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

[Littlechocola]

@HoundOfTheBasketballs sorry you have had a bad time. Glad to that you are feeling more like your lovely self again.

[PH03b3]

Hi - justanother checking in with a name change.
Ive completely lost my way! My bank balance for march isn't too happy!

[Littlechocola]

I gave myself March off @PH03b3 I had a spend lots month.

Yesterday I spent £62 on the food shop (cupboards were bare on return from honeymoon).
Today has been a NSD (although window shopping holidays ).

We need to save at least £3000 by next year.
Doable but I have £700 overdraft to get out of. DH has £1500 to pay off on his credit card. This needs to be our priority.
He hasn’t joined in the no spend but can see how well I did and how easy it was! Fingers crossed.
I’m aiming for a minimum of one overtime a month to go with the no spend.

[PH03b3]

Well i thought i managed no spend yesterday - spent £4 at Cheltenham whoops. But yesterday and Monday no spend. Today i am aiming for no spend i have a rather wierd looking tin of mac and cheese courtesy of the cupboard rather than go near a shop!

[Clutterfreeintraining]

Hound - oh dear, sorry to hear you've had a tough time but glad things are returning to normal for you.

PH03b3 - nice new name! It took me three attempts at reading your post to work out who you used to be I'm blaming jetlag

Littlechocola- my cupboards are also bare but I have an environmental health inspection tomorrow so trying to keep the fridge as empty as possible until they've been. I got pulled up on two really stupid points last time so I want to minimise their oportunity to catch me out. I know it's not the right attitude to have but it's ridiculous that I need to be registered with them when I only make the children a ham/cheese sandwich after school!!

Anyway, rant over! I'm sure your goal is achievable and your dh will soon join in when he sees all the spare cash you have

My cc spend for Feb was £80 I couldn't tell you the last time it was under £500 and it's been more like £1-2k for the last 6 months so this is a huge achievement. I'm aiming for zero spend on it for March but still have three weeks to go so we'll see how that goes.

My goal for March is to get a load of stuff listed on eBay and sort out a mortgage to buy my house!!

[Clutterfreeintraining]

Ooh, I'm so undecided about the instant pot. I've been reading threads and researching them on and off for months. I even joined two fb groups but still something is stopping me from purchasing one.

[grannycake]

I'm still around. Roof has been postponed until next week due to rain/gales so house is all scaffolded up but nothing actually happening.

Been OK on the spending front this month and have got a new credit card which gives us nectar points on all our spending as well as £100 worth of points if we spend £2000 in the first three months. As we put all our spending on the CC and then pay off in full each month we'll easily hit that.

Its been a NSD every day this week but to be fair work is really busy and the weather so awful I haven't been anywhere. I did lend my son £75 towards replacing his defunct washing machine but I'll have that back at the end of the month

I love my instant pot Clutter but I ummed and ahhed for over a year before buying it. I would say I use it at least 5 times a week

[Clutterfreeintraining]

Granny - I bet you'll be glad when the roof is done and out of the way.
I earn clubcard points on my cc but seem to get very little and considering I usually spend between £1 & 2k a month (also pay it off in full each month), I'd expect to get more in clubcard vouchers but probably only get about £2.50 every 1/4? I really should look into switching to a different one but I find all the different options a bit mind-muddling so just stick with what I've got.

Re IP - good to know you use yours as much as you do. I have a slow cooker which I don't think I'd ever part with (unless the sc function on an IP was a suitable replacement!) and I love the idea of some of the meals being made in such a short time (risotto especially!) but my culinary skills leave a lot to be desired and some of the reviews implied it took a while to get the hang of how to use it and I fear I may be too impatient and want tasty meals straightaway!! However, my standards are really quite low so maybe I'll be ok!! And Ds is more than used to the slop I churn out. Hmm, I might be convincing myself to give it a go!! Maybe I'll buy one once I've sold some stuff on eBay and I can use my PayPal balance rather than my cc.

[PH03b3]

I got an awesome deal from tefal on their own version paid about £54 off hand for it. Have to admit its still unopened in its box but that happened to the air fryer and we still use it regular it doesnt want to sit with the soup maker and bread maker and juicer im sure!!

[Clutterfreeintraining]

Ha, ha! Yes, it takes me a while to get around to that first go!!
I used my bread maker sporadically but feel I had my money's worth. Got rid of it because I discovered I could make bread in the sc if I wanted to (never have!). Soup maker lasted about 6 months. Was used quite a lot but I hated cleaning it. I now use a pan and stick blender to make soup.
I never even considered a juicer because I knew for a fact that I would never be faded with cleaning it - far too lazy
The slow cooker and the Mickey Mouse waffle maker are the only two kitchen gadgets that survived the big declutter of 2015
I am definitely swaying towards an Instant Pot but need to build up my PayPal balance first.

[grannycake]

I have to jump straight in - I'm too impatient to wait. I used to use my slow cooker but I do find the Instant pot better and I don't think I've used the slow cooker at all since. I like the fact that it's relatively quick (you do have to wait for pressure to build though) and you can just set it up and then leave it to do it's own thing (it will keep meals warm for 12 hours). I also use it to batch cook veg for freezer - there's only two of us and it's easy to make up batches of mash, root veg and cauliflower cheese and freeze in smaller portions.

