No Spend 19 - join us!

[NoSpend19]

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 . 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 to get me through

Another NSD

Although I’ve not actually left the house so wasn’t too hard

Back to work today. £3.80 in the co-op on peanuts and milk. Used change from my purse rather than my card. Got a £1 off £10 spend coupon, which is handy as I do buy a lot of milk in there.

NSD as back to work. Managed to avoid the lure of the takeaway coffee on my commute (and have cut down during the day considerably!) actually feeling healthier for this challenge!

Back in work. Took lunch and supply of tea bags with me so NSD

Well done to all the no/low-spenders.
I've spent £35 today on softplay entry this morning, mcds for lunch (children only, I managed to resist!!) and singing group this afternoon. I did have 7 children to entertain over the course of the day so making it to the end of the day was achievement enough
Tomorrow should be better. My only planned spending is £1 subs for a fortnightly group I go to. If my mum comes, it'll be free because she usually pays for me

Pretty much a no spend day, paid for an exercise class, but that doesnt count as it isnt stuff and exercise is a good thing!

£2.50 on a little thank you treat for someone, usual 30.00 for music lessons. Committed to eating up everything in the fridge freezer before doing a big shop but have £5.00 off £35 spend M&S voucher to use tomorrow so may use it.

Good job it’s no spend because I’ve just checked my bank account. I’ve got about £200 to last until the end of the month including bills, food and fuel. Not doable!
Damn Christmas and being paid early.
I’ve had to ask the children’s dad to pay for bus passes this term but he’s ignoring me.

£23 in aldis today but only bought things we really needed

£35 😭🤪 on the dog's haircut. But he needed it.

Was going to be a NSD but unexpectedly had to work late tonight so spent £2.99 on a sandwich dinner. Ah well - it was much needed and would have been most upset if I had waited until I got home (just got in!)

Oh no littlechocola, I hope your ex comes through with the bus pass money. Is he normally quite good with things like that? My DS's dad is a nightmare, I hate asking him for money.

I still haven't managed an NSD! Today I spent £18.40 on my allotment rent for this year. But that is absolutely essential, even if not for providing additional low cost food, just for my sanity! It's my favourite place to be to help me relax in an insane world.

I also paid £5.50 for coffees for me and a colleague while we were out working. But I will eventually claim this back on expenses, so it probably doesn't count.

Fingers crossed for my first NSD tomorrow!

I spent £15 on DD haircut, £20 sports subs and £436 on a bathroom deposit. All were planned spends so not too bad really. Have my weekly shop to finish tomorrow. I also have to go somewhere and hang around for awhile so I treat myself to a coffee and toast and marmalade so won't make the elusive nsd. Going to try for Wednesday though.

@HoundOfTheBasketballs (fab name by the way) nope he’s not very helpful with money at all. I’ve not heard from him yet and it needs paying today. I never let my balance get so low as I get really anxious! I also hate having to ask him. I’m stubborn!

£16 spend on good in lidl this morning. Had mentally decided not to spend more than a tenner but once in decided to buy spinach and cheese for packed lunches for the rest of the week, and an extra pack of thins for the weekend. All seems like reasonable spend to me. Now I need to avoid going to waitrose on the way home. Ostensibly for bargains and the one or two things I can't get anywhere else, but in reality I buy more than that and it's so much more expensive than elsewhere.

Spent £10.50 in Asda yesterday on cat food and some fresh fruit. Don't think I'll need to do a food shop this week as I've actually checked what I've got in rather than just going out of habit.
Spent £70 getting the oven cleaned today but it's been budgeted in since before Christmas and badly needed it.

Oh god.

I put my lunch in a margarine tub to bring it into work.
I've just opened it to eat my lunch and discovered I've accidentally brought the actual margarine with me!
I will have to try and survive on the snacks I also brought in and resist the temptation to go to the office canteen.

What a knob.

.

I am up for trying this challenge!

So far I am making lunch and bringing it to work - FAR less expensive and also better calorie wise

Have not had alcohol since 1st Jan and will aim to stay that way as much as possible.

Am meal planning and only buying what we need and making sure to use up everything as much as possible.

By bringing in lunch I am not wasting time trekking to the shops to buy it and I have my trainers under my desk so I can go for a walk along the Marina instead

I am not buying any clothes as dieting and want to be at my new weight before purchasing anything else and I have plenty for now

I am not a hoarder of beauty products as I like only a very few select things and only buy them and only replace them when they are used up. This won't change.

I want to start saving for dd and also have more of my income available for experiences / trips etc than just 'stuff'

I am conscious of plastic waste so thinking around that...

@HoundOfTheBasketballs

@HoundOfTheBasketballs 😂😂😂

houndofthebasketballs That’s absolutely hilarious 😂.(though I hope you don’t starve!)

Another no spend day here. My Amazon wish list is growing but I've managed not to actually click and complete the purchases

£175 on sons bus pass

No other spends today because I’ve not left the house! I’ve unsubscribed from lots of mailing lists so I’m not tempted to browse just because it’s there and cancelled my premium Spotify account which saves £10 a month.

A ridiculous amount of money on an outpatient procedure today. NSD otherwise 😂 So staying in the next few days: have a stack of library books, lots of food and will hopefully not be in need of a distraction and start browsing for clothes online...