Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

pinkypig

Well done jackieo you really are a great inspiration to us newbies. I have had 4 NSDs this week and will not need any food until the weekend. Even then it will only be some fruit and milk. We have had such an expensive week prior to this as the car insurance was due, then it needed a new battery as it wouldn't start and then our ancient Hoover finally burned out. Never rains but it pours :eek:
The insurance was budgeted for and the emergency fund covered the rest but I do hate unexpected spends!
Aiming for no further spends of any sort until Saturday and all half term entertainment will have to be free. Wish me luck:)

Hope everyone has a good rest of he week.

PP xx

EricaDawnCali

Did a little 'back reading' to catch up. McColloch29, You have a trike too?! So Do I!(It's Red!) Does yours have a big basket in the back like mine? Sure does save on Gas/Petrol.
So I fell of the wagon a bit if you will but, at the same time have been able to save up a pretty good emergency fund at the same time. (It's hard to explain.) I need to get back in the Fiscal Fasting habit.
I've been busy knitting prayer shawls for our ministry at my Catholic Church! So much fun!! I am finding that the bread machine I got for Christmas is working out better and better. I think it is cheaper to make my own bread than buy it at the store.
Well I better get back on the Fiscal Fasting Trike!!
McCulloch, have some fun and go cruising on your trike for me, because I still have too much snow to get mine out yet!!

EricaDawnCali

Wow, no one has posted in months!!! I hope this thread hasn't died!?! Anyway, it is time for a fiscal fast this week, I start tomorrow. (Monday!) I am soaking pinto beans to make a crockpot of beans and bacon. It will go great with my homemade bread. I thought I needed to go to the store and get more bags of pinto beans (dry). I am soaking them overnight then will start them tomorrow. I hope the bacon will make it taste good. I haven't ever had beans and bacon only beans made with the left over ham. My Mom asked if she and my Dad could have some too! It will work out great because my Mom made beef stew today (sunday) and I made bread yesterday! So the Fiscal fast starts Tomorrow for me! It will be nice to be able to empty my freezer. I have NO IDEA WHAT IS IN THERE!! (OH MY, THIS COULD BE SCARY!!!)

luckycat99

I've made an inventory of my freezer contents. then I can just look at the list to see what we've got. Saves me digging around in the freezer for ages - especially in this cold weather!

parsniphead

Hello everyone.

I have not done this challenge before but as I have most things in and no money hardly until payday I thought it may be time to have a go.

I'm just giving upstairs a tidy (well it needs more than a tidy as I'm a bit of a hoarder) then I'm off to the local park to pick some blackberries and elderberries.

When I get back its stripping the chicken and making something from the leftovers.

I'm hoping today will be a NSD.

EricaDawnCali

Hello, Things are a little uncertain here in the United States with the stupid Government Shutdown! So it looks like I may have to do a two week fiscal fast!! This will be a first for me, as I have never done a FF for two weeks. I have chosen to do a two week fiscal fast because I am not sure if I will get my Social Security Disablility money next month. I need to save enough money for next months rent just in case!!
I should be alright because I have a full freezer, full cuboards and refridgerator.
My Dad's birthday is next wednesday, I have knit him a prayer throw. (It's bigger than a prayer shawl/ but same idea!) It's a good thing I have A LOT of yarn, as I will have to keep myself busy durning my two week Fiscal Fast!! This isn't going to be easy, but I can do it!! No spending other than paying my bills. (electric, phone, etc.. All nesseceties...If I don't have electricity I can't keep warm, or use the phone, or have hot water, cook, etc, etc...)
It's a good thing I have plenty of books to read, because I will need to keep myself entertained for two weeks with this FF.
Please think good thoughts for me, as this will really be a challenge for me!! How creative can I get??

modern_millie_2

Hi Erica, I tried the fiscal fast when this thread first started, it was useful to be able to put a little cash away short term, as well as seeing what you are able to do without!

I'm interested in what is going on in the USA, it seems quite bizarre, not to say worrying. Although I would think it's not likely disability payments would be stopped, it does no harm to prepare just in case.

I would like to give this a go again - I have been trying to save through the Summer as I work seasonally, from the end of October it's quite likely I'll have no more work until March or April next year. Fortunately my OH has some work all year but it's variable so we need some reserves. This week I only have about 8 hours work which will buy petrol for us both and tobacco for Mr MM (unfortunately still a smoker). Usually I use the rest of my wages for food and personal spending, and his wages cover the bills and any unexpected costs.

