Feb No Buy! Short Month! We can do this!

[SunnieRN]

16/14 no-buy days

Woo hoo!! Congratulations!!!!

Congratulations everyone! We made it another month, despite rain and snow and general tired-of-winter feelings!

no buy days: 11/11
longest streak: 3
meals out: 3/5
days without dinner out: 3
longest no dinners out streak: 10

Your 'no dinner out' number impressed me SO much!! Eating out is a HUGE doownfall of mine. I'm improving, but don't think I have ever gone 10 days!!!!

The February budget is $850 with 12 no spend days.

Auto $70 / $40 left
Eating Out/Entertainment $85 / $49 over
Giving $10 / $11 over
Groceries/Household Goods $250 /$119 left
Medical $25 / $8 over
Misc. $75 / $10 over
Set bills $335 / $14 left

I have two exceptions to my budget this month - - everything related to my cataract surgeries and an over night business trip (legal stuff) to Chicago.

No spend days goal of 12 / 13
Coupon savings $64.01
Christmas '11 running total = $8

You are AMAZING!! How did you keep your grocery bill so low?

We had some huge rain storms here last night which caused some water leakage in our basement. Thankfuly it was only in our utility room down there and was fairly easy to clean-up. So I stayed in today to keep an eye on it.

February Budget-
Groceries/Household- $300/-$14.51 left
Car/Gas- $50/$17.39 left
Eating Out- $50/$2.25 left
Misc/Entertainment- $100/$28.07 left

Total-$500/$28.26 left

Goal of 14 No buy days
17/14 No Buy Days

Coupon and Store Savings- $113.69

Your numbers are inspiring!!! I hope you are saving for another WDW trip, as I love your trip reports!!!

2/21 – $0!
2/22 - 4 new tires for our SUV $416, airfare for May 2011 Disney Trip $539, Tax Preparation $150, CVS <$1 OOP
2/23 – Eating out $3, $8 groceries
2/24 – Groceries $31
2/25 – eating out $1.10, eating out $5.30 (DH), misc $20
2/26 - $0!
2/27 – eating out $2.47
2/28 - ?


No buy days - Feb 2, Feb 21, Feb 26

Fantastic!! You got a LOT accomplished! You and your hubby continue to amaze me with the low eating out $$$ you post!!

I did not so great this month... It seemed everyday some other little small thing would come up... But I can say that I have curbed some of my misc spending like stopping for coffee or buying lunch... So it is a start... So glad that it is the end of the month and I can start anew

(((Hugs)))) You need to live life, as well as meeting goals!! You reached some great ones! Curbed your misc. spending is a HUGE accomplishment!!! It is really the overall picture!! Keep up the great work!

 

[Debbie]

