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!

£10 in coop on coffee & icecream. Frugal corned beef hash for dinner this evening using up some potatoes, eggs and carrots before we go away

@bridgewateremma That's terrible! I'd feel gutted too - all that extra work for what doesn't feel like much money!

If it leaves you knackered and resentful you know it's not worth it!

I've spend £82.30 on groceries today. Necessary stuff. But then I ordered myself an art kit off Amazon for £4.95 which was probably not necessary - except that I'm struggling with fatigue and I wanted both cheering up, and something to do. I've consoled myself with the fact that it was a treat for under a fiver.

thankfully another underbudget day, another small payment on the cc. the plumber also cancelled till monday the 29th which coincides much better with income (three deposits expected on that day) so although it may decrease the amount saved/put away on future bills it should mean not touching existing savings or credit. fingers crossed!

The jingle for "A finger of fudge is just enough to give your kids a treat" had been going through my head before I read this.

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I've consoled myself with the fact that it was a treat for under a fiver.

These days, <£5 comes into the same category if it kept you ticking over on feeling good!

bridgewateremma - that's horrible. No shift enhancements and all that fatigue. July will be a liberating month for you.

Curls - that looks well-managed and not needing to dig into savings is a triumph in itself as it says something about your state of mind wrt money (IYSWIM).

Two people have said the same to me today about how long it seems since last payday!! Funnily enough I don't feel it for some reason.

Another NSD for me today.

I get paid tomorrow and it's got a fair bit more than I usually get due to various reasons (lower pension contribution, pay rise, NI changes). I've decided to set up a standing order to transfer that money straight away to an F U fund every month for the next year. I'm Thinking seriously about either retiring or stopping work for a few months at the end of the year and this will help enormously.

Spent £8 on McDonald's breakfast for me and my daughter out of my monthly spending money. I don't know why I do it 🫣 I've only got £61 for food shopping left in my shopping account to last till next Weds. I don't know how we always manage to overspend on food shopping and bills when I have a spreadsheet accounting for every bill and I don't think we've gone over our budget this month.
Lots of beans on toast and veggie meals for us this week!

Spent just 30p today topping up my lunch voucher from work. No plans to spend tomorrow either* but need to go shopping at the weekend for a very basic shop max £29....

*except I've just remembered I need to get a birthday present!

@scoopdewhoop do you think you maybe need to alter your spreadsheet upwards a little? Maybe for a couple of months? See if the different figures change how you spend?

I got a date for wisdom tooth extraction - just have to get through another five days of this pain…so I bought some rum, first alcohol I’ve bought for three years or so, gosh it’s expensive! Also bought sausage rolls and salad for kids’ dinner, easy is good right now. Hiding from wee ones how agitated I am with the soreness is not easy.
Tomorrow will be NSD.

£82 in Lidl - a lot especially because I used a £10 off voucher but it covers basic food items for motorhome trip, a pair of PJs for me (cos it's gonnal be cold at night) and 500 teabags for my friends who live in Netherlands

@MrsShortbread I will look through our statement and compare it to the spreadsheet. If I top up the account more though I think I will just spend more during the month. I think it's just the way I am - I will always spend what I have to the limit! I have to hide money away in savings so I can't touch it and it's out of sight, out of mind.

Tooth ache is the worst. Could you get some strong painkillers from the pharmacy? They let me have co-codamol for tooth ache years ago while I was waiting for a root canal.

How's everyone's motivation doing?

I've had a bad week in many ways with a lot of emotional stress. The first thing to go when I'm stressed is spending on food- I just go overboard. And buy cakes and treats and stop making packed lunches.

I'm feeling a little bit better now, so next week should be calmer.

I'm really pleased about the progress I made earlier in the month, as it means even though I've had a bad week, things are still not as bad as previous months.

I'm glad this group is going for the whole year.

I meant to ask if you have all set savings goals or targets?

I haven't as such, but I think that would be useful for me to work out.

@rainydays1234 that sounds so like my behaviours on bad weeks usually! I’m trying to “frugalise” it by getting a loaf of nice bread and good jam/nut butter instead of cakes - get much more for the money and better for us. Peanut butter and banana on toast is far more comforting really than cake.

I’m doing both set and unset goals - each month I aim to put the maximum I can (£300) in my 7% savings account, but I also aim this year to just save as much as I ruddy can!! Which is hard when I really want to buy toys for kids - we don’t have any cousins/friends they can play at and enjoy other toys and I like them not being on devices all the time…one asked yesterday if we can save up for Connex and they would love more Magnatiles, it’s hard not to buy them now but I’m saving for a March birthday and a May one. They won’t have stopped wanting them, I hope.

@MrsShortbread making kids wait for toys has three benefits, one it tests whether they really want them if so the magnatiles will come up several times between now and birthday, if they don't mention them again it's a sign that perhaps they are not as keen as they think they are on the items, also it will set them up in good habits for a lifetime learning delayed gratification will help them with budgeting and not getting into debt later in life, the third benefit is for you as it gives you chance to set money aside for these things rather than just buying them and then wondering which budget to get the money from and also to be sure they want them therefore you know you are getting value for money as it is a long term desire not a two minute wonder

I aim to put the maximum I can (£300) in my 7% savings account

I recognise that account.

