no spending for a year?

flutterbyuk25

I don't buy DVDs or CDs so that bit would be easy! Nor books.

I will be cutting back this year though, I have just come back from one wedding abroad, and have another in March so need to save some money! I am going to try to not buy any clothes/shoes for next 6 months (with the exception of an outfit for my 30th birthday, it is at end of March, but have max budget of £50 for it).

I'm also going to try stick to a tight grocery budget of £60/month. I've managed before, it's just me and I'm veggie.

The one big thing I will cut down on is meeting friends for food. We go once a week midweek, and normally lunch on Sat too. We only do cheapy places or use vouchers, but I need to cut this down to once a week max. So I'm thinking of dinner every other week, and then lunch on a Sat the other weeks.

Good luck

x

spookybuffy

Thanks for all the replys i have been reading them. looking about i got enough dvds and games to last a year unless i spend 24/7 watching them, i got some big boxsets for christmas so that helps. havent complete every game of mine yet, just got black eyed peas on the wii so i should be able to dance alot better before 2013 :rotfl: i just found my anime books online so i have to read them there. not as good as holding a book but at least i still get to read them. Cd's are gonna be a problem i love my "now" cds . birthday cards i mite be able to do a really really good print out ones, presents? they say im allowed second-hand, or i can make one like a cake? i never do my eye brows scared doing them wrong and end up with doggey eyes for a month :rotfl: Im to im thinking of making a online weekly dairy on here but i dont know what thread to put it on or really how long peoples interest would last :rotfl:

THANKS FOR THE REPLY'S :A

BitterAndTwisted

spookybuffy wrote: »

With new year coming up i've been looking for something to do and I been reading online about how people have had a "no spending for a year" in the u.s and you pay for your bills, emergency stuff and thats it. No clothes, dvd, cds, games, take outs or eating outs, going for days out or lush items. Has one one tryed "no spending for a year"? is it possible to do it here? and still stay sane?

Yes, it is possible to do it. I've been doing it myself of necessity for the last two years. It's really, really ruddy dull but it can be done. I cannot answer the question unequivocally about the staying sane bit but suspect that I'm borderline and still hanging on by my fingernails.

Caterina

Also see this link

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2009/oct/28/live-without-money

and check out the book that Mark Boyle wrote about living without money for one year. He has also founded this:

http://www.justfortheloveofit.org/

snookey

We will be trying the no spend apart from our one essential which is virgin tv and internet. Apart from this we dont spend a lot on going out or drinking so its our entertaiment.
I want to get our debts out of the way so 2013 is debt free. The way the goverment is going everyone will have to buckle up on their spending.

valk_scot

I keep thinking about trying this but realistically, I'm going to have to wait till the kids leave home. In the meantime I'm going to try harder to cut down on new purchases and indeed purchases in general...for example if I need clothes or homeware stuff to try to source it second hand, from the charity shops, Freecycle or Ebay. Also to use up what I've got rather than just buying more, and to maybe sell some of my unwanted possessions to finance items I really prefer to buy new...I can't quite see myself buying second hand bras and knickers for example!

Aarons_mummy

I think it is possible for some people, me personally it isn't. I don't spend much on things like birthdays/christmas and what not but I couldn't whittle it down to nothing at all.

I'd love to have the savings pot at the end mind. If we had no internet shopping I wouldn't spend too much i don't think because I very rarely go out!

BitterAndTwisted

valk_scot wrote: »

I can't quite see myself buying second hand bras and knickers for example!

Erk! Even if you can buy them, which I doubt. Luckily one of my sisters gave me an M&S voucher for Christmas last year and that was invested in new underthings and socks, which are still going strong.

It might be sad but huge pleasure can be got from buying treasures at the charity shops. I found a delightful set of much-needed kitchen-scales on Tuesday for less than three quid.

I suspect that having made that admission I'll be kicked out of the "not spend a groat" club but I was using some Christmas money given by another adored and sainted sister. Without occasional charity and kindness I'd be scuppered.

Kirri

spookybuffy wrote: »

Thanks for all the replys i have been reading them. looking about i got enough dvds and games to last a year unless i spend 24/7 watching them, i got some big boxsets for christmas so that helps. havent complete every game of mine yet, just got black eyed peas on the wii so i should be able to dance alot better before 2013 :rotfl: i just found my anime books online so i have to read them there. not as good as holding a book but at least i still get to read them. Cd's are gonna be a problem i love my "now" cds . birthday cards i mite be able to do a really really good print out ones, presents? they say im allowed second-hand, or i can make one like a cake? i never do my eye brows scared doing them wrong and end up with doggey eyes for a month :rotfl: Im to im thinking of making a online weekly dairy on here but i dont know what thread to put it on or really how long peoples interest would last :rotfl:

THANKS FOR THE REPLY'S :A

I would love to read about it if you do it!
Even if I could just not buy from shops or websites it would be a start as apart from food there isn't anything I actually need, it's usually a want! I'd fall down on things for the home and clothes probably. I could go without cd's, books etc, just visit the library a lot.
What about food, does that come in with the bills you can spend? Or would it be just the basics?

Kirri

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Erk! Even if you can buy them, which I doubt. Luckily one of my sisters gave me an M&S voucher for Christmas last year and that was invested in new underthings and socks, which are still going strong.

It might be sad but huge pleasure can be got from buying treasures at the charity shops. I found a delightful set of much-needed kitchen-scales on Tuesday for less than three quid.

I suspect that having made that admission I'll be kicked out of the "not spend a groat" club but I was using some Christmas money given by another adored and sainted sister. Without occasional charity and kindness I'd be scuppered.

I sold loads of my old bras on Ebay so someone must be wearing them
they banned selling knickers though.