Null! Nilch! Nada! Nicht!

For the last 5 days, I spent $0!

Not a penny.

Except $24 on Gas for Work

But for myself…

• I saved $18 by not buying food at work

Trust me. Today, I was sooooo tempted to buy breakfast today. I packed the leftovers last night in my lunch bag, but forgot to pack the fruit, snack bar & bread to make toast. So, I just had my salmon and rice leftovers with my ice tea. Still hungry. But, I will not budge. I am going to stick by my goal and scarf down when I get home.

• My family saved $100 by not eating out

Oh, by the way, my DH flipped when he heard how much we spend on food.
“We spend $800 in groceries plus $400 for eating out…”
Yeah, he’s on my side for cutting that combined bill down.

How’s your spending or No Spending going?

Week 1

• So, I have $100 + $18 + $65 = $183
• I need a total $220 for this week.
• Leaving me to find $37 *finger to forehead* Hmmm…
• I made $17 on a book sale, but not going to factor in until I receive the funds

I will either take this out of the Cash Allowance funds or the Grocery Funds. I’ll update you on that.

Now for the challenging weekend ahead (the sun always brings out the desire to spend)

 

PS: If you are looking for Grocery Saving Coupons please visit Coupons.com. CouponMom offers the same exact coupons, but by linking on through Coupons.com on my site… you’ll help put a little pocket change in my piggy bank. There is no sign up, no fees, nada! Just click and print the store coupons you need. And check back weekly for updates! Thank U!

 

 

What is Your Food Budget?

So Sharon and JpKittie are doing a August Spend Less Month. They both have nicely categorized and alloted their money to its appropriate places (love Sharon’s jars).

I am pretty much jumping on the same boat with this wicked 18 week goal of mine (see sidebar, new coin jar tracking my progress). But, I have not categorized or allotted anything. I am only aware of how much needs to paid each week. And aware that my family cannot eat out anymore, must penny pinch, and can’t want or envy for 18 weeks.

I wanted to step it up and categorize funds where necessary like these wonderful gals did. So, I decided to utilize my Wells Fargo’s Spending Report.

 

Holy Moly!

 

If you haven’t tried this tool (or something like it – Mint.com comes to mind), it will open your eyes!

Ashamed to admit, but here is the monthly averages on particular categories:

• Gas: $378 – That’s not the holy moly. That amount is okay because I drive to/from work alot
• Groceries: $800! – Holy Moly! $200 a week | $26 a day for a family of four.
• Restaurants: $416! – Holy Moly!

I didn’t realize we spent so much at the grocery store/Costco. Although, to me $200 a week for the 4 of us is not terrible (especially now that I am packing my lunches) But when you add up (3 +2 +5 =… counting with fingers) groceries + restaurants, that’s…

$1200 A MONTH ALONE ON FOOD!!!!!!

 

Restaurants, a main culprit in missing money. And I was right! Since we are not eating out for 18 weeks, this will save us approx. $1800. Cool beans!

But, minus regular CC payments…minus Not Eating out funds…we will still be short $85 a week in meeting our goal (it’s so much easier to see a goal when its broken down into baby steps).

How to fix? I assume we are going to have to cut back on our grocery shopping. I can also analyze other spots, too.

It’s definitely an eye opener. Have you analyzed your finances lately?

Controlling the Matrix

I know it will only be going on 4 days of this goal revolution, but I already feel that I am gaining accelerated control of the Matrix.

Neo asks, “What is the Matrix?”

Answer:

An illusory simulated reality construct of the world as it was in 1999 developed by the machines to keep the human population docile in their captivity

Conclusion :

Morpheus believes that Neo is “the One”, a man prophesied to end the war through his limitless control over the Matrix.

Each move within my day is sought out to solve it with creative flexibility. I feel within that I can accomplish this goal. I will accomplish this goal. My family will accomplish this goal.

The thing that evolved this strength from within? I told myself, “we need to make it happen”.

It’s not a ‘maybe’ or ‘I don’t feel like it’, but need  to make it happen.

I feel like I have this inert freedom to realize I can do anything (w/in legal limits) to make this work. I’ve come to realize that my stuff is just stuff, it’s what got me in debt and why I am still chained to debt. In order to release those bounds I need to let it go.

I have started:

• selling my unused clutter
• started an Etsy store, Emile Browne Designs (content coming soon) to generate extra income
• I am very careful about each move I make – did I pack my lunch today? Questioning things – do we really need this? Looking at the potential outcome – Is there an item with the same similarity on sale?

My DH has even started going through some of his ‘clutter’.

Every move I’ve made within the last 4 days feels like it is in slow motion but with such clarity to make it work for me in my situation.

Have any of you ever felt this way or am I just going nuts? Its okay, you can tell me if you think it’s the latter.

Have any of you ever felt this clarity? Like, “I finally get it.”

It’s a wonderful feeling, I hope it’s real and it lasts.

Beer problem solved.

Re: Friend’s gig on Friday Night

How to buy beer at friend’s gig when we are not allowed to ‘go out to eat’ while on this goal revolution of ours.

• We will be dropping our daughter of at (free) babysister’s house (I <3 SIL) for Overnight stay.
• We will be driving back home to make couple’s dinner of Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs, White Rice, and Veggies with a Green Salad (see, just have to use creativity – maybe I will light a couple of candles to make it romantic).

Beer?

• We decided since my son’s is away for the summer and daughter doesn’t do her chores… we have their allowance money to splurge (as long as the chores are done). Son = $13.50 (The other $1.50 from his $15 allowance or 10% automatically goes into his savings); Daughter = $5

Total: $18.50 to have beer at friend’s gig.

See? It can all work out somehow. Do you think this is a worthy solution? Or should I bank the $18.50 and proceed with Plan B that you are going to offer me?

Oh ya, we will be bringing purse snacks. The pub won’t know about that one.

 

Random Thoughts

 

today’s lunch
I have to pack my lunch?  *confused*

counting people in the coffee line
…that’s an average $3.50 spent per person, times 5 people in line right now, that would be an easy $17.50 to my goal. Too bad it can’t be mine.

today’s wants
I can’t buy my ice tea? What am I going to drink? Water.  *hmph*

made my first sale on Half.com
…how do you package this darn thing?  (tied up with tape, sissors, bubble wrap, envelopes, and cardboard makes me look like I’m in a kindergarten class)

thinking of other ways to generate funds
…sew coupon organizers, cloth napkins, reusable grocery bags, oh and that clever bias tape maker I want! Oh wait, I can’t want for 18 weeks. Damn!

on going to see a friend’s band play this weekend
…if we can’t spend on going out to eat, how am I going to buy beer?!?! Can I bring my own from my fridge? Pack purse snacks! Oh, this is fun  *sarcasm*

And this is only the first day peeps. LOL! The wonderment of another 17 weeks and 6 days!

 

*UPDATE: THANK YOU to all those wonderful readers of mine who have ordered things thru AMAZON.com or printed coupons from Coupons.com (link in header)!!!!!

 

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