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???

NSD#5 yay! I had a shaky moment earlier when I thought DD's bike helmet clasp was broken and I would have to buy her a newhelmet for our daily cycle to school, however I found the part of the clip that had become untied and fallen off and repaired it, yahoo! Good news money wise but also because DD throws EPIC tantrums and could whine for her country!

Discretionary spends weekly total £4.49. The thread is quiet today so hopefully that doesn't mean everyone is madly spending!

Going out to eat is so expensive now, I agree @verdantverdure. Going out for breakfast is one of my favourite things to do, but it will have to be on a very rare occasion for the foreseeable. My favourite breakfast place is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G but its £12-£15 then whatever to drink on top. My birthday is in March though, so I may treat myself!

Welcome @Dexterslab, tell us what you end up returning to stay accountable (it really helps me!).

NSD here, really proud of at least controlling money as my attempts to eat less aren’t being quite as successful sadly.
Tomorrow I have two at home due to teacher strikes, so I’m apparently being an art/maths/PE and English teacher they’ve decided. Nice they want to learn at home but I’m so tired.

Another NSD (except the food shop but kept to the list!) Tomorrow I’ll meet a friend for coffee during our dog walk but its her turn to buy so should hopefully be another NSD.

I bought yet more food today for teenagers. And some medicine. Nothing apart from that. Boring innit.

Cracked and went to Caffe Nero.

Money on flute lessons for kids. That was okay but expensive!

So Sunday was a bit of a jib - ended up having to spend a fiver on fruit because the supermarket voucher I'd been gifted didn't work, and I had to buy a bike pump so that was another £7. 😩 But today has been a NSD and I think the rest of the week should be aside from travel expenses.

The weekend is looking potentially quite spendy - DD has been invited to a birthday party so have to spend out on a gift and travel. But I'm pleased so far with how things are going.

Another good day, spent £5 on toddler group (I'm a childminder so I'm not counting that!), then just over £5 on bread, salad and fruit to get me through until the food shop comes Thursday night but didn't go off list! Ive menu planned using what's in the freezer and think I can get away with another few weeks of trying to use to the meet and cupboards with just fresh stuff to buy!

Oh I posted but it’s not worked!

Well yesterday you would have been proud of me. Officiating at athletics again, a regular event where I normally buy a coffee (took hot drink in travel cup) and mcDs on way home (didn’t).

Spendy day today - Starbucks on way home for me and DD then Chinese and Wagamama takeaway. 😱

But then it is my birthday

@clary Happy Birthday! 🥳

@clary Happy Birthday 🎉We've decided as a family that we'll have take aways on birthdays only. Luckily they're spread evenly throughout the year.
I had to pay a 50% deposit for the cattery which was painful but at least I'll only have half to pay when we go on holiday.
I'm getting through the contents of the freezer and the things that are left aren't inspiring me but I refuse to buy anything else just yet!

Thanks ladies 😀had a nice day and some great presents I bought for myself (and then dd wrapped up)

I’ve had a couple of ok days, I refused to go to the supermarket before our delivery so everyone has had to make do and/or bake which has gone down a storm ha ha! Sold a couple of frumpy work cardigans for £33 as I’m wfh aside from once a month or so. I did buy a pair of walking boots for 14yr old ds in the next size up, he’s grown 2 shoe sizes since September and they were on offer from £80 to £35 so will save money in the long run! I’ve also bought a Xmas jumper on eBay for him for next year (best time to pick them up) and will sell his small one. Food shop coming tomorrow and trying to ensure I’ve got everything on it to stop top ups. Ds is snacking so much in the evening atm, in full throes of his growth spurt so I need to plan for the constant conveyor belt of food he appears to need?!!

We just returned from a weekend away where an exorbitant amount was spent on ridiculous things like drinks at tourist attractions and breakfasts where the children nibbled on toast and ignored the rest. Very annoyed at myself.

Would love to join! Need to do better meal planning as I know a lot of our spending is on unnecessary food.

I'm doing a 'no spend' year, but I have exception rules.
Allowed to buy:
food and fuel,
stuff for kids but ONLY if actually needed such as ripped school tights, whole class school trip etc.
replacement toiletries but ONLY once our current ones have completely run out.
I have a small savings amount for car repairs/ washing machine breakdown etc that I am allowed to use for these 'emergencies'.
Small Christmas/birthdays 'pot' for the kids.
Other than that I'm not allowed to buy it.

How are people selling things? Do you use eBay?

I've tried it but found it so much work for little reward, especially after buying all the postage.

I bought a baguette, a loaf of bread and some gluten free wraps yesterday, and I went out for (planned) breakfast.

