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Monday Accountability Post

Can't believe I'm starting this because we had a very spendy weekend, but here goes:

1) How MM was your weekend?

2) Any progress toward goals?

3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no?
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Re: Monday Accountability Post

  • 1) Ours was really spendy.  We had some friends over for the weekend so spent about $35 extra on groceries for that, plus we took them out to dinner and the symphony.  That was $95.  Yesterday we met another set of friends for lunch and that was $25.  

    We also spent some serious money at our local outlet mall.  We had decided in the last few weeks that we needed to keep an eye out for deals on men's shoes because my H's dress shoes are starting to look really bad.  Then H came home on Friday and told me he heard the Allen Edmonds outlet is going out of business and they had a whole wall of shoes for $99.  So once we heard that, we went to see what was left and H found a pair of shoes in every color he wears frequently.  It was several hundred dollars, but they are all recraftable and a MUCH higher quality than he had previously.  We should come out way ahead in the long run.

    We also spent about $80 on a couple pairs of non-frumpy dress pants at the Banana Republic outlet for me.  I got rid of probably a dozen pairs I hated and replaced them with two pairs I love. 

    Finally, $25 on gas and $75 or so on regular groceries for us.  Whew.

    2)  Despite our spendy weekend, we're pretty much on track for October.  We don't have any other huge financial goals coming up, so our only goal is make sure we cash flow everything we spend between now and the end of the year.

    3) I'm on the fence.  I really think it's best left in pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread.  My H is a huge fan though.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • 1) How MM was your weekend?
    Do we have to talk about it?
    $66 at BWW to watch the Cubs and Cardinals play.  $156 at Menards for more house crap and hedge trimmers since I burnt up our old pair.  $140 on groceries and some baby items.  $84 on Amazon for a blanket for our bed, and $27 on a part to install our chimney.
    Surprisingly everything was budgeted except the blanket.  We forgot we would need to get one this month. But still spendy when you type it all out.
    2) Any progress toward goals?
    Cash flowing house stuff to button up before winter.  We should be able to put about $1,000 into our give/save/spend categories though.

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no?
    Gimme everything pumpkin.  Except the Dairy Queen pumpkin pie blizzard.  Can't do that one for some reason.

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  • 1) How MM was your weekend?
    $8.50 on Papa John's to enjoy during Cardinals game Friday, $75 on groceries Sunday.

    2) Any progress toward goals?
    $100 to car replacement sinking fund. 

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no?
    I don't like the smell of pumpkin, so I just tend to avoid everything pumpkin, especially pumpkin pie. Also, I absolutely detest anything resembling coffee, so no lattes for me! 
  • 1. $140 for groceries and party goods for our first bonfire party of the season. That's all!

    2. $500 in savings.

    3. Give me all the pumpkin! I love it all.
  • 1) How MM was your weekend?
    $69 groceries, $70 Sam's Club (food, clothing, random), $90 Target, $15 on cake and ice cream for the youngest kiddo's birthday.

    2) Any progress toward goals?
    Friday is pay day so a good chunk will go into savings. We only have a small handful of payments left on H's car!!!

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no?
    Yes!! Coffee, yogurt, smoothies, etc. Siggi's pumpkin yogurt is my favorite so far!
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  • 1. Fair. We went to a wedding and spent $88 on a gift and $20 on Uber so that we could enjoy the open bar. Otherwise, $140 at Costco and $8 to clean H's car. It was gross.

    2. Nothing major this week, only $400 to student loans. Most of the movement happens at the end of the month!!

    3. Great question! I like pumpkin pie, but otherwise, no. H is a fan, however.
    HeartlandHustle | Personal Finance and Betterment Blog  
  • 1. $1850 Electric panel replacement/generator hook-up added to house,  $50 Dog grooming, $25 Gas. All paid for in cash

    2. Electric panel was paid off. Put $600 towards our shed on the credit card. Accumulating $ for the slowblower we just bought 2 weeks ago

    3. No pumpkin spice for me

  • short+sassyshort+sassy member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited October 2015

    Fun!  We haven't had a Monday accountability post in awhile.

    1) How MM was your weekend?

