Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

Secretstasher

Hi all, another no spend day for me today. Been really busy and forgot to go and get weighed! My slimming class is paid in advance so hopefully they will let me put down as a holiday week.
Thank youfor the knitting book recommendation Ericadawn , and to everyone else for kind comments and feedback. I have never subscribed to online forums before but you have all made me feel so welcome this past 2 weeks , Thursday night is my last day of two weeks fiscal fasting... And you have all helped it feel as if it has gone by so,quickly, couldn't have got this far without you all.
I have to admit Ericadawn , that I also,love books and have hundreds, however I was given a kindle as a gift 2 years ago, and I love it. I have bought books still as there are some authors whose books I just love to pick and feel the pages ( hope that doesn't sound weird ) the last Ian rankin book in which Rebus came out of retirement is a great example to me.) It is also great in that it takes up no room when on holiday or if I am away from home for work.
Tomorrow is my last day, and I have nothing to buy, I have fruit soaking in alcohol for fruit cake so when I am back from work tomorrow I am going to bake to keep myself occupied.
Night all and hope you all have a lovely day tomorrow, don't think rain is forecast where I live so will be nice to put the wellies away for the day, been so bad I was thinking of trading in my car for a canoe.
Will post tomorrow night or Friday with a final update of this fast. X

modern_millie_2

Hi everyone, gosh you all sound like yo uare trying really hard!

Mam of five, I think this challenge is more difficult if you have children at home, key thing for me is it makes me think about every spend, is it a want or a need, can I make do with what's at home.

I'm another bookworm, just finished Last Light by Alex Scarrow, recommended on another thread, fictional account of worldwide oil supply being sabotaged, very thought provoking. I read some of the Rebus books a good while ago, haven't read the latest though - might request that from the library. Just started an Ann Cleeves novel - she wrote the 'Vera' series, liked that a lot.

So, making bread rolls today, stewing apples for a crumble, bit of housework I suppose, walk later on. Dinner will be Spanish omelette, with last few eggs, coleslaw and carrot salad - no 'proper' salad veg left - and hopefully hm rolls. Roll and butter and cheese for lunch with - guess what - an apple! Well I don't like to waste them. Wish I could give you all some.

Hope you all have a good day, back later.

thifty

Hi everyone,
Well done everyone with keeping your purses tight, even if not completely shut like me!
Yesterday I had to go to the hospital for my thyroid check up and was in and out really quickly. I was really pleased as I would have to pay £1.50 parking instead of £3 if the time went over an hour. But I forgot to hand in my form to the clerk when I left so I now have to ring and check if I have to post it- maybe not so:money: after all!

But to balance it out, we went to the allotment, brought home a huge sack of spuds, parsnips, garlic, apples, 10 butternut squashes, carrots, tomatoes, 2 huge buckets of beetroot, a cabbage and some flowers.:D

Today I took the kids to a theme park. We have annual passes so free entry, took picnic, bottles and a flask so nothing to spend! Kids did have an ice cream but they used pocket money as I believe that is what it is for!
I didn't have a NSD though as I bought 2 copies of the mirror as the aldi vouchers were in, £5 off a £40 shop.

parsniphead

Hello everyone

Well no spending today so that's two in a row. Tomorrow I get paid and I have to get some bits ready for going on holiday so I think that I'm going to come back to this challenge from 2nd November onwards. I'm not planning to spend much on holiday, I never do but it's not going to be a fiscal fast.

I wish you all luck and will keep logging in. You can all do it.:j

Secretstasher

I can't believe that tonight is the end of 2 weeks fiscal fast. Ericadawn well done I am sending you massive hugs . And to everyone else well done hugs all round . :j:j (i don't know how to do hugs on a post lol..)
I never thought I would get this far, yes I had a very small spend, but when I have checked my bank balance it is a lot healthier than normal as my pay goes in. You have all been fantastic with your support and I love reading about what everyone has been up to. You have been really fantastic at keeping me motivated.
I have also gone through my cupboards tonight to see what I need and it is mainly toiletries. My stockpile that I like to keep of things like that was depleted when I went to visit my daughter as I don't want her running out of essentials at uni. She has not been able to find work yet and is now starting to panic. She only gets the absolute minimum maintenance allowance due to family income and it doesn't even cover her rent, which we have had to pay since middle of June and for the next 12 months. However luckily this terms money paid the next 3 months rent as that is how her landlord wants it, And it will be like that for Xmas and spring terms. So we have had to pay the summer 3 months. So now she just thinks about other bills, which I am funding as I don't want her to come out with an overdraft or massive debts. We managed it for my son who graduated this year, but I have heard some horror stories from his friends. Fortunately they are aware of the mistakes I have made financially, I have always been open and honest with them, and it has made them quite astute with finances, just wish daughter could pick p some work, as she is now taking it to heart. She is not a party animal and been out once for a friends birthday since she went back, they all went to pizza express and used tesco clubcard vouchers to save spending any money.
So any money I have saved with my fiscal fast will be going to her.
I am at work early in the morning and have a busy day, but just wanted to say thank you for,helping me do this.
I will no doubt post over the weekend and tell tales of spending before I have another week of fasting ( everything is budgeted for, and I take out the cash for grocery and fuel and a small misc fund , coffee out, unexpected emergencies so that when it is gone I can't spend it, this alone makes me think about handing over my money) with my fiscal fast I locked my debit card away so no temptation at all for me, and I have to say at first it felt like I was cutting off my right arm, even though I now realise it is like a comfort blanket.
Modern Millie I love the Vera books too and the tv series.
Have a good day tomorrow everyone x

