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

I bought perfume and trainers but used gift vouchers from Xmas. But also bought slippers for me and DH but only £4.00 a pair in Primark and a £2 belt as I can't find my lovely expensive one. Also order kettle and step for new camper but that was planned

I’m leaving food budgeting a bit. I’m still getting used to not spending on other things
I used to be really organised with meal plans, strict lists etc but it all went wrong when I started working full time and now dh moved it. He’s got a big appetite and likes to have food in the cupboards.

Bad luck with the tyres @Clutterfreeintraining, I use beeswax wraps for food storage instead of clingfilm. I bought a set of four about six months ago and they're still going strong. You can make your own though, which is much cheaper, if you prefer. Obviously, they're no good for covering hot food or putting in the microwave.

I've not done very well today tbh.
I spent £12.65 in the tea room and shop at a local NT place. We have an annual membership so it was supposed to be a cheap afternoon out! I've told DS not to expect a slice of cake every time we go in future!
Then I spent £9.65 on porridge oats and the world's most expensive cashew nuts at our local zero waste food store. So I feel great because it was all plastic free, but I really wish I hadn't bothered with the cashew nuts!!

Granny - which perfume did you get? I also bought perfume with my christmas money. I'm very envious of your camper...it's been on my wish list for years but I want one that can convert to a day van for work. I'm put off by the maintenance costs of an older van/purchase price of a newer one.

Littlechocola - my mealplanning has only ever lasted two weeks before I slip back to my usual buying habits. I have been a little apprehensive about not having excess food around because of growing a teen Ds but I have told him if he wants extra food/junk to go to the shop around the corner. 9/10 he can't be bothered and there's plenty here (that's not junk), he just needs to cook/prepare something.

Hound - I've read about the beeswax wraps...I'll investigate DIY. I go to a craft group and it might be something we could do as a group project. I'm most conscious of the amount of foil I'm using when I cook or reheat food in the oven. Also, if I'm going to do major batch cooking, i don't have enough plastic containers to store things in. I wonder if greaseproof paper is freezerproof or recyclable. That's my evening of googling entertainment sorted

Ooh, I wonder if the zero waste food shop sells reusable ovenproof cover thingies. I'm supposed to be going to investigate one nearby-ish with a friend. Will message her and see when she's free to go.

little
I find if its cash it makes me think about what Im spending more anyway .
When it gone its gone !

Petrol £15, another tenner on milk, bread, catfood etc. Working our way through the freezer so toad in the hole for Sunday lunch rather than roast, then home made veg soup for tea. Meal plan done for rest of the week.

Does anyone know how to clean beeswax wraps and where you get reasonably priced ones? Very expensive in the Lakeland catalogue! Thank you for ideas re slow cooker. Did two dinners of chili yesterday. Keep going everyone!

I clean mine with cold water and washing up liquid.
The ones I got from beeswaxwraps.co.uk were only marginally cheaper than the Lakeland ones. They do last for ages though. And there are loads of tutorials for making them online which must be significantly cheaper. You only need some cotton squares, beeswax and a bit of patience. (It's the last ingredient that I'm missing!)

clutter I bought La Vie est Belle perfume. The camper is a long held dream of ours as well but we are coming up fast to retirement (3 yrs to go) and decided to go for it now - I have lost a couple of friends this year and have realised life is too short to put things off. We did have VW vans (bay window campers) back in the day and they were great but we want to travel much further afield so space and reliability were key to the purchase. But is has cost us nearly as much as our (admittedly cheap) house cost back in the early 90s - eek.

LSD yesterday though I succumbed to another Nutella crepe (ordered in). £7.99. But in my defence, I am housebound and recovering from a procedure so the crepes have been thoroughly cheering!

Did a food shop online and going to spend part of today doing my breakfasts and lunches for the week ahead.

Clippity- what's on your mealplan? I was trying to make one for the month but realised I can only actually cook about 5 things ... or variations of!!

Granny - perfume and camper sound fab!
Events over the last 2 years have also made me realise life is way too short and you have to grab it when you can - however, a lifetime of being risk-averse is quite tricky to shake at times.

Sigh - mmm, Nutella crepe sounds delish!! And if it brings joy, go for it!!

