Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

PipneyJane

Thrillho wrote: »

This thread really is inspiring! I have a freezer full of whoopsie meat and frozen veg and a cupboard full of essentials so next week I'm going to see how long I can go without spending money.

I've been thinking I'm fine as I have no debts however I never save any money and am always down to my last few pounds at the end of the month. I think I will leave my cards at home so I can't spend any money. I work in the city centre so I tend to "treat" myself to nail polish or something from boots on the way home from work. It is getting stupid, I have a big box full of polish in my room half of which I don't use. I spend lots of time shopping for polish and make up and never spend time doing my make up, what a waste.

Lunches are another total waste of money for me, instead of going to Greggs I'm going to make my own sandwiches for work. Saves time as well as I only get a half hour lunch break.

I need to get out of the habit of spending money pointlessly, I have masses of books I don't read and beauty products I don't use so I am going to go "shopping" in my own house from now on.

I'm a lurker on this thread, but I had to chime in to say that you aren't the only one with a stockpile of beauty products. One of my New Year's Resolutions is a "Use It Up Challenge". I counted up the beauty products in my possessions and discovered I had 10 make-up bases (now 9), 7 blushers (now 6), 7 mascaras and 34 lipsticks! (OK, 9 of those lipsticks form a stockpile of something not sold in Europe, which I wear every day and buy in bulk but even so.... Where on earth did the other 25 come from?) I have resolved to use everything up, as far as possible in the order in which they were purchased. In true OS fashion, I am determined not to waste anything (i.e. lipstick gets applied with a lip brush when it gets too low), but I want to get rid of as much stuff as possible.

So, how many nail polishes are there?

sammyroser

Well onto day 7 and it was almost a no spend week!

I got to Friday when I needed to get some medicine so spent £1.23 on that.

Also went to boots and got my cotton buds with my boots points so not counting that as a spend! I also used my points to get a new bottle of red nail polish as I discovered in shock horror that my other bottle has become to gloopy to use.

Was rather easy except running out of tinned tomatoes, bread and cheese. Had a bit of a sulk yesterday about not having cheese on toast when that's what I really wanted lol!

craigywv

Hi, im a self confessed lurker these past 4 weeks!!!I have decided to go for the fiscal fast as my freezers /fridge store cupboard is full and i cant stop adding to it everyday. I HAVE MANAGED TO ACCUMALATE JUST ABOUT EVERY TYPE OF MEAT SOLD IN THE PROVINCE!!! on the lookout for yak or yeti according to my OH. I have found that i hoard food and this has to stop as i am so inspired by reading all your posts, i have got a book and me and OH documented the freezers and meal planned .......2015 looking good for next big shop!!fridge full of flours etc for breadmaker and sister has chickens and ducks so plenty of eggs, also ABSOLUTLEY REFUSE to buy toiletries ,except loo rolls as i have 2 drawers full of bathing stuff, and under kitchen sink is full of cleaning stuff. We cant wait to start fiscal fast for this week i have to start some where. There is only me my OH and 8 yr old son so i have enough to do us. ONLY thing i paying for this week is sons school milk!! WE have 3 litres and tub of just add water stuff. Should have said freezers filled with whoopsie stuff i just cant pay full price for meat its my OCD. Sorry for such a long rant but i feel better now thank-u!!!

firesidemaid

Thrillho wrote: »

I used the demotivator yesterday and it gave me a shock, in a good way! I will be very comfortable if I stop spending money on nonsense I don't need.

The good thing about all the grabbits is I am well stocked on body shop goodies and various other toiletries.

I try to stay away from ebay as it means I'll buy more stuff I don't need. I do have some clothes and a pair of boots that I keep meaning to sell, they are nice items but I never use them. So I think a massive declutter is in order and an ebay pile shall be made. I have an urge to go spend all the £5 boots vouchers in my wallet as they expire today but instead I'll do some cleaning and organising. I get the same kick from cleaning as I do from shopping yet cleaning is free.

I've decided to have a mindset that shops are simply robbers that want to fleece me of my hard earned money and I'm not falling for their cunning tricks anymore!

i agree it is difficult. i am not buying toiletries as i got lots for xmas and also liberated my mum's part-used shampoo stash - did that with her baking cupboard too:D.

you're saving more by not using those vouchers than if you used them iyswim?

firesidemaid

ok, so i'm going to try and do my own version of this.;)

went to Mr A's and spent £9.34 and £3 of this was on sweets for a giving-up-smoking OH lol.

Made cakes etc for work with what i had in - so some cookies, fairy cakes and some other stuff i'm not sure worked lol:eek:
it was melted butter, marshmallows, peanut butter and rice crispies altho i substituted these for cornflakes as we have a giant pack that OH tried once and said they didn't taste like they used to, lol again!

stuff out of freezer today, plus will make extra mash so i can do a cottage pie too.

also got some lurking mushrooms so have got OH to agree to pork chop with mushroom pasta bake tmrw.

i'm going to have leftovers from the freezer all week for lunch - that will be fun:rotfl:

hopefully we will have more money left next month to add to roof fund.

Thrillho

PipneyJane wrote: »

So, how many nail polishes are there?

Over 80! Most were from boots no7 vouchers or reduced lines in Sallys. I fool myself in thinking I'm getting a bargain when I buy them. The best bargain is not buying anymore! I have some lovely ones which I'll start to use up instead of thinking I need to buy more.

Was very well behaved today, I went for a walk in the sun and walked by lots of shops (including boots! the vouchers were in my wallet!) and didn't buy anything aside from bread, carrots and peppers in Iceland which are for the weeks lunch and dinners. I'd usually buy a ready made sandwich to eat but came home and made a tuna sandwich which was just as yummy.

pinkladyof66

I am really tempted to do this as last week and this spent over £70 for just basics for me OH and LO (3). Includes no toiletries, dog food, nappies nor cleaning stuff. Just food.

However my hubbie is very fussy in what he eats if i do a round up of things left needing to be used he causes it a PRISON MEAL.

My wages will shortly be stopping til I return to work so will have to live off what little savings we have. I am worried but find it is hard work with hubbie complaining on what I give him to eat.
My son will eat anything I give to him

Dog eats the leftovers

katieowl_2

pinkladyof66 wrote: »

However my hubbie is very fussy in what he eats if i do a round up of things left needing to be used he causes it a PRISON MEAL.

LOL I'd be sorely tempted to tell him that PRISON MEALS are better than WORKHOUSE MEALS! :rotfl:

Kate

lizzyb1812

Well said katieowl. I think I'd be saying "one more complaint and either you do the cooking or it's bread and water - real old fashioned prison food"

Sorry - but I've just read another post on the OS board about a wife who has been "elected" to wash loads of football kit. What decade/century are we living in? Grrrr!

determined_new_ms

Morning campers hurrah to another FF week Am very happy to report through the course of the FF over the last week I have lost 1 1/2lbs :T I kinda knew this would be the case as haven't had crisps or chocolate or wine (:() :rotfl:

Looking forward to a no spend week :T

Meals for today will be porridge for breakfast, squarish wrap with peanut butter & banana, sliced peaches & yogurt for lunch and apple & satsuma for snacks. Dinner will be chicken & leek pasta bake as dd didn't turn up for dinner so have a lo chicken breast - who would know we're eating out of the cupboards??? :T

I have decided not to let the no spending ground my life to a halt & have found a free lunchtime concert which I will go to & take a bottle of squash

Hope everyone is feeling the benefits of the longer hours and swelling bank balance