Buy nothing for a month challenge

Monkeynut

I've got a list of all presents that will need to be bought for different people, and from different people (as close family get a separate present from kids), and a maximum spend allowance for each for Christmas. If i can get something for someone that can be ticked off the list under the budget then I personally allowing that as a spend, although at this point it would have to be an uber bargain, as it ultimately will save money in the long run. For example the tea, coffee and sugar cannister things that I bought on Tuesday because they were reduced from £6.50 each to 65p each, so £1.95 in total, will probably be for either grandparents who had £15 budget, or an aunt who had £10 budget. I doubt I'll find anything else that would be an ideal present for them at such a cheap price that didn't look cheap so I felt we had to get something else as well!!

166million

Well, I got paid yesterday, and my wages are still intact! Doesn't sound much but I'm off on the right foot at least.. x

28/8 Hey hey hey, went to get my prescription and the chemist said I didn't have to pay! So even 'necessaries' can become part of the non spending challenge!!

31/8 ** Saved another £3 on 'essential' expenditure, which went into my money box. Hurrah! (although a little bit Boo because it means I went to my martial arts class on my own). Have booked cattie into the vets for her jabs tomorrow, but I guess that's an 'essential' expense.

05/09 **Spent £5.60 that wasn't budgeted:mad: 26 days to go.
07/09 - cats jabs £44.17 - it's necessary expenditure but had to come out of my 'hoarding' money because I have only just started putting a bit aside each month from the bills money to cover this. Also spent 35p on some crisps.

slowlyfading

Hows it going Rictus? Noticed you haven't posted on here for a few days...

rictus123

Going amazing!! Been working flat out and when iv not been working iv been working out/cleaning car/van ready for sale and spending time with mates and gf.....this challenge has been fantastic for me!! Cleared a heap of debt, PAID full for a holiday in 2 weeks time for me and gf...and its payday on Friday so another £1300 in and everything is paid for until i need fuel or the 9th September....amazing!!! Paid phone bill since last post, £44 or so...doing so so well, going for this challenge again for first week sept and the last, in between is holiday and a sort of treat!! Looks like could be a debt free xmas!! Fantastic.

20somethinghousewife

Hi, just thought I'd pop by to see how everyone did.
Rictus, you did amazing!! It's great you've seen so many benefits already.
I've sat down and added up what I spent on EVERYTHING last month. I'm quite a bit under on my grocery budget (another challenge) so I added a few extra things on that like like hair dye, allergy tablets, bird food.
So this is how the results look:

ALLOWED SPENDING
Direct debits (alll bills, minimum payments etc)
Business Expences
One tank of petrol for non-business use (still have half left for this month!)
Groceries, toiletries, take-aways etc as long as in budget
Charity donations
Monthly prescription from doctor

EXTRA SPENDING
Kindle book £1.99
DH's social life £35.30
Pack of highlighter pens £2
TOTAL £39.29

So all in all an exceptional month for me :T

So is there going to be a new thread for September?

Arctic_Sky

20somethinghousewife wrote: »

So is there going to be a new thread for September?

If there is, I'm SO in!

kittiej

rictus, I think a lot of people have enjoyed and been helped by this thread.

Will you be doing another for September? If not would you mind if someone else took over the running of things for this month as I think a lot of people could be helped by your idea.

Please get back to us and let us know.

I am thinking of doing a no spend month in a bid to save for the dreaded C word in December.

remote_control

Just read all this. I'd be up for doing it in October as I love a challenge. In the mean time I'm going to try to do a big fat meal plan for October, buy the presents and cards I need for October and write a list of free things we can do. I'll subscribe to this and hopefully someone else will be up for it in October. Shame its got 31 days, maybe we should wait until Feb.

FireWyrm

Well, I managed to get through most of August without overspending. I have a very good reason for sticking to the budget in September if anyone is interested in following along. I've just moved into a new house, but I'm still in contract on my rental until the end of October which means both mortgage and rent as well as two lots of utilities for the month. I think a regular monthly thread would be a good idea....any takers?

bugslet

Well done rictus and all others that managed so well.

The hardest thing for me is the going out. I don't drink, smoke, barely watch tv, certainly no sky stuff, but I do have a lot of friends and going out is important to me. I budget £30.00 a week normally ( spent a lot less in August) which might seem a lot, but it still gives me around £800.00 a month free after all other budgeted items. August saw three occasions when I had social commitments.

I know it's not essential but it's a non-negotiable for me - does that put me out of the challenge?:o I've been really good otherwise!