No Spend September

[StellaCruella]

Hi all
We have around £6.5k debt that I am determined to pay off as quickly as possible so we can start to build some meaningful savings.
To kick start this, I am planning a no spend September.
Anyone with me?

Agree - maybe have them round for dinner or something.

I'm just back from camping for the weekend, had a great time and stuck to budget!

I'm going to try to come off social media for a bit - I've realised that the majority of my impetus to spend comes from targeted advertising.

I'm in. Just back from holiday & though we didn't pay for accommodation for a week of it, we were in Scandinavia so everything was very expensive. On top of that our mortgage payments go up from early sept (end of great cheap fixed rate from pre-Truss times), and my DH earns less in the summer so we are skint from that.

I have a few planned spends - camping trip next weekend so that runs into Sept (but it won't be much), DDs birthday (present and party to pay for) and BiLs birthday present, a theatre trip (tickets bought but we'll be eating out) plus kids need new shoes. But aside from that I need to keep spends to essentials only, including reducing our regular grocery spending via eating what we have in the freezer/cupboards and buying cheaper stuff (lots of pulses) & will also be trying to sell as much as poss via vinted & eBay

We were in a scandi country this summer I couldn't believe the prices! I knew that it was expensive there but not how expensive!

Well starts for me today... Here goes!

Hi all, can I join? Trying to have a spend free September and it's going to be really hard for me as a complete impulse-buying spendthrift, so I could use the support!

I'm starting from today (payday) and I'm already starting from an over the limit overdraft so this should be fun 🫠

So my month starts now. I already know I'm £400 short, here's hoping for some extra shifts!

I have a couple of commitments this month that I can't get out of, but I will try to limit the spending on these.

Only spend for today will be parking at work.

Have a good day everyone

Thank you.

I’m completely out of touch on what I should be spending on food.

We live in a small village, with a co op approx 2 miles away. We then have bigger supermarkets approx 20 miles away.

As you can probably guess I do most of my shopping at co op, rarely a ‘big’ shop. Usually £40 every couple of days.

I went to Aldi yesterday and spent £123. I’m hoping to make this a weekly occurrence and budget £400 a month. But it’s such a faff driving in to the town 🙈 plus additional fuel!

@oObyeOo can you get an online shop delivered? I've always found being able to meal plan and not getting drawn into to the BOGOF offers instore the most financially efficient way of shopping. I know Aldi isn't online but Asda is probably the next cheapest?

I've decided I'm going to do a social media ban of sorts in September, including MN, I'm realising it's the constant marketing and people talking about stuff that makes me want to buy stuff. Not quite sure how I will do it, I don't want to come off it entirely, but I'm thinking maybe limiting the time so I'm not endlessly scrolling out of boredom which is where the rabbit holes end up costing me money!

I sometimes do a "lite" version of this for lent, where I don't buy any "stuff" more because my house doesn't need any more stuff in it and it resets my idea of what I "need" than to save money, but it does have the bonus of saving money. I see money spent socialising as money well spent, but I'm fortunate to be able to do that.

@Longfrock yes it’s all about priorities isn’t it. I think if your no spend month ends up isolating you then that can’t be a good thing.

I'm joining :) Just cancelled Spotify for the month so that's another tenner I can keep.

Good idea! It's really easy to fall into comparing and thinking oh well they're spending this or going there etc and so doing it too.

I'm not one for peer pressure but when I see someone walking with a coffee I always get a hankering for one! Easy to spend money when those urges get activated.

Really aiming for a no spend day today, need a couple of bits from the supermarket but going to put it off until tomorrow so I'm not tempted with other things.
Did a little shopping yesterday for my daughter she really needed a couple of new bits for my parents house as she has outgrown her toys went to the kids charity shop total spend £20.
Retail peer pressure is awful sometimes I've been known to see a carrier bag I like want to find the shop and go buy something!! Haven't done that for many years mind.

Yeah, I looked at Tesco for the points and it didn’t seem that different in price compared to the co op.

I’ll have a look at Asda. I do feel that Aldi is so much cheaper than them all though.

I'd like to join this thread - even though there is a lot coming out in September with it being back to school month.

I was doing really well in August - then the last few days I just bought so many different things! Mainly related to back to school- but now I've got to pay off them today, so starting a little bit behind.

Planning my first Costco shop at the weekend, to set us up with essentials for the month.

@Blending123 the way I'm approaching it is to stop unplanned spending, those sporadic purchases that aren't necessary. Things I have committed to like my son's birthday, a meal out that is pre planned, my usual beauty treatments etc I am still doing because the way my budgeting works I have pots for all these things and they are accounted for.

That's possibly not an orthodox way of approaching a no/low spend month, but my problem is spontaneous shopping, we are supposed to have a certain level of money left over a month that isn't labelled for anything that could be an additional savings payment but I gobble it up in other ways, that's my challenge for the month, to protect that pot!

Coming in to commit as I read through the whole thread this morning and then found myself scrolling through Vinted just now.
I have spent a fortune over the holidays(savings) and go back to work on Monday.
DH unexpectedly will be retiring early mid October and am doing battle with pension companies to release the money early.
Belts need to be tightened a bit until it is sorted and I am guilty of scrolling and shopping for stuff I do not need.
Likewise, many unnecessary meals have been eaten out and treat food bought over the last few weeks.
I start on Sunday!

Well done so far everyone!
I’m one week in - on budget for food shopping and have stuck to meal plan. Going to the seaside tomorrow but taking packed lunch.
I have however bought 2 things - a wall planner for work (£8) and a plant for my office (£3.50). Have absorbed these costs in with food shopping budget but still, need no more this month!
I deleted the Vinted app. Not missing any subscriptions except Spotify premium, going to give Borrowbox a try instead for audiobooks (free library app).

They'd be good in this https://thedoctorskitchen.com/recipes/spicy-mushroom-and-lentil-lasagna/

That lasagne sounds lovely!

I was paid yesterday and haven’t spent anything yet, but have allocated money in to pots on my banking app. So £500 for food. £200 for fuel. Then bills, my ds birthday, school stuff etc. I’ve never done this before and I hope it’s beneficial

@oObyeOo
fhats exactly what I’ve done this month - I’m finding it really helpful keeping money for food etc separate as then you can see what you’ve really got.

I'm up for this. Combo of summer hols, back to school costs, MOT etc have bled me dry and have bugger all until I get paid in 3.5 weeks. Would be good to try and economise so I don't blow through the overdraft.

Also going to try and shift some old clothes through Vinted....

Just checking in

Had a no spend day today
Yesterday was low spend on spending some time with friends
Friday low spend

Definitely being more mindful of my spends.

Nothing spent today for me which was easy and felt really good.

I've been reading, napping, just a really easy and low key day with nothing spent. 💚

Back from the camping weekend which was far more costly than I was hoping , so while I did well and spent v little for the few days prior to it I need to make a concerted effort to reduce even further during the week this week as daughters birthday on Saturday. Plus side tho is she does want a fairly cheap party at home