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

Oops - I probs should have said that ds is only 5 and that actually, dividing by 3 for the whole family, it's not super extravagant (depending on how much DH spent in total - but it's definitely less than I did overall, this month!).

@AutisticLegoLover i love all the 3’s in your food spend 😀
Finished the month with a NSD which is nice.

I don’t think I can get our groceries much lower, especially as we had a lot of snacks and cupboard stuff in already this month but if I can get it under £3 per person per day again I’ll be really happy.

Expected spending for feb: Have already bought dds birthday present for this month, have two presents to buy towards the end of the month also a meal out for dn 18th birthday. And another meal out for two friends’ birthdays. Need to do party bags and cake for dds birthday. And my car is booked in next week for mot and service. Hopefully won’t have much more to pay for on top of all that little lot!

Are we all doing February?

I only ever do January as a reset to balance the bank

but if you want to do a £280 February challenge fire away, I’m sure they’ll be many on the thread

ill see you in January 24

I'm happy to carry on for February. January has been pretty good, areas in particular were toiletries, petrol and eating out (one pizza takeaway for my birthday and a curry paid for by work where I drove), no clothes spends apart from a pack of pants for DH😁.

Slightly less frugal was food spends, and I can definitely reduce this, but we hardly eat out or have takeouts, take lunches to work and don't buy coffees etc, so I'd rather enjoy cooking and having good food, we are also 90% vegetarian too which helps.

I bought 3 recipe books with birthday money, so that feels like a treat.

I've put money into spending 'pots' for various things and have quite enjoyed the process, without feeling too deprived of enjoyment in life!

I’m going to carry on for feb
we’ve made some good savings, some thoughtful choices
definitely food here, we need to eat less meat but the dc will be a challenge there

www.mumsnet.com/talk/cost_of_living/4733052-low-spend-february New thread for feb

Thanks for the new link, @Orcubed - I've found you over there!

And thanks for hosting us and being so helpful and supportive through January, @ivykaty44!

Very pleased with my total non essential spends for the month £37 . I also saved £120 on normal food shoppmg bill for the month. Will continue mindful spending into Feb and have joined new thread ..

Thanks @Milkyworm!! We really like the Simply Cook meals,but find it harder and harder to justify ordering a box.Will enjoy your free one😍

Tyvm@Milkyworm! Have ordered my box,hope you get yours in return 😊