    Friday:  $30 for clothes and $26 for medicine at Walmart.  The clothes weren't budgeted, but there were t-shirts on clearance for $2 and I was also in some desperate need for light, long sleeved shirts for work.

    Saturday:  Spent nothing.

    Sunday:  $6.75 for an Al Pastor super burrito from a local place.  Forgot how cheap it was, such a deal.  I had been craving one for almost two weeks and finally gave in.  $36 at Winn Dixie.

    2) Any progress toward goals?

    Still plugging away at the rehab for my rental house.  Interior painting started...$5500 for two guys :(.  Heftier than I was expecting, but there is a lot of wall repair included in that and the entire house needs to be painted (interior only) and is over 2200 sq. ft.  My H has started installing the flooring.  Big savings there with him doing the work.

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no?  Absolutely, yes!  Love pumpkin flavored stuff.  Especially ice cream.  I normally avoid sugar, but pumpkin ice cream is one of my few sugary indulgences.  I also like pumpkin flavored coffee...need to go buy some...but not so much the lattes at places like Starbucks.  Every year I order one...tell them half the normal syrup...and every year I forget they are still too disgustingly sweet even with half the syrup.  Already made that mistake for this year, lol.

    Forgot pumpkin beer.  Don't love it, but I like it.  It's interesting and different.
  • 1) How MM was your weekend?
    I made $25 this week selling some wedding stuff on a local Facebook wedding classifieds board.  I have $55 in hand, but spent $30 to get the stuff pre-wedding. One item was an escort card holder that my MOH made from scrap wood from her yard, and she told me to just keep the cash if I sold it, so that's how I made a profit.  

    Saturday: Spent most of the day cleaning the house.  We went out to eat late afternoon at a new restaurant that just opened down the road.  H paid for it but it was still only $25 or so.  Went downtown that night for a hockey game, spent $16 on drinks for H and I (he pays for the season tickets).  On the way home spent $11 at Taco Bell since we were a bit hungry.  Even with the dinner out before and the Taco Bell, it was still cheaper than eating at the arena.

    Sunday: Just around $60 for this week's groceries, included dog food and shampoo for me.

    2) Any progress toward goals?
    Not really since this wasn't a paycheck week.  Also just found out that my bonus this month will be less than previous months as we're entering the slow season.  Kind of a bummer since I planned on putting all of that in savings, which means I won't hit my goal this month.  But at least now I know it'll be less til things pick back up in the spring so I can budget accordingly.  We don't have another home hockey game for 2 weeks though, so that'll help out my spending cash situation.

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no?  I like the flavors in the actual pumpkin pie spice blend (which is what's in pumpkin spice lattes etc., not real pumpkin).  I don't like actual pumpkin due to texture issues.
  • 1) How MM was your weekend? So-so. H's oil change and car wash were free, so that's a plus. $9ish on McDonald's for lunch Saturday (regret this one), $120 on dinner for 5 people (us and my IL's) for my MIL's birthday (I got sticker shock), $50 gift card for my MIL's bday gift, $15 to church. $8 at the grocery store for a couple items for dinner.

    2) Any progress toward goals? Sort of, we decided what to do with the surplus of October's income (3 paycheck month for both of us). We'll use it to pay off our doors, then put the rest toward H's car. We looked at the numbers, and H's car should be paid off in November. Then we only have his SL's left to go.

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no? I don't go crazy for it, but I do enjoy pumpkin pie and pumpkin pancakes. I bought a pumpkin yogurt that I'm curious about but also skeptical of, so I haven't tried it yet lol!
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  • 1) How MM was your weekend?
    My bday was Saturday, but FI and I went to Disneyland on Thursday to celebrate. We spent $25 on food but used cash I had received as a gift. $75 on groceries on Saturday, plus a free pizza from one of those places that give you a free one on your birthday for signing up for their rewards program. $45 for pine sol and new t-shirts for FI from Target on Sunday.

    2) Any progress toward goals?
    Just staying on track with our budget. Nothing big will happen again until the beginning of next month.

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no?
    I could leave it. I prefer apple cinnamon for a "fall" flavor.
  • 1) How MM was your weekend?
    • Eh, it was so so. We went out to eat ($50) as a treat for DH's birthday and then we also renewed our Costco membership ($110) and bought groceries ($150). So it wasn't terrible, but not great. 
    2) Any progress toward goals?
    • Threw an extra $300 toward debt this week and put an extra $100 toward retirement this month. Also saved an extra $200 in savings.