EricaDawnCali

Hello Everyone!! It is only Thursday night here right now. (Just before 7pm) I can't wait untill my FF is over tomorrow. (HUGS to you too SecretStasher!!) I am low on cat food and a few other essentials. I will be going to the big city tomorrow to go shopping with my Dad.
I plan to only take cash. I find that I am much more careful when I have money in my pocket compared to just using my Bank Card/Plastic. When I use plastic I don't think a lot about how much I spend, but I always think about what I am gettig when I only have cash.
As I said in an earlier post, SecretStasher I have written down the dates of our monthly !!!!!!. I think doing the Fiscal Fast every other week is perfect as, two weeks in a row I start to run out of things and have to do without, which isn't always easy.
I bet it is going to be strange when I go to the store for the first time in two weeks. I know I am going to get bills during the begining of the month, but I will consider those nescesities and not a part of my FF.

I am getting ready for halloween. I will buy candy on Saturday, I hope I get some little kids in their costumes as they are the cutest!! Do you celebrate Halloween and go trick-or-treating in the UK or is it just an 'American' holiday? (Sorry if it is a stupid question. I've never been to the UK.) Take Care friends!! Love and Hugs, Erica Dawn

EricaDawnCali

Secret Stasher, You aren't strange. I love to feel the pages of a book too!! There is nothing like turning another page. I am still reading Man in the Iron Mask because I haven't really had any time to read it lately. I've been so busy!!! I don't ever plan to get a kindle or anything like that. I'm stubborn.

mam_of_five

good morning everyone,
well done Secret Stasher and Ericadawn, not sure if i could do 2 weeks but everyday i do id a little victory for me. i had to go shopping yesterday because kids break up today and i refuse to go shopping with kids, my shopping would be double lol. i also have a muslim husband so carnt get my meat from supermarket so no bargains for me there which is a shame.
keep up all the good work u keep me going thanks xx

modern_millie_2

Hi everyone, great to hear this thread is helping, can feel a bit grim if you are slogging away on your own.

Erica and Secretstasher, well done both!

SS, our DD is also at uni and although she has a grant and small bursary, we still try to help out, alongside her own savings. We had a chat with her about it and she was adamant she wanted to avoid debt so did not want to take loans. She is quite frugal but not so good at chasing up what she is owed! I hope your DD is lucky and finds some work. Mine didn't have a job this Summer, shows how bad things are here because Summer jobs for students are not usually a problem.

Well, we are nearly at the end of the month, and despite having had v. little work for the last 2 weeks I haven't had to dip into the Winter savings yet. The longer I can avoid this, the better! I decided I would do my top up shop today, had no milk left and a friend visiting tomorrow. Now spent up to my £100 limit, think this might be too tight to do every month but I'll give it another try next month.

Parsnip, hope you have a good holiday, and come back revitalised!

Thifty, I am impressed with the allotment veg - must try to grow a bit more here next year.

Mam of five, I know what you mean about taking the kids - still applies when they have grow up, unfortunately!

So, this pm, making a scented candle for my friend, then later off to set up the craft fair. Dinner is part made and will be veggie spag bol. Bought a bottle of cider for the OH with my top up shop, but will have to break it to him that there will be no fajitas this weekend, unless I can cobble something hm together. Efforts so far at this have not been a resounding success, but he's an understanding man - basically has no leg to stand on as he never cooks!

Have a good weekend all. I'm not on the FF as such next week, just watching the pennes as usual, so will keep dropping in.

EricaDawnCali

Thank You all for the support durring my (difficult) two week fiscal fast. I am going to the big city with my Dad to do some shopping. (I live in a small town an hour's drive away.)
I plan to bring cash and only stick to my list. Although I sometimes, remember something important that I forgot to put on my list while shopping, so I grab it before I forget. We will se how I do with a limited cash only budget. I find I think more about my purchases, and look at/compare prices.
I'm so glad my two week FF is OVER!! Two weeks in a row is a little two much, every other week works good for me.
I can't wait untill the first of November, as I am working with a very limited cash budget right now. But I just think of the motto during the Great Depression in the U.S. in 1929-39. 'Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!'
Need to make a list of what I need, then I am off to the 'Big City' with my Dad to go grocery shopping.
Take Care all. Love, Prayers and Hugs, Erica Dawn