Sensible September

[HowDidThisHappenDinesh]

Back to school and back to budgeting… a thread for us to keep each other accountable in sensible spending.
New posters welcome :)

It's been up and down here! I've bought a coat today which is I'll class as essential! It had 20% off.
Met a couple of friends on Tuesday evening, one I hadn't seen in ages, which resulted in more spending than intended. Other days have all been low spend mostly fresh food bits.
DD and I are going to visit my parents tomorrow. I'm going to take lunch for the train. I might stretch to a coffee at the station. DD does need some new winter things so I have said we can go shopping next week but I'm going to limit it.
Aside from that, I'd like a few NSDs to start November. I do like to get Christmas shopping mostly done in November so that may not prove so easy!

Won a fiver on set 4 life again thurs

Will use that 4 a mini top up top

Top up shop**

Managed a more sensible Saturday, just a coffee and breakfast bap mid way on my long train journey back which was around a tenner. Indie Cafe rather than cost/ Starbucks etc so better quality and reasonable cost. Couldn't pre make a sarnie as staying with people the night before.

Totted up all I'd spent on the gig in total and although I don't regret going as it was something I really wanted to see, the price really does add up especially when you factor in travel food etc
Ticket price was a v reasonable £25 but add to that travel of £81 ( cheapest train option, three hours away staying over with friends ) food around £30 and drinks around £40 ( getting rounds, don't want to look stingy etc) and it's approaching £175. OK as a rare treat but.ended up costing way more than anticipated. And the tickets were cheap, more and more it's costing £50/60 to ho to a gig and for big names, the sky's the limit.

Still four days left 😫 why is this month so long.
We got a unplanned and unnecessary takeaway this weekend which has tipped us over budget. I’m fighting some chesty cold thing and just could not face cooking after my Saturday shift. Today was a NSD though even with my DB coming over.
I have £15 left in the groceries pot so that is my budget for today’s shop. We need top ups of some basics and everything extra can wait til Friday.
Grateful the weather is still mild because the zip of my warm winter coat is broken. I’m not sure if I should get it fixed or just get a new one, there’s a down one on sale atm that I’m eyeing up but I’d have to put it on my credit card and I really don’t want to use it unless I can pay it off immediately. But I also don’t want to miss out on it.

Sometimes getting things repaired or altered can cost as much or more than buying a new ( second hand) one.

I was lucky enough to get a 2nd hand winter cost off ebay for. £12 which was good as new and fits like a glove, but it's a gamble especially with fit, unless seller offers returns.

This is what I’m thinking, the repair will cost similar to just buying the new coat on sale. And it’s more versatile, so I’m very tempted, my only concern is how warm it would be, but it’s down so surely good enough for UK winter.
Am putting it off til November though to decide.

I didn’t have time for a shop yesterday, just managed to pull together a dinner from the cupboards. Now trying to see if I can push through til Friday! We are out of veg though so I can pull some fishcakes out of the freezer for tonight but I’ll need to grab some broccoli or something on my way home to have with it.

@HowDidThisHappenDinesh it's so frustrating when repairs would cost almost as much as a new item - happened to me with my Fitflops, I was very annoyed as they cost £50 and only lasted me a year have you tried Vinted for a new coat in case anyone's selling it more cheaply? Must admit my winter coat is an old one of DP's I did buy a nice Peter Storm one a couple of years ago and the lining tore inside, it's more than my sewing skill level to be able to fix it, so I make do with DP's which is happily nice and warm for me...

@IDontHateRainbows oh I completely agree about tickets, by the time you've added in travel + meal/ snacks it's usually very spendy sad really as it puts me off going to even local events. DTS2's friend is in a local theatre production at the weekend, the tickets are under £10 each, but by the time I've paid for petrol + bought DTS2 an ice cream at the interval, that's probably the best part of another £10 gone. And that's assuming I don't want to buy myself any snacks/ drinks whilst there!

Hmmm, almost November, I lost track of October and am really looking for ways to do better next month... if anyone has any meal planning tips they would be much appreciated as it's something I absolutely struggle with. DTS1 is being investigated for ADHD and I definitely have some aspects myself, executive function being one of them (hence difficulties with meal planning and budgeting!) - hoping to find ways to help myself as we try to help him!

I also have ADHD and crap with meal planning but what we have done is get an online shop from asda and go to the recipe section and choose meals from there, it will put the ingredients in your basket. There's a budget section, I recommend the fish finger pie!

You need to remember to take out things like spices/ stores cupboard stuff you already have.

It's like a cheaper version of hello fresh/ gusto.

