Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

[Deleted User]

Day 14 today and just done my last shop of the month and have spent a total of £49.38 this month from my food budget of £60.00 so have £10.62 left to go into my holiday fund on Monday. I am very pleased that I have stayed on target and used up some of my stuff from the freezer and storecupboards.
Roll on next month when I will start all over again:):)
by sticking to buying only what was needed and not having 'impulse' buys I think I have done well and I am hoping that February will be as good if not better.My Month starts on the 1st so once I have tucked my surplus away next Monday that's it until Saturday when I draw another £60.00 to go into my seperate food purse.Its how housewifes used to get by back in the 1950's-60s and it was often the case of once its gone its gone, until the next payday as few folk had much in the way of savings, and very few had c/cards or would even consider using them to buy food.
I have my 'Happy Cash Stash' in my 'normal' purse which I use for day to day things but often because I don't go near a shop I don't use that much either.I will spend a fiver this afternoon on my History club which i go to every week and on Tuesday nights I have £3.00 for the pub quiz and a drink.a soda and lime is only a pound and as I drive there there is no point buying an achoholic drink .My U3A coffee mornings are held at the local Dobbies of which I am a member and I have vouchers that I get free tea or coffee with if I want too.So I really don't spend a great deal on everyday stuff at all. Very pleased with January's results though, its suprising how inventive one can be with the stuff you have in stock.yesterday I made two dozen choc chip cookies for my DGS with stuff from my store cupboards and they were delighted with the unexpected treat, and all had a couple each to put into their packed lunch boxes this morning.
Well done everyone on hanging on to your purses in the longest most dreary month of the year :):)

Need2bthrifty

Day 7 here.

Well done Jackie – like you I have a good bit of my £60.00 shopping budget left and determined to try and keep it that way. I have enough food in the freezer to keep me going for a couple of weeks, just have to try hard and not let boredom drive me out to the shops for something different.

Because of my batch cooking last weekend there are large gaps in my store-cupboard now – so far my shopping list includes tinned toms/passata, cheese and eggs. Also down to the last two rolls of loo paper so that will have to be bought at the beginning of next month.

Kiwisaver_2

The weekend was a bit random; I made mincemeat Chelsea buns which were 'unusual' but edible. I made up a packet of past it jelly with a tin of even more past it (2011) mandarins and some trifle sponge fingers, yesterday which we had with ice-cream and still some of that left. Pretty much used up all the fresh veg for dinner yesterday, so next few days could get even more weird. Tomorrow is sorted with chilli mince from the freezer but lunch is a bit of a dilemma at the moment.

freyasmum

Still haven't been in the shops :j

I could have gone last night as i have run out of 'treats' for packed lunches - but who needs them?! She had sandwiches, yoghurt, and fruit. I always buy those little fruit pots when they're on offer so she's got those and there are plenty of veggies in our soup and dinners. She also has those frubes - fromage frais in tubes - as they're easier to eat on the go... and I don't need to worry about my cutlery! They're also bought on offer.

My shifts have changed temporarily and, rather than having tomorrow off, I'm now not off till next Tuesday :eek: I have enough for packed lunches until then and, as long as my daughter is sorted, then I'll eat anything - it's half the fun :rotfl:

I have lots of baking goods in the cupboards so I think that if I buy a pack of eggs, we'll have enough to last us for ages! I think I'm going to almost completely empty the freezer

The spa was absolutely fantastic. There were a few hiccups for some of the party - however, I ended up getting lots of other treats included. I felt quite guilty because I had a great time, but I've never been one to turn down some free hot stones! I only spent £10 on some cocktails and fries with lunch.

I'm taking hot chocolate sachets into work along with my cup so that I don't have to spend even 20p at the machine

My plan is now to not go to the shops till my next day off (next Tuesday) - my bank is looking so much fuller already!

freyasmum

Also, I have (found in the cupboard :A) a box of ryvita that I had last night with butter and cheese. I forgot how much I enjoyed them!

Having soups at work, and will take some of these crackers. I have no homemade soup left, but have enough tins to keep me going

Need2bthrifty

Morning Folks,

I managed another 9 days, but I'm going shopping today. I've ran out of biscuits and used up the last of the cake that was in the freezer so made a lemon drizzle yesterday with the last of the eggs.

The forecast says that there is snow on the way so I want to have stocks in, just in case. Especially eggs, cheese, bacon, bread and tinned toms to make up a batch of pasta sauce.

Getting low on cleaning products/non food items but they can wait until next month.

Another bonus of less shopping is that I still have half a tank of petrol, which should keep me going into Feb as well.

Ninno820

Afternoon all - today is my day 1 - I did my monthly shop yesterday. My aim is for at least 5 days NSD and then I'll see how it goes after that. Tea tonight is a chicken casserole in the slow cooker (using chicken from the freezer and soup from the store) and I am making some ham and veg broth for the freezer / lunches at work to use some of the wilting veg up.


I am inspired by all your posts - please keep going.

Frugalsod

It has been a few days since I spent anything I will need to spend some money on milk and cream on wednesday but will be using the cash float so no need to worry. Though I need to get some diary refills so that will have to be done this week as well as pay for a night out for family. So it will be expensive.

Kiwisaver_2

I succumbed tonight after a bit of mental battle with myself and decided life's too short to go without, I feel like I've overloaded a bit on stodge and other rubbishy food, so I went and got some fruit for lunches and yoghurt for my breakfast.

[Deleted User]

Well done everyone on your frugality.
kiwisaver Brilliant at using up odds and ends in the cupboard.I do a 'cupboard' sweep every now and again and see what I can find to use.Last week I found some evaporated milk in a tin which i used to make a big 2 pint rice pudding with.This was used in portions with some tinned fruit instead of custard.(tin was dated 2011 as well but still tasted OK when made up with some water and whisked up :))
Freyasmum I stopped eating bread last September and only eat crackers anyway,but I do like Ryvita which I buy when 'on offer' as the price has crept up recently since the company decided to wrap in foil instead of paper and give them fancy flavours :) the original ones are rather nice though and a couple crumbled up in a mug of hot HM soup is a very filling lunch (and good for the waistline as well :):))
I've not been near a shop to buy any food since the 24th so all of my residue left over cash has gone into my holiday fund so I am pleased with january's result.
Next food purse budget £60.00's worth starts this Saturday the 1st.
I have lots of stuff in store still, so probably won't need to shop until next week anyway.
JackieO xxx