KimmyAnn's super savings and challenge invite!
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KimmyAnn1147 · 08-31-2015, 09:55 PM

Ok, after some serious financial setbacks (nothing really bad, just got a great deal on a car when we were hoping to wait a year, and then I forgot to reimburse my parents for my phone bill for...IDK...2+ yrs!)

Soooo, instead of being 60% to goal for my upcoming trips, I'm now 31%.

I'm challenging myself to spend under $800 after paying rent each month. That will include utilities, car insurance, groceries, entertainment, misc. Last month we spent $1260! I was really loose with the entertainment budget in August. I had a birthday, hosted a cocktail party, and went out for lunch a bunch of times. I KNOW I can live cheaper than that!!!!

DH is pretty cheap, so I think if I just can reign myself in, we will be able to really save.

Anyone who wants to join me in a similar challenge is welcome. I'm going to post what I've spent (approximately) here.

KimmyAnn1147 · 08-31-2015, 10:07 PM

For today: $58 on AAA membership renewal; $123 on 5 bras ( a multi-year purchase). The Victoria's Secret shopkeeper told me recently that the cotton coverage are being discontinued. It might be untrue, but I got free shipping by ordering over $100, so I placed a big order.

Total spent: $181. Leaving me with $619 for the month, or just $20 bucks for this week. Yipes!

Most of my $ savings will have to come from the food and alcohol budget. That's the only place where expenditures are flexible at this point. Oh, and I need to switch to a budget phone carrier one of these days. Sheesh. So much to do.

Positive measures today: Didn't buy anything special for meals. Ate leftovers. Am boiling up some black beans to use for lunches this week at work.

I figure after fixed costs, I have about 400 left to work with for a food budget. I know groceries are expensive, but it seems like we should be able to better than we have been. A family of 3 should be able to live on 400 per month, right? We do almost everything from scratch. We buy in bulk at the local bulk bins. Mmmm....maybe this should become a kitchen thread?

Huntermom · 09-01-2015, 03:59 PM

Do you have any food coops around? The local Catholic Church used to have a food program where you paid around $30. and did maybe 8 hrs of volunteer wrk and got a bunch of good groceries-fresh fruits and veggies, healthy meats. I did it when my kids were young. If you got anything you didn't want you could donate it right then and there for disadvantaged families.

Also we have community farms to which you pay a small fee and get a box of produce each week. I think they are a great deal although pick up times are limited and don't always work for me.

Huntermom · 09-01-2015, 04:04 PM

I did a quick search for CSA's in Portland. Have not idea how far from you that is.

Portland Area CSA Coalition

jenifermg0 · 09-01-2015, 07:32 PM

Okay....I'm going to follow you and keep track of everything I spend too starting today...above regular bills.

9/1 - $3.48 - Cup of tea and bag of M&Ms...really didn't need them, but I was wanting chocolate. And since I have loose leaf tea at work, I really shouldn't have wasted the $1.39 on the tea - but I did. I'll do better tomorrow!!!!!!!!!! Not off work yet so I don't know if I will spend more tonight. I don't think I will - we have dinner makings and other than dropping off DS's car to get detailed (and that is already paid for...thank you Groupon), I don't see us going out anywhere.

KimmyAnn1147 · 09-01-2015, 09:32 PM

Yay!!! Company!!!

Huntermom, I actually live in a low-income housing co-op in Eugene, OR. We have a CSA of sorts. It's actually a program called "extra helping" from the local food bank, where our co-op is a local distribution center for overflow of perishable items. So, each Thursday, we can go in there and take whatever we've received. One of our members goes to the food bank and picks stuff out for us. Common items are oversize or split carrots, fresh bread, cabbage, mushrooms, apples etc. In the last 2 weeks we've gotten tons of bruised mangos. They need trimming but are excellent. Todays dinner is sausage with peppers and onions, with the peppers coming from the "food drop". So, why am I spending so much money?

Jennifer-I'm thrilled you want to join me in this! Yayayayay!!!!! Yeah, sometimes those habitual spending patterns are just that, habitual. I LOVE going out for coffee and snacks, so we request coffee shop gift cards for Christmas from my parents. I'm keeping my planned weekly fro-yo date with DS. I'm being frugal, not austere!

I worked long hours today, no chance to spend any cash. DH is making stuff from the freezer..So, make that a goose-egg for Tuesday, Sept 1st!

Spent today $0
Spent this week $181
Spent this month $181

Huntermom · 09-02-2015, 01:02 AM

I do financial affidavits with clients all the time. The biggest surprise is often when we figure out how much money is spent on Dunkin's over a month-people don't think of that $4. stop being much until you figure it out on a monthly basis. The other big expenditure is cigarettes. I don't know how people can afford to smoke. Besides it is so unhealthy.

I don't eat out because of health considerations. BUt when I did I was spending close to $100./week on lunches,

I di go to Whole Foods every couple of days. For me, I waste less if I paln to use food in the next day or two.

Savings is hard. I was out sick for a year-no income to speak of, I still think of how low I was able to get my expenses and keep looking to get back to that level of spending.

KimmyAnn1147 · 09-02-2015, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huntermom

I do financial affidavits with clients all the time. The biggest surprise is often when we figure out how much money is spent on Dunkin's over a month-people don't think of that $4. stop being much until you figure it out on a monthly basis. The other big expenditure is cigarettes. I don't know how people can afford to smoke. Besides it is so unhealthy.

Savings is hard. I was out sick for a year-no income to speak of, I still think of how low I was able to get my expenses and keep looking to get back to that level of spending.

