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

also to add - I should go into the office every day to save energy costs at home but that will make for a very stressful week for me (I find going into the office stressful). Will have to give that some thought as that will be hard to do

I’m in. I used to be really good with money but lately I’ve been shit.

My downfalls:

Online shopping. First step unsubscribe from all marketing emails. Second step write stuff I want on a list rather than impulse buy/convince myself I need it.

Vinted/charity shops. Go to look for something specific, end up browsing/buying bundles. (I have got some great bargains on Christmas presents for my dc though)

Apple Pay. No more “I haven’t got any money on me, I’ll have to come back”

The rest of my family and their ever increasing demands for the food shop.

I have one child’s birthday in January but know what we’re getting them so that will be an ‘allowed’ expense. Other than that I’m hoping to stick to groceries (reduced if possible) and bills/direct debits

a friend of mine did a challenge of only spending something like £50 a month on food. She is single, lives alone. She documented it all on SM. She went hunting for yellow stickers/things in back of her freezer. She managed it. Think she only did it for a month, but what an achievement.

dontcrushthemlynn. that sounds like a great challenge!

Id be looking forward to the hen do and theatre trip in January if I was you! nice times in the darker winter gloomy months. I have a trip to Manchester for my grandsons 1st birthday, but thats about it

Ive suggested to my youngest we go away in the winter for a sun break next year - so it shortens the winter

I’m definitely in!

ive started with the planning, after seeing dontcrushthemlynn post about supermarket shopping for £50 for the months, Ive started to make a meal plan ready for January. I want the supermarket shopping to be very economical for the month. Im going to keep all my receipts for the month and tot it up at the end.

Im planning to find 2 store cupboard meals that I like and then x4 the ingredients in the shopping trolley first shop of the month. Then 4 easy slow cooker melas that I can double up and free in portions for the future weeks. noddles and vegetables or pasta and vegetables is always a good lunch for me. We love rice pudding and on a Saturday a croissant, so going to buy some short grain rice and some frozen croissants from M&S to swap that treat for a home baked cheat. £3.50 for a bag of 10 is a decent enough price swap from fresh at the bakery at £3.00 for one and £3.50 for a coffee

I definitely will.

I'm not being very frugal, getting it out of my system. Bought myself an airfryer last night, it was a Black Friday deal and I'm hoping it will save me money as my electric bill is horrific.

What I did last January was:
Use up all the things I bought just in case for Christmas and didn't use.
Use up everything in the freezer/cupboards.
Plan cheap meals.
Use my nectar points/topcashback money/prolific money. So far I have £30 in nectar points, £28 in topcashback and £59 in prolific so I'm hoping to spend virtually nothing from my pension and that can all be saved.

If anyone has cheap recipes for an airfryer I'd be grateful or if they know a good site.

@ancientgran you've got this sorted!

I haven't brought an airfryer yet, though got one as a xmas present for dd1 and see how that goes first.
My cousin has an air fryer and we cooked bread in it the other day - came out nice.

Ive seen a fair few ideas on TikTok for air fryer recipes and ideas

Thanks @ivykaty44 I'm loving your confidence, hope I live up to it. I've never used TikTok, do you have to join?

I’m going to be in
and @ancientgran still come and see us, doesn’t matter if it’s tough we can support you

TikTok, do you have to join?

I think so - but you don't need to post anything, and there are some great 3 minute videos on there, some great recipes that Ive found. I love cooking and bookmark all the cooking videos. Its a big waste of time though! I have to limit myself to 10 minutes

@lifelongfrugaleer thank you, that is really nice.

I will have a look at TikTok, the airfryer was on advance orders so I won't get it till 4th January so I have time to make a plan.

Waves at gran. Get yourself back to the frugal thread, no judgment there.

My air fryer has been in constant use since I bought it. I did buy a large, two drawer one but have hardly used the oven since.

One thing myself and DD have been doing for ages (apart from shampoo and conditioner) is use up all the bits and bobs re cosmetics, soap, body moisturiser etc we have in the house. And we seem to have loads! I can't see we need anything for the foreseeable future. Had to buy a mascara yesterday, but that's honestly it in months (again, apart from hair stuff, which is from Lidl anyway). Okay, they aren't always what we'd choose, but we are fine.

I'm also recommending the Chase banking app. It's a debit card, so no overdraft etc, but 1% cash back on all spending for a year. I just transfer money over and use this for all spends that I do. You apply via the app in literally minutes. Has a 'round up' account paying 5% too.

We are pretty much veggie, and eat a lot of pulses and grains, reduces the cost and easy to batch cook.

Waves at life too.

One store cupboard meal we use a lot is simple pasta and pesto, all from Lidl. Can add olives, and veg you've got roasted off, halloumi if you're flush. So easy to make loads and use for lunches.

And dhal, mega cheap and easy, or chickpea curry etc.

@needastrongoneagain

I love pasta and pesto, so that will be going on the list

I make up noddles and curry sauce with peas, black kale and cheese - its like my dirty secret, love it as a quick supper

My other store cupboard meal is Spaghetti puttanesca, but omitting the capers, as im not so keen on them.

These meals I could have x4 in the cupboard and then pick out another 4 meals for the week to make twice and freeze - that would be all suppers/tera sorted

Might also get some oven fries and fish in breadcrumbs for a friday night chip shop supper, just incase we fancy a change

Soaked oats is a staple breakfast and frozen fruit on top is an easy topping.

Can anyone recommend dispensers for shampoo and conditioner please? Dd tends to use half the shampoo but all the conditioner and uses far too much of each anyway despite her very long hair. Half of it is splattered round the bathroom walls and on the bath. My hair is about 2 inches shorter and I don't use shampoo and conditioner in such unequal amounts. Then she gets cross when we run out of conditioner 🙄

Like the sound of the puttanesca!

I also do a 'use up' broth. All the tired veg that needs using, lots of pearly barley or lentils, stock and tons of seasoning. Timed usually for when I've qualified for the free Lidl bakery item, I'll get some tiger bread. Lasts two days. No waste either.

needastrongoneagain

I like a broth, I made a chicken soup this week with a broth - its good for the soul.

I purchase the anchovies in Aldi as they are 53p a tin opposed to 90p a tin in Sainsbury. I will stock up with 4 jars of olives and 4 tins of anchovies, I have spaghetti I the cupboard

Count me in We are pretty frugal on the groceries. We prioritise travel as try to go away in motorhome for two 6 week hols a year (we are retired but not on mega bucks by any means) so we already don't eat out, buy snacks/drinks out, etc. Clothes are my weakness and I definitely dont need any more.

I second the Chase account - £101 i round ups so far and there are no charges for use in Europe so great for travel. I also transfer the 1% cashback to my travel savings every month so that adds about £120 a year

I have one big day out planned with my DD but we are going to purchase each others Christmas presents so apart from lunch and train fares shouldn't be too expensive

Ive just retired so my income has hugely dropped, so I'm up for this

I have an app called Moneybox. I put away £5 a week, and link it to my bank account for rounding up transactions. Since last May (when I started) I've saved £600 which will help tremendously with Christmas. You have to give 95 days notice though, but this means I have £200 already towards whatever I choose for next year.
You have to make a minimum weekly contribution of £5, but you don't have to do the round ups.
For me, it's just putting the money somewhere out of the way so I know I'll be able to buy stuff later.
Might not work for everyone, but just an idea.

I agree. I find myself looking on Amazon and actually thinking 'what can I buy?' 😳😳

@Decafflatteplease
Could you link this frugal thread please? I'd like to join
Thank you!