Feb. 1: Groceries $30, summer conference for me....$295 (luckily, I've saved for this and it is not really a part of the budget )
Feb. 2: $0 Snow day!
Feb. 3: $20 at DD's Talent night. $10 for my admission, and $10 for draws. I won a really nice Lavender hand cream/soap/shower gel set from Crabtree and Evelyn.
Feb. 4: gas $45, 2 pair special "loop" scissors for school $7, and a renewal for Scholars Choice which nets me 10% discount, $10 in free goods, AND a huge mug/warmer + notepads $10 (seems like a deal to me ) Hmmmm. So far, I can't put the finger on DH for spending (but tomorrow is another day....one of his 'shopping days!"
Feb. 5: DH shopped in the city in the morning-groceries $45 and I shopped Costco-groceries-$32, tax software-$37 and in our village in the afternoon, another $45 on groceries. After a Church dinner that he worked at, DH brought home buns, snacks, pie etc, so we gained there
Feb. 6: DH bought some gingerale for DD who isn't feeling well $4, so I had him top up the gas $35 since we'd need it tomorrow anyway
Feb. 7: $0 Finally, another one!
Feb. 8: DH's 'shopping day' and it was only $60. That, in itself, is an accomplishment!
Feb. 9: groceries....stocking up $83
Feb 10: gas $43, pharmacy $25
Feb 11: DD's birthday so she went wild with spending-close to $200 that Mommy forked out, but I'm not going to count that since it will come out of a different budget. Just the same, let me say it was well over (say 4 times!) what I would have sent her if she were still in Egypt. OTOH, she was excited to get her birthday wish....an end to the protests...and will likely return shortly, so I spoiled her some. I spent (for the house/family) about $50, including a trip to Tim Horton's for hot chocolate for her "birthday surprise visitor". (another wish that she got)
Feb 12: still stocking up groceries $100
Feb 13: gas $36
Feb 14: DH bought me strawberries for Valentine's Day....that and a St. Patrick's Day card $5
Feb 15: DH's shop $35 gas $39
Feb 16: FINALLY! $0
Feb 17: Had to take DD to Toronto to return to Egypt today, so ended up spending $48 in gas. Went to Costco for my staff 'store' for Cancer Research, and, for me, bought ink cartridges $70 and snack food $8. THEN DH and I went to Denny's. We had entrées gift cards, so spent less than $10 ($6 tip and $3.44 for the meal ) Maybe tomorrow.
Feb 18: $0
Feb 19: groceries and McD's biscuits (new here in SW Ontario) $20
Feb 20: DH topped up the gas....it was "only" 111.9/l at No Frills $34
Feb 21: $0 Calling this one early, since it is a holiday and no stores are open....and I will not buy online, I will not buy online, I will not buy online (if I write it out, maybe it will happen just that way )
Feb 22: $20 for weekly parking pass at the hospital. Mom paid the other half.
Feb 23: drugstore $16, groceries $19, gas $40, lunch/snacks at the university music audition $15
Feb 24: $0
Feb 25: $2 tea at the hospital
Feb 26: groceries $60, gas $32 ($3 cheaper than my guess.)
Feb 27: $0
Feb 28: Drug co-pay $9 groceries $6

No Buy days this month: 7/10

So the month is over, and despite the fact that DD was home for half of it, and DS/gf practically live here, all in all, I'm not tooooo disappointed with my totals. Looks like$0 every 4th day. I think next month, I'll try for 1 in 3.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

Just finishing up a few loose ends here before the new month starts. Our laptop died for good last Thursday, so we had to buy a new one this past weekend. Somehow I actually made my goal of no-buy days for February.

2/1 - $0
2/2 - 75 cents on fritos at work to go with my leftover taco salad.... highway robbery! Walgreens - $6.30, coupons $4.20 and got $6 in register rewards.
2/3 $0
2/4 - $14.51 at Jimmy Johns and 99 cents for Angry Birds on iPhone.
2/5 - $50 for oldest ds t-ball sign-ups. $53 for dinner. We got AWESOME seats to the Louisville game last night from dh's CEO. Had lots of fun, and our team won! Parking, snacks, and beer at the game.... $42. 2.32
2/6 - $2.14 McDonalds; Meijer $91.12 saved $4 in coupons; Walgreens $27.97 saved $19 in coupons and received $17 in register rewards
2/7 - $0
2/8 - $0
2/9 - $0
2/10 - $0
2/11 - $20 deposit into my lunch account at work; $22.13 Walmart; $2.49 book for my Kindle
2/12- $20 basketball pictures; $5.33 Toys R Us cute Mickey shirt for Disney; $156 Chuck E Cheese party and cake
2/13 - $15.70 Walgreens saved $24.50 in coupons and received $15 in register rewards; $104.70 Kroger, saved $5 in coupons; $121 Target after $20 gift card. Save $3.25 in coupons
2/14 - $36 dinner at local Mexican restaurant ; $75 cleaning lady
2/15 - KMart - $29, they have their clearance kids clothes 40% already reduced price.... I got the boys' several sets of warm pjs for next year and fall jackets for next year.... all of it was Disney or Thomas the Train; $16Arby's dinner drive-thru.
2/16 -$5.30 lunch; $27 Meijer iXL book for ds's birthday
2/17 - $12 Mary Kay order; $132 Disneystore.com..... Free Shipping was REALLY expensive.......
2/18 - Walmart - $27; dinner out $75
2/19 - $50 - had our furnace serviced today.
2/20 - $0
2/21 - $0
2/22 - $10.45 at Dollar Tree
2/23 - $4 breakfast at McDonalds and $16 for Chinese take-out. DS (1) had his adenoids removed and ear tubes reinserted this morning, so it was bit of a wild day for us.
2/24 - $0
2/25 - spend
2/26 - spend
2/27 - spend
2/28 - $0


