January no spend preparation

[ivykaty44]

The last two years I’ve done a no spend January & it’s been good, at the end of both I had saved myself enough to buy an armchair and a flight to Portugal

This year I want to take things a little further, I’m going to prepare a store cupboard & freezer with foods I can make meals from, thus reducing spending further - no supermarket trips (bonus as I don’t like food shopping) and no impulse spending temptation

Thinking things like pasta meals, frozen prawns, bread maker, homemade pizza with Mediterranean frozen vegetables.

Also have you ever noticed that boring household washing powder etc is often on offer in December- so buying three large boxes last year... I’m nearly finished them this year!

Anyone want to join me for a no spend January & start prepping now? 😊👍🏻

I got Black Friday teabags and dishwasher tablets from Morrisons last year. The teabags ran out in about August/September and we still have some of the dishwasher tablets left.

For the last few years, Morrisons Black Friday theme has been very good value big packs of stuff like this, so worth looking out for.

Do teabags keep that long? Are they foil wrapped?

They were a big sack of Yorkshire tea bags. They probably come with a use by date of at least a year and we used them in about 8 months anyway. Seemed fine to the end anyway.

Do you decide any limit on what you spend now to prepare not to spend later ? I think this is a great idea btw was just imagining if I did it I’d end up with splurgy December a bit.
It’s amazing how much I sometimes spend just on small unplanned (and unnecessary things) and how deciding not to can be transformative.
Really good luck - sounds amazingly effective.

I think it's important to only buy things you will use, and not buy things that if you buy more, you will use more of.

Eg people probably aren't going to binge use dishwasher tablets if they have a big stock in, but might with things like crisps, chocolate, cans of pop etc.

You could say that the OP is only bringing forward purchases she will make anyway, so is kind of the opposite of good money management, where you would keep the money rather than turning it into goods that you have to store, but I think the point is that she is buying things while they are cheaper, and also it helps her stay out of the shops later on, so fewer opportunities to impulse purchase things she doesn't need.

Agree. I was worried if I did it I would fall into the ‘splurging early and unrestrained access to snacks/goodies’ camp. I have been inspired by this thread and may implement it - possibly not a whole month just yet. Good luck all.

I get the non perishables on offer, loo paper, washing powder & usually stock up.

What I want to do is also stock the cupboards & freezer for January, so cooking double portions in November & December and freezing for January, along with thinking about store cupboard meals to make

I have been stockpiling on dry goods when they have been on offer and it is very reassuring to know that I will never run out of laundry liquid. I have, however😱, put on half a stone and I NEVER WANT TO SEE A PRINGLE AGAIN 🤢

I suppose I’m already half way there as I have brexit boxes.
rhubarb ha ha - I don’t ever buy Pringles - one or two are lovely - a Any more can be absolutely sickening (think it’s the oil ? - foul undertaste for me).

Come and join us in January, put your purse away for a day, a week and enjoy the freedom from pointless spending!

Not sure if January is really the best month for no spend. That’s when all the sales are on! I book my holidays between Christmas and new year, that’s when they’re at their cheapest. My yearly supply of underwear and make up etc.
I normally have a no spend December. Buy presents and food in Oct-nov and also pay for all the panto/Xmas dinners etc. And in December I don’t spend a penny.

Ok so have been thinking about some recipes that I can use for shopping list
www.slimmingworld.co.uk/recipes/carrot-and-coconut-dhal Served with toasted outta bread, keep in freezer - lentils and tinned coconut milk. Multiply by 4 for the firsts 4 weeks of January.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3179/storecupboard-spaghetti-puttanesca I use this recipe but swap capers for a tin of anchovies. Anchovies are cheapest in Aldi along with olives to thrown in for added flavours. So will purchase x4

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/kadala-curry Frozen spinach would work well in this recipe, most of the ingredients are store cupboard foods I have.

Going to make Shepard’s pie, I make a lentil version & that will fit in well during January

Friday night is take away night - so if I buy oven chips & breaded fish, tarts sauce and peas that’ll be an easy lazy meal to pop in the oven

Frozen prawns and noddles - i usually buy mushrooms & black kale to go with this meal

Pizza dough fresh in machine and add frozen Mediterranean char grilled veg tinned tomato & Parmesan

So I’m nearly up to 25 main meals - 2 to go

Breakfast is soaked oats with soya milk and frozen fruits of the forest, so 8 bags of fruit a couple bag of oats will sort out 31 more breakfast meals

Leaving 31 lunches & 2 main course

I have a bread machine for bread, or rolls
Tuna & salmon
Bake beans
Eggs I could use at beginning of month and make soup over Xmas

I’m getting somewhere

I did a no spend lent last year. It was great. You save so much time! You use up the things that lurk in the back of cupboards!

Has anyone suggested UHT milk?

Also dried beans and pulses.

You'll need something instead of fresh fruit and veg- tins in juice, frozen berries etc.

Ginger, garlic, chilli, bottled lemon juice and coconut milk powder- turns anything into a Thai style curry!

Meal suggestions: cowboy beans- cannelini beans, cooked, keep some of the cooking liquid. Add tin tomatoes, some bacon/chorizo/ham, smoked paprika, garlic.

Pickle, I use soya milk as I prefer to cows milk and it’s got a good 8 months shelf life

I've never heard of a "no spend" month, it has definitely given me food for thought. I waste a lot of money, this I know but I also know I will be cutting back in the new year.

Come and join in during January, try a week. It jones on on spending by not spending. By slightly changing habits

Instead of buying lunch / preparing lunch to take with you
Arrangements for meeting friends - meet at home or in a museum and take a flask and homemade cake
Just for one month, not forever

I read a library book last year about a woman who had a no spend year and it included transport, she walked or cycled instead & that included her annual holiday camping in a field for free!

I’m probably going to end up doing this by default. My maternity pay stops in 3 weeks and I go back to work at the end of January. Will have money to live on but won’t get paid until Feb payday.

So will need to watch the pennies. A no spend challenge sounds good.

Hi - I'm doing a no-spend January, only buying essentials and saving as much as poss on those. This could be an update /support thread?

Iceland have some good prices this week on washing powder 💯 washes size & 24 toilet rolls as do sainsbury ( £10 for 💯 washes & £6 for 24 loo rolls)

Me me me! I’ve done it with you before on here, last year and it definitely changed my spending habits for the year.

I’m only buying the essentials in January. No clothes shoes toiletries (unless buying with a gift card or replacing something).

I’ve looked at my amazon subscribe and save and have cancelled most of it for January.

It’s 31 days when you don’t spend....if you really want it the wait till February 😇

I'd love to join, am saving up to attend a family wedding in Italy next year. Flights and some of the accommodation is paid for, but need to budget for the rest of the hotel + spending money.

I really need to focus on meal prep and trying to enjoy cooking etc more. I can do it, but find it very dull. More enthusiasm required!

My motivation is paying off debt. I'm really motivated for a no spend month.