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.

That's why I opted for a low spend month rather than no spend. Although it's very hard as I have already spent $200 the hardware store for betting support to protect my tomato plants from the birds (very first red tomato for bird pecked!). I did not put in all that time and effort into growing lovely tomato plants to have the birds peck at all my tomatoes! So that's an essential spend, really.

I have been waiting for my dinner set to go on sale to buy some extra places - which it is sale so I will be buying that, but I've waited 6 months to do that!

I need to buy some t-shirts for my eldest DS as he's now in men's size clothing. I looked at the charity shops but they have priced theirs so high that it's cheaper for me to buy new budget t-shirts which is a shame, but I am keeping an eye out and hopefully I'll catch one of the charity shops with a 50% off weekend.

Jan 1 was a NSD for me.

Looking at my stocks (pantry challenge thread) and thinking about today's meals. Usual breakfast and lunch options but I need to use up the leftover braised Chinese mushrooms. I'll have to think of something I can make with tinned fish that would go with that and some other vegetables. Either that, or I'll need to use up some of my remaining fresh eggs and use up the mushrooms in omelettes.

I'll have to think.

No spend yesterday, i have just had to order the kids new underwear and a few uniform bits which came to £78! But that money comes from the clothing pot so has been budgeted for.

I caved and bought us a takeaway yesterday as I could not face the kitchen so today is my day one for January!

Our hoover decided to die on us yesterday so we had to go and buy another one. I found the cheapest one I could though! Other than that, no spend yesterday!

I’m not quite going no spend but I’m not spending on random crap. We have to be more careful about frittering money away.

I am however eating down the freezers. I have three (!) one of which is a large chest freezer). We can easily survive through all of January only buying bread and milk (although some combinations might be a bit odd as we progress through..). I think fir example there are three chickens, three ducks and a turkey crown in there for starters! If I can save the £200ish a week shopping bill that’s a good January saving.

I’m trying to stop spending money on random stuff. I find spending tends to creep up in November and December and not just for presents and food. This will include not replacing items until needed, being sensible with special offers.

I'd like to join in please. I'm generally bad with money, if I've got it, I spend it, but I want to change that this year.

I'd already decided not to buy any new clothes as I've got loads.

My big challenge will be (i) books (ii) coffees / snacks / lunches at work.

I go into the office 3 days a week and have a long commute and I see the coffees etc as a deserved treat. But I've got to remind myself that maybe I could have a bigger, better treat in the long run if I stopped frittering money away all the time.

It does mean lugging food, milk etc with me which is a pain but I'm sure I can manage it.

Well managed another two NSDs but had to take GS to clinic this morning for emergency appointment to check operation wound which has become infected. So wound cleaned, swabbed, dressed and prescribed antibiotics. £2 for parking.

Can I join 🙋‍♀️ low spend for us this month as we want to save for a week away next month.
Yesterday was a NSD, today my lovely lovely wool coat busted it’s zipper which I’m gutted about as I can’t afford to replace it this month! Bought a scarf on my way to work hoping it will do me for the winter with my slightly lighter coat. I had my eye on the scarf anyways but at least it felt justified.
Other than a pint of milk on the way home that’s all for today…

I’d like to join. Hoping for a low spend January. Had a NSD yesterday mainly through luck as OH and kid were feb by my sister in law and I just air fryer some chicken and chips. It would otherwise have been a hungover takeaway day.

ive gone through the clothes I pre bought my kid and sorted them so there are nee bits to pull out for when the weather gets a bit brighter.

really hoping to cut down on the Amazon putchases and sale clothes in bigger sizes for the kiddo. Next year is a school year so no need for as many clothes.

Need to get dehumidifier tablets also today probably won’t be no spend. I’ll also be going to one of my favourite money pit shops. I don’t go often but all their Christmas stuff is reduced and I might cave!

Managed two NSDs, on 31st December and 1st January.

Today spent £75 nearly on my driving lesson and booking my theory driving test. I'm hopeful that I can pass the first time!

We're going to soft play this afternoon because of the wet weather (again), but DH booked it and will pay the entry fee.

There is a huge utility bill coming out of my bank account before I'm paid again, in addition to normal bills, so I really have to watch the pennies this month. Hopefully checking in here and eating down pantry stocks will keep me on the straight and narrow.

