I'm in, with my own twist. Recording groceries but not couting them towards no buy days, but also raising my no buy days to 18. Hoping to get a real feel for the difference from this month last year, since January was a bust.
February 1-$0 
I am doing better but still not eating more then a few bites so no stregnth to go anywhere. I am going to attempt to cook dinner for the first time in over 2 weeks, but just an easy crock pot dinner. It's something.
February 2-$0 Kids had the day off. We didn't get as much snow as they called for, but they had alreayd called school. They have never done that, caled it too early, and I am sure they won't soon again.
February 3-$0 Was really hoping to be better by today and able to grocery shop. That was not the case. Maybe tomorrow.
February 4-$0 A little bummed. We had tickets (free!) to see the Globetrotters tonight. I was really hoping to be able to go, especially since we missed Disney on Ice. I am still not eating, so very weak. I feel a lot better but just too weak to go. So the family is out to dinner and the show and I am at home in bed. A little sad, but really happy they are getting to go.
February 5-I actually spent money today. $21 on a baby gift for a shower I am supposed to go to tomorrow. I probably won't make it, but I wanted to get a gift either way. My DH took me out tonight. We thought I needed some frsh air. It was nice to get out. It was snowing and so beautiful. We went to Babies R Us. I used the shopping cart as a walker and it went OK. We wern't in there long but it felt good to be out. Then he said since we were there and he needed some things at Sam's did I mind if he ran in. I got overly confident and went in with him. My legs felt like they were going to crumble under me so I went and sat down while he got what we needed. After he bought me a soft pretzel. $1
February 6-$0 I even made it to the shower today. I decided to just sit, not eat, and chat, but I made it! DH drove us cause I don't think I am ready to drive yet. After he was headed to get some groceries, not much but for tonight and tomorrow and the kids lunches, so I went with him. Didn't make it too long before I went to sit and wait for him, but it was nice to see Wegman's again. I haven't grocery shopped in almost a month! He spent almost $100 but that included premade food for tonight (usually I'd cook but not up to that.)
February 7-$0 I didn't leave the house today, but I did spend most of the day out of bed and even got some house work done. Crasy as it seems, I have missed it. Well, maybe not the work but the satisfaction of getting something done.
February 8-$0 I cooked dinner for the family today, I may even try and eat some, it smells good. (Chili and jalapeno cheddar cornbread, might skip that for tonight.) And I scrubbed the heck out of the bathroom, DH did a great job maintaining the house but things like the bathroom were not cleaned well. ICK! And I vaccumed, that wore me out but I feel very accomplished!!! Tired, but accomplished!!!
February 9-$0 Just groceries today, $88. It needed to be more, but I got worn out and gave up, so I will have to go back again soon.
February 10- This was a non-stop day. I had planned to put dinner in the crockpot early, but got a FB message from my BIO-father. It has been about 20 years since I last saw him, I have seen him 3 or 4 times in my life. He is sick, dying I guess, and wants to see me again. I am struggling with this. I am trying so hard to get over my childhood and feel this would make me regress, at the same time I know people can change and maybe he has and how do I deny someone their dying wish? Anyway, I was so flustered I left withouth putting dinner in. There was no time at all for dinner, so takeout was $16.20. I also went and got the kids a little Valentine, DH's card, some groceries, etc. That was $36.37. This also included decorations and paper goods for our GS V-day dance, it was supposed to be reinbursed but some people didn't pay.
February 11-$0
February 12- $168.10 Sam's, uggg. We needed everything! And $3 for the kids to eat there while I shopped. Then I did something crazy!!! I bought myself some new clothes. I havn't done this is forever, but told DH I would. So that was $133.92 but I am taking back one shirt, it looked OK there but not at home.And I got gas $48.08
February 13- Went on a date with hubby. We went to the movies, we saw Just Go With It and it was soooooo goooood!!! That was $10. After we went to Outback, but we used a coupon and a GC so nothing was spent there. The I went and got a few things at Walmart, all food except for $9 for a shirt to wear under a shirt I got the day before.