Got back from visiting my parents yesterday. I, unintentionally, had low spend days. They insisted on paying for a lunch out as did ny aunt, who we met for a drink and snack.
DD needs some clothes so going shopping today.

Thank you @IDontHateRainbows, I'll give that a try I've just checked and Tesco have a similar recipe finder, one of those where you can enter your leftover ingredients and it will suggest recipes. Now I just need to find the time to actually cook

I'm hoping for some NSDs next month @Vinorosso74 but not tomorrow, I'm getting my hair cut for the first time in months, very much looking forward to it!!

@ElizaBalfour yes Vinted was first point of call but nothing so far. But I can definitely wait til November to buy it so I can keep an eye out.
For meal planning, sheet pan meals are my go to when I'm short on time. Bung a load of veg and meat on a tray and roast. Or when I have a bit more time, pasta bakes or curries using up whatever needs eating in the fridge.

Last day of October finally. Yesterday I did a £20 top up shop that will come from November's budget, I'm so ready to start a new month! I'm hoping by next year I'll have a bit more income (and all debt paid off!) and won't have to be quite so frugal with daily spending, but next month I have a weekend away, two gigs, a family get together, and a day out with friends planned. Glad we can afford those things and pay rent and bills when we are sensible with other spending. But it means monitoring daily spending pretty closely.

So who's in for a No Spend November?

Definitely feels like it's been a long month @HowDidThisHappenDinesh. I hope you feel better now. @ElizaBalfour Happy new hair day, enjoy your haircut..

27/30 NSDs.

A £3.44 spend last week (after discounts/vouchers) for two Christmas presents, I shouldn't have any other spends before the end of the month. My last phone payment went out last week, looking forward to putting that money into my self care budget going forward.

I reached my next savings target on Tuesday, I'm so pleased as that has kept me really focused on having NSDs. Thanks to these threads keeping me accountable, I have increased my savings and haven't stressed about the cost of things like car insurance or Christmas, so something is working.

I'm in for November, I have a final savings goal for the year to keep me motivated.

Well done everyone!!
I haven’t posted in a while but I think I’ve naturally become a low spend kinda person now 😂

I’m definitely in for November - wondering if I might feel a bit of pressure due to Christmas shopping/ Christmas opportunities / days out etc but going to stay within my low spend remits.

Had a nice bonus from work which is sitting proudly in my savings account.
Ive been trying to side hustle by referring people for a Zing card ( Like a revolut card - if you know) anyway they get £30 for signing up and I get £30. Has been really successful so hoping I can use these rewards to finally pay the last of my next account off! Let’s see!

Ooh is the referral still on @Disneyland2022 ? I wouldn't mind a spare £30!

I was going to start a NS November thread but we could just keep going here if people want? I'm not off to a great start as yesterday's top up shop was full of treats, but we turned down going out to dinner this weekend so yellow sticker steaks and £1 tiramisu pots seemed like the cheaper option. Also the coat I had my eye on has gone down in price! So might nab the bargain now - good things come to those who don't hastily spend :)

I’ve Pm’d you the referral.

anyone else fancy a spare £30!? feel free to message :)

Joining in!

I am single and turning 60 next year. Two adult DC who work really hard but are on low London wages (£30k and £35k) have to pay £950 a month on renting just a room each, so I end up subbing them most months. DS is painfully thin now and just wouldn’t eat if I didn’t chip in. Their dad never offers a penny. 🤬

I am massively overpaying my mortgage so I can retire at 65 rather than having to wait until I qualify for state pension at 67. This does leave me having to think really carefully about what I spend on. There’s nobody to fall back on, no incoming inheritance, just me.

I eat meat far less often, and tonight’s dinner will be homemade vegetable soup made from odds and sods, with a crusty roll. It will be lunch for a few days too. I’m also walking loads more and avoiding using my ten year old car to save on petrol, and hopefully keep car going a few more years.

The thing I do splash out on is holidays. I forgo clothes, beauty treatments, takeaways and meals out, so I can save for travel which is my absolute passion.

Am posting for accountability, to pick up top tips from the experts, and share my own experiences.

Welcome to November everyone!

Have we all set our intentions for the month and checked any expenses coming up we need to mindful of?

I spent Saturday moving money into my sinking fund pots and savings. I just have petrol to pay for tomorrow for the month and £5 direct debit to go out. My last official payment on my phone contract was last month but they said last payment is 11th but very vague if anything would actually be owed or refunded.

I have a baby shower to attend next week for a family member so will need to spend, never been to a baby shower so I am not really sure what I should be spending or buying. DD needs a new school bag and DS needs a nativity costume but possibly able to put these off until next month. We shall see.

