No spend January 31 days...

[ivykaty44]

No spend January

Just the essential food with a meal plan for 31 days.

Fuel to a minimum

Withdraw the cash for food, essentials & cards go in the freezer

Anyone care to join me?

Good idea to write everything down, realise I'd counted yesterday as a no spend day but actually had stuff from amazon on the subscribe scheme all essentials baby wipes, dishwasher tabs and washing powder. So actually had spent without even realising. Seem to have a huge amount now though so if I do a Feb no spend I will be ahead!

I’ve got a notebook and I’m writing all expenses down. I’ve come in under budget for this week DH said I can treat myself to a drink when I take DD to a party at soft play today! M

Thanks for suggesting Eventbrite Ivy, I’ve found a few things I’m interested in!

Weekends are tougher for me for no spends.

Last night spent £30 on dinner and cocktails. BUT I had received £30 energy switch cashback that day so thought I could go out and see some friends. It was a net no-spend day... not sure if it counts!

Meeting a friend today for a walk and then having friends over for drinks and nibbles. We already have lots of wine/champagne in the house and I am defrosting smoked salmon, using my feta to make a feta dip and will chop up some veg for crudités so hopefully that will suit.

My main issue is "things" so though I forgot I was going to the cinema, I bought the ticket on a voucher and had tea and cake.
Today I'm having my hair cut, and exchanging some kids socks for a hat...

I got fish in batter from sainsbury last night and curly fries the fish was half price at £2.50 and the chips £1.00 so this saved a tenner at the chippy 🤔

Yesterday was a NSD.
Today I'm going to hit the shops again and see if I can find anything for DH birthday tomorrow.
There's a comedian on at our local theatre in May so I'll get tickets for that and fingers crossed inspiration strikes this afternoon! Will try to keep spend low though.

Taking DS to the park rather than soft play to save money.

I'm impressed with myself for not succumbing to coffee shops this week! I may treat myself this weekend, it's something me, DH and DS like to do together.

Got dinner out with the girls tonight for my birthday which is next week

£56 on swimming lessons for the term.
Not planning on leaving house again so should be OK for the rest of the day. Have looked in cupboards though and need to go shopping tomorrow for lunch stuff. Boys back in school Tuesday so will need plenty of packed lunch things. Am going to try and finish any meat from freezer during January keep the spending down and it needs a clear out.

So far so good today as another NSD - day 6

I’m thinking of baking and having coffee home today, that way not missing out but not spending - have I got enough ingredients that is the question 🤔

Have a foreign student arriving at tea time, so will look at what I can show her locally tomorrow for free 🤓

Ooh ivy is the foreign student for money? I'm not sure we would manage a lodge, but the odd student could work...

Messy - why yes, I just rent a room to foreign students, it’s covered in the rent a room scheme and I don’t earn over £7000 so don’t have to pay tax. I usually let the room about 4-6months to approximately 3-4 students.

Still haven’t spent on anything but essentials- just food shop (£70) and bills. Need fuel but I’m off for a week and my only plans are around our local area so no need for fuel yet.
I’m pleased that I haven’t given up and eaten my lunch at work and then popped to the shop for more as I usually do!
I’m going to sit down and fill in my Japanese art of spending book later to see where I can make savings.

Japanese art of spending?

Well done for no spending, I’m finding the temptation is getting less and my competitive nature increasing so that I get through the next 25 days 😳

I think some planning on some days may be needed to avoid spending.

Next weekend I’m in London on an all paid for night away, dinner show and drinks covered - so I need ideas of a pack lunch on the train, as I haven’t got time for lunch at home before I go. Can take latte with me in thermos cup and extra packet of latte to make before I leave hotel Sunday lunch time.

Have booked sky garden for Saturday - which is free. Booked my free walk but not sure how I can get round supper. I’ll have a very late breakfast in hotel so brunch covered.

I also have a sponsored ride and a couple of club rides so need to make sure I get snacks in the supermarket shop to take with me.

