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February No Spend....28 days

330 replies

ivykaty44 · 28/01/2018 17:57

Here for 28 NSD and counting how much is left at the end of the month

OP posts:
PootlesLovelyHat · 02/02/2018 20:54

Day 2 = NSD

I've done a menu plan for next week and written up my shopping list which I'm determined to stick to when I go to Aldi tomorrow. I will avert my eyes to the aisle of wonders in the middle.

ivykaty44 · 02/02/2018 21:06

I keep thinking

I have beans and bread = beans on toast
Pastry and onion, with cheddar, eggs = onion flan
Frozen Mediterranean vegetables = pizza if I buy bread flour
Beans and rice with spices = bean chilli & rice

Left over vegetarian cottage pie

Is that enough food till Tuesday- I could just buy a few things for packed lunch’s and fruit which would see us through. Making the first week a very cheap one ☝️

OP posts:
Star2015 · 02/02/2018 21:07

Hi all,

I lurked around the Jan thread and must have found inspiration as we ended the month in credit rather than overdrawn which for January is amazing!

I’m hoping for lots of NSD but more than that just making sensible decisions about whether I really need another book/dress/Yankee candle etc...

Thanks for your inspiration!

Have a great weekend everyone.

PirateYellowbelly · 02/02/2018 22:20

Another NSD for me. Had an event on this evening where I could have spent money but had good control.

Have arranged to meet a friend for lunch tomorrow and then having my hair cut. I'm going to limit my spending to these two things.

Chimichangaz · 02/02/2018 22:37

Spent £52 on hair colour and cut (essential, obvs Wink) and around £5 on McDonald's for dinner Blush

Didn't plan the food, led astray by a glass of prosecco at the hairdressers.

I've decided to keep a running total of things I would've spent on, but haven't, due to this thread:

QVC non essential £28
Chippy tea last night £10

I think this will help identify when I spend money I shouldn't.

coffeecow · 03/02/2018 07:52

Day 2 was good. Did the food shop - £35 at Aldi which is a quarter of what I would have mindlessly spent at Tesco. No treats and otherwise didn't spend any other money. I've got a night out tonight which I agreed to before Christmas so I'm limiting myself to £25 for that. Otherwise it should a no spend weekend!

mamapants · 03/02/2018 08:27

Well done on your bargain shop coffee
We used lidl for a bit and were amazed how much cheaper it was. Annoyingly where I am the lidl and aldi are right in the middle of town so just find it too irritating to go regularly.

FaithEverPresent · 03/02/2018 09:04

Nice work coffee! We have an Aldi locally but I hate it. It’s really cramped, always busy and it makes me feel claustrophobic. Lidl is slightly better but the quality of the fresh food is variable. They are building a purpose-built store though so it might be better. I’ll give it a whirl when it’s open. Doesn’t help that I eat a special diet (GF) which is costly and I can only get the stuff
For the moment I’m sticking with my Tesco online delivery. Slightly bigger shop this week (pay day) needed more expensive essentials like toothpaste. Still sticking with it though!

chickenowner · 03/02/2018 10:03

Yesterday I bought petrol plus spent £2.20 on some biscuits to say thank you to me letting agent for looking after my house for the past few years.

I'm also thinking (like some previous pps) that I don't need to go food shopping this week. We have all sorts in the freezer (frozen blueberries, strawberries, peas, sweetcorn, sausages, leftover roast beef minced, leftover curry sauce etc) plus lots of basics like bread flour, tinned tomatoes, coconut milk, baked beans, porridge oats, lentils, rice, pasta, cheddar cheese etc from our monthly Costco trip. And some of last weeks veg in the fridge (half a cauliflower, half a cabbage, a couple of carrots, a leek, 2 green peppers, butternut squash, red onions, garlic, ginger). I think I can probably make 2 weeks worth of food from that lot!

I'm thinking butternut squash curry, lentil curry, cottage pie, toad in the hole, veg soup, lentil soup, stir fry and rice, pizza, various pasta dishes...

The scary thing is that usually we would go off shopping on a Saturday morning and buy a load more food - looking at my list above we clearly don't need to!! Yes, we have run out of a few things - like yogurt, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc, but we have plenty of other food that we can use instead.

