Nervous of my own challenge - reduce or stop spending!

LilacLillie

Even though I spend ever such a lot of money per month, I have become very OS in my ways since joining MSE.
It was my birthday yesterday and while away for the weekend I began singing my own praises about how well I do nowadays.
My family all indulge me in it being a bit of a joke (MSE: because I spend so much) so I laid my own challenge of not spending ANY money for 1 month, Feburary

I quickly changed that to between £5-£10 per week safety net (not as good, but trying to be realistic, milk, bread, class fees), but no spend if possible.
No one thinks I can do it, and today I am wondering if I can.

There is no reason other than to prove that I can, but I can see how easy it would be to fall at the first hurdle.
I have a full freezer and several cupboards full of almost all foodstuffs.

Any tips/advice to keep me disciplined :A

I read all the advice on the OS board and have done so for a couple of years, so know the general idea, its just tips on how to be stricter on myself and not giving in at the first sign of a spend IYGWIM??

I am going to make this challenge my project of 2010..............roll on March :rotfl:

LL

Caterina

Hi

Fancy me having to find out about your birthday on the internet - we need to meet up soon to celebrate!

Is this a no-spend at all or just no-spend on personal stuff? You must have loads of food stashed away if you want to do a total no-spend! If you want we can sit together and do meal plans according to what you have already got in your stores. What about transport, detergents, toilet rolls etc?

I can keep you on the straight and narrow by buying you pieces of cake at the Reminiscence cafe in Blackheath if you fancy a treat and do not want to stray from your challenge! I also still have a few of the M&S free drinks vouchers so if you fancy a free treat in Lewisham M&S Cafe I am your woman!

Well done on taking such a brave step, I shall follow your challenge with great interest, you inspirational woman!

Love

Caterina x

debtdesperado

What a good challenge! My main tip would be to post on here every day and treat this thread as a mini diary of how you are doing... I'd love to see you succeed. My other tip would be to take it day by day and see how you go, and even if you have to spend more, just start again the next day. Even if you got to the end of the month and only spent £50, that would be amazing!

Best of luck!

Mrs_Thrify

My tip would be to keep a shopping list of things you run out of and need to replace at the end of the month.

It is good to use your food cupboard things up as if you are not careful the next time you look they are out of date.

Good Challange, keep us all posted please.

zippychick

Plan plan plan! Personally i would try not to spend money for as long as possible so try and hold on to it as long as you can - i would carry my weekly allowance over if that's the way it happens.

Try and think about what you spend on when you do go to the shops? If it's milk and bread, are you making your own bread? Can you use powdered milk in the interim , or skimmed which is far cheaper?

Don't be tempted when you do go to the shops - walk away if you are tempted and think "do i really need that or can i substitute it with something else?"

the leftovers thread (and this thread) would be invaluable for suggestions of using what you have if you can't think of meal ideas .

When you are considering making a meal - what i would do is work out an approximate portion cost. So if the spag bol is 50p a portion, and fish pie is £1 portion - make your choices carefully and try and have under 50p meals a few times a week?

Organise all your fridge - freezer - cupboard etc. An inventory would be very useful to save hoking for inspiration. You may find things you forgot you had!

Ummm ill think more.

I think you can do it - it's more that achievable.

Write down what you do spend on - for analysis. Looking an old bank statements for spend patterns may b e useful.

Do look for whoopsies - if you can be disciplined enough - only buy if it is genuinely useful - it's only a bargain if you need it.

Obviously shop around and source your ingredients at the best price you can for your needs.

Soups are a good filler and excellent for using "bottom of the fridge "veg

I;ll think , i'm sure there's more.:D

Butterfly_Brain

Happy Birthday for yesterday LilacLillie.:bdaycake:
I would check out the storecupboard challenge thread first, List everything you have and make a meal plan this way you will see if you actually need to buy anything apart from fresh milk, eggs etc.
Good Luck and please keep us in the loop x

zarazara

what a fantastic thread. very encouraging. I think making a list of every edible thing in the house is a good place to start, then you can see what you've got. next devise menues from said ingredients. then you can see what you need to buy. maybe powdered milk instead of fresh for putting in tea and coffee? drinking plain tap water, beans on toast for a meal,omlette, HM soups. its all very exciting.

zarazara

I'm so excited I think I'll join in!

Olliebeak

First of all - , LilacLilie and secondly good luck with your personal challenge .

You're very brave trying for a full month in one go - don't think I could manage that. Keep posting and we'll keep encouraging you !

zippychick

oh yes! How rude of me!

Happy belated birthday! xx

Oh - frozen veg. I have a bag of sweetcorn, peas, peppers, chopped onions and a bag of baby carrots - £1 per bag and lasts ages. Obviously for fresher salads etc fresh peppers would be good but frozen veg is a lifesaver.

I made savoury rice last night with cumin seeds, curry powder, stock cube, and frozen sweetcorn and peas and my friend asked for my "recipe" Cheap as chips and tasty

carrieon

Please what does IYGWIM stand for? sorry, thick or what!