Spend Nothing December

TasmanianMinimalist

Ok, I am not sure this is possible as such with Christmas looming, but as we don't really do Christmas beyond a few little financial incentives for DD, DSD and 2 x nieces...I should be able to do fairly well. The fact that it is soon to be December means the challenge will be all the more invigorating for the challenges it could bring.

I will document my spending everyday for the month of December ( I hope that's allowed ) and confess everything...

I know I have $20 for an end of year party for my daughter and myself so I can't change that...but...let's see if I can knock my flip flops off.

Thank you for reading and please share if you are doing something similar..

TM

bexster1975

Hello!

I'm not really planning to do exactly the same but as I now. Have everyone's xmas presents bought I am planning on spending on essentials only until next payday ( weekend before Christmas). Then I will be able to do the last minute food shop for fresh stuff ( have store cupboard of christmas non- perishables collected over past few months). So I will join you until the 18th December at least. And try not to buy unnecessary things even after that.

Good luck to you, sounds like a great plan. You may like the not buying it thread for inspiration if you have not seen it.

Bexster

VfM4meplse

I was so impressed by the title of the thread...! A NSM in December is a fascinating concept.

But then realised you do intend to spend after all.

TasmanianMinimalist

Spend Nothing December (except absolutely necessary or stuff I simply can't get out of). I have to say I have tried to get out of the niece money giving thing since I don't have any sort of real relationship with them and it's more about keeping my brother from moaning. Ridiculous really in my opinion since he gives my daughter back money too. In my eyes my daughter gets plenty, she doesn't need extra money and his kids definitely get more than enough...maybe I'll try again to dissuade him...
Thanks for reading,
TM

[Deleted User]

TasmanianMinimalist I think its a great idea and I for one will watch carefully. There are some things that are just unavoidable,bills,running out of essentials etc but, being as its the main consumer shopping time of the year I think your idea is good.

If not for anything else, it will focus you on where your money is going to. I too keep a tight rein on spending at this time of the year (also at most times to be honest :)) and it is so easy to get swept along by the flow.

I am doing my best in the coming month to spend as little as I can to recoup some cash for next years holidays.I always keep a separate food purse where I put my food budget cash in, apart from a spare 'float ' of Happy Stash Cash in my ordinary purse. This is usually used for small treat for myself or my grandchildren But the bulk of the rest stays firmly (and hopefully) in the bank.

I try to shop roughly every 8-10 days for any essentials that I may have run out of,and at the moment I am concocting meals from my store cupboards and fridge freezer to cut back on buying anything else.When I texted my eldest DD last week about my plan she replied 'well that should be fine Mum as you have enough food for a forthcoming apocalypse in your cupboards :):).She's possibly right as growing up with WW2 rationing ingrains a certain 'hoarding' mentality in people of my generation I think.I was chatting to some of my frinds about this recently and we all agreed that we all have far too much in our cupboards and we are all cutting back on buying any more for awhile.This time of the year is an even great time to do it as over indulgence in shopping happens far too easily.

So go for it, and I'm right behind you, albeit many thousands of miles behind you :):) Check out the Not Buying It thread on here ,you'll find lots of like minded folk on there as well
Cheers JackieO xxx

TasmanianMinimalist

Thanks JackieO.

I appreciate you taking the time to reply. Just checking out how many posts you have written gives me great confidence In your words. I am a child of the eighties, probably pretty spoilt really and I love to hear any wise words, tips and guidance at any time. I used to be highly in debt until I started a blog. The blog was quite successful and gave me the impetus to get rid of all my debt, both consumer and mortgage. In the last year or so whilst being still relatively sensible I have let myself slip a little and for no good reason. Laziness and a stressful job has been my excuse, but that's all it is really, an excuse. People like yourself, taking time to reply to me are well appreciated. Have a great night,
TM.

TasmanianMinimalist

Ok December 1 and we have payday.

Other than my fortnightly bills ( health fund/ insurance) which I can not avoid or change I will be listing my daily spends.
Today is a No Spend Day.

