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

NSD here today, but I think the breadmaker has broken, but I am hoping its the yeast gone off. Today's loaf was a very small, very hot, very dense brick. I've tried again with a new box of yeast, I should know by about 8 PM this evening if I need a new breadmaker or not.

So lack of bread meant soup with ryvita and cheese for lunch and a veggi lasanga is in the oven for tea, with garlic wedges and salad. I know that's a bit carb heavy, but its cold and miserable and I want carbs.

NSD today. Been a day of sorting out so no need to spend money!

My food/toiletries shop has come in so far at £208.04. Has included bulk bought toilet roll, washing powder and restock of toiletries. So pretty happy with that! Cat spends £36.47 but had to restock the litter and biscuits which I buy in bulk.

Spent more than I planned today. Met up with my adult daughter for coffee. £6.60 . I had my sons 4 month old son for the day. Was quite tired afterwards so got my tea from the chip shop. £11.00, more than I anticipated but it was nice.

I am also up for continuing through Feb Will be another NSD Sausage sarnies for lunch and fish pie for tea - will make enough for two so one can go in the freezer

I have done really well this month. I have had to buy some wall tiles and plasterboard for work that is being done in my house, but I need to do the house up a little as I want to AirBnB it in the summer and try and make some money. I live in a very touristy area so am hoping to make some extra money this way in August.

Yesterday was a testing day for me, I went to our local big city to see my sons. I usually go a little crazy because they have decent shops like Zara, Sephora etc and I usually treat my DCs to lunch because they are both students in uni. This time however, I took stuff to make us sandwiches so that saved me a small fortune. I've been trying to get my oldest son some housing benefit as his flat is very expensive and he really had no money to spare each month. That came through for him this week, backdated to July when we first made the application, so he was feeling very rich and bought me a coffee in a coffee shop.

Over the last few weeks I've had an urge to get some storage for my vinyls. I live in a flood zone so in winter usually everything has to be lifted and stored upstairs quite quickly. So I've been looking at some kind of decorative box to store the vinyls in that will be easy just to pick up and take upstairs. I found the perfect thing on the internet this morning but it was 45.00 euros. I thought I'd maybe ask the DCs to club together and get it for me for my birthday. But then I remembered a little crate that looked similar that I had upstairs in a cupboard and it's perfect, so money saved. While I was in the cupboard I also found a heated throw that I haven't used for about 5 years, so I'm going to try and sell that too. So my storage needs are sorted and I've spent no money. What a great start to the day.

That is a great start to the day, I’m going to carry on to Easter hols as that’s when my spends starts to ramp up

Did the food shop yesterday at Aldi for £80, it's been relatively cheap up to now as I've been using things up.

I did get loads and apart from topping up fruit & veg it should last us the rest of the month.

It's been quite an expensive weekend so far - a big day out yesterday, a small top up shop this morning for guests, and I'll do a proper shop later on for the rest of the week.

Also decided to put fuel in the car. Was thinking I might have been able to last until Feb, but got a big journey next weekend. So put the fuel in today so I'm ready for that journey and not rushing about in a panic nearer the time.

Now counting down the days until February really.

Going to try selling some clothes this week, and returning old items to see if I can get any money back.

Also got to email a club for a refund- £15, and claim work expenses £35. So 🤞 that all goes through.

I've been quite spendy this weekend!
Just bought lunch out in a coffee shop £6.20 and last night I bought a rug online, though it was only £25 which I thought was a bargain. Going to pick it up shortly.
In my defence I wasn't well this morning, had an attack of vertigo. Mild one thank God.

Hello everyone. Managing to keep to my plan of NS/LS and keeping downward pressure on essential food costs. So far, have been emptying the fridge/freezer/cupboards rather than stock up, and have managed on £121 for the first 10 days of January for food and household essentials; then another £101 for 11 - 20 January for the same. Aiming to live off the chicken I bought yesterday (£4.99, Sainsbury's) and what we have in already for the next 2-3 days, and keep spends low until Friday, when we go away for the weekend (accommodation paid for with a Christmas gift of money from my parents). That will be spendy, as we'll be buying lunches and dinners and treating DS, but at least breakfasts are paid for.

Non-essentials so far this month:
£10 for admin fees for two ballet tickets via a cheap/free tickets club
£11 for a better moisturiser - skin too dry for the one I currently have.

