Author Topic: Savetember  (Read 48664 times)

Melody

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #100 on: September 03, 2015, 05:25:33 PM »
Didn't manage to find time to get to the shops for the medication yesterday, so still at $0 today. Expect I will buy groceries, hit the pharmacy and do a load of laundry today (or early tommorrow) so the no spend streak will end but it was a great start to savetember :-)

ABK

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #101 on: September 04, 2015, 12:50:18 PM »
Groceries for week 1 at only 60% of the week's budget for groceries. So far a win!

mom22boys

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #102 on: September 04, 2015, 02:57:57 PM »
I'm definitely in on this one, and finally have time to post.  September will be a huge savings month for me because I get my bonus at the end of the month, and also finally vested in some stock, to sell.  Here's my plan for the month

1 - Reduced my pay check to $0.  After 401k, HSA, taxes, and other crap, all the extra is going to fund my MEGA backdoor 401K contributions. This includes my bonus, yippee! I can contribute up to $20K.  I already have $4K in it, and will add another $10K this month. 
2 - Sell my stock, which I'll use to cover a few bills while my pay check is $0. I have the cash to cover most, but not quite all, and I don't want to dip into my emergency fund too much. The rest of the stock proceeds will go to pay off some more special assessments on my house.  (Already fully funded my Roth IRA.) This is the ONLY reason I want the market to go up a little, so I can get better sale price on the stock.  Luckily I can hold for awhile and sell if/when it goes back up.  Until then....sinking money into MEGA backdoor!
3 - No money spent on going out to eat.
4 - Keep groceries under $300.  This is a wild card since I'm buying a 1/4 side of beef.  I'm not sure when it will be ready, so that might blow this number away.  But, I'm ok with that since it's grass-feed beef that will last us awhile.
5 - No other unnecessary purchases.

It's gonna be an awesome month! 


Zamboni

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #103 on: September 05, 2015, 05:54:31 AM »
So far the month has started out well. The only expenses have been food and one highway toll.

We have not gone out to eat at all. My children have always preferred to eat at home, so when we go out to eat it is because I'd rather not cook that night. I'm at the point where I sometimes think "there's nothing planned at home for dinner," but then I realize I can make pancakes and eggs or soup and sandwiches for dinner and everyone will be perfectly happy. My all time low month for eating out was something like $1.41. I wonder if I can beat that this month?

I do have one long-planned electronics purchase that I might make on Labor Day weekend, but only if the price is right. We've research and figured out the exact model we want and know the standing price, but eventually there will be a sale. Otherwise, not buying anything this month.

choppingwood

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #104 on: September 05, 2015, 11:48:11 AM »
I had planned to drive into the city to buy some clothes to replace badly worn out pants and get a mid-weight jacket to wear in the fall. My budget was $200 for clothes. It also takes about $30 worth of gas and a trip runs the high risk of other spending. I had checked a few stores online, but no luck. This morning I found that Landsend had a 30% off sale for Canadian orders over $150 US on Labour Day (that's how we spell it). I've ordered two pairs of pants plus the perfect weight jacket. There was free shipping, and tax and customs duties were included. Total cost $213 Cdn. Perfectly within budget. Pretty close to par exchange this way and saved me a day going to the city.


forummm

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #105 on: September 05, 2015, 01:44:00 PM »
I got a better quote for my roof leak today. I think they're actually going to do a better job, do twice as much, and charge about 40% less. It's still $575, but better than $900 for half as much work.

choppingwood

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #106 on: September 05, 2015, 01:59:13 PM »
I got a better quote for my roof leak today. I think they're actually going to do a better job, do twice as much, and charge about 40% less. It's still $575, but better than $900 for half as much work.

That's good news!

1967mama

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #107 on: September 05, 2015, 02:59:23 PM »
I got $90 off my $200 grocery shop today by using cc points (PC MasterCard for Canadians).

