Judicious June Controlled/No Spend Thread

[muttleynfelix]

Our flower bed. ;D I'll have to take a picture in August so you can all see how it fills out.

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[muttleynfelix]

From the opposite angle.

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[moneysquirrel]

Update: 1 NS and 2 CS day = 3 NS/CS days
Have been spending each day but most of it was in the budget -- I knew that I needed to replace my glasses and delayed ordering them until yesterday. It is such an expense that I dreaded the trip to pick out frame, etc. It was an CS day but an expensive one. Today was on the way to a NS day but I decided to get a speaker for the car to use with my cell. I don't care for earpieces and I don't like talking on the phone while driving but if I must then the speaker is better. Therefore a spend day for me.

It is currently 99 degrees here and it is currently 8:40 pm. Think most of tomorrow will be spent indoors.

[3catslady]

3 NSD, 1 CSD. Good day all around.

[spruby]

Another CS day - set up some bills for next pay day, returned a pair of shoes that didn't fit, ordered some other pairs to try, and found a few t-shirts on sale - all below budget and planned for. AND I put down and did NOT buy the beautiful handbag I saw that was 40% off and that I just loved. It was not in the budget and we still have to make the final payment on our big trip (right before we take our little trip) in July - so I put it down and walked away.

Tomorrow should be a NS - I desperately need to get the house picked up/cleaned up/clothes away an do some work as well. I keep telling my boss - I can got to meetings OR do work - not both. sigh

Hope everyone is well! Muttley - your house looks adorable - I bet the flower bed will be beautiful!

[pointy]

update: 3/23 NS and 4/28 No QVC

[mizbear]

I am having NSs because I can't get anything done! Everyone wants a piece of Bear and her time and they are all getting ready to get told to go away!

[973beachbum]

muttleynfelix, I love your house. It is so cute!

I went to CVS and bought a few things I needed plus some make up for my teenage DD. I think that really is my weakness. I could care less about makeup but she loves it. I guess I don't have a lot of will power when it comes to her.

So i spent $12.48 for a toothbrush, tooth paste, crest fluoride rinse, 4 12 packs of coke, 4 eye shadows, a lip gloss, and two mascaras.

I really need to stay away from the make up clearance.

ETA that means I have $3.84 for the last 2 days of my week. If I stay under that I still make my goal. ;D

[twinmama85]

I am kind of curious of this thread...never really clicked on the links. My DH and I are completely credit card debt free...but we have larger debts over our heads...about $28k worth...and that doesn't even include HIS SL. So, this morning I decided to take back the reigns of our financial life and joined the debt race. I have been doing the saving race as well, but I am sick of spending $550/mo on bills that are just plain annoying. $550 back in my pocket would be nice so that is why I started to lurk around the forum a little. Our biggest problem seems to be a hole my checking acct that is just letting the $$$ slip away. I have talked to DH and told him what we need to do so we can get rid of this debt and save more money. We have decided that there will be no eating out regularly, no more starbucks, no more buying something because it is only a $1. I figured this place would help out. We plan on only spending money on our debt bills,food (includes house hold stuff),gas,day care and our other bills (tv,inet,cells,insurance) (I am active duty air force so our home and utilities are paid for)

[reeneejune]

Welcome twinmamma! We're a chatty bunch, but jump right in and don't be afraid to ask if you're lost. Some of our members have been together for more than 3 years, I've been around for two, but we love fresh blood! We treat spending holistically, as a part of our overall emotional and physical wellbeing... so don't be surprised if we start talking about that coworker we'd like to kill, or potty training, or how happy we are about a new member of the family. The joys, the sorrows, the frustrations, all of these and more could be a possible "trigger" for mindless spending. Make your own rules about what does or does not count as a spend day. The biggest piece of advice for any new member is to simply track. Some of us have excel files that are pretty, color coded, and track every last penny that passes through our grasp. Others keep a small notebook in our purse and write everything down. Soon you'll be hearing our voices in your head as you shop saying "put the clearance item down and step away!" LOL. There is no failure here. Just learning experiences.

[reeneejune]

beachbum - is it your DD asking for things and you have a hard time saying no, or do you buy make up to surprise her because you enjoy making her happy? If it's the first, saying no more often would be good for her. My mom's rule was that if I wanted to wear makeup I had to buy it out of my own money. It wasn't all that important to me, so I just didn't bother. If it's the second, why not find other (free!) ways to surprise her and make her day? Or, when you do find things on clearance, don't give them to her all at once. Keep a small basket in your closet or somewhere and dole them out one at a time. She'll be just as surprised/happy with one item at a time as she is with 6 or 8 all at once.

