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No spend January 31 days...

648 replies

ivykaty44 · 24/12/2017 15:05

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?

OP posts:
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5
PavlovaPlease · 27/12/2017 07:26

I need to do this - big changes to our income and lifestyle afoot.

LaurieFairyCake · 27/12/2017 07:34

I'm in - but not until January as I spent £300 in sales yesterday online Grin

ememem84 · 27/12/2017 07:57

laurie that’s ok. It’s not January yet Wink

LaurieFairyCake · 27/12/2017 10:42

Just bought £100 of exercise gear Grin

FlowerTink · 27/12/2017 15:48

Oh yes please I'm in! Hoping to be more sensible with money this year.

Blacksquirrel · 27/12/2017 18:07

Count me in!

Need to make a plan with the freezer & cupboard contents as would also like to lose a few pounds in weight!

ivykaty44 · 27/12/2017 19:29

Ok so pay goes into my account on Friday and I’m going to withdraw cash to buy food and fuel for 5 weeks from Monday.

Food shopping and fuel is allowed but no other non essential spending

So no coffees or drinks out or magazines, haircuts can wait till February along with any clothing purchases.

I’ve jyst purchased a bargain coat in the sale and got another 20% of so chuffed with that as I’ve been watching it for 3 weeks and it even reduced in the sale by £18 on top of the original £40 off

No food needed until the weekend and I shall top up my fuel tank 😄

OP posts:
mummmy2017 · 27/12/2017 19:34

Make a list only take the amount for the list with you... so you can't over spend. works wonders for us,

Flippant · 27/12/2017 19:37

I’m in! Shock

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 27/12/2017 20:35

I know this isn’t technically a “no spend” thing but it’s credit crunching and I’m planning a total financial overhaul this new year. (Big debts that are getting scarily out of hand)

I’ve just taken my first step of my overhaul. My two year phone contract of £27/month ends tomorrow and would go up to £34.99/month from tomorrow. Normally I just let it run on out of laziness but I’ve done some comparisons and I’ve just bought a £5/month sim on ID network and will be transferring to that when it arrives. That’s an automatic saving of £30 a month towards my debt repayments!

AdoraBell · 27/12/2017 22:46

I can’t actually do a no spend January, DH and I both have birthdays, but I would love to. I’m going to try not to spend anything other than groceries and his birthday present.

AdoraBell · 27/12/2017 23:19

Donny well done, you’ve tackled the biggest and most difficult thing by taking that first step. Now it will start to become more less scary with each payment you make, especially that extra £30 👍

calzone · 27/12/2017 23:24

Ooh I’m in.

I shop at Aldi and Lidl anyway and am pretty good at low cost meals.

Have you actually made a 31 day meal plan?

WipsGlitter · 27/12/2017 23:27

Me. Ish.

Want to empty the freezer of food. No clothes. Or general tat. Or top up shops.

We do have a mini break planned though.

giddyupnow · 27/12/2017 23:32

In! For various reasons!

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 27/12/2017 23:35

Thanks adora! I’ve cancelled a couple of smaller DDs too this evening so I’m on £44/month saving. Don’t want to derail this thread though so will shut up now! Grin

Kintan · 28/12/2017 00:11

I’m in too. Really need to pay off a credit card debt which over the past five or so years I’ve (luckily) been able to swap between cards so no interest - but paying a transfer fee each time. I’m going back to work after maternity leave in early Feb, so it’ll be great to be on two salaries for the household again. I look back to pre baby times and I’ve no idea how we frittered away our money. Definitely need to meal plan, and stick to a fixed amount of spending money.

ivykaty44 · 28/12/2017 07:54

Donnyandvlad - I cut back on everything a few years back, cancelled land line & just use mobile and have broadband through fibre straight to house. It saves me approximately £20 a month on landline. 7 years later that’s saved me over £1600.

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overmydeadbody · 28/12/2017 08:02

I'm in.

O really need to break my habit of online shopping, so I'm starting with no spend January.

I have a two week menu plan that I'll roll over, food so is fine online so easy to keep to a list.

champagneplanet · 28/12/2017 09:58

Can I join too? Coming to the end of Mat Leave and although I'm usually quite good with money the combination Mat Pay and Christmas has ruined my bank account!

drspouse · 28/12/2017 11:02

I'm in but we have a holiday booked so I am going for no physical things (clothes, house stuff, books etc, including downloads but I may get a few Kindle books before the end of Dec). Toiletries only if I run out, children's stuff either second hand or I can make stuff, mend stuff.

NameChanger22 · 28/12/2017 11:08

I need to do it for the whole year. We're not going on holiday this year, except a long weekend away. I need to keep away from Ebay and Etsy and spend less on food.

NameChanger22 · 28/12/2017 11:10

I do have two big birthdays in January to buy for. I'm going to try and do them as cheap as possible though.

ivykaty44 · 28/12/2017 11:11

I’m sure we can go 31 days without clothes 🤣
It also gives us a reason to not purchase mad things in the sales.

Have a look at coupons for freebies as often there are some to be had 😄

OP posts:
drspouse · 28/12/2017 11:17

I also really need a year but I'm starting small!