Author Topic: Uber Frugal August  (Read 5298 times)

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Uber Frugal August
« on: July 30, 2018, 07:54:08 AM »
I was looking for an Uber Frugal for August but didn't see one so I decided to start one myself :)

The past couple months I have been wearing spendy pants and I need to get my frugal shorts on. My goal is to stay under budget ($2,000) for the month of August. I've been averaging about $2,800 per month which is better than last year but not low enough for my goals.

rachellynn99

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 165
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2018, 05:54:11 PM »
Oh my goodness- I need to do this so bad! I'll jump on board with this Uber Frugal August.

zeli2033

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 508
  • Location: West Coast
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2018, 09:05:18 AM »
Posting to say I'll be joining this gauntlet for the month - very excited to pursue some uber frugal goals. I'll update this post later on with the goal amount.

Trifle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5902
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Outside, NC, US
    • In The Garden
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2018, 09:35:44 AM »
I'm in!  We  have had a weird past year, with some super high spending on our house build, and I have largely stopped tracking expenses.  I have somewhat lost sight of what an "average" month is for us.  So my goal is to track all non-construction costs carefully, to see what our current basic burn rate is.  I am estimating it at ~$2,500 per month.  We'll see how close I am.  Fun!   

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2018, 09:46:13 AM »
Welcome rachellynn99, Philodendron, zeli2033, and Trifele

I'm excited to start tomorrow; Some of my plans to stay on track are;

- Bring lunch to work everyday
- Bike to work at least once a week
- Eat food that I already have in the house
- Go out to eat ONCE!!! this month ("normal" is like 2-3 times)
- Flex my frugal muscle by not making any impulse purchases. I have a short list of items I plan on buying this month and will stick to that alone.

After fine tuning my budget with all this in mind I should "easily" hit my goal. Knock on wood nothing hits me out of the blue!


mountain mustache

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 557
  • Age: 33
  • Location: Colorado
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #5 on: August 01, 2018, 07:14:07 AM »
I am in for August! I have a very expensive September planned (surgery, time off work) so my goal is to work as much as possible in August, and spend as little as possible. I also just had surgery in July, so I am paying massive medical bills still, so my total doesn't look super low for the month, but subtract the $600 of those bills, and my goal is to get under $1500 for all other spending.
Small specific goals:
- walk to work 4 out of 5 days
- generate as much extra outside income as possible (dog sitting, selling things)
- do a big bulk shopping trip to make a lot of freezer meals for september
- resist the after work happy hours with friends. Just for this month! I usually allow 2 a month, but I think I can resist.
- No new gear/athletic apparel. This is my weak spot for sure.

Civex

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 195
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #6 on: August 01, 2018, 07:27:30 AM »
I'm kind of in! I'm going to go with a  pretty unmustachian goal of charging less than $1k to my CC this month. I use it for all groceries,gas, phone, etc-so I have somewhere around $250-300 in regular bills. Lately, with summer patio dining, a baby, and everything else I've been floating around $2k/month spend....

I'd like a fairly frugal late summer/early fall because we have a big vacation coming up in November and I want to continue to make headway on my student loan.

To do this:
-One meal a week out
-Less craft beer
-Less impulse buying on amazon

gaja

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1681
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2018, 07:34:59 AM »
I'm in. The holidays were expensive. Most was within budget, but the food budget blew up. We haven't discussed a budget for August yet, will get back to that later.

bcbaseballman

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 156
  • Age: 34
  • Location: Kansas
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2018, 07:37:15 AM »
I am in! I am going to strive to stay at $2,500 we normally average right around $3,250. I am also going to try to bring in an addition $1,000 from side hustles this month I normally only average  around $500. Last month I bought way more groceries than I ever should have so I am going to try to get by with just what's in the cabinets and only buy milk/meat this month. I hope that DW will help out with this! She can be a spendy pants at times.

Good Luck everyone!

SquashingDebt

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 441
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2018, 08:15:12 AM »
I'm in!  My monthly spending goal is also $2000, but I haven't hit it in awhile.  So far I don't have much scheduled this month, so it's a good opportunity for a reset.  I also have an ambitious savings goal for the rest of 2018, and it would be great to make a lot of progress towards it in August.

