Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

[Deleted User]

Day Seven
Should have been a shopping day today as I haven't been since last Monday, but DD's bag of goodies mean I won't have to go just yet this week as I have more than enough to keep me going for a few more days Maybe Thursday I will need milk,so staying away from the shops for a few more days

mcculloch29

Welcome Newbies.
My NSDs are averaging 4 days a week, difficult for me to do a run with the amount of fresh food that we get through, particularly fruit and salad stuff which can only be chilled, not frozen.
I adore Ald*. Anyone avoiding them now is massively out of step with the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times. One is being built in our town centre; a year behind schedule thanks to utility companies not making the site safe (I reckon the local T*sco slipped them backhanders, lol). Today we had a 12 mile round trip to the next nearest Ald*. Such super bargains in quality fruit and veg.
For anyone wanting support in not buying toiletries, [URL="http://https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4046033No Buying Toiletries [/URL]monthly thread is fantastic.

[Deleted User]

day 8 and NSD today as I have lots of bits to eat in the fridge and freezer.I am hoping to get through until maybe thursday or friday before I go to the shops .every penny saved from this months food budget is going into the holiday treats fund for next month which will pay from ice creams and trips out with my DGSs

atypicalblonde

Hi everyone :wave:

Everyone is doing very well, particularly you JackieO - you are a real inspiration to me.

I haven't been posting on here much but have been reading every day. I haven't managed as many NSDs as I would like for various reasons, however this thread has really encouraged me to actively think before I spend and as a result my spending has reduced dramatically . Sooo I know its not technically within the rules as I shouldn't be spending for seven days at all, but anything that helps me to cut down on my spending and increase our savings for the new house pot can only be a good thing, so please still let me play ;):o

My savings target for 1 July was £10k and, as you can see from my signature, we nearly got there! I am really proud of what me and hubby have achieved since the start of this year. Target now is £20k by 1 December :D I should be able to add some more to the pot this Friday and will update accordingly then, I hope no-one minds me using this thread as a record of my savings achievements.

Today will be a NSD - I am having a store cupboard lunch of salami and creme fraiche pasta first, then popping to the charity shop to drop a bag of decluttered items off. Then its on to eBay, I have a designer bag that I really don't need or even use that much, so I am hoping to get at least £200 for that.

Keep it up everyone, it's lovely to read messages from likeminded people in these often difficult times.

Take care all xx

[Deleted User]

day 12 and I'm still hanging on and not going near to a shopI have a list of things I need but I can adapt what I have in the fridge for another day at least before I go shopping tomorrow morning.At the moment its mainly milk,fresh fruit and veg and some toiletries, but one more day, is one more day near to the end of the month. Nothing is very urgently needed today ,I am making a tray bake for my youngest DGS mikey this morning as he prefers them to fairy cakes as they go into his packed lunch box a bit easier.He told me he let his best friend Miles have one of them and Miles said that Mikey was so lucky to have a Granny who made him cakes as his Granny doesn't do cooking stuff as she is too busy going out shopping to Bluewater.Kids soon cotton on about things:):)I shall make a few extra for Miles .he is a dear little boy who looks just like the Milkey Bar Kid with very blond curly hair and round specs :)
Another week nearly gone and we're half way through July already.
Well like time I must fly
Take care all
JackieO xxx

Popperwell

mcculloch29 wrote: »

Welcome Newbies.
My NSDs are averaging 4 days a week, difficult for me to do a run with the amount of fresh food that we get through, particularly fruit and salad stuff which can only be chilled, not frozen.
I adore Ald*. Anyone avoiding them now is massively out of step with the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times. One is being built in our town centre; a year behind schedule thanks to utility companies not making the site safe (I reckon the local T*sco slipped them backhanders, lol). Today we had a 12 mile round trip to the next nearest Ald*. Such super bargains in quality fruit and veg.
For anyone wanting support in not buying toiletries, [URL="http://https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4046033No Buying Toiletries [/URL]monthly thread is fantastic.

Same here(we're in the same town )I've heard from the bank that faces the new Aldi it could be open in September:Tbut this wet summer may put that back...I hope not! It's going up very quickly now they've got going...

pinkypig

Hi everyone - hope you've had a good week. I cannot believe how having to 'report back' has helped keep me on the straight and narrow! :T
I'm so pleased that we are all doing so well - liberating isn't it?:j
Made it to 7NSD by the absolute skin of my teeth in fact I almost gave in on Friday (day 6) as we had no salad, no fruit and no cereal. However, I roused myself and managed to knock up quite a desperate lunch out of left over cous cous for me, boiled the last egg for the kid's packed lunch sandwiches and Mr PP had left over maccaroni cheese out of the freezer. A found a tin of mandarin oranges which I divided between the children and me and Mr PP just had to accept that today was not 'a 5 a day' day!
Dinner was toad in the hole with freezer veggies and some potatoes from Dad's allotment.
Shopped today and managed £10.13 in Mr M and £16.04 in Mr A which is under our £50 budget so I was chuffed with that :j

Well stocked up now so I am hoping for a good week. Next week I thought I might have a go at using Approved Foods - has anyone else tried them? Is it really safe to use things that are out of date/ going out of date?

Sun is actually shining here which is amazing so off out for a walk with DD while we wait for Mr PP to bring DS from yet another afternoon of sport (I wish he was as committed to his school work!)

Anyway, bye for now and have a great weekend.

PPxx

[Deleted User]

Day 14 and finally went to the shops,I managed to get everything I wanted and spent £39.95 so I am hopeful that I won't need to go near a shop for at least another week if not more:j:j:j
Only the second shop this month:D

jasmin10

pinkypig wrote: »

Next week I thought I might have a go at using Approved Foods - has anyone else tried them? Is it really safe to use things that are out of date/ going out of date?

hi, just jumping on from over the GC thread as I have also been following this one from the start .

I had my first order with af last month and bought the Thai red curry, a whole case for 1p. I think the bbd was 2010 ,need to check? Anyhow made it and it was gorgeous. Most this just had a short date or just gone , naan bread poppadoms / but all were just as
Good.

Highly recommended by me at saving a fortune

Hth

Well done everyone and jackieo, can't get over how far you've extended your 7 days - bravo:T

[Deleted User]

Day 5 of my third week of NSD and I am seeing some space in my freezer at last but I still have lots in there.I am trying to streetch things a bit and hopefully won't need anything this week at all.Nothing on my 'urgently needed. list at the moment.and only 30 more days until my holidays so the more I can save the more there is for treats on holiday.I fished out an old cooking book I had from the 1970s its a Shirley Goode one and she is brilliant at making things streetch .Good with finding alternatives to stuff you haven't got in the cupboard as well I had forgotten I had this book.Bought years ago when mortgage rates hit 15%.A lot of recipes involve grated cheese,onion,and a tin of tomatoes but they are all fairly cheap and nutricous so I won't go down with scurvy :)
I have quite a bit of fish in my freezer so thats going to be utilised a bit more for a few meals.In fact tonights dinner is fish pie made with some cod and mashed potatoes and cheese, served with some green beans all from the freezer,I'm not keen on spring onions so I will leave them out (haven't got any anyway )but I will sprinkle some cayenne pepper over the top to give it a bit of fire and it won't be too bland
Well done everyone for all your efforts.