No spend September

[Kaloobear]

Right, I'm going to nick a little bit of space on this board to do a money diary like on MSE. Just for me really but if anyone fancies reading and throwing the odd encouraging comment my way that'd be lovely Likewise anyone who wants to join me is very welcome!

So, here are my rules:

Money spent on bills, insurance and pre-planned food shops is fine.
Everything else is not.

NO...
Coffees (especially not as an excuse to sit down somewhere in town)
Sandwiches
Magazines
Books (even on kindle, I have at least 10 on there I haven't read yet)
Music
Kitbag peanut butter chunkies (sob)
Meals out
Takeaways
Spontaneous 'presents' for DD (11mo) who is far too young to even realise or care, including clothes-she has plenty!
Clothes (even tights, which I have a weird compulsion to buy every time I see them )
Shoes
Unnecessary household goods-we have enough loo roll and bleach to last until 2020
Toiletries-I MUST use up the lovely things I've already got and stop buying more
Make up, under any circumstances
Alcohol (we don't drink much though so that's pretty easy)
Putting anything on the credit card except groceries (always pay it off and like to use it so we get the air miles-the problem is using it for little things, forgetting and then being surprised by the bill!)

YES...
Packed lunches for work
Walking or cycling to work-if I drive that's fine but I'm not allowed any more petrol so the half tank in there has got to last till October!
Reminding myself that we are lucky, we live well, and we do not need any more STUFF
Reminding myself that having bought a house we need to SAVE because our emergency pot is gone

Today and yesterday don't count because I only thought of doing this this afternoon, but for full disclosure...

Saturday 1st September
Cheese, crackers, beer and wine for friends having a BBQ, Tesco, about £15

Sunday 2nd September
2 snickers, 2 diet cokes, magazine , stupidly expensive corner shop, £4.86
Diary for work, Waterstones, £12.99
Big food shop, Waitrose, £86.94

Tomorrow I'm back at work for the first time in a year (sob, bye bye maternity leave) so the upside is that I shouldn't need to spend any money, and the same on Tuesday. On Wednesday I'm meeting my NCT group so I need to remember to take a packed lunch for DD and resist eating lunch in a cafe myself-I can wait till I get home! (I'd take a packed lunch for me but I don't think Starbucks would like it.) On Thursday I'm at work in the morning and then off in the afternoon, so think DD and I will go to the library and make sure we eat at home. Friday is a very long work day with lunch provided. Saturday I'm going to the theatre and do have to buy train tickets to get there, so I'm going to do that in advance and hopefully get them a bit cheaper. The theatre tickets were bought ages ago. Sunday we shall go to church and the park if it's nice weather, we will not go and spend money needlessly.

Fingers crossed.

Thanks for sharing meal plans - I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. I'll put mine below. I do 4 weeks at a time and buy all of the meat and non-perishables in one shop. I then do a weekly shop to get fresh stuff. Lunch is usual sandwiches, soup or something on toast. Breakfast is cereal or something like eggy crumpets for a treat.

wk 1 wk 3
Sun Gammon Joint Sun Pie & Mash
Mon Ham, Egg & Chips Mon Macaroni Cheese
Tues Stir fry Tues Fish Goujons
Wed Spinach & Feta Tart Wed Meatballs & Spaghetti
Thur Lamb Skewers & Salad Thur Savoury Pancakes
Fri BBQ Meatballs & Rice Fri Kievs & Chips
Sat Cheeseburgers Sat Burritos

wk 2 wk 4
Sun Bangers & Mash Sun Roast Chicken
Mon Mon Stir Fry
Tues Corned Beef Hash Tues Jerk Chicken
Wed Salmon & New Potatoes Wed Pasta Bake
Thur Sausage & Bean Casserole Thur Shepherds Pie
Fri Chicken Curry & Rice Fri Bread Pudding
Sat Hot Dogs Sat Thai Veg Curry

That copy and paste didn't work did it
The second meal in each row is week 3 and 4 if that makes sense?

I do normally do Amazon but need the books fast as I have to read and annotate them before Thursday! Library don't have them-I love our library for sitting and reading in but their selection is crap and to order in takes weeks, which I don't have unfortunately.

EnglishGirl your meal plan is awesome and I'm stealing it if you don't mind!

Mine for this week-

Monday-stir fry
Tuesday-pizza (home made sometimes, this week from the freezer)
Wednesday-pasta with spicy sauce (homemade with whatever veg I need to use up)
Thursday-fish fingers
Friday-sausages and mash
Saturday-soup
Sunday-omelette

All plus veg etc as appropriate. We do BLW and find that DD really can't wait much beyond 5.30 to eat supper or she goes into meltdown, so all evening meals at the mo are quick to cook. Saturday would usually be a bit of a cooking day so might be something like lasagna or spag bol, but this week it's her birthday party so we're having a cream tea, hence the soup!

Lunches are always sandwiches/soups and breakfast is always porridge/cereal/fruit.

Help yourself kaloo - we try not to have the same thing twice in a month so it's a bit of a challenge but it keeps it interesting! No spend day today!

Just got in with DD. Swimming fees not due until next week so this was a NSD :)

I have had two NSD's in a row. (just me)

Maybe I am starting to get a little overexcited by using a t-bag twice.