Goals:

- Use what I have and avoid the urge to stock up on stuff (food, toiletries, etc.) just because there's sales.  The sales will come around again.
- Eating out only to further my friend-making quest.  No eating out/fast food alone.
- No impulse buying. 

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2018, 08:40:44 AM »
So happy to see you all join the challenge! Here's to a Frugal August.

Today I only plan on spending money on a few grocery items and renewing my car's registration.


soccerluvof4

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7161
  • Location: Artic Midwest
  • Retired at 50
    • My Journal
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2018, 10:40:40 AM »
I'm in but Im going to word it this way. My goal is to beat my monthly budget by 1500$ since I am fire'd but still have kids at home etc.. July I beat it by 1100$ and August through end of year is usually when my expenses are higher due to sport traveling and visiting kids in college.

OmahaSteph

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 670
  • Location: Omaha
    • Journal: The Slow Lane to FIRE
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2018, 11:43:45 AM »
Totally in! I've budgeted everything in Mint, and I'm hoping to keep the "Everything Else" category at the bottom to a minimum. Going to make a list of things I'm NOT going to buy, plus a list of things I AM allowed to buy. The garden should really put out a lot this month, so that helps, but back to school can be expensive (Join the PTA! Buy the school's newly designed T-shirt! Field trip next week!).

Looking forward to reading everyone's goals and suggestions!

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2018, 12:07:12 PM »
Nice job Philodendron. How is everyone else doing during the first few days.

I have spent $268.04 of my $2,000 budget $1,731.96 left for the month. Everything spent was planned so I'm happy about that. I still think I can come in under $2,000

8/3 - $268.04/$2,000

Trifle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5902
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Outside, NC, US
    • In The Garden
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #14 on: August 03, 2018, 12:45:14 PM »
We are using this challenge to measure our 'normal' base living expenses, which we have not tracked in a while.  So far:

8/1 -- $0
8/2 -- $0
8/3 -- $110 on a month long music class for kiddo; donated another $110 to the program (an awesome nonprofit).  Both planned/known expenses.

Nothing planned for tomorrow -- just working at home in the garden.  Sunday is grocery shopping day, so will have a pretty big spend then.


gillhamface

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 15
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #15 on: August 03, 2018, 02:28:37 PM »
It is a couple days into August but I'm joining, too. And this is my first MMM forum post, so hello. :)

My goal is to stay under $1800 for the month. Really going to focus on reducing my booze intake, farmer's market every weekend with a cash budget going in, and not making unplanned purchases. So far:

8/1 -- $3.10
8/2 -- $53.35
8/3 -- $0
Total: $56.45/$1800

Trifle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5902
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Outside, NC, US
    • In The Garden
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #16 on: August 05, 2018, 08:40:05 AM »
Update:

8/1 -- $0
8/2 -- $0
8/3 -- $110 on a month long music class for kiddo; donated another $110 to the program (an awesome nonprofit).  Both planned/known expenses.
8/4 -- $0
8/5 -- $148 groceries (includes beer)
      -- $10 household items (garbage bags, sponges, etc.)

Total spent so far this month -- $378.

$148 is about an average week's grocery spend for us (family of four, 2 teenagers).  We might be able to get that down without sacrificing quality, but will take some work.   

This coming week I will be on the road for work, and DH will be gone on an annual road trip visit to relatives.  Will be a very odd week, spending-wise. I will actually make money on my work trip costs, as travel/hotel are covered and I receive a generous additional food per-diem that I never spend.  DH will have fairly high (unreimbursed) expenses due to an unavoidable hotel stay.   

Trifle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5902
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Outside, NC, US
    • In The Garden
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #17 on: August 05, 2018, 10:30:18 AM »
Belated hello and welcome to @gillhamface!  I missed that this was your first post.  :)

bcbaseballman

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 156
  • Age: 34
  • Location: Kansas
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #18 on: August 05, 2018, 08:52:10 PM »
Ok here is my first week of spending goal is $2500 for everything.
8/1: $727 ( mortgage)
8/2:  $20 ( groceries)
8/3: $102 (insurance)
8/4: $0
8/5: $17 (groceries/new bike tube)

Week total: $866
Remaining balance: $1634

mountain mustache

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 557
  • Age: 33
  • Location: Colorado
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #19 on: August 05, 2018, 09:06:02 PM »
My first week of the month is always a killer. The rest of the month I just try to basically spend almost no money