[startsmart]

today will be a NSD, I definitely need it! And in a happy surprise what I thought was my pay stub (I have direct deposit) was a commission check! Woot!

That $250 is going directly to the Mac fund which will mean I can cover the entire cost of the computer, taxes, shipping, and buying Windows again!

I'm also brewing 10 cups of coffee so I can get some work done this afternoon, I have so much that needs to be accomplished before tomorrow.

[3catslady]

3 NSD, 1 CSD, 1 EOD. I ate out and bought enough for two more meals, so it isn't bad. I spend $15 for one meal out and 2 meals at home. If I only eat out once a week, a total of 5 EOD, I should make a goal of 25 NS/CS days.

[mizbear]

I wasn't allowed to wear makeup until after I graduated high school- and then husbands 1 and 2 didn't like me wearing makeup- so I was in my mid 20s before I started wearing it- saved me a ton. Some lady asked me why I wasn't in school the other day when I was waiting for DM at chemo- made my day! Guess no makeup paid off.

Rant- Feel free to skip- DB (should explain everything right there) has left bags of food trash all over my DGMs house! Soda cups, fast food bags, etc. Found all this while looking for the 2nd pair of kitchen scissors that he has taken into the room he has taken over. (Actually DMs BR- but I won' go there) He complains if it takes 2 days for the DW to get run because DM and DGM may have to rinse dishes and stack them and have me come run the DW if they are not feeling well. I also do their laundry several times a week. He pays no rent, does nothing around the house, isn't paying his Child Support (he swears he is paying it and they are not posting it, but I don't believe that at this point)- I am so mad at him I could spit railroad ties. My uncle has made the suggestion that they throw him out, have the house rewired while doing the reno, DGM change her will so DM and I get the house when she passes and that I move back home for a set rent. He even suggested I take a cut in rent. I told him the old rent was fine. I would really like to know what has gotten into my DB other than a hefty dose of our father- I inherited his ability to fix things, his temper and work ethic- I thankfully did not get any of his less endearing qualities- like wanting something for nothing and disrespecting women- oh wait- he didn't want me- I'm a girl!

All that said, this weekend otherwise has been pretty good. We took a break from working on the reno stuff to chill out. I don't feel chilled though.

[muttleynfelix]

Spurdy and Beachbum - Thanks. We like our house.

Hope you all have a great week.

[MittenKitten]

Welcome dvm, 973beachbum, and twinmama. After a while you do hear the ladies voices whenever you do go to the store or think of stopping for coffee or fast food. It really makes you think twice and whether you really need that item. (for me also is it the healthiest choice which often stopping for food is not!)

Had a great weekend. Had a surprise party for DF, he turns 40 on Thursday. That went off well and pretty cheaply. I made the cakes, had the kids decorate them, spent less then $50 for the party. Had some family members bring some stuff to help out and made it BYOB.

Then today went to the Shriner's Barn (my dad is a member) and DD and DS#1 got to ride the horses. Each road 5-6 times and had a blast. Very successful.

On a negative note I am not sure what I did with my purse (I use a small purse) and it has a $125 Cash Card, plus around $400 in it along with all my pictures, cards etc. I am just sick. I am hoping it is here and that I did not leave it in the cart when I purchased some pop and kids drinks for the party!

[moneysquirrel]

Today was a spend day. Needed items but not today.

For all of our newbies I think that this sums up the feeling of most of us on the thread:

Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship. ~Benjamin Franklin

It is why we often suggest that you track your expenses for at least a month. This method often allow us to see where the leaks are occurring. Some of us have learned to avoid those places that seem to be triggers for unnecessary purchases. I seem to remember someone avoiding target while for others it is wally world. For some it is the morning coffee run or the one item at the grocery (that turns into a basket at checkout). I remember some examples of last minute meal changes because otherwise it meant a trip to the danger area.

Have fun -- I usually think of it as a game. Some put stars on the calendar, others use notes on the calendar and many of us use excel with color coded notes. You will have to find a method that works for you. All of us started as you are. We had to find a system that works for us. You have to own the system that you use so that you can be efficient. You will learn as you go. Many of us have tried various methods prior to finding which one works for us.

