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???

Thanks @grannycake, safe journey home!

A great frugal week! I did offer to take my LO out this afternoon but she was too tired after a busy morning so we've stayed home and crafted instead.

End of week 20 review (to Saturday 20th May):-

= £0.00 spent + 6 x NSDs

I did spend while away for the weekend last weekend (as noted above) but this came from a separate 'pot'.

= £104.87 monthly running total for discretionary spending.

Apart from food shopping/being greedy, which is my real nemesis (which comes from a joint budget), I'm doing really well at being thrifty! We've been making birthday cards today. I have been round the charity shops this week but not bought anything. It helps (in a way) that I don't want to buy anything for me just now (due to my weight gain) and LO is out of sizes you get lots of in charity shops (plus her wardrobe is full to bursting anyway).

It's my teen son's birthday this week but we have some money saved up for a meal and I have all his gifts and card & wrapping paper already bought from a 'birthday pot'.

Have a good week!

Lovely updates! I could just eat a plateful of Brie right now. Enjoy your chilled out week @grannycake

@bridgewateremma those stats are staggering! Well done! I went to parkrun this morning, which is free and a good way of being active, if you felt like trying it?

Tonight I cooked a truly dreadful meal and was expecting DD to admit it wasn’t nice, however she said she enjoyed it. I was kind of planning to get a takeaway but had no excuse…. So I’ve had a NSD. Been an expensive week apart from that as 2 kids doing exams = lots of treats or their favourite fruit or whatever. And tomorrow I will be busy all day with no time to spend which is good!

Hi

I was hoping I could join this thread. Feel like I was really good at trying to save and reducing spending in the autumn but recently things have gone to pot. Need to be more frugal and be accountable!

Hoping for a no spend June and beyond. Also very aware that summer holidays are soon and always seems to be a expensive time with kids!

Welcome @ChristmasComing123!

Please join in @ChristmasComing123

We are back from our travels. One load of washing done and hanging on racks. Builder who was supposed to tile outside as well as render walls hasn't started the tiling. He will start tomorrow- the mess on the floors when we came home was dreadful so he's not my favourite person at the moment but in his defence we have no rear entrance so he has to go through house. Apparently it will be done in 3 days - we'll see

Then we have to paint the render and paint the living room as this is where the kitchen is being regimes. I need to buy a radiator as the one already in the room is too large for the new location. We will reuse in new snug (our current kitchen)

So even more we need to make sure we don't fritter money. I have the budget for the work, the kitchen is paid for but it's an old house and I've been caught out in the past by unexpected costs

By the way it's warmer here in Wales than it has been in France

Can I join in! I know I'm a bit late to the party but maternity leave has started and I have become utterly stressed and overwhelmed at the thought of my pay being drastically reduced and need to act quick and save while I'm still getting some money!

Have loved reading all your updates and they have kept me super motivated!

Had a freakish NS day myself today as it's my birthday weekend, so was treated to lunch by my parents and a cinema trip this evening! Have done my weekly online shop though, but went for a cheap cheap saver slot and managed to keep the whole week food under 105 pounds - using a LOT of the Tesco clubcard deals!

Welcome @peachesandsweets and Happy Birthday! When is your baby due?

End of week 21 review (to Saturday 27th May):-

£35.30 (expensive) breakfast out with DD1 - end of exams treat
£10.85 tea with DS at IKEA
£7.30 ice cream and juice at the park
£7.00 sweets (not proud of this)
£4.00 12 x various sizes furoshiki wraps (on sale - I'm hoping this will save me money on wrapping paper)
= £64.45 spent + 3 x NSDs

= £169.32 running total for monthly discretionary spending.

A lot of eating out and treats this week so I definitely need to cut back on that. Seeing it written down is pretty frightening. I've had to dip into my (tiny) savings to afford the above, which is very annoying. My new healthy eating regime starts tomorrow, which will really help. I'm hoping for a run of NSDs now - fingers crossed.

