Dollar Day Diet 15 & 16

Shop free day 15 and 16. Have $30 left to get through the next 5 days. I have my coupon shopping trip to Albertson's all planned out and I should only spend around $10 OOP (out of pocket).
Last week, I was telling a friend about this challenge and she remarked how difficult it would be. She commented that people "need" to be able to indulge every once in a while on "wants". Initially, I agreed. But after much thought I have changed my mind. Maybe it's the vocabulary I'm hung up on. Afterall, it's false to say people"NEED" to indulge in anything. A more true statement would be, "people want to indulge". Correctly using the word "want" empowers individuals to say NO! I often hear people uttering the following phrases, myself included; "I need a vacation, I need a new pair of shoes, I need a haircut, I need a soda, etc. Really???? Do I really need any of those things? No I do NOT. But when I utter that word,"need", I find it robs me of the power to fight against my desires (wants). Certainly I can continue on in life without a vacation, new shoes, a haircut or a soda. A more accurate statement would be "I want.....(fill in the blank)". American society tries to convince us the opposite is true. We are accosted with various forms of marketing techniques whose sole purpose is to convince us we "need" some product to be complete or worse, that we "deserve" something just because we exist. I believe this mentality breeds a sense of entitlement. And then we are left wondering why we are strapped with a nation full of people who have overindulged (obesity, living in homes they can't afford, carrying credit debt, etc). I am grateful for the daily dollar challenge as it has really forced me to see my own "needs" more clearly. I'm still weak. Last week I earned some extra money but spent it because I "needed" a haircut. Then I spent more money because I "needed" to get the bad haircut fixed. Really??? I didn't "need" the first haircut. anyways i'm rambling now.....
5 days left. i have made some mistakes but for the most part i have done so much better these last 21 days than i usually do and my checking account balance is a direct reflection of that. YEAH!!!!

Dollar Diet Day 14 and another thing

Yesterday was a shop free day- this spending money on only what you need is getting easier. Plus i followed the advice of a friend and have just stayed home- no reason to tempt myself.
today is looking like a shop free day as well. my house is in shambles and laundry has managed to pile up again so there's plenty to do at home- i am gearing up for my coupon shopping come monday morning though.

Dollar Diet Day 13

Wednesday i babysit for a friend so that keeps me house bound. It's a good thing- i am not tempted to spend money and i get all the chores, which i despise, completed. i had to run to walmart for eggs and butter. while there i checked prices on a few items like; cereal, yogurt, frosting, bread, fresh fruit and canned black beans. WOW i can't believe how expensive everything is. I'm getting such cheap deals using my coupons and albertson's doubler's(when they come out) paying full retail-even at walmart- makes me feel sick. Betty crocker frosting at walmart is $1.67. I will get it, next week at albies, with all my coupons, for $.50. now do you see why $1.67 seems ridiculous. A box of wheaties fuel was $2.44 at walmart. i will get it next week at albies for $.50. Couponing nay sayers are truly missing the boat! anyways-I'm down to my last $30 BUT i only have 7 days left. we are stocked on everything so i should make it to the end of the challenge without going over budget. AND that is a WONDERFUL feeling.

Dollar Diet Day 11 & 12

Our computer has been down-viruses or something. thank goodness we have a computer genius neighbor who will fix our computer for trade. i love the barter system. anyways, day 11 spent no money. day 12 spent $13.73 at albertson's for artisan bread, salad dressing, cucumber and some lunch meat. 1 week and one day left.

Dollar Diet Day 9 and Day 10

HOLY COW, yesterday was challenging. Saturday is shopping day! Right? Didn't everyone else grow up doing chores saturday morning and then shopping saturday afternoon? that was a tradition i remember from my childhood. one that i have subconsciously carried with me into adulthood. i did survive the day without spending but i won't deny the angst i suffered. and then....last night, quincy was playing at the neighbors and somehow the ping pong table fell onto her head creating a pretty deep gash. i wasn't convinved the gash warranted a trip to the e.r. OR stitches so our kind doctor friend came over to assess the wound. 30 minutes later reece, quincy and i hopped into the gas guzzling SUV, e.r. bound. I hate the e.r. for so many reasons- i won't even waste my time going into it. Needless to say the injury occurred at approx 7:30. We arrived at the e.r at approx 8:30. we left the e.r (4 staples and i'm sure a $1200 bill later)at exactly 11:00 p.m. RIDICULOUS!!!!!! On the way out the doc asked if the kids wanted a Popsicle. i said no thanks i don't feel like being charged $10 for a Popsicle. she giggled and said, " oh we don't charge for them". AND then you know what they did????? they split ONE in half for Reece and Quincy to share. P.L.E.A.S.E.
Day 9 -i didn't spend any cash on wants but no avoiding the e.r. bill that will show up in a few weeks.
Day 10- spent nothing! YEAH for keeping the Sabbath day holy and not shopping!

