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.

Well done everyone. I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who panics about food when I’ve freezers full and a large pantry stock.

I find it’s a balance I need to get to whereby I’m mainly eating from the stores but need to have some made up foods for the hard days when I can’t be bothered. Also have an easy please DH but at the same time he’s gotten spoilt by me being a good cook so I feel the pressure to make every meal “fab” when “fed” is much more achievable.

Sunday was a NSD. Yesterday was a trip to ikea so knew I’d spend. Spent €93 on stuff there and food throughout the day. Was gone from 8am to 7pm.

DH ate a random mix of leftovers and toast for dinner. Hence the pressure I put upon myself is all my own fault. He will eat anything happily.

today should be NSD. Though my mum needs an ikea order put in for her so hopefully I’ll resist adding anything to that.

pistachiosanscream I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who panics about food when I’ve freezers full and a large pantry stock.

My DH was a little conflicted about absorbing the pantry 'inheritance' from my relative. I struggle with food insecurity and have to manage myself about it. Although this substantial influx is a bit overwhelming in volume, I don't expect it to have much of an impact on my emotions, IYSWIM.

I am finding it an interesting logic puzzle to rotate everything in and to plan ahead for cooking almost completely from my stores. (I've decided that I'm going to keep buying fresh milk to make the yoghurt as I don't want to risk my heritage yoghurt by switching milk so radically.)

Yesterday I spent £18. I intended to just withdraw £10, but atm had no 10s, so not my fault 😆.
I was tempted to buy wine ( a whole other thread), but instead stocked up on foodstuff for next week ( rice, pasta, teabags).
I'm still well within my budget so I'm really pleased.
Day 9 NS and alcohol free.
Tea is dh's favourite cottage pie. I had the mince and ingredients in, apart from the potatoes and carrots that I got yesterday.

Another NSD though after the excitment of the first week under my belt week 2 seems to be dragging! I imagine week 2 & 3 will be the hardest.

Did load an Iceland trolley online for Friday but may hold off. I’ve not run out of anything (only frozen sprouts) so it’s not essential but I do like keep toilet rolls, washing powder etc topped up. Still have meals in the freezer to eat so while buying more of my favourite things is a nice it’s not essential. Will still get some Diet Coke but not extra £40 I really don’t need. That’s problem with on line shopping for heavy things you end up having to have mim spend. At least Iceland it’s only £25.

Still checking my Amazon basket for price changes but these tend to go UP then tell me it’s a new saving, I don’t think so!

Another NSD yesterday, but this morning spent £2.30 taking GS to playgroup. But that paid for his entrance fee including snack time for him and a coffee and tea cake for me. The playgroup are very good though as he's dairy intolerant and they cater for his needs.

Wish I was seeing a better bank balance already 😆
Does anyone else keep checking their balance as if it’s going to have magically grown? Just me?

NSD today but DP (don’t live together) bought me a half price Superdry body warmer, so that’s a lovely surprise and treat.

@MrsShortbread I'm always checking mine, despite the fact I know it will not change til the end of the month 🤣

@Amdone123 you’ve no idea how better that makes me feel hahaha.

@MrsShortbread @Amdone123 I thought it was just me! I keep checking but bank balance is not magically increasing, despite me not buying a coffee on my way to work 🤷🏻‍♀️

Looks like it's another NSD here! Just got home and tea is on. We're having a lazy roast dinner. I'm using a frozen chicken joint, frozen roasties, frozen sprouts, frozen broccoli and frozen mixed veg! Gravy will be Bisto and veg water. Super low effort but I know everyone will love it, especially with it being so cold outside.

I woke up to the help to save bonus being paid into my account which was a welcome surprise.

I've managed to avoid the shops so far this year, so no unexpected spends or temptation so far.

Normal bills paid and up to date now. Today has been a little spendy for my husbands birthday, but, it was budgeted for so I'm not sure whether that counts as no spend.

I think it's fine if it's budgeted for @psuedocream3 . I've got a holiday installment coming out end of January but I budgeted that into my overall 3 month plan.
I class as NS not buying clothes in the sales predominantly. I've got too many clothes, and nowhere to store them. In spring, my sister and I are doing a massive car boot and selling all our holiday clothes.
Also, NS - supermarket shops. It used to be ok, I'd only spend 20 or 30 pounds, now, it's just getting ridiculous so I'm knocking that on the head, too !

NSD yesterday and today, apart from a planned payment - roof repairs that got fixed last week. A painful £720! So No Spend January definitely needed and may have to become no spend February too. It was my first day back in the office today but I managed to avoid the temptation of the coffee shop.

Spent £4.75 at the shops on noodles and a lime for dinner. Annoyed at myself though as I bought harissa, got home and realised I actually need tahini. Don’t know how I got that confused and now I need to figure out what to use the harissa for. And I still need tahini. Lol

A Pret breakfast was very tempting this morning, felt a bit meh about the soggy apple granola I had packed but it was actually quite tasty! Same again tomorrow. Leftovers dinner tomorrow so it’ll be a NSD.

