Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

[Deleted User]

Just sorted out my freezer and still have lots of food to be eaten up in there.
Just printed off this list to remind me,as you can see nothing gets thrown away in my house. When my pal June comes to visit she always looks on my freezer list stuck on the door of the freezer and say 'see you still haven't eaten your way through it all yet':rotfl:it's not for the want of trying, it just doesn't seem to be reducing at all.I think its secretly multiplying in there.I will get through it eventually so this is where the 7 day fiscal fasting will come in handy.When I did it the other week I did manage to get trhough some stuff from the freezer as I had a whole pack of wraps and quite a bit of HM soup that got used up for lunches
Think I must try harder this week :D
My freezer list

2 x packets of Multi-seeded wraps
1 x portions of Lamb for stewing
1 x Pork Shank
3 x portions cheese, 1 Brie, 1 Boursin, 1 x white mild cheddar
3 x Chicken portions
1 x portioned cooked sliced beef
6 x Pitta Breads
1 x lb lambs liver
1 x bag mushrooms,
1 x portions of sausages
1 x cod loin
1 x rib-eye steak
1½ x bags green peas
1 x box steak chips
250 x Gms beef mince
1 x portion salmon
2 x pepper sauces
5 x portions mashed potatoes
3 x portions sliced brown bread
Middle shelf
2 x herby beef burgers 1/4lbs
1 x portion of smoked mackerel
2 x bags of carrots sliced
5 x small portions garlic bread
450 grammes casserole beef
1 x leek and potato soup mix (unmade)
2 x 2 portions chicken breast burgers
1 x lb of Lurpak butter
1 x portion salmon fillet
1 x bag chips
2 x portions bread
1 x pork loin joint
1 x box broccoli stalks for soup
½ tin corned beef
1 x boxes stewed apples
1 x litres leek & potato soup
1 x ragu tomato sauce (home made)
Bottom shelf
2 x bags fish, 2 x cod steaks, 1 x salmon steak,
1 lb cod fillet
3 x boxes onions (chopped)
1 x single portion chicken casserole
1 box tomato pasta sauce HM
1 x Ardennes pate (from Christmas)
1 x Sheppard’s pie
2 x chicken curries (made from left over chicken wings)

Kiwisaver_2

Hi all, for the past couple of weeks I have been halving my weekly shop to try and make some room in the freezer and larder. Just got sick of all the food we have in the house, trying to diet means I've been avoiding a lot of the stuff I already had in the freezer and larder and we still have some snacky things hanging around since Christmas.

Although I hadn't planned it I feel inspired to have a go at this Fiscal Fasting and can count one day gone already. In theory the weekly shop should last a week but generally I do still go out bargain hunting and doing little top-ups most days in the week.

If I can make yesterday's half rations last the whole week without any top-ups I would be delighted, so I am going to give it a go. Thinking I will do this for a couple of weeks so that I have a clean slate and can start again with a big shop and some treats for Easter.

There's a popular local NZ book called the '$21 Challenge' which is a similar idea ($21 would be ten quid). The idea being that you meal plan for the week based on what you already have on hand and have just $21 to buy some basic essentials, such as bread, milk, fruit and veg or the missing vital ingredient to make something with stuff you already have.

So I'll see how I go until Friday and then do the $21 challenge for the following week and just get bread, milk and whatever I might need on Friday night to last for the following week. If I do slip up and spend money this week it will be reduced from next weeks allowance.

Bring it on! :T

Ninno820

JackieO wrote: »

Just sorted out my freezer and still have lots of food to be eaten up in there.
Just printed off this list to remind me,as you can see nothing gets thrown away in my house. When my pal June comes to visit she always looks on my freezer list stuck on the door of the freezer and say 'see you still haven't eaten your way through it all yet':rotfl:it's not for the want of trying, it just doesn't seem to be reducing at all.I think its secretly multiplying in there.I will get through it eventually so this is where the 7 day fiscal fasting will come in handy.When I did it the other week I did manage to get trhough some stuff from the freezer as I had a whole pack of wraps and quite a bit of HM soup that got used up for lunches
Think I must try harder this week :D
My freezer list

2 x packets of Multi-seeded wraps
1 x portions of Lamb for stewing
1 x Pork Shank
3 x portions cheese, 1 Brie, 1 Boursin, 1 x white mild cheddar
3 x Chicken portions
1 x portioned cooked sliced beef
6 x Pitta Breads
1 x lb lambs liver
1 x bag mushrooms,
1 x portions of sausages
1 x cod loin
1 x rib-eye steak
1½ x bags green peas
1 x box steak chips
250 x Gms beef mince
1 x portion salmon
2 x pepper sauces
5 x portions mashed potatoes
3 x portions sliced brown bread
Middle shelf
2 x herby beef burgers 1/4lbs
1 x portion of smoked mackerel
2 x bags of carrots sliced
5 x small portions garlic bread
450 grammes casserole beef
1 x leek and potato soup mix (unmade)
2 x 2 portions chicken breast burgers
1 x lb of Lurpak butter
1 x portion salmon fillet
1 x bag chips
2 x portions bread
1 x pork loin joint
1 x box broccoli stalks for soup
½ tin corned beef
1 x boxes stewed apples
1 x litres leek & potato soup
1 x ragu tomato sauce (home made)
Bottom shelf
2 x bags fish, 2 x cod steaks, 1 x salmon steak,
1 lb cod fillet
3 x boxes onions (chopped)
1 x single portion chicken casserole
1 box tomato pasta sauce HM
1 x Ardennes pate (from Christmas)
1 x Sheppard’s pie
2 x chicken curries (made from left over chicken wings)

wow - and I thought that my freezer was full!