[twinmama85]

I dont mind tracking expenses for myself...i dont spend money too much...but its my DH that has a thick @$$ skull!! OMG I could kill him some days and love him another...i did however try to make this fun and told him lets see who can spend the least amount of money this week...the only thing i have to buy is gas the basic necessities for food but im not counting that as spending since it is in the budget and are obviously needs. i know our hole in our pocket was a trip to starbucks here, getting some candy there, buying lunch here...all that really adds up so i decided to put a stop to it..i really want to pay off my 28k in 28 months and if we are to do that, we have to be extreme penny pinchers for a while

[dakota4600]

Good news I got in 2 MOAN's this weekend. I walked over a mile both Friday and Sunday, I'm happy that I'm not sore and was able to do a mile in just over 20 mins. There are a couple parks near our house that have walking trails, so we took mini-D up there and one of us walked the trail while the other watched him. It was nice, since we still got some family time in too.

Friday as a NS/NEO, Saturday wasn't, but Sunday CS/NEO. The sunscreen I had for mini-D wasn't waterproof, the pool we go to is indoors, and they are having sprinkler days at school starting today, so I had to get some waterproof sunscreen for him.

For this with kids- was three much worse than two. OMG, mini-D is just behaving so badly. He will pretend he doesn't hear us if he doesn't want to do something. Then if you do it, he throws a tantrum that he didn't get to do it. (I know he hears just fine, I could mention cookies in the kitchen and he'd come running from the basement ;D, it is definitely a selective hearing loss.) Last night he & DH were watering the plants on the porch and DH told him that they needed some extra water and mini-D took the watering can and tossed it over the porch railing. DH gave him the chance to go pick it up and finish watering but he refused. DH brought him in and went out to finish it himself and mini-D tried to climb over the gate at the top of the stairs so he could go back out and water the plants. After 5 mins of non-stop crying, I finally took him to his bedroom and told him he could cry as long as he wanted, but he had to stay in there if he was crying. He did for 15 mins. He didn't want to eat much for dinner. (He was sick Wed & Thursday last week, but was fine all weekend.)

Twinmama- There are are several of us in relationships that have un-cooperative spouses, but most come around after a while. Shelia's DH has surprised her recently with things he has cut out. My DH isn't a spender, but thinks NS days are kind of silly. So if he needs something he buys it when he wants it. I try to tell him I'll pick it up on my next shopping run and he says no I'll just get it on my way home. So for his spending as long as it is budgeted I don't count it against my totals.

Muttley- That looks really nice.

Red- We haven't had to deal with it yet, but I think allowance will "semi" earned. He'll have chores that are expected to be done because he is a part of the family and if he is slacking on those or has bad attitude there will be deductions from the allowance. When I was growing up my parents had a separate list of additional chores we could do for additional money, these were usually larger chores that were done a couple times a year.

[muttleynfelix]

I had a big ole no spend success yesterday. We had a cook out at church last night and I wasn't going to go because it was past DS's bedtime, but then DS had such a good time playing with his friend at church yesterday that I thought that me and him should go. So, I was like I'll just stop by the grocery store and pick something up. Then I was like no I can make something. So, I pulled out this cookbook of "silly snacks" out and found banana roll ups. 2 tortillas, 2 bananas, 1/2 cup of peanut butter, 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and a 1/4 cup of milk. Microwave the PB, Chocolate chips and milk for 40 sec on 50% power (repeat as necessary). Spread on tortillas. Place Banana at one end of the tortilla and roll up. Slice into pieces. It was a decent success. I had half the pieces left over and I brought them to work today.

Of course since we went to the cook out last night and just picked up a rotisserie chicken Saturday night while grocery shopping (instead of going out to eat). I didn't cook all weekend and have no leftovers for lunch this week. Since I quit drinking as much soda, I no longer order it when I got out to eat and that saves a bundle. Especially since at work we go out to places that have pretty good lunch specials (and lunch punch cards with double punch days, which means about once a month I get a free lunch). My fun money lasts me through 3 lunches out a week instead of 2.

Have a great day all.

[sapphire12]

Morning all -- I hope everyone had a good weekend. I ate too much. Tis the graduation season.

