No spend January?

[corinewmoon]

After he festive blowout and considering ive got some big bills in January, (MOT, car tax, insurance) I have decided to try a no frivlous spending month. There is nothing i really need to buy, (apart from new school jumper and coat for DS) .
So I will be taking my lunch to work every day,
I will avoid costas,
and i will limit my self to one bottle of wine per week
I will aim to spend £200.00 on food shop for the month
I will not go for leisurely stroll to the shops during my lunch break.

Any one else want to join in. ?

MyLife I agree. Childcare should be subsidised. Did you look at vouchers? They help a bit.

I have spent a grand total of £2.79 on some veg and dog biscuits today :)

One of our favourite cheapy meals is chickpea enchiladas - just a tin of chickpeas, tin of tomatoes, grated carrot and onion and some seasoning - I always chuck in garlic and paprika because I love them both. Simmer until mixture is thickened, make in to parcels with tortillas then top with white sauce or sour cream, and grated cheese.

Oven for 15 minutes - really filling too.

Well, done some spending today.

£18 for 120 Christmas cards for next year (I spent three times that just before Xmas)
£4.35 on two cakes in Cafe Nero - I know, I know, but I had a completed loyalty card for one hot drink and the rest of our hot drinks were free because we had to wait so damn long.
£3 on packs of eight tubs in Poundland for bulk freezer cooking.
£1 in Poundland for a paper recycling bag thing.
£1 for a pack of candles in Poundland.
£18 on a Christmas teapot, two mugs and a tin of Christmas tea (BBE March 2013) for SIL's present next Xmas, from Whittard.
£5.25 on five rolls of very classy wrapping paper from John Lewis, can be used for Xmas or at other times of year as design fairly neutral.
£18 for DH's birthday present - was a £50 decanter but I took back one of my presents and put the money towards that via vouchers.
£43 on petrol (was more but found some vouchers)

So all in all not exactly essential spending apart from the petrol and a total of £110.60. I am feeling a bit guilty and slightly beating myself up. On the other hand it is a lot more restrained than I was being before Xmas.

That sounds lovely MartyrStewart. DH wouldn't like it but I might just make it for me and the boys and give him beans on toast

I had an orange light on my fuel tank so had to put some in. I put in £40 and am determined to make it last as long as possible. Although I've just remembered agreeing to a 50 mile trip with dh this afternoon...shit.. Well that won't last the month then :(

Other than that I have not spent anything today. Or yesterday. I do need to go to a shop for baby bath, bread flour and pull ups. Can't be Aldi cos they don't sell bread flour or baby bath so will probably have to be Asda

KinkyDorito and MoreCoffee (and any others that may be interested). I'll post the bread recipe this evening, fingers crossed. It really is simple and homemade bread tastes way better than shop bought (unless you buy fancy schmancy loaves anyway .

Today's MOT was a bargainous £30 as it needed nothing doing. Nothing! And the MOT was on offer (should have been £55.50).

I'm getting increasingly scared about my mat pay running out. Actually, I think it might have already done so. Eek. I have resolved not to use my 15% off Homebase voucher this weekend. I don't need anything, I'd just use it as an excuse to buy stuff 'because it's cheap'.

Also got an appointment to open a fixed-rate Britannia ISA at 2.8% - popped into the (Coop) bank as and as I am already a Coop bank customer, the nice man said I could take advantage of the ISA since Coop and Britannia are kind of the same thing now. So, I'll shove a lump sum from existing cash ISA into new ISA and, fingers crossed, reap the rewards in Jan

So, feeling quite happy with the way I'm dealing with money. Long may it last.

Bought the 20p i in paper shop and one banana for lunch. Left home in a massive rush this am so did not have time to make packed lunch. Cooked quorn suasages, vegetables and left over mash for dinner. Refused DD's suggestion to go to Lidl's . Spend today is 45 pence. Will search out lunch box and pack it tonight and put in fridge for tomorrow and make up flask of coffee. Got letter yesterday saying my gas direct debit is to rise in Feb from £59 to £100 a month .