What an eye opener!!

FreudianSlurp · 03/02/2018 10:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gah81 · 03/02/2018 11:00

NSD yesterday. Food shop and evening out with friends today but am only joining for drinks after dinner - partly to give me a bit more time for errands but also will save me some money :)

I love the idea of a 500 word essay before new clothes purchases! Grin I have unsubscribed from fashion circulars but do most of my vintage shopping via instagram - I may take the app off my phone :)

chickenowner · 03/02/2018 11:09

Yey! I've inspired someone!

Grin

Let us all know Freudian

FreudianSlurp · 03/02/2018 11:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chimichangaz · 03/02/2018 11:34

You've inspired me too chicken Thanks

DS is with his dad this weekend and Monday/weds night so I could easily do a minimal shop. Going to Aldi. Must keep away from the middle aisle of temptation...

chickenowner · 03/02/2018 11:46

Well done ladies!

And Freudian I like the idea of drinking coffee and supervising.

Grin

It's amazing how little I've been spending now I'm thinking about it more.

PootlesLovelyHat · 03/02/2018 12:04

Aldi shop completed and I stuck to my list, I did pick up several things then had a think and put them back. I don't think my life needs any more serving bowls, socks or some sort of roasting pan.

That'll be me for this week re spending there is nothing else we need, cupboards, fridge and freezer is full so best get creative Wink

MessySurfaces · 03/02/2018 12:31

I'm a bit half hearted this month as we've a holiday in the middle, so that will blow the month a bit...
But NSD on Thursday, and just some milk and fruit yesterday , so not too bad so far. I'll need some eggs today, but hopping DP will get them, which would give me a cheat's NSD...

MessySurfaces · 03/02/2018 12:33

Also- super chuffed that I still have £2.95 over from the £15 I started January with! Not sure whether to blow it on something fun like daffs and chocs, or eek it out for as long as possible for the sense of achievement...

Itis6oclocksomewhere · 03/02/2018 14:40

NSD today - first one in Feb.
Ended up spending a lot yesterday, but it was a worthwhile spend and not a frivolous one. I bought revision guides and workbooks for my eldest. She had 18 months of reduced attendance at school due to being ill. School have been great at providing support in school, but I feel I need to do more at home to help her.

PollyShelbyLifeCoachServices · 03/02/2018 17:21

NSD- Aldi, Iceland and home bargain shop on essentials and diesel for the van for the school run. Job done.

PirateYellowbelly · 03/02/2018 17:21

Only spent as planned in town today. Lunch with a friend £6 and then hair cut. Inspired by other posts, I reduced the shopping list to the things we really need. Going to make better use of store cupboard ingredients this week and just be creative with what's there.

ivykaty44 · 03/02/2018 17:32

Look out for 2 for 1 offers for lunch, though many don’t include weekends...

Monday is cheap day at Vue cinema if you’re planning a trip make it a Monday

Day 3 NSD February

Did you know you can freeze milk, which saves popping in the shop for milk and spending £10

Soda bread is easy to make and great for toast, or buy the knocked down bread and freeze for toast.

Part baked rolls or Barton’s are good for packed lunches.

I’ve realised that by having spare food like this it saves ‘top up’ shops that end up costing a fortune, as marketing has other ideas for our purse 👛

OP posts:
MiltonBurnedTheBuildingDown · 03/02/2018 18:26

I accidently spent a fortune decorating, but it's out of money I got selling stuff and it needed done so very badly I'm just pretending it didn't happen.

HolliJo · 03/02/2018 19:09

Please can I join, I’m a January lurker. I got off to such a good start this year only buying the essentials but I’ve gone completely off track. I’ve had major vets bills, the car needs work and tonight bought a takeaway.
I just can’t seem to get my head around the permanent way of living. To top that my credit cards are maxed and I need to go back to the vets next week. It’s never ending, so hopefully joining might keep me on track

mamapants · 03/02/2018 19:13

hollijo I think it does help being on the thread as you feel you have to report your days.
I had a NSD today. Yey.
Tomorrow going to take the kids swimming so will be about £12 spent but hopefully no more than that. Have plenty of food in for tomorrow and after swimming will probably just be home cleaning, homework and baths ready for school Monday.

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