That was my plan until a trip to the dentist......£400! 😳

Second NSD today. I have this week off work still which means I'm also saving an extra £55 as I won't need to use public transport this week.

Spent £1.25 on bread at the Co-op, but walked, so saved the petrol.

Porridge with apple and berries for breakfast, egg sandwiches for lunch with a couple of cheese straws, and sausage pasta bake for dinner with a salad of carrot, lettuce and red cabbage.

The apples were meant to go with lunch, but three fell out of the fridge so had to be used up as they were bruised. I peeled them and cooked them in the microwave with some frozen berries, added a bit of golden syrup and some cinnamon and chucked it on the porridge, it tasted like a treat rather than a way of using up damaged fruit.

Managed a complete no spend day yesterday but did need to spend some today. Spent £55 but £30 was on petrol (was on empty) and £25 on packing supplies/envelopes for my vinted sales, plus a few groceries and toiletries I needed (which I would have bought anyway)

however have been looking at other ways to save cash. Our energy bill has increased and I’ve noticed we’ve been using the rumble drier a lot. It’s been so wet nothing can get dried outside and big loads of washing don’t dry well.

we invested in a dehumidifier after Christmas for a couple of reasons, to reduce condensation in our bedroom (we are top floor of a 3 storey house and it gets so cold up there) and to dry clothes so today I’ve set a heated airer and a normal airer up there to dry a load of washing. So far the smart meter is significantly lower than this time yesterday when I had been using the tumble drier.

I’ve also booked a couple of overtime shifts a work

Would love to join in please! I'm planning a no/low spend Jan. 2023 was a tough year financially and I'm pregnant with my second so definitely need to build up my savings as much as possible before I go on mat leave in the summer. After mortgage, bills and childcare costs, I have extremely little disposable income anyway so am used to living a bit more frugally than I did in the past and can't remember the last time I spent on things like new clothes for myself. My weakness is buying food and coffees out so will try to avoid this!

NSD again today. Had to pick some birdseed up for DF, so needed to go to the retail park. Just bought that and dropped it off. Didn't hang around so I couldn't get tempted!

Back to work tomorrow. That's where the problems start. Thankfully, I'm only working 2 days this week, so that might keep me away from the temptation of the coffee shops and the January sales!

A second no spend day for me. Have started work on working through the freezer/fridge/pantry to reduce food shopping costs this month.

I spent 16euro today. That was on a bottle of wine, a box of eggs and dog treats.
We have cinema vouchers we are using tomorrow so be interesting to see how much I have to top that up with.

NS apart from regular online food shop but it was a lot lower than usual so I’m happy about that.

Hi I'm in, my daughter (21 lives with me) asked me to do it alongside her, and a thread to go with it her is perfect.
Yesterday no spend day
Today £13.42 on washing powder, fabric softener and a to good to go fruit and veg
Box from local wholesaler to collect tomorrow - essential spends

I’ve started strong. I left the shop with just the milk and bread we needed instead of also grabbing chocolate, biscuits, a handy pizza for the freezer etc.
I also looked at an offer for 5 t shirts yesterday (£38 instead of £75) and decided I could just make do with the same handful I’ve been wearing on rotation for the last year.
I did foolishly bump up my home shopping order though by £20, but it was with more food to make meals from scratch with, which I figure will save more on pre prepared and grabbing snacks.

I went into five shops today looking for one ingredient! Ended up spending £21 on ‘essentials’ but would I have spent it if I had nt gone into those shops 🤔
Done a pantry sweep and meal planned for a week so no more Aldi trips.
Tomorrow I’m on a work trip so I expect a couple of spends, but I can expense up to £20 and have packed breakfast and lunch so I should still be able to count it as a NSD

Great thread, I'm in.
I was doing so well in the run up to Xmas with saving for my holidays in 2024, then massively overspent at Xmas. I'm trying to put it behind me and start afresh ( as we did have a wonderful Xmas and new year).
I'm trying to do dry Jan so this will help ( not only weekly wine expense but hungover takeaways). I'm also trying to lose weight, so all in the right direction.
I last spent new year's eve, so I'm on day 3 of no spend and no alcohol !
I've got shopping for this month so do not need to go to tesco for anything.
Dh has said he'll get anything we run out of (washing powder, for example).
I'm hoping that Jan, Feb and March will see me putting the £1.5k back I spent.
I'm quite optimistic.