Living on nothing fo a year.

moggins

I'm aiming to cut down majorly this year too so I wish you all the best in doing this.

Unfortunately I succumbed to the £20 food processor on Amazon the other day so my no spend January went to the wall but I really did need a new one.

apprentice_tycoon

It's confession time - I'm a £10 per week spendaholic - meaning can I spend around £10 on stuff we don't really need or want, 50p or £1 here and there for no real benefit, if I hadn't spent that £10 ish per week we wouldn't have missed the things I bought at all. That adds up to over £500 per year!!!! that's £500 I could have had to spend on things that really matter.

So here are my 3 pledges

I will not only think twice before I hand over these 50p's or £1's - I will think 3 times, using the mantra, do I really need it? can I buy it cheaper? if I don't buy it will I regret it?

I'll be more resourceful and look to myself for what we need.

I do not need any more cleaning products other than a bottle of Stardrops and a bag of soda crystals, I agree that the old way is the way forward.



So hopefull by next year I'll have saved these silly little amounts of money and made them mean something

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, all! Fishcake has posted a new thread of her (??) diary here.

HTH, Penny. x

catznine

I would love to join in as much as I can but certainly I would like to show support at such an inspirational thread! I have read "Not Buying It" and the author was a bit of a spender in that she loved arty f***ty things IYKWIM and had to give that "vice" up. She allowed a certain amount for food etc but could only buy the basics (no fancy stuff)

One question though is what about Birthdays? Must presents be 2nd hand? Do you have to make them? I have already got a couple of bits in so won't be a disaster if I can't. Have dd's and ds's coming up. Also have a holiday booked so normal spending there I guess :rolleyes: although I will check for special offers. I guess I have failed already! I think that anything we learn from you doing this has got to help us reduce our own spending!

Off to get that book down from the shelf and do some homework!

sianb84

any ladies doing this may wish to check out https://www.mooncups.co.uk I know it costs a bit to start with but think of the money you will save over time.

amyandoli

Good Luck!
After bills and petrol, I spend £100pcm on food for 2 (but think I could do it cheaper if OH gave up fizzy pop and junk snacks).
You've inspired me to try harder!
Thankyou!

Marty82

Dead_Eye_Jones wrote:

what? Not including bills? £2500?

I spend about £50 a week and I make no amazing effort to scrimp and save, eat out from time to time, buy music, I even buy breakfast a few times a week, £3 this morning! Surely you mean including bills?


What are people spending money on? I know im not a big spender but im no coupon chasing miser either. Im shocked if you think £50 a week is "nothing". What do you think is normal spending? What do you think is big spending??!!

I lived off £30 a week at uni in my 1st year... do they want to write an article about me?

I think £2500 excluding bills is reasonable. I dunno how much your mortgage/rent is but mine comes to more than £2500 in a year. Then there's gas, electric, council tax etc so £2500 excluding bills is fair in my opinion.

Marty82

Fishcake_Random wrote:

Sorry i did meen including bills lol. I`m intending to not spend anything for as long as i can. My friend has offered to trade loo roll and eggs from her chickens in exchange for me looking after them when she is on holiday (chickens not loo roll lol) and some homemade biccys and cakes when i make them.
I normally live on around £40 a week at the moment with out any problems but i`m not doing this to annoy people and make out i`m great and your bad. Its an experiment, i want to think outside the box and be a bit more creative ect.

thank you for all your good wish`s
fishcake

Forgive me for being nosey but how on earth can you manage on £2500 including bills? My mortgage alone is more than that (for a modest 2 bedroom flat) let alone my council tax, electric, gas etc?

I wish you luck but is anyone else like me who couldn't even contemplate this because of normal bills?

Good luck anyway.

Marty82

Fishcake_Random wrote:

Sorry i did meen including bills lol. I`m intending to not spend anything for as long as i can. My friend has offered to trade loo roll and eggs from her chickens in exchange for me looking after them when she is on holiday (chickens not loo roll lol) and some homemade biccys and cakes when i make them.
I normally live on around £40 a week at the moment with out any problems but i`m not doing this to annoy people and make out i`m great and your bad. Its an experiment, i want to think outside the box and be a bit more creative ect.

thank you for all your good wish`s
fishcake

Forgive me for being nosey but how on earth can you manage on £2500 including bills? My mortgage alone is more than that (for a modest 2 bedroom flat) let alone my council tax, electric, gas etc?

I wish you luck but is anyone else like me who couldn't even contemplate this because of normal bills?

Good luck anyway.

beemuzed

This sounds a really interesting idea - good luck to you! I still have a mortgage and various other outgoings but would love to retire in a year's time and hopefully enjoy life a bit more. Trouble is, despite having a good job, I always have an overdraft. I shall watch this with great interest and hope to pick up some tips!