No spend/ minimal spend 2021

[SWLondonTown]

Anyone thinking of doing something similar?

I want to try to dramatically reduce spending next year and buy less stuff, as don’t really need anything and what I do need (will need clothes for biggest boy etc) try to get second hand.
Step one - unsubscribe to all selling emails coming in!

We are buying a house so I will be too. I'm going to pay bill's and give ourselves a weekly budget for food shopping and thats it.

Congratulations on the house purchase @Scbchl! Are you far into the purchase?

Yes I could do with setting myself a food budget too...

Yes, I am. I want to pay down all the debt that I have and live debt free (including my mortgage).
I plan on doing a no-spend January as a starter for ten.

Me too! I desperately want to lose any debt including my mortgage. Plus, I just feel surrounded by stuff!

Yes please! I want to save for a holiday.
I’ve done a few months at a time but having people to be accountable to really helps!
My downfall is wine and clothes!

Hello other non spenders...
For me I just feel like we are drowning in stuff and it’s so easy to buy more with a click on my phone. The boys have been sent so many gifts for Xmas (plus what we’ve got them) I feel like there is absolutely no need for more toys next year. Ditto with clothes - plan on selling/donating all the baby stuff once DS2 has outgrown it as we will not be having any more children!

Yes please... I am planning on going no spend as much as possible, although I am currently losing weight so know I will have a few clothes I need to buy, but keeping these to a minimum eg 1 pair of jeans, a trench coat and 1-2 dresses for the autumn.
Otherwise I am planning on stopping all unnecessary impulse purchases and socialising will be done outside where possible eg walks, rather than meeting for coffee... this is obviously happening anyway at moment due to COVID rules, but it is a habit that I want to maintain.
I am not saving for anything in particular, but I was shocked a couple of weeks ago when I totalled up how much I have spent on Amazon this year, mostly on little bits and pieces that I really didn’t need and in a lot of cases didn’t want that badly either. I have since removed my payment details from my account, as I just find it it too easy to click the purchase button. It’s only ever a few quid here and there but the frequency of these ‘few quid’ has added up to a shameful amount over time, particularly during the first lockdown.

Hi ladies, room for a little one? I'm planning on doing this I literally feel like I'm suffocating in stuff so I have set for myself at least a no spend on make up cosmetics perfume or toiletries as with stiff I still have unopened from christmas and birthdays gone by there is absolutely no need for more plus I know I will recieve more this Christmas I think its largely a staple for people to buy so no more til the excess in this house goes way down

Oh me! I spend so much on crap and things I don’t need...

I’m in! I’ve got far too fond of Amazon over recent months. We’re hoping to move house next year so need to plough more into savings.
We have three small children who seem to grow like weeds so there’ll be some exceptions like kids clothes, but I’ll just buy what they actually need and will wear. I should be ok for clothing for the year, except perhaps a couple of summer things.
I don’t tend to buy much make up but will only replace the things I use up. The house is all done so we’re fine for furniture etc (unless we move next year).

Me please I’d like to join, fear of possible redundancy and DC to get through Uni means I need to put as much as I can by.

I'm in! Clothes and beauty products are my downfall, but previous comments about amazon also really ring true, it's so easy to just click and buy. Also the Aldi aisle of temptation/doom!

I've just started reading How to Break Up with Fast Fashion and it's excellent, and really making me think about clothes in particular but also all the other 'stuff'

Yes, I’m frittering money on crap, mostly garden stuff. I need to stop and take stock of what I’ve got. Also need to go back to meal planning and shopping more carefully. I’ve got a freezer full of food, yet still going shopping.

Want to build up my savings again.

Oh yes I'm in! My anxiety and lockdown has lead to a lot of spending and stashing things eg next size up in clothes for DS2, lots of store cupboard staples, we have way too many clothes, toys and just STUFF!

I have a big food shop coming on the 23rd Dec and after that I'm going to see how little I can spend by actually using what I already have in and for how long.

And I'd love a general no spend January!

Amazon and takeaways will be my biggest temptations I reckon.

I also plan on decluttering and selling through 2021 to thin out the amount of stuff we have and to make some spending money for summer hols.

I'm in! I'd live to take back some self-control. I've been buying stuff online during lockdown etc that I don't really need- just for something to do! just to have something to look forward to, and for the pleasure of something new. But it needs to stop!
i'm going to combine my financial frugality with a diet!!!

Welcome welcome!
Still working my way through unsubscribing to all the marketing emails... no wonder it’s so tempting to spend. Bombarded by so many emails each day. Instagram advertising stuff etc etc...

My downfalls as gym gear/ books/ kids clothes/ kids books...

Going 100% library 2021

I have done a no spend January the last couple of years. Jyst bills, food and fuel.

Looking at trying again this January, it sets me up for February and March doing the same.

I look for free things or ways of getting/making extra

I have a gift voucher for £45 I got for doing a survey on teams

I am going to be doing car boot when they reopen, we did 4 last year and made £550, have enough for 2 more car boots in garage sorted then will donate to charity

I pop milk in freezer to prevent top up shops with cost £35 and get bread maker out

Free subscription magazines on digital apps from library and audio books

We do lots of walk and cycling, which are free activities. Baking to take with us and flasks for hit drinks

SWLondonTown

Use the library catalogue- most libraries are doing free reservations through lockdown and free ebooks on line

yes yes please let me join.

Have spent loads on the run up to xmas for kids and myself (treats and food/books etc) and would be really good to stop.

Liking the idea of a no spend in January.

In the words of Bob the Builder - 'Yes we can!!!'

I'm in!!! I'm plodding away working far too many hours but need to save up to complete my emergency fund, contribute to dc education fund, pay off some final debt and want to pay off my mortgage early. I had a shock recently when renewing my mortgage to find out I'd accidentally been overpaying (clerical error) but it's taken what was then back to a 30 year mortgage and made it likely it will be off in about 17 year total. So now I want to keep overpaying even little sums and get it to under 15 years mortgage.

My plan is to stick to £100 week budget for food/petrol/life and to get what we need second hand or from library etc.

Its surprising how much you can save by paying a little extra off your mortgage repayments each month.

on a £150k 25 term mortgage at 3% paying £50 per month saves £6,550 and 2 years and 4 months

£11,845 if you double it to £100 per month and 4 years 3 months of term

I find that if the money is there I spend it and really I should not spend it and then use it for something actually useful/ substantial.

We want to move before the school application deadline Jan 2022 so hoping that if we can save in the run up.

I put away a bit every month into an account I’ve lost the log in details for, so it’s a reall faff to get the money out again. That’s proved v handy at times as it means I can’t just transfer it to my current account and spend it.

I also have started tracking spending again after a gap. It makes me mindful.

I've been doing this for a few years, it has transformed our finances. Mindful spending is so important. I love an online browse, even going so far as to put into the basket but that's where it ends.

Our savings have built up and we have our 10% mortgage overpayment ready to go in January.

It's quite amazing how easy it is to be suckered into bargains and great deals. They are only great deals if you really needed that item.

Unsubscribe to the shopping emails and sign up to zenhabits and becoming minimalist emails.

All the clutter you have used to be money.