I have spent £20 out of my own account since January. That's 2 trips to tesco and a breakfast out.

Today though I am booking a holiday so I will pay the £30 deposit from my account.

generally I reckon things worth less than £5 are not worth selling on ebay, now there is something called tracked 48 on royal mail click and drop you can send up to 2kg in standard small parcel size for £2.85 covers upto £100 in value, you have to print label yourself though so you get more cover than 2nd class signed for and being tracked it covers you for non delivery you can also buy it on ebay, you can't buy it at post office
with this in mind you can reasonably charge £3 postage if going in a bag but about £3.30 if bubble wrapped in a box,

ebay fees are 12.9% plus 30p for private sellers fees are charged on postage too
so whether you charge £5 with £3 postage or £8 with free postage your fees are identicial

so say you charge £8 altogether your fees are £1.33 postage costs you£2.85 profit is £3.82
however if the total charge is £16 ie double your fees are 2.36 postage 2.85 profit £10.79 so the item sells for double but your profit is almost 3 times greater, for same about of work which is why I really don't list stuff worth less than £5 provided easy to pack or £10 if it requires careful wrapping and boxing

as a disclaimer I sell vintage items on ebay to make money it does not make me rich but pays for some extras I'm a business seller so my fees are higher and there are no free listing weekends I reckon it takes 20 minutes in total to list and sell an item, research selling price take photos write description and then wrap, it may go down slightly if you are selling a collection of similar things so you can basically copy and paste description say a set of beatrix potter peter rabbit figurines

because I'm a business I factor in costs like fuel, my time, buying boxes and bubble wrap as I send too many parcels to use boxes I have around, however a private seller is assumed to be doing it in their spare time so can't charge for time,you can only charge for fuel if your car is part of the business and has business insurance

1. general rules for selling on ebay only sell good quality stuff
2. take good pictures if there is a makers label or size label take a photo also photo any faults and mention them very clearly
3. wrap so it will survive being dropped or falling off the conveyor belt if you push it off your kitchen worktop to the floor you should be confident it will survive if not it is not packed well enough
4. use sold listings not for sale listings to judge realistic price, if you really want it gone make sure your item is cheapest on ebay, if you can wait awhile just choose the average sale price remember people may pay a little bit more to buy from a business seller due to right off return if it doesn't fit or change mind

I find Vinted really good for selling. They don’t take a fee either x

@Cottagecheeseisnotcheese, thanks that's a good eBay summary. I sell quite a lot on eBay, and hopefully it makes me more mindful about what I buy as well.

I use Vinted, my Christmas stuff went really quickly in December! I try to upload a few bits each day or when I remember as it keeps listings to the top. I sold a new kids swimsuit yesterday for £7!

I have managed another NSD (on clothes/shoes/accessories) but it's DAMN HARD

I now have 4 web pages open on my phone with baskets of stuff I haven't checked out

Sort of feel like an addict

I got to day 10 today of no spend January, I've got a calendar printout and i colour in each day that I complete a no spend.
For the last 9 days I've spent nothing except a top up grocery shop and I stuck to my list religiously.
Today I got some fuel for the car, I want to walk but it's been pouring down the last few days in Scotland and the kids school is 2 miles away, I can't expect them to sit in soaking wet clothes all day at school so reluctantly bought £40 which should last 2-3 weeks for me.
I bought 3 nursing tops for £7 from Vinted ( and used my Vinted balance from selling stuff) as I'm breastfeeding twins and get the sweats and I have no straps or short sleeved tops.

NSD#6 yay! I wasn't anywhere near the shops today :-) and don't really shop much online.

I emailed the school uniform clothes bank lady to ask about some 6-7 age grey pinafores and tights for my rapidly growing DD - she'll pop what she has in DD's school bag tomorrow!

I also emailed about a grant for solar energy storage. We have panels and I'm really fed up of giving away energy we are generating to the grid, for free! I'd like to store it until we need it, which will help with bills on cloudier days.

Strikes today, tomorrow and Monday so kids to feed at home, boo!

Discretionary spends weekly running total £4.49.

Not bad today; posted a couple of ebay items and realised I could use up some non-barcoded stamps that I had so that saved a bit.

Popped to supermarket on way home to get petrol (needed for commute) - cheapest I have seen for ages at 1.39 plus an extra 5p p/L off! Also bought a few groceries in the shop but kept it below a tenner.

NSD yesterday - I (wo)manned up and braved the elements to cycle to work instead of paying £4 for the bus. (I do usually cycle anyway but the weather was dire!).

Today also expected to be a NSD - I'm going in to work again but no reason to spend. Lunch & coffee made & I will go out for quick lunchtime walk but nowhere near the shops.