February 14- Lunch with Hubby . I had a coupon so our meal was $10, we tipped $3. Then I ran to Sam's and got the few things I forgot the other day, since I was there. $35 and spend $5 on flowers to take to DH at work.
February 15-$0
February 16- (groceries $23) and $4 for a snack for the kids between snowshoeing and dance. I am so annoyed cause I forgot to grab something, but I used a coupon so OK. And I won $50 today!!!
February 17-$0 (bought some groceries, need to find receipt.)
February 18- Was a no spend day till while I was making dinner, Dh's best friend called. He was having a bad day. He had been in court arguing custody of his kids. Anyway, he had the girls (they are 3 and 4) and he wanted company, so we met at Chuck E Cheese. We had tokens out the wazzoo, but we ate there. $26.
February 19- Was again supposed to be a $0 day, but it wasn't.
Our friends called to meet, we said sure, so we got all ready and then they had to turn around cause of weather. Hubby and I went out instead. We went to have Thai food. I never had it, and I hated it, but hubby loves it and is always raving about it so I wanted to try. DD16 liked that I hated it cause she got my leftovers. Thaat was $22. Then we went to see The Delimma, we loved it. That was at the cheap theater, so $4. Then we went to his office and I watched him work for a while. I washed his coffe cup, and organized some papers and just chatted while he worked. The we got some groceries (about $70.) Came home and made dinner and are relaxing.
February 20- Hubby and I started our bowling league tonight, it was a blast. That was $24, then we spent $10 on snacks. Probably shouldn't have, but I don't regret it.
Also today, though I don't count it I like to record it, I woke up in tremendous pain in my back. I didn't think I was going to get to go tonight, so hubby went and got me some Aleve and Icy-Hot, that was $10. On a good note, he fixed a computer today (his side job) and made $130.
February 21- UGGG!!! My plan for the week off with the kids was a day in, then a day out. Today we were in. We did a good cleaning and went though old clothes. Then hubby called. He has been doing South Beach, and is in phase 2, and doing really good with almost no carbs. But today he wanted pizza. GOOD pizza. We used to get pizza every week and he hasn't had it since the new year. He said he's be good, 2 pieces but was willing to go to the gym longer for it and I am a firm believer of enjoy8ing life too and if yo udeny yourself you will snap and eat a whole pizza so I said OK. So, $20 for pizza. After that I picked up DD16 from the mall with her friends. They were all talking about Shamrock Shakes.
All my friends on FB have been talking about them too. I never had one (yeah, live in a cave) so I stopped and got one. I didn't think it was that great and not worth the calories so the kids drank it. That was $3. I wouldn't have considered it if not for the pizza, but now I know what it is when everyone talks about them. I'd say better luck tomorrow, but no can do, they worked hard with me tomorrow so I am taking them somewhere tomorrow.
February 22-$0 Just bought groceries. Was going to take the kids out but they played happily here, so going out tomorrow. $117.52 groceries
February 23- $10, It was a beautiful day so I took the kids ice skating at the outdoor rink. We went with friends and packed hot cocoa. Then they came home and I made dinner whie they played Wii and then we went to Family Night at the restaurant but didn't get anything. Not bad for a fun filled day.
February 24-$0 Sleepover night at my house, each girl has a friend over. But I didn't have them come for dinner, so I cooked. They will have snacks and stuff, but stuff in the house. Had they come for dinner we would have ordeed pizza. Thankfully none of them could come till later so I got out of that.
Tomorrow we are supposed to get a big snowstorm. We will see. I wonder if I will be snowed in with 6 kids???
February 25-$0 Wanted to do something with the kids, but we got a foot and a half of snow, so we stayed in. They had their friends here till early afternoon then after they spent the day playing Just Dance 2.
Tomorrow my DH is going to the hockey game. I am a little jealous, 5th row from the glass. But they are work tickets so it is he and his friend, a co-worker going. I thought I'd take the girls out, maybe dunner and Cosmic bowling. That won't be cheap, but it has been a cheap vacation.
