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

Bins not buns obviously

Nsd for me yeareday
today husband took the car for fixing what had failed on the mot. He paid £550 , I’ve not given him half yet (we have separated finances). Does that count as nsd?

hsd today
£12 in card factory on balloons banner and badge for Ds birthday tomorrow
£10 in home bargains on chocs to dish out at school for him and a few mini bits as pressies.
need to go to Asda and buy hair dye after so that will be £6 I think.

Shopping was £24.61 but I had a £20 gift card so very happy!

NSD here. Was her thought as wanted chocolate so bad! But didn’t cave 😇

I'm doing well so far, mainly NSDs and when I do spend I'm spending more mindfully.

Well done for not cracking for the chocolate @BrewandBiscuit!

A spendy day today. £4.50 on transport to school and work, then a ridiculous £20 in McDonalds because DD and I got home late. A bit cross with myself after doing fairly well so far.

NSD today. Almost headed to Tesco for crisp supplies today, but daughter told me to be strong!

A question about the rules! So on decluttering my car yesterday (also doing the Jan declutter thread) I found £2 in loose change scattered all over the car. As its money I didn't have, can I spend that on a coffee this morning and still be a NSD?

I'd say that's okay! Free coffee 😊. Apparently hospital parking isn't in the rules, but that doesn't work for me as I'm there daily so I guess it has to work for the individual.

Accessible taxi fares today. Should be all for the weekend though.

My TGTG bag was very good value for £2.80 - tuna salad sandwich, Cajun chicken baguette, vegan chicken salad sandwich, two steak baked, two mince pies and a shortbread!

Free pair of Diesel jeans courtesy of DD who bought them from Thrift for a tenner and are too small for her!

Fallen off this thread somewhat during the house move. Additional spends so far:
£19.99 on 2 cotton bedsheets from eBay
£78 on a pair of smart shoes for job interviews (stupidly got rid of my smart shoes after all the lockdowns and old job was in a very casual office)
now we are in our new place we can start batch cooking and restocking the freezer and making large batches of yogurt, we get through loads so it saves us quite a bit

my new total for food shopping in January £83.31
my new total for fuel in January £24.89
Haircut £22
supper was delicious £35 with tip and pudding
coffee with friend today, my turn to pay £7.60

so Friday hasn't been a NSD

and still have a little more grocery shopping to complete later today.

Small spend yesterday - bus fare to theatre (tickets were free) and loaf of bread for fish finger sandwich dinner.

NSD today - cassoulet for dinner, using sausages from freezer, duck leg from fridge, tins of legumes from cupboard and veg bits from fridge.

Have booked a weekend in Leeds, 2 nights with DH and Ddog in a hotel with breakfast included - £250. But paid for with money from Dparents at Christmas. So counts as NS. Have to live on nowt for the rest of the month in order to have something in the kitty to enjoy Leeds once we're there though! Will be researching cheap/free things to do and places to eat.

I've been watching from a distance, but I've found this thread so helpful. Even though food shopping doesn't count I'm now really thinking about things before I put them in my trolley, and it's starting to show.
Just as well really as I got a parking ticket this morning of £25 (it blew off as I closed the door) and I noticed a soft tyre while unsticking my penalty notice from the windscreen. Its a puncture, and not in a place where it can be fixed, so I'm £160 worse off, plus the parking £25, plus the £4 I paid to park which I needn't have bothered with!
Tomorrow I'm not driving anywhere, the car can sit there and think about what it's done 😂

NSD again today, I'm doing quite well, but I don't go anywhere to spend anything its all online shopping and extra bits when I do food shopping. I have already saved enough this month to pay for out weekend away next month. I am well pleased with that.

Aiming for a NSD today, two essential bills came out. But should avoid any unnecessary spends.

Was originally planning the supermarket this evening with DC, but we are all quite tired after busy week, so will go tomorrow morning with a clearer head.

Got several friends visiting at weekend and DC have been begging for replacement sports equipment since last Easter and we'd pencilled in this weekend to do that. So I'll need to be careful with my supermarket shop tomorrow.

This month has been extreme as I had all DC's clubs to pay for - that's it until Easter though.

Also a big unexpected vet bill, and a new hoover, plus a big birthday.

Although it does tend to seem like every month has something big and unexpected.

I've still had some legacy bills from house move and divorce to pay.

Hoping to get more into branch cooking and sorting out and selling old stuff now I've moved and the dust is settling on the divorce.

Oh no @Haveyoubrushedyourteeth - that's a lot of unexpected things all at once!!

NSD yesterday , working from home
£35 on Wed for food shopping, £3.3 for bus, £2.8 for a cuppa and work in a cafe (but i fully charged my phone and laptop)
£16 today for food shopping , expected an overlimit fine for a credit card.
Expect to have NSD during the weekends. 6 year-old DS has mild flu symtoms anyway, so we will stay home reading , baking, crafting....
I'm very exhasted from work (I am now working extra hours since became single income of the family). We have dietary requirement so things like "too good to go" doesn't work for us...
Time to pick my my children from school.
Keep up the good work, everyone!

NSD today because the sun came out after days of rain and gales so we went to our local country park/beach with the dog. Back home now and have Nasi Goreng in pressure cooker using up more of Xmas ham

Will need coal and logs tomorrow but should be OK for everything else

NSD here today, and aim is no spending all weekend too. Spent the day cutting logs for the fire. Dinner is green eggs (spinach & eggs blitzed and cooked) and salad, tomorrow is sausage, lentil & bean casserole.
Exhausted but still got to go to Youth Club this evening, after that I’m planning a nice bath and a velvetiser hot chocolate. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

NSD for me day 12 🙂Running total of £8 so far for non essential spends

Mashedpotatosandsausages
Do you think the velvetiser is worth the money?Obviously not buying one now but thinking or a future gift

NSD yesterday and today. Bringing in lunch and snacks and coffee is really helping on work days. Hopefully will manage a low spend weekend.