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Original poster

NO SPEND 23

549 replies

LaurieFairyCake · 30/12/2022 19:33

I'm going HARD CORE. There's already a no spend January - I want to go ALL THE FUCKING WAY as far as possible

And I want to take YOU down with me Wink

I confess it's easier for me as I am literally drowning in stuff even now. I've lost 6 stone in weight and I've got rid of 15 black full bags of clothes in last six months so I'm on a roll.

I also work all the fucking time so I have about 50 books to read and all the tv I want to watch. And I can't be arsed doing anything to my house so that's out.

I also want to do this for the environment - I already buy second hand as much as possible as I'm obsessed with EBay - but I could still do with buying much less

I've no idea what the rules could be, let's decide that if I get anyone on board.

My own thoughts are to get as FAR as possible.

I have bought a jumper in the sales already I don't need 🤦‍♀️ which is what kicked this off in my mind today - yadda yadda half price blah blah but I have 20 jumpers! And I had drunk half a bottle of port last night when I purchased it online... HmmGrin

So given my flawed premise anyone want to join me???

OP posts:
needastrongoneagain · 20/01/2023 17:35

Absolutely brilliant! Really well done.

Only essential spending today for an accessible taxi.

Going out for a curry tomorrow but it's the work's postponed Christmas Do, and free. I'm going to drive anyway too.

Mashedpotatosandsausages · 20/01/2023 18:03

Really annoyed, am £600 in credit with my electricity company and requested some back plus a reduction in direct debit…they’ve refused to do both, says it has to be one or the other. I’m not sure which helps my no-spend mindset the most.
£40 for wellies for DD18 today, essential buy but feeling forlorn about how much has had to go out this month, really hope next month is better. I am pleased I’ve curved my comfort-spending though, ok it was always for the family or home but it’s still not necessary.

Norfolkungood · 20/01/2023 18:24

I feel like this month so far I've spent a lot. Over £200 on my car and over £200 to the cattery. I have to keep telling myself that I'd have even less money if I had been buying take aways/eating out and spending on other non essentials.

We are going out for a meal tomorrow for a family birthday. I will enjoy being with family but I'll be annoyed I have to spend money😅

bridgewateremma · 20/01/2023 21:03

NSD#14

Discretionary weekly spending total £37.60.

bridgewateremma · 21/01/2023 15:22

Hopefully another NSD. Today I've walked to Asda (food shopping from household budget) and McDonalds (DS bought himself a Big Mac, his idea to go, I didn't have anything). We are home now and I'm off to teach DS how to make paella for tea!

Eldest DD is at a sleepover and youngest DD is at a friend's for a play.

NSD#15

Discretionary weekly spending total £37.60.

clary · 21/01/2023 16:36

Well done everyone especially @Dexterslab on the outstanding!

Not a great couple of days - bought Costa coffee yesterday (but first all week) and that gave me free one which I used today with DD; she had a sandwich as well but that was all I paid for so only £3.

bridgewateremma · 21/01/2023 17:18

bridgewateremma · 21/01/2023 15:22

Hopefully another NSD. Today I've walked to Asda (food shopping from household budget) and McDonalds (DS bought himself a Big Mac, his idea to go, I didn't have anything). We are home now and I'm off to teach DS how to make paella for tea!

Eldest DD is at a sleepover and youngest DD is at a friend's for a play.

NSD#15

Discretionary weekly spending total £37.60.

OK, cancel that! I've just booked a table at a lovely place for a special occasion I have coming up and needed to pay a £5 deposit.

End of week 3 review:-

£12.70 on Starbucks
£2.00 craft foam
£22.90 on 3 x No. 7 products
£5.00 on cafe deposit

= £42.60 spent and *4 x NSDs, not great!

January total spend so far = £53.68 + 14 x NSDs

I'm disappointed with how this week has gone, it's brought my average spent right up :-(

Dexterslab · 21/01/2023 19:03

Thanks all, very proud of it I've worked hard!

My daughter got croup Thursday night so plans cancelled for Friday, she's fine now! No spend all week apart from the cookbook (which arrived today and is great, loads of tips for batch cooking and cooking on a budget I'm looking forward to trying sone out!).

Out for breakfast with friends tomorrow to brewers fair but both kids eat free with my £9 breakfast and they eat loads and we all get to see her friends so I'm happy with it!

LostCats · 22/01/2023 08:19

Caved yesterday and spent £4.28 on an online game I love. First time I’ve ever put money into a game.
I’ll be completely honest I needed the spending ‘high’. I have a long term chronic pain condition and it’s been a bad week and I just needed a happy. In hindsight I’m actually glad I did it as it was really cheap and I felt and still feel so much happier.
Shows you don’t need to spend a lot to make yourself happy 😆

And now I’ve done it, I have absolutely zero desire to spend again in the near future.

Passthecake30 · 22/01/2023 12:39

NSD yesterday and hopefully today, only spends are food related and that’s just going up and up! Still eating Xmas snacks and drinking Xmas alcohol as we were ill over Xmas so it’s not all bad.
Actually, I tell a lie, we’ve changed our life insurance and that’s increased by £20 a month.

clary · 22/01/2023 13:36

OK day today - bought a Costa to cure the headache I woke up with (usually works tho not sure it has today - I may actually be ILL as I slept 11 hours last night!) – but not going out again as have multiple house tasks.

Have paid my cr card bill and also paid £160 for two new tyres on my car; not sure that this is discretionary as I need it for my 25-mile commute; front tyres are looking worn and don't want to run risks in the frosty and wet weather. So technically have spend £500 today but the cc bill was v low as previously noted, and the tyres are essential (plus I got a 10% code discount).

