I kind of hate it when places give you coupons or "cash" that you have to use in a short time. Feels like pressurized buying.

I am doing much better.

This week I did not go to the grocery store, and my plan was to not place any grocery orders either. However when I was getting my free prescriptions delivered from the store, I did add to the order: one head of lettuce, one bag of chips, and some Halloween candy. I regret it. I ate the chips but am not going to eat anymore of the candy - will hand it out at the door tomorrow. Regardless, my goal is to ONLY eat when I have or am given, (including the $30 in coupons I have for free produce before the end of Dec). That is it. I also did stop at fast food twice, which I also regret, and needs to stop.

But overall this is still better than I did the last few weeks, and now, I will STICK to my plan to eat what I have.

Good job SubC. Saving money and not indulging is my main goal.

I am going to make the soup today. I also have a few apples, and I took some fresh frozen cranberries out of the freezer. I sorted them and am soaking them in water mixed with a small jar of orange marmalade (a sample one from work) and will then shake them with powdered sugar and bake at 200 for 5 minutes. This is some kind of viral recipe, so I am looking forward to trying them.

I did not make the spaghetti squash yet but I did bake a plant based chicken patty and boiled some pasta, put some sauce and cheese over it like a chicken parmigiana, which I enjoyed last night. I also found a bag of bake and serve rolls in the freezer so have been eating one here and there. I also thawed out some broccoli soup (homemade) from the freezer for lunch today. I can have a roll with that. The rolls are a little old and a little hard but good enough.

Well, today I did really well on the not processed foods, but when I went to the grocery store for fruit, vegetables, milk, and bread, I ended up spending $73. We do have fruit, vegetables, milk, and bread for two people plus visiting grandsons to last the rest of the month though, I think.

Literally all I bought that has ingredients was the milk (added A and D) and the bread (which did not have hfc or any unpronounceable preservatives.) The rest of the list was apples, blueberries, bananas, lettuce, turnips, Brussels sprouts, and carrots. My milk is expensive, and I splurged on the blueberries. The boys love blueberries.

I also bought myself a completely optional splurge. When Bean looked through the box of trolls (anybody remember the 90's?) there were baby and kid trolls and one "teen". He asked me why there was a mommy troll and no daddy troll. I said "I never had a daddy troll." And he said "well, you need a daddy troll." And moved on. Today I found the boy teen troll in excellent used condition available to be shipped to my house for a grand total of $12.75. I bought it.

I also went to the feed store, but feed doesn't count.

Lila, better is good.

Just keep telling yourself "I will not get fast food today." Just "today".

I have decided that I will drive just a little bit out of my way tomorrow and stop at the bricks and mortar store where I have $20 to spend. If I don't find anything for my family for Christmas, I will buy a toy for the holiday toy drive.

omg I cannot wait til Thursday when I can buy food.

I have been continuing to eat from the freezer and pantry but am so over it.

Went by the food pantry last night and got cans of tuna and a can of pinto beans, and a can of condensed milk, not sure what that is for. This it the first time I have gotten any food since Oct, and it was free.

Last night and today I had tuna salad with the last of the last open box of crackers, and 2 slices of the last bit of cheese.

Breakfast was a toasted frozen waffle with frozen blueberries on top and syrup, and a piece of plant bacon. And coffee with milk which was in the fridge from ddil.

I am going to have an apple. And some tea. I am tired, and I want some real produce, so that is what I am having as soon as I can buy food, after 40 days, which is Thursday.

Just realized I forgot to record the 28.85 I spent on new jeans and my sweater. I feel like that was mostly very necessary and quite frugal.

I'm a bit thrown by how much spending I'm doing on this no spending thread though.

I've got another toy purchase to confess as well. A fancy brio accessory that Bean really likes got broken and I wasn't able to fix it. I found a used one that ended up costing me $19 after tax and shipping and ordered it. I thought about ordering $35 worth of stuff instead of paying shipping, because I hated that the shipping was almost half the price of the toy, but my inner Tatoulia told me that I did not need anything else from that Etsy shop and to either skip it or pay the shipping.

