No spend days support

[Bluewavescrashing]

I read this yesterday and have started the no spend day challenge. My rules are:

1. Achieve as many as possible no spend days (NSD) and low spend days (LSD) in a month.
2. Rent/ mortgage, utilities, medicines, food and petrol are allowed.
3. Unnecessary extras will be counted eg coffees out, magazines, toiletries, taxis, buying lunch out etc.
4. Planned spends eg Christmas presents, socialising are allowed. It's always good to stay in budget though.

Add your own rules if you like!

www.moneysavingexpert.com/team-blog/2019/11/i-tracked-every-penny-spent-after-bills-for-a-whole-month---and-/

So I'll start...

Yesterday was my first NSD

Today will be a LSD I hope!

Anyone want to join?

Sounds like a normal day

I’ll join. I walked to the station today to avoid parking costs. Brought my own lunch. Had small change in my purse and was about to splash out on a drink on the train. Didn’t gave enough cash. Lovely man sitting across from me bought me one without me knowing. Not planning on spending a single penny today. Business account paid my travel costs to my meeting. I’m having what’s in for tea.

@Princethedog that was so kind!

@ExpatInAGrump fair point, it should be a normal day but I've overspent lately.

I didn’t bloody manage it. Didn’t get a chance to eat my packet soup for lunch and grabbed a sandwich at M&S. grrr.., Never mind. A low spend day instead.

There's always tomorrow!

Low spend here. £1.80 on milk and croissants for the freezer.

I really need to do this! I am frittering so much money at the mo and I really can't afford it what with Christmas around the corner. I'm going to try and do a NS Fri,Sat and Sun as I have a freezer full of food and no plans for the weekend (apart from housework). Will need to spend. £5.40 on the bus to work tomorrow.

Welcome @catinb0oots

I'm very impulsive and a bargain hunter which makes me think I can spend often. But it all adds up! I'm also guilty of stockpiling toiletries eg I have 18 bars of soap in my house.

Low spend day today--£2 donation to Children in need for dress down day.

I was tempted to buy wine and a ready meal but resisted. Chicken nuggets and chips will do!

I did well today. Just the bus and nothing else. DS2 is having a sleepover tomorrow night with his best pal so I'm defrosting some mince for spag Bol tomorrow night. I've got frozen garlic bread and various sweets/treats left over from Halloween.

Oh @Bluewavescrashing I gave DS2 £1 this morning for Children in need mufty day but I found it in the fruit bowl so I hope that doesn't count? 😂

It's interesting to me, as an oldie, how the 'bought lunch/coffee' casual expense list now includes taxis!

My son at uni has an Uber account! It's been years since I got in a taxi! Unimaginable luxury! 😂

I also have so many work colleagues/ friends, in their late 30s, early 40s who consider a £35 pm phone account like a human right! 😊 Plus a daily Costa. And an 11 year old with a iphone11. Who will only wear 'labels' ('What can you do?'...). And a DH who won't drink any wine without a cork in it. 😂

Their money, their choices! But that's why you never have any spare cash!

I used to waste soooo much money until I set up a Monzo account. I transfer a set amount of money each month that is purely mine to spend (after bills, food shopping etc) it has really helped me manage my money by making me more aware of what I'm spending.

I haven't used a taxi for ages actually--it was just an example!

Low spend day today
Parking £3.50 - DD went to a party in town

I was not tempted to buy stuff at all. Had a mooch round the library instead. ⭐

@catinb0oots that counts as a NSD I think 🙂

Took me yrs but I'm getting good at LSDs now.
Problem is xmas is coming & we are supposed to be spending.
I'm low on ideas for what DC would like.
Irk.

How are toiletries not an essential spend? Obvs fancy toiletries are not necessary but soap, toothpaste and shampoo are pretty essential?

How are toiletries not an essential spend? Obvs fancy toiletries are not necessary but soap, toothpaste and shampoo are pretty essential?

Sorry my mistake. Should read unnecessary toiletries.

Need to do this as well! Going to try and use up whatever's in the house this week rather than buying more stuff.

I started this at the beginning of this year. I aim for between 10-15 NS spend days a month (less pressure, but I usually manage more) and then I write down absolutely everything I buy. The black on white is absolutely sobering, and I've spent less month on month, for that reason.

Being retired makes such a difference! We live in a very remote location and will go for a week without moving from home or spending a cent. Of course, the other side of the coin is that we spend a lot in bulk buying when we do go to town. So once a week we'll spend $100 on basics and once a month, $200 on top-ups for the freezer and pantry.Pet food is our biggest expense, as we rescue a lot of dumped kittens. Oh, and wine. About $60 a fortnight for petrol. And gifts for the grandchildren online. And books, lots of them. We grow a lot of veges, fruit and herbs. So, we do have NSDs and LSDs, but its a bit of a quid pro quo. I have to say I'm happy to be no longer a city worker and tempted by lattes, random "treat" shopping and impulse buying, though.

Decluttering has helped change my mindset around stuff. Realising that I don't need things I lusted after and the hassle of rehoming them makes me want less stuff coming into the house. I've had a big shift in thinking in regards to waste as well - plastics, the waste involved in manufacturing textiles etc. It's taken the shine off shopping completely and I don't want to be in shops at all if I can help it.

Decluttering has helped change my mindset around stuff.

I have found this as well.