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.

I'm in! I spent £14 in the Next sale today but On two swimsuits for dd that might yet go back. I had a £14 refund so it's net zero.

Trying to only buy what the kids really need this year as need a big declutter!

2.01 NSD All meals were from stores.

I've already bought part of a birthday present today (3 Jan) so today won't be: 99p Kindle book offer.

I'm also considering culturing a new additional yoghurt strain for my MIL's DP. He's had several courses of antibiotics and it's created gut problems. He'd like to try L. Reuteri. I need to buy the capsules and culture the contents with fresh milk so I'll have to buy both of these initially and then more fresh milk to continue making it for them if I can get it going. This may seem minor but the capsules are £22 and it seems there's a high failure rate to get it going.

We have Christmas meat to finish so some people will have that with stores vegetables this evening and I'll have fish stew (from stores).

First spending day of the year today.

Blueberries at £1.69, Birthday card for SIL £1.50 and £10 on some photos for my bus puss (so that will pay for itself over and over)

£46 on petrol - unavoidable but I will definitely be using car less - hence getting bus pass.

I did look at lots of sale items in M&S but bought nothing

@Frugal2024 well done for ignoring the sales!
I think that's the main aim of this thread really - to cut out any unnecessary spending.
The things you bought you needed. And the fruit is good for you.
I need salad for my tea, but I've just found £2 in my pocket so that'll do 🤣 - better than popping to tesco and coming out with salad and wine - that mysteriously fell into my basket 🤔

Just found this and I'm doing 'no spend january', exceptions are mortgage, bills, food, essentials that run out & emergencies (had to already replace the alternator in one of the cars)! But aside from that, no eating out, no takeaways, no new clothes/make up/books etc. Cancelled any subscriptions that don't really get used, no amazon unless emergencies. Can spend xmas money though (bought a new popsocket for my phone as mine broke - with xmas money) very excited to try and keep up the habits I try and make for this month :)

I spent £20 on choir practice yesterday for the spring which I see as ok as it’s an activity that will keep me busy for the next 4 months. Nothing on myself today so that’s a win!

NS today, and and still eating from what I've already got in. Researching the cheapest way to get from Gloucester to Eastbourne later in the month. It looks like coach to London Victoria then train to Eastbourne. The only thing I'm worried about is getting the train from Victoria station, I am paranoid about getting on the wrong one, and I'm dyslexic so I have great difficulty reading the boards.

Definitely not a NSD for me but a useful one. Spent £390 on a new oven and a transfer fee for our holiday. The oven broke the day before NYE and wasn’t with getting repaired as was falling apart anyway (was left here when we moved in a year ago so no idea how old it was).
We also thought we were going to have to cancel our holiday as was booked for 29th March but DH now booked for urgent ankle surgery which means he won’t be mobile enough to go.
we thought we were going to lose the deposit paid but by paying transfer fee we’ve managed to reschedule the holiday to next year so pretty happy with that. Obviously disappointed we can’t go this year as was supposed to be to celebrate my 50th but can’t be helped

DH has actually paid for the oven so my actual spend was £30

I've still not spent anything this year - day 4 tomorrow.
I was too cold for salad so the £2 is still in my pocket.

@Nellieinthebarn happy to help you with that if you need, it’s really easy to get the train from LV to Eastbourne I promise!! They (almost always) go from platforms 16-19, (I think usually from platform 18), so if you go to that area and ask the Southern rail guys they’ll point you to the right track. The worst bit is the walk from the coach station! Lol. Good luck!

Today I spent £6.50 on 32 rashers of bacon (DH eats 4 a day without fail!) and £6.75 on two sympathy cards.. honestly why are cards so expensive! Need to start making my own…

Oh thank you so much, that is really helpful. I had a vague idea that I need to head towards the right hand side platforms, but its so long since I've been in London, I couldn't really remember.

So yesterday I did buy the dehumidifier tablets. However my OH got them from the joint account. I’m not really counting that account but I must admit I’m the main discretionary spender from this account so reining it in a bit is good.