I know Bean doesn't NEED so many toys, but it wasn't his fault that it broke, and he was really sad. Working on cleaning out the basement is making me try to focus on things that are loved and used instead of just things that are in case or maybe or someday.

So, I spend on my boys. Blueberries and milk and healthy bread and toys.

Lila, how are you doing?

That sounds like a good use of your funds, SubC.

Nov 1 and 2, nothing spent on food.

In those first 2 days I have eaten
- green beans given to me
- a piece of fish from the freezer
- roasted broccoli my son bought a couple weeks ago and needed to be cooked
- roasted garlic I already had
- roasted orange pepper, given to me
- coffee with plant creamer and honey I already had
- rhubarb lemonade made with the rhubarb someone gave me that I made into syrup, and lemons I had that needed to be used
- an egg with cheese and half a frozen bagel, all of which I already had

I think that is pretty much it. I spent nothing on food.

I also took beef bones from the freezer and made a quart of rich bone broth, which I will drink. I do drink broth sometimes - I just do not eat any meat. I cut the meat off for my sons.

I also sliced 2 lemons that needed to be used and they are on a plate in the freezer. I will out the slices into baggies in the freezer for later use, probably for tea.

I feel good about what I am doing.

Lila, I am impressed by your dedication to this.

I spent $50 at the grocery store yesterday. I wanted to make Dh a nice dinner because I knew he had had a rough day at work, so I bought shrimp and wine and some peppers. I also stocked up on his cereal, which was on sale, and gave into temptation and bought a gallon of apple cider.

There are leftovers and food still in the fridge and freezer, and he will be out of town until Friday night, but at some point I will need to buy groceries for our friends who are coming to dinner on Monday and our family, who are coming for the holidays with no time to shop after Dec 18!

I'm planning to finish the freezer/pantry drawdown in January.

Here I am again.

Less than a week left in January.

More things I have bought (but don't have yet)

Two replacement dolls - because I am buying things to help me clean out. (Eyeroll)

A $9.99 used set of Legos - because I am an adult who still plays with Legos and I needed a reward for all the hard work I am doing.

I am pretty confident I will make it to February without having to go back to the grocery store.

Update:

Today is Nov 7 and I have spent no money on food so far.

I am eating out of my fridge, freezer, and pantry.

Fridge: beets, lettuce, plums, apples, pickles, cheeses, broth I made from beef bones in the freezer
Freezer: pizza, corn fritters, soups, breads
Pantry: soups, crackers, teas with honey

other stuff I can't remember, but everything from what I already had or was given.

I also got fed free dinners at least 3x this week at work and was even given some leftovers to bring home.

So, so far, this is going very well, saving money, much less food waste, and eating healthier because I don't have much junk here.

You are doing good SubC, with your changes and using what you have more often!

Well I made it! I did the no buying any food for 40 days (since Oct) and last night to celebrate I bought a pizza and this morning got a grocery order, about $150. I am not "fasting" from spending this month, but, my intention is not to spend any more on groceries this year. I have a couple of grocery gift cards I can use to buy what I need without spending money. I was going to do that last night, but I was so sore and exhausted after work, I literally could not. Had my last big event of the year.

I ordered some oranges and lemons, veggies, more fruit, yogurts, creamer for my coffee (ahhh!), some dark chocolate to dip fruity things in, crackers, and some of my face cheeses like brie, sharp cheddar, gorgozola. I got ingredients to make fish stew today (with fish from the freezer and potatoes I already have), and to make marinated beans for the week, and 2 bottles of kombucha. It seems I have broken my candy, junk, and soda habit. I did not buy cookies or candy and I did buy ONE bag of plain chips that I am sticking in a cabinet for when I want a few with a sandwich. And I bought sourdough bread!!

I also bought OJ because I was missing having a little with breakfast on the weekends. I am so enjoying having this food! The yogurt and OJ this morning tasted better than ever!

All in all this was a wonderful discipline and really saved me a lot of money, probably $500 or more. Which is great because my laptop is dying and I was able to buy a new one on cyber Monday for $499! And it was an $800 laptop. A big win!