Here's the bread recipe. It makes 1 large loaf, or 12-18 rolls (obviously depends how big you like your baps)

You'll need:
-625g flour (either a combo of wholemeal and white, or just wholemeal - I go for the latter)
-4 teaspoons caster sugar
-1 1/2 teaspoons salt (although I have a salt grinder and just use a few twists)
-2 3/4 teaspoons quite action yeast
-3 tablespoons sunflower oil
-roughly 400ml warm water

And you do it like this...

1. Mix the flour(s), sugar, salt and yeast in a large bowl
2. Add oil and combine with the dry mix
3. Gradually add enough warm water to make a soft dough. Add some extra flour if it gets too sticky.
4. Knead well for five minutes on a floured surface. I use this opportunity to beat the shit out of the dough, thus relieving any pent-up stress.
5. Put back in bowl and cover with a damp tea clothe. Leave in a warm place until roughly doubled in size (normally 45mins-1 hour).
6. Preheat oven to 200C or equivalent in F or gas mark
7. Knock the dough back while still in the bowl (aka poke it so it's all flat and dejected again).
8. Knead for another five mins
9. Either shove it in a greased loaf tin or divide into rolls (put rolls on greaseproof paper-lined tray, or grease a tray) as you see fit.
10. Cover them up again and leave to rise until the dough reaches just above the rim of the tin, or the rolls look a good size. This is normally half an hour or so.

10. Bake those beauties! 35 mins for the loaf (but I check after half an hour) or around 20 mins for the rolls.

Leave to cool on a wire rack. Then either scoff or freeze.

this has got huge! so not reading all post from my last one, but wanted to post this in case it helps anyone 'downshift' brands to help in our no spending:
www.supermarketownbrandguide.co.uk/intro.php

Thanks for the recipe spew :) Will set about baking bread this weekend.

Nit update! The overpriced crappy headlice spray I bought has done nothing!!!!!!!! And also the comb I bought is rubbish and no where near tight enough to drag the little blighters out Therefore my plann of action is as follows:

1. email manufacturer of said overpriced crappy spray and request a refund.
2. Return nit comb to store for refund as in my opinion it is faulty and not fit for purpose
3. Invest in a better nit comb (with my refunded cash of course) and some tea tree conditioner and spend tommorow evening combing, picking and disposing of lice. YUCK! sorry. TMI!

BoffinMum I got some sort of retail therapy enjoyment reading your post!

I am missing spending money, even on tat I dont need! Someone said way back in the thread that we get addicted to spending money and I think thats very true.

Planned meal for this Fridays date night:

Stir fried veg with garlic and ginger (I have loads of garlic and ginger, just need the veg )
Homemade satay chicken using the nut butter I made today.
Choc fondue for pud (melted christmas choc) with fresh fruit for dipping
2 bottles a glass or two of wine (christmas gifts we havent had the chance to drink yet)

coffee - you can also get addicted to not spending money too:o

especially when you've gone a few days without doing it, the feeling of 'i've done so well - mustn't cave in now' can be very effective as an incentive for not spending any. (necessities like milk, bread etc are allowed of course)
Works for me anyway.

Today I have only spent was was needed, ie b/day cards and presents for ds's parties at the weekend ~£20. Still, not cheap, they'd better enjoy these parties :o

Dlamis think it is slowly becoming my new addiction

(namechanged for NY) more there is a headlice thread going on right now, better get over there quick! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1372054-You-are-a-lazy-fcukwit-voseene-shampoo-does-not-prevent-nits
dlamis never buy cards, make your DCs make them, or just the present is fine (esp at a kids' party where they don't even notice)

Am joining in with this...this thread is very motivational!

I have overspent in December so am on lockdown for Jan. Paid all bills at the end of last month, and given DH money for weekly food shop, so in theory all I need to buy is petrol. Have been taking lunches into work + coffee too. Coffee is a massive addiction for me & I am really missing starbucks etc. Trying to cut down to once a week so it's a treat rather then a habit.