I have also eeeked out a tin of tuna to do 4 sanwiches over 2 days.

Could be borderline miser, lol.

Good news is that I have found £15 ish in sliver and pound coins from around the house, this means that my extra food spends are coverd this week. It just means I have to have no shame in going to the self service till to shovel them all in.

I just got £15 worth of lovely chocolates from M&S for the midwives at the hospital were DS was delivered (they put up with me they deserve chocolate). I used vouchers the bank sent me for renewing my insurance though so they were sort of free.

Otherwise am determined to have a NSD if I can manage it

Thanks for the meal plans everyone, its good to have ideas from other people as sure DD and DP get bored with my efforts

I haven't spent anything -yet-- However I am about to have my hair cut and coloured,not sure on cost as roots are a bit long so £45-65.

I need to pay fees for pre-school, £9 amd £2 for book bag.

Also planning a naughty trip to mcdonalds as DH out tonight.

Yesterday, I spent £50 on electrican for a 5 minitue job , £1.50 parking to collect prescription (kind of worth it for a big bottle of gaviscon, around £8 in shops), £4.50 on sandwich and coffee (tut), petrol £60, seriously my car eats the stuff.

I had to do a mini shop that cost £19, but it should see me till saturday.

OK from last wednesday till this friday I will have spent £115 on shopping, that includes dog food and all things like cleaners and washing powder, there is four of us and a dog, with a big teen eater.

But looking back I said i did a big shop for two weeks basics for £109 then only 4 days later spent another £30 on food.

What think ye of a £115 for possibly ten days food? could I do it cheaper, however I will NOT eat non organic meat or battery eggs. I have lost 3lbs in weight by eating less.

eek at the electrician bill.

Just had a nice surprise for once. I've checked my bank account and have suddenly got an extra £80.40 from child benefits. I applied for DS (8 weeks) a couple of weeks back and its looks like they've back paid 6 weeks worth of child benefit all at once :) Now lets hope they send his birth certificate back

Top up shop of £19 in aldi, but that's got me 2 chickens, so 4 meals for £10, far too much chocolate, but it was cheap chocolate , cereal, apples, wraps and 3 packs of the part backed rolls that I am now addicted too. I shouldn't have to buy anything else for the next 2 weeks apart from milk and fresh fruit.

Car service and MOT cost me £78, only a mini service as I hardly use the car (5000 miles a year) and so the nice mechanic across the road only changed the parts which needed it, which in my case was a new washer pump and some new lightbulbs Not bad for a years motoring.

Some good bargains people, well done! Ouch at the electrician though.

£110 for 10 days sounds good-how many people is that feeding?

NSD here today Tomorrow is DD's birthday and I'm off work, though her party's not till the weekend. She's only 1 so has no idea what a birthday is, but I feel a bit mean that I'm not planning anything nice for her tomorrow! I really want it to be a NSD and she has a bit of a cold anyway so we might end up just staying in and vegging.

two adults, although I eat small portions, a teen monster eater and 5 year old, who is a moderate eater. Oh and a dog.

Sounds great then! We are spending about £65 a week in total on groceries at the mo, which is for 2 adults and a baby. Though it should come down now as she can stop having liquid money formula and start having cow's milk.

Oh dear, I've just looked on the H&M site and there is a beautiful dress/top on there which I love. It's only £12.99 and I'll wear it loads. I've not spent any money on my son's extra tuition this week as his teacher has been ill, so I've 'saved' £22. I really shouldn't, but it's perfect

Yesterday was not a NSD in the end as decided to fill the fruit bowl which was down to one apple and one banana (slightly mouldy. Went to co-op and spent £6.40 on fruit

running total since Friday of £50.26 but at least we won't be getting scurvy any time soon :)

Derekthehamster why not treat yourself to the top if you really will wear it loads but put the other £9 in a savings account so you can't spend that too? If you hold the purse strings too tight you can end up making yourself miserable then splurging on coffee,chocolate and cake with nothing to show for it at the end

I think I'll go into town at the weekend and try it on, if I can find it. Then hopefully it won't fit me

A good day today-sold 81 (81!!) DVDs and games to MusicMagpie for £47.48 and saved £73.28 on my car insurance renewal by switching insurers.

The DVDs make me feel a bit sick-they were probably worth a grand when new, but we never watch them. I thought about selling them on eBay or Amazon but reckoned I'd only get pennies, plus have the annoyance and expense of posting off gazillions of little packages.

Well done kaloo thats great.

I spent £1.50 parking, £6ish coop (£2 of that on matey), a doll £17 to pacify DD after pre-school jabs, £2 sweets as before. £1 school bus.

Thats really good Kaloobear. Charlotte a £17 pound doll LOL, would a lollipop not suffice.

I thought £17 for the doll was a typo... no?

I have had FOUR consecutive NSDs - have been too ill to leave the house and managed to resist online shopping

4 in a row is brilliant! Hopefully you'll be better soon but can continue your new no-spend habits

NSD here and am really hoping for one tomorrow as well. I can't see any need for spending anything so fingers crossed.

Sadly not a typo! I know .................sucker!!!!