Low spend/No spend February

[AlexFurbison]

Inspired by MikeRafone's January thread.

Does anyone fancy joining in with a low spend or no spend February?

I'm aiming for 10 no spend days and keeping spending very low on other days. No unnecessary purchases or meals out and keeping on top of the grocery spend.

The exception is DD's birthday. I've already bought her presents but we're going out for lunch at her favourite place so that will be a planned spend.

It's very impressive to cook enough food for 31 days in 1 weekend - that would entail cooking 62 meals in my case.

I don't even think I have 31 freezer containers to house all those portions.

So if I make quadruple the amount for each main meal for week 1 - I have 3 portions to save for weeks 2, 3 and 4? It's a challenge that's for sure!

I don't even think I have 31 freezer containers to house all those portions.

I use freezer bags, I put the freezer bag in a small plastic container and put the food in and generally weight - just to make sure they are pretty even in portion size. Rice I try to freeze flat, as it takes up less space and is easier to defrost

I haven't got a big freezer - just 3 shelves, so bags is much better for saving space.

So if I make quadruple the amount for each main meal for week 1 - I have 3 portions to save for weeks 2, 3 and 4? It's a challenge that's for sure!

I have done it both ways, cooking each night for the first week and spending a few hours in the kitchen cooking and making all the food for the month, can't decide which is better or easier...

Thanks for those extra tips @MikeRafone

I'm going to rise to the challenge but it will have to be for March as I have already done my haphazard style shop for Feb.

Just had a lovely read of this thread which is right up my street! I've cut my hours at work so am watching what I spend.

I've had two NSD this month, hopefully will do minimum two a week for the rest of the month. I've downloaded the Trolley app, which you can use to find the cheapest place to buy branded products. I live a short walk to the shops so it isn't too much trouble to shop around. Also saw the Everup app recommended on a thread - you get cashback for buying gift cards then use the card to pay for your shop. Not tried it yet but need to remember to!

I'm also giving myself a financial overhaul. Those of you who are trying to save, Principality have a 6 month regular saver paying 7.5% AER. You can save up to £200 a month. Finally, I opened a Chase account with a friend's referral code so got £50!

Only big treat was taking DP out for a nice lunch but he's fabulous so deserved it!

Thanks for the tip re Principality @Justthethingsthatyoudointhisgarden I'm going to look into that.

After planning a no spend weekend I spent just over £26 in Costa on Saturday. I went to visit my Mum who has been in hospital and she was really down so took her out (she loves a Costa latte). But of course as I had DH and DC with me it was drinks and cakes all round. Worth it though, for my Mum's sake.

Sunday was a NSD and today will be too as DH is ill in bed and I'm feeling ropey too.

Thankfully I made double the dinner when I made slow cooker beef bourguignon on Saturday so I can just grab that from the freezer tonight. Thanks @MikeRafone for the inspiration to batch cook!

Went out for lunch yesterday which was £20.19...

Then as I only really needed bread and milk popped into Lidi...which of course as can happen came to £35.09, but apart from one item I know will be needed for a weekend meal that I can pick up from a local convenience shop that's all the food shop done for this week.

Planning NSD's for most of this week.

Im cross with myself as I spent £40 on lotto games when I was bored Saturday night :(

Don’t beat yourself up @notnorman Maybe you could make a list of free things to do when you’re bored so if it happens again you’re not tempted to spend?

Thank you. That’s a good idea. I usually just read a book when I’m on my own so I don’t know how/why I even started on lotto games!! ☹️

Today was an unexpected NSD

and so was yesterday, Sunday

Saturday was £24, that included drinks travel and lunch at Spiterfield market

on £150 so far this month

@notnorman I set myself a deposit limit and the number games I can play in 24hr on Lotto. I never spent a lot but I recognised the dopamine hit it gives and could see how quickly it could get out of hand.

I have had 7 NSD this month so far

£126.49 Spent on groceries so far with only £113.51 left in the budget for the month. Meals planned for the rest of the week including, bolognese, creamy mustard chicken and honey garlic chicken.

Hopefully another NSD today

I wouldn’t mind if I had actually won anything! 😭🙈

Keep forgetting to update.

February spending:
Health and beauty £13.76
Kids stuff £9.83
Pet stuff £13.46
Groceries £95.05
Gifts/cards £8.75
Household stuff £97.97 One not-quite-impulse impulse purchase included 🤦🏻‍♀️

Groceries did actually include some toiletries but I can’t be bothered to separate it out!

Joining also! Apart from bills, have set myself maximum monthly budgets and logging every purchase. Coffees and meals out are a downfall so reigning those in and need to come into above budgets.

I had another NSD yesterday! so 3 this week

my spending on £150 so far this month at the beginning of the week

I had dentist and needed some particular brushes a Nero coffee to cheer me up & the bus fare home as it started to rain, so £56 spent

this month is now standing at £206

On the plus side

I haven't been back to the supermarket since I did my monthly shop and I am loving eating homemade ready meals, no cooking! It is bliss. I will have to go to the supermarket to buy some milk. I still have freezer with plenty of variety and choice for the next 2/3 weeks

Today I have coffee with friends, so today will be a spend day

Did the big weekly shop today - £70.12 in Aldi and £45.10 in Tesco. Annoyingly, there were several items I couldn’t get in Aldi so spent more than I wanted to in Tesco.

I also booked an escape room for half-term fun - £44. Reining it back in tomorrow!

Has anyone got any cheap/free half-term ideas? It’s non-stop rain here so our usual jaunts to the woods are less appealing!

How old are your children and roughly where are you?

After NSD's from Monday to Thursday I had to do a food shop yesterday £70.19.

Was going to hang off until today and tag it onto an outing with DH but he had to work so I consider today a good day as I could have spent a lot more by being out and about.

They are almost 15 and almost 13 and we're in the North East. I've just seen some £6 cinema tickets so I think I will book those. Just wondered if anyone else had any bright ideas I might have missed. If the cold snap continues we might be able to seek out higher ground and go sledging.

Do you have "in your Area" which is an app that has events/news and such going on?

Thank you, I hadn’t heard of the app.

I have a 14 year old. It's a tricky age, not quite old enough to do their own stuff but past yet another trip to the museum. I look forward any good offers for the cinema, bowling etc but also do lots of board games and step up to play on the Switch together. Sometimes I can convince him to walk to the local cafe. Teens are expensive!

2 nsd's this weekend, provided i stay away from online shopping this evening!

Busy tomorrow so another nsd is likely. This thread is great as it's stopping me from browsing shopping sites as a leisure activity. The de-influencing thread also helps.

A planned spend day today. I took my almost 13 year old to an escape room and it was great fun, we’ve never done one before. I had already paid for it (£44 for an off-peak session).

£18 on lunch
£9 on a pair of jeans from JD for my DS. Really chuffed with this as they were £40 reduced to £20 and then DS reminded me I had a discount in my app - turns out I had £11 to use!

Tomorrow will be no spend as we’re going to a National Trust property and taking our lunch.

Had to buy my sister a 40th birthday present today. She's had a hard year, so wanted to treat her. £150 planned spend.

Food delivery tomorrow so that's another £84 but should last us a week.