Goal:
10/10

January coupon savings: $58.50
February coupon savings: $81.70

 

[ronnmel]

Congratulations everyone for meeting (at least some of) our goals.

Today we did a big grocery trip, but our goal is to last two weeks with it. We had gotten into the bad habit of always buying just the minimum, then going back 2-3 times a week "just to get a couple of items". Well of course those couples of items turned into more than a few so we were spending a lot. Now we try to eat as much as possible out of what we already have at home. Hope it works!

This month I very much on budget for food and gas, wayyyyyy under for eating out, and quite over for miscellaneous. But really that category is the one that will always vary the most.

No Buy Days : 19/16
Gas : 102$ (2$ over)
Groceries : 247$ (3$ under)
Eating out (and snacks) : 42$ (58$ under)
Non-necessities : 633$ (433$ over)

01/02 : 0$
02/02 : 0$
03/02 : 35$ (gas)
04/02 : 0$
05/02 : 0$
06/02 : 0$
07/02 : 0$
08/02 : 111$ (gas + groceries)
09/02 : 0$
10/02 : 0$
11/02 : 41$ (dinner + clothes)
12/02 : 0$
13/02 : 0$
14/02 : 0$
15/02 : 12$ (scarf, mittens + snack)
16/02 : 0$
17/02 : 0$
18/02 : 622$
19/02 : 0$
20/02 : 39$ (groceries)
21/02 : 0$
22/02 : 0$
23/02 : 0$
24/02 : 11$ (take-out)
25/02 : 0$
26/02 : 25$ (salsa club)
27/02 : 0$
28/02 : 128$ (groceries)

 

[ronnmel]

May:
Gas : 73$
Car repairs : 390$
Groceries : 226$
Eating out (and snacks) : 250$
Non-necessities : 267$
Total spent: 1206$

June:
Gas : 47$ (26$ less)
Groceries : 140$ (86$ less)
Eating out (and snacks) : 115$ (135$ less)
Non-necessities : 204$ (63$ less)
Total : 506$.

July:
No Buy Days : 5/10
Gas : 40$ (7$ less)
Car repairs : 261$
Groceries : 189$ (49$ more)
Eating out (and snacks) : 179$ (64$ more)
Non-necessities : 865$ (661$ more )
Total: 1554$

August:
No Buy Days : 12/10
Gas :38$ (2$ less)
Groceries : 317$ (128$ more)
Eating out (and snacks) : 196$ (17$ more UGH)
Non-necessities : 657$ (208$ less)
Total : 1208$

September:
No Buy Days : 16/10 New goal 15
Gas : 85$ (47$ more, but my new job is further away)
Groceries : 264$ (53$ less )
Eating out (and snacks) : 126$ (70$ less )
Non-necessities : 503$ (154$ less, but still way too much!)
Total : 978$ (230$ less )

October:
No Buy Days : 12/15
Gas : 91$ (6$ more)
Groceries : 193$ (71$ less)
Eating out (and snacks) : 118$ (8$ less)
Non-necessities : 493$ (10$ less)
Total: 895$ (83$ less)