Also, I re-tried a produce stand that has frustrated me in the past with high prices, low quality and a dirty store. They are under new management and it was fantastic! Great prices on seasonal items and things like apples were super fresh. I bought a 50lb box and the manager gave me $5 dollars off without me even asking for a discount. I had earlier asked him if they had changed hands, because the store looked really nice and the quality was so much better .. making friends with my local produce manager for future deals :-)

I now have a ton of food in the house for our large family for $210 :-)

Rosy

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #108 on: September 05, 2015, 05:16:14 PM »
OK - so far so good. I already squeezed that $153. I needed for my revamped budget out of the old budget. Plus, I am returning two, possible three items which would bolster the budget by about $40 to $65.

Big spur of the moment decision on the 1st of September - decided to save all receipts for groceries, CVS-Walgreens and eating out. I am not sure if this will turn into a shocking moment of truth at the end of the month of just confirm what I guestimated.
We'll see.

forummm

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #109 on: September 05, 2015, 07:03:15 PM »
I got a better quote for my roof leak today. I think they're actually going to do a better job, do twice as much, and charge about 40% less. It's still $575, but better than $900 for half as much work.

That's good news!
Very! And I'm also DIYing the drywall repair in the ceiling.

Faraday

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #110 on: September 05, 2015, 08:12:58 PM »
I got a better quote for my roof leak today. I think they're actually going to do a better job, do twice as much, and charge about 40% less. It's still $575, but better than $900 for half as much work.

That's good news!
Very! And I'm also DIYing the drywall repair in the ceiling.

Insourcing FTW! YOU GO GUY! :-)

Melody

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #111 on: September 05, 2015, 10:51:28 PM »
$38 spent to date, $18 of which was medication. The remainder has been socialisaing ($9 coffees and soft drinks with friends... Have been out on three separate occasions) and fast food ($11 for two dinners)... The fast food probably isn't in the spirit of savetember but as this is a big budget hole for me it's not too bad. If I can get through the month with non rent and Bill spend at $500 or less I will call this a big win!!!

1967mama

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #112 on: September 05, 2015, 11:36:30 PM »

Big spur of the moment decision on the 1st of September - decided to save all receipts for groceries, CVS-Walgreens and eating out. I am not sure if this will turn into a shocking moment of truth at the end of the month of just confirm what I guestimated.
We'll see.


This is a really good idea!

Faraday

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #113 on: September 06, 2015, 02:27:53 AM »

Big spur of the moment decision on the 1st of September - decided to save all receipts for groceries, CVS-Walgreens and eating out. I am not sure if this will turn into a shocking moment of truth at the end of the month of just confirm what I guestimated.
We'll see.


This is a really good idea!

Most of receipts I stick in a plastic baggie for the month, but anything I consider non-normal, I stick it on the bathroom mirror so I see it first thing in the morning. Has saved my butt several times.

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #114 on: September 06, 2015, 10:33:22 AM »
We're doing well on savetember so far. We paid extra on DH's SLs (an extra $300), and had $77 to the DMV for the title change on our car. I also caved and bought $10 worth of fresh tamales from a neighbor lady yesterday. I was going to pass, but a- her tamales are delicious and b- I noticed she's driving on a spare and it's flat right now. The tamales were the least I could do. Otherwise, we've only had living expenses: internet, rent, groceries. I'm hoping we can stay on pace for groceries and come in low on the budget again, like last month. Yesterday was a big stock up day, and we got our amazon subscribe and save earlier this month, so we shouldn't need much besides produce and eggs the rest of the month.

Yesterday I got my Schoola shipment of the $50 in free clothes that was going around last month. The vibrams I got are COMPLETELY new and look unworn. They were labeled the wrong size, 7 1/2 women's whereas they're an 8 1/2, but since I'm an 8, this worked out well for me. I had thought I would just sell or gift them to someone if they didn't fit. Instead, brand new workout shoes for free that bought new would have been $60-80. I also got a skirt and a couple shirts that will work. Although one tanktop was maternity but wasn't labeled as such. Oh well, I'll stash it away for a rainy day ;)

choppingwood

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #115 on: September 06, 2015, 10:35:07 AM »
I now have a ton of food in the house for our large family for $210 :-)
I really liked having a good produce store when I was living in the city. I turned my shopping around, too, so that I bought the produce first and then bought the rest of the groceries  to go with what was fresh and cheap.

It sounds like you had a great shop. How long do you think this food will keep the family going?

