD/CSD - 5/28

[catsareme]

Feb 7, 2022 15:47:37 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

seriousthistime , I sometimes have the same issue with fresh produce.  I find if I don't add it to my meal plan, then I forget what I bought and need to use.  A few weeks ago, I had stocked up right before Covid hit our house.  Because we were eating only soup and other mild food, Saturday much to my chagrin I threw away an English cucumber, 2 portobello mushrooms, 1/3 bag baby spinach, and some fresh basil.  I despise wasting food.  Last night I cooked up the bag of cauliflower which seemed to survive.     And, yes, I agree, curbside pickup is good for impulse buying.  I like it because I can keep the order within a certain dollar amount, depending on how much I have to spend.

ETA:  I did remember to toss the bananas DH didn't get to into the freezer for a future banana bread.

ETA2:  I also took some energy to cook up the pound of ground beef I'd pulled out for supper at one point last week.  I made them into four patties and put them into a freezer bag and tossed them into the freezer once cooled.

Been there, done that, more than once myself.  DH and I are trying very hard to keep food waste down.  We find if we do a meal plan, and stick to it, we eat healthier and don't end up "feeding the garbage can". 

[Iggy aka IG]

Feb 7, 2022 17:31:26 GMT -5 catsareme said:

Feb 7, 2022 15:47:37 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

seriousthistime , I sometimes have the same issue with fresh produce.  I find if I don't add it to my meal plan, then I forget what I bought and need to use.  A few weeks ago, I had stocked up right before Covid hit our house.  Because we were eating only soup and other mild food, Saturday much to my chagrin I threw away an English cucumber, 2 portobello mushrooms, 1/3 bag baby spinach, and some fresh basil.  I despise wasting food.  Last night I cooked up the bag of cauliflower which seemed to survive.     And, yes, I agree, curbside pickup is good for impulse buying.  I like it because I can keep the order within a certain dollar amount, depending on how much I have to spend.

ETA:  I did remember to toss the bananas DH didn't get to into the freezer for a future banana bread.

ETA2:  I also took some energy to cook up the pound of ground beef I'd pulled out for supper at one point last week.  I made them into four patties and put them into a freezer bag and tossed them into the freezer once cooled.

Been there, done that, more than once myself.  DH and I are trying very hard to keep food waste down.  We find if we do a meal plan, and stick to it, we eat healthier and don't end up "feeding the garbage can". 

For sure!  The primary reason is I do a major grocery shop once a month, because that's how often I receive commissions.  So, I need to remember to buy just a week's worth or so at a time, and then either DH or I can supplement throughout the rest of the month.

[startsmart]

5 NSD so far this month. Today I had to pay for a side table and a bicycle that I bought at auction but paid cash and my total was under $7. Glad I did my grocery shopping at the start of the month due to all this snow and I’m very well stocked in the kitchen.

Not planning to go out again until maybe Sunday during the game to stock up on some canned goods I need.

Currently reading a book from my library, sewing fabric I bought last year into a quilt and eating food from the pantry instead of eating out.

[nikiz628]

As of Feb 9th, we are still doing great! H did order out from a local Italian restaurant on Monday ($40) but he paid with his cash from a side job. It didn't come out of our household money or onto a CC so I am calling that a win. 

I have done ZERO online shopping this month. And my grocery trip last week was strictly only items on my list. I got 2 weeks worth of groceries and essentials for $102.00 

[moneysquirrel]

Since my last report I had several no spend days.  And the only noney that left my account was for medical copay and Rx and my monthly donation to the church.  I am expecting several of the monthly bills to hit within the next few days.  

Hoping that all of you are doing well!

[laterbloomer]

8/28
Tomorrow I'm going to get my teeth cleaned, essential but not budgeted. Saturday I finally get my hair trimmed. I'm not going to do quite as well with spending this month.

[Blonde Granny]

So far this month I'm been in tune with YNAB. If I can get to the last week of the month it will be a true success. The vet unfortunately was a total of $219 for Chelsie, but at least it had been budgeted for.

In a couple of weeks it primary Dr. time and some blood work, but that goodness for Medicare.

[catsareme]

7/28 CSD/NSD through today (9 FEB). 

Tomorrow is grocery shopping but I'm trying to keep the list of items to the loss leaders at each of the stores. 

[laterbloomer]

My deep cleaning cost $156. It's Essential but not Budgeted so for me it counts.

8/28 $186 NES/NBS

[catsareme]

Didn't quite keep to the list of loss leaders at the grocery stores but overall, we spent under $100 total including some pantry stock up.  A couple of finds in the meat manager's bin and BOGOs helped to keep the costs down.  The menu is set for the next week plus so there should be no waste of the fruit and veggies we purchased.

[Blonde Granny]

I today was able to have a pedicure . I've avoided it for the past 180 months or so but couldn't and didn't want t avoid . It was glorious and so happy I did so. After that I went to my favorite small town diner for lunch, haven't seen there for a long time. Pedicure was $45 and lunch was about 9.

Tomorrow is dinner wth the VA guys, and will also make a trip to Dillards to return a mistake with a purchase....it's best I can do is to make a round trip for both items.

[nikiz628]

Feb 10, 2022 18:58:51 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I today was able to have a pedicure . I've avoided it for the past 180 months or so but couldn't and didn't want t avoid . It was glorious and so happy I did so. After that I went to my favorite small town diner for lunch, haven't seen there for a long time. Pedicure was $45 and lunch was about 9.

Tomorrow is dinner wth the VA guys, and will also make a trip to Dillards to return a mistake with a purchase....it's best I can do is to make a round trip for both items.

That sounds like money well spent on some self-care! 

[nikiz628]

I spent $9 unbudgeted today at the McDonald's drive thru. Both of my boys had their yearly well child exams today- DS1 had to get 3 vaccinations (middle school shots + HPV prevention shot). He was a trooper. DS2 didn't need shots, but was very well behaved so I treated them both to milkshakes afterwards. (Got myself a treat too for surviving that crazy visit) 

[startsmart]

7 NSD this month

Today I bought some heat mats for my vegetable and flower seeds that I’ll be starting indoors. I plan to have one spend day over the weekend as I will be stocking up on groceries, mostly vegetables and pantry staples.

[laterbloomer]

I ended up getting an easel off of Marketplace. I didn't buy this easel when it was on sale at Costco for $50 a couple of years ago and have regretted it ever since. I got it for $5.
8/28 $191 NBS

[laterbloomer]

Ok today hurt.
Haircut - $35 with tip
Foundation - $10
Valentine's Day Cards and Chocolates - $43
Jeans - $53
Total - $141

9/28 $332 NBS

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Feb 7, 2022 12:32:09 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

I should know from past experience. I go to the Farmer's Market to get fresh veggies and get caught up in the impulse buys.  

I am scrambling to use all the veggies I bought 8 days ago. I have had to throw some of it out, it just went bad too quickly. 

I used to do a veggie delivery package every two weeks, but it was the same deal; hard to use all the veggies I got.  I still have some veggies in my freezer from my last delivery package over a year ago.

I'm finding that online ordering for curbside pickup at the grocery store is the best way for me to curb impulse buying. I don't know if they offered curbside pickup before the pandemic, but I hope they keep it going long term.  

I do this also with veggies, and I get annoyed with myself. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Feb 12, 2022 13:25:32 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Ok today hurt.
Haircut - $35 with tip
Foundation - $10
Valentine's Day Cards and Chocolates - $43
Jeans - $53
Total - $141

9/28 $332 NBS

Well, I wouldn't count the haircut as non-essential, but that's me.