Buy Nothing for Six Months

good_advice

Well done Aril, your own version is just what everyone is doing.
It is lovely to hear what everyone is upto trying to spend less

This afternoon I sat in the garden doing my knitting.
Did some ironing, cooked the dinner. 2nd walkies for our large dog.
Relaxed in my Radox bath.

In Between on computer and answering phone.
No money spent today from me.

flyingmamma

this thread is really motivating me! i am trying my best not to spend money.....this week i have had a budget of £50....i have had 2 nsd and have £7 left in my purse.started with £50 cash out of the bank and used this ....cards remained in wallet.my week begins again on monday ....the fridge is pretty well stocked and i have ameal plan, this is wk 2 of meal planning i think this has helped my spending.unfortunately my oven died last week so have had to get a new one...its an a rated energy saving one and .got 50% off and free fitting im hoping to get at least 8 yrs out if this...like my last one.good luck wuth ur spending...or non spending!

lilian1977

I'm not joining in fully with this challenge but I just wanted to say thank you for helping to inspire me to get back on the straight and narrow. Had 2 NSDs in a row this week now and hoping for a LSD today.

Good luck everyone!

calicocat

WOW...!!!

6 months, I don't know if I could keep away from TKMax for 6 months, I will get withdrawal of some kind.!!

It's a good idea though and I have loved reading about it and people's ideas/news. I am in the process of moving assuming everything goes to plan, so I will be spending a lot at the moment. I don't need carpets, but will need to decorate,get a spare bed, wardrobes...and a few other things I will no doubt only find out once in there.

However after this is sorted out I plan to join this, I don't know if i'll make 6 months, I think mentally I will have to do it one month at a time and just keep rolling for as long as I can. I would love to have saved enough money to get rid of my mortgage in 5 years. This is probably unrealistic, but am certainly going to give it a go.

I would probably finish sorting the house by september/october so will give this a shot then, and it will mainly be keeping myself out of shops doing impulse clothing buys...I'll bet I waste loads.

I will set aside money prior to starting for xmas so that I don't go over budget there, and that will be to include pressies,decorations,extra food etc.


Good luck everyone!

flyingmamma

been thinking a lot about the no spend for 6 mths.....have had a nsd today and had a great day out with kids and my pal and her lo.trying not to use the car 1 day a week will up this to 3 days during school hols.completed next weeks meal plan and shopping list,going to sm sun pm to stick up on bargains. was thinking about xmas..... my pal has 4 kids i always spend£100 on them, at least, this year i,m on maternity wages and was going to ask her if we cud stop excganging gifts for our kids? is this really sad? we always exchange the same items....hers never fit my children i,m guessing mine never fit hers. i,m really nervous about asking her as she got upset over this issue a few years bac with another friend.

anita55

flyingmamma, your doing well so far, as far as your friend is concerned if your that worried why don't you say that your going to buy a joint present for the children, or perhaps just explain that you havn't got the money you had, if she is a real friend she will understand, no harm in trying, good luck x

good_advice

Good evening no spenders, another day almost completed and I have not opened the safe (purse). I have started to make a shopping list though for next week food wise.

I think since I got made redundant from my little job when shop closed down, I have got in a good routine of being extra careful when spending. Changes do not happen all at once! It takes time and careful planning.

Take birthdays for an example, I have homemade most of the cards this year. You can put a packet of seeds in or a £1 lottery ticket.
Cards for a new job or wishing you well. People are just happy that you have remembered them, never mind it is home made.It is more personal.

Christmas is difficult as flyingmamma has said. Last year we raided the loft for cards and paper that was purchased in the sales after Christmas. I have a stash! With forward planning you can give out cards without having to post and the costly stamp.
E.cards can be fun. All singing and dancing with flashing lights.

Our FREE local paper came today. I bet lots of us have a local rag?
We have almost stopped buying papers and magazines. You can read many online or download FREE books for your kindle.

Thistle-down

Doing well - avoiding shops altogether.

I am spending £45 on Monday, but that's on something that will be sold on ebay for 85+ so am not counting it as a spend, more as an investment.

Will be writing a shopping list on Sunday, planning our meals for the next week based on what we already have in. At the moment the only thing we "need" is sugar... :T

How are the rest of you getting on?

Spendless

lilian1977 wrote: »

Had a good lunch break today - 2 free Body Shop lip balms and a free Waitrose coffee

How did you get the free lip balms please.

flyingmamma wrote: »

been thinking a lot about the no spend for 6 mths.....have had a nsd today and had a great day out with kids and my pal and her lo.trying not to use the car 1 day a week will up this to 3 days during school hols.completed next weeks meal plan and shopping list,going to sm sun pm to stick up on bargains. was thinking about xmas..... my pal has 4 kids i always spend£100 on them, at least, this year i,m on maternity wages and was going to ask her if we cud stop excganging gifts for our kids? is this really sad? we always exchange the same items....hers never fit my children i,m guessing mine never fit hers. i,m really nervous about asking her as she got upset over this issue a few years bac with another friend.

How old are your kids? I often considered but never got round to starting a thread when mine were little for free entertaining kids during summer. My rules were going to be you could take a picnic from the food in your cupboards and inc a tank of petrol or rail/bus tickets but after that you had to get your trip to as near to zero as poss. ideas I intended using were parks, free soft play and adventure playgrounds at shopping centres and walks in woods collecting random items eg leaves, twigs to make a collage with. Eldest is now a grunting teen who is cheaper to entertain as long as you have internet connection and subscription to some on-lien games but instead eats far more.

No advice re xmas presents, we are still in the situation where we are buying adults on one side of the family but have stopped on the other! My only opinion would be to say it as soon as possible and not leave until nearer Christmas if you do intend stopping.

good_advice

Morning all
Spendless, the lip balm in from the freebie sites.
I have signed up to a few and the emails come into my mailbox every morning. There is also the mse and HUKD freebie web pages.
With the lip balm I would think you print off the voucher and take it into the shop.