How's everyone's motivation doing?

Like everyone, I'd like to see a more dramatic return and progress for all the effort I'm putting in. (Less than a month to date, so realistic.)

For me, it's money not spent on food or kitchen gadgets. I still need to half-Nelson DH into discussing a budget with me.

For me, it's over-paying the mortgage to reduce future commitments. And, I'm trying to be more patient about this month because we are absorbing doubled commuting costs for DH plus the additional costs of caring for more poorly family members (more petrol, more heating etc.).

@Cottagecheeseisnotcheese I know you are right, I seemed to find this mindset far easier years ago with my older kids than I do now with my younger…maybe as it really is just me and them. They are happy though, and are never greedy/demanding so they won’t mind too much waiting more frequently.

@2024Hackathon I think you’re managing it all brilliantly; patiently too. And care-needs changing for family has a significant effect that can take a while to settle in to practical data for our long term money plans.

@rainydays1234 I'm actually feeling really motivated. I've posted more on this thread than I have any other 'accountability' thread over the years, and I have a real purpose in spending less and saving more.

Today I've bought a birthday present (12.99) and some shopping to see me through to 31st. It was £22 something - my budget was £29 so a little wriggle room. And it includes drinks and snacks for the Traitors final tonight!!

regarding motivation; i had a few day whereby i had no clue how i was going to move forward with the unplanned plumbing costs. i did loose sleep BUT the plumber called and delayed the job till monday by which time three monthly deposits will have been received, that little delay is much better!
in the mean time i stayed under our daily budget and as usual transferred the small left over bits onto my cc. even if the bits are small i know they add up. i'm looking forward to february and reviewing the progress and set backs. i know i saved more than the total cost of the plumbing charge (anticipated at this point as i don't know what the labor costs will be) and the amount that i've paid towards my property taxes is significant and a huge relief.
everyday is a banking day, with 2 monthly deposits received today i have made payment number 2 (out of 6) on the mattress purchase.

NSD yesterday. Will be £120 at vets today for animal health certificate which is needed for our dog to come to Netherlands with us on Tuesday

I spent 7.99 yesterday on nail wraps from Amazon - this was from the £20 I allowed myself for this month and I still have £7 left of that. Compared to what I've spent on Amazon in previous months it's a huge drop!

Today I'm out with friends again at a sports event so I anticipate the usual (budgeted) £20 spend on meal, drinks and parking.

Just checking in.

I have been doing OK. Not brilliant, but OK. I am definitely thinking much harder about what I spend, and am being more restrained.

I am going to categorise my spending at the end of the month, and I think that will be sobering. What has shocked me so far is how much I spend on the pets. I genuinely had completely overlooked this. It’s made me think twice about getting more animals in future.

Feeling a little flat, bank account isn’t where I hoped it would be. Finished the month having to buy mouthwash/vitamins/sanitary towels, all essentials and got the vitamins buy 1 get 1 half price but it still took another £50. New kitchen scales £10. Diesel £30. Condensed milk, sultanas and butter and golden syrup to make flapjacks as children asked, £10, So £100 more gone, but all needed. (Only baking done all month).

Refocus for February! Have decorators in mid-month for 8 days, but I’ve got the money ready for that. No birthdays, or anything planned, so I’m hoping we can have a quiet month financially.

cuddlebear - What has shocked me so far is how much I spend on the pets. I genuinely had completely overlooked this. It’s made me think twice about getting more animals in future. I read that a lot from people. Especially when they realise that they're spending more on an animal than some individual family members.

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea - you somehow seem to be able to drag order from financial turbulence and I admire that.

MrsShortbread - Refocus for February! Sounds like good intentions and you've planned for the expected for that month.

chimichangaz - posting is motivating isn't it. I've had moments when I've looked at the food processor when they've sent me another offer and I keep thinking, "Don't need it, I just want it" and I know I'd tell you all about it so that accountability is keeping me away from it (if that makes sense).

Checking in with everybody. You all seem to be doing great. I have had a NSD today - yesterday spent £17 on a haircut, but it had been booked for 4 months and to be fair you do occasionally need a trim!

I'm struggling a little with how much we spend on food - and how often I need to pop out to spend around £30 on the 'basics'. Literally, out of bread, butter, milk and something like chicken breasts to make tea with! Or toilet roll - we seem to go through endless amounts of that. It's not like you can just 'go without'.

The boys in the house certainly don't want to go vegetarian. They don't mind a veggie soup, say, for lunch - but tea needs to contain meat in some form as far as they are concerned. I feel like every two/three days I'm out for bread or something, which is frustrating - it just feels like money constantly dribbling out of my account...

NSD today but spent £46 on an MOT yesterday. And £7 in the pound shop while waiting for said MOT- including pocket money for the kids, hairbands, hairclips and Popcorn for a movie night at home. £15 on kids haircuts after that that I booked a while ago.

I have set up a regular overpayment on our mortgage to take advantage of our ultra low interest rate at the moment.

My motivation is waning but I am determined to remain more mindful of my spending.

I feel a bit like I'm on a diet and as soon as I restrict food/money I just want to binge/ splurge! I've got loads of bits favourited on Vinted and lots of skincare I want to buy that I wouldn't even usually want.