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???

Brilliant idea. I didn't do a NSD today but I have cut right down on spending in the past year and have found it much easier than I'd have thought. I haven't even looked at the sales, don't need anything at all and tbh don't go out nearly as much as I used to

I'm in. I think I can do it.
I have enough toiletries to last the year, and beyond. Except toothpaste.
Will only buy food.

Exceptions will be essentials for the kids, and their birthdays.

I’m in too!

Will only spend on food, essential toiletries and dog food (note to self - stop buying shitloads of dog treats! 🙈)

Day 1 - NSD

This is a choice thread - we all choose what NOT to spend on so today was a NSD on my banned list - and I'm going to carry on as loooong as possible

I'm NOT spending on clothes/accessories/toiletries/bloody shoes as I have ENOUGH

I am spending on food and fun - today my daughter came over with her partner as I had Covid over Christmas and we had take away (NOT on my banned list)

Yesterday was a NSD and today I've had to get a pint of milk, but I have loads of food to use up before I go to the shops for anything else. Am meeting a friend later for a walk rather than a meal.

I have managed once again to fill a basket but not buy any clothes/shoes in the sale

So that's 4 days now for me of not buying clothes

I do have a bid on something on EBay which I may or may not win (from a week ago before I kicked my ass)

Ended up paying for a camping break for summer with friends late last night. I consider this exempt from no spend 2023. Other than that, no spend today, on 'stuff'. Feeling good.

Day 2 - NSD

Doing a big shop tomorrow but determined to stick to my shopping list.

Day 2 £1.89 spent on 'Mayflies' on Kindle after watching the BBC Scotland drama last night. I usually like to read the book first, so doing it the wrong way round this time! If you haven't seen this drama, I recommend it - I thought it was excellent (on iPlayer).

Discretionary monthly spends running total £1.89 (does not include household food/fuel/travel/essential clothes - for me/my rules, this only includes my 'own' money, not family/household money)

A few little wins today:-

• I dropped off my daughter for a playdate and talked myself out of going to the supermarket for raspberries to have with my (late) breakfast. My breakfast was yummy without them and I definitely wouldn't have just bought raspberries.

• I washed and hoovered and cleaned my own car rather than taking it to the car wash. A big saving.

Day 2 NSD today.

Put £100 of diesel in the car which will hopefully last 2 weeks as we budget £200 a month on running the cars. This money is put aside every month anyway.

I find scrolling through looking at 'stuff' is enough at the moment. I'm trying to lose weight also so don't really want to buy any new clothes so maybe that will help!

Day 2 is done.

I need bread tomorrow and to put £5 into a birthday collection at work. But that doesn't really count (esp as I'll have to borrow it off dd cos I haven't got any cash 😂)

Went to Costa with DD and used two free drinks to buy our hot chocolates.

Got good to go bag with sandwich and fruit for lunch tomorrow plus veggie sausage sandwiches for dd.

swim - monthly ticket; run and yoga - free.

NSD today and yesterday apart from
2 litres of milk to tide us over - had friends staying for NY and all food already in, lots of it leftovers from Christmas. Went for a walk both days and back to our own garden 'pub' instead of spending money at the boozer.

Have leftovers in the fridge for at least another 2 days then will meal plan militantly for Jan and spend as little as possible on groceries. DD1 (13) asked if we could go shopping tomorrow and I explained the NS2023 concept- she has agreed she will spend her own money (advent calendar scratch card win on her essential beauty products. Win.

How are you all doing today

I have resisted a scarf at the market I liked (I have literally dozens of scarves but this had dogs on it!)

Anything with dogs on is a fair purchase in my eyes 😂

I was on track for another NSD but had to buy new mats for the front door. Sick of the muddy paw prints in my house 😕 so they were £10.

Also thinking of buying an indoor/outdoor rug for our hallway. We have a big entrance hallway and it's where the pram gets wheeled into and the dog traipses through so constantly covered in something 🤦🏻‍♀️ a rug might hide the marks a bit 😂may well spread the cost on Klarna though so it doesn't eat into my budget for the week too much 😒😒

Well done on doggie scarf refusal @LaurieFairyCake! And loving the garden pub @twinteenwrangler!

So far today, I have resisted buying 3 x Christmas jumpers for my 6yo from John Lewis. They are all beautiful and in the sale but I stopped myself from spending nearly £50 on Christmas jumpers, which would have been ridiculous. The one from this year will probably fit next year (even if it's not as lovely 😥) and if it doesn't, we can buy a supermarket jumper for under £10 in November. This actually doesn't affect my budgeting either way (as I'm not including family clothes shopping), but it would have been a silly impulse buy and I feel proud of myself for being more sensible with the family budget.

I've also been to Asda today and spent £8.95 on food shopping. I need to go back for syrup on my way home to make fudge for a birthday present, I just need to buy golden syrup and nothing else. Again this doesn't affect my budgeting, but I am enjoying being more frugal in all parts of my life, it all helps with the general outlook.

I'll update later this evening with any spends for the day.

I took a bag of stuff to the charity shop this morning. I nearly bought a couple of things but resisted. I will buy some things from them at some point though as they are a local charity who do a lot of good work.

I spent just over £5 in the supermarket on essentials but that doesn't count.

Caved on a bargain handbag however, it was £24 & yesterday I sold 3 items on Vinted for £27 in total so figure that cancels it out??

NSD here today, started a good book earlier (Sarah Water’s Little Stranger) so that’s helping me resist even looking at anything online.

I've bought a Christmas present for next year in the sale and spent some of my birthday money - so I'm counting that as within my rules. Back to work tomorrow so no more even looking at sales!
Well done everyone for being mindful and for staying on track!

Day 3 done. 👏👏
I think this is the most NSD I have had in a row. Even in lock down I was spending like crazy.

Ooo can I join ,please. I said to DH I want to do a no spend year. I need to save for a more reliable car. My car seems to spend more time in the garage than outside the front of the house.
We agreed on:-
No take aways
No unnecessary shopping trips
Nothing for the house.
Use the paint we already have for decorating(it's been looking at me for a while waiting to get put on the walls.)
No unnecessary car journeys
Meal planning
Use the toiletries and cleaning products we have first even if their not our preferred ones.
Sell unwanted items.
Spend leisure time doing free activities. Walking etc
I have enough books to read, tv shows to watch, clothes and shoes to wear. Day 3 and I haven't spent anything other than a bit of food shopping. Wasn't a full shop but we have enough for several days. We only want to spend in essentials and a whole family holiday that we are hoping to plan. I begrudgingly have a car service booked but I need the car to last til I can save enough to replace it😅

Ive managed not to buy anything since deciding on reducing my spending. I really need a new dust pan and brush but it can wait!! This is how boring my life is when that's the only thing I need to spend money on.
Made dinner using left overs and didn't need to buy anything for it. Will need to get a couple of things for tomorrow but consider food essentials, I just need to not buy anything else I don't need.
I'm also going to do the 1p saving challenge and see how I get on with that.

Spent 100 on school dinners for the term (food so doesn't count). Otherwise no spend!

NSD today, aside from £3.00 for a Too Good to Go bag (sandwiches and cakes!) and £10 for DD's after school club. Have also explained to DD that we're saving for treats/adventures so for this month we won't be going out for lunch every weekend like we usually do. We've opted for cake baking (as she's 4, this is a perfect compromise!).