I also broke my awful fast food/coffee drinks habit and do not intend to pick that back up, although ordering the pizza was a celebration. I will limit those kind of things to once a week or less. It had gotten to the point of like 5 times a week, pretty bad.

Thank you for cheering me on in this! I will keep updating as I continue to use up the freezer and fridge food, like you!

Ok, to count everything bought in January that will go on the tally thread when it arrives.

Three more Lego packages that I will dole out to myself as rewards for doing hard things.

My reindeer for the Christmas sleigh

One book.

I definitely would have done better if I had not bought myself treats. But I am motivated by treats. And food treats make me fat. I need to work on my treat ideas.

Lila, you are doing a very good job!

Healthy for your body and wallet!

I have also eaten a lot of food given to me this week, but unfortunately that food was tacos and pizza.

My big grocery shop was $284 (insert horrified face), but we are stocked up on a lot of things we use regularly at good prices, plus most of our groceries for the month (I may need a few fresh things
Later)

There is also an employee at school who gives me her Halloween decoration pumpkins every year for my chickens to eat. The Jack o lanterns go straight to the chickens, but she always has a variety of uncut pumpkins that go on MY porch until after thanksgiving! Then I cook some of them. This year she included two butternut squash - Buddy's favorite! So I will be cooking those early.

I spent my store cash on Legos for Bean for Christmas. It didn't cover the whole cost, but it was a good price on a set Dd had suggested for him that I also thought he would like. He loves Lego.

I also ordered a new swim suit because I have finally started back to swimming. I had two, but one is very old and could be worn out any day. I really need two for regular swimming, and when I checked the site that has good, durable suits I know I like, my favorite was on clearance and sold out in every size but mine. I took it as a sign.

So still spending, but still being intentional.

Lila, that sounds like a good shopping list!

I'm glad you got the new laptop. Now, did you clean off and recycle the old laptop?

My January will be heavy on squash rice, and potatoes.

Well, I guess it is time for another no-spend period for me as well. I am running out of $$$. I was sick so often this month and last that I did several grocery orders and a couple amazon orders. It was several hundred dollars worth.

I still have grocery gift cards for another store, so I am not going to buy anything else food-wise. I will go back to eating what I have, and when I really need something, I will walk myself into that store and use the gift cards.

Now that the big downstairs freezer is gone, I have to pay more attention. I did take an inventory of what I saved from there and moved into my son's freezer, plus I moved some things upstairs. I need to go back to eating all of that stuff instead of just ordering junk like frozen pizzas.

Being intentional is a good and important thing, SubC! Good going!

It is 1/3 the way through the month and I have spent $0 on food. In the last couple days I have
- cut up red and green peppers, froze most of the
- washed and boiled a small bag of little potatoes of various colors that someone gave me and put most of them in the fridge
- took some of the peppers and potatoes, plus some onion, and made home fries with an egg for lunch today
- re-blended and heated some tomato soup from the freezer for yesterday's lunch, along with a roll from the freezer
- had some cheese and crackers from the fridge
- boiled a few eggs for lunch and a snack
- ate the last of the yogurt and the last peach from the fridge

Still going strong. I have a lot of food to choose from. Maybe not what I would pick if I was shopping, but good food and it is healthier and not going to waste.

SubC lol... I literally still have 2 PCs on my kitchen counter and 3 old laptops in my bedroom in the corner! I have a problem!! I need to consolidate everything. Somehow! Photos on all of them!

I will try to do at least the newest old laptop before the end of the year.

Tonight I was so hungry and saw an ad for cheesesteaks, omg I wanted one SO bad, but I don't eat meat. I have a new mindset from the last 40 days and immediately started thinking what I have that I can make. I had part of a package of impossible burger (plant based) in the freezer and also found some chopped red and green peppers from the summer in the freezer, so started frying all that up, sliced some onion, found a can of mushrooms and added that, and some seasonings. Used part of the sourdough baguette, mayo and some cheese and it was fantastic!!! I have enough meat/veggies for 2 more sandwiches.

