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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:
Carrotsandcelery · 03/05/2011 21:21

I need to get into the shops myself as I have heaps of stuff to return, mostly stuff bought for the dcs which didn't fit or they didn't go for. There are also 2 dresses and a bolero cardigan to return to Monsoon which were bought as possibilities for a friend's wedding but which have been rejected. I also have a parcel to return to Boden which will put a great deal back dh's credit card. When I do that it will out balance the garden centre purchases several times over and mean we are still better off than we were at the start of the month. Blush

Adair · 03/05/2011 21:23

Hurrah!

Carrotsandcelery · 03/05/2011 21:28

Great work Adair. Lawrie what is mystery shopping?

LawrieMarlow · 03/05/2011 22:21

Mystery shopping means you get to go to shops, buy things, assess the service generally and then fill in questionnaires about it afterwards. You then get paid a fee plus you get reimbursed for whatever you had to buy (or you can take it back and get refunded in the normal way). For some of them you don't have to buy anything. I have been doing it since February and do various places including banks, restaurants, supermarkets, clothes shops and other places.

Tomorrow I am going to a book shop, a clothes shop and a phone shop :)

Carrotsandcelery · 03/05/2011 22:27

That sounds great fun - how did you get into that?

LawrieMarlow · 03/05/2011 22:41

There's lots of different companies who do it on behalf of the actual shops/banks etc. I found a thread on moneysavingexpert here which gives links to lots of the companies and gives some advice as well.

Original poster
Collision · 03/05/2011 22:47

Ooh not bad everyone!

all fine for today and no one bought anything on impulse!

A no spend day for me today. Smile

I had a stir fry tonight Nick. I fried frozen onions and added diced chicken and then added frozen peppers, mushrooms and peas. Added cooked noodles and soy sauce and served with prawn crackers. We put sweet chilli sauce on the side and it was fab!

DH, the chef!, said it was delicious and the boys gobbled it up too!

I was gobsmacked.

Egg, beans and toast tomorrow. Seriously. Filling, nutritious and DH loves it!

OP posts:
Original poster
Collision · 03/05/2011 22:53

Lawrie - have pm'd you!!

OP posts:
LawrieMarlow · 03/05/2011 23:03

I have replied :)

Adair · 04/05/2011 17:54

I did a couple of mystery shopping things, can't recall ever getting paid and I still need to close the bank account I opened... oops...

Another no-spend day, saw a friend and gave some of dd's old clothes away. Nanna came to visit and took ds to park... oh, no hang on, had to pay her for getting some sheets from John Lewis for me ages ago- maybe that counts for last month, but that's twenty quid!

Tomorrow, planned to meet up with some other new mums from the area - hmm... maybe if i go on a money hunt round the house and only spend that, it counts as bonus spend. i found a pound under the sofa that dd needed for her school trip today Grin.

i was thinking i needed sandals as I could only find one from last year (!) but sorted out my shoes at bottom of wardrobe and found the other one - hurrah! Still might put it on my 'wishlist' (to be looking out for something i truly love within my budget...)

Hope everyone else making considered purchases and enjoying the sunshine. Smile

bustersmummy · 04/05/2011 18:00

I only bought milk and paid for my tattoo Smile

HauntedLittleLunatic · 04/05/2011 18:13

Hmmm....

still need to do the list of things the kids need. Been pretty good so far.

Saturday I went out to lunch but a friend paid. I went to B&Q and bought a hinge for the guinea pig hutch. Also did a little shop...bread milk, fresh fruit & veg but no luxuaries.

Sunday I spent nothing

Monday I spent nothing

Tuesday I had to buy diesel. I also slipped up and had no lunch before I went out, so ended up buying a pasty and bottle of OJ from union shop. But that was all I ate all day. I went out in teh evening to a show (tickets prre-booked and paid for buy someone else). I was good, no interval drinks no interval ice cream

Today I have been good so far....but I fear that is about to end. I have had no llunch. DDs have had a free school meal and so have only had a snack for tea...so I now need to eat. Now I am depressed ATM and really struggling to eat. I really fancy a chinese takeaway for tea and I fear that if I don't treat myself I will not eat anything. It will last 2 days though as half will go in fridge for tomorrow. And I didn't sepnd anything last night whilst out.

Original poster
Collision · 04/05/2011 18:15

Another no spend day for me!

DH went to get the EBAY bike he got for DS1 - £32! Bargain - doesn't count though as that was DH and not me and it was a considered purchase. Wink

Found bolognaise in a tub in freezer so boys and I had that for dinner. Think DH is making bread as we speak so that should keep us going for another day.

Eggy bread and beans tomorrow night. Am loving the non spending.

BUM! Just remembered that I gave £5 to a work colleague for a sponsored walk for cancer. Still, it is for charideeeeee! Grin

OP posts:
Adair · 04/05/2011 18:40

Er... Haunted, you are supposed to eat!! IMVHO - you need to meal plan so you don't end up ordering a takeaway out of necessity. or factor them into the budget like me and dh! But there ain't nothing in the rules saying you can't have a takeaway if you really want one.