Dollar Diet Day 8

Today was tough! in fact i would have caved if the dress, i certainly didn't need, but desperately wanted fit- thank goodness it was too short! i keep telling myself 21 days to make a habit, right? another reason i fail at diets.....i would never ever want to go 21 days without sugar just to create the habit of not eating sugar. i love sugar and i really love shopping!
i did purchase some jeans today at Old Navy for myself and reece- they were on sale. i had coupons and a gift card. one thing for sure.....this dollar diet has really forced me to evaluate my purchases. reluctantly i put several items of clothing back because no one needed them. they were on clearance but still that's how i tend to nickel and dime myself over budget. clearance is not a signal to buy whatever i want! i feel very fortunate to be surrounded by other frugal, couponing, budget abiding friends. i glean more support from them then they know.

Dollar Diet Day 7

Didn't spend anything today! 14 days left. I have learned so much about myself in one short week. Like:
1. i'm such an emotional shopper- spending money really makes me feel better short term- kinda like the chocolate makes me feel better at first but then....when the numbers on the scale start creeping up it's not so good.
2. my "wants" are closely intertwined with my "needs". it feels good to be more conscious of this and more in control of my spending.
3. limits really scare me. i'm not a good dieter for this very reason. i would rather run 25 miles a week and eat whatever i want than limit my caloric intake. once limits are in place i instinctively get "up in arms". i wonder what psychological phenomenon explains that.
4. i really don't "need" much. most of my spending falls into the "want" category.

i'm excited to see where the next two weeks take me.

Dollar Diet Day 6

Today i almost made it without spending a single cent. almost being the operative word. on the way to quincy's dance lesson the gas light(in the gas guzzling, still making payments on) SUV lit up. i know i can drive at least 11 miles once the gas light rears it's ugly head but it's cold outside and i didn't want to chance it with little kids in the car. so today i broke the cardinal rule of the dollar diet....I charged $70.00 worth of gas on my credit card- because i had no cash with me. I will deduct that $70 from my allowed budget to pay the credit card and possibly redeem myself????
cash remaining as of today: $115.30
oh and one other surprise that came in the mail today.....a bill from old navy. $8.49last month if i would have been using cash only i wouldn't get surprise bills in the mail. for that matter, last month if i was buying only what i needed i wouldn't have even walked into old navy. guaranteed the purchase was a want NOT a need.
so actual cash left is $115.30-$8.49=$106.81.....the next 15 days might get very interesting!

Dollar Diet Day 5

I couldn't put off the costco trip any longer. I wondered if I would be disciplined enough to stay in budget.I took $75 cash with me and kept track of the items that went into my cart.
i needed:
1.fresh fruit- you can't get bananas cheaper. i purchased the red delicious apples vs. the fugi or gala because they were considerably less expensive but pack the same nutritional pucnh. i purchased the case of oranges vs. my favorite (a bag of cuties)because it was cheaper.
2.romaine- can't get it cheaper anywhere else and makes great salads
3.chicken nuggets- some may say this is a want but i have a little guy with severe food allergies (no milk, eggs, or nuts and wheat only sparingly) this is what he eats for lunch.
4.bread- quinn said no more taking chances on homeade bread (see post below)- again because of my little one we buy the more expensive bread as it is egg and milk free.

I wanted but didn't buy all the books-didn't even buy one!
chocolate covered pretzels-
stacy's pita chips
zone power bars
-i finally just stopped looking and went to checkout.
I wanted and did buy:
1. applesauce (or my food storage)
2. case of popcorn (with coupon 32 bags cost $5.65)this is a really and somewhat healthy snack alternative for the kids.
3. Kirkland brand laundry detergent- could have gotten by without it but will need it eventually and didn't want to miss the coupon. it is our preferred detergent.
4. apple juice- could have gotten by with out it but trey (the allergic one, get's tired of water and there was a coupon making it 2 gallons for $4.65).
I told the cashiers about my diet(just in case i had to put something back). They were really supportive.
TOTAL: $74.64
i'm off to buy crest toothpaste at walgreens for $.04-you can too just check these gals out (www.thecrazycouponlady.com)

