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Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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
mamapants · 01/01/2018 11:57

Cancelled my nowtv movies and dug out the three months voucher I had for entertainment pass.
Also quitting smoking like others on here. Really gutted to have started smoking again after 7 years of smoke free.

mamapants · 01/01/2018 12:01

What kind of food budget are people setting themselves? Am trying to think what would be reasonable.
I spend £8.50every fortnight on a veg box, then can either do tesco delivery or small shops in lidl on lunch break.
Was also looking at the amazon pantry, never tried it but have one of those £3 credits for it and they seem to have a good selection of organic produce.

HelloHouse · 01/01/2018 12:24

I'm in!
Too much spending in December but really want to make a dent into our credit cards.
I can manage it, it's my DH I worry about as he overspends every month.

mamapants · 01/01/2018 13:26

Just joined mumsnet book club and got north and south free on kindle.

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 01/01/2018 14:49

You can get electronic books and magazines free from local libraries 😄 great if you missed out on the free book from mumsnet

OP posts:
Original poster
ivykaty44 · 01/01/2018 15:02

mamapants I’m not worried about food shopping - tbh I spend on average £60 per week for 3 adults. I spend £35 on fuel when I fill up the tank every 2 months roughly

It’s the day to day spending that I have allowed to get out of control, thus my no spend January

but I want to still do stuff and not miss out

So looking for free events, I have a free London walking tour and plan on getting free sky garden tickets.

I have been offered free tickets to pre recorded radio show - so will be taking that up.

There are many free coupons if you look online, if you find any good restaurants then let us know. I got two almost free meals ( with a jug of iced water) last year in pizza express for 25p 🤣

So please share any free deals you find

OP posts:
feral · 01/01/2018 15:03

I'm in.

Aside from a couple of commitments I can't get out of- DM's birthday lunch (am hoping DSis will pay) and DS's birthday party which I need to pay for and cater for.

All other spending will be curtailed.

Quite excited!

LaurieFairyCake · 01/01/2018 15:04

Oh god I've had a Coach bag in my basket for 3 days and haven't bought it before January Shock

And of course now it's January 1st I really bloody want it! Argh

Ghostonthedancefloor · 01/01/2018 15:18

I'm in! Can't work out if I'm looking forward to it or dreading it! I'm really hoping it changes my mindset. I had an email this morning off Premier Inn and thought, I'll book us a cheap weekend away. But no! I am determined to do this. If successful I hope to do it for another month or two, to sort out our finances once and for all. Good luck everyone! I can see me posting on here a lot for tips and tricks when normally you'd think "I'll go out and buy it later" etc etc...

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 01/01/2018 15:25

Great that you resisted the advertising ploy - as you say you can go in February or March.

I bet you still get a good deal

I’m curious as to whether I can do 31 days no spending - but for now am going to take one day at a time.

OP posts:
Microwaved111 · 01/01/2018 15:32

So it's now January...so far today I haven't spent a thing.

Hopefully looking to get to the end of the week with only spending £5 On a bus fare to go a meeting a work Angry annoying as I'm on maternity leave and do not want to think about rubbish work stuff yet!!

Ghostonthedancefloor · 01/01/2018 16:04

Oh ivykaty the amount of emails I've had is beyond! I've unsubscribed to most of them now.

microwaved I have to do that sometime soon Sad I'm supposed to be going back end Feb/beg March and it's a case of 'out of sight out of mind'... I don't want to face reality! When are you due back?

FaithEverPresent · 01/01/2018 16:17

Hello, I’m in too! I’ve been reading a book about the woman who had a ‘No spend’ year. Not sure I could go to the extremes she did but I really need to reign in my spending! I buy ‘stuff’. Bits I claim we need for the house. Stuff for me. No more! I overhauled my wardrobe in December so almost everything co-ordinates, I really don’t think I need anything. I spend far too much on food. The food cupboard barely shuts! Strict meal planning, looking at the cupboards. I am trying to be more environmentally friendly too so (before I stopped spending!) I bought hankies! I do the food shopping with online subscribe and save which is already done so I just need to be sensible there and not buy anything else. Amazon Prime has been my downfall and I won’t be using that this month!

Foureyedfox · 01/01/2018 16:27

Hi everyone.
I’d love to take up the challenge too. No spends today! Do have DD’s birthday later this month, but other than that hoping to save as much as I can.
I need to be more in control of my finances this year, and this seems a great way to startSmile Oh and using cash only/hiding debit card seems the way to go too (if I remember and schedule in to withdraw it!)

BLUESEAPARADISE · 01/01/2018 16:29

I'm in!

Inthetropics · 01/01/2018 18:22

Oh! I love this! I'm in!

I had a no-spend year a few years ago and it was great. I got to know voluntary simplicity and minimalism. My goal at that time had nothing to do with money, but now i'm completely skint due to health related expenses and high car repair costs. I must save money! I won't be able to avoid charging half of my expenses on credit (even my groceries), but a no-spend january could help lessen this amount.

Inthetropics · 01/01/2018 18:25

I've budgeted 400 for groceries and 280 for gas. This is a lot of money for gas because i use the car a lot but 400 is actually somewhat frugal for groceries..

Annwithnoe · 01/01/2018 18:33

Nearly failed and it’s only day one! Went out for a nice, brisk (and frugal) walk and was passing a lovely cafe run by two lovely lads and thought I’d pop in, it being New Years after all, and support a local business and all. Fortunately it was closed but it’s been a few hours now and it only just dawned on me I’m not supposed to be spending! I may have to write a reminder on my hand or sew up my purse!!!!!

drspouse · 01/01/2018 19:00

Afraid I've already failed, but it was kind of planned - we really need a heated airer so we ordered one to collect from Lakeland but then I got some new food storage boxes as ours are all splitting.
I also need to buy DS some curtain fabric on Sat, but hopefully nothing else till then.

drspouse · 01/01/2018 19:01

(DS birthday tomorrow but his party is all paid for!)

dementedma · 01/01/2018 19:04

no spend today and have made soup from left over veg and cake from past its best fruit. Good day.

mammymammyIRL · 01/01/2018 19:35

Can I suggest setting up a new email for important stuff and using existing one for marketing stuff? This is what I did, well I use new one for marketing and existing one for everything else & just unsubscribed as the emails came in then

justcheese · 01/01/2018 19:40

Gosh this is hard and i'm only on day one! I would have bought:

Lunch out for 4 - approx. £50
DVD box set £25
Dress - £18.00

Didn't buy anything though

justcheese · 01/01/2018 19:43

Really want the dress though sigh

Gah81 · 01/01/2018 19:58

I am telling myself that I really want something either a) it will still be there in Feb or b) if I can sell something on eBay for an amount of money that will cover it, then I can purchase it :)