Anyway, I am going to aim for a week from today spending only on the above items, with the £5 (don't know how much that is in dollars - maybe $8?) I have in my purse for anything else. So maybe more of a fiscal diet than a fiscal fast.
I have a reasonable stock of groceries, loads of apples from the garden, and plenty of ingenuity!

Keep posting and maybe someone else will join us. Good luck!

EricaDawnCali

Hello Modern Millie, what a wonderful and catchy nickname!! Most people I have talked to say that disability payments won't stop but, I just want to be prepared. It's like the boy scout motto: 'Be Prepared!'
My Dad's birthday is on wednesday, I bought him a card last week and I made him a prayer throw. I sure hope he will like it.
I had a small spend today but it was something I felt was worth buying, two big bottles of apple juice for $5!!! I thought it was a good spend because usually one bottle of apple juice costs just over $4!!
Thank You for the encouragement Mondern Millie!!! Two weeks is a long time but, it is a good thing that it is easy for me to get 'lost' reading a book. Right now I am reading, Man in the Iron Mask By Alexandre Dumas. It is the 3rd book in The Three Musketeers Trilogy.
I have two cookbooks with recipes from The Great Depression and most of the ingredients I already have.
It's also a good thing I love to knit and have A LOT of yarn. Maybe I can knit some Christmas presents during my two week Fiscal Fast?
I have also learned a little trick from a show called 'Til Debt do us part'. The host, Gail Vaz-Oxlade has the couples live on cash for either a week or two, they are not allowed to use credit cards/ Debit cards. I have tried this excersize as well, it is truly eye-opening and makes you aware of how you spend your money and what you spend it on.
Maybe someone could be helped by using that tip as well. I know it has helped me!!
Take Care of yourself Modern Millie!!

modern_millie_2

Hi Erica, sounds like your first day went well.
I'm sure your dad will appreciate the shawl, most parents love to have something their children have made for them. As you already have the yarn and the time, knitting Christmas presents sounds like the way to go!

I'm a big reader too and think I read The Man in the Iron Mask many years ago - don't really remember it though. I'll also be reading a lot this week - luckily my OH works part time in the local library, so I have a good supply of books! I like whodunnits and historical fiction, sometimes a bit of sci fi.

I had work yesterday afternoon, didn't spend at all and used part of the evening preparing apples for crumble - this will be Pudding of the Week as we have so many apples! I'll be off to work soon but will stop by a friend's house with a few bags of them - she lives in a big shared house so I think they will be useful.

Two things I forgot - I already have an arrangement to meet a friend on Tuesday, this will involve train fare and a cheap lunch out - I will have to dip in to my winter savings for this, it will probably be about £15 in total but I don't want to cancel as I don't see her very often.

Also forgot we buy eggs on Saturday from Mr MMs work colleague, so this will be £1 from my purse. Only other spend today is on the Saturday newpaper, which lasts us all the week. Packed lunch for work!

Sunday and Monday I will be at home, so it will be cooking, reading, walking and maybe some candle making - there is a local fair coming up where I hope to sell a few. I could also make chutney to sell, but I'm worried I'll be stepping on other sellers' toes - maybe I might make some to give away.

I also try to use cash most of the time, I find it's easier then to set a limit on spending.

I'm also going to plan out meals for the week later on - fajitas tonight and watching Strictly Come Dancing on TV! (We know how to live).

Hope you're having a good day.

Anyone else out there, if you read the first few posts of the thread you'll get the idea - basically no spending for a period, some people have applied it just to groceries, others to just about everything. Worth a read!

parsniphead

Hello everyone.

I have just re-read this thread after realising I have no spare money this month. I do have a little left to cover planned bills and some for the next food shop on Friday but that's it.

So I have just been to stock up on a few essentials needed then that's it until Friday. I know that's only. Five day fast but I have to get the shopping on the Friday. Once it's done then it's a fast until the next payday which is 13 days after that:eek:. Hopefully I will be able to save a few pennies from the money which I have.

I do have a few nice cooking apples and some blackberries which will be made into a pie this weekend which will be a treat. We don't often have puddings but it's nice to have the odd one when it's cold.

Also we have a glut of eggs somehow so a quiche may be made too.

Ericadawn it must be very strange over there with the government shutdown. Even if they don't stop your payments it won't hurt to protect yourself a little. I hope it all gets sorted soon. May I ask what's money ghosting?

One promise I'm going to make to myself is to start a separate purse for grocery money. It should focus the mind a little more.

Keep well everyone.