1967mama

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #116 on: September 06, 2015, 11:01:07 AM »
It sounds like you had a great shop. How long do you think this food will keep the family going?

Well a week, except for things like the Borax which will be around for years. The big bag of raisins will get me through around 3 weeks. The 50lb of apples will last a month. But the regular produce will need to be replenished by next weekend :-)

choppingwood

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #117 on: September 06, 2015, 11:27:43 AM »
It sounds like you had a great shop. How long do you think this food will keep the family going?

Well a week, except for things like the Borax which will be around for years. The big bag of raisins will get me through around 3 weeks. The 50lb of apples will last a month. But the regular produce will need to be replenished by next weekend :-)

And how often do you shop for the non-produce groceries?

forummm

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #118 on: September 06, 2015, 12:53:46 PM »

Big spur of the moment decision on the 1st of September - decided to save all receipts for groceries, CVS-Walgreens and eating out. I am not sure if this will turn into a shocking moment of truth at the end of the month of just confirm what I guestimated.
We'll see.


This is a really good idea!

Most of receipts I stick in a plastic baggie for the month, but anything I consider non-normal, I stick it on the bathroom mirror so I see it first thing in the morning. Has saved my butt several times.

Does saving receipts help with something? I pay for everything with a CC so it's easy to tally up expenses at the end of the month. And I almost never buy anything I would return. And if I did need to return something many places can look up the purchase with your credit card anyway.

lbmustache

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #119 on: September 06, 2015, 01:01:15 PM »
Savetember has not started out well. Needed some new tops for work, Express was having a 40% off sale, so I picked up two sweater/tunic tops for $70. More than I needed to spend.

forummm

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #120 on: September 06, 2015, 01:43:29 PM »
Savetember has not started out well. Needed some new tops for work, Express was having a 40% off sale, so I picked up two sweater/tunic tops for $70. More than I needed to spend.

"Needed"? And there are no thrift stores in SoCal? You could probably find similar stuff there for a couple bucks.

choppingwood

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #121 on: September 06, 2015, 01:45:05 PM »
Does saving receipts help with something? I pay for everything with a CC so it's easy to tally up expenses at the end of the month. And I almost never buy anything I would return. And if I did need to return something many places can look up the purchase with your credit card anyway.

It helps if you are still trying to figure out what you might be spending money on that you didn't have to. For example cheaper fruit, vs more expensive. Healthy snacks vs junk food. Nutrition vs entertainment.

And also for those of us who don't use credit cards for everyday spending. My debit card tracks a lot of my spending, but not all of it.

In Canada, most places couldn't look up your return using your credit number. You would rely on packaging and that they stock the item and that you look like an honest person. Also, you'd never get a full credit -- just a credit for future purchases.

Faraday

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #122 on: September 06, 2015, 02:55:05 PM »
Does saving receipts help with something? I pay for everything with a CC so it's easy to tally up expenses at the end of the month. And I almost never buy anything I would return. And if I did need to return something many places can look up the purchase with your credit card anyway.

It helps me remember what I've done in the month - I'm bad to forget things. Long ago, before I saved receipts, I've actually bought the same thing twice then found it later. Saving the receipts stops that.

Second is in returning stuff. I went through SEVERAL mosquito killing lights one summer and had to just give up after the third one melted on me just like the first two.

Faraday

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #123 on: September 06, 2015, 02:58:49 PM »
Savetember has not started out well. Needed some new tops for work, Express was having a 40% off sale, so I picked up two sweater/tunic tops for $70. More than I needed to spend.

"Needed"? And there are no thrift stores in SoCal? You could probably find similar stuff there for a couple bucks.

Is it time to start delivering facepunches? (It's not my thread so I have not availed myself, but I thought I would ask. This IS the MMM forums and if we've not been delivering facepunches, are we falling down on the job?)

I'm getting annoyed by the confessionals. I don't wanna read this shit. I want to hear about winners, not losers.

forummm

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #124 on: September 06, 2015, 03:40:20 PM »
Savetember has not started out well. Needed some new tops for work, Express was having a 40% off sale, so I picked up two sweater/tunic tops for $70. More than I needed to spend.

