NO SPEND 23

[LaurieFairyCake]

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

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...

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

@bridgewateremma ooooh it's the age, isn't it. I feel sorry for my parents when I think of 15 years old myself. I am pregnant with my first child now, god I'm hoping it won't be universe taking revenge on me 🤐

Oh that's exciting @xogossipgirlxo, lots of joy and fun to be had until you get to my stage! I was horrific too and drinking/smoking/boys at 13/14, which she isn't doing (to the best of my knowledge) but she looks at me/her family like we are shit on her shoe!

Today, I had grand plans of a castle visit (locally all closed due to high masonry work and don't properly open until Easter really), visiting the Kelpies (but Falkirk FC playing at home which makes parking tricky/area v. busy) or a local walk and cafe visit (rained overnight and still raining) so we are going to a new pool with flumes instead! £12.25 spent so far and probably snacks to come! I can't get away with a wee snack box for after swimming for my hulking teenagers!

@bridgewateremma I was like your daughter. Was doing quite well in school, no drinking, I met my husband when I was 17 etc., but exactly treated my family same way. I had my own opinions and views that didn't agree with my parents and I thought they're stupid. Now I'm about to become a mum I really changed my mind 180 degrees, even my husband noticed it. I used to be less patient with my mum and it's not the case anymore.

Sneaking in in the last few minutes for my end of week 7 review:-

£8.98 on a gift for DD1's friend and face wash for me
£15.00 on charm bracelet repair
£12.25 on family swim (cafe closed so bought no snacks, yahoo!)
= £36.23 spent and 4 x NSDs

February total spend @ end of week 7 = £95.66 + 10 x NSDs

I'm still spending too much on food (not counted above) and think that:-

1. I am over compensating for cutting back so much in my discretionary spending so using the food budget to treat myself
2. some of more 'treat food' shops, I would have previously put through on my card, now I'm definitely not doing that so by default our joint food spending has increased
3. significant food price rises for everyone
4. I'm greedy! I am starting an eating well/less plan soon though so hopefully that will help!

I'm talking to myself in here!

I've had a spendy couple of days:-

Yesterday, I bought a gift card for £10.00 for DD2 to take to a birthday party.

Today, I spent £3.70 on sweets, £3.00 on a photo frame in a charity shop (I regret this, I'm not even sure if I even like it, impulse buy!), £3.40 on a fancy chocolate bar to put in with a friend's birthday gift...

...AND £171.48 on a hotel and city centre parking to go to my close relative's memorial service in June. This couldn't be avoided - I want to go and pay my respects, I need to accompany my Mum and we can't get there and back in a day. However, I have a good plan to earn this money back PDQ so, rightly or wrongly, I'm not going to count it in my totals as, as far as I'm concerned, it's a temporary blip. I will need spending money for meals when I'm there but I will get to that nearer the time. I aim to make this money back over the next 5/6 weeks.

So...discretionary weekly spending so far £20.10.

We are all back to school/work tomorrow so hopefully a bit of routine and less gadding about will help.

I've been trying to stick to the rules that I set myself. We have had a take away or 2 recently so I feel like I failed!
For years we have wanted to move house but have decided we are going to stay put and decorate/new flooring the whole house and do the garden. We've put off doing these jobs as it seemed pointless if we were moving. I need to be more strict with myself to pay for it all!
One thing that I have been good at is no unnecessary spends on stuff I think we need but rarely end up using. I'm working my way through all the toiletries and cleaning products as I refuse to buy more unless I have too!

£3.48 yesterday in Asda as I had £15 voucher. Absolutely no veg there. I wanted to buy tomatoes and peppers. Grabbed some bananas, radishes, salad bag and apples instead 😥

We bought pram and car seat bundle yesterday woohoo, my husband was so excited he couldn't fall asleep last night😂It gets delivered today. We wanted to buy 2nd hand pram and new car seat, but this bundle was massively discounted and has good reviews, I hope we like it. It was within our budget too. We didn't make trip to Mamas&Papas etc., just bought online based on youtube and pictures. Maybe it's just me, but I can't be arsed trying out thousands of prams, it only makes me more confused.

Oh and I got £30 cashback for it! Double win. I already have £60 on my top cashback account. I wanted to buy cat fountain, so I might use the balance.

I'm sorry for your loss @bridgewateremma

I've had a weekend away and spent tons, but

a) it was lovely

b) went for 2 nights instead of 3 - meant I spent less overall/didn't need to think about budgeting so carefully but still felt like a proper break.

c) I have been so careful with money that I'm not stressed about spending a bit now and then.

All I need to do now is remember I'm not on holiday still!! Aiming for a few NSDs in a row.

@CrapBucket we all need weekends like this from time to time. Glad you enjoyed it.

Last day of half term here and I'm feeling tempted to spend.... all I need is milk and laundry liquid.... so I'm just posting to make myself accountable - I'm not going to buy anything other than that today!!

Ive got to buy wood and coal for the stove. Otherwise I'm planning a no spend day. Groceries have come in at £300 this month - includes cleaning stuff and a bottle of whisky so happy with that. We're both retired so it covers all meals.

Morning everyone 😊
Yesterday £35 quid in Polish shop.
I also had to switch to more expensive mobile contract as giff gaff doesn't work with cellular Apple Watch. Now I will be paying £18 instead of £10, not too bad, but since I got the watch I want to make the most of it.
We have no plans for the weekend, as husband is studying hard towards his exam, so we won't be spending money.