I'm a happy ex-smoker. So glad I kicked that stupid habit. It's been 15 years now. I loved it, and maybe will start again when I'm 70-80 years old. Maybe.

I have no idea what a financial affadavit is, but I do know that those little splurges add up. My biggest sin is not planning for lunch when I will be out all day. I usually end up at Subway Sandwiches ($5.50), or buying school lunch ($4) from the school I work at. Not TERRIBLE, health wise, but high in sodium and expensive!!!

Any great tips from your austere time?

Angela531 · 09-02-2015, 09:52 AM

I too am trying to real in spending; I actually picked up a spending log book and budgeting tools yesterday to help me become more accountable. Although yesterday was an expensive day...

Here's my rundown:

Panera Breakfast (studied there) - $8
Office Max (School Supplies and Budgeting Items) - $79
Target (Groceries/Cleaning Supplies) - $77
Ulta Salon w/Tip - (Hair, Root Touch Up & Highlights) - $125
Dinner Out Shakou w/Tip - $153

9/1 Total = $442

So far today:

Auto Fuel - $31....hopfully this will be all for today!

Huntermom · 09-02-2015, 10:23 AM

My ability to live very frugally during my austere time was because I was too ill to go out. In my state one has to do a financial affidavit including expenses for divorce court. My clients usually need to cut back as you can't live in two homes as easily as one with the same incomes. The biggest "little" expense mistake I see is eating out. A $4. coffee doesn't seem like month when yu buy it but if you figure out how much you spend a month, you may find it is more than a car payment.

I am an ardent non-smoker and always have been but I do not understand how most people can afford that habit. I am so glad you quit, Kimmy Ann.

I think a couple of things I try to do is avoid places like Target and
Walmart. Seriously, I run into Walmart for a file folder and end up spending $75.00 dollars on things I probably don't need. One of my friends she prefers to pay more at staples because she can buy a $3. folder at staples and leave staples having spent $3. She can buy the same folder at Walmart for $2. but leaves having spent $50.00.

I am going to start getting my office supplies on line (I have a law office so use a lot of supplies) just because I think I will do fewer impulse purchases.

wheezie · 09-02-2015, 11:33 AM

Huntermom! That's one thing I've really tried to do this year-avoid WM as much as possible, bc I do end up spending waaay more than I wanted.

The only other grocery store in our little town is Food Lion, and while their groceries are a bit higher, when I come out of there with a buggy full at least it's a buggy full of FOOD and not note pads, dvds, etc.

jenifermg0 · 09-02-2015, 12:50 PM

Okay...So I checked the bank accounts this am to get what DH spent too!

9/1
DH-$2.99 (Lemon juice...I was making blueberry rhubarb jam-from berries/rhubarb we had at home and I needed this)
DH-$53.48 (new space heater...always a good idea to have and the old one was getting very tired and not working well)
BILLS-Electric-$197.57 (was actually two months worth...life has been hectic lately and I've been traveling for work so I managed to goober and missed last month...but back on track now!)
BILLS-Storage Unit-$86

9/2
ME-$3.57...took DS to school since his car is being detailed and stopped to get him a lemonade and snack and (yeah...I know) me a cup of tea.

So that is a total (including bills paid so far) for the month of....$347.09

HOWEVER....only $7.05 has been frivolous!! Okay, $10.04...if you count the lemon juice which wasn't NECESSARY, but I didn't want the berries to go bad before I got them turned into jam.

Huntermom · 09-02-2015, 05:06 PM

I wasn't going to start until after I got my niece her babyshower gift. A big splurge but her mother, my sister was so wonderful to me when I was sick.

Today, I spent a grand total of $1.44. I picked up a salad from the salad bar after cardiac rehab at the hospital. I usually spend about $2-3 but it was later in the lunch hour and there were limited fresh veggies out.

ETA: I guess I should count the $285.00 I spent on 150 gallons of heating oil.

Angela531 · 09-03-2015, 09:00 AM

Adding to yesterdays total I place an online order for Bath and Body Works to replenish our foaming hand soap. It was a sale and $1 shipping, for 8 bottle it was $30.13.

With the earlier gas, total for 9/2 = $61.13

Much better than the day before!

KimmyAnn1147 · 09-03-2015, 09:34 AM

Thanks for joining us, Angela! Wow, Monday was a doozy for you...but we are all going to have days like that. When we do go to the big grocery store, we typically spend 200-300 bucks in one shot.

Huntermom, you had a low spending day yesterday! Of course, a winter's worth of heating oil can't be avoided.

I probably shouldn't count that big once every few years bra order either.

Jennifer, you are saving $ by making your berry rhubarb jam. My family hasn't had store-bought jam in years. Although I have to buy the pectin and sweeteners, the blackberries are free here!

I sent DH to the local grocery store yesterday, so we did in fact spend money. I was in the middle of making dinner and realised we were completely out of onions!

Onions, bananas, milk, eggs = 14.12

He also took out $50 in cash, but he doesn't spend cash much, so I'm not going to try to track all that and make it balance exactly with the accounts.

Today I will drive to work so it's easier for me to stop and spend while in transit. I biked the last 2 days, so that's less gas on those days, but I could easily eat up my savings by stopping at the 2nd hand shop or convenience store.

I'm feeling bored of my lunch of black beans and rice, but there's lots left...I need to shake it up a bit. I think I'll add some indian pickle instead of cheddar cheese today.

Spent yesterday: ~14
Total for the week: ~195