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

Very speedy yesterday. Major car service £550. Ouch and they said I needed 2 new tyres. I have booked into kwickfit for that.

So another NSD for me so 2 in a row!

I shopped at the weekend and normally buy decaf coffee beans in Sainsbury, it was £7 for 500g. This week though the price had increased by £1 so I have ordered from amazon.

They had the same decade coffee beans for £7.20 or 1000g of a different kind for £10

I also went to lidl instead of Aldi and I found that the greek yogurt was cheaper, much more creamy and a giant tub with a 14/2 date so will last me a while. The fruit and veg was nicer in lidl.

Will spend £2.50 today on parking. That's it!

Just £27 in Aldi but they had no eggs. So a further top up in the Coop will be needed so probably another £10. Not bad for two people and all meals for a week - still working my way through freezer stocks

NSD here, pleased as am feeling a bit down and would normally have at least looked at stuff.

£5.50 today on a coat and a book for ds. Coat not needed yet but is the next size up.
Also got some free second hand uniform from school which will save in September!
Dp has gone to asda for apple juice and paracetamol, god knows what he’ll come out with 😆

Yesterday spent £8.75 on a present for dd’s friend

new totals:
groceries £265 (will update once I know what dp bought)

presents for own dc birthdays £210

birthday presents for other people £88

other £50.50

NSD today, but as I only went shopping yesterday I would have been very disapointed if it wasnt! H/m tomato and lentil soup and bread and cheese for lunch, ham egg and chips with coleslaw for health for tea.

My first NSD since Thursday but most of the spends have been essential - groceries, bus fares, vet's bill, exercise class. Only non essential spends were a birthday card and a round of drinks to celebrate the birthday, and lunch at work on Monday. The freezer is running down and we're having some "interesting " meals...

Not a NSD for me. Spent almost £5 sending a parcel, £60 for ds for half term holiday club and £50 on deposit for ds' birthday party next month. But I didn't buy coffee, lunch or snacks at least, and all were expected spends.

Doing ok with spending - not no spend today but v low. But arrived home to horrible tax code change letter from HMRC which doesn't reflect self assessment calculation or any other info, gah have to call them tomorrow sigh

A NSD yesterday for me- the first for a week.

Needed a top up shop of milk and loo roll, but DP went instead. So that gave me a much needed NSD.

Today could have been NSD. But needed top up shop of bread (£1.50) to avoid resorting to school dinners tomorrow. After DC switched to eating toast for breakfast.
And £40 for DC's club. Necessary spend and covers the year. But has brought total spend on children to £709 so far for the month 😱 out of my single salary that is really quite a lot.

Am really shocked- that includes sports kit, club fees, school uniform, wrap around care, school dinners, class trips.

But doesn't include birthday presents or party. (Mainly paid in Dec, or came out of food shop budget).

This is actually me saying no to a few things as well. And there are quite a lot of clothing/underwear items needed too. Will aim to stretch that to Feb, then in Feb I have £20 next voucher and £20 Amazon voucher so will see what I can get with that.

I have spent this week. Tickets for bowling this coming weekend, but that will come out of this weekends spending pot, I just had to buy them in the week.

I needed some medicine so I guess that was needed. What wasn't needed was the bar of chocolate, biscuits and cake I bought!

Bowling £25
Medicine £3.50
Naughty snacks £6.50 (and I do feel a little guilty about these).

I have still taken lunch everyday to work and not bought any coffees out or or takeaways when lazy etc, so I am still massively up! Additionally, last weekends food shop is going to last well into next week as after a freezer audit I still have chicken, 2x mince, beef brisket, sausages and pork in the freezer. Top up shop should be a cheap one this week.

I’m on my 3rd NSD

hoping to get through the week without spending - Saturday we’ve got a trip to sealife but have got a good discount on tickets - so that’s great saving of £15

A NSD day for me. Lazy day with just pasta and pesto for dinner tonight. Off to the library to pick up a book I've ordered.
Would have bought this for my kindle without a seconds thought but am trying to check if I can borrow instead. Have another 3 on order as well

£23.50 in Tesco today. Pleased with that

NSD today, sardines on toast for lunch, and veggie curry for tea. I'm not doing too bad, but the list of things to buy in February is now more than the council tax that you don't pay!

My washingmachine gave up yesterday. Local repair man advised me not to get it repaired, he said it would cost £150 and due to age (it's over 10 years old) and the nature of the fault I would be getting him out again, maybe in days but could be weeks. So I bit the bullet and ordered a new machine. That's January good intentions gone and I will end the month in the red for the fourth month in a row. I'm feeling very down about it.

but the list of things to buy in February is now more than the council tax that you don't pay!

but by February will you really need everything on your list?

Bare essentials only in Tesco and Boots today, total of £46 but includes vitamins and medicines for large family. Other than that, spent the day chopping wood…have 3 households to do it for, so I do it a lot!
Tonight’s dinner is a child request - cheese & spinach sandwiches and fruit salad. Tomorrow’s will be lentil soup I’ve already made today, and Friday is fish that I’ve got in the freezer. Made flapjack as it’s a cheap gluten-free treat that can be in the biscuit tin for a while.

NSD here and scored a free loaf of bread from Olio. This process is making me think about my spending a lot, and I've realised that my food costs are inflated by the snacks I buy and shouldn't be eating so am saving a lot on food.

Doing okay here still. Only essential spends still but probably could have cut down the food bill had I absolutely needed to (nothing is wasted, but I do like a choice and absolutely adore cooking and recipes etc).

Not many NSD's but they are all spends that are required.

Today was £5 on the cheapest tinted moisturiser I could find, after squeezing out and cutting open my Body Shop one! Another little plan both myself and DD have is to use up all the cosmetics, body creams etc we have been bought or are lying around before buying anymore.

Wow managed another NSD today - mainly by accident really. I needed to nip out for a top up shop but didn't get the chance. It means we don't have enough cereal for tomorrow, so one or two of us will need to have toast instead.

Not really a problem.

Also did have several large bills to pay today but didn't get round to it - so will do all of them tomorrow.

Definitely feeling a bit more settled and on top of things than usual.

My kitchen is nice and clean and tidy and so is my fridge. It is because we are eating through the food we have properly and I'm spending a bit more time in the kitchen sorting things out.

Sadly no where near having saved money as am already hundreds of pounds into my savings. But I'm aware that things could have been a or worse.

Tomorrow should also be NSD apart from the bills I'll pay.

This week has been really up and down after such a positive start to the month. But it's been really eye-opening to see how certain triggers impact my spending. Lots of room to improve over the coming months I think.

NSD Mon-Wed except fuel & groceries (anchovies & olives that I couldn't get in weekly shop at the weekend).

Today I have had to buy fire lighters (which have gone up massively in price!) and also had an unintended Amazon spend - face wash & teabags on subscribe and save being delivered this week. I didn't realise & too late to cancel now. We'll use them but it could have waited until next month, so I have now changed the frequency.

That's annoying about the washing machine @ancientgran!

The only positive is that at least you have been making savings generally so it could be a lot worse.

That's how I've been trying to look at it, as needed new hoover on 3rd Jan plus unexpected vet bill knocked me out of what would otherwise be a very hard month without those two items.

🤞 for no big unexpected spends in February