November:
No Buy Days : 11/15
Gas : 98$ (7$ more)
Car : 74$
Groceries : 298$ (105$ more)
Eating out (and snacks) : 164$ (46$ more)
Non-necessities : 204$ (289$ less )
Total: 838$ (57$ less)

December:
No Buy Days : 7/10
Gas : 120$ (22$ more, but gas prices went up and I did lots of shopping)
Groceries : 151$ (147$ less )
Eating out (and snacks) : 185$ (21$ more)
Non-necessities : 404$ (200$ more, but it was the month of splurging on myself and lots of activities. Hopefully January will be much calmer)
Christmas : 285$ (85$ over budget)
Salsa lessons : 280$
Total : 1420$ (Less than my worse month though, and it's December, so I guess not *that* bad )

January:
No Buy Days : 16/15
Gas : 98$ (22$ less)
Groceries : 237$ (86$ more)
Eating out (and snacks) : 99$ (86$ less )
Non-necessities : 222$ (182$ less)
Total: 656$ My second best month!

February:
No Buy Days : 19/16
Gas : 102$ (4$ more, which is good considering gas prices went up)
Groceries : 247$ (10$ more)
Eating out (and snacks) : 42$ (57$ less )
Non-necessities : 633$ (411$ more)
Total : 1024$

All in all, an okay month, especially since I bought my new glasses. I am mostly proud of my eating out budget, which has been phenomenal this month!!

 

[SunnieRN]

No Buy days this month: 7/10

So the month is over, and despite the fact that DD was home for half of it, and DS/gf practically live here, all in all, I'm not tooooo disappointed with my totals. Looks like$0 every 4th day. I think next month, I'll try for 1 in 3. [/COLOR]

It is SO difficult to stay on a budget feeding extra people! You did great!

Just finishing up a few loose ends here before the new month starts. Our laptop died for good last Thursday, so we had to buy a new one this past weekend. Somehow I actually made my goal of no-buy days for February.
Goal:
10/10

January coupon savings: $58.50
February coupon savings: $81.70

I bow to your couponing prowess!!! Awesome!

Congratulations everyone for meeting (at least some of) our goals.

Today we did a big grocery trip, but our goal is to last two weeks with it. We had gotten into the bad habit of always buying just the minimum, then going back 2-3 times a week "just to get a couple of items". Well of course those couples of items turned into more than a few so we were spending a lot. Now we try to eat as much as possible out of what we already have at home. Hope it works!

No Buy Days : 19/16 Not setting a new goal. Will just take whatever extra no-buy days I can get.
Gas : 102$ (let's try 100$)
Groceries : 247$ (250$ max)
Eating out (and snacks) : 42$ (100$ max)
Non-necessities : 633$ (200$)

It's quite a sticker shock, when you do your original grocery shopping, but I know doing this has saved me a TON!! Hope it works out well for you!

I am SO inspired by you all!! I am really excited about March now!!!

 

[SunnieRN]

May:
Gas : 73$
Car repairs : 390$
Groceries : 226$
Eating out (and snacks) : 250$
Non-necessities : 267$
Total spent: 1206$

June:
Gas : 47$ (26$ less)
Groceries : 140$ (86$ less)
Eating out (and snacks) : 115$ (135$ less)
Non-necessities : 204$ (63$ less)
Total : 506$.