"Needed"? And there are no thrift stores in SoCal? You could probably find similar stuff there for a couple bucks.

Is it time to start delivering facepunches? (It's not my thread so I have not availed myself, but I thought I would ask. This IS the MMM forums and if we've not been delivering facepunches, are we falling down on the job?)

I'm getting annoyed by the confessionals. I don't wanna read this shit. I want to hear about winners, not losers.
You can post whatever you like. It's everyone's thread.

Thegoblinchief

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #125 on: September 06, 2015, 03:40:37 PM »
Is it time to start delivering facepunches? (It's not my thread so I have not availed myself, but I thought I would ask. This IS the MMM forums and if we've not been delivering facepunches, are we falling down on the job?)

I'm getting annoyed by the confessionals. I don't wanna read this shit. I want to hear about winners, not losers.

Face punches are always on the table. If people didn't want to face criticism, they shouldn't post about money on the Internet. That said, there's always the prime directive of "not being a dick" and realizing people put priorities differently.

Rural

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #126 on: September 06, 2015, 04:26:06 PM »
I suppose we're in. We started tracking again on August 1 (first time since 2007), and being conscious makes a big difference, it seems. Groceries were the largest expense at $294, followed by fuel as. The term started on the 17th. I don't think fuel will go up this month actually, since I was there every day in the weeks leading up, mostly trying to create, staff, and find rooms for more course sections - we've had a jump in enrollment.


So we're tracking discretionary spending via receipts on a spreadsheet (which is also set up to do MPG since we're entering fuel anyway). I can see total out of pocket at a glance for the month in online bill pay since we put everything discretionary on a credit card and pay that off as well as paying bills. But the totals don't exactly synch since the amount due on the card isn't what spend from the first to the first. I think I've decided I don't care. We're close enough.


Discretionary spending in August was $1071 and bills were $291. Add in prorated annual, biannual, and per three months bills (car insurance, home insurance, property tax, trash pickup, and vehicle tags and registration) at $212.02 per month on average, and we get $1574.02 "spent." Don't know if we can beat that in September, but I'd like to equal it. That puts us on track to keep maxing the HSA, add to the 457 every month, cash flow his tuition and books without touching savings, and do just fine on my base salary alone. Should leave us with extra savings every month to the tune of about $300.


Our discretionary even includes some home and car repair costs (parts and building supplies, which is all we need since he does it all).


We didn't give up anything we need or really want; we were just aware of our spending. We eat out when friends invite us, and if we're just too tired to cook, we get something cheap (Little Ceasars pizza is $5 and feeds us both and won't kill us once a week or less).


It's working, better than I'd thought when we decided he'd quit teaching and go back to school. I hadn't expected to be able to cash flow his school expenses, let alone to do it and save money without even considering my side gigs. So we're in, and bring on Savetember.

lbmustache

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #127 on: September 06, 2015, 04:47:01 PM »
Savetember has not started out well. Needed some new tops for work, Express was having a 40% off sale, so I picked up two sweater/tunic tops for $70. More than I needed to spend.

"Needed"? And there are no thrift stores in SoCal? You could probably find similar stuff there for a couple bucks.

Is it time to start delivering facepunches? (It's not my thread so I have not availed myself, but I thought I would ask. This IS the MMM forums and if we've not been delivering facepunches, are we falling down on the job?)

I'm getting annoyed by the confessionals. I don't wanna read this shit. I want to hear about winners, not losers.

Yes I deserve a facepunch for this. My desires got the best of me. And YES there are tons of thrift stores. Like I said, face punch all around.

I guess in "winner" news: Spent way less on a friend's birthday than I had budgeted for. Also got a nice little bonus from work, which means more money into my savings account.

1967mama

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #128 on: September 06, 2015, 05:24:16 PM »
It sounds like you had a great shop. How long do you think this food will keep the family going?

Well a week, except for things like the Borax which will be around for years. The big bag of raisins will get me through around 3 weeks. The 50lb of apples will last a month. But the regular produce will need to be replenished by next weekend :-)

And how often do you shop for the non-produce groceries?