8/1- Health Insurance ($345) Rent ($500)
8/2- Financed medical bill payment ($202.00),
8/4- Another financed medical bill payment ($79), had friends from out of town visit, so we went out to lunch ($15) which is half of my "restaurant" budget for the month. Yes I live in a town where everything is super expensive! Which is why I usually never eat out!
8/4- Forgot, I had a low tire and turns out there was a nail in it. Had to get it fixed ($25)
8/5- Groceries ($15), Gas ($10)

Total- $1191.00 Ugh, it always sucks to see that total so early in the month! But, all thats remaining to have to spend on is groceries, gas, and one more medical bill payment of $222




haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #20 on: August 06, 2018, 09:11:30 AM »
So far so good here. I've been staying within my budget totals but I know it's still early yet.

Running Total
8/3 - $268.04/$2,000
8/6 - $386.38/$2,000

I have $1,613.62 left of my $2,000 budget and with Mortgage and Utilities and Medical/Dental insurance will eat up a good $800 or so. Leaving me with $800 left for everything else which should definitely be doable.

AFrugalGuy

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 26
  • Age: 38
  • Location: Toronto, Canada
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #21 on: August 06, 2018, 09:26:43 AM »
I'm in! My goal is to see how far I can increase my monthly savings through frugality. So far, I am on track for $5,150 - anything above $5k is ideal (monthly net income is $7,901.98).

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #22 on: August 08, 2018, 01:53:40 PM »
Running Total
8/3 - $268.04/$2,000
8/6 - $386.38/$2,000
8/8 - $1,248.89/$2,000 (Mortgage, Ins, Utilities)

$751.11 left in the budget for the month and I don't have much planned spending for the rest of the month. Mostly just food and a few other bills that haven't come through yet.

gillhamface

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 15
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #23 on: August 08, 2018, 02:29:46 PM »
8/1 -- $3.10 date night supplies!
8/2 -- $53.35 monthly gym membership ($30) & groceries ($23.35)
8/3 -- $0 yay!
8/4 -- $0 yay!
8/5 -- $22.45 groceries
8/7 -- $51.59 date night supplies and costco staples
Total: $130.49/$1800

This is a much better start than I have had in many months.  We also have a lot of good food to last us through the month other than fresh fruit/veg.

Trifle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5902
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Outside, NC, US
    • In The Garden
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #24 on: August 12, 2018, 08:56:53 AM »
Update:

8/1 -- $0
8/2 -- $19 kids' allowance
8/3 -- $110 on a month long music class for kiddo; donated another $110 to the program (an awesome nonprofit).  Both planned/known expenses.
8/4 -- $0
8/5 -- $148 groceries (includes beer)
      -- $10 household items (garbage bags, sponges, etc.)
8/6 -- $0
8/7 -- $35 Consumer Reports annual membership fee.
8/8 -- $33 Cell phone
8/9 -- $15 watch battery
      -- $26 unplanned gifts
      -- $19 kids' weekly allowance
8/10 - $0
8/11 - $10 dump fee
        - $4 video rental
8/12 - $184 groceries (includes beer)
 
Total spent so far this month -- $723/ estimated $2500

Full disclosure -- DH just returned from his annual trip to visit relatives, and it was $1,132 all in (1 week hotels, gas, food).  If we allocate all of this to August, then we are at $1855 already, and our monthly spending will end up higher than average.  Still deciding how to deal with annual costs. 

bcbaseballman

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 156
  • Age: 34
  • Location: Kansas
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #25 on: August 13, 2018, 07:23:27 AM »
Ok here is my first week of spending goal is $2500 for everything.
8/1: $727 ( mortgage)
8/2:  $20 ( groceries)
8/3: $102 (insurance)
8/4: $0
8/5: $17 (groceries/new bike tube)

Week total: $866
Remaining balance: $1634

8/6: $385 (Medicine, Car Payment)
8/7: $0
8/8: $94 (Water Bill, Internet)
8/9: $12 (Groceries)
8/10: $0
8/11: $0
8/12: $14 (Groceries)

Was a good week here! I have also brought in an addition $370 so far this month from my side hustle.