I use a bread maker as well (should be bread waiting for me when I get home from work tonight) and occasionally use the food processor (mainly for grating whole blocks of parmesan). Soup I just use a hand blender

[PH03b3]

Omelette maker or popcorn maker anybody?
Stupid kettle that boils one cup at a time leaving it impossible to use it to cook with that seemed such... A.... Good... Idea?

[Littlechocola]

We have no gadgets. We were given a popcorn maker but it took up lots of room so rehomed it after a few years.
I do miss my bread maker!
Dh has a thing about saucepans and crockery though! I have to remind him that we don’t need a new pan every time he goes near a city centre!

[HoundOfTheBasketballs]

I have a slow cooker that I use intermittently. I've not got a very big kitchen for gadgets though. Ex had one of those air dryers, which was good, but he got custody of it when we split and I've never replaced it!

I got a nasty gas and electric bill yesterday. Over £200, so I think I'm going to have to pay half of it this month and then half next month. Next month is going to be the first of
many difficult months. My rent, council tax and pension contributions all go up, and I'm going to be nearly £200 a month worse off. So we're going to have to really tighten our belts.
I'm not sure whether to ask for a pay rise at work to try and cover it. I work for a small business but I haven't had an annual increase in the last two years.

I also booked our holiday accommodation the day before the nasty gas bill arrived! I'm not sure whether to be happy we're going away this summer or worried as to how I'm going to afford it!

Sorry for the mammoth post! Feels good to get it all out though!!

[PH03b3]

How very stressful for you - i hope things turn for the better! Always worth approaching (with caution) they may say yes!

[lifetothefull]

Hi, only just spotted the thread. Currently doing a lessplasticlent. Not bought any clothes so far this year. Considered buying some storage, but found a way of reusing old jars instead. I'm not sure if I'm completely committed to 'no spend'. I'm definitely in on 'less stuff' , 'less waste', but I''m still buying occasional meals out and coffees out if it's not in takeaway cup.

[Littlechocola]

Hound- it’s always worth asking!
Lifetothefull- that sounds great!

[PH03b3]

Could you all please talk me out of purchasing an hangbag which i can afford won't put strain on anything but i don't really need?

[Clutterfreeintraining]

PH03b3 - I am absolutely the wrong person to talk you out of it - I bought an Instant Pot and two dresses from Boden yesterday Slightly defending myself because I found 3 x £10 off vouchers for Boden and the IP has been paid for with my Xmas money.
What bag is it?

Hound - urgh, unexpected bills are most irritating when you're trying to save money . I think I'd be a little anxious about paying for the holiday too but will be glad when it comes around. Anything you can sell on eBay/fb/gumtree to raise some extra funds? It's surprising what people will buy
Welcome, lifetothefull. Tbh, I don't think any of us are doing 100% no spend but generally being more mindful about what we're spending our money on.

My main 'rules' are no buying food on the go (no mcds, Greggs etc), no more unnecessary clothes/shoes purchases (failed yesterday but I had vouchers to pay for 1/2 of the bill). No more flight booking - just had two holidays (booked and paid for early last year) so not really any hardship!!

[Littlechocola]

@PH03b3 will it still be there next week? If so wait and see if you still want it.

[PH03b3]

@Clutterfreeintraining
Oh i couldn't do the no flights - i have a mini break and an actual holiday booked in the next few months yet im still looking! Its my major expense! But we don't drink smoke etc haven't been out drinking in years though.

Im same as you though the few pounds here and there really add up!

Yes im doing poorly but defiantly more mindful - perhaps the next thread should be mindful spending 2019. Probably saved £400 by the end of this month taking lunch to work and curbing my Costa habit a little.

Btw i love the username.

Its this one.. I've admired it for a couple of weeks im convinced i want a really smart black bag. Has anybody seen any nice black bags roughly that price?

www.radley.co.uk/palace-street-medium-flapover-multiway-grab-bag-aw18-4cb279/

[Clutterfreeintraining]

Love the bag and I could probably justify that purchase if I didn't have anything similar already. Good discount too!!

Well, it seems I'm not very good at not booking holidays either - just reserved the same apartment we stayed in last month for next Feb It doesn't have to be paid for until we stay and it's another couple of months before the flights will be released so time to give my credit card a rest. Will try and be extra careful with all other spending. I bet I've saved the equivalent of an holiday by not going to Greggs and mcds this year yet

[PH03b3]

Well i have to admit ive nearly booked an holiday today for October! Oh most defiantly you will have take mine as an example works out £38 a month back in my hayday of spending id easily spend a fiver a day on 'stuff' at work so i wouldn't be surprised if you have paid for it in greggs!

[Littlechocola]

Payday today.
10 no spend days since returning from holiday on the 10th. Only spends were necessities like bills,food and fuel so did well!
April is going to be a busy month so not sure how well it will go in terms of no spending or saving.

[PH03b3]

@Littlechocola
Impressive no spends!
Not sure how well this month has gone but im happy with the first quarter over all managed to pay for a decent holiday and a mini break and car insurance without dipping into the saves pot.
April first half will be fairly easy but second half might be a little more spendy.