I have done thesame and put the new list up. I am now in the middle of planning the menu until 28th April - including the two visitors for a week over easter. By the side of me is a shopping list - it is looking remarkably empty!

catznine

Jackie I am making my own fruit corner yogurts as well, hm yogurt (Yay it worked)in a small tupperware cereal bowl, a spoonful of chopped leftover fruit or a spoonful of berry jam, and yesterday I also packed a little pot with some hm sweetened muesli to sprinkle on, took it into the ms centre as a healthy snack. Cost next to nothing and delicious. I bought a large set of little pots with lids (ages ago) for the freezer and they are just the right size for a small dessert.

Both Jeff Yeager books have turned up and well, not a lot else has got done around here ever since! :) They are very readable, that man is very funny and really hits the nail on the head over why and how we can avoid spending our precious pennies. You put the book down and want to say out loud "of course that is why we are in this mess" and "If only I had these books years ago" I have read a lot of personal finance books and thrifty books but this is the first one that really goes into why we spend as we do and how we can avoid it. The advertisers have been messing with our heads for far too long! and I for one have had enough! Back in the day thrift was celebrated and respected, they even had a national thrift day! The last 50 years or so have certainly put paid to that! Not sure how to turn it all around but I guess we can rebel in our own little way.

Anyway back to the fiscal fast! Yesterday I was still feeling pretty sick and was so very tempted to get in some fish and chips for dh but resisted and hauled myself out of bed and cooked up some potatoes (mash) fish fingers from the bottom of the freezer and some froz peas, so a slightly healthier version that cost nothing save what I had already spent a couple of weeks ago. Breakfast was a tomato and onion omelette shared with dh, lunch a cheese and tomato sandwich (tomatoes needed using up) Prawn Stir fry tonight for tea.

My friend has become a grandma to a lovely little girl for the first time! Her name is Brooke Paige and she weighed in at 7lb 1oz :beer: but luckily I had a suitable pink card for the new parents in my card box.

I have just spent a lovely morning sorting out my kids old toys and books, washing and cleaning them ready for my own little 9 mths grandaughter to visit for the first time next week She now has her own little bookshelf full of story books and board books and a toy box ready to go! Kind friends have loaned us a travel cot and covers and last week I bartered some sewing for a high chair. So I have kept to the fiscal fast as well. Hopefully we are now ready! Can't wait to see her again!:j

westlothianlass

Hi all,
Catznine it's such a shame that so many people don't appreciate thrift, though I suppose it's taken me a while to see the joys and benefits so here's hoping its contageous:D .
I've been following the grocery challenge for a few months and it's definately made an impact on my spending but the idea of a fiscal fast has got right inside my head and is making me think about where our money goes so much more.
Well done all and thank you for sharing your ideas and success stories it's wonderful to read :T.
x

modern_millie_2

Evening all,
Just £1.50 spent today on a newspaper, so pleased with that.

Jackie and Catz, like the idea of individual yoghurts - my DH and DD won't eat plain yoghurt, but might do if I try potting up with some honey and fruit... I'll give it a go.

Had a day's work with my second job today, not keen on it at all, so decided, partly seeing how much I can cut down if I put my mind to it, that I will give it up. It is only 3 -4 days pm at most, but it feels like a black cloud, whereas I love my main job.Life's too short to spend it doing something you dislike - I know most of us have had to , from time to time, but I'd rather be really poor than do something I hate.

Glad you're enjoying the Jeff Yeager books, Catznine - I will try to get them through the library, but if not, may have to invest!

Hi westlothianlass and Kiwisaver - come and join us! I like the idea of the $21 challenge - I am going to try similar next week .

Have a good evening everyone.

Ilona

stupidmammy wrote: »

How I made homemade crisps. Wash vegetables,peel thinly (I use a potato peeler). Lay peelings out on a baking tray, spray with fry light or similar sprinkle with salt and bake in oven until nice and crisp watch they dont burn. hope yours turn out ok.

You can make crisps in a microwave, cheaper than putting the oven on. Spread a little oil on the glass turntable plate to stop them sticking. Spread the slices out. Watch them and when they start turning brown switch off and get them out, about 7 - 8 mins.
Ilona

prosaver

Justamum wrote: »

This is the norm for me. I only have one lot of grocery money each week, spend it on Friday and then it's gone until next Friday.

I don't need to top up anything in the week because I now have a Master List of everything I normally have in my cupboards which I go through every week and make my shopping list from that. I had to start doing it because I would invariably forget something vital.

the master list sounds a good idea ..could we see it please?
many moons and decades, my dad says write a plan of all your meals then buy it all in one go...i did and it was agood idea when i was on the dole and had money to last for 2 weeks

emmad5689

I came across this thread last night and think it's great, we are spending far too much in supermarkets. I am growing my own veg but since this has yet to grow I am spending loads.

I have to take my grandmother shopping on tuesday and I will be spending as I already know I will need milk, bread and cheese. I am going to give this a shot after tuesday although it may not be 7 days straight as I am trying to lose weight so need fresh fruit and I have to keep topping up on milk as my children are young and drink alot.

Someone posted a recipe for hm yoghurt but I can't find it again could you please repost for me as I would love to have a go at this as the kids eat so much yoghurt this would probably save me money.

I will have to spend some money though as my daughter has school dinners 2 days a week as a compromise as she didn't want packed lunches all week and when I am at work early she has to go to breakfast club.

Here's hoping to save some money

emmad5689

You have all inspired me and so I thought I would see what I could get for free and found this http://www.natures-window.co.uk of course you have to cancel after your free box but to me a free box of fruit and veg may keep me out of the shops for longer!!