Have to claim some expenses and cash in a Prolific survey earnings balance, which will bring in about £30 or so.

Definitely up for continuing in February - not sure I can manage quite this level of forebearance/privation, but certainly willing to keep myself on a tight rein for the sake of achieving my bigger goals this year!

Day 22 of no spend, have got a cold or somthing coming so feel like shit. So instead of roast dinner we had sausage and veg tray bake for lunch, and egg on toast for tea. Will bung the chicken in the slow cooker tomorrow and have it with mash and veg.

Saturday was a birthday and spent £30 on an outing and Sunday ended up in A&E all afternoon and just under £5 parking for 4 hours

next 5 days I’m going for NSD

Saturday maybe to make 6th but have a free walking and drink afterwards

sunday I’m being treated to afternoon tea!

I reckon I can stretch the shopping till Tuesday or Wednesday with just a top up of two items. Did top up last Friday of a few items - will tot up later to see what my supermarket shops are coming in at and petrol

Saturday finished with no non-essential spends (just groceries). NSD yesterday. I'm aiming for NSD Mon-Fri this week.

Next weekend we are going to buy new walking boots for DP as he's been struggling with his - we will use DD's staff discount to bring the cost down a little, but likely to be fairly spendy! Think we will combine with a visit to see DD so will probably have lunch somewhere, but if I can manage 6/7 days I'll be happy!

Definitely planning on carrying on for the next couple of months at least & try to build up the coffers after the excess of the last few months. Most family birthdays fall in the last quarter of the year & all insurance renews Dec / Jan so it's always an expensive time of year! We do put money aside to cover every month, so technically it's covered, but it makes me feel somewhat nervous to see all of those pots wiped out come January!

Another NSD. Sorted out 15 pairs of shoes and several handbags for a charity appeal. DH has just taken 5 bags of assorted junk to the tip. We are starting (fingers crossed) on some building work which will impact on all our downstairs rooms so need to make space in the spare bedroom for stashing stuff out of the way

Today will be a NSD , tomorrow will be very small top up shop. So not bad

Ok, I have £49 left until 1 Feb.

All bills have come out.

Did a top up shop today.

Have bought tickets for weekend outing and got fuel in the car.

Will realistically need to buy bread, milk, cheese and cat food over the next week.

I'm sure this is possible!

NSD yesterday and today. Have to buy birthday stuff for youngest over next wee while but I’m keeping it as simple and value as I can. Scrambled eggs with onions & spinach on toast for dinner.

Very possible @talkingfarm and good discipline too!

£8 coffees today, very rare spend.

Got a lot more for the sale of DH's car than we'd thought so very happy days here!

Day 24 . Low spend day , £2.99 for cookies
Non essential spends total so far £24.98 😃

Oh and I did spend £44 on tickers to see Lem Sissay in March over the weekend but we go out so very little these days due the DH's ill health that I don't begrudge the cost.

I don't live in the UK so don't know how comparable it is, but I had to buy potatoes and butter yesterday. The only potatoes available was a 5kg sack, no smaller options available and was 9 euros, and 500g of butter was 5 euros. 14 euros on potatoes and butter, it's so expensive at the moment. Even when we're not buying extras we're being stung on basics.

That is money well spent!!

We saw Lem Sissay last year at a Poetry Festival - Henry Normal also spoke/performed that evening. Both were brilliant - very thought provoking, but also extremely funny. Hadn't laughed so much in ages.

Also if you get the chance - John Cooper Clarke is so worth an evening out...he's sharp as a razor still.

Saturday was NSD but for some reasonon Sunday I decided everyone would like ice cream and pizza.. £14! Whoops.

Yesterday milk and fruit so another £8.55.

What I am struggling with is constant adverts for things I'd like to buy especially anything at a really good cost or has a nice freebie attached.. So far I've resisted but its all so tempting. I dint NEED them I just want them.

The worst if it is that despite trying not to spend I've still got less than I did on 24th November ( no point looking at December it's always insane) and I still need to pay insurance

Little bit spendy over the weekend.
spent £30 on drinks/food after ds’ birthday party and £49.30 on cat food (lasts approx 7 months)
Also had a couple of my Amazon subscriptions come (come quarterly) which adds around £40 onto the groceries spend

new totals:

groceries £436

presents for own dc birthdays £210

birthday presents for other people £88

other £129.80