Author Topic: 14 days, 185 dollars  (Read 6451 times)

SMMcP

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14 days, 185 dollars
« on: July 18, 2013, 11:06:26 AM »
In order to meet my savings goals this month I have to limit my spending in the everyday expense category (includes food, gasoline, entertainment, clothing, books, wine and personal care) to $185 for the remaining 14 days of this month.  I'm posting here because it helps me to be accountable.  Feel free to post your own spending limits and success/failure in meeting them for the month of July.

ace1224

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2013, 06:03:28 AM »
oh you can totally do this! i had 50 bucks for 2 weeks one time.  it sucked but i made it.  just make sure you have gas in the car and eat cheap for a little bit and you'll probably even have some left over!

SMMcP

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2013, 05:05:13 PM »
Ace, thanks for the encouragement.
Update:
Day 1 - zero spending
Day 2 - food $9.12, wine $10.14 for total of $19.26
This leaves me with $165.74 for the next 12 days. I think I am still on track.

Upstate NYer

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2013, 05:18:20 PM »
I'm in a similar situation. In order to not go over budget/meet my savings goal for the month, I have $235 until the end of July--for food, gas, everything.

ruthiegirl

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2013, 10:33:17 PM »
I am with you.  We pushed our savings rate hard this month and I am now feeling the pinch. 

$207.86 for the next 13 days.  The fridge is semi full and there is a half tank of gas.  I have to feed 4 kids with that cash though and they have huge appetites in the summer -- they are biking and swimming and playing and growing.  The fridge is constantly empty. 

I am going to do my best. 


Upstate NYer

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2013, 08:01:08 AM »
Okay, so far I paid a medical bill ($50), gas ($43), groceries ($25), and went to a friend's bday dinner ($10, split a pizza with another friend). But now I've got $100 for 11 days...I'm going to keep trying...

ace1224

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2013, 10:59:59 AM »
how's it going guys????

Upstate NYer

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2013, 03:33:01 PM »
Well, on the plus side, I discovered I had a $2.50 credit on my cc from a gc I purchased earlier this month, plus I got a q for $3 off from CVS in my email this morning (purchased 4 pack of tp and cookies for my DD for .94). Yesterday I spent $1.99 for milk. So I'm at $99.90 for the next...9 days.

How is everyone else doing? Hanging in there?

Rural

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2013, 05:08:49 PM »
Well, on the plus side, I discovered I had a $2.50 credit on my cc from a gc I purchased earlier this month, plus I got a q for $3 off from CVS in my email this morning (purchased 4 pack of tp and cookies for my DD for .94). Yesterday I spent $1.99 for milk. So I'm at $99.90 for the next...9 days.

How is everyone else doing? Hanging in there?

You're gaining on it; your daily available money is up since your last post.

SMMcP

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #9 on: July 23, 2013, 08:41:26 AM »
Update:
day 3 - zero spending
day 4 - groceries $87.80, misc. $16.04 for total of $103.84
day 5 - zero spending
This brings my total spending to $123.10, leaving only $61.90 for the next 9 days.
The upside is that I am stocked up on groceries now and shouldn't have to spend anything more on food for at least a week.

Upstate NYer

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2013, 06:56:20 PM »
Sounds like you're hanging in there, SMMcP! How are you doing, ruthiegirl?

Thanks Rural, I didn't realize that until you pointed it out. Today I picked up a couple of additional grocery items, for a total of $10.87. So I'm currently at $89.03 for 8 days. But unlike SMMcP, I will have to pick up additional food items/purchase gas before the time is up.

SMMcP

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #11 on: July 25, 2013, 07:34:00 AM »
How is everyone doing?  No spending for me on days 6 and 7 so I still have $61.90 with one week left in the month.

Upstate NYer

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #12 on: July 25, 2013, 03:46:57 PM »
I spent around $45 today on meds and food. I have $36 left for 6 days. I have a party to go to Saturday, so I have to top off my gas tank and I'm bringing Italian bread and soda. But I'm camping out in my friend's backyard overnight (free! lol). So it's going to be close. We'll see.

SMMcP

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #13 on: July 27, 2013, 07:08:37 AM »
Update:  Day 8 - $1.00 entry fee to my son's hockey game.
             Day 9 - food - $ 3.88
This leaves $57.02 for the remaining 5 days of the month.  I still have food in the house and gas in the car so I should be fine.

ruthiegirl

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #14 on: July 27, 2013, 10:47:10 AM »
I am hanging in there. 

We have had some ups and downs.  The electric bill was quite a bit less than I had budgeted, so that gave me an additional $30.  My son had a trip to the ER for some stitches and that was a $100 in co-pays which ate a lot of our cash.  I bought groceries and I now have less than 10 bucks.  Yikes! 

I am going to transfer $100 back to my checking account to cover food till the end of the month.  I still have a 1/4 tank of gas which is more than enough and I have no other expenses coming up. 


I am calling this a win.  We pushed our savings to 52% this month which was a big jump (up from 35%) and clearly left me too tight.  We really can save half of our take home, cover emergencies and live a good life. 

This is a massive...can I do say again?...MASSIVE change from a year ago when we spent every penny we earned and had 10K in credit card debt.  Seriously, what the hell were we buying? 

SMMcP

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #15 on: July 27, 2013, 11:23:43 AM »
I am hanging in there. 

We have had some ups and downs.  The electric bill was quite a bit less than I had budgeted, so that gave me an additional $30.  My son had a trip to the ER for some stitches and that was a $100 in co-pays which ate a lot of our cash.  I bought groceries and I now have less than 10 bucks.  Yikes! 

I am going to transfer $100 back to my checking account to cover food till the end of the month.  I still have a 1/4 tank of gas which is more than enough and I have no other expenses coming up. 


I am calling this a win.  We pushed our savings to 52% this month which was a big jump (up from 35%) and clearly left me too tight.  We really can save half of our take home, cover emergencies and live a good life. 

This is a massive...can I do say again?...MASSIVE change from a year ago when we spent every penny we earned and had 10K in credit card debt.  Seriously, what the hell were we buying?
Ruthiegirl, 52% savings rate is fantastic!  Congratulations on the changes you've made during the past year.  I think the $100 ER copay should come out of savings as an unexpected expense so I think you're justified in calling this month a win!

Upstate NYer

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #16 on: July 28, 2013, 05:23:41 PM »
Hear, hear! I second SMMcP's comment. :)

I'm down to 3 days, $3.80.
« Last Edit: July 28, 2013, 05:45:57 PM by Upstate NYer »

SMMcP

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Re: 14 days, 185 dollars
« Reply #17 on: July 30, 2013, 01:00:50 PM »
Update:
Day 9 - zero spending
Day 10 - zero spending
Day 11 - food $20.87
Leaves $36.15 for the last two days of the month - I think I have it made. 
Feels good to look at my balances at the end of the month and see a nice increase in my net worth.