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no? 
    I don't love it, but I don't have it. DH loves all things Pumpkin Spice though.
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
  • 1) How MM was your weekend? Eh- it was not great, but pretty much all of it was planned. Groceries ($176), new pants for DH for work ($88), new crazy electromagnetic filter system for furnace (we use it like 7 months out of the year around here.. $605), target ($130), breakfast with the girls on Monday (Family day off - $40). 

    2) Any progress toward goals? Will be putting $500 into savings this week, $350 went to the girls' 529 plans, and $1,400 is left on the sewer job. 

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no? I tried the pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks to see what all of the fuss was about- it's whatever. I love pumpkin pie though for Thanksgiving and I make good pumpkin muffins (with walnuts and chocolate chips). 
    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Daisypath Anniversary tickers
  • 1) How MM was your weekend?
     
    Not terrible. Friday stayed home and binged watched The Walking Dead on Netflix so we didn't spend anything.
    Saturday went on probably the last boat ride of the season $45 for lunch/drinks
    Sunday went to the Ravens game $40 for parking, $15 for drinks at the stadium, $15 for McDonalds for dinner (ashamed to admit that)
     
    I also received a piece of furniture we bought for $140 a couple weeks ago and it was damaged in shipping so that's going back in my pocket which is a win I suppose.
     

    2) Any progress toward goals?
     
    Nothing out of the ordinary. Still plugging away at my student loans and trying to throw a little bit of money in savings here and there. H and I decided to take a trip in February so I readjusted my budget to pay for that in cash budget per person is $1400 for all inclusive, so I'm searching for deals.

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no?
     
    No. I'm actually not fond of pumpkin and I pretty much only eat pumpkin roll (with the cream cheese filling). I much prefer apple flavors like cider and pie.
  • 1) Basically okay.  We spent a full tank of gas driving to a wedding and then to dive the next day, $25 on alcohol (but a bottle of rum that will last for months), $75 on the wedding gift, $33 on a TG turkey deposit at our meat farm, $75 groceries, and $50 lunch out.  The turkey deposit was the only unbudgeted item, but we can absorb it.  

    2) Not this week-not a pay week.  We got some negative goal news when H went to the dentist and we learned he'll need a couple of thousand in work done over the next year or so.  We're looking into our insurance options during his open enrollment period this month.  It may make sense to get insurance instead of sticking with the reimbursement plan, but that will require starting all over again with a new dentist since ours doesn't take his work's plan.  For the short term emergency work ($1,500 between now and the end of the year, 80% reimbursable through his union), we opened up a Care Credit account.  Don't worry-we're super on top of the promotional period and making sure it all stays interest free :-)

    3) I have always liked pumpkin flavors, but I definitely don't want them all the time.  I like to cook from scratch with real pumpkins.  My favorite things to make are pumpkin risotto and pumpkin bread, as well as real pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving.  I also like pumpkin beers if they are dark and well balanced.  I DON'T like pumpkin spice lattes, or any pumpkin beer that tastes like cinnamon sugar attacked your beer (I'm looking at you, Shipyard Pumpkinhead).  
  • @Xstatic3333, the few pumpkin beers I've tried were all beer tasting with a slight hint of pumpkin.  None of them had a sweet or cinnamon flavor.  But I'll stay away from Shipyard :).

    I once had a Horchata flavored beer in a Blue Moon variety pack.  Horchata is a popular sweet Mexican beverage that sort of tastes like rice pudding and cinnamon.  The beer didn't have a sweet flavor, but it definitely had a taste of cinnamon.  Interesting and different, not terrible, but not something I would buy again. 

  • @Xstatic3333, the few pumpkin beers I've tried were all beer tasting with a slight hint of pumpkin.  None of them had a sweet or cinnamon flavor.  But I'll stay away from Shipyard :).

    I once had a Horchata flavored beer in a Blue Moon variety pack.  Horchata is a popular sweet Mexican beverage that sort of tastes like rice pudding and cinnamon.  The beer didn't have a sweet flavor, but it definitely had a taste of cinnamon.  Interesting and different, not terrible, but not something I would buy again. 