Week Total: $505
Remaining Balance: $1129
« Last Edit: August 13, 2018, 12:55:27 PM by bcbaseballman »

gillhamface

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 15
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #26 on: August 13, 2018, 07:58:42 AM »
8/1 --  $3.10 date night supplies!
8/2 --  $53.35 monthly gym membership ($30) & groceries ($23.35)
8/3 --  $0
8/4 --  $0
8/5 --  $22.45 groceries
8/7 --  $51.59 date night supplies and costco staples
8/8 --  $0
8/9 --  $27.95 netflix & unnecessary drinking out
8/10 -- $0
8/11 -- $32.5 groceries for the week
8/12 -- $17.04 drinking for boat day

Total: $207.98/$1800

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #27 on: August 13, 2018, 08:10:01 AM »
Glad to see everyone doing well and sticking with it. The month is nearly half over;

Running Total
8/3 - $268.04/$2,000
8/6 - $386.38/$2,000
8/8 - $1,248.89/$2,000 (Mortgage, Ins, Utilities)
8/13 - $1,504.20/$2000

$495.80 left for the month. The only bill left for the month is the cellphone so the remaining funds are for groceries and gas basically. No other planned spending for the month.

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #28 on: August 17, 2018, 11:01:24 AM »
Running Total
8/3 - $268.04/$2,000
8/6 - $386.38/$2,000
8/8 - $1,248.89/$2,000 (Mortgage, Ins, Utilities)
8/13 - $1,504.20/$2,000
8/17 - $1,680.45/$2,000

$319.55 left in the budget and no bills to pay :) This should be my lowest spending month for the year so far. I hope to do another Frugal September. My Mustachian muscles were getting a little weak during the first half of the year and I really need to be able to have my yearly spending down to $24K if I'm going to FIRE on schedule.

How is everyone else doing? Only 2 more weeks left :)

Trifle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5902
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Outside, NC, US
    • In The Garden
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #29 on: August 18, 2018, 05:14:39 AM »
Update:

8/1 -- $0
8/2 -- $19 kids' allowance
8/3 -- $110 on a month long music class for kiddo; donated another $110 to the program (an awesome nonprofit).  Both planned/known expenses.
8/4 -- $0
8/5 -- $148 groceries (includes beer)
      -- $10 household items (garbage bags, sponges, etc.)
8/6 -- $0
8/7 -- $35 Consumer Reports annual membership fee.
8/8 -- $33 Cell phone
8/9 -- $15 watch battery
      -- $26 unplanned gifts
      -- $19 kids' weekly allowance
8/10 - $0
8/11 - $10 dump fee
        - $4 video rental
8/12 - $184 groceries (includes beer)
        - $42 jump park (planned reward to kids for some extra work they did)
        - $94 [monthly apportionment of annual trip to visit Relative S]
8/13 - $91 car insurance [monthly apportionment]
8/14 - $39 chicken feed;
        - $6 pine shavings
8/15 - $14 bacon;
        - $16 newspaper
8/16 - $5 bulk lentils
        - $9 beer
8/17 - $211 electric
        - $65 internet
8/18 - $19 kids' allowance

Total:   $1,334/estimated $2,500

Hope you have a nice weekend everyone!   

bcbaseballman

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 156
  • Age: 34
  • Location: Kansas
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #30 on: August 20, 2018, 07:20:47 AM »

Ok here is my first week of spending goal is $2500 for everything.
8/1: $727 ( mortgage)
8/2:  $20 ( groceries)
8/3: $102 (insurance)
8/4: $0
8/5: $17 (groceries/new bike tube)
8/6: $385 (Medicine, Car Payment)
8/7: $0
8/8: $94 (Water Bill, Internet)
8/9: $12 (Groceries)
8/10: $0
8/11: $0
8/12: $14 (Groceries)

Remaining Balance: $1129

8/13: $65 (Trash, School Supplies)
8/14: $441 (Student Loans, Back to School Ice Cream)
8/15: $0
8/16: $13 (Groceries)
8/17: $15 (KTag)
8/18: $125 (Phones)
8/19: $24 Groceries