End of week 8 review:-

£10.00 gift voucher for DD2's friend
£3.40 sweets
£3.00 photo frame
£3.70 chocolate for my friend's birthday
£3.60 houmous as contribution to Greek evening
£11.35 coffee & snacks
= £35.05 spent + 4 x NSDs

February total spend @ end of week 8 = £130.72 + 14 x NSDs

My February monthly spending review and (restrictions incoming!) plans for March are coming up this evening.

How is everyone getting on?

Well done@ My February food spend, I'm ashamed to say, is nearly 3 x this for 2 adults, 2 teens, a primary aged child and 2 cats. Ridiculous. I'm not counting food spending on this thread, but I am increasingly aware I really need to cut back.

It's so tricky as we seem to have nothing in! I need washing powder & cleaning stuff (Home Bargains), playpieces (Home Bargains) then everything else seems to need to be replaced too - cereal, teabags, loo rolls, dishwasher tablets, cat food, cat litter, cat biscuits, olive oil, peanut butter, butter etc etc etc...

Well done all. I had to splash out on a laptop for DC to do their school work on but apart from that I've been really frugal since my little jaunt.

I've been trying a new way of shopping for groceries, just calling into the shop when I'm passing each day and buying ONLY what I need. I think its slightly cheaper but probably only because of the novelty factor.

End of FEBRUARY 2023 (month 2/18) review (week runs Sunday - Saturday):-

Wk 1 (4 days) £21.20 + 3 x NSDs
Wk 2 £38.24 + 3 x NSDs
Wk 3 £36.23 + 4 x NSDs
Wk 4 £35.05 + 4 x NSDs
Wk 5 (3 days) £0.00 + 3 x NSDs

= £130.72 February total spend and 17 x NSDs

[£130.72/28 days in month = £4.69 average daily spend
£130.72/11 spend days in month = £11.88 average spend on the days I spent money]

Year to date = £210.04 spent + 37 x NSDs

Looking at these figures, I'm aware that I've lost my focus a little and that I need to bring my spending back in line. This is supposed to be my No Spend Year, not Spend What I Like As Long As I Write It Down Year! Therefore, I'm planning a super frugal March so I am setting myself a strict spending budget of £50.00 or roughly £12.50 per week. I have a quiet month so, in theory, this should be OK.

I've paid £400.00 off my credit card today and will have another £460.00 to pay in the next few days/week. Then hopefully another £500.00 or so at the end of March/start of April, all being well, will keep me in line with my debt repayment plans.

I'm back on my diet today today, yahoo! Free & low calorie ideas are very welcome on how to make March less miserable!

Oooh I don't know what happened there with that post! In the app there's a random star in place of my text and on the mobile site, there's just some random letters! I couldn't have done that if I'd tried!

That paragraph was supposed to say:-

= £130.72 February total spend and 17 x NSDs

[£130.72 / 28 days in month = £4.69 average daily spend
£130.72 / 11 spend days in month = £11.88 average spend on the days I spent money]

Year to date = £210.04 spent + 37 x NSDs

Let's see if this makes more sense...

Bum, it's not worked again! Nevermind, I know what it was meant to say and it wasn't earth-shattering, just about keeping me accountable.

Ok wow. This really is working. In a life changing way. As we get paid mid month my timings are slightly different to everyone else. However when all the main bills come out on the 1st I’m usually scrabbling around trying to find enough to cover everything. This time we’ve more than enough. I’m absolutely flabbergasted how successful this is.
Thank you so much to the OP for starting this!

@LostCats great isn’t it?

the game changer for me was budgeting for the stuff that happens infrequently….so £200 a month on holidays, Christmas , car service, birthday presents or whatever even though that only happens infrequently….not just the monthly outgoings.

Yes!! I’ve actually enough money now to set aside for these things. Which I didn’t before. Which then removes stress for that. We have a sickly cat whose medication alone is £50 a month. And I can save ahead now. Which is such a relief

@BarrelOfOtters and @LostCats
lots of people call these sinking funds, you add up all irregeular but necessary and plannned spending per year then set aside 1/12th every month into a short term savings account at the same bank as main current account so you can switch money in some do 1/12th + 10% to allow for price increases
I include clothing allowances for everyone birthdays christmas family treats holidays a basic car and house maintenance amount, I also include car and house insurance as you can save by paying it all at once instead of instalments

I do something similar to this @Cottagecheeseisnotcheese, it's ace. @LostCats, would you consider changing the payment dates of all your bills to help budgeting or using a 'jam jar' banking app like Monzo? You've done brilliantly this month and I love hearing about your achievements, but I'm wondering if you could make it even easier for yourself?

My spends this week so far:-

Weds 1/3 £10.00 gift card for DD2's friend - she is off to a(nother) class birthday party later this month
Fri 3/3 £10.00 on coffee & cake birthday treat for a lovely friend after a walk around the cliffs. The chat was wonderful and this spend was 100% worth it (& in a friend's cafe too so definitely a good way to spend my limited ££!)

I am really trying. I have talked myself out of a number of spends this week including a Costa 2G2G bag for the kids, a Grande Big Mac meal and a breakfast roll while waiting around at DD2's activitiy this morning (I'm going to go to the supermarket instead) - all food related so I guess you can tell how my eating plan is going haha!

I'm hoping for a no/low spend day today. I'd love to take the kids somewhere as it looks dry and sunny but maybe the park will have to suffice! Housework is on the agenda too so off to stick my hair in a messy bun, put on some L-O-U-D music and get stuck in!!

@bridgewateremma
I am mortified to say I have never even thought of moving the payment dates. That’s absolutely genius thank you!
I’m going to look into doing it as it would be a massive help.