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Original poster

No spend January

696 replies

ivykaty44 · 24/12/2021 21:06

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

OP posts:
CheeseMaiden · 19/01/2022 10:02

Also good luck @Woodlandarchitect!

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 19/01/2022 10:24

CheeseMaiden Not how you want to achieve NSD 😢

OP posts:
Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 19/01/2022 11:13

Get well soon @CheeseMaiden

NSD today. Yesterday I bought wine for £6 mainly out of boredom. I need to get back to the gym and do healthy things. Big tesco shop arriving today which should last us until end of the month.

I'm freezing but have put my heated throw on instead of the central heating. My cat loves sitting on it.

Woodlandarchitect · 19/01/2022 11:37

Get well Soon @CheeseMaiden sending you all the love!

I have been offered a job but I’m in such shock from joy and relief that I can’t seem to process it GrinBlush

NSD so far but I might force myself to celebrate later!

gracedentsleftbumcheek · 19/01/2022 11:52

Congrats woodland!

Hope you feel better soon cheese maiden

Creditcardshame · 19/01/2022 15:29

Congratulations Woodland!

2 x NSD, aiming to make it the rest of the week.

ancientgran · 19/01/2022 16:39

Congratulations Woodland architect and hope you feel better soon CheeseMaiden.

Theredjellybean · 19/01/2022 20:56

Well done.. Woodland architect.

I spent £20 today getting nails done. But in my plan it's allowed.
I am aiming for no stuff bought not no spending.
For me looking polished is important, gives me confidence at work etc. So money invested in me!
Managed not to buy anything unnecessary..

chimichangaz · 19/01/2022 22:26

Congrats @Woodlandarchitect , that's great news.

Since Monday I've spent £34 in top up shops 😳 Really need to get my act together. I've joined SlimmingWorld today so that's £59.50 upfront for the next 12 weeks but hopefully it will be worth it!

Took one of the dresses back to primark and bought some other bits so spent another £3 (normally I would spend much more than this...).

I've had a crappy week - work has been busy and stressful and I've felt rubbish and been super tired (doc has organised a blood test to check various things). Because of this I caved and ordered a book I don't need from Amazon. Used up the rest of my credit so it cost me £5.50. I've noticed being tired leads me to make all kinds of poor decisions !

Oh and I forgot to say I had another £5 lottery win and a free lucky dip at the weekend!

hughfurrywit · 20/01/2022 01:36

Get paid today so into my new budget as we run ours payday to payday. Wonder if I’ll have a frugal February?!

Woodlandarchitect · 20/01/2022 07:51

Thank you all!

It’s been a shock and I still woke up shocked.

Yesterday was a spendy day. I ended up buying new water bottles for DS and some celebratory cakes.

I almost opted for takeaway but I had to remind myself that it’s not even near payday yet Blush

I also had to buy new work trousers due to weight gain. I was just soooo uncomfortable. Now I can bend over without the fear of splitting my jeans at work 😂 imagine if I start my new job and ended up splitting my trousers on my first day!

DH and I are going to sit down and plan how to effectively spend and save my new salary. I want to pay off the mortgage ASAP. I want to be clear of all debt which we’ve accumulated since my hours were halved!

And breeathhhheeeeee

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 20/01/2022 07:57

£6.20 coffee
£20 wool
£12 presents
£6.10 today a Starbucks with dd
£13.00 coffee & cake out

£57.60 this January -

£44.63 at supermarket

Major blip on duvet cover & sheet that I have been looking to sort for a few months. I did get a bargain though as 1000 thread count sheet £17.99 and duvet cover £17

Also family flower gift £12

£104.59 spending

£44.63 food

Total £149.22 total spend January

OP posts:
Original poster
ivykaty44 · 20/01/2022 07:57

Woodlandarchitect Congratulations 🥳 🎉

OP posts:
ancientgran · 20/01/2022 14:00

Well there was me worrying about gas/electric bills and I get my water bill.Direct debit going up by £14 a month, probably alot of that is having GS move in last summer, teenage boys go through a phase of not washing and then they get to GSs age and they live in the shower and of course then there are towels. How does one boy with hardly any hair, very short hair not bald, use 3 bath towels and really feels he needs 3 fresh ones every day.

Good job I'm saving money this month.

Creditcardshame · 20/01/2022 16:20

I need to submit my meter readings for the month - not looking forward to seeing how much we have spent!
DH has reynauds syndrome and so we need to keep the house a pretty constant (warm) temperature.

