No spend or low spend February

[ivykaty44]

Here is a thread to keep check of spends in February

the idea is to have No Spends Days, weeks or clusters of days

im also going to be keeping my supermarket shopping low, eating what I have in the cupboards, to keep febs spends low.

Would anyone like to pledge an amount? and see if they can keep under that amount of money for the 28 days?

I pledge £200 for fuel, shopping and spending

“At least I shall be well moisturised” 😆

I do the same with beauty stuff, run out of one thing so go to replace it but then buy everything in one go spending lots but then don’t buy anything again for 6 months or more. It doesn’t work out more expensive over the year but that big hit on vanity products always feels indulgent!

Cost of groceries has skyrocketed.
Just spent £119 in Aldi; I'm sure a similar shop last year or so was about £75.
Didn't even include household items, alcohol or meat (with Exception of mince)

Tesco did my budget a favour last night by breaking down with my massive restock shop on board. So full refund on that. Have just gone out to buy the essentials now for £24 and will have to top up at the end of the week (but the restock shop will have to happen next week instead so haven’t really saved anything)

DD is doing DofE and needs a decent sleeping bag, roll mat and rucksack. Even with the DofE discount still looking at approx £80

@ForAFriend123 we were extremely lucky that we already had all of those items from our own camping trips. Do you have a sports direct near you? They had sleeping bags and mats reduced in ours. I was tempted to buy a mat just because they rolled up so small compared to ours but didn’t because I’m spending enough on Dof Estuff as it is! Worth checking ebay/vinted too as lots of people sell stuff that was only used for the two expeditions so is as new. Also worth putting a shout out on Facebook if you use it, I bet there are people on there who’d be able to lend you some stuff. I’ve managed to borrow a few bits for it that way.

£75-ish grocery delivery.

I am using this survey app and haven't see it mentioned. I'm doing a couple while watching TV and trying to get 2 pound a day, which I'm then cashing out and it is paying for DC lunch money, which he just spends on crap like muffins at break. Feel less resentful doing it this way then telling DC it's no spend month too. If you want to join you get 40p and I get 20p.
I'm inviting you to join AttaPoll. Get paid to take surveys. Download the app here: attapoll.app/join/skawm

@Quamora

Tesco did my budget a favour last night by breaking down with my massive restock shop on board. So full refund on that. Have just gone out to buy the essentials now for £24 and will have to top up at the end of the week (but the restock shop will have to happen next week instead so haven’t really saved anything)

DP was obviously panicking about making do for the week as he went to the supermarket and spent £44 on basically snacks He said “I’ve just bought the snacks you usually buy” and I was like yes but I don’t usually buy all of them in one week! Oh well, should last a while (as long as I hide some from the 14 year old!). Meanwhile we still only have two meals worth of food (I can make another meal or two out of random assortments of veg and pulses though if I have to)

Ended February in much better financial shape than the start of this year- it’s all down to you guys so thank you!
£100 in our main savings, £30 in my savings pots and a £23 roll over in my current account.
Started getting letters from various utilities about the April increases, council tax is going up by £6 a month which is manageable and water is essentially staying the same (our usage has gone down but the direct debit is staying the same). I need to check our gas and electric accounts, we are on a fixed contract but have no clue when it ends…

@BigSkies22 we use a lot of lentils and pulses to add cheap protein to meals. Dried chickpeas are really cheap compared to tinned but do require a bit of pre planning.

On balance a fairly good month has been had, put into baby pot brought a few baby clothes and some maternity stuff I have £13 per day left I am really going to aim to not spend that though could do with upping my maternity savings pot as muchvas possible.

I think we can manage 40pence for a tin of chickpeas from Aldi, and skip the planning! Yup, we do use pulses a lot - in salads, soups, dahls, bulking out meat meals, cassoulets, love them.

All the cheap meals in the world ain't gonna do it this month though. The latest visit to the vet cost around £325 and although we now have two claims for two different conditions, totalling £615, going through the system, it could take quite a while to be reimbursed. In the meantime, we will be into overdraft on the joint account by the time the remaining DDs for the month are taken, before we even do any more food shopping. I can ask DH to top up, but I hate doing that - I feel we should be able to get through, and generally we do.

R2G do they actually pay for the surveys?