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 22/01/2023 15:55

car maintenance is not discretionary but it needs to be budgeted for tyres need replacing every so often like oil changes and new brake pads or discs and screen wash, . A tyre bursting after you had it 2 months is an unplanned for expense, tyres replacement after 25,000 miles is a known upcoming expense. I needed to learn this so my budget was sorted properly, that somethings i was counting as emergencies were actually totally predictable events that needed to be in my budget from the start of the year

clary · 22/01/2023 16:08

yeps I mean I have the money for it, and yes indeed, had back tyres replaced last year and not had these ones replaced at all (from memory) so it's deffo time (have had the car 18mo+ and have indeed done about 25k miles - big commute)

Cullenskink · 23/01/2023 23:25

NSD today and yesterday. Really pleased with how this first month is progressing; life/my mind feels a lot more peaceful somehow. Oh, and a plus point - we are a large family and usually have to put multiple bins out on each Bin day…nope, don’t have to tomorrow as only one recycling one is full, even after the fact I live v rurally so have to get most stuff delivered and in packaging. Just so much less everything!

bridgewateremma · 25/01/2023 19:05

My spending this week so far:-

  • £10.64 Home Bargains on sweeties to go with birthday gifts and stickers for crafts for my youngest
  • £3.00 Hobbycraft on shredded tissue paper to make a gift basket for a friend
  • £7.00 on new Maybelline mascara (£12 each or 2 for £14 so split the cost of 2 with eldest DD)
= £20.64

Definitely not perfect, but my spending has undoubtedly reduced and I'm spending more mindfully. This time of year is always tricky for me with lots of birthdays and parties. I am definitely cutting back by making cards, reusing gift bags and being creative about gifts. I also spent some Boots Advantage card points (finally!) on a good friend's birthday gift for February (a set of essential oils she'll love).

Discretionary weekly spending total so far £20.64

clary · 25/01/2023 19:56

Yesterday - spent money on food shopping and also bought DD a starbucks to celebrate her going to her job interview (big step for her; she didn't get the job but it's all experience); I had my free one for my birthday.
Today - took lunch - yellow sticker sandwich 28p from last night and fruit. NSD yay.

bridgewateremma · 27/01/2023 09:08

Yesterday was NSD#16

Discretionary weekly spending total so far = £20.64.

CrapBucket · 27/01/2023 12:28

Is anyone else BORED of this? I've been continuing with NSDs and only paying for groceries, bills, school dinners etc. It feels quite grim and relentless as I don't seem to be better off!!

I think its just the cost of food being so high and of course its better than being in debt - but a bag of pasta that was 30p is now 80p. I already have a full time role, a Saturday job and a cash in hand bit of work and I don't have the energy to change my main job due to how it would impact my kids and dog.

I know I'm lucky overall but I'm feeling rather woe is me.

bridgewateremma · 27/01/2023 12:59

CrapBucket · 27/01/2023 12:28

Is anyone else BORED of this? I've been continuing with NSDs and only paying for groceries, bills, school dinners etc. It feels quite grim and relentless as I don't seem to be better off!!

I think its just the cost of food being so high and of course its better than being in debt - but a bag of pasta that was 30p is now 80p. I already have a full time role, a Saturday job and a cash in hand bit of work and I don't have the energy to change my main job due to how it would impact my kids and dog.

I know I'm lucky overall but I'm feeling rather woe is me.

I absolutely agree @CrapBucket, and it's really not like we are seeing the benefit - you because of CofL/food prices and me because every spare penny I don't spend is going on my c/c.

I have a part-time job, 3 cash in hand jobs and picked up another job taking minutes last night, for around £80 per month. Its such a juggle and I constantly feel grumpy I can't reward myself for working so hard!

I think I need to work harder on finding joy in simple pleasures - walks in wintry sunshine, skincare, hot bath, reading, jigsaws, board games with kids - but it's so HARD!

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 27/01/2023 13:36

@CrapBucket and @bridgewateremma even if you have no spare money left at least for NSD are stopping you going into debt which is a big plus granted not the buzz of seeing savings grow but a plus nevertheless I sympathise as have been there but finding joy in simple stuff and if possible just giving yourself even £10 a month to spend on coffee with a friend or something can make it a bit easier

CrapBucket · 27/01/2023 15:41

Thanks for being so understanding. Definitely a good idea to find the joy in small things - and probably to allocate myself a tiny treat budget - plus it will all feel better in spring I know.

TherealMRC · 27/01/2023 15:57

This reply has been deleted

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LostCats · 28/01/2023 14:53

Been feeling a bit down on myself as had a few wobbles and bought a few things.
All due to chronic illness and there are days when I just can’t cope.
Anyway. Just did finances. The impact of vastly reduced spending has already made a huge difference! Am so so pleased!
So grateful for this chat to keep me motivated even if I do have a wobble or 5 😁

CrapBucket · 28/01/2023 17:33

LostCats · 28/01/2023 14:53

Been feeling a bit down on myself as had a few wobbles and bought a few things.
All due to chronic illness and there are days when I just can’t cope.
Anyway. Just did finances. The impact of vastly reduced spending has already made a huge difference! Am so so pleased!
So grateful for this chat to keep me motivated even if I do have a wobble or 5 😁

Well done Lostcats! Being ill is very tiring and costly, I'm not surprised you needed to treat yourself. I am finding a difficult part of not spending is not being able to give flowers etc to my poorly friends- I have quite a few at the moment. I try and message them thoughtfully but its not always the same.

Anyway - flowers and wine/schloer for you - FlowersWine

LostCats · 28/01/2023 17:35

Aah thank you!! That’s such a kind and uplifting message. I really appreciate it 😊