Author Topic: Uber Frugal January  (Read 153406 times)

Kerowyn

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #950 on: February 04, 2017, 05:33:17 PM »
It turns out our savings rate was just over 50%, not counting pretax retirement contributions (that sounds like too much math for me)! That's pretty awesome.

More importantly, despite a few unexpected expenses in food and one somewhat infrequent bill coming in, we came in just about exactly $300 under my regular (in months, like this one, with two paychecks) day-job income. That means we saved my husband's entire paycheck and my small side hustle paycheck! And also that we could survive on my income alone, at least with our current expenses.

I think our biggest takeaway is that we can plan our meals for the week while at the grocery store and save money that way. Also, possibly, that we don't feel deprived when not spending any of our personal "fun money."

EricNYC

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #951 on: February 05, 2017, 09:30:37 AM »
Well, it went pretty good! I only got take-out twice at work, and one time it was paid for by the sales team. I can absolutely adapt to not spending $150 a month on Chipotle and food trucks. Such a minor sacrifice. :)

One issue: I need to work on how much I spend when eating out with friends. It's our primary method of socialization, but it does add up.

For this month, I'd like to start cutting my own hair. I usually like keeping my hair buzzed pretty short, so it sounds pretty simple. I spend between $15-25 on a haircut, and if I get 3-4 a year, that's $45-80 to save. Plus I can keep it at the exact length I like at all times -- no last minute stopping at a place right off Wall Street before an interview and paying out the ear for it!

EngineerYogi

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #952 on: February 06, 2017, 08:52:18 AM »
WHAT IS YOUR #1 TAKE AWAY FROM COMPLETING UFJ?

It can wait! And we probably don't need it anyway. Also, all that dining out isn't really making us happy. Cheap comfort foods at home can easily fill that hole.

WHAT SAVINGS RATE DID YOU ACHIEVE IN YOUR UBER FRUGAL MONTH?
70% when we normally sit around 30-40%, this was a massive change for us. The biggest being we spent only $30 on eating out (tried for $0 but that last weekend we caved) when we typically spend between $600-$1000 (yeah, I know) and we didn't do any traveling which we spent $1200/mo average on last year.

BuffaloStache

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #953 on: February 06, 2017, 05:39:38 PM »
70% when we normally sit around 30-40%, this was a massive change for us. The biggest being we spent only $30 on eating out (tried for $0 but that last weekend we caved) when we typically spend between $600-$1000 (yeah, I know) and we didn't do any traveling which we spent $1200/mo average on last year.

That is a MASSIVE change- congrats! Good luck implementing some of the lessons learned into future months.

HappierAtHome

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #954 on: February 06, 2017, 06:21:45 PM »
Thanks to everyone who shared their savings rate :D

katscratch

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #955 on: February 06, 2017, 06:27:50 PM »
Thanks to everyone who shared their savings rate :D

Your hub is right - it is inspirational!  Some huge wins in here!

katscratch

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #956 on: February 06, 2017, 06:30:06 PM »
Mid-month check-in:

This does not include bills or debt payments.

1 - $0
2 - $51.75 groceries
3 - $0
4 - $31.05 groceries, vitamin D supplement
5 - $0
6 - $0
7 - $0
8 - $0
9 - $0
10 - $14.38 date night - 2 movie tickets
11 - $0
12 - $0
13 - $0
14 - $0
15 - $21.72 friend's birthday dinner

Total: $118.90

16 - $0
17 - $15.98 groceries
18 - $0
19 - $0
20 - $0
21 - $0
22 - $86.84 groceries, tissues, dishwasher tabs
23 - $0
24 - $0
25 - $16.51 groceries
26 - $0
27 - $0
28 - $0
29 - $21.05 groceries
30 - $0
31 - $0

January total: $259.28 (with rent and bills = $1436.42)

No spend days: 23

Somehow I missed this before -- WOW!  That is amazing! 

nottoolatetostart

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #957 on: February 06, 2017, 07:19:37 PM »
WHAT IS YOUR #1 TAKE AWAY FROM COMPLETING UFJ?

Number one is plan. I need to plan more. Plan to eat every day (we get hungry every day!),  plan what clean clothes we need to avoid the dryer, plan and gather kids stuff so we can walk to school vs driving, plan/organize my stuff so I can find it, plan ahead so you can order cheaper pet meds vs buying at the vet (because dog needs to take them that night $90 saved). Planning has helped me the most this month. Plus, I lowered my stress level too. Why make things more complicated than it needs to be?

WHAT SAVINGS RATE DID YOU ACHIEVE IN YOUR UBER FRUGAL MONTH?
I must be a dunce but landed at around 56% after struggling with the math. However, I made 3 mortgage payments (so incurred more interest expense, which hurts savings rate) and had unusual medical bll. We had some other unexpected expenses but is averages out since Feb should be over 90%.

