No spend July

[Strangerthings4NW]

We’ve just gotten back from a week in France and I really need to save some money for the next few months. I over spent on holiday as it’s been 5 years since we went anywhere so everyone needed new clothes/swimwear etc

Apart from fuel and bills I seem to be spending my money on take away coffees and lunches. So I’ve decided that I am going to try a no spend July. Anyone want to join me?

?

I can't promise an entirely no spend July, as I like to buy my class a little token gift at the end of the year, but I am going to start leaving my credit cards at home when I go to work and have disabled Apple Pay on my phone in a bid to spend less money. I'm terrible for popping to the shops or the petrol station on the way home and buying snacks and bits and bobs I don't need. Have also signed out of Amazon and eBay as I have been spending way too much money on there lately. By Christmas I want to have built a nice savings pot as DH's work is making staffing cuts and it's made me realise how vulnerable his income really is. We definitely couldn't live on my my income alone.

Yup I can join - DH lost his job so we are going to struggle. My earnings won’t cover bills but need to try and minimise all spending so we don’t use up emergency fund too quickly.
We’re both terrible for spending bits here and there. Nothing extravagant but it all adds up.
Do need to buy bedsheet though. And three bday presents - there’s always something.

@LondonQueen actually that’s a great idea. I do tend to spend quite a bit on Amazon, I’ll be deleting the app straight away. I suppose Christmas is really my next focus, we have 3 kids (teenagers) so it’s an expensive time of year.

@Farmhouse1234 gosh, sorry to hear that about your husbands job. It’s such a such time lose a partners income. I had actually completely forgotten about birthdays, we have 3 in July but I think it will have to be token presents this year as I just can’t justify our usual spends anymore.

I also really wanted to buy a certain piece of jewellery but I hunted at the back of the cupboard and realised that I had a very similar piece so I’ll get it cleaned and wear it instead. (It might feel
like a treat)

@Strangerthings4NW thanks, I know he will find something at some point, but I’m concerned he’s lost confidence as had a couple of bad experiences. It was just was we were getting straight, financially too. Oh well.

Bought a bday present today @£13 and a bedsheet. A few needed bits from Lidl. So low spend not zero spend.

I just need to cancel two charity monthly DD. Im finding that hard. Logic says just pause for 6 months but then feel guilty as it’s ‘only’ £10 pm - but reality is we have much less coming in than going out now.

Im going to also try focus on things I already own. Currently going through wardrobe and going to attempt to sew a few things so I can use again.

I’ll join, I’m unexpectedly out of work 😭 thank you recession. My job was fairly new so I wasn’t even out of the probationary period and not entitled to anything. But we’ll be ok until I find a new job.

i have a list of things I need to buy in July and so far I’ve come under budget for each of those things. I already put £200 savings aside. Next job is to get food down. We’re going to travel less so we save on fuel.

cost of school uniform just brought a tear to my eye though.

I wish I could get the food down to £55 a week but it isn’t likely!

I have been thinking of doing something like this but think it would need to be low spend rather than no spend. Every month recently there is something. This month is eldest ds’s prom and even though I’ve shopped smart and got him a lovely suit for a decent price, all in with travel cost and some spends it will probably be £150+, I don’t see my dad much so we have arranged a get together for a pub meal in a couple of weeks which will easily be £50, youngest ds is going to a friends birthday party next week then in 3 weeks it’s the wedding reception for a family member who gets married abroad this week. There is normally something like this every month although there are a lot more than usual this month… how do others keep costs down as I can’t be the only one who seems to forever have things which cost money that are not the regular bills

@Grigorisangel we also have the same types of costs most months. Close family birthdays (we have 8 nieces and nephews between us. we don't buy for adults but still the cost is £££), we've been to 2 family and 1 friends wedding this year, DC going to friends birthday celebrations so they take a gift (£10 - £15) and card. Its never ending. This year I would like to not do xmas gifts and we just buy for our DC but that would go down with family like a lead balloon. if we just did it for this year it would be a huge help to us. But it was frowned on when I suggested it. Sigh. Sorry, no advice for you other than I totally get ya

correction - its actually 10 nieces and nephews

Yes I will join. We still need to buy food though right?

I’ll join you all on this one. On paper we earn reasonably well but always scraping by come the end of the month. I’ve started shopping around for the food shop instead of getting it all in one place. Just a few short stops when you’re passing other places can help for example I popped to farm foods today and got cherries, blueberries and tomatoes for £0.69 each. Tomorrow I plan to list some things on Vinted and will only buy things that are on offer in the supermarket.

Gosh, sounds like we all have a lot on this month. The birthdays are getting a bit ott, thankfully we don’t have to many more after Aug.

Well, I’ve completely went against my no/low spend July. My car broke down, costing quite a bit to fix, my son needed new glasses and my eldest dd needed new trainers. So all in all, I’ve spent a fair bit of my savings and most of Junes wages on top… disaster! @Grigorisangel so I see what you mean with the unexpected.

@Crocsandshocks Lol yes, wouldn’t it be so much simpler if we didn’t have too. I’ve been trying out a few own brands this months and they are not too bad, so hoping the kids won’t notice.

@HTruffle welcome. Oh that sounds lovely, you could make it like a challenge to spend X amount. We live very rurally and I usually get the shopping delivered to save ££. There are no little independent shops left anymore to try and shop around or support local where we can, sad really.

Safe to say July was a disaster on the spends. Aug shouldn’t be just as disastrous but I do have the school uniforms to purchase.

Ive put the saving away from this months wages and really hope I won’t be dipping into them by the end of the month!

we also got an air fryer, apparently they are really good?! I am not totally convinced it’s a healthy option so if anyone has any suggestions/recipes please pass them my way.

Hiya @Strangerthings4NW - do you know why you say that air fryer might not convince you as a healthy option?

For example we take a fillet of fish from the reduced section at fishmongers and chuck in air fryer for quickly grilled fish (no oil). It saves on a substantial amount of oven time and obviously requires no fats adding. Same for chopped up potatoes for crispy potatoes or wedges with no oil and v low electricity costs compared to oven. Another top time saving favourite is microwaved jacket potatoes popped into air fryer for ten mins once they are nearly done in microwave.

not sure have missed something about them but would love to know why you aren’t convinced they are healthy!