Probably every 3-4 weeks. We purchase a side of beef every fall and 50 chickens every July from our friendly farmers. We buy dairy products across the line in the USA (much cheaper than Canada). I buy 100's of lbs of berries off the farm for the deep freeze (though not this year due to my surgery). Make my own bread with wheat I grind myself. Yeah, so basically my groceries are all over the map! Haha!

Faraday

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #129 on: September 06, 2015, 06:04:47 PM »
Savetember has not started out well. Needed some new tops for work, Express was having a 40% off sale, so I picked up two sweater/tunic tops for $70. More than I needed to spend.

"Needed"? And there are no thrift stores in SoCal? You could probably find similar stuff there for a couple bucks.

Is it time to start delivering facepunches? (It's not my thread so I have not availed myself, but I thought I would ask. This IS the MMM forums and if we've not been delivering facepunches, are we falling down on the job?)

I'm getting annoyed by the confessionals. I don't wanna read this shit. I want to hear about winners, not losers.

Yes I deserve a facepunch for this. My desires got the best of me. And YES there are tons of thrift stores. Like I said, face punch all around.

I guess in "winner" news: Spent way less on a friend's birthday than I had budgeted for. Also got a nice little bonus from work, which means more money into my savings account.

Take the stuff back to Express and tell us what you find at the thrift store. Show us your best moxie, girlfriend.

BTW: there's an even bigger sale going on in the stock market right now. Equities are on sale, more than 12% off. I'd be running, not walking, to vanguard.com and buying some of that delicious Roth IRA action.

And lest ye think I'm throwing stones from a glass house, I did exactly that last week. But I do suck a little bit: I jumped too soon, the market was down again on Friday.

Guess what I'm buying DW for Christmas? Her own Roth IRA from Vanguard. Cash is burning a hole in my money market account right NOW. Will be doing that next week. Gotta get in early for those Christmas bargains!!!


Faraday

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #130 on: September 06, 2015, 06:10:28 PM »
It sounds like you had a great shop. How long do you think this food will keep the family going?

Well a week, except for things like the Borax which will be around for years. The big bag of raisins will get me through around 3 weeks. The 50lb of apples will last a month. But the regular produce will need to be replenished by next weekend :-)

And how often do you shop for the non-produce groceries?

Probably every 3-4 weeks. We purchase a side of beef every fall and 50 chickens every July from our friendly farmers. We buy dairy products across the line in the USA (much cheaper than Canada). I buy 100's of lbs of berries off the farm for the deep freeze (though not this year due to my surgery). Make my own bread with wheat I grind myself. Yeah, so basically my groceries are all over the map! Haha!

1967mama, now THAT is dead sexy. I've GOT to get in on some of that action. The best I can muster is Aldi and using my seal-a-meal to partition up larger quantity buys into the freezer.

Surely I can do better for...SAVETEMBER!!!

choppingwood

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #131 on: September 06, 2015, 06:24:46 PM »
Make my own bread with wheat I grind myself.

I read Erica/NWEdible's blog because it is the closest I will really get to homesteading, which is a personal fantasy of mine. Sometimes she writes a sentence that will never cross my lips. This line of yours is like that!

My local grocery store has a 20% meat sales every month from September through May (sometimes skipping December), so that's how I deal with the cost of meat. When I say local, it is three doors away from my house. I stocked up on berries this year, but not nearly enough. I have made tomato/red pepper sauce and salsa and Erica's confit. I've frozen any excess from my CSA share. I envy you on the dairy products, since there is no way to do that cheaply here. (I live in cattle country, but they are for beef.) I am hoping to stock up on some whole winter squash and definitely on potatoes. The other project is that  I am trying to buy "one extra" on regularly bought items when they are on sale, so that I have a stash if the roads close or if there is some cash flow emergency.

This is definitely improving the supply of food I have on hand, and it is starting to improve the cost.

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #132 on: September 06, 2015, 06:43:37 PM »
Been doing some temp work for a family member. Increasing income will help increase the "save" margin for this month! Plus, helping out a family member who was in a tight spot (wasn't able to get very much needed employee coverage). Win win!

Thegoblinchief

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #133 on: September 07, 2015, 03:56:23 PM »
1967mama - what's the cuft (or cubic meters) of your freezer space? That's an impressive amount of meat to be able to have in stock!

