No Spend 2024....

[meemawww]

Or at least the first couple of months to make a dent in my credit card debt!
I feel like I need a thread to encourage me and hopefully get some tips anybody like to join? I earn an alright wage but my god am i frivolous with money since my earnings went up!

@chimichangaz I used to do something similar when I worked in a town centre. I'd give myself a fiver to spend in the poundshop.

I remember a work secret Santa a few years ago where I'd put 'a variety of items from the £1 shop' as my request and I was so excited!! Didn't disappoint either.

NSD here. Busy and stressful day so pretty pleased actually.
I’m trying to make a decision about a spend mid Jan-mid Feb, it’s £54 for a course for me that I would very much like to do (short term) and believe would benefit the dynamics of the family longer term. But I can’t pretend it’s essential because it’s not. So pretty sure I won’t book it, but feeling a tad glum. I so rarely do anything for myself; have been Mum for decades and get satisfaction focusing on them, but wanted this. Maybe there’ll be another next year.

I think you should do the course if you can afford it @MrsShortbread - something that would benefit your family is surely worth the initial cost?

May 10 Jan: £7.14 credit card payment went out (minimum payment). Took a packed lunch to work again so didn’t spend anything else.

Unexpected spend of €28 today. Daughter came home from school with a list of copies/ folders she needs, so had to purchase them. Got them in the discount store but still pricey.

I’m pretty pleased though that all my spends since Monday have been essential and not frivolous (for once).

@MrsShortbread if you can afford the course, do it. It’ll benefit both you and the family, and it’s bettering yourself as well as expanding your knowledge base.

£10.88 spent so far this week:

• £3.00 Christmas pjs for DD for next year in a charity shop - these should have come from joint spends, but I had some personal cash so used this
• £4.28 Starbucks hot chocolate - this was with a discount, unbelievably, for a hot drink! However I used my blue light discount card. I don't like to spend much on expensive coffees etc now, especially not at that price but I was meeting my Aunt before using 2 x free Sky cinema tickets and that was all I spent (she bought some food and a massive ice cream, but I was good and declined!)
• £3.60 work tuck shop (I know, I know - my defenses are low when I'm tired on night shift)

I'm going to see an old lady friend tomorrow so will take some deli treats (she'll expect me to bring something but it is a case of tulips to Amsterdam!) and that's all I have planned apart from some admin jobs and a library visit with DS. DS wants to go and buy some more stickers for his sticker book but he will use his pocket money for these.

some basic shopping; dog food and items for the friday dinner.
however $80 under budget, with that amount transferred onto the mortgage/line of credit. i've lost track but very near the $400 mark. my goal was to chip off an extra 500 so i'm not far and it appears i'll easily exceed that.

Spent £45 on food and £10 on a music book for DD. Not much money left and still 2 weeks til payday!

AllTheChaos do you know where the tray bake thread is please . Id love to read it ! Thanks .

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/3527870-Which-is-the-tastiest-Protestant-traybake?

Have a nice hot cup of something on the side and settle down.

Thank you !

Already not a NSD as £33 subscription came out of my account. That one has to go. It's quarterly so will take us until April.

Just need to figure out how to cancel it.

Once again raided the (now very empty) fridge for my lunch today.

But do need to buy cat food at least before going home today.

Ugh, not a no spend day. £3 on a play group today- a bargain but then spent £2.50 on a flapjack on the way home as my child was still hungry after the snacks I had lovingly packed!
Need to get her new shoes too so that will be another expense.

I just can’t believe how much we spend every month. Everything just costs SO much, even when it’s just food and petrol. It’s depressing.

Yes really depressing @Fbifan

Definitely not a NSD for me, in addition to my £33 direct debit - also had £30 for cleaner.

(She just started last week- 2 adults working full time, 4 kids and 2 pets. Needed for my sanity more than anything else)

So already spent £72 today including cat food

Luckily wasn't even remotely tempted to buy anything else in the supermarket

With subscriptions you usually have to contact the company (by email) and ask to cancel, at least you have time for it to be stopped.

I'm managing a fair number of NSDs except for items I'm buying for people who are unwell.

A thing that I must do is schedule an outing. I have allocated a budget for it, I need to spend it because it's how I keep up with other family members apart from digitally. I need something to which I can look forward and 'No Spend' is something that must be livable and not something to be endured, IYSWIM.

It's a week since DH initiated the finances conversation (backstory upthread). It's time that I continue to nudge and press for decisions. Wish me luck.

I did manage to resist popping to local shop for one of their dirty sausage rolls for lunch. Made self scrambled eggs on toast from stores.

we are having extensive building works done at moment and have hit a 25k snag which looks to be uninsured so every penny is key.

im awake most nights worrying

Ok thanks @NeurodivergentBurnout!

@Fbifan that does sound a rather large Eek! Is it a part of the works that must be carried out in order for it all to be completed, or could it be postponed if necessary?

NSD here as I’ve only spent on essentials - a cheapo new bathroom bin (I accidentally destroyed the old one falling on it), and some dog treats so she does actually return to me on our walks!

I have the kettle heating up on the wood burner for a cuppa, and tonight’s dinner will be cooked on top of it too - spicy bean and vegetable stew. Will cook loads so I can portion up leftovers for lunches for the next week.

Positive thoughts coming your way @2024Hackathon
I’ll be speaking with my dh who behind my back ordered himself a non essential WATCH. I’m praying under 1K but still, we discussed no spend and he agreed…he currently has an Apple Watch…I’m quietly angry, lots of stuff I’d like to get myself but haven’t.

@MrsShortbread sadly it has to be done or they can’t complete it and we wouldn’t be able to live there. Obvs going to try and argue it with insurers but not hopeful. We’re currently spaffing out for rent too whilst they sort it so am not hanging around for insurers to say (which we’ve been advised is likely) it’s ultimately not insured. But it sucks

Well done on being quietly angry. That's a wretched breach of your NS agreement. Even if he's going to argue it's an investment watch, I always fantasised that other people would be able to have conversations about that, make agreements and stick to them or at least appraise other adults is something happens to interfere with that plan.

@2024Hackathon Good luck with the conversation! @CurlsnSunshinetime4tea I would be loudly raging! Goodness, that sounds like such an indulgence. To be fair, I can't conceive of ever spending more than about a tenner on a watch, but that sounds like a real luxury item, particularly if he already has an Applewatch.

I spent £25 today on a massage, but I'm going to count this as essential. I have weekly sessions and they help with my health condition and I'm booked in til March at the moment. Apart from that I spent nothing today, and yesterday was the same.

@2024Hackathon it's another version of a fitness watch, not an investment piece and the current older apple will undoubtably be given away. he's into this kind of tech, not a huge surprise but i honestly thought he could hold out until the mattress is paid off (which i have 5 more monthly payments on).
and it's all on me to fit this into the budget.