I will be sending out a few invoices this week to allow me to pay another £275.00 off my card, leaving £1,000 on one card and £4,618 on the other, I just cannot wait until I'm down to one card - £1,275.00 to go!

I'm still waiting on a start date for my new job, it may still be ages, but I feel in limbo and all discombobulated as there's so much to sort out - money wise but also childcare, holiday, handing in various notices, sorting out working shifts - none of which I can do until I've got a start date. But there's nothing I can do to speed up the process and I know it's in hand.

End of May already! I'm feeling a bit anxious tonight. I feel a lot of uncertainty about how I'll be able to stick to my plan due to the new job situation and I just want things to move forward but there's nothing anyone can do - I'm in limbo waiting for my clearances. If it does all go ahead (please please) then one of the only down sides is that I am forbidden from doing any work outwith my employment which really restricts my repayment plan. I haven't worked out how to solve this problem yet - I need and want to earn more and this job is more hours and more money and something I'm desperate to do but my earnings will be joint money we really need with food/fuel/mortgage rises. Aaarrrrggggghhhhh!

Anyhoo! End of MAY 2023 (month 5/18) review (week runs Sunday - Saturday):-

Wk 1 (6 days) £39.75 + 4 x NSDs
Wk 2 £65.12 + 3 x NSDs (2 days on hol)
Wk 3 £0.00 + 6 x NSDs (1 day on hol)
Wk 4 £64.45 + 3 x NSDs
Wk 5 (4 days) £23.20 + 1 x NSD

= £192.52 April total spend and 17 x NSDs

Year to date = £834.66 spent + 84 x NSDs

I've spent a wee bit more than planned this week/month and joint spending (not counted here) is going bonkers again. Everything is so expensive and I'm at an expensive life stage. I could have done without my boomer friend coming into work today to tell me about his 10% increase on his state pension, gold plated final salary personal pension, 2 properties, mulitple cruises and a free £100 from Nationwide last week!

I'm hoping for a frugal June - you heard it here first! I have a couple of lunches and birthdays and a couple of events. I just need to try and keep spending low.

Should read:-

£192.52 May total spend & 17 x NSDs

Keep going @bridgewateremma you've done so well already and you can do it. I have spent a lot this week mostly planned due to renovation but I haven't been able to resist extra stuff for my outside space - new cushions for existing chairs, new BBQ (& accessories) and I also bought a refurbished ipad as my chromebook is dying and I have been without an ipad since retiring and thought I could manage with just my phone (& in truth I can but don't want to anymore)

So onto June and the purse string are once more tightened. New outside space should be finished next week so then we are onto preparing for new kitchen which we will fit ourselves in July

Thanks @grannycake! That sounds like a spendy couple of weeks but absolutely justifiable. I am planning to buy myself something I've been coveting when (if?) I get my first wage from my new job, possibly months away yet but I'm still planning - current thoughts are a nutribullet, a smartwatch or a Samsung tablet! Only one of these though!

I was hoping for a NSD today but have bought a ticket to a community quiz night in a few weeks - £8.25. BUT... today I finished a small piece of work I've been putting off, invoiced, they paid straight away and I paid the £75.00 off my c/c. I have also invoiced for another £200.00 and will pay that off immediately when received. I get a real buzz out of making all these payments and seeing the balance decrease!

And from joint money, I overpaid the mortgage by £33.40 - such a small amount but it made me very happy. At present, it looks like our monthly mortgage payment will rise by a terrifying amount in less than 2 years time so I'm trying to pay a bit more each month in preparation.

Yes I'm worried about mortgage rates increasing. We're only fixed until the start of next year. Hopefully once childcare costs lesson come autumn we can pay more towards mortgage. Spent £51.24 at aldis. Hopefully will last the week and will use up bits from freezer.

