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

[Clutterfreeintraining]

That's brilliant, littlechoc!!

PH03b3 - that's a great result!!

My cc is still on zero, I resisted the urge to order myself anything at the mcds drivethru when I took Ds on the weekend and have sold a sofa for the same price I bought it for.

And I've transferred a big chunk of money to my savings account (and a small chunk to premium bonds).

I did impulse buy an electric pressure cooker on Saturday . It arrived Sunday and it's currently cooking its third meal so I'm hopeful it'll pay for itself quite quickly

[PH03b3]

looks at the instant pot still in its box you seem to be doing better than me with the electric pressure cooker!

[Clutterfreeintraining]

I had to start using it immediately to lessen the guilt I felt for buying it in the first place! Oh and I'm not a fan of cooking so if it means mealtimes will be quicker and less hassle, I'm all for it.
Just made potato wedges and they were a great success.
My mealplanning has totally fallen by the wayside so I will try and get back on it and organise it around what I can cook in the new gadget
How long have you had your IP? Are you on any fb groups? There're so many hints/tips/recipes!!

[PH03b3]

Brought it at the start of march! Its got to be used the gadet cupboard is full of good ideas. Which groups do you recommend?

[Clutterfreeintraining]

Just cooked sausage, mash and green beans in mine - beans were a little over cooked, mash had a couple of large uncooked lumps but the sausages were amazing!! I think maybe I should stick to doing one things at a time.

One of the groups I'm in is here
It was full of bickering last week but there seems to be a lot of useful info and tips. I've also just joined a group specific to the machine I have but not had a chance to have a proper look yet.

[Ambi]

I've had a couple of expensive weeks so I have completely failed at no spend. Should I duck out?
It has been conscious spending though and not on throwaway items. Our 15yr old car is on it's last legs and is needing some expensive repairs so we've chosen a lease deal for 2 yrs. Not frugal at all but we've been debating on a new car for the last 12 months. We've owned old cars for the last 10 years so this feels frivolous and extravagant.
We've booked for Orlando for Dec & Jan, again frivolous and extravagant but we usually stick to cheaper UK breaks so have a nice holiday every 3 yrs. We'd considered a cheaper sun holiday this summer but they are in the £000's for europe so bit the bullet and booked it.
Because of this, not spending on misc items is even more important. We I need to knuckle down and watch the incidentals from creeping up.

[PH03b3]

@Ambi
Actually i think you should be in here more, im seeing it as more of a stop mindless spending challenge. You need a car i lease mine and argue no repair bills etc and a holiday is important we found the same were off to the carabien shortly because it wasn't much more than Europe and with the worries around brexit for visas etc it just made sense

[Clutterfreeintraining]

I agree with PH03b3. For me, it's more about not wasting money, rather than not spending anything at all. What this challenge has helped me with, so far, is to keep track of where my money is going.

I've slipped back into doing my food shopping online - I just can't face going to the supermarket . I think if I was organised enough to have a list, I wouldn't feel so against the idea of going to the actual shop!! I shall make that my challenge for this week.

[PH03b3]

So April starts!
Its going to be an odd month for me, financially it'll be a fairly expensive one towards the end of the month as i need a lot of stuff for an upcoming holiday and some birthdays in April.
So my focus will be on not spending when i don't need to the rest of the time and to not dip into savings.

[Littlechocola]

Agree, it’s definitely more about mindful spending for me.

I’ve definitely saved just by thinking before spending.

Keep posting @Ambi

[Ambi]

Thanks everyone. I've been pretty good at not spending on misc items. I have a beauty hoard to use up, so no toiletries needed probably for the rest of the year. Just done our weekly shop which was £35 and returned some shoes for DH which were £15 so win win. I am on it in April!!

[PH03b3]

April 1st - no spend day.
April 2nd - £2 - food spend.
Lets be having you April!

[PH03b3]

April 3 - £1 spend.

[Littlechocola]

First spend of the month for me! £5 on a running jacket and £10 on two books. Must not drink and shop!

[Clutterfreeintraining]

Today is credit card roll-over day - I don't know what it's actually called - when it rolls over into the next billing period.

January cc spend - £800
February - £560
March - 99p!!!!!!

Before Christmas it was between £1,000 and £2,000 most months .
I pay it off in full every month and had been using it for all online shopping, including food deliveries. Last two food shops have been paid by PayPal and come out of my current account but I really need to make more effort to go back to Aldi.

I have just totally blown the budget on a fancy-pants tent which will come out of my current account in two weeks so need to be very frugal between now and then. Might just be living off the contents of the freezer for the next two weeks.

[Clutterfreeintraining]

Where are you all?!?!?!

[PH03b3]

Trying to figure out how much ive spent.
Im having to buy a new wardrobe for my holiday as im so fat at the moment and haven't been near a beach in 3 years. Its budgeted for etc i just can't figure out what ive spent
Unplanned weekend away happened to.
All in all one big mess is April - i did so well in January. I think i am going to be written off until may now. I shall go over my balances end of this month and hopefully im not a minus!
Hows it going for you?

[Clutterfreeintraining]

Just checking in!!

Haven't been keeping much control over my spending over the last few weeks.

I am still managing to avoid mcds/Greggs and haven't bought any new clothes or shoes for aaaaaages However, I do have a big birthday this month so was considering a new outfit but hoping to find something fabulous and forgotten in my wardrobe

I've totally lost track of my business spending which has annoyed me but will try and allocate some time over this long weekend to catch up a bit.

[dudsville]

No one's here and I need help!!!!!
Trying desperately not tp buy ankle boots for winter. I bought two pairs last year. I have 4. 2 are from 3 or 4 years ago, great condition. I've bought 3 pairs of sandals thus summer and some new clothes. I NEED to go no spend!!!!!

[Clutterfreeintraining]

@dudsville - did you succumb to the ankle boots?!

I've kind of fallen off the wagon but now the holidays are over, I'm feeling motivated to get back on it

[Bluewavescrashing]

Just happened upon this thread as I'm trying to increase my no spend days. I've been decluttering recently on the one thing a day thread. It's made me realise that stuff doesn't make me happy. Also read about no spend days on moneysavingexpert.com which was interesting. I'm keeping going with the decluttering and also implementing these rules:

No clothes shopping
No toiletries except running out
No homewares
No clothes for the children as they have enough
No beauty stuff except hair cut and colour as I can't live with having crap hair
No Christmas decorations as we have enough from last year
No sanpro as I now have reusable protection
No unnecessary food and drink.

I've finished Christmas shopping for presents, wrap, stockings and DD winter birthday so shouldn't have to go near shops.

I'm starting with a month as my target. No spend/ minimal spend.

[Bluewavescrashing]

Anyone still there? Or want to join?

First NSD today.