    Sounds interesting! It's definitely all about balance with the unusual flavored. My favorite pumpkin beers are Dogfishhead Punkin (probably available nationwide) and Cape Ann Pumpkin Stout (probably just New England). In New England pretty much every microbreweries churns out a pumpkin beer, and I don't think they are all that well thought out. Shipyard does have another pumpkin, Smashed Pumpkin, that I do like, but it's extremely boozy and pricy.
  • 1) How MM was your weekend?  Pretty good; $13 on books for my niece (she was asking for harder books, yay!); Everything else was budgeted--groceries, gas, etc.

    2) Any progress toward goals?  Same old, same old.

    3) GTKY: Pumpkin spice, yes or no? I enjoy it sometimes but don't have to have it.  Definitely not a coffee drinker so no lattes!  I prefer real pumpkin flavors to artificial flavors though.  Our local bagel shop makes a pumpkin bagel that I like to get w/ pumpkin cream cheese.  Yummmm!!!
  • I hope it's okay if I join in? I'm a member on thebump and I've been reading this board and have learned quite a bit already!

    1) Not great, on Saturday we spent $5 for an entrance fee to a local park to drive their path and look at the fall foliage.  We also went grocery shopping and were $20.00 over budget.  Sunday we spent $10.00 on treats to bring for dessert to a family gathering and then Monday we spent $650.00 on car repairs, an inspection and oil change.  Looking back it was a pretty spendy weekend.

    2)  No real progress this week, although I did begin reading a book Living a Beautiful Life on Less.  We also have been working on our Christmas gift giving list, brainstorming gift ideas for people within our set budget.

    3) I really don't like pumpkin spice, it's too strong for me!



    Welcome! This is a great board :)
  • abrewer5 said:
    I hope it's okay if I join in? I'm a member on thebump and I've been reading this board and have learned quite a bit already!

    1) Not great, on Saturday we spent $5 for an entrance fee to a local park to drive their path and look at the fall foliage.  We also went grocery shopping and were $20.00 over budget.  Sunday we spent $10.00 on treats to bring for dessert to a family gathering and then Monday we spent $650.00 on car repairs, an inspection and oil change.  Looking back it was a pretty spendy weekend.

    2)  No real progress this week, although I did begin reading a book Living a Beautiful Life on Less.  We also have been working on our Christmas gift giving list, brainstorming gift ideas for people within our set budget.

    3) I really don't like pumpkin spice, it's too strong for me!



    Welcome! This is a great board :)
    Agreed - it's a great board.  Not going to lie, TB scares me sometimes :)

    Welcome!
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • So late to the game and life has been REALLY busy lately.  Can't seem to keep on top of things

    1 - don't remember all numbers but I spent $11 on chinese takeout Friday night after playing a rehearsal dinner meanwhile DD and DH went on a date to see the animated halloween movie.  Saturday I played a wedding and we went over to MILs for hotdog cook out.  Sunday we went shopping a bit to buy an outfit for DD's 4 year photos this weekend.

    2 - $100 savings - $100 retirement

    3 - I love pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin muffins BUT I don't like pumpkin everything :)
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • hoffse said:
    abrewer5 said:
    I hope it's okay if I join in? I'm a member on thebump and I've been reading this board and have learned quite a bit already!

    1) Not great, on Saturday we spent $5 for an entrance fee to a local park to drive their path and look at the fall foliage.  We also went grocery shopping and were $20.00 over budget.  Sunday we spent $10.00 on treats to bring for dessert to a family gathering and then Monday we spent $650.00 on car repairs, an inspection and oil change.  Looking back it was a pretty spendy weekend.

    2)  No real progress this week, although I did begin reading a book Living a Beautiful Life on Less.  We also have been working on our Christmas gift giving list, brainstorming gift ideas for people within our set budget.

    3) I really don't like pumpkin spice, it's too strong for me!



    Welcome! This is a great board :)
    Agreed - it's a great board.  Not going to lie, TB scares me sometimes :)

    Welcome!
    Ha ha, yes TB can be a little scary sometimes!  Thanks everyone for the warm welcome :)
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