Thread moved from S&B **No Spend 2018, and this time I mean it!** Title edited by MNHQ

[MartinRohdesBellybuttonFluff]

For financial reasons (I'm broke and have to save) I have made a deal with myself to stop my frivolous style and beauty spending for 2018.

I will only be purchasing necessities as they run out (like cleanser) or replacements for laddered tights etc. I will take myself off mailing lists so I'll have no idea when there are any offers or discounts.

I will use my imagination and pinterest to create looks and outfits without accumulating more stuff to clutter my room and my mind!

Is anyone inteseted in joining in?

Here's to a style and beauty debt free 2018

How is everyone getting along?

I've been quite good so far this month, hope to keep it up. My beloved D&G eyebrow pencil gave up the ghost this morning. Have always alternated between that and one from Benefit, but it seems like a bit of a waste of money, so in the spirit of this thread I'll try to resist buying a replacement for a while and experiment with eyeshadow instead.

Went in search of a new pair of black gloves but the ones I liked were sold out in my size, so £40 saved, result!

Well done pastures. Going well here too. Have spent next to nothing this month so far. Food delivery was £30 less as I've stopped buying a couple of things and I'm using up stuff in the freezer.

Went for family lunch at an Italian chain on Saturday which was £62 (4 adult meals as kids are teens) but MIL bought us a £40 voucher for Xmas so only paid £22. Drinks alone were £12 (3 soft drinks as one person had tap water). Really makes you think. Although we did decide we would eat out once a month and do cinema once a month. Important family time for us. We used to eat out more often and go to cinema more than once a month.

Bit annoyed today. DH had a puncture last night and actually needs two new tyres. His tyres are beefy, so we won't get much change out of £500. Also having my hair cut and coloured. I have at least pushed this to every 8 weeks instead of every 6, but my grey is really coming through now. Looking forward to getting it done. It's going to be an expensive day!

How is everyone doing? All going well here. I'm on target to save £300 on food this month, which was the plan. And it's not been that hard.

DH's car needs 4 tyres, not 2, so that's a real pain at about £700. But I'm remembering how much our monthly outgoings would have been this month had I not reigned in elsewhere.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Well done, Pupsie!

Not doing too bad here either. I'm en route to no Amazon orders this month, which is quite brilliant for me as I'm usually addicted to the convenience of Prime . Have also really clamped down on my mid-morning coffee and cake: my wallet and my figure are saying thanks!

That said, I'm going to Rome on a business trip next week and I'm not sure how strong I'll manage to stay...

My husband was astonished when I said yesterday I haven't spent any money on clothes so far this year. I can't believe he hasn't noticed that there've been no parcels arriving!

I'm trying to stay strong with no clothes and am being really strict with beauty/toiletries and trying to use what I have.

I spent on make up this week. I knew it was coming in that it was planned. My mascara needed replacing and I also got two new eye shadow sticks (also planned). All from Bobbi Brown. I thought about going cheaper but these stay on all day. I don't wear a lot of make up and would rather buy decent stuff. But I was a little at how quickly I spent £80!

I have spent $36 (about GBP19) on some new shorts - I got three pairs, it is so hot here at the moment and my 2/3 Trousers were just too hot. They were definitely a bargain and definitely much cooler.

I have been reading about The Ordinary and wondering if I shoud be stocking up when I visit UK next month .............

Where are you five?

I am in Hawke's Bay NZ Pupsiecola, are you 'offshore'?

I in the UK Five but I lived in Singapore for a year from 2012.

Singapore is a fantastic place Pupsie - that would have been a great opportunity. I suspect you may be feeling the cold at the moment - it is probably a little warmer in Singapore. I fly back to UK next week and hoping snow has gone.

It was fantastic five. We were sadly only there for a year. (Schooling didn't work out). Yes, it is cold here but it is bright and beautiful too :-)

Where in the UK are you returning to? Just for a break or for good?

I met my goal of saving £200 on food this month (was actually over £200 on account of there being 3 days less in February). 31 days in March. I have a figure in mind for the food budget.

I'm away to Prague on a city break mid-month with a friend (so only 1 of us going which is great from a frugality perspective). And we also have a foreign exchange student coming to stay for a week.

In April we (our family of 4) are going to Rome for 6 days. (Airmiles, so only cost the £140 in taxes, booked last August).

In April we also have 2 x car tax and 2 x car insurance, 1 x MOT and probably at least one service

So the next couple of months have the potential to spiral, spending wise. Going to stay very mindful of daily costs. And this has highlighted to me that it's going to be like health and fitness; it's a way of life. I can't just pick and choose the months I'm going to do it. But we also want to enjoy life. As with most things, it's about balance...

Pupsie - I am back for five weeks - my Mum still in UK so do the trip three times a year. Looks like the snow is on its way and I am hoping for sunny cold days, with no rain!

Well done on the spending, you are right there has to be fun along the way. Enjoy Prague, I would love to go there.

I caved 2 weeks ago and bought a dress I wanted last year but resisted. It's beautiful and only cost me £25 including postage compared to £85 full price if I had bought it when I saw it last year.

Staying pretty strong with beauty products. Working my way through my cupboards!

Hello all,
I am a bit late to the party as usual but I am on day 9 of a no spend year. Only spends allowed are Rent, Food, Electric, Transport, Debt payments (only have 2 months left on this) and eating out. I have envelopes for each of monthly allowances. I am going to have to increase spending in certain areas soon as I am facing living in temporary accommodation which could mean a B&B or not. I wont know for another 28 days.

Still here. As predicted it's been an expensive month, with 4 tyres and car insurance on one car, plus a £130 Amazon shop for DS' DofE stuff (we are not campers!). I went off the rails a little last week buying a perfume I've been hankering after. I only ever have one at a time and it was close to running out. I also bought a handbag from Hobbs. That was an impulse buy. This high spend month would usually cause me to give up my spreadsheet analysis and start again next month, but I've stuck to tracking everything. Next month will be tough too. We are off to Rome for a week (apartment paid for this month too - another biggie). Also the other car needs tyres and insurance and servicing!

Sorry to hear that dark. My close friend is going through similar.

Hello everyone and happy Easter!

Have been a bit lazy lately but just wanted to check in here again. Sorry to hear what you're going through, dark. Well done pupsie on not giving up on your spreadsheet! I know how easy it is to just say 'sod it' after you've slipped once.

Easter here is going to be rather frugal. I'm going to my parents' later today, no eggs as I'm afraid I could really do with losing some weight. Only 3 Amazon orders since the new year, which is quite a record for me - it'd usually be more like 3 a month previously. Fallen off the rail a bit with buying stuff: got a top from Hobbs in the sale, another one from ebay, a small pile of books (that's a huge weakness of mine), went into Boots for some nail polish and came out with a jar of night cream and a lipgloss...

Anyway, I'm also off to Rome in April. I'm going twice for work and will really have to keep my head down and do business, so I don't envisage much leisure time to browse the shops thank God.