2/3 NSDs as I did end up buying a perfume discovery set, as they had a 20% discount, £10 off and a free birthday treat worth £15 and free delivery. At £8.70 I couldn't refuse, and I did want a perfume treat for giving up vaping so I feel I have reached a good compromise.

Welcome @Ilovethatbear I agree with you about travel, we could live a bit less frugally each month if we didn’t travel but then tbh I’d be more miserable than I am skipping takeaways.
Thank you @Disneyland2022 now I just need to make a purchase, contrary to my no spend plan! Am going to Lidl tomorrow so I’ll transfer some money over for that.

NSD today! We turned down a meal at the pub with friends and had yellow sticker steak and chips at home. At £6.10 per portion we saved at least £50 and still felt we had a treat. I’d like to have at least 10 NSDs this month so that’s one down. The urge to spend money is so real though especially when you have it all at the tip of your fingers! I’m just trying to put off purchases til tomorrow, one day at a time and then delay again.
Tomorrow is the weekly shop and bimonthly wax appointment - I do it myself between appointments but it’s well overdue now. So no NSD but I have a budget I want to stick to.

@psuedocream3 I have a very expensive social month and need to be prepared. I budgeted £50 per weekend and we didn’t spend any of that this weekend so it can roll on to next week, that feels more manageable than just one big pot. And well done on quitting vaping :) definitely worth a treat for that!

@psuedocream3 well done on giving up vaping!! Last time I went to a baby shower I bought one cute (larger) babygrow/ outfit plus a present for the mum - nice hand cream I think it was - spent about £20 in total. I'm not a massive fan of them but this was for a close friend. Both my DTs have to wear Egyptian costumes for a school play soon - school have said the usual "Oh they are easy enough to make" - errrr no, I do not find them easy to make, I find them easy to buy from Vinted...

@Ilovethatbear rent in London is crazy isn't it - especially when salaries have in no way kept pace - very kind of you to sub your DC and I'm sure much appreciated. I tend to walk/ use the bus when I can too, my car is an old diesel and quite fuel efficient, but the wear and tear on everything else is what worries me. I was hoping to book a walking holiday next year as you can get some good bargains - DTS2 would like to come with me - but not sure I'll be able to save up enough TBH.

Spendy day on Thursday for me - new haircut day!! - plus bought some new vitamins etc which I'd run out of. NSD on Friday but spent a bit on Saturday and today too - today's main spend being a supermarket trip to get bits for packed lunches. Mondays are always hectic so I'm hoping just to get through it without spending anything...

Spendy day yesterday. Did a big shop, stocked DH’s snack drawer and have told him to ration it cuz I’m not buying chocolate and crisps every week this month! Got a lot of unplanned yellow sticker items too which is great for future meal planning, straight in the freezer. Went to the salon, paid as budgeted. I almost bought the coat I’ve had my eye on but I want to try it on one more time. I’m going for a NSD today so I’ll put off ordering it til tomorrow or Thursday. Packing a coffee and snacks because it’s cold and I’m definitely going to want a hot coffee while I’m out.

Two NSDs here in a row… except for £3 at co op on some chickpeas and tomatoes.
Tomorrow will be spendy but aiming for a NSD Friday too.

I had a spendy day on Tuesday. Big shop and filled the car up with petrol. To be fair petrol isn't a big expense as we have a small car and don't use it loads.
I'm taking advantage of offers to get some Christmas shopping done. I like to get the bulk of my shopping done in November so NSDs may be few and far between. I'm trying to keep spending lower this year.
Got some cat sitting this weekend so that will help!

How are we all doing?

I’ve had such a good week, barely spent anything. Need to get fuel today but that will probably last a week.

I'm on a nightshift tonight & at work all day at the weekend so only have limited time I can spend 😜

going to try and list some bits on Vinted this afternoon, see if I can make any pennies towards Christmas presents. That will be here before we know it.

Time is running out on the Zing offer that’s running - £30 back after a £5 spend. Very simple and no credit check required. Like I’ve told all my signups see if you can sign up one person yourself (relative maybe) and you’ll earn an extra £30. message me for more info!

xx

Buzzed out that I just had a meal Inc alcohol in turtle bay for less than a fiver.... I'd downloaded the app as I had bluelight but they also gave me £20 off for my birthday so a £31 meal ended up costing £4.70!

Been a bit spendy lately as I've just started earning again after a period unemployed. Bought a few things I needed and some I just wanted, but I've developed good, never seen before saving habits and as my job is temporary ( although could become perm, no guarantees), I need to pay off some debts and get the savings back up in case of future unemployment.