Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

pinkypig

So far so good - haven't spent anything since food shop on Friday :j

Hoping to make it until Saturday but we have no potatoes and we are running low on bread and milk. However, I refuse to give in an will be looking for suitable substitutes rather than going shopping.

Got a completion date for our new house which is so exciting :j:j:j Really need to save all our pennies now as it needs a lot of work and I would far rather save towards something that will benefit the whole family so much than squandering on unnecessary purchases and waste.

I have found the MSE forum and this thread and everyone on it an absolute mine of useful information :T

Thank you form a very grateful PP xx:T:T:T:T

[Deleted User]

Well done Spiky and good luck nanny well thats me done, i have lasted the 7 days and only spent on an advanced train ticket for the weekend, which would have ended up costing twice the price. I did go into a few charity shops today and saw a beautiful heavy, solid wood bowl, which was only £5, which would have been great for my friend for xmas and a Marilyn Monroe box, my daughter is a fan, but managed to resist, i will look to see if they are there tomorrow. I think, going by my own habits, if you do not want to spend, then either leave money at home where possible or do not go near the shops. Good luck, im just happy my grocery challenge is back on track now.

nannygladys

Well day one completed and Ive not spent a penny, but I have been busy as its been a day off from work today. I have made some leek & pot soup that will last a few days for my lunches and I made a bakewell tart using lemon curd and a fresh lemon, so not really a bakewell but you get the idea:) with the left over pastry I made a chilli pastie, which I had for tonights dinner so Im feeling a bit more positive.

I have been looking at all the food I bought yesterday and just hoping I can make some good meals with it all, well I'll certainly try anyway cos Im not spending so I will be visiting the recipe section on here shortly:)

Anyway saving dosh I hope your charity shop bargains were still there today and Im off now to have a lurk:rotfl:

Jxx

lessonlearned

Hello Everyone

Well I'm not sure if I failed or not.:o I didn't manage a whole 7 days but I did manage to avoid the big 4 supermarkets.

I "shopped" from my stores and then did have to top up a bit. However, I did use my local shops and farm shop. I did pick up a few stickered items that I didn't actually need but were such bargains that it seemed perverse not to take advantage of them.

I agree with Jackie the thing I've really enjoyed is the extra time that not shopping and spending gives me. A supermarket shop can be quite time consuming I find.

So I think I am going to try and keep this up. A complete 7 day fast doesn't really work but I think I could do a big shop once a week and then try and stick to little top ups of milk, f&v etc.

So my plan for next week is one shop and then £10 for the week.

I went to Sainsbugs today and did my shop. I stuck to my list and did well and spent a lot less than last week's big shop.

I do need to start thinking about Christmas so for me the whole 7 day thing is a grocery only challenge and doesn't include any other shopping or the odd charity shop bargain.

nannygladys

Here again! well today has been successful in that I havent spent any money in shops and the last of the chilli has now been eaten:T

I think lessonedlearned that the fiscal fast is what you want to apply it to, for me I have to really try and get my food shopping under control, its really ridiculous that I start out on a budget, do my shopping within it and then later in the week do another shop that isnt really necessary and probably cost a lot more than the original one - so thats why Im doing it. My dd's etc go out of my bank account on all different dates so I'd be spending half the month without really thinking about it. I suppose its what works for you and why you want to do it.

Had one mishap though, I was away on holiday at the beginning of the month and forgot to pay my CC so I have defaulted on that and been charged for it, I didnt realise until today when I got the letter so I will have to sort that out:(

Anyway going for a lurk and then doing a menu plan for the next couple of days.

Jxx

[Deleted User]

Lessonlearned, nannygladys maybe when you have finished your fasts, you should join us all over on the grocery challenge, where people work at keeping their grocery spends down. I used to be terrible, but really have got a grip on things now (mostly lol). here is the link
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4191077

nannygladys

Hello Save dosh, I have tried the grocery challange before and whilst I contributed to it I did really well!!!! then I stopped for a couple of weeks and went completely off the rails, thought Id start again on payday and it never happened:( lessons to be learnt me thinks and yes I think I will rejoin after this:)

Anyway today, Im home now from work and not a penny spent, the BM is on and SC is on with a sausage casserole in it that should last me a couple of days, well no should about it IT is lasting me two days!!!!

Ive started reading my elec and gas every day as I cant update on line at the moment (apparently I have exceeded my readings in this quarter!!) so I will be looking at how to cut that down even further, Im sure I can if I try.

Last night I babysat my DGD who is 8years and helped her with her reading, spellings etc and in her bag I found an invitation to her harvest festival that I will go to, but in the same letter the school wanted contributions for hampers to give out to old people and people who havent got much money, anyway I said to DGD that we didnt know anybody who was that hard up and she pointed to me!!! because as she said I wouldnt buy anymore biscuits as they cost too much money:rotfl::rotfl:ah bless!!!!!

Anyway signing out now and still feel positive about the FF, even though my cupboards, fridge etc dont seem to have gone down any which is good, but I thought I would have no food by day 3 - you can tell Im always buying food I dont need:rotfl:

Jxx

danetastic

Whew I've read this thread from the beginning and am going to try it myself . Spent yesterday on Ap food order which arrived today . Cupboards are full . Surprised how much I saved !
May need to buy fresh f&v but have half a huge cabbage and tinned fruit in so will see.
Tonight had potatoes roasted in actifry with a ys cauliflower cheese followed by some jelly babies from AF .
Well di e for those that have had spells since the start
One question - I bought plain flour from AF what do I add to make it SR?

nannygladys

Hello danetastic I seem to have hijacked this thread at the moment but I have to write on it each day to keep motivated, so Im glad you are going to join up:) Had another nsd and eaten leftover sausage casserole for tea so all is well here:) Im not so good at menu planning as Im always changing my mind, but I have plenty in at the moment so its not always necessary. Im planning on having fish of some sorts tomorrow, but it may change as Im at work until 2pm and it depends on how tired I feel:rotfl:

Oh sorry I cant answer your question danetastic but my baking isnt up to that much yet - but I have started doing a bit of baking at long last but not upto HFW yet:rotfl:

Anyway nitey nite and I'll be back on tomorrow
Jxx

[Deleted User]

danetastic you add baking powder to turn plain flour into self raising. I have to say im not much of a baker myself.