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

I don't use enough from Asda to warrant delivery and the quality is inferior especially on fruit and veg and they don't do my favourite yogurt, almond croissants, jam and toasting muffins. We are a family with big sensory issues around food. Good shopping is a nightmare. I'd go back to Tesco but I don't want to sign up to their Clubcard subscription to save money. I really need to up my game with cooking but it's a challenge.

I don’t particularly like Asda or Tesco but have Sainsbury, also Morrisons and Lidl all together about a mile away - that though is a problem as it’s so easy to pop in being so close. I can just nip down

Asda is on the school run and I don't drive so it's easy (too easy) to go in on the way back.
I'm thinking of buying crisps in bulk as in a box of them. A box for Dd and a box for ds and tell them when they are gone they are gone. I must be spending about £30 a month on crisps. I live crisps too but go through phases of eating them whereas dc would eat 2 packs a day no problem. Rationing them has not been successful. Ds is too little to ration himself but dd isn't. I tend to buy crisps in Asda as they are cheaper but I'm looking at eBay for big boxes.

We don’t have sensory issues to that extent but I hear you on limited diet and running out of stuff as it’s not on the list and having to go back

I'd like to join please! 🙋‍♀️

I would like to join please. Am pretty careful now but would like to boost my finances in January and February

I want to join too, please. In a few months I will be on maternity leave. My company pays only SMP, so there's a big drop of income ahead of me. In fact, I should plan no spending until July (and afterwards when baby will be here). I am definitely going to cut on luxuries, like buying make up (I don't need any more lip glosses, lipsticks etc.), clothes (that I won't fit for some time anyway), coffees out. Only necessities. My dad has birthday in January, but I never spend more than 20 -25 quid, so it's fine, plus I always put a bit aside each month to cover birthdays, Christmas etc.

Ive just retired, so my income will more than halve. However, I'll save on petrol to and from work, nipping over the road for a sandwich and spending £20 or so on stuff I 'think we might have run out if at home' or 'ooh, DH/DD will like that' and I will have more time to plan meals.
But what I really I need to do is leave my daughter behind when I go shopping .......

Rationing them has not been successful. Ds is too little to ration himself but dd isn't

have you got a garage where you could keep them? then just get out one or two packets a day and pop in the kitchen cupboard?

lots of people is going to be so much more fun trying to get as many no days spends runs in during January! Its got to be made fun to not be gloomy in the coldest darkest month 🤗

Hopefully we can all aim for 4/5 days in a row of no spend and then see if we can get a 6 or 7 day run of no spend in before the end of the month.

there was a woman on social media somewhere this year that had a trick with the food shopping

she shopped every 8 days, meals planned for every 8 days and got what she needed and didn't go back to the supermarket for 8 days and that way she said she saved a weeks shopping bill e very two months.

If we all meal planned for 8 days that would mean we would shop on the 1st, 9th, 17th, 25th then not again until 3rd February (opposed to shopping every 7 days which would be the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21th, 28th) You'd not spend as much topping up one extra days worth of meals each supermarket visit as you would if you do an whole extra shop

My dad has birthday in January, but I never spend more than 20 -25 quid,

see if you can find him something he'd like in the sales

Maternity is a hard one, but you will save money on fuel, lunch at work etc and also making meals, can you stock the freezer up with meals ready for baby arrival?

dexterslockedintheshedagain

retirement, such an exciting time - you get all that time to yourself and freedom! Like you say no having to op and get stuff just incase and fuel savings from not using the car - will you keep a car?

Do you have plans for your retirement?

Yes!

I've just done a nice big online Waitrose shop after going through the cupboards to see what we have that was hidden away. Lots of pasta and tomatoes, herbs and spices. I've ordered 3 types of vegan pesto so we will see how that goes.