We have a 7 cuft that's almost maxed out already, but I'd really like to get some beef in addition to the pork we've been eating down since March. Only way to do that in bulk is to get another deep freeze. (I was planning this from the start anyways, as then we can eat enough down to have one freezer still running while the other defrosts.)

Thegoblinchief

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #134 on: September 07, 2015, 04:10:41 PM »
I think I'm going to go ahead and belatedly join since I've enjoyed commenting.  Family of 5, $3700 budgeted outflows this month.

About $740 is principal reduction of debt (mortgage, SLs, and a medical bill we requested a payment plan on).

Optional expenditures already this month:

-A rain shell and nicer winter gloves for my wife ($117)
-A $30 box of snapware Pyrex containers, as we wanted more containers that didn't leak.

I also bought a used radial arm saw with cabinet used for $50, but paid using my personal allowance.

This month is the first month I've given myself a firm $700 food budget, which will remain going forward. In months I spend under this, the surplus carries over to fund bulk purchases. Already this month I've bought 100 pounds of apples (eating fresh, canning as applesauce, and drying as chips). Before the month ends, I'll probably buy close to another 100 pounds of apples, plus another 50 pounds of canning tomatoes.

Extra details about my budget are in my journal if anyone cares.

Tigerpine

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #135 on: September 07, 2015, 06:31:57 PM »
Yesterday I bought a crockpot in an effort to get myself to cook more.  One of the problems I face is that I never know how long I'll work on any given day, and when I get home, I'm usually pretty tired.  If the crockpot works, that should hopefully translate into longer-term savings.

In an effort to mitigate the crockpot and airplane ticket I'm buying for Thanksgiving, I've applied for an AMEX card that will give me $150 back after only spending $500 in the first three months.  Heck, the plane ticket alone takes up a good chunk of that!

wordnerd

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #136 on: September 07, 2015, 06:36:45 PM »
Yesterday I bought a crockpot in an effort to get myself to cook more.  One of the problems I face is that I never know how long I'll work on any given day, and when I get home, I'm usually pretty tired.  If the crockpot works, that should hopefully translate into longer-term savings.

Crock pots are the best. We get a pork butt for under a dollar a pound, spice it, let it cook all day, and have delicious pulled pork all week. There are tons of things you can cook with them, and they're pretty cheap as far as kitchen appliances go.

Tigerpine

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #137 on: September 07, 2015, 07:00:27 PM »
Yesterday I bought a crockpot in an effort to get myself to cook more.  One of the problems I face is that I never know how long I'll work on any given day, and when I get home, I'm usually pretty tired.  If the crockpot works, that should hopefully translate into longer-term savings.

Crock pots are the best. We get a pork butt for under a dollar a pound, spice it, let it cook all day, and have delicious pulled pork all week. There are tons of things you can cook with them, and they're pretty cheap as far as kitchen appliances go.
Mmmm, that sounds good!  I'll have to try that as soon as I finish my pot roast I made today.  The leftovers should last me about a week!  hahaha

wordnerd

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #138 on: September 07, 2015, 07:07:18 PM »
Yesterday I bought a crockpot in an effort to get myself to cook more.  One of the problems I face is that I never know how long I'll work on any given day, and when I get home, I'm usually pretty tired.  If the crockpot works, that should hopefully translate into longer-term savings.

Crock pots are the best. We get a pork butt for under a dollar a pound, spice it, let it cook all day, and have delicious pulled pork all week. There are tons of things you can cook with them, and they're pretty cheap as far as kitchen appliances go.
Mmmm, that sounds good!  I'll have to try that as soon as I finish my pot roast I made today.  The leftovers should last me about a week!  hahaha

I love having leftovers all week long. Now that it's become routine for me, I wonder why everyone doesn't do it, especially those with tight evening schedules that make cooking a challenge.

Susan

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #139 on: September 08, 2015, 12:16:11 AM »
Spent about 8,- so far on other things than groceries this month. However, we do have a wedding coming up next week and 3 birthday parties this month.