I didn’t buy any clearance Christmas decorations which is a huge win as without this thread I know I’d have spent €50.

today was a NSD as my mum paid for lunch but I’ll get hers next time.

want to keep the small spends down as I’m going to ikea next week and want to stock up on some stuff there.

NSD ( I did buy a couple of bits from vinted but used my balance , which I have allowed for in my budget for the month )
If anyone has any clothes to sell, I reccomend vinted , so easy to use and you can often find bargains if things need replacing clothes wise .

NSD here, too. Well done @Amdone123 on your streak!

I'm back to work in the office tomorrow and Friday, but bringing food and a flask of coffee with me to prevent any random spending.

Good luck all!

Another NSD here - helped by working from home and Christmas excess in the fridge. Almost 10% of January done!

@HowDidThisHappenDinesh is there a Card Factory shop near you? They do cheap cards.
Asda do many cards at 3 for £3, I just had to buy a sympathy card myself so added a couple of birthdays cards that I will also be needing to get the offer.
I have also found Amazon do cheap cards, some under £2 and free delivery, only with prime obviously.

Remembering I'm on this thread helped me to listen to my good angel and resist the bad angel who wants a food processor that's gone on sale with a substantial reduction.

@2024Hackathon 😄 - love it. Between the Bad Angel and the Wine Witch, I'm needing all the help I can get.
Woke up thinking I need to go food shopping. Stopped myself from this habitual thought. I do have food in and I'm using it til it's all gone.
I've still got my £2 😆

03.01 Spends: 99p Kindle book offer (part of a birthday present)

£65 for a heated poncho for the relative we're looking after who is rehabbing from recent fractures. (I'm taking this out of my notional, "Life happens" savings.)

The relative needs to mobilise regularly to prevent DVTs and to start modified weight bearing on the lower body. The poncho can be disconnected, retains some warmth while they move and isn't so bulky that it gets in the way of the Zimmer frame.

Relative has COPD and heart failure so it's a fine line between having a room that's warm enough to cope with HF but doesn't trigger breathing distress for the COPD. We've settled on a reasonable room temperature and a heated throw (works for the recliner chair). However, the throw is no help for mobilisation and we don't need to put deterrents in the way such as putting on and taking off clothes.

This wasn't a 'good angel | bad angel' dispute but more a recognition that sometimes, whatever your plans, you just have to accept the need to spend the money. It makes the relative feel more comfortable and confident about mobilising.

I was a bit naughty and bought a fizzy drink at work yesterday and today so a little bit annoyed with myself but life goes on and we try again. I am going to food warehouse after work as they have 10 for £10 so I'm going to go and stock up on a few bits & I need to get some more lucozade (don't like tea or coffee but have a ND toddler who has an aversion to sleep). I also have a £15 Love2Shop gift card so might pop to new look tomorrow as I need a new pair of boots - the soles have come apart on my current pair so this I'm counting as a necessity now the weather is really getting cold where I am. But I food warehouse I'm counting as food shopping which is essential so doesn't count either!

@biostudent both essentials I would say ! And sometimes you just need a fizzy drink. I'm trying to cut down on diet coke though and drink more sparkling water.
I'm just looking at my granddaughter's playroom and thinking she really needs a new craft table and desk. Normally, I'd be online seeing what I could buy, but it's not urgent. I might just empty her desk and declutter - that'll make me feel better about it.

@Amdone123 I definitely need to cut down on the fizzy drinks, they are my downfall!
I was the same with my oldest, I thought she needed more furniture to store her things but actually she needs to declutter and own less things!

NSD yesterday and today.
Yesterday, I made sure I had lunch and drinks packed and went straight to work and came straight home. Didn't go into the path of temptation!

Today is my birthday 🎂 I have been spoiled and I haven't had the chance to buy anything!

First 4 days done! 😊

Spent €39 today. Took down the Christmas decorations today and realised I needed a new storage bag for the tree. Also bought rain trousers and 2 rain jackets for small child in H&Ms sale. They had lovely stuff but trying not to buy ahead too much as will be in school next year and won’t need as much.

NSD here. Mainly because I've been working from home so no temptations!