January 2011 Controlled/No Spend Thread

[pointy]

Final update for January: 24/22 NS and 29/27 No QVC
See you all in February...once the massive snow storm is over...

[shanendoah]

I won't be around tomorrow as I'll be at an all day leadership conference, and I have every intention of spending on the way home today (for a 12 hour cough suppresent), so here are my final numbers for January:

12 of 10 NSD (meeting my stretch goal), 4 of 8 MOAN

I didn't get in as much exercise due to the coughing, but I am still losing weight, so I'm not too upset with myself.

ilovedolphins: Welcome!
ses: Sounds like an interesting challenge.
renee: How wonderful of the dispatcher! Its always nice to hear the stories of the good when we so often notice only the bad.
startsmart: I love your new business idea. It sounds like a great plan to use your strong contacts and networking skills while not having to work 50+ hours/week.

I want to thank everyone for the amazing year I have had on this thread. I started last February with a pie in the sky idea of how often we spent, even though we were staying in budget. It has been a learning and growing process not without a few bumps in the road, but also some pretty amazing roadside attractions.
I look forward to starting my 2nd year here.

[azmom]

I ran 3 miles on the treadmill at the gym today! I had to remind myself to go slow and only do 3 to prevent injury. I felt great!! On the downside-I managed to clean up the kitchen and do dishes but that is as far as I went

ilovedolphins: I don't think I am qualified to give you an accurate answer to your question. I have been injured several times and have had several friends battle injuries but none with illnesses. I would suggest that you talk to your doctor about what would be appropriate for you. In dealing with injuries I know that exercising in water (walking/running/aerobics) could be an effective workout without putting more strain on your injured area. Also, walking for weight loss is possible. There is a website called walking.about.com that has training schedules and articles for beginner to advanced walkers that will help get you started. I have been told that you should work up to walking for up to 30 minutes without stopping before you add running to your workout. I would not suggest you trying to do too much at one time. Start slow and progress steadily at your own pace. Good Luck and Welcome!
Muttleyn: That stinks about the couple of day lay off but joy for getting to spend extra time with that adorable baby. My dd who is three is a dancer! As an infant should keep the beat during worship at church. You could feel her little hand or feet tap to the music. The instant she hears music she starts moving..I don't think she even realizes it sometimes...I really need to get her into a dance class!!
SES: WOW, what a challenge. is that $112 per person? I am so curious to see how that works out for you, especially the nutritional aspect of it. I feel like I have my own personal challenge trying to feed a family of 5 for $400 a month..eh-still working on that

[ses]

I have planned a menu for the month that includes seven breakfasts, six lunches, six dinners and three snacks a day each week. The two unplanned meals are for using up leftovers. Eating light snacks so often helps keep my blood sugars balanced. I also try to eat the bulk of my starchy carbohydrates at breakfast or lunch for the same reason. I try to eat as many whole grain and high fiber foods as possible. Since I monitor my sugars closely I tend to avoid fruits in favor of vegetables. I don’t have a fixed meal for a fixed day because that feels too rigid and locked in, although I seem to eat that way anyway. I also prepare one dish that creates eight servings each month and freeze in serving portions (enchilada sauce, chili, and pasta sauce) and then plan to eat eight of these meals each month. This gives me more variety than I might get otherwise. If I make a small casserole I try to divide it into serving portions and freeze individually.

These are the meals and snacks I have planned. Add in 6-8 glasses free tap water per day. I have one question—do food stamps have to be used in the month they are given or can there be carry over if there is any extra?

BREAKFASTS
Oatmeal x4/wk
Raisin Bran x4/wk
Omelet x1/wk

LUNCHES
Chicken Salad x3/wk
Qusedillas x1/wk
Enchiladas x1/wk
Ham Sandwiches x1/wk

DINNERS
Chicken stir fry x4/mo
Fish & broccoli x4/mo
Shrimp & pepper strips x4/mo
Vegetable pizza x4/mo
Pasta & sauce x2/mo
Chili x2/mo
Steak x4/mo

SNACKS
Yogurt 16/mo
String cheese 16/mo
Jello & fruit 16/mo
Almonds 16/no
PB & celery as needed
Tortilla chips 16/mo???

I will try to get out and do my shopping as soon as the snow stops and the roads are cleared---whenever that might be!

