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Original poster

No spend January?

999 replies

corinewmoon · 27/12/2011 11:43

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. ?

OP posts:
Sparklingbaubles · 27/12/2011 18:42

I have just had to buy a new fridge freezer because the old one died. Sad It's things like that that piss you off when you are trying to save and all the good work is undone.

SilentSinger · 27/12/2011 18:53

I'm in, December (without even factoring in Christmas) has gone beyond wiping me out so I have to live on the absolute bare minimum in January.

Meal planning, online shopping (Tesco do free click and collect at the moment so no delivery charge if you pick it up instead of have it delivered), lunch being made every day and no unnecessary treats are the order of the day.

zookeeper · 27/12/2011 18:53

somebody told me those chest freezers are expensive to run - does anyone know?

SilentSinger · 27/12/2011 18:55

And I've just remembered I was given a slanket for Christmas so the heating will be turned down further now.

Sparklingbaubles · 27/12/2011 18:56

I should have got everyone a onesie and turned the heating off. Grin

goldbow · 27/12/2011 18:56

sparkling The thing I find is that you have better control on what you are buying and spending by doing it online so yes. Smile Also no clothes etc to temp you.

bananarama05 · 27/12/2011 19:01

Great news on the Tesco click and collect Silent, thank you!

DedalusDigglesPocketWatch · 27/12/2011 19:07

I am trying to use cash more, so many little things get put on the cards and I lose track. Really, 10 pounds a week is plenty for me for playgroups, the odd pint of milk, loaf of bread etc. I end up going into our local shop to get milk or something and not having change, have to spend 5 pounds to use a card.

I already meal plan and our heating is on a thermostat set at 16 degrees. I use the tumble too much though...

Makingchanges · 27/12/2011 19:30

I'm in too. I need to online shop religiously. I fo it ad-hoc now and it really does make a difference even with delivery. No sweet treats or clothes i don't need when online too. Bulk cooking and freezing worked well in nov but slacked on this since. I've also started using cornet shop for essentials rather than sainsburys when a quick pop couldcos £30

Sparklingbaubles · 27/12/2011 19:32

Tell me about some of the online myths and whether they are true.

Do they give you the manky veg?
Do they give you the stuff with very near use-by dates?

Does it work better to say 'no substitutions' or does that just mean you end up in the shops again?

goldbow · 27/12/2011 19:36

baubles No veg fine and dates with tesco sains and ocado. I never put no subs, only ever had an issue with Tesco not subsituting nappies. Hmm I don't use Tesco now although have just used them for click and collect which is fabulous.

I agree about using corner shop not SM for extras, saves ££££££

TheHumancatapult · 27/12/2011 19:38

I'm in , just moved house last week and as wardrobes etc were all built in last place . I have to buy them and flooring and get some work done in here so need to save

goldbow · 27/12/2011 19:38

ocado also has a thing where if you sign up for a year, you get unlimited delivery for £6.99 P/M however minimum spend £40 and also find their slots go quickly. You can book a regular slot though.

BandOMothers · 27/12/2011 19:41

This is just what I need! DH has bust his hip and were not sure of his income yet...mine is lowish until clients come through which could take 3 weeks! Either way...I will not buy any clothes for any of us and will get bus to and from nursery and school instead of taxi. Blush at my ;aziness...I have been getting cabs when that money could have gone to getting me driving lessons!

goldbow · 27/12/2011 19:48

Bando - I've been driving to school (1 mile) instead of walking!! Sometimes can't walk due to clubs etc but mostly just bone idle. Blush

fivegomadindorset · 27/12/2011 19:50

We have a chest freezer ( and numerous others) If I remember rightly the fuller you keep them the more economical they are.

RockChick1984 · 27/12/2011 19:53

baubles I use tesco online and never had a problem with short dates on things, if they can only send you something short dated they flag it on your invoice and you can give it back to the delivery driver for a refund. Same with substitutions and usually find they sub for a more expensive item and you just pay original price - apparently sainsburys charge you the extra with a substitution though so be careful!

Online has definitely helped me budget better, I set a weekly budget and if I go over that I know I need to get rid of some items, if it comes in less then I can get some treats!!

Meglet · 27/12/2011 19:55

baubles I've never had any manky veg from sainsburys.

I think most supermarkets give free delivery mid-week if you spend over a certain amount. I stock up on special offers of cheap stuff that I actually use and stash it in the loft. Stuff like toothpaste / pasta / biscuits / cleaning products will last for ages.

Sparklingbaubles · 27/12/2011 19:55

That's all very reassuring. I could use any one of the supermarkets but which to start with?

goldbow · 27/12/2011 19:57

Tesco price match subs, sains don't.

RidingInTheMidnightBlue · 27/12/2011 19:58

I do online shop w sainsbury's. If you pay for delivery, then leave it a couple of weeks they email you a code for free delivery Grin.
I'm in, btw.

MrsHuxtable · 27/12/2011 20:07

I think it's generally true that an online shop saves money as it's so much easier to stick to a shopping list and your not tempted by the bakery aisle etc.

In our case it's even truer. We moved this months to a smallish town and our Tesco's here is not very big, plus it's a very aehm "middle-class" town which is reflected in the products the local Tesco sells. There are literally no value products ( I usually buy some where there's no difference in quality) and fewer of the own-brand things. The delivery, however, comes from the big Tesco in the next city, so shopping online actually gives me more choice and I can save by buying own-brand products.

We don't have a car, so shopping online makes things a lot easier in general.

Also, TAKE AWAYS, before we moved, we lived in the city centre with all sorts of take-aways available. Now, in our new little town, there are none and noone really delivers here either. Even if I was too lazy to cook, there's no way I can get food. We really have to be organised here. Know what we want to cook and have the ingredients at home. It will save us a fortune!

Dh can mostly work from home and really needs to lose some weight. So I have decided that from now on, we're going to have homemade veggie soup for lunch.

I will in general be more careful about portion control. If I cook a recipe for 4 people, I'll put half aside for the next day immediatelly instead of picking away at the left overs or letting DH overeat until it's not enough for a second meal anymore.

ScorpionQueen · 27/12/2011 20:20

I'm in. It's nice to know I'm not the only one. My friends all say they're skint but are all off to the sales. I have had to decline before my card is declined.

I will be going to the local co-op at closing for cheap meat and bread, having a veg box and then just buying basic stuff for packed lunches etc. No cartons or fancy bits, unless I bake, the kids can take drinks bottles, DH and I can have a packed lunch too.

Other than bills, petrol and a service for my car, that will be it for January. I am aiming to do the same February and March but we'll see...

Original poster
corinewmoon · 27/12/2011 20:46

well i will consider the fridge/freezer at the end of he first week of january. By then all my big bills shall be paid and i will see if i can afford it. At the moment i cant buy in bulk and or buy many of the marked down breads and meats because i freeze .

OP posts:
zookeeper · 27/12/2011 21:12

Just done my first online shop!!! It was easy! have bought loads and loads of staples and intend to have a cook/freeze day soon.

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