No spending for a year ???

NO-SPENDING-FOR-A-YEAR

Sunny & cold, perfect day for lifting my spirits.
Thank you MJ for your free fast food option, I shall check out Gapbuster (never heard of it before!)
I'm finding the whole no spends a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, some days I'm quite upbeat and ready for the fight and others feel really deflated and constantly reflect on how I find myself in this situation and what if......
Oh well, I guess it's a case of taking ownership of the responsibility then onwards and upwards.
So, yesterday spends amounted to a whole £1.00 (cold prep for DD1), could have easily bobbed out for a sarnie from the office but gave myself a talking to and had the lunch I had created (note to self, make lunch a tad more creative and appetizing while getting back to the SW eating plan!!)
Trying to shift a lifetimes mind set is the most challenging, that 'ooh well that won't hurt, it's only £xxx, thought process is why I'm here now so gotta stick with it until it becomes habit (no more than 6 weeks hopefully as I'm getting spending withdrawal symptoms, lol)
Oh & just a quick mention of Christmas (((EEEK)))!!!! £10 already popped onto Morries savers card ready for Christmas '16 food shopping, my intention is to add £3 a week so I'm not panicking in the week before!!

NO-SPENDING-FOR-A-YEAR

Ooooh, absolutely freezing today, could have easily stayed under the duvet this morning but work was calling, so left everyone else including fluffed up kitty no spends snuggled up snoozing away while I ventured out with my CD case ice scraper (must find what I did with the 'real' ice scraper & the can of de-icer for that matter) and headed off.


The more I think about the whole overspending mentality I keep circling back to the same observations, does it reflect being out of control in many areas of life? does it amount to a 'compulsive' mindset?
When I reflect on what I struggle with, overspending being the first and what had amounted to compulsive shopping (inner voice justifying why I would need to spend what I didn't have & why popping it on the credit card would be fine......) secondly, being disorganized - having way too much stuff ensures its really difficult to keep it in order - also the need to keep things, my house is quite streamlined but check the attic or the airing cupboard and a wealth of 'ooh I'll just keep that to [EMAIL="eb@y'"]eb@y'[/EMAIL] items are squirreled away - maybe that's to do with seeing the value in items and not being in a position where I can justifiably get rid without any return, maybe there's a deep rooted psychological reason!!! or maybe it's just because I like to keep things!!!
Well, all part of the 'new' me, is to continue decluttering the overspill (attic, chest of drawers etc) in the hope of making my fortune, lol!! (or paying off the debt even!!)


Yesterday spends amounted to £2.50 (my turn to buy the tea!)

asparagus1968

Hi, I am enjoying your diary, will subscribe.


It is a mindset thing for sure, some good days, some bad.


my tip for the day- don't buy the peanut butter until all that honey and jam is used up

Tradcob

Hi,

Keep at it, it will take a while to change habits of a lifetime, but just the fact you are questioning yourself before spending is great, well done :-)
Well done for not popping out for that sandwich at lunch- its such a difficult habit to break, so congraduclate yourself for that :-D

Disco_Dolly

Just catching up on your diary and subscribing! Best of luck on your journey. I might join you on the no spending challenge as according to my snowball calculator I could be debt free this year if I pull the purse strings tighter.

NO-SPENDING-FOR-A-YEAR

Hi all,
Thank you for dropping by ☺
I no longer feel as if I'm just rambling to myself, lol!! so please do make yourselves feel at home ☺
Asparagus, loving the peanut butter tip (I've still yet to buy it so I shall stand firm until the rest is used!!!) &
thanks to you all for your words of support, truly appreciated as it really does make a difference knowing you are out there ☺
Apologies in advance for the higgledy piggledy ness of my posts at the moment, it's a case of as I think of things I'm just putting them in print so it is a tad all over the place!
You're all completely right about how it's a mindset thing and it is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride, I'm trying not to think too far ahead (hence the 1 year option) as I know in my heart of hearts it has to be a lifetime change or I shall be back to square one again in no time.
Anyway, the (pretty rubbish not well thought out but doing ok) meal plans seem to be working so far this week, cupboards/fridge/freezer all well stocked which I do believe will impact on being able to buy less next week (Woo Hoo) - I must get on with sorting my kitchen cupboards, getting frightened to open them in case I end up squashed under heap of precariously placed tins !!!


Note to self, stop procrastinating and get on with it!!!
Have a lovely afternoon,
Lou xx

1974nicola

Keep up the good work! I'm joining you. Family are too ....well at least for this month. I've told them its a no spend month and they've agreed. If I can hang on in there for longer. We'll get this sorted this year. I've subscribed to your posts too.
Good luck. I'm looking forward to hearing your adventures in not spending!

NO-SPENDING-FOR-A-YEAR

Hi Nicola,
Thank you for hopping aboard!!
Well I'm pleased to announce today was a no spends day which in turn means my mischievous overdraft is not growing any this month so far which in itself is amazing!!!
My hope is I'll be able to save a bit on the weekly food shop (may have to become a domestic goddess for a few days and be creative with the freezer contents lol!!) and get a few new [EMAIL="eb@y"]eb@y[/EMAIL] bits listed, also have a few unsold items that I'm going to relist once I've finished here in the hope they might just sell and I can throw them at the overdraft too.
I'd like to think I could make/gain enough to clear the £100 by the end of the month but heading back to earth it's likely I'll deal with maybe £30 chunks per month over the next few and clear it that way & most importantly not add anymore on!!
On a completely different subject!!!, I've been checking through my toiletries, make up and perfume this evening.
I think I should have enough make-up & perfume to last me the whole year especially after some much appreciated Christmas gifts, toiletries will be an on going expense as I've got a lots of certain things (body creams & lotions that I rarely use) but not much stock of well used stuff (shower gels, shampoo, conditioner, soap etc) so I shall be keeping my eyes open for bargains to be had!!


Enjoy your evening
Lou xx

NO-SPENDING-FOR-A-YEAR

Sooooooooooooo this morning is going to be a challenge, I'm throwing the gauntlet down to myself so I hope I come out the other side unscathed!!
I'm going to be testing myself with shopping in town today, plans already in place to pop out with my DM to get some shopping and bits and bobs that she needs so I have to keep completely focused!!!
I've worked out if there is anything I actually NEED to buy before I go and I'm coming up blank so in theory I should only be spending the cost of a couple of coffees (allocated & allowed from my weekly amount)
WISH ME LUCK!!!!
I'll let you know how I get on later!!!

asparagus1968

You can do it!


And just look at how your mindset is changing already- first you looked at the money situation, which led to looking at what the kitchen cupboard stores were (have you made a meal plan using the items you already have in?) which led to looking at your toiletries... progress my lovely.
have a fab day