Anyone want to join for a No spend January

[ivykaty44]

As done in other years, a no spend January

But also perhaps a budget cooking month, to really keep costs down

the idea is we only spend money on transport & food shopping - so those items don't count, but lets try and keep the shopping spends low

I shall be following the likes of cardiff mum and taming twins for budget ideas for food, especially using slow cooker and doubling up recipes.

I shall also be cooking some slow cooker recipes in January and doubling up, that way can cook for the first 2 weeks of January and freeze for the next two weeks

Purchasing birthday present for January on Black Friday next week, that way getting a good deal.

Its a reset on finances which will be especially needed in the household to curb some unnecessary spending and leave me with money in the bank on 31 January. I did this about 4 years ago and had an extra £110 in my account.

doing free things, , freecycle after Christmas, walks, cycling, library trips, free talks etc

Some take it into February

Yeah he can now finally be on the mend after a nasty car accident on the motorway a couple of weeks ago! He’s had some plates and pins out in his shoulder.
I think he deserves his Big Mac! 😅

*put in

Ouch that sounds both horrible and scary!

I sent off for the budget planner last night and if I don't like it or it's not what I need/worth the money then I'll send it back. I don't have a desk or envelopes to use for money purposes so I can't do that.

Gwdihooooo speedy recovery to your dh, crashing sounds scary.

Ive forgot iv got a Christmas party tonight, but im not drinking alcohol and food and soft drinks laid on for free - so should get away with a NSD

No spend day here. Will need milk tomorrow or Wednesday. My freezer is full so need to try to eat out that for the month to reduce my spending. Got an unexpected invitation to a milestone birthday party will see if I am fit enough to go nearer the time.
Big Mac definitely deserved after an op.

@Orcubed

You could use the idea of shakshuka and tweak it to the veg you have in, it’s a very winter-comfort dish.

First of many NSD here I hope, I’ve been busy at work this morning then baking birthday cake and making lasagne, so haven’t had time to even think about spending…though I am going to try and reduce my food bill enough that I can buy a new rectangular oven dish with the savings this month, if I can’t I can’t but it would be useful.

£89 at Sainsbury's today, but that is for the week's shopping so with the exception of milk (DD drinks vats of it!) and a coffee at the pictures tomorrow (a showing rescheduled from before Christmas, so already paid for) that should be it until next week! 🤞🏼

Isn't there a monthly subscription you can sign up to on roblox that they get a set amount of robux coins. That could be a compromise. Or buy a gift card each month. Once it's gone its gone. I know its not strictly in keeping with no spend but sometimes having a set budget can save money. And in my eyes robux is no different to things like Netflix we have for our entertainment. I play an online game and I used to set myself a £5 limit per month. I dont spend anything now as I barely have time to play but it helped me prioritise and think about purchases.

Also joining in! Today will be a no spend day. We are having a chilled out movie day.

Planned spends for this week so far, Thursday bus fare into town (dd wants to buy a particular build a bear with Xmas money and its likely to sell out so I'm going in on release day.) Going to give myself a limit of £20 I've transferred from my vinted account in case i see any bargains I can put by for dd2s birthday.

Food wise we are good for this week. I might need to get some GF rolls as got some pulled pork in the fridge to cook. Got lots of leftover snack stuff which will be going in packed lunches. Got some part baked baguettes we didn't use too so that's the girls lunches sorted. Will go to community food hub which is £4 and can pretty much get a fresh shop depending on what they have in this week.

NSD for me. Hurrah!

I've spent nothing today yayyyyy!

@BadgerLovesMash thank you, I will look at that and see if it’s an option. We give him £20 spending money a week. He spends £10 on online gaming and the other £10 is paying off a new iPad he wanted but didn’t quite have enough for so loaned 8 months half spending money to pay it off. He also changes his mind a lot on what he plays so although this week it’s Roblox next week it could be something else making a subscription redundant 😂

Evening.

Only spends today was on an accessible taxi which is/was unavoidable and I count as travel/fuel costs.

We eat very little meat at all, but did have a roast beef joint last night given it was NYE, so we are having hot roast beef sandwiches with onions for tea later. I'll freeze the rest for another day.

Happy NSD's folk!

NSD for me today too! I'm making macaroni cheese with sweetcorn and tiny amounts of broccoli added in for dinner.

Nsd for me today
need milk tomorrow

It sounds like it. I bet he's glad to be home.

Cooked first Sunday roast in my new airfryer. I didn't get the timings quite right so the chicken had to go back in and the broccoli was a bit overdone still it was a first attempt. I cooked a gammon joint yesterday which turned out really well and chips were also good.

Any airfryer experts with advice would be great.

1st January - NSD 😇

I will be using my slow cooker a lot plus trying to avoid top up shops etc.I will be trying to make things fun also,by seeing what I can get for free, as trials of products etc,and from loyalty cards and cashback apps.As a PP said about using green chef to get a free box,I have done the same with SimplyCook.
www.simplycook.com/invite/N6FYNV?t=cp&pg=ref&via=dt
If you fancy a free box ( I get one too😜)

Well I managed day 1 without buying anything. Still eating out of the fridge and freezer. Cauliflower cheese with the last of the ham planned for tomorrows tea, I've made bread for toast in the morning, and there's left over soup for lunch. Thats leftover soup that was made with leftovers. 😂

Thanks!

So, I spent £20 in McDonalds 😳 Not a good start! But dh is home and sleeping on a full stomach so that’s good

Please can I join? Have done various no spend months before but need to save hard this month as hopefully moving mid Feb and need to save as much as I can

Thats leftover soup that was made with leftovers

a recipe came up on TikTok for left over soup using parsnips and carrots in the slow cooker - im putting that on my shopping list for next week, it looks tasty and easy to make

Any airfryer experts with advice would be great. TikTok is the place for air fryer recipes, saw one tonight for potato peelings made into thick crispy roasted peelings - they looked delish

There are some useful and entertaining videos on YouTube as well.I like watching the no spend/low spend budget food shopping challenges,where they spend say £10/$10 and try to survive the week etc and the foraging videos and depression cooking etc etc plus all the crockpot/slow cooker budget meals.There are loads of good tips and ideas.

Last night,fuelled by gin New year optimism,I cut my credit card up and am NOT going to order a new one.I can make payments through the app on my phone,and every time I don't spend a fiver here or £20 on stuff,i don't need,I will transfer the money to my cc debt.🤑