No spend January

[ivykaty44]

anyone up for a no spend January?

just the normal utilities, food shopping and transport costs

then put the purse/wallet away and don't spend till February

a good way to rebalance the balance after xmas

@BiggerSkies22 it sounds like you've really got this in hand!! Have you tried charity shops for your fix of items to do up? If you don't mind putting the time/ effort in then you could do a lot of upcycling - there are loads of books/ YouTube tutorials about it. Also if you're in London, is it an option to have only a bus pass rather than an Oyster card? Apologies if that's out of date advice; my friend did it a few years ago and saved a few quid, but it might not be applicable any more.

Did a free trial day today at a local gym, nice pool, DC had a nice time... would love to join but think it would be too much for us as a family, we wouldn't get enough use out of it to justify the cost. Then had to do a small shop for the DC's packed lunches for the next few days. Hopefully the spends for the rest of the week will be minimal!

NSD for me.

Hi Clara. I always keep an eye on charity shops, and have picked up some nice glassware and the odd plant pot. I've had some success dyeing bed linen and blankets to zchuzch them up. And I've improved my DIY skills and gardening skills so I can now do a lot of my own prep and painting and can propagate plants and use what I have.

But some things need money! We have lovely curtains in the house, left by our vendors - but they are too short, by about 4-6inches. To fix this, I need to use a professional alteration service and I've been quoted £375 per pair plus 2 metres of fabric. I will shop around for more quotes obviously. New sofas, armchairs and better lighting needed. Bare walls require pictures eventually. But it's all very motivating for saving money and I will get there! What are your goals?

Oh, but on more immediate issues: about to go for my morning 30 minutes walk (will take dog later) and need to buy milk and potatoes. And nothing else! Keep me honest, Mumsnetters!

I'm planning a NSD today, been out to drop GS at school, post birthday card and now home. Can't go out as plumber is coming to fix a tap, we had the bathroom done before Christmas and one of the taps was dodgy so he got the company to send us a replacement and he's coming to fit it, no charge so that's great and I can't go out as he will fit it in between paying jobs so I'm here waiting.

I'm trying to reduce our electricity bill which is awful and I'm dreading coming off our 12 month deal in April. I'm a bit (a big bit) naughty about throwing things in the tumble dryer so did a wash yesterday afternoon and put everything on airer in the lounge, all seems dry so I'm going to put that away and iron what needs doing and happy not to have wasted electricity.

I need to do an audit of cupboards and freezer as I want to spend as little as possible this month and put some money back in savings after spending too much in December. Also have the benefit of no council tax for two months so normally when I get paid at the end of the month I would need to put £250 aside for council tax going out on 1st of next month but this month I can whack that straight into the savings.

Not sure if this has been mentioned already, but I’m finding it helpful to unsubscribe from marketing emails from clothing and beauty retailers. My downfall is impulse sale shopping - whenever I get an email from a shop I like, with ‘final days of Sale!!! Hurry! 70% off’ or anything like that, I’ve always been tempted in the past.
So for the last few days, I’ve been unsubscribing and deleting all emails like this.
I wasted a fortune on clothes, shoes, and beauty stuff over the years, and need to stop this habit…

Another thing DH and I have done in the last few days, is spend M&S vouchers we received for Christmas on our food shop, so we’ve got some nice treats and things too, and won’t have to spend money on the food bill for a week.

Def going to do a clear out and try to sell more on Vinted and Marketplace, especially mine and DD old clothes.

I'm trying to reduce our electricity bill which is awful and I'm dreading coming off our 12 month deal in April. I'm a bit (a big bit) naughty about throwing things in the tumble dryer so did a wash yesterday afternoon and put everything on airer in the lounge, all seems dry so I'm going to put that away and iron what needs doing and happy not to have wasted electricity.

How much are you paying per unit for electric and what is your daily charge? Do you know?

Do one wash per day and no more, then put clothes on surer outside on a dry day and finish off in tumble dryer if you need so the load is dry and put away. But also reduce your washing, tell you family apart from I’m ants they need to wear everything twice, it’s surprising how much that will reduce your laundry & washing machine usage. If you launder bedclothes every week, leave it two weeks - that’s 26 loads of easing less on just a double bed, add two single beds and it’s 52 loads less. If it’s costing you 27p a unit for electric and you washing and drying using tumble drier - that’s £50 per year you’ve saved by literally doing nothing

Pants not ants!

I can't think of the unit price off hand but I got a good deal with Octopus last April and when I checked prices it looked like things were double what I'm paying.

I couldn't put anything out the last few days as it was heavy rain here but my things did dry well overnight. I've done another load this morning, they are on the airer now but I'm trying to decide if it is worth putting them out as it looks like it might rain any minute.