Week Total: $683
Remaining Balance: $446

gillhamface

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 15
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #31 on: August 20, 2018, 10:07:12 AM »
8/1 --  $3.10 date night supplies!
8/2 --  $53.35 monthly gym membership ($30) & groceries ($23.35)
8/5 --  $22.45 groceries
8/7 --  $51.59 date night supplies and costco staples
8/9 --  $27.95 netflix & unnecessary drinking out
8/11 -- $32.5 groceries for the week
8/12 -- $17.04 drinking for boat day
8/14 -- $96.49 gas and Costco staples
8/16 -- $25.91 groceries
8/17 -- $7.55 lyft
8/18 -- $40.14 Costco for a party
8/19 -- $37.53 groceries
8/20 -- $54.85 cell phone bill

Total: $428.45/$1800

I am still doing waaaaaay better than previous months at this time. But I'm noticing that I'm spending too much time at Costco! Those staples last a long time, so hopefully some of these expenses will pay off for awhile.

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #32 on: August 20, 2018, 12:25:41 PM »
Nice Job everyone!


Running Total
8/3 - $268.04/$2,000
8/6 - $386.38/$2,000
8/8 - $1,248.89/$2,000 (Mortgage, Ins, Utilities)
8/13 - $1,504.20/$2,000
8/17 - $1,680.45/$2,000
8/20 - $1,715.07/$2,000

$284.93 remaining for the last 10 days. I think I can get by on one more tank of gas (~$30) and some groceries (~$75)

I plan to continue this into September with the same over all goal of $2K a month.

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #33 on: August 23, 2018, 08:35:17 AM »
Running Total
8/3 - $268.04/$2,000
8/6 - $386.38/$2,000
8/8 - $1,248.89/$2,000 (Mortgage, Ins, Utilities)
8/13 - $1,504.20/$2,000
8/17 - $1,680.45/$2,000
8/20 - $1,715.07/$2,000
8/23 - $1,758.08/$2,000

$241.92 remaining for the month. It's getting down to the wire 9 days left to go. How is everyone else doing? I rode my bike to work today and will ride again tomorrow to push off needing to get gas. If I can ride 2-3 times next week as well I shouldn't need to fill up at all for the rest of the month. Aside from that I just have groceries and 1 medical bill for $100 I forgot about. Should easily stay under $2K.

If anyone is interested in continuing in September someone started a Spendless September challenge. I'm gonna try to get even lower next month with a stretch goal of $1,600

mountain mustache

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 557
  • Age: 33
  • Location: Colorado
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #34 on: August 23, 2018, 12:16:21 PM »
Well my uber frugal August ended up being somewhat of a failure. I finally succumbed to replacing all of my terrible, worn out shoes after a 10 hour day of work that ended in tears from my feet hurting so bad. And had to replace a couple of other "bigger" items that I had been putting off for too long. As far as normal expenses go, I am so far on a good track, but a few new pairs of good shoes, and a new comforter made me way over my uber frugal goal. :/

Trifle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5902
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Outside, NC, US
    • In The Garden
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #35 on: August 25, 2018, 06:48:49 AM »
Update:

8/1 -- $0
8/2 -- $19 kids' allowance
8/3 -- $110 on a month long music class for kiddo; donated another $110 to the program (an awesome nonprofit).  Both planned/known expenses.
8/4 -- $0
8/5 -- $148 groceries (includes beer)
      -- $10 household items (garbage bags, sponges, etc.)
8/6 -- $0
8/7 -- $35 Consumer Reports annual membership fee.
8/8 -- $33 Cell phone
8/9 -- $15 watch battery
      -- $26 unplanned gifts
      -- $19 kids' weekly allowance
8/10 - $0
8/11 - $4 video rental
8/12 - $184 groceries (includes beer)
        - $42 jump park (planned reward to kids for some extra work they did)
        - $94 [monthly apportionment of annual trip to visit Relative S]
8/13 - $91 car insurance [monthly apportionment]
8/14 - $39 chicken feed;
        - $6 pine shavings
8/15 - $14 bacon;
        - $16 newspaper
8/16 - $5 bulk lentils
        - $9 beer
8/17 - $211 electric
        - $65 internet
8/18 - $19 kids' allowance
8/19 - $8 household
        - $164 groceries (includes beer)
8/20 - $110 two used bikes
        - $12 bike cleaner
        - $93 new bike helmet and replacement bike parts
        - $53 gas (our farm truck)
8/21 - $44 baseball game
        - $16 groceries
8/22 - $0
8/23 - $35 gas
8/24 - $0
8/25 - $19 kids' allowance

Total:   $1,878/estimated $2,500

Fairly spendy week.  We bought two used bikes and spent a little money to get them up to par.  Our goal is to spend a little time biking together as a family.  Still on track to be at or below the estimated spend though. 

