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Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

No Spend 2024....

756 replies

meemawww · 23/12/2023 23:15

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!

OP posts:
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10
EllieQ · 20/01/2024 22:09

20 Jan update: £2 on bus fare today as I walked into town to take stuff to a charity shop, but got the bus back. Lazy day at home otherwise as I’m feeling a bit under the weather.

grannycake · 21/01/2024 06:43

NSD yesterday and today should be the same

ProjectsGalore · 21/01/2024 12:46

Feeling ropey this weekend so two NSDs. Been looking at my overall budget and so pleased that being ruthless with myself I have scraped my first deposit into the beginnings of my emergency fund. Still have 10 days until payday so anything could happen.......

bridgewateremma · 21/01/2024 14:20

I've definitely spent more than I wanted to this week and do need to have a hard word with myself. However, my eldest DS and I were offered a free couple of nights in a friend's B&B, so despite being free, that's added to costs, but I do feel some one-to-one Mum & son time was worth it, although not in the budget!

I've 2 weeks to catch up on here. Note that I only count my own, personal discretionary spending, not food/clothes/kids' & household expenses - although I am trying to be frugal with these too).

End of week 2 review (to Saturday 13th January):-

  • £4.28 Starbucks hot choc at Cineworld 10/1
  • £3.60 work tuck shop 10/1
  • £22.90 local deli 11/1
  • £5.80 Costa for train journey 13/1
  • £7.75 (cheap) drinks at 30th party 13/1
= £44.63 + 4 x NSDs

End of week 3 review (to Saturday 20th January):-

  • £7.00 Costa 14/1
  • £10.00 ice creams at theatre 14/1
  • £5.80 chocolate 15/1
  • £5.25 hairdye 18/1
  • £3.00 Jam 19/1
  • £20.28 Tesco (goodies for weekend away) 20/1
  • £23.45 takeaway 20/1
= £74.78 + 2 x NSDs

I definitely need to reign in the treats. I don't have a problem resisting buying actual physical things, it's consumables - food/drinks/treats I struggle with.

Today will be tricky as we're still away, hopefully I can keep costs down. Then I have a family day out to meet a cousin visiting from overseas on Tuesday, when will it all stop! Life is busy (& expensive!).

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 22/01/2024 04:21

another under budget day, and an even $44.00 popped into the savings account.
however i've just been contacted by a plumber for a medium sized job which we've put off for a year at least. the issue is finding a plumber more than anything else so that will be an rather big expense. one step forward one step back :(

scoopdewhoop · 22/01/2024 07:18

Spent loads this weekend unfortunately but I'm not going to let it derail me completely and end up in a spiral of over spending. I have totted up all the spending and know where I'm going wrong/ need to allow room in my budget. We've had lunch out, a day out, car wash, coffee and paid for an MOT.
Hoping for an NSD working from home today.
We have food shopping and petrol for the week so I shouldn't have to spend anything.

chimichangaz · 22/01/2024 08:26

Spendy day for me yesterday. A walk with a friend and I bought us coffees (£7.40). Then out with friends at an event and spent £17 in total (food, drinks, parking, raffle tickets).

Home to find three fence panels blown out, the steel fencing we have to keep the dog off the grass crushed by a flying table and chairs and fence panel. Going to check the roof for damage in a bit. Gonna be expensive but thank god no one was hurt.

chimichangaz · 22/01/2024 08:28

Oh - also filled up my car with petrol yesterday too!

Food shopping on Saturday I forgot to report - £55. Leaves me with £30 to hopefully last until the end of the month....

foxfoxohmyfox · 22/01/2024 10:34

@chimichangaz £17 for a night out inc food, drinks, parking & raffle tickets sounds like a good cheap night. Sorry to hear about the fence panels. Hopefully that wont cost too much to sort

chimichangaz · 22/01/2024 10:46

foxfoxohmyfox · 22/01/2024 10:34

@chimichangaz £17 for a night out inc food, drinks, parking & raffle tickets sounds like a good cheap night. Sorry to hear about the fence panels. Hopefully that wont cost too much to sort

To be fair it was a sports event for which I've already paid for my season ticket - but yes less than £20 for food and drinks is good going!!

The fence panels aren't that expensive and they slot into concrete posts so no installation cost. I'm just really thankful that my son and his dog who were out there at the time weren't injured. Lucky escape - guardian angels definitely looking out for them.

Hatty65 · 22/01/2024 16:31

NSD yesterday and today (but Saturday was depressingly expensive).

