Welcome To The No Spender Bender

[Gracie Lee]

Eeep! I was just perusing Lady Day's Etsy store, and it is taking a MAJOR amount of will power to NOT spend my whole paycheck on patterns and other lovlies!

 

[Deleted member 12480]

cmooon Gracie Lee! You can resist!

 

[kamikat]

Well, folks, it's May1, how are we doing? April was a total loss. My dog ate a ton of chocolate, which is poison for dogs. He spent the weekend in the doggy hospital and we have a huge bill to show for it. As for May, I'm starting off in the red. I was just diagnosed with an eye infection, which means I had to throw out anything that came in contact with my eyes. Replacing all that make-up and brushes was well over $50. If it's not one thing, it's another. I'm beginning to feel like I can't get ahead.

 

[Inky]

Yep, here it is may 1st. I was a partial win and partial fail myself. No real reason, just not enough focus. I was still great about ebay but couldn't pass up a crocheted purse with lucite handles and pull for $9.99, lol. and i got my birthday tattoo early as well. at least it's forever I failed because I didn't sell anything to make up for the costs.

Let's refocus in May and I wish you all well!

Any special goals? Mine is to sell the remaining things on ebay to help with our vacation plans in June!

Good luck!!

 

[Barbigirl]

May 1

Hello NSBers,
I haven't participated yet but have a variety of expenses coming up this summer that must be met and some debt I would like to see get paid down. I think I need to comb this thread for suggestions but my initial start will be:

1. A serious cut on my Starbucks drink that cost me $5.05 each, less per week and switch to tall.
2. Only one cocktail when I go out to the local club and bring cash so I can't change my mind
3. Netflix cancelled

Perhaps more after some thought...

 

[Gracie Lee]

I am pleased to say that I was able to resist Lady Day's droolworthy shop. However, I was not able to resist other things, an unexpected expense came up, and the truth is that this past week was an epic fail. I lost control on a couple things, and spent about half my car payment. This means that the majority of what I usually earmark for savings will have to go toward fixing my error. Once this weekend is over, I will balance out my accounts, and not spend another dime until I get my next paycheck on Friday. I have enough groceries to last me for the week, and enough gas in the car. I will pack my lunch and cook my dinners at home. And then I will go back to my original plan of getting cash out of my account and spending only what's in my wallet. One thing's for sure - May can only be better than April! Thanks all for the inspiration and encouragement!

 

[Deleted member 12480]

i love how this thread makes everyone so determined even if they've not been entirely satisfied with how they've done. I think its really lovely how everyone seems to 'pick themselves back up'

My month was alright, i probably spent a little too much on indulgences this month, need to save up a little more to get the swimsuit i'm mourning over, so i need to be stricter next mnth

Xxxxx

 

[The Shirt]

My goals for May-
1. Stick to spending only on necessary house items for the pending sale of the home. (Being very optimistic as I get ready to put it on the market)
2. May 15th - wedding dress shopping day!!! Must not even look at dresses over my budget. Stick to budget and try and beat it by $300. I am totally going to do it.
3. Figure out wedding expenses and figure out ways to reign it in. I am creative - I know I can do some things myself - just got to get focused.
4. Focus on long term spending items like the move, the honeymoon saving, etc. I don't need a temporary pick me up right now - so try and curb my frivolous spending.

 

[Solid Citizen]

NO spender BENDER

May 1st 2Years 5 Months NO EBAY :eusa_clap Solid Citizen

 

[Deleted member 12480]

This month has been a disaster.
I didn't just fall of the bandwagon - i hit the ground so hard it made a hole.

better luck for next month i hope, as i've got what i need to spend all sorted out.

How are your months going?

 

[Inky]

This month has been a disaster.
I didn't just fall of the bandwagon - i hit the ground so hard it made a hole.

better luck for next month i hope, as i've got what i need to spend all sorted out.

How are your months going?