Hope you have a nice weekend everyone! 

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #36 on: August 27, 2018, 06:46:02 AM »
Running Total
8/3 - $268.04/$2,000
8/6 - $386.38/$2,000
8/8 - $1,248.89/$2,000 (Mortgage, Ins, Utilities)
8/13 - $1,504.20/$2,000
8/17 - $1,680.45/$2,000
8/20 - $1,715.07/$2,000
8/23 - $1,758.08/$2,000
8/27 - $1,826.97/$2,000

$173.03 remaining for the month. We're in the home stretch now with only 5 days left in the month, and I'm feeling really good about making this goal.

Of course I'm joining in the Spendless September so I'm not really "done" in a few days. I'm just getting my Mustachian muscles back in shape :)

gillhamface

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 15
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #37 on: August 27, 2018, 09:24:54 AM »
8/1 --  $3.10 date night supplies!
8/2 --  $53.35 monthly gym membership ($30) & groceries ($23.35)
8/5 --  $22.45 groceries
8/7 --  $51.59 date night supplies and costco staples
8/9 --  $27.95 netflix & unnecessary drinking out
8/11 -- $32.5 groceries for the week
8/12 -- $17.04 drinking for boat day
8/14 -- $96.49 gas and Costco staples
8/16 -- $25.91 groceries
8/17 -- $7.55 lyft
8/18 -- $40.14 Costco for a party
8/19 -- $37.53 groceries
8/20 -- $54.85 cell phone bill
8/21 -- $12.72 work party supplies
8/24 -- $10.32 terrible planning food choices for work
8/25 -- $81.05 food and unnecessary shopping
8/27 -- $550 mortgage/utilities

Total: $1083/$1800

I anticipate about another $100 in spending this week. I promised myself that I'd donate anything under my goal this month ($1800) to a restorative justice organization I'm on the board for, so I'm going to try to keep spending as low as possible. I'm not going to donate like this every month, but the exercise of keeping track that every excess dollar I DIDN'T spend this month was going to do something more worthwhile for people in my community really curbed my spending. I think the mindset will carry over to next month and it's shown me what I'm capable of when I try a little harder.

bcbaseballman

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 156
  • Age: 34
  • Location: Kansas
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #38 on: August 28, 2018, 07:13:24 AM »

Ok here is my first week of spending goal is $2500 for everything.
8/1: $727 ( mortgage)
8/2:  $20 ( groceries)
8/3: $102 (insurance)
8/4: $0
8/5: $17 (groceries/new bike tube)
8/6: $385 (Medicine, Car Payment)
8/7: $0
8/8: $94 (Water Bill, Internet)
8/9: $12 (Groceries)
8/10: $0
8/11: $0
8/12: $14 (Groceries)
8/13: $65 (Trash, School Supplies)
8/14: $441 (Student Loans, Back to School Ice Cream)
8/15: $0
8/16: $13 (Groceries)
8/17: $15 (KTag)
8/18: $125 (Phones)
8/19: $24 Groceries

Remaining Balance: $446

I forgot my log book yesterday so I didn't get the chance to update it. Was a very spendy weekend had multiple things that needed to be bought.

8/20: $36 (Car Air filters)
8/21: $13 (Groceries)
8/22: $253 (Electric, house Gas, Car Gas)
8/23: $105 (Dog Groomed)
8/24: $0
8/25: $102 (Bike Helmets for my boys, household cleaners, other necessities)
8/26: $116 (Groceries, Wife's Hair Cut)

Week Total: $625
Running Total: -179

Well I Have officially already blown my goal but hopefully this last week will go good.

Good luck everyone else!

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #39 on: August 30, 2018, 07:58:59 AM »
Running Total
8/3 - $268.04/$2,000
8/6 - $386.38/$2,000
8/8 - $1,248.89/$2,000 (Mortgage, Ins, Utilities)
8/13 - $1,504.20/$2,000
8/17 - $1,680.45/$2,000
8/20 - $1,715.07/$2,000
8/23 - $1,758.08/$2,000
8/27 - $1,826.97/$2,000
8/30 - $1,989.95/$2,000

$10.05 remaining for the next 2 days! I should have maybe not filled my gas tank yesterday ;) I can do it though. There should be no other bills going through and I'll just have cheap lunches today and tomorrow.