End of week 22 review (to Saturday 3rd June):-

£10.00 recipe book
£0.20 tweezers (were £4.70, used £4.50 voucher)
£8.50 birthday gift for DD2's friend for a party
£1.00 earrings (were £6.00, used £5.00 voucher)
£3.50 fancy ice cream for DS to celebrate good marks at school
£8.25 quiz night ticket
= £31.45 spent + 3 x NSDs

Cheating a bit as I did also spend 95p today on a mini tub of Pringles for DD2 (she wore me down, she's good at that) but then realised I'd earnt exactly 95p in interest in one of my bank accounts so transferred that back to me and didn't count the 95p! £8.25 so far spent in June, still hoping for frugal June!

Oh and I got confirmation I got the job! I'm absolutely delighted however this is going to screw everything up repayments wise as I can't do any other paid work without express permission due to the nature of the job. I am mulling over how to make this work in the short term, but long term, this is excellent news. It's public sector so I am very excited about starting a proper pension!

@bridgewateremma Congratulations on the new job. Yours posts show how resourceful you are - you will find a way to make it work. I find it easier to spend less when I feel happier/more secure so that may help you as well

Thanks @grannycake, although I do have to get out of 'treat mode', I am so pleased about my new job/career I feel like I constantly want to celebrate which undoubtedly means spending money!

I have now completely paid my May target (£560) to my credit cards, yay! I am on course for being under £5,000 debt remaining by end of June!

How we go from there will be tricky. I think I've bought myself a wee bit of time as I've spoken to a couple of people who I do self-employed work for (producing local newsletters) who wish to prepay me to do this work over the next academic year, which would be amazing as I'll potentially get a lump sum this month, which would mean I'd be way ahead of target and then able to do some thinking about the remaining few months, however I'm not going to count my chickens yet as nothing is definite.

I'm back on a weight loss plan, drinking lots of water and doing lots of walking. This, coupled with the new job, means I feel sunnier and happier than a few months ago. I do still have to constantly reign myself in spending wise though - I need new trainers as I'm doing lots of walking and the soles are coming off my old ones and they are tearing my feet to ribbons and I was contemplating using my Next account to buy some fancy trainers, then I had a word with myself and went into Original Factory Store and paid £24 for some Rocketdogs.

How is everyone else doing? I'd love to hear some inspiration!

Well done on making that payment @bridgewateremma and also the job!! I'm very similar to you, any excuse to celebrate involves spending money. Sounds like you did well on the new trainers though. I've been doing similar and trying to buy off brand for anything specific that I really need - also trawling vinted to see if I can find any bargains there.

I'm realigning my expectations this month as had to buy a few baby bits for #2... who is technically due today - but no signs of him arriving anytime soon

Not had any NSDs in a while, as now I'm on Mat leave it's been far too easy to spend a bit here and there in things like coffee out with friends or family, and ice cream out and about with DD to make the most of spending the time with her!

Hoping for a few NSDs over the rest of the week, as trying to put my feet up, so doing picnics in the garden, homemade coffee and play dates and spending time with my parents who live nearby, which means we won't be out and about spending.

Well done on the job… good luck with the new baby… what a lovely thread this is hey!!

I am plodding along being financially boring. Got a feeling that the teens will need clothes for summer and a general social life explosion. Really they both need part time jobs but it is so much easier said than done.

Keep going everyone!

@peachesandsweets, good luck with the impending arrival, how exciting! I did find though, that I didn't spend much in the few weeks after my babies were born, I pretty much stayed at home and people brought me cake! It's such a lovely, special time, enjoy!

@CrapBucket, I hear you on the teens needing clothes/working. My (very lazy) DD, nearly 16, has just got a job recently - she's now earning around £40.00 a week and it makes such a difference, she can now fund her own McDonalds and cinema trips and buy crap from Shein. I used her scheduled pocket money this month to finally pay us back some money she owed us for a concert ticket from months ago. She didn't have to work hard to get the job though, if it had involved any effort at all, I don't think she would currently be working!

I woke up at 4am this morning, I needed the loo but couldn't get back to sleep. I'm not looking forward to today - I handed in my notice last week but my boss returns from leave today. She's not going to be pleased that although I will be paid until the end of the month, my last day is mid next week (due to annual leave) and I work part time at the moment so I have very few actual working days left. They've not offered to pay me for the leave (an option) so I'm taking it!

