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Original poster

During May I will only spend money on food and petrol.

266 replies

Collision · 30/04/2011 20:54

I have decided that I spend far too much on silly bits and pieces and that after a while this really adds up.

The children do not need ANY clothes or shoes at all.

Neither do I. Or bags.

DH needs nothing.

So I have declared that May will be an eco month and i will only buy food and petrol. We are in school for the whole of the month so no trips out are necessary and if the weather is nice we can take our bikes out.

Anyone care to join me or make comments to support me!

OP posts:
Original poster
Collision · 01/05/2011 13:36

Clothes vouchers are fine Meg.

Tis unplanned purchases we want to avoid.

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HauntedLittleLunatic · 01/05/2011 13:36

Surely using clothes vouchers in fine...cost it isn't costing you anything....depending of course how much more than the vouchers you spend.

Meglet · 01/05/2011 13:38

Phew! Smile. I have had my eye on some Havianas for weeks now,

The3Bears · 01/05/2011 13:43

Can I join in please?

Really need to cut back on bits and bobs supposed to be saving but atm I have been spending more, I am the worst with ds always getting him things he doesnt really need. Got him some shorts and sandals yesterday and spend well over £100 getting other bits in gap :( really need to stop this.

So this month I will TRY really hard to not get anything other than food shopping no need for petrol as dont drive, although I am at a Hen party at the end of the month so i'll have to finsih early Blush

somersetmum · 01/05/2011 16:22

So, how has everyone done today?

I decided I didn't need the newspaper :) as there are loads of photos available on the internet, so I will just download some and save them on a memory stick or something. The newspaper will only get lost / creased / faded anyway.

So I am happy to declare 1st May a no spend day :)

How about eveyone else?

bustersmummy · 01/05/2011 16:25

I didn't get a paper Grin

Got some groceries but only what I needed Grin

Feel quite virtuous actually

nannynick · 01/05/2011 16:29

I went shopping and spend £3.80 on only things I needed - to help make sauces to go with food I already have. I did get two bottles of Bleach but then I usually buy in multiple (£1.20 for two bottles).
I didn't buy: cake (oh it looked nice), chocolate bars, biscuits, yoghurt (i've made a jelly from a packet I found at the back of a cupboard).
I also walked, so saved the fuel. Ok, only a mile each way, but it's costing me close to 11.7p a mile, so saved at least 22p possibly more.

voodoomunkee · 01/05/2011 16:49

Bought only things I needed and some meat in the reduced section which will do for some time in the week. Planned out some meals. Checked bank balance (eek!). Ate ice cream in freezer (to make way for said reduced meat lol). Also put some stuff on ebay! (on a mission to have a few hundred in paypal for xmas).

Original poster
Collision · 01/05/2011 16:50

3 bears - that is the sort of spending we need to avoid. £100 in GAP for no real reason and I bet your ds had other shorts at home he could wear. Fair enough if he needs sandals though. We will forgive as yesterday was April!! Grin

No spend day here as well!

Well done everyone so far.

I might have to go to Londis as we are having chilli for dinner and DH and ds are partial to tortillas to go with it but that is all I will buy.

And that is fine.

We are meeting up with lots of friends in a minute at a local park and so I have packed food and drink and got my flask for coffee as buying bits n bobs at the local cafe....

...would not be fine. [cwink]

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Adair · 01/05/2011 16:51

Have just put RW supplement/paper on freecycle so if anyone wants it/them PM me (in Walthamstow)

follyfoot · 01/05/2011 16:57

Oh collision. I made the same vow about only spending on petrol and food last month. Then our Lab got diagnosed with cancer. Thats been £4000 of unexpected (but entirely worthwhile) expenditure so far Shock

Original poster
Collision · 01/05/2011 17:02

yikes Folly!!

That is a lot of money!

Hope she/he is OK.

Try with us this month and curb the spending (though dog is allowed)

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follyfoot · 01/05/2011 17:03

She's doing OK so far thanks. But thank you, I will join you (apart from the dog!) this month Grin

Carrotsandcelery · 01/05/2011 17:44

Oh Folly, your poor dog and poor you. Sad Dogs are such a part of the family though, you will pay all you can to help them.