Another NSD. It helps if I don't take my phone or purse with me on the school run. I would have been tempted to buy a hot drink on the way today it was that cold.

ancientgran · 20/01/2022 16:36

My husband is disabled and we use alot as well, he feels the cold and can't move about much.

I've tried to avoid using the tumble dryer all month, I had an epic fail one day when I had 3 loads of washing and it was raining so I did 20 minutes for the first 2 loads to give them a head start on drying. Other than than no tumble dryer so I'm hoping that will make a difference.

My clothes airer is falling apart so I think I'm going to have to invest in a new one.

NSD today, I do need a couple of bits so I will have to spend something tomorrow but I'm hoping it won't be much.

CheeseMaiden · 20/01/2022 16:37

Congrats @Woodlandarchitect!

Thanks all, feeling much better today and absolutely starving- nearly ordered Nando’s before I checked my bank account Blush maybe DH can make something similar at the weekend, I’m thankful every day that he’s a good cook!

@hughfurrywit I’ll join you for a frugal February, could do with another month to feel in better financial control- this group is so great for staying accountable!

Original poster
ivykaty44 · 20/01/2022 18:02

Creditcardshame

My father used to suffer with that and had a mini electric blanket on the floor to put his feet upon to keep them warm

OP posts:
Woodlandarchitect · 20/01/2022 18:04

Id like a frugal February too! Smile

Creditcardshame · 20/01/2022 19:00

@ivykaty44 he has a heated blanket when WFH but he also finds any change in temperature sets him off so if he comes down into a cold kitchen for lunch his hands turn white! We have the thermostat set for 20 during the day which seems to be a happy medium (I WFH too and use a hot water bottle for my feet).

Anyway, according to the updated bill we are using about £8.40 of gas and electricity a day which I don't think is too bad considering how much our heating is on.

With the tumble drier I found it easier to finish off drying in it - I wash the load with easily tumbled stuff first (towels, bed linen) hang them up (over doors and above the stairs seem to do well) do another load and then tumble the half dry things. I also use a dehumidifier in the utility room if the heating isn't on and that gets things dry quite quickly.

ancientgran · 20/01/2022 20:33

Thanks @Creditcardshame, I'll try that it sounds like a good way to do it. I'm so used to just chucking it all in and letting it dry, I think because of working with 4 kids and a disabled husband there were things I just had to do the easy way or I'd have gone mad but now I have to think of the cost. I suppose I should always have been thinking about the environment but I can't turn the clock back.

Because of the pandemic I've discovered online shopping and I find that really useful. I can see what I'm spending and if it's a bit too much I can go through and see if there's anything I can put back plus I'm not tempted by the bakery which is a real problem. This month I haven't done it because I just haven't been buying enough as I'm using up everything in the fridge/freezer/cupboard but I will go back to it.

I'm up for a no spend February as well. I do think posting on here keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Creditcardshame · 20/01/2022 20:49

@ancientgran wow! You must have been busy.

I am up for a no spend February too - I have 4 birthdays and half term to navigate. I also find I stop myself from spending because I will have to report it here Grin

I also started online shopping - we used to be a bit dysfunctional with our food shopping. I would do one shop for all the mid week "survival" meals and DH would shop for the weekend meals (he cooks on weekends). We now do a meal plan and one online shop per week. I haven't really been for any top ups either because I do the shop in my kitchen and can easily check if I need something. We also had a large stock after Christmas.
I do need to investigate Aldi though.

HoulYourWhist · 21/01/2022 10:22

NSD yesterday, in fact I made £10 on Facebook marketplace! I would love to continue into a Frugal February, it's been a bit of an eye opener for me and would like to get into a more mindful spending 12 months and beyond.

ancientgran · 21/01/2022 10:24

@Creditcardshame Yes but you don't realise when you are in the middle of it and I guess that's why I got into bad habits like the tumble dryer.

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 21/01/2022 11:25

I'm using a free group on Facebook to declutter and today I was kindly given a nearly new pair of walking boots and a nearly new bread bin, both in perfect condition and both free. I'd recommend joining a local group if you can. I forgot my drink when I went out for a walk this morning so bought juice from the shop for £1. Tomorrow I'll need to spend on parking to take DD to her drama club and possibly lunch to bribe DS to come with us. Aiming for £15 in total.