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?

My driving lessons cost will be going up next week so I need to budget for that. Got a nice bit of interest on some money I saved but have chucked straight into savings.

No spend day tomorrow. 👍🏼

Checking in. I really feel I've failed today. Why can't I stop myself?

What’s going on @AutumnJoys ? What happened?

@StellaCruella thanks for starting this thread. I’m going to join you as I’m aiming for a low spend September too. There are several key events and purchases this month but I’m looking to minimize grocery spending especially.

Good news ... You get another go tomorrow.

@JingsMahBucket I bought £50 worth of unnecessary things I didn't need on Vinted. And spent a bloody fortune on things to make a Christmas cake with (honestly around £50 including tin and brandy)- admittedly I've always wanted to make one and it'll be cheaper year on year, but still. Could have waited til next year, probably should have.

After my Vinted parcels turn up I'm deleting the app! FOR GOOD! (I actually deleted it yesterday but then remembered I had something on the way so reinstalled. Big mistake. So I'm 100% deleting it after these things arrive).

Thanks, @OKbutwhyplease aiming for 0 tomorrow.

@AutumnJoys aww, yeah that would be upsetting but as @OKbutwhyplease hinted, it’s only one day. Heck, it’s only a couple hours in one day. The rest of your evening is still open to reframe your mind and get back on track. Hugs 💐

Count me in!
Just done an online food shop to collect tomorrow , filled my car up kids back in school tomorrow!
Trying to save this month no unnecessary spending.

Ah @AutumnJoys I think the Christmas cake spend sounds ok. I made one for the first time last year and it is such a lovely thing to do. At the time my friend warned me it would cost about £50 for everything, so I wouldn't say you've overspent on that. Are you planning on making yours in September?

Likewise vinted - at least it wasn't primark! So hopefully you got some quality items then that's the end of it.

I did have a spendy few days- one item I debated over for ages was a lamp for my son's room. He hadn't asked for it (he'd probably rather I spent the money on something else for him 🤣) but he'd been using the old living room lamp that was broken- so even though it wasn't necessary I'd been planning to do it for ages.

I'm trying to have a quiet month and I realised we've already booked in a social event for every weekend this month. But then I realised they all take place at our house or other's' houses, so actually that's not as quite good as still socialising, but not technically going out.

Thank you @Blending123 yes I'm going to make it in a week or two. Hoping it'll become a nice yearly thing and tastes good for the family!

I'm determined today to have a stronger willed day. I've made a spreadsheet to log all of my spending, it's eye opening to see it written down, and I've done a column of 'a good buy' and 'could have waited' and 'want not need'. Hoping to reflect on all purchases to help me be more mindful moving forwards.

I split my disposable income between the weeks in the month which means I am neither payday rich or pre payday poor ...

I've been off work this week as has my husband and I've managed to get considerably under my weekly budget I had set myself so I have been able to add a few quid into my short term savings pots which I am very pleased out.

Welcome to week two of September!

Oooh those spreadsheet columns are great idea @AutumnJoys. I’m going to steal that for myself.

Yesterday I spent £40 online at Holland and Barrett to restock peanut butter and snack bars that should last us a few months. I’ll head out either later today or tomorrow to do a shopping top up. We need basics like butter, lentils, etc. I’m aiming to keep that around £25. We should be good for groceries after that until the weekend.

No spend for me today or yesterday - trying to eke out my petrol for the rest of the month…

No spend today for me.

Tomorrow will be a bus fair cost only.

Today ended up being a no spend day for me too. Tomorrow when I go run errands I’ll lay out some cash.

Thank you StellaCruella for starting this thread, I hadn’t heard of NSS before and it has cropped up at the right time, I think partly as a result of rising costs but also because I am fed up with buying stuff on impulse and then realising that it wasn’t needing and will end up in landfill somewhere.

I’ve been in the office this week and have not bought anything from the staff canteen and instead have taken in breakfast and lunches from home so a saving of £5 per day.

I would have bought autumn candles in Primark at the weekend but I still have unused candles from last year so I plan on using those this month and not buying any replacements so a saving of some money and not buying crap either.

We’ve said no more last minute snacks from M&S or Co-op which was costing us a fortune. Lastly, rather than meeting a friend for lunch in a restaurant at the weekend, I’ve offered to host lunch at my house which will be a lot cheaper so another saving too. I’d say by the time the weekend comes, I would have probably saved £35 that I would have spent of stuff that I really didn’t need.

That's great, @SlinkyDog1 lovely to feel savings.

I bought a Christmas present yesterday and one today already, but I'm only getting absolute bargains (from the bargains thread!) and sticking to my gift budget for each person. I don't mind doing this as spreading the cost over the months works best for me, so they've gone in my 'a good buy' column!

I’m finding it sooooo hard holding out on starting Christmas shopping! How is it only the 5th?😂

If you can afford to do it though and see a bargain id definitely do it now I've been recieving odd bits for my daughter from Frasers sale which I wouldn't find in December and certainly not at them prices.

Today has been a no spend day. Yay!

Fallen off the wagon already and ordered takeaway for tea.
Back to it tomorrow.

Enjoy the takeaway. We all need a treat sometimes. 💛

I hear you @StellaCruella . I'm on the bargain thread in the Christmas section, I sometimes think maybe I should leave it but I’m getting my gifts at bargain prices so it's worth it, sticking to the budget I set for each person helps.

You are not alone. I fell off the wagon yesterday too and ordered McDs for a late lunch. I enjoyed myself but that’s the last unplanned one for a while now.

New day today!

I’ve had a full 5 days of no spend 😇 … except a birthday pressie for dc

@ooObyeOo that's amazing! Congratulations and well done. 💜💜💜

I spent £2.50 today so am pretty happy with that!