No spend January?

[Psychoticbreak]

There used to be no spend threads every month on here although I appreciate Dec is a hard one. For me I am going to try not to overspend this month and clear off the credit card in full again as it was zero balance up till xmas.

Anyone else with me?
Stilly possibly to class Christmas day as a no spend but that was my day one and I spent nothing yesterday either.

Broke my no spend streak today by buying cat food on my way home and then ordering pizza delivery. We had veg but DH and I were both knackered from work, so we took the easy option. I'm still under the budget I set for the month and get paid on Friday, so it should be OK even if it wasn't the frugal choice. Aiming for NSDs now until payday.

@moimichme that's not too bad, and it's understandable if you're shattered from work. Sometimes, needs must !

No spend day today. I’m down to last few miles of petrol but need to get to work tomorrow and Thurs. trying to wait until Friday (pay day) to fill up

NSD here. DH's back was still really bad so we didn't venture out to town today. I went to see DF and came straight home.

Hopefully another NSD tomorrow. No plans really. Hoping to just relax and play some PS5. It is supposed to be my week off, after all.

NSD today other than preplanned Lidl shop. Everyone at work bought lunch today but I resisted the urge to join them and waste my packed leftovers lunch. Lunches packed in the fridge for tomorrow. Feeling motivated

NSD, we are both poorly. Chicken soup from a tin from the pantry for lunch with bread and butter. I don't know if we will want dinner, it might be something like an omelette, I don't think either of us can be arsed to cook anything more elaborate even if we did feel like eating it.

@Nellieinthebarn Hope the lurgy doesn’t last to long.

had get some veggies today but essential so not feeling to bad.

No spend day again today it’s almost payday!!

@RM2013 , yay, well done!
I'm on track - booked my April holiday : went over by £30, but all good ! Could have booked a private taxi, but hey ho ! I'll get the transfer which is OK really, as I don't know the area.
Also spent £10 on a bottle of fizz, but you've got to celebrate 🎉

Morning all. NSD yesterday and hoping for same today. Work is crazy this week though (been in office all week, no WFH like usual) and DH did dinner last night which was bliss. However I always make leftovers for lunches and he didn’t think that far ahead so I’m not sure what to scrounge up for lunch. Also won’t have time to make the dinner I planned so off to the pantry challenge thread for some quick ideas, I may have to buy lunch but there’s no way I’m buying dinner too 😂

(PS @Amdone123 where are you off to? Booking a hol basically in budget is definitely cause for celebration!)

@HowDidThisHappenDinesh hope you manage to rustle something up ! I'm in a similar position today. Though I've just found lots of tinned fish ( dh went through a phase), and I'm thinking I could make some fishcakes.
I book with onthebeach for cheap holidays. Nerja, 5 nights ( will only have 3 full days, but that's fine), flight, accommodation, transfer, decent apartment- I need a balcony - £280.

Enjoy your holiday @Amdone123 im waiting to hear back about the insurance before i book ours. I'd also like to have more of a buffer in our account for this before booking.

Yesterday was a NSD and im hoping today will be too.

Todays payday and i've paid all the bills and funded the joint account and my own savings vault and i'm left with about €400 for running around money. THis is my entertainment, spending cash, unexpected expenses fund. Its lower this month as DH and i put €250 each away for a minibreak later in the year so have removed that cash. hoping it lasts the month!

There has definitely been a marked improvement in my online shopping and i want to maintain this.

Thanks @pistachiosanscream 12 weeks yet. I wanted a bit more of a buffer too but I need something to look forward to.
Good that you've paid your bills. I'll have a similar budget for February - I'm determined to stick to it.
And, omg, thank you - you just stopped me buying tops online. I was thinking I'm desperate but having stopped and thought about it, I think I've got some packed away. They're only for work anyway. 💪

@Amdone123 dont apologise for essays, reading all about everyone else helps me and I’m sure plenty of others. Your holiday sounds like it’ll be lovely, and a great bargain.

I am finishing the month no poorer but also no wealthier on paper than at the end of last month, but I did pay outright for us all to have first summer holiday in decades, and that was over £900 wheelchair friendly so I’m actually really proud of myself that I managed to do that by being frugal.
Plan for February is to save like crazy for Savings and get a buffer.

well done @MrsShortbread sounds like you will be rich with experiences soon.