I'm pretty pleased with that!

TM

VfM4meplse

I agree, Jackie O is an excellent inspiration of genuine OS spending! I have learned lots from her over the years; ironically the kind of stuff I wouldn't take seriously as a child when my own mum was being careful with money.

I was always regaled with stories abut the Queen saving odd bits of string, and sowing the outer edges of sheets together when the centres wore out!

[Deleted User]

Thank you VfM4 you are kind, I just pass on stuff that my frugal Mum taught me years ago.A lot is just common or garden common sense, I too used to read about HM sensible ways .People seemed to think because she was a monarch and had pots of money that somehow she was being daft or pretentious,but I think she too learned from her also tiny Scots Mum the meaning of taking care of the pennies.

I like to treat my living expenses etc as a business, and no one with any sense chucks money away if they are in business, or if they do then they end up broke:):)

I prefer to think that the money I save on being sensible, I can use on things I really like to do, e.g. take my family away on holiday in August.

My youngest DD has four boys under 19 still in education and so money is still scarce in their house.

Ben the eldest (19)is at Uni and living like a church mouse bless him.both my DD and I help to supplement his grant which is very minimal. We give him big boxes of tinned and dried food every time he comes home to streeetch his cash out a bit, and I also send him £50.00 per month to help with his house rent.He does have a small part-time job two nights a week washing glasses and cleaning which also helps a bit with his books.He is a hard working boy and a credit to his parents .

His next down brother Jack (almost 16) is doing his GCSEs and has just sorted out his options for 6th form next year He too will just be starting Uni as Ben leaves, so we will have another one living on buttons for a few years.

The next brother down from him Henry (nearly 15) will be also hopefully going down the same path.

The youngest boy Mikey at the moment would like to be either a chef or a policeman but at 11 he has a long time to think about it :):)

So by budgeting carefully I can help my DGS and my DD achieve their aims. I am a great believer in the concept of families helping each other when they can.
At my age my wants are few but to see the boys all get a decent chance with their education keeps me happy and any cash I have will go to my DDs and DGC eventually, and I think their need is now not in a few years time :)

So I will happily streetch my cash and make every shilling do the work of five as my Mum did before me :):)
Today is the start of a new month and I have my usual £60.00 food budget cash in my old brown purse, separate from every other bit of cash and its a case of when its gone that's it until the 1st of the next month.

November's left over cash will go into the holiday account today so I have another £25.20 to be banked towards next August's holiday.
I have also nothing to buy today so its as our new Australian friend has said

1st December one NSD today

Good luck to anyone trying to have a go at this. I know I will have to spend a bit of cash over the next 30 days for fresh fruit and possibly veg and maybe some milk, but it will definitely be bare essentials as I am going to use what I have if possible before spending any more

Cheers everyone
JackieO xxx

VfM4meplse

TasmanianMinimalist wrote: »

Today is a No Spend Day.

JackieO wrote: »

1st December one NSD today

I wish I could say the same! But I spent £75 online on beauty products yesterday evening, on unplanned purchases that will save both myself and my mum a lot of time and money at the beautician's in 2016! Est saving for me alone will be a minimum of £200, the time is priceless.

Having said that, Mum has been staying with me for the past week and given me some OS beauty treatments which have made me look and feel a lot better!

Goldiegirl

TasmanianMinimalist wrote: »

Ok, I am not sure this is possible as such with Christmas looming, but as we don't really do Christmas beyond a few little financial incentives for DD, DSD and 2 x nieces...I should be able to do fairly well. The fact that it is soon to be December means the challenge will be all the more invigorating for the challenges it could bring.

I will document my spending everyday for the month of December ( I hope that's allowed ) and confess everything...

I know I have $20 for an end of year party for my daughter and myself so I can't change that...but...let's see if I can knock my flip flops off.

Thank you for reading and please share if you are doing something similar..

TM

Why have you set yourself this challenge? What is your goal, or what are you going to do with the money you save?