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

&&@talkingfarm · Yesterday 14:07
Thanks @ivykaty44 I'd seen you mention that somewhere near the beginning of the thread too. That is a really good idea. What might seem like a hassle to change the payment details of all my accounts would probably be a good exercise as I go through and review them etc.&&

You get the bank to do it for you...

Change your current account to another bank, preferably one that is paying (first direct have an offer on for £175, need to put £1000 in once only) and they transfer all the direct debits for you - so no hassle to you.

and then just open another current account somewhere else which you then have no direct debits for. Get your wages paid into your new account and set up a standing order to your bills account.

Yesterday food top up at Tesco and the corner shop, around £9 in total
Working from home today, NSD

Ok thanks @ivykaty44 I've been with my bank since age 10, so feel scared to change that at all.

I'm getting into listening into money podcasts etc, so will try to get a bit more on top of things this month (so glad I found this thread for my own accountability), then I will be more confident at changing things after a month or two.

Low spend day today: £3.90 on cleansing cream, £10 on kids sports club.

Stayed up until 11.30pm last night making packed lunches for us all. Filled mine with loads of biscuits and treats, and brought my own coffee from home so there is no need for me to sneak out at lunch and buy anything.

I'd promised myself I'd only go out for a latte at lunch, then this morning went the extra mile to actually make my own coffee in a travel cup.

Probably saved at least £15 between mine and DC's lunches.
(Well saved- from money I don't even have!)

Spent £7.77 on a top up shop this morning and £13.98 on pet supplies.
MOT this afternoon. Fingers crossed!

Ugh I feel like I’m doing terribly. January is always fairly expensive for us anyway but this year we have two 40ths and one 50th to buy gifts for on top of all the usual expenses. Ordered all of those today so that’s another £72gone 😭 Only one more birthday present to buy though.

I’m doing really well at not frittering money away and keeping the food shop down but the presents have been a killer (not helped by buying dds present for next month this month to take advantage of the sales).

No spend February would be a lot easier for me!

Well got to day 10 NSD's within my own rules ,can buy things we need , we got a hairdryer and frying pan in the sales (both needed to replace items)I spent a fiver on treats for the kids , which technically was a small top up shop. Day 10 and a fiver not too bad though 😉

PeachiceT, that's very impressive!

My car passed its MOT, much to my surprise and delight. £169, that includes a service. Seemed a lot, but then everything is going up. Just grateful that it passed.

frustratedashell , thanks, I am terrible with top up shops and sales clothes shopping so am so pleased with my willpower! I will carry on as long as I can after Jan too.
Good news your car passed the MOT. we have had alot of extra bills this month, big vet bill, car oil change and boiler service .

I had to buy a present today for a friend's DS's birthday and whilst in the shop saw all of the Xmas PJs at 60% off so bought my DS a couple of pairs for December.... no spend fail but a saving on later in the year.

Other than that only spends have been on food this week so far so not too bad.

10 NSDs in a row! Only spending has been food shop and fuel on Saturday and that came to about £70.

I worked out last week that I’d saved £75 on random spending and so far this week I would have bought lunch both days and I fancied chippy chips last night, so that would have been another £8. Fancied chocolate tonight but haven’t been in the shop, easily saving a fiver. So, so far this week I’ve saved about £20. And actually, I had a couple of refunds from Christmas time so I’m actually £10 up this week with no real intention to spend.

I’ve paid £100 extra off my credit card today as it’s money I would have frittered away and I really want this card cleared by end of April.

NSD today - so much easier on work from home days!

Spent £4.50 on a taxi to school/work so as to avoid the deluge this morning, but I'm filing that under necessary spends. So, another NSD here.

Had every intention of joining but New Year weekend threw a massive curveball at us when dad and mum went into hospital. Lots of parking charges, coffee shop trips, plus papers from the shop for dad and sandwiches when he stomach the food 😢 . Also the meal plan went out of the window and more top up shops for quick teas.
Still reading and picking up tips for a more frugal outlook when things go back to normal........
One thing I was intrigued by is using toopashback for shopping vouchers, I think it was @ancientgran who mentioned it? Have a voucher for Lidl this week so will try there but want to try toopashback next time I need to shop

*toopashback obviously 🤣

£38 in Sainsbury's, so it had better bloody last! Spaghetti carbonara tonight.

Need to buy some random bits which you just never think of until you can't ignore them any more - coffee machine descaler, compressed air and wipes for grubby laptops, silicon oven gloves so DPs don't burn their elderly, papery skin. DH covering these, and will tell me afterwards (or not, he's not so obsessive as I am).

Nothing Monday. Petrol plus flowers for a friend yesterday

Nsd yesterday

On the right thread this time!!

NSD yesterday - I (wo)manned up and braved the elements to cycle to work instead of paying £4 for the bus. (I do usually cycle anyway but the weather was dire!).

Today also expected to be a NSD - I'm going in to work again but no reason to spend. Lunch & coffee made & I will go out for quick lunchtime walk but nowhere near the shops.

Fuel needed today but that's it hopefully.

My Chase app tells me I've spent a lot less than this time last month so that's good.

This thread and everyone on it is an inspiration! I’ve radically cut down on what I’m spending on just bits. Making me actually think about it instead of just spending. Yesterday was the car’s MOT and I ran for the bus instead of a mooch around Marks where I invariably would have spent on something or other.
Decided to up the ante and getting rid of 10 items per day too.
Hoping I can keep this going all year as the credit card and overdraft are dire and the cost of living worries me constantly.

my total for food shopping £67.81
fuel £14.89
Haircut £22
supper was delicious £35 with tip and pudding

Wednesday NSD

coffee machine descaler I use white wine vinegar on my coffee machine which is bean to cup, it does the job and is a lot cheaper

@BrewandBiscuit wow well done 10 NSD and £75 saved!

I've been with my bank since age 10, so feel scared to change that at all. You can just open a second account, that way you have your wages paid into the second account and leave your primary account as your bills account. Its always wise to have a second account as if one of the banks gets hit with an electronic glitch then you could be left without being able to use your debit card - having two debit cards is far safer

Honestly parenting teenagers is exhausting, parenting them with any added problems must be so hard. That is lovely that they helped you. You DD is very lucky to have you and I'm sure she brings you joy.

I spent £5.03 in Lidl yesterday. Necessary things like bread and milk but also a cake for me (head down in shame.) Hopefully NSD today.

Cake is not shameful, ever...!

Ahh another day of surprising expenses cropping up! I'm really hoping after a month of monitoring everything so carefully I will be in a much stronger place in February.

Got charged £55 for an appointment I had at end of Dec, which I realise hadn't come out of my account but had forgotten about it.

Left laptop charger at work so spent £35 on new one - hoping I can claim that back.

Paid for DD's school trip. £7

Very small top up shop of bread and fruit &veg £9.32 (pleased I didn't buy any extras)

Sorry to hear about your mum and dad in hospital @TheOnlyMrsW yes everything goes out the window in a crisis. Hope they get better soon.

Ah that is reassuring about the bank account @ivykaty44 I'll look into that in Feb.

Going to try to return Christmas present this week for some extra cash. And get started on vinted with clothes I don't wear.