Fiscal Fast

peony40

Morning all,

I was reminiscing this morning and remembered the Fiscal Fast thread, but on checking it has been closed.

As I still have issues with losing track on unnecessary expenditure especially on Am****, I thought I would restart a new thread.  I am unsure on etiquette in these cases so apologise in advance if I have done anything incorrectly etc.

So, from today I am only going to be doing planned expenditure on essential bills until the 28th October.  As much as possible I am going to try and avoid grocery shopping, although I do have a shop arriving today.  I have done a pantry inventory already, I need to write down the freezer contents and will then menu plan.

I need to get a grip on expenditure as my DH will shortly be taking early retirement and I am on a very small pension myself now, and with all the costs rising I need to go back to basics.

If anyone cares to join me, this will be great to have some company.

-taff

This is what they call NSDs on the debt free diaries thread, a No Spend Day. Not sure if they count essential bills in that or not. I do try and do this but I don't really keep a score and my internet shopping is mad, so I will try and join you...

Sayschezza

I will join too if that's ok. I work in a CS 1 half day per week and I always buy something while I am there. Small buys soon add up over the month and I really have no room for anything else. Between now and Christmas no unplanned spends.gulp.

peony40

Good Morning,

Nice to see you both, Taff and SaysChezza.  Taff, I added up all my internet purchases I made this last month and it was not pretty ... I would rather have that money in my savings account now, so am cross with myself.  SaysChezza, I agree, small buys do add up, I say to myself, it’s only £3 or £5 etc., but we can do it!

I’d forgotten about NSD’s, I will be having one of those today, and really apart from a few basic food items that may be needed next week, I don’t need anything else so I am planning on a 6 day Fiscal Fast.  

So, I will be completing my food inventory, and then menu planning today.  I am also trying to cost my meals to see the most cost efficient meals that I can make and then writing them out to remind me.  I used to do this when first married, but over the years I stopped,

Take care. 

Bluegreen143

Great idea!

I’m on a parenting course/group and was only talking about this yesterday on there. The course has monthly themes and this month is skills mastery (for both children and parents). Taking the time in your routine to DO things, learn things, teach your kids to help round the house, craft, make, grow, fix, sew, cook etc rather than all just watching TV as a family or constantly going on days out. And I was saying for me it fits in so well with the MSE mindset and helps with anxiety re the future if I do build more practical skills, and it’s so related to not having a consumerist mindset/being a creator not a consumer. And I said that I feel the need to really reign in non essential shopping this month before Christmas/birthdays (both kids have December birthdays). And now I’ve seen this post I realise the universe is telling me to do it!!

So I’ll join in - my aim is to only spend on bills/committed expenses, groceries/petrol if needed and anything pre-planned. Eg I’d planned to go to a local cycle charity today to buy bike locks for my bike and DS’s bike and I’m still going to do that because it will give us more freedom from the car if we can use our bikes more (also have a bike seat for DD to sit on my bike coming in the post but not counting that as ordered it the other day).

peony40

Welcome Bluegreen.

Your course/group sounds lovely, and skills mastery sounds perfect.  It reminds me a lot of my 1970’s childhood, where I learnt cooking, baking, patchwork, crochet, basket weaving etc.  It was such fun, and we all used to make gifts for each other, we used to make furry pencil cases for school friends and make animal shaped chocolate biscuits, wonderful memories.  Like you, I find that living like this lessens anxiety about world issues beyond our control.

Definitely agree about the buying of cycle locks, I want to have mindful living, experiences are important.  Although DH and I will be managing on very small private pensions, so will need to live to a tight budget, we also want to build in experiences so that we can appreciate his retirement.  Such pleasures as buying cycles and some good quality walking boots and flasks for coffee.

Take care all.

peony40

Yesterday was a NSD as will be today.  I will need to buy some butter from the milkman Monday as I managed to forget to buy any on last week’s shop.

I hope you all have a nice Sunday.

Sayschezza

Yesterday was a spend as i had forgotten i was booked into a craft club for the day. Today and tomorrow should be NSDs but I am meeting my friend on Tuesday and its my turn to buy lunch. These spends are not the ones I am concerned about as they are more or less acceptable expenses. Wednesday I am working in the CS and that will be the biggest challenge and where I really must curb my impulsive spending.

MandM90

@Sayschezza is it possible to leave your money at home at all? If you're just going to work and back? Or if taking public transport taking the exact fare?

Sayschezza

MandM90 thanks i can see your reasoning but they know me so well they would let me take anything home on approval. Just up the road from me and they know where i live so no problem for them. No there is nothing for it but to be good.

Sayschezza

Nothing spent today. Dinner was freezer/cupboard dive.