NSD Tuesday and Wednesday this week and on Monday, I spent 99p on a Kindle book. I'm going to a friend's for dinner tomorrow so I plan to buy some flowers or a plant to take. There's a family fun day at the park on Saturday I'm planning to take my youngest too - I will set myself a spending limit before I go and I think that's all the spendy weekend plans.

Lovely to see everyone's positive updates!
I'm back on it this week after out holiday. The holiday budget was accounted for but I thought I was going to come home with loads of money but we almost spent it all!
We're on a mission to change our lifestyle regarding food. I have my niece's wedding next May to go to...sounds a long way away but I have at least 5 stone i want to lose.
The plan for June is healthy meals made from scratch ,cheap days out on the weekend to the beach or using NT or EH membership and to start a separate car fund to replace my car.
Good luck in your new job@bridgewateremma
Wishing you well with your new arrival@peachesandsweets

Sort of frugal win for me. Have at least another 8 weeks before I have a functioning kitchen and I am relying on an air fryer, single ring induction hob and a combi microwave

I could manage without but we'll only have a single oven and a plain microwave in the new kitchen. I have found the air fryer both useful and economical as there's only two of us most days

Then I found a smaller version of mine for just £49 on Amazon compared with £129 for mine. So semi frugal

Good luck @bridgewateremma in the new job! I start a new job soon and thanks to this no spend mentality I have managed to put aside some money to get through the transition from one pay day to another.

Today was expensive though, two people gave me lovely presents but they both needed money spending to make them usable which was frustrating. £10 spent at the garden centre on trellis in order to support a plant. And £80 spent upgrading an experience voucher to be able to do it at the weekend. Ouch!

@bridgewateremma just because you need permission to work doesnt mean you wont get it. they just want to ensure a) there is no conflict of interest and b) it doesn't occupy so much time that you are too tired for main job or it will require you to work when they might need you. Writing newsletters doens't sound like it would conflict unless it is how to sue or work loops around the organisation your new job is with.
Selling your own stuff on ebay and vinted doesn't count anyhow
congratulations on new job you are doing well
I was doing well until I had to mount kerb to avoid having car totally tanked by speeding driver cutting in front of me, so new tyres for the front as damaged by hitting kerb but still cheaper than new bumper new headlight front panel and radiator grille , he missed car by about 2 cm. he disappeared into distance

Good reactions @Cottagecheeseisnotcheese ! Definitely money saving but also person-saving, well done. Such a shame about the tyres.

thanks @CrapBucket

End of week 23 review (to Saturday 10th June):-

£4.50 80th birthday card (flabbergasted at the price of this, I was so shocked at the till, I just paid)
£15.00 birthday gift for DD2's friend
£0.99 Kindle book
£4.99 plant for a friend (gift as going for tea at hers)
£18.50 family fun day (rides & ice cream for kids, chips for kids & a wine for a friend)
= £43.98 spent + 3 x NSDs

A more expensive week than hoped, but very little (99p) spent on me! I have spent the morning (so far) making cards with DD2 for birthday parties she has been invited to over the next few weeks.

I'm hoping today will be a NSD and I'll also have a few during the week. I'm being taken for lunch tomorrow by a friend, so might buy the coffees to contribute then its work for the rest of the week. Despite my thinking noted above, my current work have asked me to work until the end of the month and get paid for my annual leave. This will be a wee lump sum I wasn't expecting, but unfortunately this will have to go towards my holiday in September, rather than my debts. But it does solve a big problem for me as it will really contribute to building up my holiday funds.

Keep on keeping on all! It's boring and tiring and frustrating I know, but worth it, I think. I wandered around the stalls at the family fun day yesterday and there were things I would have liked to buy, but nothing I NEEDED or desperately wanted, I was pleased to come away only having spent on rides and food/drink.