So far this month (lol) have only spent

£3.15 on..you guessed it..Costa.

Other things I need to pay for: kids clubs (lots of £££ as they like you to pay upfront for the term & I missed Dec's payment) New Passport (£77 ffs! and passport photo's. I need to do this ASAP but really wanted get my haor done before passport photo (shallow)

Thanks for link Nom have aired and shared over with some fellow itchers and scratchers :)

Hi cherriesblossom I too have significant coffee needs! In order to aid the economising in our household we have purchased a fab coffee machine with a timer (bought with christmas gift vouchers, so technically free and therefore does not count towards my january spending ). We set it up to brew the coffee so theres a big fresh jug of it waiting for us when we head downstairs. Get a huge coffee hit and then managing to avoid starbucks etc. Read further back somewhere that someone else takes their own cafetierre to work! Think this is a great idea!

SPEW can you pleaes post that in recipes under something like 'credit crunch delicious bread* just cause you love us?

Thanks

ER aka Harriet

Oh no! DH wants to go into town tomorrow. Gahhh.

He wants to buy a watch with his Christmas money. I need to go take something back to my previous workplace. I do not want to spend any money...

zebra your gas direct debit.

I wll never forget the day DH opened our £900 'adjustment' bill from British Gas.

morecoffee as a mum of 4 I can heartly recommend a nitty gritty comb, you can get them on prescription for children, making them free. Don't be surprised if your practice doesn't know they are available, get them to check a BNF if you have any problems.

I have trawled the loft, brought down a mahoosive amount of baby equipment and I am about to part with it via Ebay . Hard for a sentimental person but I need to atone for visiting Cafe Nero!

Aww BoffinMum hope it gets you lots of money.

morecoffee I have used the nitty gritty comb too. Brilliant.

I have been struggling with trying to work out what is essential and what is not for a while. I bought 4 toys in TKMaxx on 31st December, two at £7 to DD's friends who's birthdays are in January, and two £4 ones as put-away presents for random 6 year old girls. They were really cheap but I felt guilty afterwards anyway. Then I thought about it. DD1 gets asked to loads of parties. I would not dream of sending her without a present and would always let her go if we're around; therefore I need presents. It becomes a necessity. If I can bulk buy when the sales are on then all the better.

So, I wouldn't feel too bad about your splurge today Boffin. You would have had to buy SIL and DH presents at some point and would therefore need wrapping paper, if you've got the cash now you might as well make the most of the sales. I guess you could have made your Christmas cards though?. . . oh, and the Neros? Definately not essential. Clearly unforgivable!

I have only spent 21p on an onion since 1st Jan. This is mainly because I can't afford to pay the tax on my car until DH gets paid on Friday so I can't get out the village! Onion was bought at village shop but not much in there to tempt me. (Did spend £11.30 in pub on the 1st though, just a little NY drink with friends!)

Oh, and £7.47 online too! Damn computer! On oils so I can begin the very cheap facial oil cleansing methot rather than spending on more expensive skin products.

Thanks curlywirly and reckoner. I did have a nitty gritty years ago, bought it to comb the loose bits of craddle cap out of ds's hair when he was a baby!!!!!! very useful, but couldnt find it, so had to get the only one available in local supermarket. Will re invest tommorow :)

jezebelle wow! only 21p spent since 1st! well done u :)

Now this homemade bread sounds delish but is it really economical when you can only cut it in doorsteps thick slices because it's so fresh?

Have to report a minor frugal victory yesterday. Took DD2 for new school shoes, bless her the last pair were falling apart in Nov but she made do till the holiday! She has mahoosive plates, size 9 (only age 14!) so shoes are usually £30-£40, got some in the sale for £27 so was well chuffed. Also managed to adjust the waist of a pair of school trousers I'd bought last year that are now too big as she's shot up & lost her podge. So back to school for under £30 -result!