Debt busting ideas. Track your "didn't spend", not just your spends.

BlueJ94

I like this idea! I was going to buy myself a cooked breakfast at work for £6.80 but opted for my cup a noodles! that I had stashed away in a draw so already saving the £6.80 there!

kimwp

I used this concept for not eating treats that people brought into work (big offices, so there would be very frequent treats for holidays, birthdays, promotions). It's a good way of committing to not buying that thing as well as recording that you didn't and getting the satisfaction of adding to your list instead.

The no buy thread is quite similar - there's been some interesting discussion on what is exempted from the no buy category. On my phone so linking is tricky.

Florafauna

Today, I have not bought some merino underwear and socks - £139
I also did not buy a cup of tea at the beach £3
Feels weirdly rewarding doing this 😁

Sea_Shell

Thought I'd give this a cheeky nudge, for those new to these parts, who may be starting out on their journey.

Anyone got any "didn't spend" wins to add?

BlueJ94

I didn't spend £1.75 on an energy drink today

DisabledDan

Gosh is there enough space on this forum for all the things I do not spend on.

Most recent was Amazon Prime day, it might help that I am not nor have I ever been an Amazon Prime customer.

I didn't spend any money on all the things I got on Freecycle and there are loads as I trade up and re-gift.

I didn't spend money on a holiday for donkeys years.

I don't spend money on nice coffee houses as they have priced themselves out of the market, 

I don't spend money on a lot of food, about 90% of it is between 60% and 90% off, otherwise I do without except for the staples  of milk, fruit and lettuce.

Same applies to clothes, reduced or wait for a sale.

I have put off getting a replacement phone for so long, it will be a refurb as mine is now, got it in 2018 and it was years old already.  I was planning on getting one in July but there is a new Iphone in September so I will wait for that to push refurb prices down further.  It is paid already for with birthday and Christmas money, so just a matter of getting more for the money.

Best tip I got to live within my budget was probably on MSE or another forum, which is to live within budget by transferring any money left over when a new payment hits my account. I look at what the balance was the day before and pay that to my savings account.  I move any unexpected income to savings as well. 

Then when I get a big DD due like heating which is not that bad I transfer it over from savings if I can see I can't afford it. I was in  energy frugal mode until December so paid between £42 and £61 then £94, £80, £111 for the winter, now pushing back towards £60 goal.

Now I am working on funeral fund, it might sound morbid but don't want to burden family with that and I have found ways to make that cheap too.

stu12345_2

dan, put money aside in a tin for your funeral fund, as when you die (  your relatives  will)get about 40% off the cost of one if you need a funeral there and now, eg you die., which your loved ones use from your tin, tell them where your tin is in advance lol or your wife if you have one can simply get the tin out, nowt fancy £700, cover it with a cheapest coffin, no relatives cars etc just a certificate ,hearse , coffin, cremation, sorted !
where as if you pay one up you pay full price.

but like going to a hotel in the evening and asking for a room, you will get one very cheap if they have lots of unsold rooms that night, rather than booking it months in advance at full price