[kcgal]

Start a blog about your experience living on $112 a month. Could be interesting.

[reeneejune]

SES - in answer to your question about whether food stamps carry over, it depends on the state, I believe. In OR (where I have experience) food stamps can be accumulated over a period of time, but will eventually expire. If I remember right, you have 6 months to use them. I'll be curious to see if you're able to stay within budget with the meal plan you've outlined.

[redwagon]

Just a quick request for kitty prayers. A friend's cat is very sick and dehydrated and in the hospital. If she doesn't improve overnight and gets a blockage, they will have to put her down, since they can't pay for the surgery to fix a blockage (I don't know many details, sorry). Send any healthy kitty juju you can her way. She's a frazzled new mom and I know losing her cat would be devastating for her.

[mizbear]

red- Consider kitty prayers sent.
Everyone be careful of this nasty weather- accordin to my DGM this could affect something like 30 states. I don't know because I don't have cable. I'll worry when I am melting snow for oodles of noodles or calling for sled dogs.
Very nervous about my first official NS/CS challenge month.

[spruby]

ses - good challenge - google food stamps and congressman or challenge (or both) - there have been a few different attempts by various politicos to do this - their results haven't been good - and it has been an eye opener! obvious "hints" - fresh foods in season, store sales, things you can stretch (soups, etc), as basic as possible foods - beans & rice.

ice appears headed our way - at least 1x and maybe 2x - good news is my trip to NY got canceled because of weather and I get to work from home. Bad news - NONE!

Stay warm & safe everyone!

[spruby]

I googled it myself - check these stories out on Congress folk living on food stamp budgets:

foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/15/AR2007051501957.html

www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2007/05/15/news/news3.txt

[mizbear]

ses- I'd like to see your results too. I have a $42 grocery budget- right now I am fudging it with a lot of slimfast because I am trying to lose weight, but I can usually make it easily because I eat whole wheat pasta with frozen veggies and oatmeal with frozen fruit. I buy on sale and store brands mostly- and coupons of course.
I know that in one state, you may carry over your food stamps, however, there is a limit and if you do not use your benefits for X consecutive months- they will take those benefits. You can't stockpile your benefits.

[cheerleadingmama7]

Jan 31, 2011 8:34:04 GMT -5 munjoyhill said:

Update Munjoyhill

10/15 No Spend Days
22/25 MOAN Days

The end of my first month tracking my No Spend days, definitely more difficult than I thought, but it's a good way to see where my money is going. The biggest challenge is still grabbing lunch, or stopping by the grocery store for unplanned things. I think what will help me is better planning when I do my weekly grocery shopping.

My MOAN days were better, I was closer to my goal of working out my full 25 days in January, I probably would have made it if I hadn't traveled to Rhode Island unexpectedly for four days.

Working on my goals for February, will post them tomorrow.

You and I have the same goal - better grocery planning. Here's to hoping we do a great job in February!!

[MittenKitten]

February's Thread is here:

notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=wir&thread=2681

[shanendoah]

Got the last of our tax forms today. Looks like we'll owe ~$1.1k, which is a lot less than the worst case scenario we were saving for. I am annoyed that because the school was so slow in getting back to DH about whether or not he could take his class, we aren't able to take any education credits, because we didn't pay any tuition until 2011.

sheila: Married filing separately would NOT work for us. We would owe way more. My tax, even with all the deductions would only be about $300 less than our total filing jointly tax, and that doesn't take into account the $3k DH would then owe. However, we don't have state income tax to take into account.

[cheerleadingmama7]

I am super excited about Fun Frugal February!! Bring on a new month with a clean slate! I am ready to tackle LOTS of NSDs!!

[moneysquirrel]

Final January Update: 21 NS / 6CS = 27/15 (Goal 15NS/CS)

See all of you on the February Thread.

[dakota4600]

I'm starting to feel better. We are hunkered down awaiting the 10-16 inches that is supposed to fall tomorrow. Luckily my boss decided this AM to declare tomorrow a work from home day. DH's district has cancelled already. So we are going to hang here tomorrow and hope we don't lose power. The snow isn't supposed to start until tomorrow AM.

Muttley- There are a couple pics of DS that you posted that he looked a little onery. Sorry about the 2 day a week lay off, hope it is really short term.