Hi Annie -

May was awful for us - unexpected health expenses, car repair, another car failing the smog test, just general out of control spending.

I have to list some things on ebay and get out of a hole

good luck in June!!

 

[Deleted member 12480]

you too inky - i hope you don't get any more setbacks!

xxxx

 

[The Shirt]

I did ok, not fabulous but ok -
1. Wedding dress came in $295 under budget. YAHOO!
2. Home inspections didn't go quite as planned but could have been worse. I'll find out the real damage this Wed. with the monster gravity feed furnace.
3. Found some wedding deals and created some focus on what I want to do and what is not necessary to spend on. Borrowing a lot of little things.
4. Really cut our eating out and as a result dropped 3 lbs.

I'm still right down to the wire at the end of the month, but it's really spendy trying to sell a home. I keep telling myself this month will be better. And realistically it should be.

Good luck to everyone!

 

[LocktownDog]

My gardening budget went through the roof in May. So many late snows and freezes forced me to purchase extra protection, mulch, replacement plants, etc.

I did, however, come in $50 under budget for groceries. Freezing more "leftover meals" for quick dinners later on.

 

[LizzieMaine]

A drunken sailor had nothing on me during May -- spent way way overbudget due to purchases of research material for my ongoing writing project. Somebody on eBay apparently wants the same items for some dark purpose of their own, and is following me around bidding them up to ridiculous levels. But they're one of a kind materials available nowhere else, so...

It helped that my assistant at the theatre quit during April, so I worked the entire month without a day off. Overtime kept me from falling too deep into the red, but I have her replacement starting next week, so there won't be any more of that in June.

 

[CherryWry]

What a great idea! I'm in for June & July so I can save for my trip to Tokyo the first two weeks in August.

The plan: no lunches out, no mid-afternoon ice cream cones at the ice cream stand directly across the street from my office, no Dunkin Donuts runs, no new roller skate wheels, no Ebay, no clothes, no shoes, no purses. Will visit the library instead of buying books. My credit card balance is at $0; I will keep it there unless my car dies.

Exceptions: I will pay for dinner out with the Mister once every two weeks, not to exceed predetermined spending amount. May also buy myself two things in Las Vegas when the Mister and I vacation there the first week in July, combined total not to exceed $100.

Wishing everyone renewed discipline and good financial fortune for the next month.

 

[LocktownDog]

no mid-afternoon ice cream cones at the ice cream stand directly across the street from my office

Oh. My. Goodness.

There's no need for savagery! Your mental health is quite dependent on those afternoon forays. I know mine would be.

 

[kamikat]

May was off-track for me, but I expected it to be. I was participating in a "Me Made May" challenge (wearing handmade clothing every day of the month) and I did a lot more fabric shopping than I should have. However, today and June 1 and a chance to start over. I got some birthday money and gift cards and I'm allowing myself that spending, but no other spending all at this month.

 

[kamikat]

It's July 1, how's everybody doing? In June, I signed up for the patternreview.com Planned Wardrobe Contest, rules of which are as follows: 4 tops, 4 bottoms, one topper and one free choice item, all of which can be worn together. I spent all of my birthday money getting fabrics and materials for my entry but will have a great mix and match wardrobe once it's done. Since the spring was about saving up for my tattoo, my savings account is pretty low. The husband and I will be taking a vacation in August (the second biggest Sci-Fi convention in the country!!) so I need to save up for that. I am back on board with the no-spending!!!

 

[Jennifer Lynn]

I'm back on the no spender bender, kamikat. I see no need to buy at the moment, so I'm tightening the reigns as my mortgage and car are more important than frivilous purchases. Taking on another job or two should help with replenishing my rainy day money.

I'm agreeing up there with LocktownDog - HazelSmutCrunch - I don't know if I could give up a guilty pleasure (mine is chocolate). If you're going to give up the ice cream cones near work, maybe pare it down to a once a week thing, thus giving you more satisfaction when you have it. Just a thought.