HappierAtHome

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #958 on: February 06, 2017, 07:38:53 PM »
Number one is plan. I need to plan more. Plan to eat every day (we get hungry every day!),  plan what clean clothes we need to avoid the dryer, plan and gather kids stuff so we can walk to school vs driving, plan/organize my stuff so I can find it, plan ahead so you can order cheaper pet meds vs buying at the vet (because dog needs to take them that night $90 saved). Planning has helped me the most this month. Plus, I lowered my stress level too. Why make things more complicated than it needs to be?

Wisdom. This is one of those lessons I seem to need to learn over and over again.

BuffaloStache

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #959 on: February 06, 2017, 09:37:56 PM »
WHAT SAVINGS RATE DID YOU ACHIEVE IN YOUR UBER FRUGAL MONTH?
I must be a dunce but landed at around 56% after struggling with the math. However, I made 3 mortgage payments (so incurred more interest expense, which hurts savings rate) and had unusual medical bll. We had some other unexpected expenses but is averages out since Feb should be over 90%.

While I don't count it in my savings rate, I have a mindset that mortgage payments (at least the principle part of the payments) are building your overall net wealth, so it's a good thing. 3 Payments is awesome!

recklesslysober

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #960 on: February 07, 2017, 01:19:30 PM »
Mid-month check-in:

This does not include bills or debt payments.

1 - $0
2 - $51.75 groceries
3 - $0
4 - $31.05 groceries, vitamin D supplement
5 - $0
6 - $0
7 - $0
8 - $0
9 - $0
10 - $14.38 date night - 2 movie tickets
11 - $0
12 - $0
13 - $0
14 - $0
15 - $21.72 friend's birthday dinner

Total: $118.90

16 - $0
17 - $15.98 groceries
18 - $0
19 - $0
20 - $0
21 - $0
22 - $86.84 groceries, tissues, dishwasher tabs
23 - $0
24 - $0
25 - $16.51 groceries
26 - $0
27 - $0
28 - $0
29 - $21.05 groceries
30 - $0
31 - $0

January total: $259.28 (with rent and bills = $1436.42)

No spend days: 23

Somehow I missed this before -- WOW!  That is amazing!

Thank you! :D

Captain and Mrs Slow

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #961 on: February 14, 2017, 04:18:22 AM »
One interesting shift in my spending since doing this UFJ is my Amazon spending is way down. Ordered and then sent back a bike lock (can wait and probably doen't need it) and a baking dish. Agsin can probably live without it! Findinf it far easier to say "nah, it can waith"

I need plasric shelves for storage, about 65€ but again it can wait.

BuffaloStache

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #962 on: February 15, 2017, 09:52:34 PM »
Just a general question for everyone who did UFJ- How long will you wait until doing another Uber Frugal Month challenge?

I don't think I could do it every month, but I'm thinking it might be nice to get in 2 or 3 of these a year to really try to re-learn some better habits.

HappierAtHome

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #963 on: February 15, 2017, 10:09:56 PM »
Just a general question for everyone who did UFJ- How long will you wait until doing another Uber Frugal Month challenge?

I don't think I could do it every month, but I'm thinking it might be nice to get in 2 or 3 of these a year to really try to re-learn some better habits.

I think three or four a year would work well for me. I'm thinking of trying to do another one in April (which would then get cut off early if the baby arrives in April instead of May!). Personally I find it more motivating to do an UFM in a month that doesn't include any large planned expenditures (e.g. obstetrician fee in February, annual health insurance payment in March) so that helps me in picking which months are best.

PJ

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #964 on: February 15, 2017, 10:39:04 PM »
I started late, so in a sense I'm only just now coming to the end of my month.  But I'm planning to keep going, straight through into March.  For me, it's mostly just minimizing grocery shopping, being extra efficient with use of car and utilities, and applying all excess money immediately toward CC debt.  And finding cheap alternatives to those few necessary expenditures (like replacing my needed pair of black pants by shopping at Sal Army and Value Village). 

So, you know, stuff I should be doing every month, right?

Anatidae V

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #965 on: February 15, 2017, 11:25:23 PM »
I think I'll be doing another once we're settled in being parents. I don't want to add pressure as we go through the next phase, when convenience is key for keeping our mental health. But after that I'll be ready to give it another go; maybe June or July.

katscratch

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #966 on: February 16, 2017, 05:13:50 PM »
Two months in a row is turning out not to be the best for me - at least the Uber part of Frugal Challenge.  I'm getting too competitive with myself which isn't at all the point I wanted my subconscious money-brain to focus on ;)

BuffaloStache

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Re: Uber Frugal January
« Reply #967 on: April 03, 2017, 01:52:14 PM »
I think I'll be doing another once we're settled in being parents. I don't want to add pressure as we go through the next phase, when convenience is key for keeping our mental health.

This- our little one just came a couple weeks ago, and I couldn't imagine doing an UFM right now. Best of luck with your new addition!