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Original poster

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:
Thread gallery
10
AnotherFuzzyJumper · 27/12/2023 19:03

RedDoughnut · 26/12/2023 21:10

I'm in.

What exactly are people buying/ not buying?
I have a huge Amazon habit.
We need a roof repair in the next few months and my credit card bill is also out of control.

I have a private 'wish list' on Amazon that I put items into I want to buy, tell myself I'll get it the next day if I still want it. 9 times out of 10 I forget about it.

EllieQ · 27/12/2023 20:43

27 Dec daily update:

Not a great start as I got into town and realised I needed to buy Xmas presents for my two cousins, as I’d been very disorganised before Xmas. However I was able to take advantage of half price gifts in Boots.

Spend:

£2.60 bus fare x 2
£12.50 presents x 2
£3.30 2 x packs of brioches (a breakfast staple - we were running low)

Total: £18.40

I looked at half price cards in WHSmiths but didn’t like anything on offer.

DH had a dentist appointment today as he’s lost part of a filling, and he’s had a temporary one put in but will need a crown. So he’s in pain, and will be spending about £300 on that in a few weeks (and that’s with us being NHS patients).

Next year I think I’ll suggest not exchanging gifts to my cousins. They tend to be token-type gifts, and while that can be nice, it seems a bit pointless.

Lastminutebride · 27/12/2023 21:21

I feel I’ve got off to a good start. Back to work today and took lunch with me instead of buying food. Nearly stopped at the shop on the way home but forced myself not too. Also nearly got tempted by the lush sale online, put items in my basket to return to later. Giving myself time to think about whether I actually needed them made me realise I don’t.

just got to keep it up now. DD has two birthday parties this week which I need to buy for. Don’t have time to shop around for a bargain though

grannycake · 28/12/2023 06:18

I'm in. We did a big renovation this year and went over budget so I'd like to be able to replenish savings. We re both retired and we have an annual travel budget but are trying to fit in another trip to see friends so my massive Amazon habit has to stop. I also have enough clothes to probably last for the rest of my life - or at least for just one year.

Gottoloveatakeaway · 28/12/2023 09:15

Going OK. I've online shopped twice but just loaded up my basket then abandoned it before checkout. Almost as much fun. Nice to think of it as money I've not spent.

Toomanycaketins · 28/12/2023 09:24

I have bought a couple of sale things (still December) but have resolved nothing in 2024…. Can I join?

Nissenasse · 28/12/2023 09:34

@Toomanycaketins I’m in the same boat. I’m buying a few things in December that should tie me over for 2024. I’m starting my “No Spend” on Jan 1st!

TodayForTomorrow · 28/12/2023 09:53

Love threads like this. I've made a lot of progress over the last year so hoping to stay inspired.

Using a version of the snowball method since January I've paid off a car loan and cleared a £2000 student overdraft. Currently throwing money at a loan I had to take out to replace the roof last January which I think I will pay off by June. After that, I'll have freed up £500 a month to throw at just under £6k of credit cards which are currently on minimum payments at 0% so my aim is to have everything but my mortgage paid off by Christmas.

PracticalPatricia · 28/12/2023 10:05

I am also not starting till 1st Jan

Toooldtoworry · 28/12/2023 14:16

My savings rate is 4.75% so I'm saving to repay the loan because its at 3.5%

I've got a credit card on 0% with £3618.20 on it that I am paying £400.78 per month off, so should be repaid in September.

We're remortgaging in September (well will start the process, it's not due until March 2nd 2025) and will be increasing the mortgage to extend the house, so I'm intending to owe nothing other than the mortgage by September 2024. 🤞 it goes according to plan.

scoopdewhoop · 28/12/2023 16:44

I'll join! I have 5k on a credit card to clear. I want to take the kids on holiday too this year.
We've had lots of birthdays and Christmas so we've been spending loads and now have a house full of crap. The kids have been really overwhelmed by it all- I have been too! Feeling a bit guilty by all the excess tbh.

I used to be frugal but have gone off the boil as life has got busier. Would really like to get a handle on my spending as I only work part-time and our mortgage will go up at some point and I want to avoid having to go full-time for a couple of years till the kids are older.

