So proud of us

**Shellshome** · 01-05-2007, 12:09 PM

we decided that this year we are going to get serious about cutting down bills and paying things off. Well we only have 1 credit card Home Depot, House payment, utlities and we are going to have to buy a car I am looking at a $300 payment there but that still leaves $396 to save and snowball.

So we have been doing really good at the NO Spend days we are at 5 for this month and also eating at home at 5 days so we are really proud of ourselves. We have only spent $4.56 in groceries I do have to go tom and get a few little things at the store but I don't count that in my no spend days~to me no spend days are eating out, and things we don't need like magazines and things that we think we need but really most likely don't. So I think for us we are doing great. We usually would have eating out at least 2x by now. We are really buckling down and trying this and it is great. I am cooking different things to try and it is great!!

We are hoping to be debt free (except for house and car) by the end of this year and all caught up on anything that we still owe on (cable is one month behind but I am hoping to pay it off this month) YEAH!!!

I think this is hard work but it is so worth it in the end I am hoping to add some money to the EF at the end of the month and also add some money to the vacation fund at the end of the month.

So how is everyone else doing with no spending? Grocery budget? and so forth. It is hard but it is well worth it in the end. GOOD LUCK to anyone doing this if I can do it so can you.

**peanut** · 01-05-2007, 12:25 PM

I'm so happy for you Shellshome. It sounds like you're doing great! Keep up the good work!

We're not doing so well right now. Mostly having to adjust financially to the kids being back in the house. My grocery bill is shot for the first half of the month. Other than that, we're looking at buying a new house. Could be interesting. I don't know how we'll afford that. We want to buy down, but with two extra bodies in the house, that may be difficult. We'll see.

For now we're just de-cluttering. I have the art studio to go. Also some homeschool material I want to sell that needs to be labeled. I'll be busy this month.

**Emjo** · 01-05-2007, 12:38 PM

Great job! It's all about the baby steps.

You are doing such a great thing for your family!

We're on track here...last June I decided to really buckle down and quit wasting money on eating out all the time, etc. We've saved hundreds of dollars since then, our savings has grown big time and I'll be paying off one of my student loans this month...3 years early!

Keep up the great work...it really does all add up!

**redhead68** · 01-05-2007, 01:05 PM

Excellent job!

I, too, struggle with the restaurant thing, but eating at home has made a huge difference in our monthly expenditures. It has been difficult at times. Eating out inflated what I thought constituted a proper meal. I've had to convice myself that every dinner doesn't have to be three courses. An omelet with left-over veggies satisfies us just as well. Bonus: I've lost 10 lbs. over the last two months, putting me back in my skinny jeans without feeling deprived. Hooray!

So, anyway, lots of cheers for your success. Keep at it!

**hollyhill** · 01-05-2007, 02:13 PM

Good for you!

Not eating out if you regularily do will be the BIGGEST money saver..... just keep thinking...what is better a MacDonalds Hamburger or that Vacation you are saving for.....its a no brainer!

**nuisance26** · 01-05-2007, 03:30 PM

~You're doing great! Keep it up!~

**Domestic Gal** · 01-05-2007, 07:42 PM

You are doing great. It will get easier as you see all of the $$$ you will be saving by not going out to eat. Plus like you said you lost 10 lb. without even trying to loose it. Great Job!

**banana** · 01-05-2007, 08:07 PM

Way to Go! Keep up the good work!

Emjo - Your baby is beautiful!

**danni** · 01-05-2007, 08:32 PM

Great job!

**bumplett** · 01-05-2007, 10:13 PM

great job so far!!

well, I thought I was doing really well - but I did buy toothpaste & softsoap that I didn't really need today !

-- oh, wait, does that count if I get a rebate check that more than covers it??

otherwise, I'm on track here too - but it's sooooo hard to not eat out - or rent movies -

**ewokgirl** · 01-05-2007, 11:29 PM

That's awesome!

Sadly, I've not been doing as well. My mom called and asked me if I wanted to meet her at the Talbots outlet after her hair appointment. Of course, I wanted to! I didn't really intend to spend any money today (going out wasn't part of my plan!), but I bought a gorgeous dress at Talbots for only $18 (originally $138). It'll be my Easter dress this year. I also bought a couple of pairs of capris for spring. Total spent there was $34.

Then I treated my mom to lunch. It was lunchtime, we were hungry, and my parents gave us a trip to Europe for Christmas. Buying her lunch was the least I could do!

Then I went to Half-Price Books. Found a small NIV bible for travel. I've been wanting a small one for quite a while now, so I spent the $8 when I found a pretty one I liked. Also bought a workout DVD and some notecards. Total spent: $18.

Oh, and then tonight we headed over to Michaels. We did some brass rubbings at a church in London, and I wanted to get them framed. Had some Christmas and birthday money from MIL. Even with their 50%-off custom framing sale, the total for one of the rubbings came to $149. It would have been $300 to frame both of them, so we're only having one done now. *sigh*

We do have some extra money right now, but that was really earmarked for car maintenance (the expensive timing belt change). We still have plenty for what needs to be done, but I wanted to have plenty of extra set aside in case the mechanic finds that something needs to be repaired once he's in the engine. I'm expecting to be told we need to replace the axle boots.

We're okay, but I really wanted to be frugal with the money. I can at least justify some of this because I've wanted some interesting and different artwork for the dining room (which I'll now have), and I bought a gorgeous, high-quality dress for Easter for less than $20, and I've wanted a small NIV bible for traveling for months.... I know, I know... trying to justify it all!

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 01-06-2007, 01:59 AM

Well, I was doing pretty good this month until today. Ugh. I dropped the PUR pitcher on the kitchen floor. Needless to say...it's not gonna hold water like THAT! So, had to spend the $$ to get a new one. We were down to only 2 filters (we drink almost entirely water...that and hot tea) so I just bought a box of those filters while standing in the aisle.

While at work, my hubby called me and said..."I hate to tell you this, but I just looked at the wipers on the car (the one at home) and one of them fell off and the other is in bad shape". Last night he told me nearly the same thing about our other car. So, after depositing my paycheck tonight...we went to Walmart (PUR pitcher and filters), then Shucks Auto (wipers), then Costco (nice big food bill...and I got 2 things of vitamins...see $$ below).

My "unnecessary" purchase was a steal of a deal. I got 10 packs of Christmas gift tag (sticky labels) for 20 cents each...yup, 2.00!! I couldn't pass that up! We now won't need to buy labels for YEARS!!

Anyway...that was my day... Hated to spend $$, but when ice and snow have destroyed the wiper blades ya have and it's still stormin'...ya buy new ones!

(Much cheaper than a car accident cause ya can't see)...

**Shellshome** · 01-06-2007, 11:51 AM

Well I am still at no spend or eating out and it feels great.

I do know that on sunday I am going to go get a few things at the store but I don't count that in my no spend days (those are like eating out, misc things we don't need but want and groceries are something of a need item).

But we are doing great. Sorry that some of you had set backs but it will get better. We are really working hard at this and we know we can do it. Well need to go downstairs and find something for lunch. Proably just soup but that is ok it keeps us home.