I find towels are the killer, DGS lives with me and if he has one giant failing it is that he seems to use multiple towels a day. I'm working on this one and I keep telling him he will have to change his ways when he goes to uni so he might as well start now.

Good tip about the bedding, I am a bit of a sucker for changing bedding so I will work on that one. I'm also having a purge with DH and DGS on turning lights off, they both seem to find it very easy to turn them on but turning them off is a real challenge. I don't suppose they use much but it does add up doesn't it. I also have a habit of having the laptop on charge all the time but I'm thinking I should turn it off overnight when it isn't being used.

I bake quite alot as well so thinking I need to be a bit smarter with filling the oven.

Can't think of anything else but all ideas welcome.

70p parking spend today but it's so I can take my identification to the job centre and fingers crossed our UC claim will kickstart soon.

We've never claimed anything before but dh had a slight breakdown in his well paid, corporate job so he's doing something far less stressful but also far less well paid for now.

@AlexCabot - sorry to hear this, I can relate - hope he recovers soon x

I have norovirus so been in bed since 530 last night - NSD and saving on food as I am barely eating but just hoping I’m well enough for work tomorrow and that DH and DC don’t get it!!!

I'm also on a mission to use up food in the cupboards/freezer. Moving in a few months so need to get through various bags of lentils and frozen veg. Think I might make a big minestrone soup and freeze in portions for lunches.

@ivykaty44to. Dh is out with the dog for the second time today. It’s too cold for me.

@ancientgran I’m also bad for using the tumble dryer but have too much laundry to dry in the house - family of five and have 2-3 loads a day - made worse by dh3 (15) having a clean school uniform each day as we get him to shower and change as soon as he gets home in an attempt to keep school germs at bay!

£3 cashback from Green Jin
£24.20 up so far.

@VividImaginationAgain Oh yes when you have a few kids getting stuff dry in winter/wet weather is a nightmare. I have 4 but all grown up now so the washing is considerably reduced. I'm just hoping I can reduce how much we are using.

@AlexCabot I hope the claim goes through for you and your husband is OK, sometimes the stress is just too much.

@gracedentsleftbumcheek Sorry about you having covid, hope you are better soon. Hope you DH and DC don't get it, my teenage GS had it before Christmas, bit of a nightmare as 75 year old disabled husband is vulnerable but we didn't get it so fingers crossed for you. We did keep him in his room for 8 days, we used the en suite and he had the bathroom and that was the only time he left his room. He was climbing the walls by day 8 but he wouldn't want to endanger granddad.

another no spend day

£0 zero for the month so far

did some cleaning today and found £2.40

so now up on the month

@VividImaginationAgain

I rode my bike 10 miles and its colder than a witches tit out there, what a dramatic change in weather. last week I was out without gloves and today id got my best warmest gloves on and my hands were cold

NSD! Woo hoo

And £60 worth of clothes and shizzle on eBay. I’ve uploaded them all with “best offer” so hopefully they’ll be snapped up soon! I made £100 on eBay last month!

No spend day. I was also refunded £8 for a parcel which never arrived.

January spend so far = £12.90

No spend day for me today too.

@gracedentsleftbumcheek hope you feel better soon!

I had a fail today! We went out to a place that we have membership for so didn’t have to pay, I made lunches and flasks so all going well but then a relative wanted to go. She doesn’t have membership and you have to book. She hates the internet so I did it. £17. Then she cancelled as we were leaving so nothing to show for it and £17 down.
I did get a sea swim in and a 3 mile walk so feel good!

Spent 6 euros in supermarket on essentials (bread and bananas)

No spend for non essentials

@TabithaTittlemouse - hope your relly repays you! frustrating! swim and walk sound good though. And brave.

@AlexCabot - so sorry about your DH, and I hope the change of pace helps him.

Stuck to the plan (spuds, milk) in Lidl this morning. Now just waiting to find out whether DS and girlfriend are joining us for dinner or not. Their loss if they don't as I'm using up the last of the cream for dauphinoise potatoes and the last two confit duck legs. I can stretch it to feed four with a pack of pigs in blankets from the freezer and lots of peas and broccoli on the side.

Anyone doing the 30 day Yoga with Adrienne January 'journey'? I get dinner on, then do the daily 30 minute session while it cooks. It's free on YouTube. Also stops me snacking on nuts before dinner.

No spend day today as I was working (at home). In the office tomorrow but I get a lunch voucher 😁
I do have to pay postage on a Xmas present return but will get a refund for more than that.

You lot talking about using up food are inspiring me to check my cupboards and freezer! I did use up some chocolates after lunch though.....😉

Anyone got any websites or blogs where ideas for using food up can be found?

NSD at last.......

NSD for me, it's amazing what I'm finding in the cupboards and freezer. I was going to buy some bread but found some muffins lurking at the bottom of the freezer so are using those instead for sarnies/toast.