Fiscal Fast

peony40

Hello, had some expenditure today, I ran out of wax for the wooden table, I bought the last tin in 2015 so not bad, plus I need to get butter from the milkman.

sayschezza, with the charity shop, would it help if you only bought specific things you are looking for, or have a limit? Possibly baby steps rather than cold turkey? 

Anyways, back to NSD tomorrow until grocery shop on Friday.

Take care all.

peony40

well, my NSD did not happen.  I decided to buy my first Christmas gift for this year, a book for my great nephew’s first Christmas so no regrets.  Plus I thought I would buy some more underwear as it will mean the WM doesn’t need to go on so frequently.  Definitely, a NSD tomorrow.

What I will be doing tomorrow is going through all my sheets to organise spare sets etc.  I know I have enough blankets as I crochet, fellow crocheters will understand!  

I also wish to price up individual meals to work out the cheapest meals for ingredients, cooking etc.  I have a recipe folder that I will use to keep everything in one place as I tend to have scraps of paper littered all over that I can never find when needed.

nannygladys

peony40 - I'm another one who copies recipes out and then puts them somewhere never to be found at again, so I started to write them in journal like books, but now I have quite a few of those because I like a pretty notebook and none are full, the only sensible thing I do is always have an index at the front of each one!!!Lol

I'm quite frugal etc but I'm starting to worry about the price increases in everything, so I've decided to have a spend free week every other week, not sure how's it's going to work because I will have to become organised but I'm going to give it a go.
Anyway best of luck and have a happy retirement.
Nannyg

peony40

Thanks NannyG.  Such an excellent idea about putting an index at the front of the notebook.  I will start doing this.

I too, am getting concerned at the increasing prices, we have a little flexibility of where we can cut costs if needed, such as stopping using the DW etc.  I have minimised the amounts of times I use the TD and DW this last month and I have started recording our fuel usage weekly and then try to reduce usage the next week, as Frugal Queen in France mentioned in one of her you tube videos.

Organisation is key for me too, I get an idea implement it, and then forget all about it.  DH has bought me a white board for the freezer door, so I may start writing my ideas on there so it is in front of me, plus put a reminder on my phone.  My phone is constantly pinging with my daily reminders!

Good Luck, I will be cheering you on!

[Deleted User]

I try to stick to a grocery budget of £100 for he two of us a month, however I have found it creeping up recently. After buying a new to us car in April, I am presently trying to rebuild my emergency account. Our power supplier want bust in February, we were put with EDF. In July I got onto a fixed rate for 2 years. I hope it does not change we are now paying £84 a month!! I read the meters each Monday. I rarely use the oven on our cooker. I have a combi microwave and also a 9 - 1 Ninja which I find very useful. One thing I do when cooking mince is put a couple of tablespoons of sage and onion in, it makes the mince go further and adds a savoury taste to the mince.

chirpycheap

I have areas of spending that I definitely need a fiscal fast for.
We're pretty good with budgeting food and household items although there is definitely room for improvement.
The areas I need to work on are:
1) Stop buying any more craft stuff. My spare bedroom is like a small branch of Hobbycraft. I 'need' nothing more but still I buy stuff often because it's on offer or in the charity shop.
2) Books. I have a mountain of unread books but I struggle to resist the charity shop bargains or Kindle deals.
3) I need to stop going into charity shops. I have a habit of dropping off a bag of donations and then emerge with a bag full of purchases. I will carry on donating but really need to be more disciplined with buying. I justify my purchases because it's for a good cause but the house is heaving with stuff and all these little things do add up.
4) Our meals are pretty frugal and I do home cook but we could definitely do better with the in-between meal stuff and the little treats

5) Avoid my favourite shops as I buy far too much in those. So I need to stay out of TK maxx, The Range and Poundland.

I'm interested to see how everyone goes on with their fiscal fast. Shopping often seems like a harmless little treat but we do end up with over stuffed houses and empty purses!

nannygladys

My dd is very good at decluttering. So a few years ago she helped declutter my house over a few weekends, we did everywhere and the house felt a lot lighter, to be honest there wasn't that much 'stuff' but I needed help with the attic, and stuff I didn't know what to do with. So it sort of cured me from buying 'bits' although I nearly bought a Halloween duck from the land of pounds the other week, but woke up in time to stop myself!!!:) I see lots of things I think I like but something just clicks in as I'm happy with what I have. I do buy things  but they are considered choices now and items needed for a reason.

My fiscal fast is beginning next week but I haven't worked the details out yet, but it will run on until Xmas. It may be a complete fast every other week but I can see flaws in that so going to have a rethink.
Nannyg

wort

Hi, don't know if it helps but to solve the book problem I now use the library but as an E book.  You don't need a kindle just join then put the borrow box app on your tablet or phone. Maybe work through the ones you have first though!!😉
I find since decluttering, to ask myself where is it going to go ? When I see something I like and would buy in the past!! Also walk away and think if I truly want it it will still be here in a week or 2. Usually by the time I am home I'm glad I didn't get it. And I have a thrill of knowing I didn't waste my money! 

angela110660

I second the library Borrow Box as above. Has been great for me and have had some good books so far. Currently listening to The Phone Box at the Edge of the World. Usually listen on my phone when I go out for a walk on my own.

Bluegreen143

Have not been successful at curbing spending yet BUT I realised I need a plan and was being too vague. 

So here’s my rules for my fiscal fast:

WHEN?
📆 Six weeks from today to 25th November

WHAT CAN I BUY? 

💰 Bills and committed subscriptions

🍎 Necessary everyday spending, like food, groceries, petrol, parking and kids’ pocket money 
🎄 Gifts and celebration expenses, because I’ll be doing my Christmas shopping, organising Hallowe’en etc. But will be creative and make gifts, buy second hand etc where I can
🚲 My bike seat needs to go back, so I’ll either need to order a new one or I may need to sell my bike and get a bigger one to make a seat for my 2yo work. Either way, any costs associated are OK by me as it’s a planned expense 

WHAT CAN’T I BUY?
🍹 Alcohol, takeaways, sweets
📚 Books, ebooks and online resources/courses
👗 Clothes (I think the kids have their autumn stuff and will be OK for a few weeks)
🪴 Homewares and garden stuff 
🚕 Taxis (I’ll be able to drive to events if I don’t drink…)
💄 TBH I don’t use salons etc (I cut my own hair and everyone else’s in the family) or buy makeup much but nothing like that either 

🏰 Expensive family outings or activities, will stick to parks and the free museums for taking the kids out which is our usual habit anyway

OTHER GOOD HABITS
🍳 Obviously meal planning, batch cooking, creative use of leftovers
🚶 Walk or cycle where possible to reduce petrol/parking costs
🗑 Compost all appropriate food waste, turn stained/ripped clothing into cleaning rags, consider how we can reuse or refurbish or mend broken things