Stopping unnecessary spending!

[CarlottaJo]

Hi All,

Firstly, I am terrible with money! I don't have expensive clothes/make up/travel habits but I have an uncanny ability to waste money....mostly on things bought with bloody PayPal on my phone, food....I'm terrible for buying breakfast and lunch at work (usually Costa, waste of money) and 'nipping to Asda'. Got paid on 25th this month as usual pay was a bank hol and have already rattled through a fair amount (have paid my bills). I really want to break this habit, starting with a week of no spending! Anyone with me? Xx

How's everyone doing?

We're being very good, I went food shopping on Friday after work and only bought essentials... spent all day Saturday at home and did some work in the garden then yesterday went to family for lunch so didn't spend anything.

Realised last night I need to buy 3 bottles of wine/bags for a meal I'm going to this week but I have enough points on my nectar card to buy these... we usually save our points for Christmas but we're not here this year so that will save me some 'real' money this week. Can anyone recommend a decent white wine from Sainsburys that isn't going to break the ~bank~ nectar card? Bearing in mind I need to buy 3 bottles!

Have a great week everyone!

Ah right - but £30 is still a lot and still too much for you, so get it stopped.

It is! Very difficult to plan too as we only find out two weeks beforehand who we're buying a gift for. I'll buy books or something from The Works at reduced price ...

I think my adult children will understand ... I'll maybe knit some socks or something for them. The teenager is more difficult.

I'd rather have a hand knit than a voucher any day of the week!
When I was a teen and my mum was broke she made me some things to my specification which I loved (it was the grungy nineties, so babydoll dresses made from cheap lining material and big knitted hats...)

I need to tighten my belt . I am seeing a councelor privately weekly and it bites a huge chunk . At the moment this is essential and seems long term. She seems to be helping me so much.
I got a new mobile recently and got a break down of all my expenses which has helped no end. My weakness is clothes and make up .I have managed to cut back on craft stuff. (But get the occasional relapse)
At my age I should have more sense.

I use an app to track spending, it's v motivating.

What app is good?

This thread is good. I need to get my spending right down from now till Jan as my tax bill is more than I expected. What would everyone say is a reasonable budget per week for food for one person plus child aged 4? I am extravagant beyond my means and have no idea!

subeam I use toshl as its pretty easy to set up an track cash, cards etc and keep an eye on different accounts. But there's loads out there.

Tracking every spend and setting up regular outgoing means feel v in control of spends.

My top tip for today - putting Amazon stuff onto your wish list instead of just pressing 'buy'!

Hi I'm really trying to cut back too. My eldest 2 children are off to Uni this week so last night I went through my food cupboards and have far too much, the freezer is full too - I am going to try to be really creative, plan, get meat out of freezer to marinate and hopefully spent hardly anything on food. I've already started and defrosted 2 small portions of meat (oxtail & chicken) so in my slow cooker today's I have got oxtail curry cooking and I've marinated the chicken to make Moroccan chicken tomorrow, I'm also going to cook chilli for lunch at work.

Subcam - I too am the same, just me and young daughter, who eats really plain food - I've been thinking a budget of £25-£30 per week - does that sound doable? I've got two really good cookery books - One Pound Meals and Jamie Oliver 5 ingredients which do a lot of meals for one person which is really helpful.

BahHumbygge - thank you for recommending the no spend book, I read it and she gives lots of good advice.

I've also reduced my car insurance & sky, sold a coat on eBay.

So yes, I'm in - would like to go abroad next year

Sorry meant to say Sunbeam

Placemarking as I really need to do this.

Can I join this thread please? I am very much the same OP and has decided to properly discipline myself starting 1st of October. I've been very good at cutting my impulsive internet purchases. My real challenge is takeaways and junk food. I hate cooking and if the freezer looks even mildly unappealing I will order in I also spend far too much on crap in the shop. I'm trying not to run out of bread and milk midweek because if I have to go to the shop I will buy sweets and crisps.

I've worked out a budget so am going to portion out cash into envelopes. The difficulty will be in sticking to it.

These are my people! 👋🏻

I am planning on going back to uni next year to retrain and am getting bigger all financial help from the government or uni as my husband earns too much (fair enough, he's not a huge earner, not huge enough for me not to be panicking about dropping my salary for a year!)

We should be not too badly off considering our earnings now, but I was in overdraft by 20th this month- my problem is that I don't budget and just carry on spending even when the money is gone.

No more!
This week I am:

• setting up childcare vouchers to be sacrificed from my salary to pay for childcare next year when I'm not earning
• contacting bank for mortgage review, a fixed rate might be cheaper for us just now
• have already checked out when my phone contract ends and will move to giff gaff or similar to cut those costs.

I downloaded an app called Yolt which links to your online banking and it analyses your spending- it's made appalling reading tbh, i need to give myself a kick up the arse!

I need to budget for shopping and eating out and the like. Does anyone have any apps/ systems they use for this? I am going to head to money saving expert and the frugal threads here in just a mo.

I cracked my visa and this has been a godsend. I withdrew £100 and this made me seriously think about all the shit I buy.

I have nearly 200 in my amazon basket etc. Books - I am going to order from the library. Scour the charity shops. Honestly I am so guilty of it all.

Just came across this thread as I would like to cut my spending too.

I have a tip for those who make a habit of over-spending on a pop into the shops for milk or bread: both of them keep in the freezer, so if you buy a little more than you need in your next big shopping trip and keep a stash in the freezer of these items you can stretch a little further the amount of time you need to go between shops.

Good evening everyone, could I join you please?
We need to cut back, I'm another who spends money and then has nothing to show for it!
I started a week ago tonight and it's going well so far. Instead of wandering around the supermarket just lobbing the usual stuff in, I checked my cupboards first, then did a meal plan. We've still eaten really well, and my shopping bill at Aldi was £63....that was about £25 less than normal! Ds had to nip to the shop tonight for milk, I was hoping to last till tomorrow when I shop again but we ran out and credit crunch or not, I can't do without my tea!! Have just made my list and meal planned so hoping to be the same tomorrow.
There's a lovely shop just near where we work and we've got in the habit of having a little walk there on a lunchtime....we went yesterday but I left my purse at work!! They have some fab stuff and its really reasonable....£20 here, £30 there and you soon see where my money goes!!!

Chillaxing

Would the PDSA be able to do free or cheap vaccinations?.

Some vets do cheap jab offers.