July:
No Buy Days : 5/10
Gas : 40$ (7$ less)
Car repairs : 261$
Groceries : 189$ (49$ more)
Eating out (and snacks) : 179$ (64$ more)
Non-necessities : 865$ (661$ more )
Total: 1554$

August:
No Buy Days : 12/10
Gas :38$ (2$ less)
Groceries : 317$ (128$ more)
Eating out (and snacks) : 196$ (17$ more UGH)
Non-necessities : 657$ (208$ less)
Total : 1208$

September:
No Buy Days : 16/10 New goal 15
Gas : 85$ (47$ more, but my new job is further away)
Groceries : 264$ (53$ less )
Eating out (and snacks) : 126$ (70$ less )
Non-necessities : 503$ (154$ less, but still way too much!)
Total : 978$ (230$ less )

October:
No Buy Days : 12/15
Gas : 91$ (6$ more)
Groceries : 193$ (71$ less)
Eating out (and snacks) : 118$ (8$ less)
Non-necessities : 493$ (10$ less)
Total: 895$ (83$ less)

November:
No Buy Days : 11/15
Gas : 98$ (7$ more)
Car : 74$
Groceries : 298$ (105$ more)
Eating out (and snacks) : 164$ (46$ more)
Non-necessities : 204$ (289$ less )
Total: 838$ (57$ less)

December:
No Buy Days : 7/10
Gas : 120$ (22$ more, but gas prices went up and I did lots of shopping)
Groceries : 151$ (147$ less )
Eating out (and snacks) : 185$ (21$ more)
Non-necessities : 404$ (200$ more, but it was the month of splurging on myself and lots of activities. Hopefully January will be much calmer)
Christmas : 285$ (85$ over budget)
Salsa lessons : 280$
Total : 1420$ (Less than my worse month though, and it's December, so I guess not *that* bad )

January:
No Buy Days : 16/15
Gas : 98$ (22$ less)
Groceries : 237$ (86$ more)
Eating out (and snacks) : 99$ (86$ less )
Non-necessities : 222$ (182$ less)
Total: 656$ My second best month!

February:
No Buy Days : 19/16
Gas : 102$ (4$ more, which is good considering gas prices went up)
Groceries : 247$ (10$ more)
Eating out (and snacks) : 42$ (57$ less )
Non-necessities : 633$ (411$ more)
Total : 1024$

All in all, an okay month, especially since I bought my new glasses. I am mostly proud of my eating out budget, which has been phenomenal this month!!

!!!!! Wow and thank you for even MORE inspiration!!! How awesome to see all your months listed like that!!!

 

[#1hoosierfan]

SunnieRN - Thanks for the props for the couponing. My goal was to do better for February than in January. There are lots of people that put me to absolute shame with regards to coupons, but I am trying to find a balance between spending the time researching the coupons, going to different stores, and working full-time with 2 little boys. Right now I have been doing most of my couponing combined with sales at Walgreens. I am building up a nice little stockpile of toothpaste, shampoo, razors, soap, etc... that I got for FREE!

 

[Virgderon]

Today my company closed its doors, and I am out of a job. I kind of saw it coming, and have been looking for a couple months, but don't have a job offer yet. I'm exhausted, I'm devastated, and I can't believe this keeps happening to me. DH lost his job a couple years ago, and we were just recovering from that. I guess I'll really need to budget now, but I feel like I have cut so much already.

Running Total: Spent $950
$1225 budget... $275 left
$0 Days: 8
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 110

Groceries budget- $250-25-14-45-31-7-19-16-11-26-4= 52 left

Feb. 1 : 45 (groceries and laundry detg, snacks for hockey game tonight, 10 for parking at hockey game tonight)
Feb. 2 : 0
Feb. 3: 24 (10 shipping DDs e-bay stuff, 14 pop and bread)
Feb. 4: 23 (Cracker Barrell)
Feb. 5: 250 (205 car repair, 45 groceries)
Feb. 6: 0
Feb. 7: 20 (dr. co-pay)
Feb. 8 : 62 (32 bowling, 6 food at bowling, 14 Walgreens pop & misc, 10 Walgreens prescription co-pay)
Feb. 9 : 0
Feb. 10 : 58 (27 Walgreens, 31 Publix - got some good bogos today!)
Feb. 11: 16 ( card and small gift for DH for Valentines day)
Feb. 12 : 93 ( 88 Ross for clothes, 5 gas - the stupid pump ran out and I did not have patience to go to another one)
Feb. 13: 70 (20 breakfast, 50 haircut, color, tip)
Feb. 14 : 0
Feb. 15: 30 ( Walgreens - cleaning supplies, 7 pop)
Feb.16 : 0
Feb. 17 : 19 (groceries)
Feb 18-20 : 102 (Orlando weekend, food , etc.)
Feb. 21 : 0
Feb. 22: 37 (16 bowling, 5 food at bowling, 16 groceries)
Feb, 23: 0
Feb. 24: 40 (21 Walgreens, 11 pop, 8 shipping at USPS)
Feb. 25 : 26 (Publix)
Feb. 26: 0
Feb. 27: 16 ( Movie snacks 11, pop& paper 5)
Feb. 28 : 18 ( Walgreens)

