Magnificent May's No-Spend Days Challenge!

AuntieL

Worlds_Worst_Superhero said:

AuntieL said:

Worlds_Worst_Superhero said:

AuntieL said:

Happy to report this has not been an NSD for me today. I invested £10 in an enterprise group in my school - a group of fantastic teenagers who plan to bake and sell cakes to raise money for our school breakfast club.🧁 

Perhaps you could you log this as a charitable donation, rather than a spend?

Thanks for the suggestion @Worlds_Worst_Superhero. I’m never 100% sure what to count and not to count as an NSD so I tend to count everything other than monthly bills, groceries and petrol as spends 🤷‍♀️

I categorise my spends as following:

ESSENTIAL- utility bills, food, basic hygiene and cleaning products, medical expenses, home and contents insurance.
Repair or replacement of basic clothing items.
Repair or replacement of essential household items- plumbing emergencies, boiler and electric checks, bedding, items for cooking etc.
These are things that HAVE to be paid for as an absolute necessity.
I try to find the best deals on these, use various loyalty vouchers, codes and cashback offers.

The essentials tend to be the more or less the same for everyone.

NECESSARY- These are non-essential, but without them life would be miserable.
If times were really tough, I could give them up but it would be difficult.
For me, this me includes bus and train travel, cycle maintenance, mobile phone contract with decent data allowance, putting money aside for savings, decent coffee, family holidays, occasional trips to the theatre or art exhibitions.

The necessary category will be different for everyone. May include pet care, car costs, after-school clubs, gym membership, driving lessons etc.

NON-ESSENTIAL includes things that, for me, are random, unplanned purchases. Careful planning means I can (usually!) avoid buying all of these: take-aways, grabbing food and drink on the go, restaurant meals, "date nights" out, new books, magazine and TV subscriptions, new clothes or items not purchased to replace current ones that are beyond repair, anything not on the "ESSENTIAL" or "NECESSARY" list.

I'm naturally a bit of a penny-pincher. I've always been pretty frugal but after my partner became seriously ill (he's fine now!) not long after we'd just had our daughter, it was a real struggle to get by.
But we managed, and kind of enjoyed our "Make Do and Mend" frugal lifestyle!
Since then, our financial situation has improved significantly but we still embrace the "Not Buying It" eco-aware, minimalist, anti-consumer lifestyle.
Admittedly, we could probably blow it all (plus a massive overdraft/ loan!) on a bigger house, flashy cars, designer handbags, this year's must-have gadgets and latest fashions but I doubt they'd improve my life. In fact, knowing how much they cost- and the reasons I felt the need to buy in order to conform- would probably make me quite miserable.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write down your spend categories @Worlds_Worst_Superhero. I’m definitely going to start counting my essential repairs as NSD from now on. 

I wish that I had started budgeting my spends at a much younger age like you. I can’t change the past but I can change the present and also going forward. I completely agree with you about the cars/ gadgets etc. I’m much happier keeping what I have until I have to change it.

laurenh1

Not a NSD today as I bought the kids a paddling pool. 

I did sit down last night with my husband and discuss our finances. Our mortgage will go up in December 😭 but next year we would like to redecorate. So our plan is to get through this year then make a start.

We chatted about budgets for holidays, days out, birthdays etc. I always feel better having a rough plan/ budget. 

HotDog2020

laurenh1 said:

Not a NSD today as I bought the kids a paddling pool. 

I did sit down last night with my husband and discuss our finances. Our mortgage will go up in December 😭 but next year we would like to redecorate. So our plan is to get through this year then make a start.

We chatted about budgets for holidays, days out, birthdays etc. I always feel better having a rough plan/ budget. 

It is very healthy and good if in your relationship you can discuss finances on an adult level and see eye to eye...looks like you snagged yourself the right type...well done. Enjoy the good weather.

Crazycatlady2

NSD Saturday and Sunday 

KajiKita

Went out and bought a funnel for OH, a soft brush on a long pole for cleaning the greenhouse (already used!) and a new cheapie garden arch but all from my ‘pocket money’ so today is NSD Sunday 😊

KK

AuntieL

Another NSD today

LittleMissDetermined

One for me today, thanks 
LMD x

cathybird

May NSD challenge

Off to a start =

5 days =

10 days =

15 days =

20 days =

Target reached =

Target beaten =  

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May targets

AuntieL 6/15    

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bamboo socks 2/20  

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beanielou 10/19     

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blubella 5/12   

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Caeraugirl 7/20    

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cathybird 10/15     

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Crazycatlady2 7/18   

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Daywon 7/TF    

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Doris17 2/15  

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Flying By 6/14      

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Geriatricmum 5/15     

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HotDog2020 3/15  

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ilovetea 7/20    

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KajiKita 9/18   

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keggie 1/20 

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laura lau 1/17 

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laurenh 8/20   

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leftatthetrafficlights 9/24    

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LittleMissDetermined 9/18    

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madlyn 12  

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Makingabobor2 3/15 

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Money Choices  

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Mrs Cautious 11/23      

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Rupacomp 7/15   

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Saver-upper 4/15  

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SecondStar 18

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short bird 8/16    

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Tiangfeng2022 4/10    

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Worlds Worst Superhero 10/25      

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🌞 🌞  Newcomers welcome! 🌞 🌞

cathybird

May results updated here

short_bird

Day 8 today (Sunday)