I've been awake since 5am I'm doing 5:2 and often wake up early if my tummy is empty. As a result of my early start, I have made enough bolognese to have one half with pasta and turn the other half into a lasagne, a cottage pie, sausage casserole, carrot and coriander soup, carrot and swede mash (half for tonight and half into the freezer) and two trays of Cornish pasties (they're due to come out of the oven in 10 minutes!!).

I don't generally do a lot of cooking - don't particularly enjoy it and not very good at it but I think that batch cooking is going to be key for me to save money and keep on track with 5:2.

Well, who'd have thought! The pasties worked and taste just like a Cornish pasty!! I'm delighted!!

clutterfreeintraining that is an amazing morning’s work! I have another low spend day planned while we head out to the local forest (we have a parking permit there) for a bit of fresh air. Only aiming for milk and butter purchase today as have nearly run out and won’t make to the weekly shop on Tuesday without it.
Have got a few books out from the library and downloaded my library ebook app. Very excited to discover they also do audiobooks. Have also started doing a yoga session from YouTube as had considered joining a gym. Have decided to see if I stick with this for a few weeks before outlaying the cash for the gym. Enjoy Sunday everyone.

Thanks, coffee. I am pretty pleased with myself. I usually spend the weekend being cross with myself for not doing anything productive so this is quite a novelty

Enjoy your day out in the fresh air.

I haven't used my library card for ages and I think the last time I used it I had to reapply because they close the account if it's inactive for more than 10 months so will probably have to do that again but I like the idea of audiobooks.

I love to spend Sunday morning cooking. I have cooked and sliced a gammon joint, cooked, carved and frozen a chicken, made a pot of tomato and lentil soup and am making a chicken and bacon pasta dish for dinner which should stretch to at least one more meal. The pasties sound fab clutter I haven't made those for ages

Happy Sunday no-spenders!

Well done to everyone being organised with their batch cooking. Where did you get your recipe for the pasties from @Clutterfreeintraining?

I have spent £3 today on some soup and sausages. We are getting a pizza later, but the boyfriend is paying for that. Free pizza is the best tasting pizza!

Granny - wow, you've been busy too! I usually spend my Sunday morning watching tv with my crochet Have switched to Sunday afternoon for this week

Hounds - this is the recipe.
Free pizza is definitely the best kind

I have managed a no spend weekend :-D
spent total of £2.50 on some chips to go with tea last night as we had slow cooker on and didn't want to wait ages for chips to cook :-) not counting that though as we have to eat.
did a huge tidy up so found loads of coins left in handbags etc so I'm probably in profit for the weekend!

Sunday £0
Saturday £2.50 chips we need to eat though so I'm happy to say Nsd
Friday
cinema snacks £9 - were going again tonight (we have cinema cards) and taking own stuff from home
Tescos £18 but this was for a stock up of some jars etc on offer so it will save money
work 49p - cereal bar we have a deal at work were allowed an extra break if we use the work canteen so worth it for an extra 10 minutes break!!!
lunch £1.30
Thursday: 49p
wednesday: £15 in morrisons this was for 2 teas and 2 lunches for dh
tuesday: 49p
monday; £15 asda
doing well though as I've had zero costa/Starbucks etc and taken my dinner to work every day but one (when i did take it but i didnt have much time so got a cheese cob to sit at my desk with)

Another NSD.

Today is the first day of feeling normal ish since getting the lurgy so I gutted the downstairs and caught up on folding washing (dh does the washing but not folding so it ended up in a large mountain!).

Tomorrow I need to go food shopping so going to make a list tonight.

Spent £60 on my Tesco order today but that is everything for next week including lunches for me to take to work. I shouldn't need to buy anything else so only expected spends are £1.10 in work each day for my two cups of tea.

Spent a £40 Christmss voucher on meeee ! 😂
Lunch out with DH £22
Walked so no parking

Went for a walk today and deliberately didn't take my purse, but it's amazing how you can be kind of forced into spending, even when you desperately strive for a nsd!
Had to pay for a school trip today, so couldn't manage a total nsd.

Thought I was going to spend today because I fancied making a trifle,got to the till and DH said “ don’t worry I’ll get it “so that saved a few Pounds.Going to have some with dad watching call the midwife.