Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

hoglet121

hi whichwaydoiturn - I have very little self control too so I have to stay out of the shops all together or not take my cards with me.

To stop me buying coffees I've been making a point of making myself some 'proper' coffee at my desk - I can only drink one full hit of caffeine a day or I feel rather strange, so once I've drunk it there I can't go and buy another one!

Kittikins

Mamma85 wrote: »

I also wanted to get the kids some workbooks to do over the holidays, but rather than buy them, I'm going to make some

Hello Mamma - are your children primary school age? If so, try the Times Educational Supplement (TES) website. It's amazing for educational resources and is free to join. I've just trained as a primary teacher and have already found it invaluable.


www.tes.co.uk


Hope that helps!
Kittikins

[Deleted User]

Monday and day five of NSD.I have been rummageing around the freezer and found lots of bits to sort this weeks dinners out with so I am hoping to stay away from the shops this week.Only three weeks to go until our holidays so I want to use as much stuff up as I can.My fridge seems to be packed full of stuff at the moment so no point trying to buy more.I only need dinners for tonight and Wednesday and Friday as tuesday I am out at the pub quiz where we get a supper and Thursday I am up in London with my DGD Holly I am taking her to see Billy Elliot (I saw it 2 years ago) and what she doesn't know is I have also booked lunch at 'Q On The Roof 'at the top of Selfridges department store in Oxford Street.They have a garden rooftop restaurant so I am hoping it will be a nice quirky place for her to remember when she is an old woman:):):) I remember having a meal with my l late Mum at Derry & Toms in their rooftop restaurant and it was gorgeous.This is a special treat for her, as not only was it her 21st birthday but she got a 2.1 in her degree. She has already has some cash to stash to keep her going through Teacher training and this is a little extra present for all her hard work.When I booked the table I told the receptionist what the occassion was and they are going to lay a small cake on for her as well as an extra,which I thought was nice.My friend and her DD went to eat there a couple of weeks ago and said it was a really nice venue and the food superb.The chef is the ex-Ivy chef so it should be nice(if a bit pricey) but she's only going to be 21 once.Luckily the cost is coming out of my 'Happy Cash Stash' which I haven't touched for several months :):).Her Mum and Dad are on a greek Island at the moment so it will be a nice extra suprise for her.
Well time to get a move on the kettle is calling me
Have a good day everyone
JackieO xxx
P.S. fingers crossed I can get a Drs appointment this morning for the gnat bites

Frugalsod

hoglet121 wrote: »

hi whichwaydoiturn - I have very little self control too so I have to stay out of the shops all together or not take my cards with me.

To stop me buying coffees I've been making a point of making myself some 'proper' coffee at my desk - I can only drink one full hit of caffeine a day or I feel rather strange, so once I've drunk it there I can't go and buy another one!

I found this as a solution works rather well.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Impress-Coffee-Brewer-Stainless-Steel/dp/B00GKNOH8W

It is insulated and has a silicone lid that keeps the coffee hot for hours. I use one with a solar kettle and I still cannot drink it as fast as the solar kettle can boil some more water on a sunny day. It has a permanent filter so you can fill it with any ground coffee that you like. The only downside is that you need to wash it out and clean the old coffee beans out each time. Though if you can cope with that you could have a fresh coffee as much as you like at work. If the alternative was to get two coffees from a store at £3.10 the price of a large Starbucks coffee which it is similar to in size then it would pay for itself in a dozen or so trips less the cost the ground coffee. Do that two times a day and it will have paid for itself in little more than a week.

missflirtuk

I have decided that doing 7 days no spend days won't work for me so just doing a few days. Hopefully today should be one of them and then tomorrow I need to pay bills and top up shopping. But hopefully Wednesday (day off work) can be one and I will find something fun and free to do for the day. Then I will try Sunday for another one. Going to see how it goes then when I have got to grips with doing a few days I will try for a full week of no spends. .

hoglet121

Frugalsod wrote: »

I found this as a solution works rather well.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Impress-Coffee-Brewer-Stainless-Steel/dp/B00GKNOH8W

Wow - thank you! I will investigate!!

Frugalsod

hoglet121 wrote: »

Wow - thank you! I will investigate!!

You can also use it with instant without the filter. I thought I better try to see if this works as well. I am drinking it now, and I can barely sip it because it is so hot, and will remain hot for a couple of hours easily. Though it is great as a filter coffee cup you should look at insulated cups instead if you like an instant coffee, as these might be cheaper. Of course the best thing is that you can get any ground coffee and use that which makes it far more versatile than a pod system, and a lot cheaper to run.

If you like cappuccino coffee I did find a great whisk for heated milk from QVC.

hoglet121

Thanks Frugalsod - we have a few options for coffee making at home - percolator, filter, cafetiere.... I use a cafetiere at work now I have my reformed non-coffee shop attending ways, but I like the look of your recommendation.

Never been tempted by a pod system as it's so expensive - a good milk frother would be good tho.

Frugalsod

If you have a cafetiere at work you could get a simpler and cheaper insulated mug. The real advantage of this mug is that you can use any real ground coffee anywhere. One of the advantages for me is its use when camping, and that it is large.

I agree about the pod system being so expensive. I cannot find the frother now. It was a special on QVC some time ago.

As I made the previous post around an hour ago the coffee is still piping hot and I have only drunk a quarter of it because it is still so hot.

Mamma85

Kittikins wrote: »

Hello Mamma - are your children primary school age? If so, try the Times Educational Supplement (TES) website. It's amazing for educational resources and is free to join. I've just trained as a primary teacher and have already found it invaluable.


www.tes.co.uk


Hope that helps!
Kittikins

Hi, thanks Kittikins! Yes, they are 8 and 5, they've enjoyed doing some worksheets I did for them this morning, I'll have a look at the website.
Had a NSD today, took the kids to the water park for the first timeand parked in the free car park,( you only get 3 hours parking but that was plenty of time.) Took drinks and snacks with us. Also got given a basil plant by my dad!
I'm hoping to not spend anything till next Monday when I'm taking the girls swimming, I do need to get bread this week but am going to have a go with the bread maker my dad gave me.