 

[#1hoosierfan]

Today my company closed its doors, and I am out of a job. I kind of saw it coming, and have been looking for a couple months, but don't have a job offer yet. I'm exhausted, I'm devastated, and I can't believe this keeps happening to me. DH lost his job a couple years ago, and we were just recovering from that. I guess I'll really need to budget now, but I feel like I have cut so much already.

Running Total: Spent $950
$1225 budget... $275 left
$0 Days: 8
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 110

Groceries budget- $250-25-14-45-31-7-19-16-11-26-4= 52 left

Feb. 1 : 45 (groceries and laundry detg, snacks for hockey game tonight, 10 for parking at hockey game tonight)
Feb. 2 : 0
Feb. 3: 24 (10 shipping DDs e-bay stuff, 14 pop and bread)
Feb. 4: 23 (Cracker Barrell)
Feb. 5: 250 (205 car repair, 45 groceries)
Feb. 6: 0
Feb. 7: 20 (dr. co-pay)
Feb. 8 : 62 (32 bowling, 6 food at bowling, 14 Walgreens pop & misc, 10 Walgreens prescription co-pay)
Feb. 9 : 0
Feb. 10 : 58 (27 Walgreens, 31 Publix - got some good bogos today!)
Feb. 11: 16 ( card and small gift for DH for Valentines day)
Feb. 12 : 93 ( 88 Ross for clothes, 5 gas - the stupid pump ran out and I did not have patience to go to another one)
Feb. 13: 70 (20 breakfast, 50 haircut, color, tip)
Feb. 14 : 0
Feb. 15: 30 ( Walgreens - cleaning supplies, 7 pop)
Feb.16 : 0
Feb. 17 : 19 (groceries)
Feb 18-20 : 102 (Orlando weekend, food , etc.)
Feb. 21 : 0
Feb. 22: 37 (16 bowling, 5 food at bowling, 16 groceries)
Feb, 23: 0
Feb. 24: 40 (21 Walgreens, 11 pop, 8 shipping at USPS)
Feb. 25 : 26 (Publix)
Feb. 26: 0
Feb. 27: 16 ( Movie snacks 11, pop& paper 5)
Feb. 28 : 18 ( Walgreens)

I am so sorry.

to you!

 

[SunnieRN]

SunnieRN - Thanks for the props for the couponing. My goal was to do better for February than in January. There is lots of people that put me to absolute shame with regards to coupons, but I am trying to find a balance between spending the time researching the coupons, going to different stores, and working full-time with 2 little boys. Right now I have been doing most of my couponing combined with sales at Walgreens. I am building up a nice little stockpile of toothpaste, shampoo, razors, soap, etc... that I got for FREE!

That's fantastic!! I need to start learning how to do this. Not sure without getting coupons in our paper, if I will be able to accomplish $0, but hopefully will improve from where I am now!!

 

[SunnieRN]

Today my company closed its doors, and I am out of a job. I kind of saw it coming, and have been looking for a couple months, but don't have a job offer yet. I'm exhausted, I'm devastated, and I can't believe this keeps happening to me. DH lost his job a couple years ago, and we were just recovering from that. I guess I'll really need to budget now, but I feel like I have cut so much already.

