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Original poster

How often do you spend money?

81 replies

surlycurly · 20/09/2022 20:19

I was looking at my bank account today and realised how often I'm spending. It's a quick trip to the shops here, petrol there, a macdonalds or a trip through the car wash. I'm not particularly profligate but I do seem to use my debit card a LOT. It's maybe not every day but definitely every other day. How often do you have a spending day/ spending free day?

OP posts:
Fatballs · 20/09/2022 20:22

I spend what I need to, whenever I need to. It isn’t every day.

gretr · 20/09/2022 20:23

Every day mostly. Whether it’s commuting costs, a direct debit coming out, food shopping. I know exactly where my money goes though, so I’m not worried about it.

Alliolly · 20/09/2022 20:29

Every day.
I haven't thought about it, but I'm sure I used to have a fair amount of non spending days. I've started wasting way too much money in Tesco, I pop in pretty much every day on the way back from work

Original poster
surlycurly · 20/09/2022 20:30

I am on top of the big bills but I was shocked at how often I'm mindlessly buying stuff. I think I'm going to aim for half the week being no spend days.

OP posts:
Original poster
surlycurly · 20/09/2022 20:31

@Alliolly yeah I'm the same.
It's a wee spend here and there. It's adding up!

OP posts:
HighlandPony · 20/09/2022 20:31

Never have a spending free day. I use cash because our shop and lots of places here don’t take card but never a day goes by when I’ve not spent even some change. Kids get tuck shop money for school, I buy bread at the shop every single day, we are currently car sharing because we’ve got the van and the other car sorn just now so I’ll have to pay a bus fair if I need out the village. I meet friends at the community cafe several times a week for breakfast too then there’s the youth club that’s started up running again (thank god!) I think the last time I spent no money was 8 weeks ago when I was in hospital having my youngest but my husband was still at the shop every day.

Kite22 · 20/09/2022 20:36

I normally go for days and days without spending anything.
Not usually over a week - we shop weekly for example.

GrowOneStrawberry · 20/09/2022 20:38

Daily.

Original poster
surlycurly · 20/09/2022 20:40

How do you do it @Kite22 ? Do you only shop/ get petrol etc once a week. Do you never get takeaways/ Amazon stuff etc? I think i really need to review how I'm spending.

OP posts:
Hastingsontheup · 20/09/2022 20:43

Trying to hold on to pay day (Friday)I haven't been to a shop since Sunday.

netflixandnaps · 20/09/2022 20:45

Rarely. I have no disposable income and only £80 a month for food... I dream of the day I can buy myself a treat! :-)

Original poster
surlycurly · 20/09/2022 20:45

I need petrol but don't get paid again until next Wednesday- was hoping to try and not spend until then. No clue if it'll work.

OP posts:
HairyMothballs · 20/09/2022 20:48

almost every day -
today was the carwash,
garage vacuum to do the car,
coffee with a friend,
milk and bread from Aldi
posted a parcel

Total of £21

klipwa · 20/09/2022 20:49

Pre Covid I would get a set amount of cash out of the machine and spend that during the week.

Now I just use contactless and don't have the same handle on how much I'm spending.

I'd suggest returning to using the cash machine!

Kite22 · 20/09/2022 20:50

Well, I don't particularly aim to, I just don't wander round shops. I am either at work, or doing things on non- working days, that don't involve spending anything.

So, my food / groceries shop tends to be done once a week.
Petrol I only tend to need to fill up once every 3, 4 or sometimes 5 weeks
I never tend to buy anything on-line. DH has Prime so if there is something I want very occasionally then I ask him to get it, but that really tends to only be presents for the dns at Christmas / birthdays.
I'll generally do a 'High Street shop' perhaps once a month or 6 weeks for things like light bulbs, maybe top up toiletries or cleaning things, maybe stock up on birthday cards occasionally.

It isn't a conscious thing, I just don't need to.

PeaceLily2000 · 20/09/2022 20:50

OP, if you want to try to spend less, what I do is having a separate bank card/account for spending which is not the account wages are paid in to.
Then set yourself a budget and transfer only that amount to the spending account.
For me, having a set amount makes me really consider what I'm buying.

Namechangedincaseshesonhere · 20/09/2022 20:50

Just checked my Monzo account. So surprised to see I’ve spent £900 in the last 20 days just from my fun money account (not including groceries £280).

Bills and rent come out of the main joint account so not included.

I feel a bit sick tbh. I only bought a pair of shoes this month. The rest has gone on takeaway food/UberEats, bars, cigarettes, a dinner out, just utter crap really! I don’t have kids so I don’t feel guilty or anything, but it’s incredible to see the amount like that. I also think my DH is spending as much as me.

We haven’t been able to afford a holiday this year, now I see why.

PretzelLady · 20/09/2022 20:52

Monday - Friday, I don't spend very often at all. Maybe I will pay for car parking once or twice a week, but not every week.

HOWEVER, on my days off, I am shocking. Like you, it really isn't big purchases, but the number of charges on my card is quite bad and it does worry me a bit that I can't really be keeping an eye on what I'm spending when it's that often.

YeOldeTrout · 20/09/2022 20:54

Putting aside things like Direct Debits (council tax, electric bill, phone charges...)

Today: I didn't buy anything. I could have paid for parking, but ... 1 hour free. DH did a supermarket run, however.
Yesterday ... £28 at supermarket (when it opened), items that were not essential but will get appreciated, good value/ only sold there.

Sunday: didn't buy anything. DH & DS went to a sport event & probably bought some snacks.
Saturday: bought some sheets for DS who is off to Uni soon, postage on 2 parcels
Friday: can't remember buying anything
Wednesday: £47 on fuel

I guess that means my answer is not often, to OP.

OneCup · 20/09/2022 21:10

Aside bills/council tax/ sports clubs etc, I spend money on Saturdays: petrol,foodshop and take away. The rest of the week it's really rare.

Charlavail · 20/09/2022 21:13

I have spent money every day of my life since I was 18! Can't leave the house without spending. Which is shit cos I'm skint at the moment and shopping is my comfort.

RoachTheHorse · 20/09/2022 21:15

Today is not a good example as I had a shorty day so took the kids out to dinner at the local Italian. But mostly we try to food shop mince a week and takeaway at most twice a month. Other bits as we need. I must admit it's Amazon that's my downfall 😭

JamSandle · 20/09/2022 21:16

I'm usually good but this month I've been quite frivolous. I plan to be very frugal through winter.

Eddieisadick · 20/09/2022 21:17

Every day really. But it’s not like alcohol you don’t need days off. Just keep control of what you’re spending and spend within your means and that’s that

WildfellAnne · 20/09/2022 21:18

I go for days and days without spending -unnecessarily - weeks even. I never buy takeaways and never buy from Amazon. I would never buy takeaway coffee, for example. Today I did buy - a pair of jeans second hand for DH and a lovely designer jumper second hand for me - total less than £12.

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