February 26- Expensive day, but fun! DH took me to lunch, he was feeling guilty that he was going to the hockey game tongiht. It was my team (our team) vs the local team. He had 5th row from the ice seats. But they were given to him and told to take a coworker. (Work tickets.) So I couldn't go.
That was $10. Then I took DD11 and DD9 out this evening. We had dinner, Red Robin, their choice, it was $20.50 and to Cosmic Bowling, it was $25 for 2 games and shoe rental for DD9. DD11 wore my shoes 9a little big on her) and I wore DH's 9a little big one me) but it saved us $3.50! I also got gas, it was $55ish.
February 27- Went to Chuck E Cheese again. (Dh's best friend is going through a divorce. He is lonely and we adore his kids. They call us aunt and uncle, we don't have any nieces/nephews so we love that. So we have been doing a lot of things with them. I could have gone for free, but with going with them, we didn't.) DH also went and with his diet can't have pizza so a salad was extra, $25. Then we went and got groceries at Sam's. This was a little higer cause we got DH the Atkins "candy" bars for when you need something sweet. $117. Finally, he and I went out to dinner.
We had a GC but turned out to be rea;;y cheap. The meals took FOREVER but we didn't complain. Then the manager came and appologized for that. We were nice, said no problem. So he comped our appetizer (I had a free coupon, but we saved it for another time.) Then my steak came and it was shoe leather, I ordered it med-well and she confirmed, some pink inside. It was so bad I couldn't hardly cut it. Unfortunatly by the time she came back DH was totally done eating. He came back to say sorry I again said it was fine, things happen. He offered us free dessert, we declined. Then he said he was comping my whole meal. That was unnecessary but nice. Really all that bothered me was that she igored us (the waitress.) Had she come over and said, like the manager did, that there wa a mistake we'd say no big deal, but to just not come around was odd. The for her to never come and see how our food was till she was bringing the bill, that wasn't so good. We go there (way too) often ad have ever had an experience like this so really it was NBD, but the comped food was nice. Could have easily been a no spend day, but today our friend needed us and he and his kids are more important then a no spend day.
February 28-$0 $18 groceries (saved $25 in coupons. I don't use them much but did well this time.)
Money Spent this Month-$
No Buy Days 15/18 Number of no buys is up cause I am no longer counting groceries towards no buy, my new for 2011 rule for myself. Fogot about break when I set the goal. I won't make it, but doing OK.
Groceries
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Back in 2011 cause I'd miss you all so much!
January-25
Longest Streak-Currently 19 (but I have been sick)Joined No Buy as a New Years Resolution in 2010 and did pretty well-
January-14 Days
February-13 Days
March-17 Days
April-15 Days
May-15 Days
June-8 Days
July- 6 Days (only in town and only recorded half the month, probably had about 7-8 no buys while away)
August-15 Days
September-15 Days
October-13 Days
November-6 Days (only kept track till November 16th cause we were in Disney the rest of the month)
December-10
Longest Streak-4 Days in a Row
and saved over $75 just with my coupons!) Awesome week to be at Walgreens if one is near you!)
), $14 (Portillo's-Eating Out), Cute girls in girl scout cookie costumes selling cookies out in the cold $4 (Girl Scout Cookies-Groceries), Had a fun night of just buying stuff to buy stuff, let's see what the damage is... $8.24 (Mitsuwa Marketplace-Shopping), $8.46 (Gabutto Burger-Eating Out)
Anyway, I know you'll get through it! 
I was a good student, but let me tell you if they expected me to go to class with 60 kids in high school, I probably would have dropped out. This short term budget solution is going to cause long term problems. 
Snowing AGAIN. stayed in and prepared and froze all the chicken breast I bought on Friday. Tomorrow I'll do all the ground beef. For $90 I got 11 different chicken dinners and will have at least 18 meals from the beef.
