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Original poster

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:
Thread gallery
5
Allice · 30/12/2017 08:03

I really really need to do this, have spent a fortune over the last few weeks. I might cancel amazon prime to stop the temptation too.
I'm lucky that I get a free lunch at work and could probably scavenge breakfast if I needed it.
Am going to set a £50 a week cash budget for everything and see how I go.

Good luck all

Moveitgrooveit · 30/12/2017 08:06

I was just thinking about doing this. I'm in.
One tiny exception : it's my son's birthday at the end of January so I will budget a separate amount for his gift and cake, but other than that, I don't want to spend anything.

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 30/12/2017 08:16

I’m going to order a black dress for work later as it’s under half price and I’ve been after it for a few month, brought a skirt as it was cheaper. Now it’s in the sale I’m going to purchase it before Monday

OP posts:
youredeadtomesteven · 30/12/2017 14:06

Count me in.
I should reach my savings goal by April and then I'll start a new goal.

Additionally, since the new £1 coins came out I've not been spending them and just slotting them into a money bank - £330 in there so far!

I won't be spending anything except for my direct debits (car tax, Spotify - half price because student and my prescription pre-payment card) and I will spend on food/drink but will be taking food with me to work and uni.

I am also attempting to give up smoking in 2018 so that should claw back a tonne of money.

explodingkittens · 30/12/2017 17:06

I'm in. I've just had a little spree in the sales - all necessary stuff though but it did feel like quite an indulgence. So now I need to rein it back in until payday!

My worst offences spending wise are lunches/coffees etc at work. I can easily spend £15 per day on that alone, and am rubbish about taking my lunch in or just making a tea/coffee once I get to the office. I'll be trying to lose some new year weight as well anyway, so it'll be a double incentive to save both in terms of money and not eating unnecessary sugar etc!

We are having a party at the end of Jan so I will need to buy booze and food for that, but otherwise, am up for it!

MrsBobtonTrent · 30/12/2017 22:33

I was considering what, if anything, I needed to buy in advance of Monday. But honestly I couldn’t think of anything and I think, for me, it would be a bit cheaty. So nothing prepared in advance. Just essential food, regular bills and trembly fees due in January (music, scouts etc.). Hoping to build some good habits for the rest of the year!

MrsBobtonTrent · 30/12/2017 22:35

Termly, not trembly! Although if I trembled at spending a bit more I would be a darn sight richer Grin

GottadoitGottadoit · 31/12/2017 03:42

I'm in!

TipseyTorvey · 31/12/2017 08:15

I'd like to join please. Currently too scared to even check my balance. Both DCs are xmas babies so this is a ridiculously expensive time of year for me. Have done a meal plan and also need to ensure I stop coffee buying at work.

It's hard though as they've installed those hot tap things now but it's not actually hot enough to make proper hot drinks.

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 31/12/2017 09:43

Purchasing drinks through the working week is my biggest downfall at the minent and I want to break the habit.

I changed jobs in March and started, whereas I never did this before at my previous job.

So have two coffee cup thermos cups to take my own drinks and plan to try a couple of latte packets in the shopping

OP posts:
Original poster
ivykaty44 · 31/12/2017 18:01

I have purchased a packet of latte sachets with my supermarket shopping, the cost was £2 for 8 latte so I’ll see what they are like during lunch time this week - my failing is popping to the coffee shop at lunch time so hopefully I can make my own and go for a walk instead 🤔

OP posts:
earlylifecrisis · 31/12/2017 18:24

I'm in. My biggest downfall is buying lunch and coffee so I am going to make a big effort with making and bringing my own food in, and limiting coffee to one per week.
I also need to stop buying books on amazon Blush especially as I received a ton for Xmas which should be enough for most of the year

Gah81 · 31/12/2017 18:34

Am lucky that we have a coffee machine at work so I just use that.

No more taxis for me. Only public transport as I have a season ticket. Came back from holiday today and spent 5 hours using trains and tube instead. It was tiring, but saved a hefty amount both ways!

