I've only bough Pantene shampoo and conditioner for the kids - total 5.00
bread- 2.00
squash - 1.25
bananas- .25 a lb - 1.85
o.j.- 1gallon 3.00
cereal on sale - 6 boxes 7.50

I will need to buy milk this week

kids and dh pack lunch each day, no coffee dates or lunch dates for me

I've resisted the urge to take the kids to McD's after school, brought them home for cereal and snacks here

using up everything I can every night for dinner and so far so good!

Oops... I spent $6.00 this weekend that I really didn't need to. We had a yard sale on Saturday morning and my next-door neighbor (who was also having a yard sale with us) was going to McD's... they asked if I wanted anything! Well, it was like 9 am and we hadn't eaten and were starving!!!! I got the kids 2 plain McGriddles and I got a 99 cent sausage egg McMuffin. 3 bucks. Then I bought a kids easel from my neighbor for $3.00. After I brought it home I regretted it... my kids can just paint on the backyard patio concrete can't they??? They didn't need an easel... besides that, we had an easel that got baked by the sun and we ended up tossing, and my parents have an easel for the kids that just sits there unused. I should not have bought the easel. $3 bucks gone for good.

On a brighter note, I had my lowest food shopping bill that I've ever had at Trader Joe's. (We hit 4 grocery stores each week... I know we are crazy food people LOL We buy some stuff at Costco, some at Trader Joe's, some at the local grocery chain, and some at another specialty store similar to Trader Joe's.) My bill at TJ's is usually $100 to $120. Yesterday's bill was only $58. I avoided the specialty coffee's, the impulse buys at the counter (I always buy stupid things like imported licorice or Altoids or Ricola things..)

There is hope for me. Well, as long as I don't come across anymore EASELS!!!!

Hey, don't be too hard on yourself. At least you bought it at a yard sale, instead of brand new!!

We've done pretty good over the weekend. I came up with some new recipes using the stuff on hand, most were disgusting!! I think a lot of it is a mind thing. I know I can't go get different groceries, so I've decided in my mind already, it won't be as good. My kids are not liking that they have to eat the cereal that we have on hand. But, I'm sticking to it. I will have to go and get some hamburger meat this week sometime. We have none, and I can't expect us to eat chicken every night. I am only going to take $20 cash so I'm not tempted.

Well, I had to go to the store the other day (Friday) and bought a few things (new heavy curtains, plastic for windows a couple Christmas presents- I feel so guilty!). This weekend I only spent $1.50 on a Sunday paper that had tons of coupons! But I did some cleaning and found a gift card from Target that I did not use up (has $50 on it!) and I was trying to stay home and not spend it- Monday is purge cleaning for me. The little one was complaining about her ears so of course, now I have to go to the Drs. and get a prescription (probably) at of all places Target!

I am glad i am not the only one who has trouble not spending on STUFF. I am a single mom going thru a horrible divorce. No child support yet, his way of further punishing me. I have to pay all the house bills, his debts and $620 a month for day school for my daughter 2 1/2 years old. To keep the house I have to stop spending except for mortgage, necessary food (at home) and her school. No more toys, extra play doh colors, or chips, crackers or drive thrus for us.
I am just so glad that I am not the only one who has to really watch where the money goes. Because it does just that...it goes. It sneaks out with out saying a word. Thank you for all your posts and support. Christmas will be interesting this year.

How is everyone doing? No one has posted in quite awhile. I went to the bread store and bought $14 worth of bread (it was 1/2 off day) to stock up. We don't have one in our town, so I try to go on 1/2 off day and buy as much as possible. Then went to Aldi and spent $26. Haven't done too bad. I've organized my pantry and freezer so I can see what I need to use.

i have not done bad this month. dh got a bonus check so we were excited we could get caught up a little well then all 3 kids got sick and needed meds(one needed and inhaler apparatis 61 bucks not covered by insurance) then last week oldest ds got real sick again and had to be checked every other day at the drs to make sure he did not have to be in the hospital(he lost 12lbs in less than a week). luckily he got better but by the time i made co-pays paid for meds and extra gas(we live 20-25 min from town) it was all gone ugg...so back to no pennies going out at all....hope eveyone is doing well....

Well, we would be doing better if it was not for my dh! He's been working a bunch of side jobs and making a lot of extra money (we are caught up on everything and have some saved! Just in time for the state inspection next month!)- I have been good at using it up- until supper is almost done and hubby takes us out to eat (like last night- he did not want what I made- so he is getting that tonight for supper!). As for the not spending part- it's hard, I have been very decent about not spending too much until the little one grew out of most of her clothes again! It's the 2nd time in the past 3 months! For the most part I am trying to get things accomplished in the house- so I have not been going to the store that much- but, I am spending more than what I would like!

Doing pretty good, we stopped at Arby's over the weekend, but other than that I have not done any "extra" spending. It is hard though, especially with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up so quickly!

I started the month out really well but the Target had a sale on somethings I wanted to buy dd for christmas and that blew it. I just kept spending from that point on. I really wanted to do this but novemember is a bad month becuase I start my holiday shopping every november. PLus my kids really needed clothes and so did I. I'm just cant do it, I'm weak!