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No Spend 19 - join us!

772 replies

NoSpend19 · 08/11/2018 10:06

Hi all

So yet another name change for the No Spend 19 thread some of us have been discussing (not a TAAT - juts a spin off)

The aim is to reduce the unnecessary spending on "stuff". We're almost at the end of the year and so 2019 is a good time to start.

It would be great if as many people as possible thought it was feasible for them so there are no hard and fast rules but to give you an idea my rules are as follows:

Food and drink purchases are permitted (although personally I will also be trying to grow as much as possible myself, reduce air miles and reduce single use plastics in the food we buy. In addition I will be avoiding being tempted to pay extra for brands. Meals out and takeaways are also on our no spend list)

Essential household products and toiletries are permitted. So it is ok to buy washing powder but personally I will be avoiding buying six different types of stain remover, fabric conditioner, ironing water and all the other stuff we are told we need to do to clean a load of washing Hmm. Likewise we will be buying soap, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo as essentials but will not be buying hair masks, face masks, make up, face cream, serums, body sprays, nail varnish, showergels, body scrubs etc. Perfectly acceptable to use up everything you have though.

essential clothing etc is permitted. DH and I won't be buying anything unless absolutely unavoidable but DC are growing and will need shoes, trousers etc. We will aim to keep this to a minimum though.

Fuel and other travel costs are permitted

Normal household bills are permitted of course

stuff is not permitted. So toys, books (library is fine), magazines, CDs, DVDs, random household items like cushions, candles, stationery etc are all on the aim not to buy list. This Christmas will be prior to the experiment starting but we are already asking for experience presents for the DC eg cinema tickets.

We are just feeling a bit like consumerism has gone mad and so we think we can probably do this. In our household it is me, DH DS1 (13) and DS2 (11, nearly 12). Anyone up for joining? We start at the beginning of 2019

Disclaimer: before we decided to do this we had already booked and paid for our holiday for next year. It is a bit of a cheat but I don't want to delay this just because we'd already done that.

I may need significant Gin to get me through Grin

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falseeconomy · 08/11/2018 10:14

Yes, will def join and post my rules later. Must get off internet and go work now!!

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WithAFaeryHandInHand · 08/11/2018 10:25

Thanks op!

I’m in Smile.

I will also post rules later.

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WithAFaeryHandInHand · 08/11/2018 10:25
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Monday55 · 08/11/2018 10:44

I'm in!

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Wherearetheoddsocks · 08/11/2018 10:53

Can I join? I'm not going to make any promises but I definitely want to cut right back on 'stuff'.

We do waste a fair bit of food in my house too and I'm slowly getting much better at not doing this.

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BagelGoesWalking · 08/11/2018 10:53

Yes, please.

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NoSpend19 · 08/11/2018 11:13

I can't guarantee we will make it either wherearetheoddsocks but we are going to try!

We are lucky in that food waste isn't really a thing here. We have chickens and so they turn any scraps into eggs!

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WithAFaeryHandInHand · 08/11/2018 11:23

Ok here are my rules!

Food and drink:

Yes, allowed (or we’d starve Grin). I am no longer eating meat and I’m also going to reduce dairy.

Also buying local as far as possible, more farm produce as opposed to supermarket stuff and less plastic.

Toiletries and cleaning products:

Limited to bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, lemon juice, washing powder and some bleach for loos.

Deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser and sun cream all ok. I expect I’ll get some bits of make up and bath stuff at Christmas, so I will see if I can make that stretch and then do without after that.

Essential clothing:

For children, I will buy the odd thing as they are young, so grow fast. But I also expect we will get things for them for Christmas. I’m deliberately asking for bigger sizes if anyone asks.

Everything else I will try to get secondhand.

Dc1 starts school next year, so we will have to buy some uniform, which I will buy. I will also see what I can get secondhand.

Fuel and travel:

We normally fly short haul to visit family twice a year. I’m going to try and reduce it to one big trip next year. This might be tricky, as don’t want to offend family.

I want to try to go on holiday by train next year too. We don’t normally jet off anywhere, and that’s a conscious choice we’ve made, but we do drive, which can’t be much better.

I don’t drive much at all, but I will try and keep it to essential journeys only. If we manage without a car most of the time, I’m seriously considering getting rid of it. But that won’t be next year.

No stuff:

Yes, completely agree.

Think that’s it! Smile

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NoSpend19 · 08/11/2018 11:27

faery any chance I can persuade you to switch your bleach to a septic tank friendly (i.e no bleach) toilet cleaner? Bleach is so destructive for the environment. If you read the back of the toilet cleaners they say if they're septic tank friendly.