Running Total: Spent $950
$1225 budget... $275 left
$0 Days: 8
Goal is 8 or more!
coupon/sale savings : 110

Groceries budget- $250-25-14-45-31-7-19-16-11-26-4= 52 left

((((((Hugs))))))) and prayers! I am so sorry that this happened to you! You are a lot of inspiration and support in my journey and I wish you the best of luck in your budgeting and in finding a new job!!

 

[QVCshopper]

So sorry, Virgderon! I'm sure you'll get something new soon.I think you mentioned you've been looking for a while, and you seem very smart and a great employee/wife/mom! Let us know if you need anything, like extra support.

 

[wlake]

Today my company closed its doors, and I am out of a job. I kind of saw it coming, and have been looking for a couple months, but don't have a job offer yet. I'm exhausted, I'm devastated, and I can't believe this keeps happening to me. DH lost his job a couple years ago, and we were just recovering from that. I guess I'll really need to budget now, but I feel like I have cut so much already.

Oh no! Hopefully that company you were interviewing with earlier will come up with a better salary offer. Hang in there!

 

[A.Mickey]

Today my company closed its doors, and I am out of a job. I kind of saw it coming, and have been looking for a couple months, but don't have a job offer yet. I'm exhausted, I'm devastated, and I can't believe this keeps happening to me. DH lost his job a couple years ago, and we were just recovering from that. I guess I'll really need to budget now, but I feel like I have cut so much already.

Hang in there you will find something!

 

[A.Mickey]

Running Total: Spent $1825.70
$0 Days:13/10

Groceries ($252-$9/day)- $246.46
Eating Out ($196-$7/day)- $189.16
Misc. (Shopping/Entertainment) ($1008-$36/day) $1158.08
Gas $200?- $25 (2/3), $48 (2/6), $28 (2/8), $30 (2/14), $45 (2/20), $32 (2/22), $24 (2/27) When we were out running around gas was kinda low at $3.48 so we filled up the car that usually costs $50 to fill = $232

