Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

mumofthetwins

I include everything bar eBay postals (I get paid by the buyers for these so don't count them) ... that includes everything from school trips to loo rolls

Then again I pay for kids guitar and karate lessons in block bookings as its cheaper but just count that as a spend when the block is initially paid for (every 10 weeks)

I started really good at the beginning of the month but have had a few spend days albeit small spends.

My grocery challenge includes all food and household items (soap powder, star drops, etc ..)

Lisa x

craigywv

Mine includes everything also ,toiletries,cleaning products washing powder etc.... Well still not spent anything, cleared frodge out and did a session of grating and freezing all my bits of cheeses ,decanted beetroot into 1 large jar as had 3 on the go at once!also froze choritzo sausages i sliced for pizzas froze some veg and made soup in sc now out of the barely alive stuff. Hope to keep fridge in order now. Lovely weather we having so salads all week are on the menu. Have a lovely day all xxx

mumofthetwins

well another NSD here

ive even made a yummy looking orange lemon and chocolate cake for the boys with some ropy looking orange and lemons ... also used up some ropey tomatoes to make soup which should ladt next week for work lunches

just gonna delve in the freezer now to sort the boys packed lunch for tomorrow

oh and made hm yorkies with some batter left over for hm pancakes in the morning ... hopefully I will be one popular mum !

lisa x

nannygladys

Hello everyone

On my sixth nsd, and really pleased with myself. I haven't really made any impression on the cupboards, freezer or pantry but the fridge is looking empty, so the plan is to do stock take tomorrow and a menu plan. I have dried milk in and I can make soda bread rolls if I need some so I should be able to manage a few more days. It feels very strange not spending money, taking coffee in a flask and snacks out with me but I also feel in control!!!

Nannyg

nannygladys

Hello everyone

My seventh nsd and it is a real surprise to me how well I'm doing. I've become really determined to make this last as long as possible. I have a pint of milk from milk powder I had in and as it was a new box it should last a while. Having to use the rest of the mushrooms for dinner so pasta again I think nd I've made some mini quiches from left over veggies for lunches at work, as I'm working all weekend, so hopefully I will be able to keep myself from spending.

It just goes to prove to myself how much I have in my cupboards and freezer. I was just thinking I'm nearly out of yogurt but I have an old yogurt maker in the cupboard, some uht milk and some nat yoghurt in the fridge so I will be making some overnight, if I wasn't doing this fiscal fast I would have just bought some!!!

Nannyg

Living_proof

Well done nannygladys! You are how I would like to be but I have a serious case of the spendies at the moment. Not a lot, and I can afford what I am spending, but it's on a very regular basis which I will have to wean myself off.

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

katieowl wrote: »

If you can eat almonds you have to try this:

Lemon Almond Polenta Cake

Cream together 225g of softened butter, with 225g of caster sugar, and then add 3 eggs. Beat in and add 225g of ground almonds (ald! is the cheapest I've found) and 112g of polenta*, and a heaped teaspoon baking powder. Add the juice of one lemon and the finely grated zest from two lemons. Tip into an 82/20cm square baking tin, which you have lightly greased and lined with a strip of baking paper - I just do a strip down one side, over the bottom and up the other, don't bother with the other two sides. Level it off a bit in the tin, before placing in pre heated oven. Bake at about 160 for about 30 mins, until it's dark golden and firm when you push it. It's a very dense, but moist cake that keeps wrapped (if you let it) for about a fortnight. Original recipe is from the River Cafe books, I've halved it, as otherwise it makes two this size or one massive cake, and it cooks quicker like this.

* Polenta flour or Fine Corn meal is what you want for this. Get the finest ground one you can - the Ethnic Aisle of Mr T sell Natco brand for less than £1 for a huge packet

Kate

I've never tried making it with a dairy free spread instead of butter, but I can't see why it wouldn't work? You can also make it with oranges, but I guess any combination of cirtus would be nice.

Hi everyone

I know this is an old post, but it sounds deelish, and I have a couple of Qs, mainly because I've never been a very good baker!:rotfl:

1) Should it be UNsalted butter in this?
2) What should it be wrapped in? Greaseproof paper?
3) Should it be stored (wrapped) in the fridge?

Thanks!:money:

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

My freezer (in an AAA-rated fridge freezer) desperately needs defrosting, despite it being a frost-free model!! So I've been eating my way through it, and have found 2 x boil-in-the-bag fish - both must be at least a couple of years old, but there's no year printed on them!
:eek:
Are these still safe to eat? I'm guessing the texture may be a bit strange, but I was thinking about chucking them into a kedgeree-type meal?

(once I have this freezer emptied and defrosted, I can start my no-spend week!)

Thanks all!:beer:

[Deleted User]

If they have been frozen solid then I would think its ok, they have been in a suspended animation state.But I'd definately do the 'nose' test first.I would use them,but then I use everything I can :):)
I am happy with my spending this month but today will have to go and have a stock up on fresh fruit and a few odds and ends to get me through until the end of the month I am hoping to do it on under £30.00 and with carefull shopping around its doable.The money left over will go into my holiday pot of cash as its only 8 weeks today until my holiday.Well done everyone on how well you are all doing.The fact that you are all concious of your spending means that you are curring back and using up what you already have.
I too use my housekeeping purse for everything food, cleaning materials etc a bottle of white vinegar goes quite a long way when cleaning or as a conditioner in my washing.
My DD went into a local charity shop yesterday to buy some single duvet covers for their caravan and snaffled 2 sets with pillow cases for £7.00 she sais there were some doubles in there so I whizzed across to the Sense shop and grabbed a double set with pillow cases (Christy's ones ) for £4.00 which has come from my own small stash of cash iin my non-food purse so I guess I did have a spend yesterday but it was from my own purse as opposed to my food budget one.I am really pleased with them as they are good quality and a nice neutral cream shade for my bedroom a bargain price as well.
Onwards and upwards chums
JackieO xx

Frugalsod

I have done well this week, I have bought a few things but overall the spend has been low and so this month overall I am ahead of the game. I keep a list of my spend on a dry wipe notice board so I update it all the time. It is also handy to record any expected deliveries in case they do not arrive. It has been nearly 2 weeks since my current account has been touched. The cash that I use for top up shops is going well and I have £30 left and probably no more than two small top up shops for the rest of the month, which will more than likely be less than £10. At the end of the month what is left will go into a savings pot, as I refresh the float for another month.