No Buy Year

-taff

kimwp - I wouldn't go down the road of mentioning it feels like he;s laughing at your decisions, it makes you appear to not be in control or have the authority to do anything. Have you looked at conflict resolution websites for any advice? Personally, I'd just say to him, when he says about doing B, I hope not, because everyone else will be doing a as I've asked them to, If there's a reason you don't think you can do this, please see me privately later. Then see what transpires after that...

Coffeekup

kimwp said:

Indout96 said:

I struggle with the concept of no spend as to what to include as essential cost and what is frivolous 
For example Trainers will need replacing at least twice in a year as we walk so much (2,300 miles in 2023) but that in turn saves a fortune in petrol so is it an essential or OK to spend on ?

I too wonder what counts as essential. 
- replacing shoes that work but are tatty?
- new top for going out as I've changed size, when I have clothes that fit but aren't dressy?
- compost for growing veg which is is a healthy and fulfilling pastime but is more expensive than buying veg from the supermarket?
- activities with friends who aren't keen on no spend activities?

I spent a good few years struggling with debt before I went into a DMP of 7 years. So in a nutshell I had 10 or so year's with little to no money to replace things or go out and get out the cycle of a never ending groundhog day. It taught me a whole new way of looking at money. Especially things that are marketed at us and have little to no resale value if you needed to raise some spare cash.

This is my opinion and I'm not intending to derail someone's thread. I applaud people that push for no spend days, but I wouldn't be kicking myself if I lost a no spend day because I had to replace a kitchen appliance I use on a regular basis as it's a necessity. Coming home with a new coffee machine because it was on offer so it can look nice on the kitchen side is pointless.

So with that being said..
replacing shoes that work but are tatty? (Depending on what tatty means) I would either use them for jobs around the house/garden or donate to a charity shop so someone who is less fortunate than I can buy them.

compost for growing veg which is is a healthy and fulfilling pastime but is more expensive than buying veg from the supermarket? If you're growing potatoes you won't reap the cost of the compost back because they take time and space. However growing radishes, or fast cropping plants the keep cropping like courgettes, rainbow chard, lettuce, spinach, mint, rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley and coriander etc you'll be reaping the financial benefit in a couple of weeks once spring hits, you'll also have no plastic waste that all of the above is sold in too.

Activities with friends who aren't keen on no spend activities? That's a tough one... At the end of the day you work hard, save hard and try to have little impact on what you buy and use. Your entitled to a day out or a drink every so often. It's good to have experiences sitting at home and watching pennies can make you feel a scrooge.

Having literally nothing in the house for years taught me I do need to have some things when I got out of financial trouble. These days I do buy occasional thing's I think can hold their value well I.e. collectors items, gold etc, so I can sell on for the same money or a profit if I ever hit hard times.

Coffeekup

ruby_eskimo said:

I think the concept of essential is different to everyone.  For me, it's things like food (obviously) but making sure I definitely need that item or that I plan to use it in multiple dishes before it well and truly goes off.  Toiletries wise, I have a routine of products that work for me so I will replace when I am out (or almost out) but not use the excuse to buy extras because there's a sale for example. 

I guess what I'm saying is that my no-buy year is to stop me buying the "extras" like books (I can go to the library / have a massive pile ready to go in my bedroom), candles, accessories, fancy toiletries, all the "just because" things that don't make my life better and just clutter up my surroundings!

Yes I think it's different for everyone depending how far you want to stretch your money / savings. Bathroom stuff I have the bare essentials. I have the one in use i.e. toothpaste and another in stock. Which then gives me a few weeks to pick up another if it's on offer, if not I'll replace when the one being used is finished. I usually get a deodorant gift set or two for Christmas which will see me through the year so don't buy them.

As for books I get from a charity shop, read and donate back. Reason being is I don't do a monthly subscription to a charity so this way I'm basically renting a book or two for a while which will then get back to them to sell on.

Cherryfudge

@kimwp, some sound advice about your work situation. I'm sorry to hear about the news on your cat, which must be so worrying for you. 

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi all

Friday is a work from home day for me so no spends at all, not even diesel to get to work. I may need to buy some more winter tights for work but will assess how many pairs I have and what condition they are in first.  DH made a lovely fish pie from cheap frozen fish fillets and I have had a couple of glasses of wine from a bottle someone brought when they visited at Christmas, it's not to my taste but I refuse to tip it down the sink.  It's a bit more palatable watered down with soda water

I have a stack of library books to get through so that's keeping me (mostly) away from Internet sale browsing. 

kimwp

Cherryfudge said:

@kimwp, some sound advice about your work situation. I'm sorry to hear about the news on your cat, which must be so worrying for you. 

Thank you @Cherryfudge, her blood tests were through the roof, she's now on IV fluids and antibiotics for 48 hours, she may or may not make it. 

Cherryfudge

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that @kimwp. It must be very hard waiting, though you are clearly doing everything to help her. 

weenancyinAmerica

@kimwp - Hugs for you and your cat. 

scrappydoo13

@ChihiroSen
I think a NB year would be too big a goal for me right now.  But over the last few years I have been taking steps to reduce my spending such as:

1. X amount in my wallet per week for everything, including essentials. When it's gone, it's gone!  Helps to start the week on a Wednesday!

2. Buying coffee at the coffee shops almost every day was my guilty pleasure. Reduced it to one per week, one on the weekend. Nowadays, it's once in a blue moon.

3. If I bought something like a clothes or a pair of shoes, two things (or more) had to be responsibly decluttered.  This was surprisingly effective!

Most recently, if I have to buy something, including essentials like the trainers you mention, I have a limit of one item per month, no carryovers.

But your NB year challenge has me pondering - what can I do to take it up a level but keep it achievable for me?  I will have a think!

TC77

Hi,
I'd like to join please as have too much stuff and while decluttering and recognise some from another thread I bring too much in. Some of it is free stuff whixh I pick up and spend ages getting rid of again and so take time. 
For this thread though I will aim.no buy on things I already have. When asked what I wanted for Xmas from dd1 I said a lipstick,she gave me.otjet pressies - all.will be used but not this..the intention is to be abit smarter and lipstick is the only make up I used to wear..BUT I have a lipstick  I like so can use that until it runs out and then replace. One problem is I have so much stuff I can't find things and buy more , eg cards, wrapping paper etc. 
Look forward to reading how people get on.
Good luck