AllTheChaos · 28/12/2023 16:51

I’m in! Need to declutter, reduce spending, clear my life and house, and if possible actually sell some things. I’ve got things I need to save towards, but also need to revamp my life. Last year was just awful, and if I can get out of spending money I don’t have in things we don’t need, I think I will be a lot happier!

scoopdewhoop · 28/12/2023 16:52

Today I spent £8 on swimming with the kids (they're free as they're members). Tomorrow will £4 each to go to the cinema. The next day we have a birthday party but we already have a card and gift. New Year's Eve we are meeting friends for a walk then watching fireworks for free. We have an M and S gift card to buy a nice New Year's meal. The rest of the holidays will be spent arranging play dates and utilising our existing memberships eg National Trust

scoopdewhoop · 28/12/2023 19:53

You're doing well!
Just one question- I have a credit card balance at 0% interest too and a mortgage. I don't know whether it's better to overpay the mortgage as that has a higher interest rate, or put the money in savings where it can earn interest and sit there till I pay off the credit card or mortgage or pay the credit card off? If the credit card is 0% interest then surely it's OK to just sit there waiting to be paid off? I always thought it was best to pay off the debt with the highest interest first.

Toooldtoworry · 28/12/2023 20:35

scoopdewhoop · 28/12/2023 19:53

You're doing well!
Just one question- I have a credit card balance at 0% interest too and a mortgage. I don't know whether it's better to overpay the mortgage as that has a higher interest rate, or put the money in savings where it can earn interest and sit there till I pay off the credit card or mortgage or pay the credit card off? If the credit card is 0% interest then surely it's OK to just sit there waiting to be paid off? I always thought it was best to pay off the debt with the highest interest first.

What is your mortgage interest rate, and what is the savings account rate?

Pammela2 · 28/12/2023 20:49

I’m joining too. I always think I’m getting such a bargain and can’t resist when I actually didn’t need it in the first place!

Pammela2 · 28/12/2023 20:50

scoopdewhoop · 28/12/2023 19:53

You're doing well!
Just one question- I have a credit card balance at 0% interest too and a mortgage. I don't know whether it's better to overpay the mortgage as that has a higher interest rate, or put the money in savings where it can earn interest and sit there till I pay off the credit card or mortgage or pay the credit card off? If the credit card is 0% interest then surely it's OK to just sit there waiting to be paid off? I always thought it was best to pay off the debt with the highest interest first.

Depends on your mortgage and savings rate!

Occasional2023 · 28/12/2023 21:21

I want to join. I've decided no more clothes, books, or subscriptions for a year. It's just me so no one else I can blame for any overspend.

Lalanbaba · 28/12/2023 21:58

I want to join.
Just cancelled prime and need to pay off my cc.
I have a birthday in Feb to buy for and a ticket to Spain at some point in the next 3 months. But appart from that I will try reduce as much as I can.
Dd has had tonnes of presents so appart from clothes she should be fine for a few months.
Saving on personal money so any days out will have to come out from joint money.
I have been too frivolous this xmas...

EllieQ · 28/12/2023 22:22

28 December update. Today’s spend:

£5.14 Moonpig card for nephew
£2.80 bus fare
£28.60 cinema tickets (joint account as family outing).

Total: £36.54

If I’d been more organised and bought a card, it would have cost less than doing it through Moonpig. Bit irritated with myself.

ItsMyPartyParty · 28/12/2023 22:31

Ooh, following with interest!

I also need to curb the Amazon habit for the sake of both my wallet and my cluttered house. Have already put takeaway spending rules in place.

Im steadily losing weight so planning to “shop my wardrobe” as I go down sizes rather than buying new!

Need a thoughtful approach to kids clothes - eg get them a proper summer capsule wardrobe off Vinted rather than picking stuff up in town as they outgrow things.

MrsTopaz · 28/12/2023 22:47

id love to join, not tried this before but think I need to. Amazon is my nemesis and I need to get a grip.. that and popping to ASDA on my lunch break for a sandwich and coming out with loads. I’ll try to take packed lunch to keep me out of the shop.

Needhelp101 · 28/12/2023 23:27

An Amazon tip that works for me, take the item out of your basket and save it for later. I went through my Saved for Later list yesterday and deleted loads as I no longer needed/wanted them.

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 29/12/2023 00:37

i've been a controlling B all of december and i'm sure it will continue into 2024 :(.
some support would be appreciated as i can only rage at dh and bff's so much.

Daisy12Maisie · 29/12/2023 07:59

I'm doing this. Other than bills I'm trying to pay for food and petrol only. I have £4600 on my credit card, which stresses me out so any way to pay that down would be amazing.

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