Renee- It is nice to hear that there are people willing to do something nice for someone else.

SES- Good luck on your project.

Okay I got to run and put a certain little boy back in his bed for the third time tonight!

[3catslady]

update; 15 NSD (actual no spend), 8 CSD (spent in budget or less than $5), 6 Eating Out Days (not bad for someone that used to eat out every day), 2 Spend Days (spend on things I didn't need or want but spent anyway).

[sheilaincali]

Shanen: Not sure what in the world DH did- but he re-figured our tax options again last night and married jointly works better for us too. It was less than the original estimate for married separate. He found he could write off some of his mileage, education expenses for the Boy and his safety equipment for work. So we are down to owing about $2500 total- which is way better than $4400 it was the first time he did them.

[redwagon]

Here were my original goals:

5 NSD (nothing!)
10 CSD (under $5)
Drink work coffee on Tues/Thurs (every little bit counts, but I can't totally give up my coffee from the cart guy)
15 hours working out
10 NEO days

I totally forgot I wanted to differentiate between NS and CS days, so I just totalled them up. I also forgot about the whole not buying coffee twice a week thing... oops.

January Final Numbers:
10/15 NS/CS Days
21/10 NEO days (WOW!!! So proud of us there! Didn't realize we did so well!!)
3.5/15 hours working out (utter failure. better luck in february!)

[singlemomky]

January Final
9 CS
8 NS

[azmom]

11 NSD OFFICIAL FINAL UPDATE

I will post what I spent outside of my regular bills in a little bit but I have a question. I paid a total of $200 for little league sign-ups but they have not cashed my checks as of yet. Should I (would you) count that as a spend for January since I already have it counted on MY balance sheet or should I count it spent when they actually cash the check. I know this may all boil down to personal preference but I would like to see what that would be for you all.

[azmom]

Money Spent in January
Groceries: $541.91
*This includes household items and replacing groceries after our fridge died**

Gas:160.21
*This is for two vehicles

Over the Counter Medicine $12.84

Racing Fees: $143.94
*This includes my GU, race fee

Me Eating Out for Lunch: $29.11
*That was for 6 times this month

DH Eating out for Lunch: $26.70
*That is for 5 times

Date Nights $82.98
*That is total for Two Dates

MOMs Group $3.27

Kids School Lunch $28.00
*I either woke up late or didn't have groceries on hand

Kids Bible Study $30.00

Friends Birthday Gift $4.35
*money was earned by DD

Little League $200

DH Fun Money $60.00

DH Misc Spent $12.25
*Out of my Control

Total Spent Outside of Monthly Bills: $1,335.55

Okay Ladies there it is. Every Single Penny we spent this month that is not a monthly bill.

[redwagon]

Sweet! We won the $150 in heating oil from HEAT USA!! They're sending us three $50 vouchers that we can pay our next oil bill with. YAY!!! Oil is killing us this year, so this will be a big help!! The last fill up was over $500 and I'm afraid to go out back to see how much is left from that (as if I could make it through the snow).

[shanendoah]

January Final Numbers

Name	Goal	Total
3catslady	-	23 ;D
Angel 33/ImaAngel	15	11
azmomx3	15	11
cdarrow/Constanz22	-	11
cheerleadingmama7	-	16
dakota4600	20	20 ;D
dianartemis	15	12
Gin1984	26	4
GirlGreen	-	2
Honeylioness	-	19
lumberlady	24	18
Mittenkitten	-	20 ;D
moneysquirrel	15	27
mrslynch	25	14
munjoyhill	15	10
NotAllWhoWander	31	7
Nuttinhoney7	-	11
pt_in_ny/pointy	-	24 ;D
RED RUBY	-	9
red_wagon	15	10
reeneejune	-	5
sapphire12	-	13
SES_Books	-	21 ;D
shanendoah	12	12
Sheila in Cali	25	21 ;D
SingleMom-KY	20	17
sparalach	15	3
spruby	25	16
Startsmart	-	2
vnot	15	10

5 CS/NS Days
10 CS/NS Days
15 CS/NS Days
;D 20 CS/NS Days
25 CS/NS Days
Reached their goal


If you're not on the list, its because we didn't have any numbers to report. If we just missed them, let me know and I will add you.