no spending for a year?

brightonman123

they do it here, too. its called beling on minimum wage, or unemployed..

LolaLemon

On the debt free wannabe diaries their is the frugal living challenge, for most it to not spend a penny more than u have too/budget for etc, some include their rent/mortgage/council tax/water in their yearly budget, others don't. Someone is aiming to live on 4 grand for the year for going out, food, gas etc but not the rent n tax....
This is now my 2nd year doing it, last year I didn't set a budget but aimed to keep more of my money in my purse than in the shops... but without that group, I would be in major debt. This year I'm working out my budgets and looking to decrease as much as I can.

Hardup_Hester

Hubby & I lived like this for the first 7 years we were together, out of necessity, we lived on my salary of £800 pcm, after we'd paid mortgage & bills we had £20 a week for food & £7 a month 'spare' it was a total nightmare to live like this for so long but hubby was unable to find regular work & we weren't eligible for any benefits. We took in lodgers from where I work occasionally, but don't live in a place with convenient transport links, so we only had 2 or 3 lodgers a year, for 2 to 4 weeks at a time.
Hubby found a job three years ago & has worked consistently since then, & our income has doubled, unfortunately so have a lot of out bills, partly because we now have the heating on when it's cold & this year I bought some new clothes for the first time in 10 years, a dress & top from Tesco's £18 for the 2. Before that everything came from the charity shops.
We still don't go out much, have sky, smoke or drink, buy CD's or DVD's
Hester

flutterbyuk25

spookybuffy wrote: »

Cd's are gonna be a problem i love my "now" cds .

There are usually free download offers knocking round. Last year I got 8 free album downloads (all chart stuff). Keep eye out on the Music board on MSE. Or ask a friend to copy you the CD Or use Spotify instead

spookybuffy wrote: »

birthday cards i mite be able to do a really really good print out ones, presents?

There are also quite often offers for free cards via places like Moonpig, keep eye on the freebie boards on MSE. Or for a very small spend, Tesco do a pack of 8 or 10 birthday cards for £1. I buy them to give to my work kids! Re presents, freebie board again or enter competitions?

spookybuffy wrote: »

i never do my eye brows scared doing them wrong and end up with doggey eyes for a month :rotfl:

I may get my eyebrows done once a year for special occasion like a wedding. I find once you have the shape it's easy to maintain with just a bit of daily plucking, and I'm a brunette!

HTH

little_miss_moneysaver_3

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

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.
QUOTE]

If it is then I'm sad too!! If I fancy a new outfit I'll almost always look in Charity shops etc for one to cut the cost

Also have to tighten the old belt for 2012 so will be reading your thread for some ideas.

LMMS

Ilona

I have not bought anything I absloutely didn't need, in the last ten years. If I need something I look to charity shops and car boot sales first. I don't go into most of the shops in the High Street, (the prices shock me), except for the discount stores for food. I don't have a TV, I read library books, I walk long distances for excercise, it's free. I don't buy food or drinks out I take a pack up. I don't drink in pubs.

I don't do impulse buys, I have a very strong will not to be tempted by advertising and elaborate shop displays. Every purchase I make I carefully consider whether I need it or not. Most of the time I walk away and say, no, I can manage without it.

It's all about knowing your priorities, deciding what is important to you. If you like clubbing with mates, and eating out, and playing computer games, and watch hours of Sky tv, then so be it. All those activitiies are not good for your health, or your wallet.

My priority is to have a decent car so I can go on holiday every month. When I get to my destination the car is parked and I walk, for miles and miles, this keeps me fit. I walked 137 miles from Blackpool to Hull in the summer, it was fantastic. To do this I use Youth Hostels, cheap accommodation. My other priority is my cats, and my computer which keeps me in touch with the rest of the world.

No I am not a miserable old git, I am having the time of my life. My thriftyness, my scrimping, my frugality, gives me the pleasures which make me happy. So I wont be buying any stuff I don't need, indefinately.
Ilona

Uniscots97

Beccatje wrote: »

But really.. could you do it? No birthday celebrations, no presents, no christmas, no social stuff with friends, no clubs, no sports?..
I think that would be very harsh..

It is possible to get some nice 'freebie' presents. When myself and a few friends were made redundant a few years ago we set a £2 budget for Christmas presents. I had planned for this and registered for a lot of freebies over the year (to also get some cosmetics/nice stuff for me after being made redundant). I spent the £2 on a handbag from a charity shop and filled it with freebies:- shampoo, conditioner, lip balm, mini perfume, CD's, DVD's, popcorn, chocolate, mini baileys, make-up etc. My friend was chuffed to bits, so there's no reason you can't do this and if you do need to spend, sell an unwanted item and use the cash from that.

flippin36

I guess it could be done for us - if we didn't include the kids. The "things" I spent money on last year were;

going out (could invite friends to us but will miss the theatre)
dvds, cd's (surveys for vouchers)
makeup (could I go make up free for most of the year? Ask for birthday maybe?)
hair products (this includes dye - could I let my hair go undyed for a year?)
clothes (have a full to bursting wardrobe)
face creams (need to buy a pot of face cream most months?)
Holiday (last year I did a big ebay sell for spending money)

I can't think of anything else - possibly things you need around the house, when things break. Freecycle maybe?

rubytuesday

This subject really interests me.

Last night I ordered this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1851687874 on the subject.

I'm don't think I'd be able to do it though although this year I did have a year of buying only second hand clothes but if I don't have my little 'pocket money' spends I get the urge for spending overdrive.

Generally I hate shopping so that is a good thing but I do love a rummage in the charity shop.

Anyway good luck if you go for it!

valk_scot

flippin36 wrote: »

I guess it could be done for us - if we didn't include the kids. The "things" I spent money on last year were;

going out (could invite friends to us but will miss the theatre)
dvds, cd's (surveys for vouchers)
makeup (could I go make up free for most of the year? Ask for birthday maybe?)
hair products (this includes dye - could I let my hair go undyed for a year?)
clothes (have a full to bursting wardrobe)
face creams (need to buy a pot of face cream most months?)
Holiday (last year I did a big ebay sell for spending money)

I can't think of anything else - possibly things you need around the house, when things break. Freecycle maybe?

I couldn't honestly ever see myself getting so frugal as to not buy basic toiletries, and I'd include face cream and hair products in that. Maybe not the premium brands or getting your hair dyed in a salon, but there are good supermarket brands of almost everything.