Feeling good.

ok, I did not start my no-spend month when I intended to, and have continued to buy food that I do not need. I think I have some kind of emotional issue with it.

So I am starting now, even though it is not the start of a month. I am making a new plan.

I will not buy any food from now through the end of August, EXCEPT if I go to the Farmer's Market.

And, I still have a gift card to thar annoying grocery store, so if I need toilet paper or shampoo or maybe one ingredient for a recipe or something, I can use that gift card to get it, which requires me to get off my butt and go shop for it.

I have so much food it cannot fit and I need to eat what I have. Anyone with me?

Lila, you are doing a really impressive job!

When we stopped at the grocery store yesterday, Dh bought a bunch of processed food. Frozen meals for lunches, snacks and desserts. We also got the fudge ingredients and the things we needed but didn't have to make dinner. We will be using some of what is in the fridge and cupboard for that.

I need to get back to baking so he doesn't feel deprived. January.

well, today was annoying getting used to No Spend, but I also had some wins!

I woke up and decided my blanket on my bed is too heavy for the spring weather. I immediately wanted to buy a new blanket or bedspread, but I made myself look in the little storage room instead. There are brand new, never used, still wrapped blankets in the closet because I have a blanket problem. Anyway, there on the bed were 2 blankets. I checked and one was queen sized. In fact it may be the one I was using last summer before I put on this heavy bedspread. But it is like new and soft, so I washed it and it is on my bed. Win!

I also was craving something chocolate but don't have anything but choc chips. So I mixed cocoa powder into a small amount of rice pudding that was left in the fridge and mixed in some whipped cream also in the fridge. That was good.

I also pulled out 3 bags of potatoes I was given awhile ago, tossed 2 bad potatoes, took the best ones and put them back away, and washed all the rest. I roasted them with seasonings for dinner.

Yesterday I got all the shrively older apples out and made an apple crisp which was good.

I sat down and added up all the regular recurring bills (health ins, car ins, subscriptions, utilities, etc) and it is about 500 a month. That does not include housing. I should be able to get by without spending anything on food for awhile and use the saved money for property taxes, ugh.

Dh and I went out to dinner last night as a treat, but we still have plenty of food. We also brought home leftovers for tonight. One of my challenges is to not leave food in the fridge when we go to ds for thanksgiving that will be spoiled when we come back!

I did some regular and thrift shopping yesterday. I spent two dollars and 57 cents on some pieces to fix two items in my house, and 53 cents on a "new" display stand for my pottery booth.

I also ordered six months worth of nuts on sale free shipping from the place I like to order them from. There is once grocery store brand that is cheaper per ounce when it is on sale, but there is a significant quality difference, so I have decided the mail order place is the best choice. The mail order place is also bulk, so MUCH less packaging.

Baking for the holidays is good, and baking for loved ones!

I am getting better also about "my body is not a dumpster." I have always felt like I HAVE to eat the leftovers or freeze them, even if I don't like the food that much. I don't want to be wasteful, but if no one in my home likes something I made and I don't like it either and can't make it into something more appealing, it is OKAY to throw it away.

I had a few leftovers in my fridge no one wants. Today I tossed them all. I could have forced myself to eat it for lunch - and if I was desperate, I would - but I have enough and can just eat something I like better.

Well, I typed a long post and then looked at it and thought "I don't want this much about my finances on the internet."

Summary:
I have some extra money right now.
The extra money is 95% earmarked for the lean-to project
I'm so unused to having extra money that the 5% is making me feel rich
I'm concerned that I am going to spend the 5% in small amounts many times and overspend it.
I don't want to be wasteful of the extra spending opportunity and have nothing to show for it but more stuff I don't need.

I think mostly I want to focus on making good spending decisions.

I decided the bubble things were not good decisions. I'm going to redonate them. But it worked out ok because the nightlight was worth $2. It's a panda and it changes color when you pat it on the head. It charges on my phone charger. It will be good for when the boys sleep over.