Trifle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5902
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Outside, NC, US
    • In The Garden
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #40 on: August 31, 2018, 05:29:36 AM »
Final total,with today's planned spend:

8/1 -- $0
8/2 -- $19 kids' allowance
8/3 -- $110 on a month long music class for kiddo; donated another $110 to the program (an awesome nonprofit).  Both planned/known expenses.
8/4 -- $0
8/5 -- $148 groceries (includes beer)
      -- $10 household items (garbage bags, sponges, etc.)
8/6 -- $0
8/7 -- $35 Consumer Reports annual membership fee.
8/8 -- $33 Cell phone
8/9 -- $15 watch battery
      -- $26 unplanned gifts
      -- $19 kids' weekly allowance
8/10 - $0
8/11 - $4 video rental
8/12 - $184 groceries (includes beer)
        - $42 jump park (planned reward to kids for some extra work they did)
        - $94 [monthly apportionment of annual trip to visit Relative S]
8/13 - $91 car insurance [monthly apportionment]
8/14 - $39 chicken feed;
        - $6 pine shavings
8/15 - $14 bacon;
        - $16 newspaper
8/16 - $5 bulk lentils
        - $9 beer
8/17 - $211 electric
        - $65 internet
8/18 - $19 kids' allowance
8/19 - $8 household
        - $164 groceries (includes beer)
8/20 - $110 two used bikes
        - $12 bike cleaner
        - $93 new bike helmet and replacement bike parts
        - $53 gas (our farm truck)
8/21 - $44 baseball game
        - $16 groceries
8/22 - $0
8/23 - $35 gas
8/24 - $0
8/25 - $19 kids' allowance
8/26 - $181 groceries
8/27 - $15 garbage pickup
          $9 AAA monthly membership
          $50 donation to nephew's school fundraiser
          $19 cell phone
8/28 - $4 battery
8/29 - $62 local newspaper
8/30 - $10 groceries
8/31 - $72 haircuts
        - $25 eat out
        - $190 [monthly apportionment, taxes and house insurance]
        - $20 [monthly apportionment, car registration]

Total:   $2,535/estimated $2,500

Great challenge this month -- thanks Haypug!  Although our spending seems "OK" and is about what I expected for our family of 4, I definitely see some things we can improve.  I will keep tracking this closely and making improvements the rest of the year.  I want to go into FIRE early next year lean-and-mean on the expenses. 


bcbaseballman

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 156
  • Age: 34
  • Location: Kansas
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #41 on: August 31, 2018, 07:15:39 AM »
8/1: $727 ( mortgage)
8/2:  $20 ( groceries)
8/3: $102 (insurance)
8/4: $0
8/5: $17 (groceries/new bike tube)
8/6: $385 (Medicine, Car Payment)
8/7: $0
8/8: $94 (Water Bill, Internet)
8/9: $12 (Groceries)
8/10: $0
8/11: $0
8/12: $14 (Groceries)
8/13: $65 (Trash, School Supplies)
8/14: $441 (Student Loans, Back to School Ice Cream)
8/15: $0
8/16: $13 (Groceries)
8/17: $15 (KTag)
8/18: $125 (Phones)
8/19: $24 Groceries
8/20: $36 (Car Air filters)
8/21: $13 (Groceries)
8/22: $253 (Electric, house Gas, Car Gas)
8/23: $105 (Dog Groomed)
8/24: $0
8/25: $102 (Bike Helmets for my boys, household cleaners, other necessities)
8/26: $116 (Groceries, Wife's Hair Cut)
8/27: $0
8/28: $31 (Groceries)
8/29: $0
8/30: $40 (Family outing to Football game)



Week Total: $71
Running Total: -$220
Spent/Goal: $2720/$2500

Well we went over but our planned budget for this month. But I have the wife convinced to return about $100 worth of stuff that she bought that we didn't really need. (She is not very Mustachian but getting better. I also made an extra $600 this month by selling things on craigslist/internet!

Happy I did this challenge and thank you haypug16 for doing this.


zeli2033

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 508
  • Location: West Coast
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #42 on: August 31, 2018, 08:48:03 AM »
Posting to say I'll be joining this gauntlet for the month - very excited to pursue some uber frugal goals. I'll update this post later on with the goal amount.