Dollar Diet Day 4

Today i went to Alby's armed with my coupon binder. I needed:
milk
dishwashing detergent
yogurt
you could say i broke the diet rules because i came home with some additional items BUT they were FREE (with my coupons).
here's what i came home with:
5 packs of trident layered gum - FREE with coupons-
4 boxes of ronzoni pasta- FREE with coupons
5 bags of hershey's bliss chocolate- FREE with coupons
12 dannon light&fit yogurts-$3.67 (with coupons)
1 gallon of milk $2.69 - that killed me but i figured it was cheaper than driving to costco.
1 box of dishwash detergent $3.99 (with coupons)
1 bag of popsicles (now this i didn't need but my 3 year old, who was patiently shopping with me did). they were on clearance and i paid $1.99

Total paid $13.06
normally i would have purchased some other items BUT the other items were on my want list vs. need list. unless i can get them for free i can't buy them (unless my 3 year old is on the verge of a melting down). if you want to know to use coupons visit www.thekrazycouponlady.com

the dollar diet. Days 1, 2 and 3.

if i was blog savvy i would know how to link you to the article on kivitv news featuring the dollar diet but i'm not. so if you're interested just head on over to their news page and check it out in the lifestyle section. my gym pal, michelle edmonds (you know the lovable evening anchor on channel 6), explained this diet to me on Friday, February 12th. from what i understand the basic concept is for 21 days (because that's how long it takes to form new habits) you shop using two rules: #1. use cash only. #2. buy only what you need! let me repeat....buy only what you need! of course prior to this you must establish your budget for the 21 days. the goals are #1. to stay under your budget, thus saving money. #2. be able to more clearly distinguish between wants and needs #3. stop using credit cards/debit cards/anything but cash to pay for purchases.
i'm already fairly frugal but definately have room for improvement. sometimes i nickel and dime myself right over my budget. not good! over budget is over budget no matter how good of a deal something is (if only our government understood this concept). Michelle is doing a news story with a local family on the diet but i decided to take the challenge as well and blog about it. so here we go.....
My budget for the 21 days is $300.00- that includes everything. food,gas, dining out, movies, haircuts, toiletries, anything we do for the next 21 days.
Day one: withdrew $300 cash from bank.- didn't spend any money.
Day two: purchased 3# of ground beef for $7.00 at Albertson's. probably cheaper at winco but didn't have the time to drive there. plus who in their right mind goes to winco on a saturday? Paid $7 because i bought yesterday's grind (completely edible just store policy that it is marked down to sell the next day or it's thrown away).
Cut quinn's hair myself to save the cost of a haircut. this was my second time and it turned out great! Made bread because we were out and didn't want to spend money at store- had all items in my food storage(it turned out horrible and was hard as a rock but we still ate half the loaf with some yummy jam i canned last summer). $20for valentines date to movie (date night is a definite need in my book-and we don't usually spend money but it was valentines day)!
Day three- spent nothing as i don't shop on sundays.
$300-$27.00 = $273

is it worth it?

5 packages of toilet paper
4 boxes of 18 ct. tampons
1 package of huggies-because i'm not ready to potty train yet. who has time for potty training when i am so busy couponing
3 bottles of joy dish soap
2 venus razors with 5- yes count them 5 blades
2 Oil of Olay body wash
4 Dove's Men's body wash
2 /20 sq. feet of foil
2 pacakages of oreos- to bribe the kids with
1 package of sweedish fish- to bribe trey with since he can't eat the oreos
4 caramels- filler items
Out of Pocket= $46.51 + I still have $10.00 in Register Rewards to use at a later date.
Some seasoned couponers probably would have scored this pile for way cheaper but I'm still learning and that's what is so darn frustrating. I WANT TO BE PERFECT AND GET THE BEST DEALS RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!! It literally makes me ill thinking that I might have been able to save more money if only..........But this is good for me. it is forcing me to learn patience with myself!

Couponing aint for no sissy's (how do you like them double negatives)! you have got to know your stuff and be able to stick to your guns. not all stores are on "their" game and sometimes the couponer has to tell "them" about "their" policies-and of course the couponer knows the store's policy because he/she has read up on it.
You also have to be able to smile politely even when the folks, in line behind you, start making noises with their mouths, rolling their eyes and get their bodies all contorted just because you are taking a little extra time SAVING MONEY by USING COUPONS!
I love couponing-i'm not quite sure what the draw is but i'm an addict. upon realizing this i have set two ground rules for myself-i'm sure more will follow- but remember i'm still a beginner!
1. I won't organize my coupons on Sunday, anymore. It takes too much time away from my family. I could spend a good 2-3 hours organizing and reading coupon blogs.
2. I won't skip the gym to try and get the great deals. last week i allowed myself to skip the gym 3 times due to couponing. i didn't intend for it to happen that way but my trips took longer than expected and before i knew it my gym time was up. Exercise is too important in my world and I need to keep it that way. Afterall I am pushing 36- ARGHHHHH.