NSD today and yesterday. Brought lunch, coffee, etc. to work and it's really helping. I got less strict before Christmas and those little spends do add up.

I spent approximately £45 on a top-up shop (fresh fruit, salad and veg) plus a child birthday gift and card over the weekend, which I'd forgotten about.

I'm another one checking my bank balance too often - to make sure it hasn't changed without my knowledge?! Not sure, but I suppose it's better than actually spending!

Keep up the good work, everyone!

Had to book an unplanned trip away for next week to attend a funeral, so it cannot be helped. So I paid for the accomodation today, and will have to buy food while we are away.

Also paid the balance of our holiday in March, but that was already budgeted for.

Menu today was purple porridge which is just porridge with berries from the freezer and some h/m plum jam, lunch was roasted sardines from a tin i had in the stores, crusty roll and a salad made from red cabbage, grated carrot both from the christmas ver, cucumber and olives dressed with vinegar and olive oil. Dinner was maple and mustard sausage tray bake which was some sausages from the freezer, carrots, potatoes, onions and apple.

So a spendy day that had to be done, but I still think if I am careful I can put a bit away this month.

NSD today. Will have to pay for some building works this week - budgeted for in advance and much needed so doesn't count in my book.

NSD again today - on a roll here!! Went to work (took breakfast, lunch and drinks with me) then gym after work (included in my monthly membership) and filled my water bottle at the gym. DH did a good shop today so we are well stacked up.

It's great to read how everyone is faring. Really inspiring.
I'm on a roll, too, I feel. Once I stopped acting like we were going to starve 🤣.
There's only the 2 of us, so it's quite easy really to go from day to day. Appreciate it's not as easy when you've got children, etc.

Boiled eggs for brunch, chilli and rice, with pitta bread for tea ( latter from freezer).
NS day 10.

Reading these threads is really keep me motivated!

9/1/24 was a no spend day. We went to a free toddler group at the local library then home for a freezer lunch. Usually we’d go McDonald’s so I’m really proud.

10/1/24 will be a no spend day. We’re booked for free soft play & I’ll take drinks and snacks from home.
Dinner is leftover roast dinner.

really keeping focused during week 2!
this challenge is strangely exciting haha!!
keep going everyone! Xx

Essential spend day had pay electric bill and did an online shop for Friday after cutting it back several times. Certainly still feels like a NSD when it’s nothing remotely nice! Do feel over the hump of the week with it being Wednesday. I realise how slowly it takes to eat/empty the freezer.

Also strange have had no Amazon man, delivery man or post man knocking the door. They will think I have died or something lol

I’m another one constantly checking the bank balance. It might not be going up but it’s very satisfying seeing in stay the same for a few days instead of going down almost everyday.

i tried out a Too Good To Go box yesterday from a local garden centre food hall and got £20 worth of stuff for £5, luckily all stuff we would eat. Unfortunately being the garden centre I got tempted to wander round the Christmas decorations sale but I managed to resist temptation apart from a strip of red tinsel for £1 (reduced from £3) specially for dh because he wanted to decorate his office for Christmas in his football team colours 😄but by the time he decided to do it everywhere else we tried had run out. So he can do in next Christmas instead.

Failed a bit today. Went to Heron on the way to work for hot dog buns but they didn't have any. I bought some chocolate spread and Mini Cheddars for DSs lunchbox (£3.35) and went on my way.

I decided to go to B&M on my lunch because they sell bread and things. Good news: I got hot dog buns. Bad news: I bought some new Xmas baubles in the sale. Only spent £4 and we really needed some replacement ones but that is not the point. I've already put all of the Xmas stuff into storage, too, so I'll have to venture into the loft again 🙄

Altogether today, I spent about £12 because I bought some noodles, too.

Not the end of the world but I am a bit annoyed with myself.

@SwoopingIsBad that's not too bad. It's food to feed your child and a few baubles.
Keep going !

NSD today. Using some more christmas cheese up on tonight's dinner of Cheesy leek tarts, we are having them with h/m potato wedges and baked beans, breakfast was avocado on toast, and lunch was a chicken salad sandwich and a packet of crisps from a multi pack, and an apple.

Considering I am keeping spending to a minimum I don't think we are eating too badly. Its a bit down on fruit than normal and a bit more carbs, but I am trying to add more veg in the form of h/m soups and adding winter salads like coleslaw to sandwiches. I certainly don't feel deprived, or that we're going to succumb to scurvey any time soon.

After about a 4 day no spend streak have spent some money today but resisted the temptation in B&M

spent £10.65 on some bulbs for kitchen light as one has blown, some seasoning mix for chicken meal tomorrow, card for DS as he passed his driving test today 🎉 a diffuser for bedroom as ours is empty

resisted temptation to buy a heated throw for £40. Still considering it as DH having surgery soon and he will be cold sitting around all day so this might avoid him constantly having the heating on and heating the whole house when not really needed