Why aren't you eating? Sad

brightermornings · 04/05/2011 18:48

I'm really enjoying this thread (yes I know I need to get out more).My finances aren't in a good state so I'm on my second week of writing down everything I spend.
Everyone is doing really well!!

HauntedLittleLunatic · 04/05/2011 18:51

Long story...just depressed and struggling. Not deliberate. Just finding it hard and eating what I fancy when I fancy ATM.

Yesterday was a particularly srtessful mornign and I didn't have time before we went out and ended up hungry at 3pm.

Today I have to say I didn't get up until 11am, so didn't really need lunch.

Am have just had a hard few days and not organised.

Carrotsandcelery · 04/05/2011 19:38

No unexpected spends here today although it was another expensive day at the vets.

The ice cream van comes on Wednesdays but that is budgeted for and preplanned so I am viewing that as within the rules.

I remembered to fill water bottles for the dcs for their afternoon activities so I didn't have to dash into the local shop for bottled water as I have done in the past.

These rules are making me aware of my Pepsi Max addiction. I am noticing how often I would have bought a bottle of Pepsi as I passed to drink in the car while I waited outside dcs activities etc. I reckon I will save more than £5 a week just by stopping that. That is £20 a month of Pepsi Shock

BlackandGold · 04/05/2011 20:07

Another no spend day for me today. Managed to make sandwiches for lunch at work and took in a yoghourt from home. Then found 3 cereal bars and a kit kat on the shelf under my desk! Plus ate chocs given to us at work.

Am going out for dinner tomorrow eve but that's a planned celebration.

Adair · 04/05/2011 20:08

Carrots, I never used to drink fizzy drinks but in the last month started... it's SO addictive.

Haunted, please have my permission for a very guilt free takeaway (nt that you need it, but if it makes you feel better). I am sorry you are struggling, me too a bit - have been ill too. i have added 'being cold' this week to my list of anxiety/stress triggers (great). These are the physical things i need to sort before i can handle anything.
Mine are: -tiredness -needing the toilet! and -hunger is a massive trigger - i can't think straight when I am hungry. E.g. right now, I am hungry, tired, cold and need a wee. And so when baby ds kicked off, i couldn't handle it. he is asleep now. But it helps to refocus - I do try to have a checklist and address those physical needs first.)

Anyway, that was a convoluted way of saying that i think you have to eat (anything) as a priority. And if you are finding eating hard, then 100% eat what you feel like. Hope you feel a little better soon.

Sorry for tangent.

Carrotsandcelery · 04/05/2011 20:24

Have both of you had your thyroids checked out? Adair I have an underactive thyroid and many of the symptoms you describe are similar to the ones I have when my medication is too low. I get tired, lethargic, grumpy, depressed, cold and shivery, my hair thins and I gain weight.

I also need the toilet when I am anxious but I don't think that is thyroid related. It could be IBS or a pelvic floor issue.

Haunted I am sending you a hug and total permission to enjoy a takeaway. I know you are not keen to eat but you might trigger your appetite by eating little and often. Can you carry a banana or a flap jack or some nuts and dried fruit to nibble on here and there to keep your blood sugar up and steady. Taking vitamins can also stimulate your appetite if you are not feeling very hungry much of the time.

I am sure you have seen a doctor and had some professional advice but lots of mumsnetters have been there and have great advice on beating the major blues.

Original poster
Collision · 04/05/2011 20:41

Haunted - EAT!

Order the takeaway and enjoy it!!

Well done on not buying water and fizzy drinks while you are out ladies.

Think we are all doing well.

Shame about vet fees though Carrots!

OP posts:
HauntedLittleLunatic · 04/05/2011 20:57

Thanks guys...this wasn't supposed to be a woe is me moment.

But thanks. Have eaten takeaway and you are right....I need to plan what I am going to eat in advance so that I don't end up faced with a cupboard of food trying to make a decision onn what to eat when I don't actually want to eat anything.

Carrotsandcelery · 04/05/2011 21:01

I don't mind the vet fees if the animals stay healthy - I will need to write it into the annual budget though and add a bit for emergencies. My dad used to keep a shoe box and put £2 a week in it for the dog so there was always a little pot there for his vet fees. Suddenly his bizarre behaviour makes total sense!

I could have a whole shelf of jars for each thing and pop the money in every week! Grin

Original poster
Collision · 04/05/2011 21:07

Would pet insurance not help in situations like this?

cluelessAndPetless

OP posts:
Carrotsandcelery · 04/05/2011 21:18

The dog is insured but there is an excess and all the bills so far have cleverly been just below the excess.

The rabbits are not insured as we have 4 of them so the annual cost of that is too high. Even though this is costing us a packet it is still cheaper than the insurance would have been and this is the first time this has happened to us on this scale.

Insurance doesn't cover worming, flea treatments or boosters for the dog anyway. Pah!

But yes, in the normal scheme of things, insurance would be the way forward.