And... No. More. Clothes!

calzone · 31/12/2017 22:13

I’ve got a whole gang on No Spend January......very pleased.

Annwithnoe · 01/01/2018 08:17

Terrifying yet brilliant concept: I’m going to give it a go. I’ve just been trying to set myself a budget and I need to start building up a pension (sahm)
I’m the least disciplined person in the universe. I’m going to try taking out cash, hiding my cards and only carrying the small amounts I need (gulp)
I’ve always spread the cost of Christmas out by buying all year, starting in Jan sales, but I end up over buying, doubling up, and even donating extras to charity shop so that’s just not working. This year I’m going to save up every week instead. It feels very, very odd not to be scouring the sales!

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 01/01/2018 08:51

So day one of not spending any money
Let’s take one day at a time 🙂

OP posts:
SheilaTurnip · 01/01/2018 09:02

I’m in. All the usual things for me, not taking lunch then £8 on delicious food from a deli ... etc ... I had some savings that went while at college last year so want to build back up

megletthesecond · 01/01/2018 09:10

I'm in. I've got one non-essential spend planned (climbing session with the dc's) but other than that I was going to keep January low key.

Ragwort · 01/01/2018 09:15

One advantage to being a bit of a luddite is that I've never really got the hang of internet shopping Blush - obviously I can do it but it seems such a faff remembering what password for what retailer etc etc. I just can't be bothered.

For free (or very cheap) hair styling and beauty treatments check out your local colleges - I have three near me so I never pay more than £5 for a hair cut - sometimes get it free - or manicure/facial.

Gah81 · 01/01/2018 09:25

Let's go! Am taking out my cash for the week today and also cooking some chilli for my lunches. Then going for a long walk with my OH.

And also temporarily removing my instagram account (too many beautiful vintage clothes!).

Itis6oclocksomewhere · 01/01/2018 09:25

I'm in. We had unexpected vets bill in December so we need to cut back this month.
It's DH and my mum's birthdays in January so need to spend for that, but other than that I want to make it a low spend month.
Food shopping is my downfall. Meal planning helps, but I get tempted by goodies!
Good luck everyone.

champagneplanet · 01/01/2018 10:21

Did my food shop yesterday, DD2 was ill so had to send DH so he stuck to the list. I know id have been distracted by Christmas treats or the massive clothes sale that would have been on and bought stuff that me and the DCS just don't need.

It wasn't technically January yesterday but a good start Smile

ScrubbyGarden · 01/01/2018 10:39

Right, I'm in. I ticked off my essentials (replacing worn out work clothes..) in the sales yesterday, and managed it with just vouchers, and some to spare, so bring it on!
We've been on an economy drive since the summer, but went a bit overboard for Christmas- and I keep remembering budget lines I'd forgotten (home maintenance, I'm looking at you) so actually we need to tighten the belt a bit more than we were, gloom, gloom...

mamapants · 01/01/2018 11:46

I'm in I think.
It's 11:43 day one and I haven't spent anything.
I do have lots of Xmas money to spend though and the dc are still on holiday from school so might pay to entertain them tomorrow.
I don't tend to do daily coffees out and if I don't take food in to work with me then I just don't eat lunch so that will be easy.
Amazon is my weakness.
Just remembered I need to cancel nowtv movie subscription got it half price over Xmas but last year forgot to cancel it for about 3months.

charleyfarleysaunt · 01/01/2018 11:48

Count me in!

Only going to spend money on petrol and food. I've set myself a VERY tight weekly budget as I am better with a evil challenge than an easy one, which I'd be more likely to cheat on. Got loads of food in the freezer and leftover bits form Christmas so that should help - I'm aiming to empty the freezer for defrosting by Feb

Also going to try and do as many real no-spend at all days as I can... easier for me as I live on my own (DC all grown up and moved out)

Planning plenty of walks to help with weight loss too as that won't cost anything

Next step: sort out my finances properly!