WEEK 1 BEGIN:
1- $12.68 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $21.04 (Walgreens-Groceries), $6.34 (Meijer-Groceries)
2- As much as I would like to go out, to get a few items at Dominick's before they are off sale, it is not happening. We got 22" of snow! Only emergency and medical vehicles are allowed on the road.
$0
3- $31.43 (Meijer-Groceries), $4.88 (McDonald's-Eating Out)
4- $0
5- $9.97 (CVS-Groceries), $5.99 (Dominick's-Groceries)
WEEK 2 BEGIN:
6- $2 (Dollar Tree-Papers), $6.37 (Meijer-Groceries), $3/bag, probably got over 50 kids books (Library Book Sale-Shopping), $12.95 (Walgreens-Groceries), $13.98 (Wendy's-Eating Out), $291.60 (Hotel for 2 nights St. Louis in July, staying right next to the arch and we can walk to Busch stadium for the U2 concert), $101.25 (Car Registration-Misc.)
7- $35 (Joe Caputo-Groceries)
8- $200 (Registration for Spring Classes for our 3 year old son and preschool in the fall)
9- $6 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $23 (Post Office-Misc. Needed to send in a DSLR lens that broke on our trip in December, it is still under warranty though, so hopefully this will save me money in the long run, and also bought a book of stamps)
10- $0
11- $0
12- $6.82 (Jewel-Groceries), $2 (Dollar Tree-Shopping Newspapers), $9.80 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $13.15 (Eating Out-Subway)
WEEK 3 BEGIN:
13- $31 (Zoo-Eating Out, bought a refillable mug for $10 that will be good til the end of the year, now we just have to remember to bring it), $19 (Meijer-Groceries), $6.77 (Super Target-Groceries)
14- $3.81 (Joe Caputo-Groceries), $16.58 (KFC-Eating Out and Hubby's Valentine's Day present...he loves Hot wings and last week he wanted them, but he couldn't justify getting them when we have so much food in the house. He works 3rd shift so I lined them up on a pan to make them spell out I "heart" U. I can't wait til he sees it. He loves his hotwings and hasn't had them for a long time)
15- $0
16- $215 (Southwest-bought two one way tickets for our trip in Sept/October), $1.65 (Walgreens-Groceries), $7.26 (Wendy's-Eating Out)
17- $0
18- $0
19- $12 (Dollar Tree-Groceries (bought alot of stuff to start a container garden), $8 (Parking-Misc.), $27 (foodlife-Eating Out), $15 (Culver's-Eating Out), $14 (Justice-Shopping)
WEEK 4 BEGIN:
20- $9 (Meijer-Groceries), $11 (Justice-Shopping), $82 (Frys-Shopping)
21- $0
22- $20.34 (Target-Groceries-Awesome frozen food deal and got back $15 in Target Gift Cards), $9.37 (McDonald's-Eating Out), $9.06 (Walgreens-Groceries)
23- $0
24- $0
25- $0
26- $0
27- $2 (Dollar Tree- Shopping Newspapers), $13.49 (Meijer-Needed Ink, but just but Magenta, need more next month), $24.92 (Walgreens-Groceries..but got back $56!! So made over $31 and saved over $75 just with my coupons!) Awesome week to be at Walgreens if one is near you!)
Afternoon: Outlet $67.12 (Lane Bryant-4 new bras, saved $40), $10.82 (Crocs-But black heels saved $30), $8 (Home Depot-needed a full spectrum light for my growing seedlings for my container garden this year and a good sprayer), $3.56 (Lowe's-Wormie Water sensors-they are super cute! ), $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)
28- $0



Budget: $1656....110%
Month: 28/28: 100%
No Buy: 13/10: 130%

My savings from coupons and sales: $1021.12

Next Month: Pictures, Ohio Hotel, two trips by train, Great America season pass installment, 2nd half of our airplane tickets for October, ink for printer, laptop...

 

[Tiggerish]

Virgderon, I am so sorry.

SunnieRN, I am a single person and meal plan, use coupons and cook from scratch which is why my grocery stays low. Actually, half my groceries are to feed my visiting family. Which is a big change from my former life where I lived far from my family, worked all the time and ate out all meals during the week. And yes, sometimes I miss my old life but am slowly coming to terms with my new reality.

 

[ronnmel]

!!!!! Wow and thank you for even MORE inspiration!!! How awesome to see all your months listed like that!!!

Glad I me listing all my months has inspired you. I do appreciate being able to have a more global vision of my year. My main goal is to be able to use it to compare with the same month from last year once I make it a full year doing this.

Today my company closed its doors, and I am out of a job. I kind of saw it coming, and have been looking for a couple months, but don't have a job offer yet. I'm exhausted, I'm devastated, and I can't believe this keeps happening to me. DH lost his job a couple years ago, and we were just recovering from that. I guess I'll really need to budget now, but I feel like I have cut so much already.

Sorry that you are going through a tough time.

 

[charming23]

Your numbers are inspiring!!! I hope you are saving for another WDW trip, as I love your trip reports!!!

Thanks. We are definately always saving to go back to Disney. Our goal at the moment is fall of 2012. I would love to be there for food and wine and to see the Christmas Decorations.

Today my company closed its doors, and I am out of a job. I kind of saw it coming, and have been looking for a couple months, but don't have a job offer yet. I'm exhausted, I'm devastated, and I can't believe this keeps happening to me. DH lost his job a couple years ago, and we were just recovering from that. I guess I'll really need to budget now, but I feel like I have cut so much already.

I am so sorry I hope you find something quickly.

 

[fairyprincess1]

Curbing some small spending is a great start!

Thanks for the support!!