Welcome newbies - It might take a few months to get on track. The goal is to become aware of where your money is going and take the necessary steps to reduce spending where you see fit. Don't be too hard on yourself the first few months.

muttley - cute house.
red - It's very unfortunate about the weather wrecking havoc on so much of the country. interesting article. I didn't receive an allowance as a child. I don't even know if any of my friends received an allowance, though I don't think so. All of my friends are not good with money. I was a very good math student, which can parlay into I know numbers. I would be curious to see the correlation of those who did well in Algebra I and their relationships with money.
mk -- I hope you find your purse.
mrslynch -- I'll check out your money blog.
smokey -- It seems like yesterday Lil Smokey was starting kindergarten.
SES -- yeah for the interview and hair cut.
shanen -- even though we want and expect ppl to move on with their lives, it is a bittersweet feeling when they are ready to soar; been there.

I can't remember anything else.

Have a good Monday!

[singlemomky]

Dakota - Lil' Smokey was pretty good through his 2s but then hit 3 and I referred to them as his "Troublesome Threes"

[shanendoah]

Update: 3 NS (1 gas only) + 2 CS = 5 of 26. 1 MOAN
I'm going to track MOANs this month, but not give myself a goal.

Friday DH made teriyaki chicken for the roomie's last meal with us. Another friend came over and we played a board game. I had to stop by the grocery store on the way home for a couple things he needed.
Saturday was a busy day: Took roomie to the airport and bid him farewell, mowed the lawn (had to do it in two installments because the battery doesn't hold enough charge to do the whole side yard, and the back yard, and the "parking space". We also took the dogs to a giant (44 acre) dog park, where we met up with friends and their dogs. Our group was 5 dogs, 7 adults (counting the DC as an adult) and 4 pre-teen girls. It was a nice walk along a river and then back. However, it was 80 and sunny, and the place had no water bowls. Along the river side (which is also shaded) no big deal, but the back half, it was a problem. But we didn't spend any money.
Sunday I took DC to critique with me. $12 at Starbucks for the 2 of us (comes out of my allowance). Later we went to CostCo and did shopping for the MIL. We also went and looked at an open house. (I love looking.) It was a nice place, but given the neighborhood they're in and the current market here, they're asking $50-100k too much for it.

Muttley: Love the look of the flower bed. It's going to be gorgeous in August.
ses: In case I didn't say it before, good luck at the interview
mrsl: I'm following yoru money blog and I added a link to it off of my money blog. I still need to link to it off my main blog.

[mizbear]

mk- Hope you have located your purse.

I will spend money on snacks today- DB is not answering his phone so I am going and picking up his kids.

shan- Everything in MD/DC is overpriced if you ask me- otherwise I would have bought by now

I'm not spending money because I don't really have it to spend- my DM has said that she is paying my registration fee for the singing contest because she is afraid I won't do it so I have money to give ex-SIL for the kids. I cleaned out my pantry and freezer stockpiles and sent them home with her.

I feel like I am wrapped up in my own problems right now. My BFF's grandson just drowned, my other BFF's son had a seizure for no reason, my BFF from 1st grade is getting ready to graduate with her Master's... and I have to worry about all the dumb stuff my brother is doing.

[azmom]

I was just skimming and had to say:
Dakota: YES, by far 3yo is the worse age. It has nothing on the terrible two's, NOTHING. Sorry, but I feel the need to be honest just so you know it is definitely the age and not the kid. I am almost done with my third bout of three year old destruction and it is a consensus between other moms around here. It does get better DD will be four in July and I have already seen changed in her behavior for the better but last Summer this time I didn't think I was going to make it...but I did. (((HUGS))). Allow some extra $$ in the budget for date nights or mommy time. It is well worth your sanity.

WELCOME ALL NEWBIES

I'll be back later with other comments*I know you have been longing for them

~Happy No Spending~

[sheilaincali]

It's 95 right now (3:20 pm) with a "real feel" of 100F. Not enjoying this hot weather at all. Worked on staining the deck yesterday and am a nice shade of lobster red right now. My skin just hurts the minute the hot sun hits it today. Unfortunately we have one more level (multi-level deck) to stain and DH wants to do it today. Looks like I'll be wearing long sleeves

Didn't do too bad with my no spends. Friday was a NS, Saturday I paid for DS and I to see Xmen with my SIL and nephews. Sunday we picked up a few things we needed for around the yard type projects.

Who asked about the Super Terrible Three's? Was it Dakota? OMG I swear that 3 was way way worse than age 2. By 3 they can talk more and as a result talk back and argue. By 3 1/2 going on 4 they tend to be much much calmer. There is light at the end of the crabby tunnel.