Welp. I always intended to come back here and post a goal for Uber Frugal August. And then I got a little embarrassed about the amount we'd probably be aiming to spend and how not uber frugal it was and just kept not posting something for accountability.

BUT - PLOT TWIST. I kept this thread in the back of my mind for the entire month and frequently checked in on everyone's progress. I'm happy to say we spent the lowest amount on food this month than we have all year. So even though I didn't participate the way that I would have liked to, I benefitted from y'all putting in such hard work in and sharing it with everyone else. It motivated me to keep those food purchases down!

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #43 on: August 31, 2018, 09:08:00 AM »
I'm happy to say we spent the lowest amount on food this month than we have all year.

Excellent job! Food is one of my biggest budget lines (Groceries and Dining out) and I feel like it's so hard to cut that down since I'm like "Hay I need food to survive!" but over the past year and half since finding MMM I've managed to get total food expenses down from $460 to $360 on average. I still spend too much on dining out but it's getting better.

Trifle

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5902
  • Age: 57
  • Location: Outside, NC, US
    • In The Garden
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #44 on: August 31, 2018, 09:32:45 AM »
I'm happy to say we spent the lowest amount on food this month than we have all year.

Excellent job! Food is one of my biggest budget lines (Groceries and Dining out) and I feel like it's so hard to cut that down since I'm like "Hay I need food to survive!" but over the past year and half since finding MMM I've managed to get total food expenses down from $460 to $360 on average. I still spend too much on dining out but it's getting better.

+1  That's great!  Yes, food is our biggest expense by a wide margin.  (Our house is paid off).  We don't waste any and we don't eat out much or buy much processed food, so I feel good about that, but it still feels high . . . We average about $700 per month for the family, including beer.  Cutting back on the beer would help a lot.  I would love to get that food bill down around $500.  Next year when my garden is in full swing that should help too. 
« Last Edit: August 31, 2018, 11:00:37 AM by Trifele »

zeli2033

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 508
  • Location: West Coast
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #45 on: August 31, 2018, 09:47:54 AM »
I'm happy to say we spent the lowest amount on food this month than we have all year.

Excellent job! Food is one of my biggest budget lines (Groceries and Dining out) and I feel like it's so hard to cut that down since I'm like "Hay I need food to survive!" but over the past year and half since finding MMM I've managed to get total food expenses down from $460 to $360 on average. I still spend too much on dining out but it's getting better.


+1  That's great!  Yes, food is our biggest expense by a wide margin.  (Our house is paid off).  We don't waste any and we don't buy much processed food, so I feel good about that, but it still feels high . . . We average about $700 per month for the family, including beer.  Cutting back on the beer would help a lot.  I would love to get that food bill down around $500.  Next year when my garden is in full swing that should help too.

Thank you both for the encouragement! Steady progress like you’re each referring to is what we are aiming for heading into September. Dining out and a lack of meal planning consistently keep our food bill high

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #46 on: August 31, 2018, 01:26:22 PM »
Running Total
8/3 - $268.04/$2,000
8/6 - $386.38/$2,000
8/8 - $1,248.89/$2,000 (Mortgage, Ins, Utilities)
8/13 - $1,504.20/$2,000
8/17 - $1,680.45/$2,000
8/20 - $1,715.07/$2,000
8/23 - $1,758.08/$2,000
8/27 - $1,826.97/$2,000
8/30 - $1,989.95/$2,000
8/31 - $1,994.96/$2,000

Well I made it just under the wire $5.04 to spare :) Nice job everyone, you all kept me motivated to finish this challenge. Now on to the spendless September. Hope to see you there :)

AFrugalGuy

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 26
  • Age: 38
  • Location: Toronto, Canada
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #47 on: September 04, 2018, 03:55:00 AM »
I'm in! My goal is to see how far I can increase my monthly savings through frugality. So far, I am on track for $5,150 - anything above $5k is ideal (monthly net income is $7,901.98).

Made it to $5,011.86 in savings!

haypug16

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1332
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Boston, MA
Re: Uber Frugal August
« Reply #48 on: September 04, 2018, 08:20:47 AM »
Nice job AFrugalGuy!