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magpie24 · 08/11/2018 11:28

V keen to join. We have a small house so need to keep items to a minimum anyway. However with my first baby due any day now I think this could be a challenge! Nevertheless keen to give it a good go

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WithAFaeryHandInHand · 08/11/2018 11:34

I’ll definitely look into it op! Can you recommend anything?

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Galwaygirl · 08/11/2018 11:35

I'm in!

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NoSpend19 · 08/11/2018 11:38

I’ll definitely look into it op! Can you recommend anything?

Lots of the 'toilet cleaners' are septic tank friendly. I currently use the tesco own brand lime toilet cleaner (which is also cheap at 75p a bottle)

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NoSpend19 · 08/11/2018 11:39

Yey! We're getting a gang!

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Nodney · 08/11/2018 11:43

I'm definitely in - I will think of our rules later but am getting inspiration from previous posters! Very good idea OP

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WithAFaeryHandInHand · 08/11/2018 11:51

A posse if you will Grin.

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VintageFur · 08/11/2018 12:10

I'm in. Your rules seem pretty sensible to me.

I'm going to make an effort to do the greengrocer (less packaging and can take my own reusable mesh or paper bags). Going to start using the butcher more asking them to put stuff in Tupperware or washed takeaway pots I have. Won't be able to use the butcher all the time due to £££.

No "casual" clothes/shoes for me - only specific sport items I don't currently own. Quality clothes for kids so can be handed down and sold on. No more shit Primark jammies that shrink.

Read the mountain of books I already have. If I want a non-fiction check the library first as I'm not ruling out all book purchases.

No candles even if Aldi are doing a Jo Malone dupe - whatever. Unsubscribe from crappy marketing emails.

I'm happy working through the ton of make-up and toiletries I already have and will turn to more eco-friendly household products. From another ethical living thread I've just placed an order with "who gives a crap?" (Bog roll) and am waiting on delivery.

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Breadfoam · 08/11/2018 12:19

I’m in!
I will however have to admit that I will probably buy books and the odd small toy for my children - at Easter for example - since one of them can’t have chocolate. Books I tend to buy after we’ve had them from the library if they really love them and don’t want to give them back!

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newshoe · 08/11/2018 12:38

I'm in!

Although I don't agree with not buying books, they are not the same as other pointless crap. They are obviously educational but also stimulating and a fantastic (cheap!) pastime (as opposed to buying silly Xbox games). I love buying books, mostly second hand, for both me and my children and think they are as essential as other items on your essential list.

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RosieposiePuddingandPi · 08/11/2018 12:51

I'm so in. I've been really weirded out recently by the mass consumerism of this time of year and I actually discussed with DH cutting out all unnecessary spending.
We have DC2 on the way next year but shouldn't need much for them as I still have everything from DS and we have pretty much everything else we need.
We already use as much ecologically friendly products as we can and keep plastics to a minimum so we'll keep on with that.
And we have so much stuff. We're on a major decluttering mission so stuff is not allowed in our house anymore!

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NoSpend19 · 08/11/2018 13:04

I knew books would be a contentious one. We are all big readers. For us we can use the library (either public or the DCs can use the school library) and we have also signed up to the library ebooks (which includes latest editions of magazines, comics and graphic novels) and audio books service which is completely free. Our library will also order in any book in the county and will put a book onto the requested list if it doesn't yet exist in the county.

Perhaps for those who have an essential need to keep some books you could look at book swaps with friends and family?

But anyway the purpose is that everyone adapts the rules to make it possible for their family to join in. If that means buying books for some then that's fine.

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moresugarthanalemon · 08/11/2018 13:04

I'm in. I fear I will fail as I have a 9 month old who is growing so quickly!

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Mrsr8 · 08/11/2018 13:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Storm4star · 08/11/2018 13:29

This is a fantastic idea. I need to massively reduce all my "wasteful" spending. I also think books will be a tricky one for me as I use kobo on my ipad. But they do a lot of 99p books (that's what I usually buy) so maybe it's ok if I limit myself to them. It would actually cost me more than that in bus fare to get to my nearest library!

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SushiMonster · 08/11/2018 13:30

They are obviously educational but also stimulating and a fantastic (cheap!) pastime (as opposed to buying silly Xbox games)

I'm not sure about that, I read £50 of ebooks quicker than I can play through a £50 xbox game.

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