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…haven’t had time as have been digging in the garden the entire day. Absolutely exhausted and now in a bubble bath to try and recover. Can feel it did my mind the world of good though. Tomorrow is food shop. Haven’t been for a fortnight, and plan to get enough till pay day on 6th.
Kids have been so positive about reducing spending, they haven’t once complained of a lack of treats - they’ve made pancakes/flapjacks/scones when they do really want something.
Dinner tonight - egg, chips & beans, comfort food at its best!

Top up shop £3.74 . Last of the big spenders!

NSD so far and hoping it stays that way. I found a pack of mince lurking at bottom of chest freezer so have rescued manky veg from fridge for bolognaise

Spends this weekend (visiting family) were £52 on food and DH bought the petrol, £40 (not a full tank).
Spent £5.50 on coffee with a friend yesterday (my turn) and £3.50 on post school snacks top-up. Rent came out today so I'm feeling very poor. Now to limp along a few more days until payday.
Good luck all!

£41 in Aldi for main food shop. Shouldn't need anything else apart from bread until next Tuesday

NSD for me, which means 24 days. However DH treated me to a fish supper because I am feeling out of sorts. It came out of his account, not mine or the household account, does this count as no spend still? DH is not doing no spend, and I don't think he is really aware that I am either!

@Probablymagrat i think it counts. We alternate paying for our fish suppers, but the weeks DH pays I’m counting as no spend for me.

Well done on the baking!

@coodawoodashooda it actually works fantastically - teens get hungry, teens bake, I get to hear them laughing/chatting in the kitchen, I eat, I wash up. We all win! We are trying to find our most-favourite-flapjack, they made a lovely apple pie flapjack that goes great with a cuppa.

@Cullenskink gardening and baking sound lovely we did a big house clean last weekend so that was a NSD, however we do need some more cleaning products now!! My DTs are 7yo, DTS2 is really helpful but DTS1 has ASD and a real pain when he doesn't get attention, we have to give him a (manageable) job to do in order that we can crack on with everything.

I went to Aldi last week and even the basic baking ingredients have gone up in cost I'm sure their 'Perfect for Cakes' margarine was about 70p not long ago and now it's over £1!

Had a few NSDs last week as I managed to lose my debit card, but will need to buy a few fresh bits now I have it back - plus I did a big Boots order at the weekend to take advantage of the student discount offer. It's so cold here though that our biggest expense is still the heating.

@MissVeronicaSpeedwell it’s definitely the butter/baking spread that’s shot up isn’t it! I have good muffin recipes that you can use oil in, I’m finding myself doing these more and more, as mini muffins cooked in the air fryer.

NSD today, however I went to buy some hair mousse for my elderly Mum. Paul Mitchell stuff. I nearly had heart failure!!
£36.65 for a 500ml can. She's obviously got more money than sense. She's paying for it, not me. I just can't believe it's so expensive. That would feed me for about 10 days.

Out of curiosity, what country is it? Sounds very expensive, wow.

£5 on food in Aldi - none essential. £65 on wood for fire 0.99 on kindle book. Again not needed - have 3 books from library sitting looking at me. I'm really disappointed with myself

So after managing a £17.25 shop last Thursday with £15 of that being nectar points the week has gone well. I did do a Lidl top up, I think it was about £12. I've had to do my main shop a day early but that seeks OK after such a cheap week. Today I spend £63.72 at Sainsburys but I used my Topcashback money to buy a £50 gift voucher so only spent £13.72 in "real" money. Clawing back a bit for the washing machine and the good news is DH came up with half the money so I might not be in the red next week. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I tested positive for covid on Sunday morning and feeling pretty poo - being ill plus staying at home to avoid passing it on def helps with curbing the spends. NSD (for me at least) Sunday, Monday and today. Bought a few essential clothing items online for kids yesterday.

Good thing too as pay day is gonna be shit this month - HMRC taking a shed load off me due to what I owe on the child benefit charge. I'm fuming with them for taking it so quickly, managed to get tax code adjusted for feb but it was too late for January.

The need to watch spends more carefully over next few months got me investigating apps and I tried a couple out over last few days. I usually went with Emma as it's top rated but I couldn't get the hang of it at all and it didn't seem to give me option of just the free version. I then tried Snoop and much preferred it - really clearly tracks spending and I can see where ours has spiked over last few months. Much of it due to unavoidable things like having to buy a new fridge but def overspent on Xmas presents. Would def recommend it - just seen they do a £5 voucher for referrals so posting the link here Hi there. Take a look at Snoop - this new app I’ve found that I think can save you money! https://click.snoop.app/M2Tu/myqsvpjm .

@grannycake I’m writing a list of books that I’ve nearly bought on kindle to either request from library or give to my family as my birthday wish list later in year. It’s helping curb my book buying.
I decided against going food shopping today, really couldn’t deal with people, so am dredging the barrel food wise till next Tuesday. Sigh. But will save us money! Tonight’s dinner was vegetarian curry & brown rice, tomorrow will be leftovers.

NSD for me, but an uexpected vet bill today has nicely wiped out the January savings. Almost to the penny. But this is vital expenditure, so I will more or less break even, which is a win because I would have been overdrawn otherwise. Now I have to track down the insurance policy as more treatment will be needed.

I think I'll have to start using the oil-based recipes @Cullenskink - used 100g of margarine today in a cake recipe so am down to about 250g! Trying to wait till next month and then I'll pick some up in an Aldi/ Lidl shop.

Sorry to hear about the vets bill@Probablymagrat , I hope your insurers pay up quickly!

NSD yesterday.. apart from insurance which I save for all year and pay in one lump. Resent it every time though.

Need bread and milk this morning but will send D0 as he's far better at resist8ng impulse buys than me

It's been a low spend week but I'm now down to £24 to last me until Tuesday.

Not sure I'm going to make it now. I'm sick of scrimping and saving. I probably just need a lot more fruit and veg as that has run down and we're just living off plain cheese sandwiches and fish fingers.

I'm due my child benefit this month, which I'm checking each day to see if it's come in. Got paid last on 30 Dec, but before that I was always getting it at the beginning of the month, so I'm not sure why it's changed.

Oh meant to say I've not even bought a takeaway coffee or snack all month- an absolute record for me!

OMG just a few more days to go

Ive today received my bonus for switching banks!

Ive had 3 free days at a different gym - didn't like it so will not be swapping

Ive had a free yoga class

and am having a free trail with a walking group next week

I have done three top up shops this week, juts a few items to get me through till Friday - which will mean Ive gone two weeks on one shop, so saved money there.

my new total for food shopping in January so far £143.13
my new total for fuel in January £98.89

Haircut £22
supper was delicious £35 with tip and pudding
coffee with friend today, my turn to pay £7.60
sealife £30 + coffee £10
a&e parking £4.70

Ive got afternoon tea booked on Saturday for a friends birthday, so that ll be £35

But roll on next Tuesday, the last day of the month

Cuppa and a croissant in a coffee shop today, £4.55. top up shop £8. Am within my budget for this food this month, got £25 left to last me till 5th Feb. I should be able to do that. Got stuff in the freezer, I batch cook . Pleased with my progress