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

*dd,not dad!!

£40 in Lidl’s from the food budget. The other £60 will go in the pot for the bits we didn’t get.

Today is my 2nd NSD of the year! Yay!

Took my lunch into work and my dinner is being made of stuff I already have in. Result.

Back to NSD today. Paying the balance on the camper tomorrow and hopefully booking a campsite for Saturday evening - should be about £20.

Spent 3 on lunch but I’m taking sarnies from tomorrow.

I was going to declare a NSD, but remembered the chocolate bar bought on my break while on the phone. So that's 90p.

Oh and car insurance for the year but that's a bill so it doesn't count.

LSD today: £1.89 for a McDonald’s coffee as had an early start. No other spends though. Due to do the weekly shop tomorrow- let’s see if I can remember everything this time.

£4.85 softplay and £3 singing group (both business expenses).

Direct debits excluded.
It's a NSD.
Nothing bought today.

No spend day.

Even the children are shocked/proud at how well this is going so far.

I'm starting to actually enjoy this challenge now.

2 key triggers I've noticed so far are stress (crap day at work) and boredom (on hold on the phone).

£2 at toddler group.

Stress is one of my triggers too but this challenge is going to keep me focussed.
I think I'm going to start keeping track of spending in separate categories - business, household bills/essentials and personal.

Cat food and milk 3 pounds,took my own lunch,so saved 3.I am really getting into the swing of saving now and enjoying it!

Am currently on a train home from London. Little bit drunk. But I only spent £13. What a result. Zzzzzzzzz

2.90 on breakfast and milk for work

That's it though

Hope you made it home safe, Hound!!

I'm very grateful for this challenge.

Ds' passport photo was declined and his application put on hold so had to take him to a photo shop to get a proper one done - £10. Photo shop was inside Sainsbury's and we ended up spending £6.20 on nutritionally-void crap
However, I did manage to resist buying a load of photo block thingys in the photo shop. They were reduced and I'd normally buy loads to give as Christmas presents from childminded children to their parents. I have plenty of photo baubles left over from last Christmas and it's easy enough to create my own photo gifts with the amount of craft stuff I have here!!

I did make it home in one piece @Clutterfreeintraining, thanks!

Having had a proper look at yesterday again, I actually came out of the day with a small profit!
I was working in London during the day and spent £4.33 in Pret (mainly so I could sit in there and use the free wifi!)
Then I met my friend and we went to the theatre. I'd bought the tickets months ago, so she paid for dinner and gave me £20 to cover the cost of her ticket.
I bought a round of drinks which was £13.00. So I spent £17.33 and was given £20. So £2.67 up for the day!!

Another no spend day. Packed lunch for work.

NSD for me. Did a small food shop yesterday and bought cat food and litter, which are unavoidable spends.
I think I am noticing a difference already. It's payday in a few days and for once I haven't run out of money. Normally I've dipped into overdraft in the last week before pay day, but I have about £60 left, which is enough for food and kids dinner/bus fare money, do am happy with that.

That's great news @IWannaSeeHowItEnds, I hoping to have at least a few pounds left over by the end of the month. I don't get paid until next Friday, that still seems like a looooong way off yet!

Well done to you and @Littlechocola on your NSDs.
I spent £13.57 on groceries. These should last until Friday, so hopefully I will have a NSD tomorrow.

Nsd today. Had to top up kids bus passes yesterday and did small shop for basics using money off voucher which was due to expire. Got some bargain salads for guinea pig Haven;t gone into overdraft and a week left until payday. Apart from milk and a loaf at the weekend should be ok for food until then. Well done everyone.

FFS Came in from work yesterday and we have a leak in our roof and part of the landing ceiling has caved in - on to the (new) carpet. So that will be another unplanned spend!

Im in. Will post my rules later.