So ideas for nice lunch on train and ideas for supper?

I’ve spent £3.50 on a drink and chocolate egg for DD but I used my co-op points for a small top up shop so it’s not too bad. I’m certainly conscious about what I’m buying!

Bought a few bits of food from Tesco today but stuck to my list. Did have to buy batteries as thermostat stopped working

Lots of spends for dc's birthday in a few weeks but some v good deals and I used an Amazon gift voucher for some of it. Certainly much more conscious of what I'm buying, and they are also getting much less spent on them than in some previous years. Trying to spend less than 50 on gifts and less than 50 on a party (a few friends at home rather than the usual soft play type which is too £££).

Kakebo

£40 on fish and chips (not in a judgemental way) it's just seems a lot for a chippy tea!

Went to Tesco to get chicken. Spent £24.50. We did get wipes and baby food, wine and beer (even though we said we were having an alcohol free weekend!), urm, and I can't remember what else! I did take back a cd and a dress so had £17 back. Supermarkets are the worst! I'm sure we did need the stuff we got though. I suppose I could just make it our weekly food spends to £84. Still not bad for a family of 5.

I've been thinking and I'm really keen on continuing this through Feb and March. My aim is not only to stop the mindless spending, but to tidy up our statements in preparation to apply for a mortgage - again.

It's easy now as we're skint after Xmas, it's when we have spare money is the problem, we treat going to the shops and spending on shit we don't need as a day out.

Anyone else hoping to continue passed january?

I've been attempting no spend Jan but only just come across this so hope you don't mind me joining you?

Has a bit of a result when shopping today. New Pret opened locally and were giving away free coffees and popcorn bars. That saved the money we would have potentially spent on a mid-afternoon treat.

Had to do the weekly food shop but stuck to the list. Also walked to the shops rather than driving and paying to park which saved us a few quid.

Chatting to DH earlier and we are definitely going to continue watching our spends carefully over the next few months. Both enjoying trying to get bargains!

Ivy do you have any M&S or John Lewis vouchers you could use for a sandwich supper? Is it just you needing fuel? (In which case can you get something in your grocery shop which will work? Some kind of crackers and spread and fruit???) Or does it need to be a Meal Out? (Sign up as a mystery shopper asap???)

I'm very nosy about your foreign student gig- can I ask how much it brings in? (Ignore me if that's too cheeky)

Lots of parsimonious posts today! Yay!
proper NSD for me today.
Yesterday was a bit dodgy- went shopping for shoes with vouchers, and my mate who owed me picked me up some bits from the supermarket. So I didn't spend. Technically...

I'm finding it difficult. I spent £32 going out for a meal this week. I've also spent £35 on birthday presents for two people. I also got nagged into buying DD new shoes she didn't need. I've also spent a bit too much on food.

Next week I have to pay for DD's music lessons.

The week after that I should be able to get on track. I just need to avoid the sales and the supermarkets as much as possible. I have managed to stop buying stuff online, so that's a start.

I live near two universities so just advertise the room for short stay, many foreign students like a quite house for shorter stay.

My neighbour does SpareRoom dot com have a look for a gauge on prices in your area - neighbour somehow seems to get doctors involved rotation at local hospital

I don’t have any vouchers - I think I’m just going to have to buy a pasta or cous cous style meal in my Friday night shop and take with me for the train home - train is paid for as included in my invite. I do have £10 worth of nectar points so could use them 🤗

NSD- same again tomorrow ☺

Aww namechanger don't beat yourself up- no online spending is a great first step. It will get easier!

ivy there are Sainsbos at (or very near) most of the big London stations- splash the nectar points and get a FRESH pasta/Cous cous for the train. Living high on the economy hog!

Faith that’s the trick, remembering where I’ve put the bleeding Xmas presents. I’ve started a list on my iPad, in Notes.

Ended up buying coffee again today, had to go into town for errands. DH was on separate errands and bought us a pub lunch.