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.

Another NSD again for me. Went to gym and did. 2 classes (paid for monthly) and we had dinner at my parents so didn’t even need to budget for evening meal - bonus!

back at work tomorrow after a weeks annual leave but should be a NSD as I take a packed lunch and drinks with me

Huge spending day!
£60 on fuel
£50 on birthday gift
£45 on a disability aid.

A NSD at last!! and free Sunday Lunch at DD's!! Win Win!!

01.01—06.01 6 NSDs

Spends: part of a birthday present; necessary heated poncho for poorly person.

Main achievement: conversation with DH about finances. No decisions but, given the backstory, this is major.

Minor achievement: 01.01—06.01 Eaten only from stores and freezer.

Avoided spending: food processor I've had my eye on for years that went on offer for £220 less than usual price

Food shopping is coming later. It's mainly fresh things like meat, fruit and veg because we still have lots of things in the freezer. I haven't bought anything that I would call an extravagance. I've bought a 4 pack of pasties to make a midweek change from sandwiches. They are probably the least essential thing on there! It came to £47 but there are 6 of us (4 adults, a very picky 17 yo and a very active 9 yo)

Also bought some bread and a drink for the youngest on the way home from our walk this morning. That came to about £3 odd.

End of week 1 and I've only spent £50 (57 including phone case that I used Amazon gift card for)

Quite happy with that 😊

Today was a no spend day!! Full shop done at asda but used my rewards and I only had to pay £1.80 odd. Absolutely Chuffed.

brings my weekly total to £30! - £20 for petrol and £10 on soft play!

Week 2 I’m ready for you 💪
channeling my inner creativity for free fun.

Had a big clean and reorganisation of the pantry this weekend so I’m doing some pantry meals this week, putting off a big shop for as long as I can.

Got a delay repay through from a delayed train, want to use it to replace my go-to wide leg trousers that are now too big for me. I’ll see if they’re still in stock at my local outlet tomorrow at work.

Well that’s a week done, so far only spent on necessary stuff, and food spends are significantly reduced as we are working our way through the cupboard and freezer and only buying fresh/perishable stuff.

I still have some Christmas money but doing the No spend thing has made me be more careful about what I spend that on too.

Yes, week 1 done and I've spent £2.10 🤣.
I do, however, feel my motivation waning ( for NS and Dry Jan), so Monday morning I'm evaluating in my journal, and hoping to carry on.
It's not like I want to go clothes shopping or anything, I'm finding myself panicky about foodstuff - I've no idea why. My dh is the least fussiest man - he'll eat anything for tea. As will I.
So many benefits from this week. And I've lost weight.

I desperately need this having done plenty of shopping but not organised myself to actually meal plan

Work is looking uncertain too, I'm planning to build up a financial cushion just in case I'm made redundant - really hope not but you never know.

@Amdone123 I think I also need to start some sort of journal!!

Amdone I'm finding myself panicky about foodstuff - I've no idea why. My dh is the least fussiest man - he'll eat anything for tea…
So many benefits from this week. And I've lost weight.
These feelings are so unaccountable and irrational, aren't they. Like you said the other day, you're clearly thoughtful and creative with food (the frittata) and your DH is fine with what you do.
Congratulations on doing so well with your first week and your weight loss. It's sounding like you've met 4 goals here (the money (£2.10), the food, the dry January and the weight loss).

@2024Hackathon thank you !
Spot on, my thoughts sometimes are irrational - I'm a bit of a perfectionist and often don't give myself credit.
Also, I've really enjoyed this week, so it's not as if I've been miserable. I think I'm just used to food shopping, but I know I overspent at Christmas and I know I need to reign it in.
Week 2 here we come !

@ElizaBalfour I use my journal when it all gets too much. Helps me to see solutions too.
Hope the work situation goes your way.

im posting to helpfully hold myself to account for all of the extra spending I do. My downfall is nipping to the supermarket for extras, mainly treats. Or the kids ask for something and I go and buy it.
I need to stop and think before buying.

mon the positive side, I had a NSD yesterday and Saturday.
I need to buy a birthday present today and pop to the shop for some milk (milk only!)

@Lastminutebride welcome onboard the NS train 😆.
My downfall is supermarkets too. I go in for a loaf and come out with a new dress and other rubbish I don't need. Or want.

2 more NSD under my belt. Had a few stuff it moments and opened the Amazon app but been good so far. Bank balance hasn’t changed last 3 days quite disconcerting!

@Akire same !
It reminds me of the scene in Friends when Chandler tells Rachel that the bank rang because there had been some unusual activity on her cards. When she said she hadn't used her cards, he said, Yes, that's the unusual activity. 😆
My balance will decrease by £10 today as I need veg, salad, but that's it for this week.

Ha yes! Tempting to go and buy load of fresh fruit and veg but I have plenty of frozen and tinned to be getting on with. I’m not a huge fruit eater anyway. I will if I really fancy some on Friday.

Need to go through my cleaning and laundry supplies I’m sure I don’t need get any for ages. Need to use up those products I’ve half used and didn’t particular love. Least our wilko has closed down now so that temptation is out. Must be a January urge to give place a clean and fill with nice new clean smells.

Need two birthday cards in January. I’m sure I have stack somewhere so need to find motivation to dig them out. No point buying more when I have clutter that could be gone.

NSD again today, pleased with how the month is going. I put my week’s grocery shop order in last night and had hoped I could get it down to £60, in fact I got it down to £44 inc delivery. Will do the children sausages, mash, veg and gravy tonight and put myself a jacket spud in the ash pan of my stove.

NS today, used christmas cheese for cheese toasties for lunch with h/m celery soup, and plan to have mushroom stroganoff with rice for dinner.

NSD today. Not in work today so I stayed in and had a big tidy up. Didn't spend a penny!

£2.80 today on bread, milk and oats. Had a coupon for the bread.
Got my wide leg trousers 😃 and they were £10 instead of £15 like I thought. To be transparent I then spent the free £5 on Vinted on a versatile black dress. Aim this year is to build a capsule wardrobe in my new size, which may not be no spend but will contribute to no spend lifestyle in the long run. Avoided browsing further though and only bought those things that I’d premeditated.

Annoyingly I forgot noodles for dinner tomorrow so have to pop in the shops tomorrow too. Budgeting a fiver. Well done everyone on their NSDs so far 😄

NSD again for me today. Back at work but took cordial in a drinks bottle (I’m not great at drinking plain water) took breakfast and lunch with me. Didn’t need to spend any money

I've hauled a pack of cut up turkey from Xmas out of the freezer and made a turkey stew on Sunday and my adult DS son came to lunch that did Sunday and today too and I've given my adult son a portion for lunch at work today. I've got one more lot of turkey I'll use in about 2 weeks. I've also got a big bag of cut up lamb from NY day. I'm planning on taking that out of the freezer maybe Wednesday and making a lamb curry. I've got a few joints of meat I can use as joints of meat were on good offers in December.

It's been so cold outside I've not wanted to go out shopping or spending anything. Last week all we bought was bread, milk, fruit, vegetables and cat food. Just used up Xmas food/leftovers.