Pay day tomorrow. I have £7.17 in my account.

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 22/01/2024 17:22

@Hatty65 do pop that 7.17GBP onto debt or savings would be my hint ;)
those odd little bits do add up quite nicely.
congrats making to the day before payday in the green!

chimichangaz · 22/01/2024 19:24

Just the £77.49 on new fence panels today......

I've had a good look in my freezer and I'm hopeful I can make it to the end of the month only spending the £30 left in my shopping budget 🤞🏻🤞🏻

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 23/01/2024 00:13

well...i popped the plumbing supplies on my cc. $800 worth of valve and trim plus two new toilet paper holders.
i'm not sure if my february will be as good as january but i'm up for the challenge.

grannycake · 23/01/2024 07:56

£45.5 calor gas for motorhome ready for next weeks trip

Hatty65 · 23/01/2024 11:21

@CurlsnSunshinetime4tea Thank you - that's a good idea. I do already do 'Save the Change' so savings are slowly creeping up. (They are pretty minimal, but I've got a few hundred as a safety net, at least).

scoopdewhoop · 23/01/2024 12:48

NSD so far but feeling poorly along with the rest of the family. Covid is doing the rounds- our neighbours and childrens' classmates have it so I'm guessing it's that but hoping it's not as my joints still hurt from the last time I had it!
Made a chocolate cake to get my daughter to eat something.
Opened a savings account with a better interest rate. We will get a few hundred pounds at least next year so feel like I've made money today! 😃💰
Trying to sell a few bits and bobs online but finding it quite slow work.

grannycake · 23/01/2024 13:26

£35 haircut. I have a pixie cut so needs regular trims but I have extended from every 6 weeks to every 8 weeks

ProjectsGalore · 23/01/2024 17:11

Gah. I crumbled today and spent £23.50 on three pairs of jeans heavily reduced in the sale. But.........I have achieved my goal weight having lost 31lbs and so needed some clothes that actually fit. I've managed to actually save some money into a savings account this month for the first time in years and will be getting £175 by account switching to First Direct so feel that £23.50 is permitted today.

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 23/01/2024 19:22

well done @ProjectsGalore weight improvement and some money in the bank sounds perfect!

chimichangaz · 23/01/2024 20:08

ProjectsGalore · 23/01/2024 17:11

Gah. I crumbled today and spent £23.50 on three pairs of jeans heavily reduced in the sale. But.........I have achieved my goal weight having lost 31lbs and so needed some clothes that actually fit. I've managed to actually save some money into a savings account this month for the first time in years and will be getting £175 by account switching to First Direct so feel that £23.50 is permitted today.

23.50 on three pairs of jeans is a bargain!! I know I'm probably not supposed to say that.....

And well done on the weight loss.

First Direct are a good bank - I've been with them since separating from my ExH 13 years ago.

NSD here for me although I'm looking at booking travel arrangements for a trip to the States in March - it will be very spendy!!

EllieQ · 23/01/2024 20:56

NSD here today (23rd) and yesterday as I’m feeling under the weather, so I’ve been working from home rather than going into the office.

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 23/01/2024 22:23

Minimal spend, under my daily budget so excess transferred onto the now hefty cc.

scoopdewhoop · 24/01/2024 13:12

NSD
How long is it till payday?? This month is going on forever 😆
I've got a big water bill- hoping it can wait till payday as I have 14 days to pay it.

bridgewateremma · 24/01/2024 16:49

I am gutted today.

I downloaded this month's payslip. I worked 23.5 hours of overtime last month (12 hours at time and 11.5 hours at time & a half) however only got paid £302 net (£520 gross) more than usual.

It doesn't seem worth it once they take off extra tax, NI (I did benefit from the change in NI so got more like £342 more net), student loan repayments and huge pension contributions (public sector).

I work shifts, full-time and am exhausted. I really pushed myself to do that overtime. I know it's better than a kick in the teeth but I was hoping for £400+, it doesn't seem worth it for £300.

I've got 9 hours overtime booked for this month (£140) and I need to keep chasing the overtime for now so that I can make my debt repayment target each month however after June, I think I'll sack off the overtime. It doesn't help that we seem to get paid basic rate for overtime and it doesn't include all the shift enhancements (unsocial hours, disruption payments) we get with other shifts, which adds another 1/3 or so to my basic salary.

Thank you for reading my moan. I'm knackered and just needed somewhere to vent.

Anyway, NSD so that's something! I did spend £2.75 posting off DS's old passport but have claimed that back from household expenses.

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