Just back from Physio with little one and she needs some work to bring her to the same base as other kids her age. All due to hip Dysplasia as a baby. nothing mental but will mean new shoes needed and we must look into games we can play that will build up her strength. I am itching to get shopping (My normal reaction to stress) However i'm hoping that outside of the shoes which are essential that we actually have enough games etc already and we just need to do them.

So already from our Joint Account i can see €350 worth of expenses outside of bills. ( New Boots, Decorator and decorating supplies that i comitted to previously)We budget €200 a month for these normally so i'm hoping to fill the shortfall from the grocery budget. Normally budget €550 for groceries but hoping to come in at €350 this month. One big shop approx €150, Milkman €100 and €100 on top up shops. We do have an eating out budget but i'm hoping not to have to dip into that as i know we will want to have a takeaway/coffee/brunch out during the month

Technically a NSD today although I did have to put petrol in the car but this was essential spends

@pistachiosanscream that’s a lovely way to look at it, thank you. That sounds a pretty positive physio appointment, I’m glad for you.

Planning a NSD day tomorrow, weekend will not be as invited to soft play so will use diesel (40 mile round trip) and pay to get in (only £2 per child for 90 min) but I will take my thermos and some snacks.

Morning, folks - you're all doing splendidly. Whether we've saved hundreds, or just adjusted our spending attitudes, we're doing really well.
We can't help the essential spending or even some enjoyment spending, but it looks like we're all making up any shortfalls in our grocery shopping, etc.

I spent £20 on a small shop. My sister was having a throw out so she sent chicken, mince, sausages and cheese my way. Super !
I just needed fruit, veg, and staples to go with it.

Not sure how much I've saved this January but it's definitely, definitely a minimum of £400.

Ooohh I've just prepared the spaghetti bolognese for tea ; no garlic bread ( it's stuff like that I've missed, sundries / sides)
Anyway....I did have Greek yog, flour and garlic butter, so I've just made the dough. Will roll out later ! Wish me luck, but even if it fails, I tried !

Small spend day today. DH is on for a day case op so I treated myself to a sandwich meal deal and a drink to take and eat whilst he’s in theatre. I did make a flask of hot chocolate which I brought with me. I also needed to pick up some paracetamol and ibuprofen for post op plus I needed to get some more protein yoghurts and peanut butter (I use these for my overnight oats breakfast that I take to work each day) overall spend was £9.90 which as it’s payday today was good as usually I’d splash out on payday!!
determined to keep this mindful spending going.
after Christmas I was around £500 into my overdraft but with careful spending and some overtime shifts I’ve brought this right down so really hoping this month with more careful spending I don’t have to go into my overdraft at all

Both feeling better today. Had bacon sandwiches for breakfast, h/m celery soup with ryvitas and cream cheese for lunch and am planning h/m chicken kebab, h/m vegetable rice and spinach and cucumber salad for dinner.

Spent 7.76 in the co-op on the last top up shop of the month, (hopefully) on bread milk and some vegetables. I don't get paid until the 1st, so its another 5 days for me. January seems to be a very long month.

I'm usually paid on the final working day of the month, too, Nellie, but HR moved it earlier last year because January IS a very long month! Glad you're feeling better.

I had a NSD yesterday. Today was payday and I only bought a few groceries. We're eating leftovers for dinner and I'm feeling very hopeful about February. Definitely going to keep going with careful, frugal habits.

I had a spendy Friday, some planned and urgent, some unplanned and not urgent, but all were planned spends in the future but I've saved money by buying now and my sinking funds will balance soon.

Some wins, we have an extra two to feed this weekend, my husband was going to go to the shop to get some more food, but having had a rustle around have sorted the dinners without extra top up shopping.
I have also managed to cut out a weekly long drive saving petrol money, so this has been allocated elsewhere in my budget.

The rest of the month will be no spend, hopefully, nothing planned. February I will really focus staying on track with NSDs, only thing I need to buy in February is a Valentine's card, besides the normal spending.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Amdone and MrsShortbread - did pay outright for us all to have first summer holiday in decades, and that was over £900 wheelchair friendly so I’m actually really proud of myself that I managed to do that by being frugal.

I'm beyond impressed with you both that you've covered the cost of holidays. This is a goal for me, to be able to discuss such things with DH.

NS day today, made an extra frugal chilli that was half meat half beans and veg, so there is enough for another dinner. So that is stashed away in the freezer for a day when I've run out of energy, inspiration, money or all three.