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

That's an amazing amount of money to save 😀 I'm definitely looking forward to seeing my bank balance improving!

I’m fed up with spending, at this point I’m thinking of ditching my card to be forgotten about somewhere, take £20 when I leave the house and that’s it 😂 it’s too easy to spend spend spend

I was looking at the soup cartons and can't believe how £££ they are!!

I'm thinking of going old school with a home made cheese roll and apple! Plainer eating. Almost back to 70's style I had as a child

Removing the 'extras' from meals should cut down my grocery bill

So no mango chutney/popadoms with homemade curry
No tortillas/guac with my home made chilli

I'm in! We have a dc birthday in January but I have got his presents already I've bought too much for Christmas so I've moved things over to his birthday. I have a household of sensory issues around food in particular and saving on food is tricky but I'll do my best.

I might delete the Amazon app. That's where I spend most of my money.

I'm in!

Count me in please! Spending is going up as I'm starting to pay for childcare in January, so need to lower food and everything else.

Can I join please will use about £70 food £20 petrol no option disabled can't walk anywhere and my £15 hydro again that's medical so won't drop that I need it . Food budget is 3 of us but also adult son dil and gd some days

This sounds great. Clothes are my weakness and have gotten into a habit of spending when I don't really need to. I don't need anything so 2023 would be a good time to reassess and get saving :)

I'm in! 😀

Clothes are my weakness and have gotten into a habit of spending when I don't really need to.

can you spend some time pulling your clothes out and putting together in different combinations? Then seeing how many days you can achieve not wearing the same outfit twice?

id be interested to know how long you can go in winter clothing 😂

I'm in!

Already massively cut back, cut all Christmas budgets in half, always use vinted as a first port of call for any clothes needed or toys etc. But we really need to cut back more.

Our energy bill is going up by another £200 in Jan lord knows where that money will come from.

So I'm hoping Jan will just be food and the usual direct debits. There are no family birthdays in Jan so shouldn't need any extras.

@ThatGirlInACountrySong have you tried the Asda just essential naan bread? It's really good.

We have a homemade curry most weeks and uses to buy m and s fresh naan to go with it around £2.50 a pack but have switched to the Asda one which is around 50p so saving £2 a week and we actually prefer the cheaper one 😳

Definitely in!!

Plan:

• only necessary spending - bills, gym, food
• no takeaways or max 1/2
• no buying any drinks at all
• no clothing/beauty spends
• use up everything in the freezer

I use pitta bread toasted & cut into fingers to serve with homemade curry.

im planning on spending time doing gym sessions, riding my bike - but taking a flask of coffee with me rather than getting coffee out on a cycle ride.

this will keep me out of the coffee shops, supermarkets etc

I'd love to join. I did well last January but the last couple of months have been awful. I can't even face going on the frugal thread as I'm so useless. I know December won't be any better, is it ever? So January it is.

@ancientgran come and join us on the frugal thread . I'm rubbish with money too but everyone's so friendly. Come on over 🙂

I so wish i could do this. But with 2 dcs birthdays in Jan that's impossible. Although i have sorted one of them nearly already.

Depending o

Uurgh uurgh need an edit button!

@AlwaysFullOfQuestions22 depending on age of DC would they be ok with second hand presents? For my younger ones I've got Lego, Playmobil, pyjamas and books all from vinted. Plus stocking fillers from charity shops

I'm in please. Away two nights but apart from that.
I'm bad for buying clothes and not planning meals. Go to the shops most days - expansive habit.

Ooh I’ll join please. We’re in a lucky position generally re the cost of living crisis but I do spend too much and waste things too. Someone mentioned leeks above, I had to buy a pack last week for a dish and the ones I didn’t use went into the bin, as I knew they would! I’d love to be less wasteful. Just one birthday for me in Jan so that’s not too difficult (child of a family friend).

Thank you for mentioning leeks. I've got some in the freezer and lots of potatoes so I'll make some soup. I always freeze the excess veg when I make soup otherwise they go to waste rotting in the fridge. Soup is one of 2 ways I can get veg down us all without a fight.

I will join please. I am pretty frugal - no food waste ever, take in breakfast and lunch every day when in office and use/re-use/repair things to within an inch of its life.

However, my weakness is clothes. Have already implemented a no-buy December and, apart from one extravagant buy planned for in the Jan sales to celebrate my promotion, I would like to continue it into March.

I'm in BUT Ive got a hen do spa weekend in Jan, I will have already paid for it by Jan though (£200) so just food/petrol/drinks to pay for. And a theatre weekend for a birthday. will have paid for most of that in Dec too. Plus 2 birthdays to buy gifts for. I wont be going out apart from the spa and theatre trips. I need to cut down on food. Thinking soups for lunch, no extra top ups in week unless absolutely necessary (ie for the DC), cheap meals for me (thinking omelette type thing), no booze at home, no takeaways, no MCDs for the DC (might get them just each gift cards as part of xmas gifts, so they can treat themselves if/when they want), no buying/renting films on sky/prime.

We have a £6k car balloon payment due in April. We haven't even started to save for that yet. More finance to pay for it is not an option.

Its going to be a very boring Jan and beyond - but necessary