Faraday

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #140 on: September 08, 2015, 02:24:50 AM »
Yesterday I bought a crockpot in an effort to get myself to cook more.  One of the problems I face is that I never know how long I'll work on any given day, and when I get home, I'm usually pretty tired.  If the crockpot works, that should hopefully translate into longer-term savings.

Crock pots are the best. We get a pork butt for under a dollar a pound, spice it, let it cook all day, and have delicious pulled pork all week. There are tons of things you can cook with them, and they're pretty cheap as far as kitchen appliances go.

GREAT JOB on the crockpot! (What, no epic tale of getting it at a yard sale or goodwill? :-p )

A jar of pickled artichokes, about three lbs of on-sale chicken breast meat and you've got awesome eating for at least two days for  five bucks or less.

Thegoblinchief

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #141 on: September 08, 2015, 06:51:30 AM »
I find chicken breast comes out awful in a slow cooker, but thighs (typically even cheaper) work really well in long/slow cooking applications. Breast meat is too lean and can really dry out and get tough.

Melody

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #142 on: September 08, 2015, 08:12:48 AM »
On track still but wavering over some (wanted but not needed) items that have been on my list for ages which are in the labor day sales. Trying to convince myself to wait til black friday. Urgh. Other than that not too many fails and at $140 so far this month (a good chunk of this was groceries and medicine). Have done 5 no spend days this month already which seems to be the real driver of the sucess. I have also still done a nusmber of fun things so its felt balanced.

AllieVaulter

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #143 on: September 08, 2015, 10:51:19 AM »
DH and I were gone all weekend for a wedding.  We got back super late on Sunday (1am, technically Monday morning).  I had to work Monday, but I knew we didn't have anything to eat for dinner.  I left DH the task of determining what we'd eat for dinner and grocery shopping so we could make it that night. 

I got home last night and not only had he made dinner, but he'd figured out a dinner that we didn't even have to grocery shop for!  Mmmm tuna curry.  He even made a big batch of it, so it should last us for a while.  :)

Alchemilla

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #144 on: September 08, 2015, 11:21:15 AM »
Going well so far and alcohol free. Lift sharing to save diesel.

choppingwood

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #145 on: September 08, 2015, 11:37:42 AM »
I've cut out buying junk food snacks. Eating popcorn or making blueberry tea biscuits from the cupboard/freezer supplies.

Still having a glass of wine with dinner, but drinking cabernet/merlot from a box instead of bordeaux from a bottle. Have also cut out a Bailey's and milk nightcap. I'll save that for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #146 on: September 08, 2015, 01:30:08 PM »
I got a job! This is both good, because yay- money, and bad because- boo, need to buy some more scrubs.

Thegoblinchief

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #147 on: September 08, 2015, 02:28:01 PM »
I got a job! This is both good, because yay- money, and bad because- boo, need to buy some more scrubs.

Congrats! I know it took you a while. Hope it works out for you :)

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #148 on: September 08, 2015, 03:06:41 PM »
I got a job! This is both good, because yay- money, and bad because- boo, need to buy some more scrubs.

Congrats! I know it took you a while. Hope it works out for you :)

Thanks, Chief! Yeah, felt like it took forever- really it was about 1.5 months of hard searching, which I guess isn't awful, but sure didn't feel great! Competitive market up here for new grads. Your post on the Emotional Balance Sheet was actually what finally pushed me to take it. Terrible pay compared to other jobs in my field, but it'd going to be a pretty amazing experience, and less stressful than a lot of other medical settings. I think it'll be a worthwhile trade off.

wordnerd

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Re: Savetember
« Reply #149 on: September 08, 2015, 05:23:08 PM »
I got a job! This is both good, because yay- money, and bad because- boo, need to buy some more scrubs.

Congrats! I know it took you a while. Hope it works out for you :)

Thanks, Chief! Yeah, felt like it took forever- really it was about 1.5 months of hard searching, which I guess isn't awful, but sure didn't feel great! Competitive market up here for new grads. Your post on the Emotional Balance Sheet was actually what finally pushed me to take it. Terrible pay compared to other jobs in my field, but it'd going to be a pretty amazing experience, and less stressful than a lot of other medical settings. I think it'll be a worthwhile trade off.

Great news! Congrats!