Twinmama: My DH was a big nickel and dime spender. Trips to the comic book store every week, new computer games, stops at the convenience store for a snack every day, etc. It took me doing spreadsheets and tracking our money for him to finally get it. It's not the individual purchases it's the gross total of all of those purchases. $5 doesn't mean much to a guy (or at least my guy)- but $150 a month that caught his attention.
Even then it took a while for him to fully get on board. Now he is more thrifty and frugal then me.

In fact it's actually usually our 13 year old son that tells us "Mom, do you really need to buy that?" "we have stuff to make dinner at home, we don't need to eat out" etc.

[mizbear]

3 year olds- Thi should make all of the Mom's here laugh. I got this from a friend of mine who is now the single dad (quite dashing too, I might add ) of a 3 year old girl. She is his little princess, but when he tries to go on a date- she is a diva!
She meets the woman in the living room, tells her if she approves of her hair, her outfit, her makeup (told one her lipstick looked like crayons!), if she likes her shoes and bag- if she likes her car, basically interviews her. Then meets her poor father at the bottom of the steps and tells him whether or not he can go out with her. One got axed because she found cat hair on her and her only uncle is allergic to cats.
Usually the woman leaves before the date ever starts.
She doesn't get this from her mother because her mother walked out when she was 3 months old.
Anybody got a 3 year old like that I can borrow before dates?

[spruby]

Still on track - 5 CS and 1 NS to date. Plus a NEO and a MOAN!!!

NEO is my downfall. I count EVERYTHING - if I grab a coffee/a vending machine snack/lunch/dinner/etc. - so these are very tough for me - but I'm consciously working on them!

Newbies - that is my theme - consciously spending/eating/working out - knowing where I spend my $$$ is important because my DH & I have some big goals - ones that require money (travel and more travel) and ones that require less spending (early retirement and a freelance writing career for DH). So when I pass on a new handbag I really want and love - I do it because I'd rather use that $300 to get a massage on our cruise this fall and eat at the sushi bar a bunch of times!

That was a long way of saying - think about *why* you want to do take this personal challenge. It might help you stay focused!

Fun new thing - we bought a great blender and have been making smoothies. Cheaper than buying them, better ingredients, etc. Well we've been drinking/eating too much at once - so last night I froze a cup of smoothie ( the extra we usually split!) - and tonight we had it as a frozen sorbet. SOOOOOO yummy. Now I'm going to start doing that every time I make them! Portion control, less work/dish washing AND cheaper tasty treat.

Work is work. Have I mentioned how much I HATE job hunting?!

mizbear - anyway you can extract yourself from the DB drama? I know you have tons going on and you like to take care of everyone - but don't forget you. How is school coming? How much more to go?

Hugs to everyone who needs them!

[mizbear]

spruby- My uncle has offered to throw DB and his belongings out the door- does that count? In all seriousness, I have told my DM that if she and DGM don't put their foot down to him, they will have to make other arrangements for assistance once the final amount of my belongings are gone from the house. I am not going to listen to him or put up with his behavior. Plus, I have had a business opportunity presented to me that would be workable with my illness and allow me to be creative. I can't have him screwing that up. I want to finish my MT course first. I am almost done school. The typing is killing me. Can't wait to have the money to get a desktop so I have a standard keyboard again. I have all but barred him from my home at this point.

On a good note, I am remaking a list of goals and going over some things with my therapists. They are finding holes in my past treatment programs (when they got me, the first order of business was to straighten my meds back out) and want to go over things again. Basically they want to start from scratch. I should lose some of this extra weight too as a side benefit because even though I gained the weight from a medication, stress has probably helped keep it on. They just e-mailed me the new plans today and I am excited.
Have moved exercise program into the air conditioning- thought I was going to die of an asthma attack coming from my car, up the steps to my apartment in the heat.

[MittenKitten]

PURSE FOUND!! Oddest place too. My corner cubbard. Apparently it had the room I needed for it at the time LOL.

Mizbear: You can borrow my 3 YO DD. While not a diva she will simply exhaust them. She leans more to the girlly tomboy. She is wearing skorts and calls them her princess so cute!

Also cut her hair for the first time last week. She looks SO CUTE! The more I look at it the more I like it. It is chin length with bangs. Also much better for brushing!

Today I am so sore! I figured out I haven't been on a horse in 14 years! YIKES. And the last time I was on one it threw me, bruised my bones and gave me a concussion. Sad part is my father has around 6 horses.