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? 😊👍🏻

Sounds good, I love a no spend month. My family on the other hand...

Whats the point of a no spend month if you prepare for it by buying more the month before? You are just spending money earlier.

Haveuheard

Have you never popped to the supermarket for just a pint of milk or a loaf of bread and not purchased more items and found you’ve spent £25?

Preparing is not about having milk, bread, washing powder and loo roll so you don’t have to pop out & it bring temptation with it

Oh I might give this ago!

It's not "no spend Dec" or January or whatever if In fact you spent in advance buying bulk purchases in Nov.

I’m in. I do have to go to ikea and get the bedroom furniture for ds. I don’t think I will get there before new yearL though and I will not be buying anything else - tea lights and freezer bags I’m looking at you.

I’ve been really lax with money this year. Thankfully we have been okay for money but if either of us lost our jobs we would be screwed after a month. I want to get back to basics and by the end of the year have a 4 months wages for both of us in the bank.

I will still have to go food shopping but I am sticking to a strict budget and using up what’s in the massive chest freezer.

I am not buying anything apart from fuel and food in January.

I’m not buying anything except as mentioned in an earlier post - essentials (food fuel) or anything non essential (as in make up toiletries) that I run out of.

No clothes. Books. Lunches out. Drinks (am also dry January-ing). Coffees out.

Gym membership will be paid for by direct debit but I do use it. A lot. So that’s an essential for me. I certainly get my money’s worth.

I’m in. DH birthday at the end of the month, apart from that I’ll only buy essential groceries.

I found branded washing powder on offer in sainsbury the week before Xmas, it was £10 for a 100 wash box. I keep my stash in the bottom of the wardrobe as it makes the wardrobe and clothes smell nice 👍🏻

I'm planning on working out all the DDs and withdrawing what's left in cash and splitting into weeks. We have to live on the cash. I'm too good at spending with zero thought

I don’t prepare by stocking up. I just buy as I go for things like detergent and toiletries. They are essentials.

I have just finished reading a book about someone who did a no-spend year. She had no children so I will have o adapt mine accordingly. (I will not be attempting a year, just month by month).
I am not sure if any of you have read it but I think she only allowed spends on the grocery shop once a week and the essential household bills. No petrol. She rode her bike everywhere.I can't do that as I need to ferry kids around so for me, I will allow:

weekly groceries within a budget £70 (including cleaning, personal care). One shop only...no topping up!
household bills
petrol (but minimising use of the car to essential trips at a distance)- should get by with £15 a week maybe
professional fees
school stuff that comes up (can't get away from this)

Luckily I don't have any birthdays in January. I do have a book club coming up so will take a bottle of wine I had for Christmas. I will find free books at the little free libraries around and see what I can find for free entertainment.

I would like to spend minimal amounts in Januray -I will need to buy food and fuel although my car doesn't use much fuel anyway. Food I can be frugal with if I want to be.

I don't buy a lot of stuff normally but I am terrible for buying my lunch for work from a nice bakery instead of taking my own which is just laziness on my part. Or stopping to buy a cake on the way home and buying a few extra bits.

Might try leaving my purse at home then I can't do it

@savethecat I think I read the same book! She lived in London if I recall correctly, which made it easier to cycle everywhere and find free events to attend; would be trickier where I am. I do walk a lot with the DC - the buggy is my friend! - can make a tank of petrol last over a month if I'm careful with how often I take the car out.

I've ended the year by having my bank card cloned, can't take any money out till I get a new one, which obviously will take a bit longer at this time of year. It's a rather extreme way of spending less - hoping that DP will pay for a food shop to keep us going for a while!

@RubySlippers77 yes it was very London centric...I did skip quite a few sections because of that.

Save the cat yes have read the book, I found it a bit of a miserable existence.
I just want to cut back for the month and enjoy the challenge.

I have stocked up for 2020 with cheap stuff from the supermarket in December- makes sense to me to grab the savings, which will be about £30 over the next few months. That £30 for me to spend on something lovely 😊 in February

I also read the book and while I thought hey, good for her, it was more about following the plan to the letter. If I found myself with a flat bike tyre in the freezing cold rain between two distant villages, I’d be paying for help thanks very much! But each to their own.

Woo Hoo

Someone just gave me a dove set of 2 shower gels (large!). That's me sorted for a while with that then :)

I did wonder how easy she would have found it if she didn't live in London and/ or had DC! We have spent about £10 just on medicine for them over the last week.....

Good news about the shower gels @savethecat! I got a few lovely Body Shop bits for Christmas, and a few cheaper bits too, but I'll have a look round to see if there's any gift sets on sale in town. Our local supermarkets only have cakes/ biscuits/ chocolates on sale, which sadly I don't need at all - my waistline would not thank me!

Ruby slippers my supermarket had washing powder on offer it does with all the boring household stuff, as everyone is purchasing exciting Christmas food. It was £6/7 cheaper as was other boring products, thus I just stock up for the year

I hope your DCs are better now ruby!

In fairness I think medical expenses don’t count when you’re doing no-spend! 🙂

I found that book interesting but depressing. Too extreme!
I’ll be buying food, fuel and paying bills.
I’ve managed to get my phone contract down to £14 from £25 and can probably do the food shop for under £70 a week including cleaning products and toiletries (although I have tones of shower gels and soaps from Christmas). We are a family of 5.
I spend £60 a week in fuel although most of it is reimbursed by work.
My downfall is wine once a week (£8) and I’m a smoker (£15 a week). I need to stop!

They are on the mend thanks @2020cominatcha - it's just been one thing after another! D&V, full of cold, ear infections - nothing too serious but plenty of Calpol required

I'll have a look at the 'practical' aisles next time I'm in the supermarket @ivykaty44, see if I can spot some bargains! We're nearly out of washing powder now, will try to stock up if there's any on offer.

I liked this book about saving money too. The Jack Monroe cookbooks are great as well (and her blog is very helpful for food on a budget). I do like a money saving book, even if they are sometimes a bit hardcore for me!

I’m in. I buy a large boxes of washing powder, cat food and dishwasher tablets and a 24 pack of loo rolls at the beginning of every month in any case. But I could really do with using up cupboard and freezer stuff and cutting the food budget down.