Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

7_week_wonder

Evening all,
Just to say I'll mainly be lurking for the next wee while as I've got lots of things coming up which will mean I won't be fasting. However, I'll still be reading and picking up tips from everyone. Even without actual fasting I'm finding that this is really changing the way I think even when I'm shopping. Does anyone else find it liberating when you don't "have to" shop and can use of something you've already got?

Keep up the good work everyone and I'll be back to join you once things calm down.

Justamum

prosaver wrote: »

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

It would take too long to type it all out here! It's surprisingly long. What I did was go through all the cupboards and write down everything that was in there - not quantities though. I've got headings for each cupboard - baking, main meals, fridge, freezer, lunch boxes. It took me a couple of weeks to get it all finalised because sometimes I'd remember something I should have had in but didn't and had forgotten to write down. It's now two full A4 pages with two columns on each page! Now it takes me about 5 minutes to write down my shopping list each week. If I use something during the week and need to replace it I write it on my shopping list immediately. I don't think I've run out of anything since I started doing it.

As for meal plans, I really should do that myself. I have tried a couple of times but it's not something I've managed to keep up with.

Ninno820

Justamum wrote: »

It would take too long to type it all out here! It's surprisingly long. What I did was go through all the cupboards and write down everything that was in there - not quantities though. I've got headings for each cupboard - baking, main meals, fridge, freezer, lunch boxes. It took me a couple of weeks to get it all finalised because sometimes I'd remember something I should have had in but didn't and had forgotten to write down. It's now two full A4 pages with two columns on each page! Now it takes me about 5 minutes to write down my shopping list each week. If I use something during the week and need to replace it I write it on my shopping list immediately. I don't think I've run out of anything since I started doing it.

As for meal plans, I really should do that myself. I have tried a couple of times but it's not something I've managed to keep up with.

Thanks for the idea - I have started my own. I already meal plan and have listed everything in the freezer - but I am a list person so this appealed to me. I have colour coded groceries, make up, washing, dogs etc. I have only started today so guess that i will have lots of "oops I forgot to put that on the list" moments.

Today is day 7 of my fiscal fast - I didnt think that I would be able to do it seven days ago !! Payday is next friday so i am going to try and carry on until then.

emmad5689

I find meal planning hard as I work early and late shifts and when I am at work on a late my husband will eat something snacky like cheese and crackers rather than eat properly. I never know what shifts i will be on til the wednesday before and my husband never knows what time he is going to finish work so cooking meals to suit all can be a nightmare.

Today I have a reduced beef joint in the slow cooker for tea and dinner will be a chicken breast with salad, my girls both like to have bits to pick at for their dinners and it helps to allow my youngest to try new things so their dinners will be things like little bits of cheese, grapes, apple, ritz, a few crisps etc. The tea is going to be made with veg which has all be bought at reduced prices and frozen.

Tomoro will be left over dinner from today for and I am on a late shift so will get some tea at work (carer and we can eat whats left after the residents have been fed) OH no doubt will eat rubbish.

Tuesday I am going to make a pork stew in the slow cooker with new potatoes.

Wednesday and thursday I am on late shifts so I am going to make some hot pot and a loaf of bread hoping that my other half will eat it.

This is as far as I have planned but don't need to buy anything for this so far.

determined_new_ms

Hi I have spent the last couple of days reading this thread, very inspiring! I think I will give it a bash as of tomorrow - well food wise since yesterday but today I am doing something which will involve spending money. But am going to take sandwiches & a flask of coffee to keep the costs as low as possible! Wednesday is my best friend's birthday and I will take her out for lunch and am going out with her on Sat for her party, but other than that...

I have been going through a rough time recently and have been spending money out of escapism but its got out of hand! A week of spending nothing will help limit the damage a bit. I have ordered the free veg box so thank you very much for the link! I also am going to try the carnations instead of buying some milk. I will need to get some milk, eggs, toilet roll & fruit at some point. Feel quite inspired, so thank you x

Ninno820

determined_new_ms wrote: »

I have been going through a rough time recently and have been spending money out of escapism but its got out of hand! A week of spending nothing will help limit the damage a bit. I have ordered the free veg box so thank you very much for the link! I also am going to try the carnations instead of buying some milk. I will need to get some milk, eggs, toilet roll & fruit at some point. Feel quite inspired, so thank you x

Hi - I had the same problem. Now that I have stopped spending, its amazing how much of a kick I get from selling an item on ebay (even if its only for 99p) or from finding a real bargain. The kick is so much better than that transient surge followed by guilt when I spent far too much!

I have also orderd the free box - I have gone for a mixed fruit and veg box. I am excited to see when it arrives and whats in it but must remember to cancel. (normally I forget!!)

[Deleted User]

We seem to be gathering quite a little community on here which is brilliant .I have just done my menu for dinners for me for the coming week and everything on there is coming out of my freezer so a week of non-spending is definitely on the cards,plus it will help to reduce my over-stuffed freezer
For Lunch today I have soup and cheese and crackers as I go to my DDs for Dinner late afternoon on Sundays I have made her an apple crumble to take with me I usually provide the pud and she provides dinner .
Last night I made a blackberry trifle and topped it with thick gloopy custard this morning so that will be pudding for at least three or four days .I have baked some shortbread and some lemon drizzle cake for the cake tins so no need to buy anything in there either
I may run out of fresh milk midweek but I have some long life that I can use up to stop me going near a shop, so fingers crossed a good fiscal fasting week ahead of me.On my shopping list for next Saturday I only have loo rolls,washing up liquid and fruit so far,so onwards and upwards chums

Ninno820

Yesterday I got an unknown joint out of the freezer and it is in the slow cooker - it turned out to be pork!

I also got out what I thought was a bacon hock ready to make soem soup today. Turns out that it was a lamb shank which I shall cok tomorrow in the slow cooker - thats me sorted for this week and serves me right for not labelling properly!

Ninno820

I know that I am trying to avoid settlin down to work but I have just come across a Jeff Yaeger video on youtube which i thought that I would share with you. He suggests that we save our tumble dryer lint and stuff toilet roll tubes with it to create firelighters. I have also heard about stuffing the lint into fir cones for the same purpose - thought that I would share the ideas with you - if we get started now we should be ready for next winter!

taplady

a nice NSD for me:) been at work all day. DH is back to work tomorrow so we may get some free near its sell by date milk:T