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

Up and down here. Have been left with extra savings this month but could have been more. I have to do better in March as I need to pay or the roof - scaffolding is up and they start Monday.

I'm part way through week one of my holiday.
I think I've been doing ok spending-wise. A few of last month's invoices only got settled towards the end of the month so my account looked quite pitiful until then. It's looking quite healthy at the moment (only sent the next lot of invoices yesterday) and with only one week left until my credit card rolls over to the next month, the balance is £80 which is probably the lowest spend ever for me!! Also, no pre-holiday twitch - no impulse clothes purchases
Whilst I'm not being particularly frugal on this holiday, I don't think I'll have too much of a shock at the total spend. And I'm confident I won't have to dip into my savings to pay for it.

That's great work Clutter Hope you're having a fab time away

Thank you and yes, having a wonderful time - it's really beautiful here. We're skiing (been once before when I was 12 so doesn't really count!!) and everything looks magical covered in snow. Love it.
Hoping this challenge will enable me to do it again next year

I am deffo finding i am amazed that little changes have made such a difference! January particularly as for one thing or another stuff has crept back in this month normally a were out or we have to wait somewhere lets grab a coffee but still no excuse!
Looking back over the month i could have possibly paid for flights for my June break instead of stuff i shouldn't be eating!!

I think that's the answer to mindless spending. Have a goal to work towards - travel. beautiful clothes, less hours at work. Whatever works for you - I have finally realised that stuff doesn't make me happy but travel does. All my plans are to do with retirement but am also conscious that life is short and we have to be happy now while we're still here -but adding to my extensive lipstick collection won't help-

strike through fail there!

Well i decided to have a wonder round the shop today - came out £15 quid lighter a new lunch bag and a costa coffee neither i needed!!

Grannycake - I totally agree. Find what makes you happy and save your money for that.

Just - ooh, I do love a lunchbag but maybe you need to re-read the start of the thread to get your 'no spend' mojo back!!

I'm quite happy with this month, my spends on "things" were all needed for DD and amounted to:

Flip flops - she has cracked skin and worried about infection walking around the swimming baths bare footed
Gingham dresses for school summer term
Music book

all used ebay purchases, so no "new" spends.

They say it takes 3 months to build new habits so marching onwards to March!

£49 on groceries (aldi) and probably another £15 in Tesco tomorrow for the thing I couldn't get. Lots of my spices are running out at the same time - sigh! Confession - a pair of birkenstocks for the summer. I wanted them last year but they went out of stock in my size early so not taking any chances but spendy at £85

I'm not good at updating on a daily or even basis but I have a monthly analysis.
Our budget for all monthly spends is £785, this is for everything that is not a monthly DD Bill.
We have had a spendy month and ended up at £1483.01, however this includes our holiday deposit £500 and some plastering work we've had done £120 and £79 Amazon (switched from monthly to annually this month) which actually brings us to £784.01 so I'm very happy with this.

I'm aiming for next month to be well under budget. 15 NSDs achieved and I've rounded up our new mortgage to the nearest £50 which OPs it by a little every month. I'm aiming to be able to max out the 10% OP allowed every year so currently building up our savings for this.

Well its March!! How has that happened!? So its now a fresh month and a new start for the no spend challenge!

Well the £15 in Tescos ended up being more like £20 but that's because I bought shallots and pickling vinegar so frugal in the long run - have to have the pickles to go with the cheese!

Well i went to look for a michael kors handbag today - been saving up for a while and it was planned. The michael kors handbag turned into a tefal instant pot which although £54 will likely pay for itself in about a month it takes four minutes for fish and rice no excuses for not being arsed to cook!!

I've got an instant pot just and I love it. No more takeaways and it's so fast. Butter chicken and rice last night and it was great. Let me know if you want any recipe links

I would love some links please - im rubbish at recipes and things!

Just I use the two blogs below a lot mainly because they're not American and I don't have to find substitute ingredients:
www.everynookandcranny.net
www.feistytapas.com

Every nook and cranny favourites include spicy macaroni cheese, a cheats paella, cottage pie and various pasta recipes

Feisty tapas great on basics such as chicken and gammon timings. Also her Nasi Goreng recipe is my favourite IP recipe (although I cook the omelette on the stove). She also runs the Facebook Instant Pot UK group which has loads of resources

Indian recipes I use www.twosleevers.com - the butter chicken is gorgeous and also the coconut tomato soup

Lougies posts on here were also great on the basics and I still use a mushroom risotto recipe she posted - first thing I cooked in the pot

Thanks a lot will give them a look over!

Oh wow just noticed they are syn free too -really wanted it to work with sw. Thank you!!

Back from holiday so starting again after having a month off!
Had so much fun that I want to save for another

Littlechocola - glad you had a great time!! I got back from my holidays yesterday and am feeling motivated to sort my life out once and for all

Did you have a nice time?
We can do this!

I had a fantastic time, thank you

Looking forward to getting my spending back under control.

I thought I'd pop my head round the door, after a prolonged absence from MN, and the Internet in general.
Have had a bit of a rough few weeks with one thing and another, but I'm feeling a lot more like myself again.
I will read back through the thread now to see what you've all been up to and also update my spending spreadsheet.