Vets expenses need to be done.

I have a rabbit having surgery tomorrow, four rabbits due mixies vaccinations and my dog is due his boosters, all this month so that will be a massive dent in this month's budget.

I see that as essentials though and this is about the nonsense we don't need to spend.

I have been to the supermarket today as we have a houseful for tea. All essential though - I can't imagine the revolt if I refused to feed and water them all Shock

crazymoon · 01/05/2011 17:59

Been doing this for a few weeks at a time - tut-tutting at my sister's bargain/sale addiction! But fallen off the wagon and had a charity shop/car boot sale spending sprees recently! it's only a couple of quid, it's going to charity - but hey do we need all this stuff/junk?! Food and petrol ONLY month, here we go, excellent reminder.

voodoomunkee · 01/05/2011 19:08

Can I just say that it is entirely possible to spend way too much on food too!

Carrotsandcelery · 01/05/2011 19:13

Definitely - I spent £37 for one evening meal, albeit for 7 people but still. I have absolutely loads of left overs - I could do the meal at least once more (and will) and probably twice. Blush

shinyshoes · 01/05/2011 19:20

I have spent £27.00 today

£25.00 on a new carset for DD1 , she needed it, the one she was in was a stage 1 I think and she was too big for it.
and £2.00 on 2x4pt of milk which DD1 drinks tons of . Hopefully that's it. I have to pay for Hotel Choclat chocs I had last month, but I seem to be on track to not spend frivilously .YAY ! Go me !!

Adair · 01/05/2011 19:31

Agree - we are budgeted for our food too...

I have spent no money today. And dh went to football (season ticket) and his mate bought him a coffee! So no money either of us today...

Am being taunted by special offer emails though, have had online baskets with Peacocks, Lakeland and ASOS. And deleted them all.

My sisters gave me two bags of unwanted clothes though which was fab!

The3Bears · 01/05/2011 20:13

I know Collision i'm really terrible however like you said yesterday was April, so today I did buy the papers and some fresh bread but thats it.
Tommorow were going to the park so going to make some sandwiches instead of buying something near by, that should save some money.
Im really looking forward to this challenge as I used to be great with bugeting but have really gone all out since xmas, I know I can do it :)

Original poster
Collision · 01/05/2011 21:02

We can and will do it.

and we can support each other.

I have spent £1.50 on tortillas and a dip. Now I didnt need the dip but DH said he wanted it and as he thinks I am bonkers at doing this challenge I did not refuse. The tortillas were £1.09 or with dip £1.50 so actually quite a bargain esp for M&S and the fact I spent so little in M&S was amazing!

Took my flask to the park and was v v v popular as everyone was freezing so I shared my coffee around!!

Well done me!

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BlackandGold · 01/05/2011 21:43

Took a flask of coffee, home made sandwiches and a kit kat with me when I went to watch the rugby today.

And a parked a fair walk away in a free car park.

Grin
voodoomunkee · 01/05/2011 21:59

I had to cheat and buy some pop and some bottled water (am blaming pg brain). When I was writing my dissertation in the library at uni last summer I took in a big flask of coffee and was very popular when people needed a little fix, they returned the favour with sweets... happy days! Am kind of thinking along the lines of when we go camping, somehow we seem to survive on supanoodles, spag bol and sausages. Maybe I could set tent up in garden and pretend?

Adair · 02/05/2011 08:30

Yes, if husband not fully on board then it's hard... my hubby has finally started to see the light, after maybe a 4 years year of trying! He is a spender, i am miser saver. I have slowly started to make our treats a little less extravagant, so I'd say your tortillas etc rather than a whole picnic was a good step! He has also not been drinking for two years so far which has done wonders for his mindfulness . And our budget.

Original poster
Collision · 02/05/2011 10:51

A new day everyone!

We are going to a May Day Fair in Wokingham. Will take drinks but will prob spend some money on bits for the kids.

Have a cheap day and enjoy the weather!

Back to school tomorrow!

Smile
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