Hi, I'd love to join in. I've been writing down everything I spend and have done a budget. Started on 5th November and will finish on 4th December. It's going well so far. I've made some things in the slow cooker and frozen it in portions. Veg casserole, shepherd's pie and a gammon joint. Im quite enjoying the challenge!
Strangely I'm quite under my food budget. It's just me and I've allowed £160 for the month, that also includes veg for my 3 guinea pigs. Doing a small you up shop tomorrow. Should bring my food spend up to £120 at most.

Top up even!

frustratedashell Sounds like you’ve made amazing savings! Well done

im having a run in chicken casserole in the slow cooker atm

it lasts 3 days here and then gets made into soup

its a leek and chicken thigh recipe with cream fraich added at the end and mustard

chicken thighs for 8 are £2.50 in Aldi so making use and 1.29 for two leeks

after eating the 6 chicken thighs between us I use the remains to add the other leek and a handful of potato to cook, then add more stick and blend

i use the other two thighs with rice and peas as another dinner.

if you want the chicken recipe let me know it’s very easy and delicious

Yes, it is exciting, but also scary! I've worked for 30+ years (the last 23 in stressful job) and now my time is my own. Have you ever seen the meme 'live life like someone left the gate open'? Well I feel like the dog in that!!
I have no plans apart from getting in top of my allotment (also a money saver, slightly but less so at this time of year) walking the dogs, and finally being ME.
I'll still need a car, but am paying off the loan and looking to possibly downsize. But I need a 'workhorse' for getting stuff to and fro said plot.
Might have lost money but I feel richer than ever!

Done my top up shop today. I've spent £97.70 since 5th November. Just got to last till Monday. I can't quite believe I've spent so little! Keep thinking I've missed something. Well and truly chuffed!

The big shop has arrived and it is most exciting with almond croissants, and special chutney for Christmas. I've plenty of fruit and veg and yogurts and now I need to think of something to make with it all for dinner tomorrow. I have too much choice now! I went to Asda for laundry detergent and fabric softener but that's all I bought. I have a Christmas shop booked for the 23rd and will see how we go with this lot and really try to make it last.

AutisticLegoLover

I have found M&S do frozen croissants, pain au chocolate and pain au rasin, they are £3.50 a bag of about 8-10 and rather tasty. Saturday breakfast after gym session with a homemade latte.

Ive been making red onion relish and tomato jam, chip as chips to make and some I give away as presents, along with homemade marmalade.

There is a brummy on TikTok who did Christmas dinner with homemade gravy for £19 to serve 6 there wasn't any cauliflower cheese but plenty of other food and looked delicious.

frustratedashell. thats fantastic - want to share what you've been eating? might help others with ideas

I've been buying value range stuff and cheaper options like liver, and I make casseroles in my slow cooker. Veg and bean casserole is cheap and filling . Curry and shepherd's pie. Sausages, fish fingers, gammon joint is very economical.
I buy fruit and veg that's not the expensive or exotic sort. So greens, carrots, parsnips, potatoes and apples (cheap bag of mini ), bananas, satsumas and plums.
Breakfast is usually porridge with fruit in it, lunch is a sandwich or occasionally toast and pate and some fruit. Fillings for sandwiches is often spam or fish paste. I buy own brand mostly, cheap biscuits, cheese, bread, spread.
I've stopped buying yoghurt, salmon, spinach, chocolate ( am trying to lose a few pounds!) And cake.
I look on it as a challenge. Plus I do the covid survey every month and get a £20 voucher for doing it. You can choose where the voucher can be spent so I usually get a tesco one.
I don't have much waste. I freeze my loaves by splitting each one into 3 ( saved bread bags are useful for this)
That's all I can think of for now

Unfortunately despite me saying multiple times “was it on the list?” Or “you need to let me know when it’s running low rather than when it’s already run out” they still somehow think that I should be doing a full cupboard audit every week. I do wonder however if I am enabling them by going out to get whatever it is as soon as possible so I am trialling making them wait until shopping day to see if that makes them take more responsibility

Plus I do the covid survey every month and get a £20 voucher for doing it

can you tell us more about this or a link? 😊