No Spend January

I think it’s a great and interesting idea and if I lived alone, (husband plus three adult children plus four dogs!) I’d certainly give it a go. Good luck and do let us know how you get on.

I suspect that apart from buying milk, I could quite easily go without spending on food for most of the month by using up what is in my fridge-freezer, the chest freezer and the cupboards.

Even though I wont be doing it (though I am trying to slowly use up what is in there while it is still edible), that actually sounds like quite a good idea to me, Mel1967. Good for you!

Unfortunately, there are many non-food things that I am still having to fork out on, and even if I could delay most of those for a month, I would only be delaying the inevitable, the most recent of those being a new vac.

Go for it! Every time we have to go away for DH's work we live off whatever is in the fridge, freezer and pantry for the last month. Fresh veg... we use frozen so it isn't a problem for us. Tinned fruit if we have any. Creative meals can be surprising and tasty.

All the best!

No spend January is a time when people cut down on unnecessary spending to recoup some of the money spent on Christmas. It’s up to the individual to decide what is unnecessary for them. This could mean no takeaways food or coffees, no unnecessary clothes spending, expensive trips etc. but does allow for necessary food, birthday presents, fuel, repairs etc. I have quite a lot of food in the house at present, fresh, frozen and store cupboard and enjoy planning meals around this so food doesn’t get wasted it also means that as result we try recipes we haven’t had before. Many become new family favourites. I also have lots of toiletries ( many given as gifts) a large wool stash (if you are a knitter you will understand) and hundreds of books. Most have been given to me new or second hand or have come from charity shops. I then have the books that are still waiting for me on my kindle and the fantastic resources available in my local library. Throw in all the things that are available for free such as walking in the countryside and trips using your bus pass and the list becomes endless. I do love spending on little treats but I also enjoy the challenge of seeing how I can save money also.

Yes, doing my best, makes thd restof the year easier budget-wise. Absolute essentials only.

Germanshepherdsmum

Total nonsense. Fresh fruit and veg, eggs, milk? And I’m assuming you don’t have a pet or feed the birds.

Really? 🙄

Really what?

"Mell967"
Actually I was just wondering do you walk past the homeless woman on the street proud that you don't intend spending anything in January? To set out with the mindset of I'm not spending anything this month is a luxury many in this country can ill afford,as they are impoverished and don't have the means to stock up a freezer to see them through the week never mind a month. Maybe I'm wrong and of course the money you've saved will go to Charity in which case well done.

Very good point.

Yes, but not worked. Got some new tools for the garden and finally got me a shallow cast iron casserole. £35 from Charlie's. I cook on my MF stove and my other cast iron stuff isn't the right size for steaks and chops! Or a fried egg!

I have often been able to spend less than half my usual monthly housekeeping money in January because there are things that need to be eaten up in the freezer and on the pantry shelves.

I am banking on doing the same this year, as there is a lot in the freezer that needs to be eaten either this month or next, as it has been there for over a year now.

So it is possible to save money this way.

Obviously an emptied freezer needs to be re-filled, but no-one is saying you have to fill it entirely in one go, are they?

Brilliant idea. I am trying to use up stuff in freezer and food cupboard too.

Am I misunderstanding something- are some posters actually implying that any 'savings made in this way are only morally justified if they are then donated to charity?

I’m doing my own version of No Spend January - NO extra-curricular spending!

No clothes shopping, no lunches/dinners out, no new books, no donating to charities, no online shopping, staying out of malls, no events, no extra “snacks/sweets” when grocery shopping, no personal or pet grooming, no new TV streaming’….. no extra-extra anything!
No Fun! 🙁

But when I see how much $money$ I’ve saved by the end of January, I may adopt a whole new regime.😃 (Keeping household humming with proper food, gasoline for car, paying monthly bills, you know… the vitals.)
This is a good thing!
USA Gundy

I once went a whole year without buying any new clothing or shoes. This past year my husband and I ate all of our food in the freezer before buying any meats, vegetables or breakfast foods. It took us about 2 weeks.

Great idea Mel1967. Like to hear how your challenge worked out.

NannyC1

"Mell967"
Actually I was just wondering do you walk past the homeless woman on the street proud that you don't intend spending anything in January? To set out with the mindset of I'm not spending anything this month is a luxury many in this country can ill afford,as they are impoverished and don't have the means to stock up a freezer to see them through the week never mind a month. Maybe I'm wrong and of course the money you've saved will go to Charity in which case well done.

What a weird post in so many ways.

So if we save money on food because we want to have our heating on a bit longer we should actually give it to charity instead???

Because some people can't afford to stock a freezer no one else can?

It's worse to walk past a homeless person if you're trying to save money (presumably because you don't have much to spare) than it is for the people who just don't see them, or do see them but give them nothing?

I will be tightening my belt for January as most people do. But will still be doing my food shopping.

AreWeThereYet

NannyC1

"Mell967"
Actually I was just wondering do you walk past the homeless woman on the street proud that you don't intend spending anything in January? To set out with the mindset of I'm not spending anything this month is a luxury many in this country can ill afford,as they are impoverished and don't have the means to stock up a freezer to see them through the week never mind a month. Maybe I'm wrong and of course the money you've saved will go to Charity in which case well done.

What a weird post in so many ways.

So if we save money on food because we want to have our heating on a bit longer we should actually give it to charity instead???

Because some people can't afford to stock a freezer no one else can?

It's worse to walk past a homeless person if you're trying to save money (presumably because you don't have much to spare) than it is for the people who just don't see them, or do see them but give them nothing?

My thoughts exactly, AreWeThereYet.

To save money

A few on here are being a bit snarky to the OP, surely it is not difficult to work out that she meant no additional/frivolous spending, not going without fresh veg and fruit for a month?

My freezer is now empty except for 6 onion rings, 1 loaf of bread, 2 tubs of butter that I buy when it’s on offer and a few part used packets of herbs.
The fridge has 4 eggs, 2 part cartons of fruit juice, a part carton of butter, lettuce and carrots for our dog, and various sauces or relishes.
The cupboard has coffee, tea, some flour, sugar, soy sauce and spices, some rapeseed oil, 3x tinned tomatoes, 2x rice pudding, 2x tomato soup, 4x baked beans. A part used bag of rice, a bag of pasta, 2 stir fry sauces and our medications.
So I’ve already failed in my no-spend aim.
But it was a great incentive.

Oh come on, Mollygo you could make lots of lovely meals with all that, it just requires a vivid imagination

Rice with soy sauce followed by rice pudding .....

😂😂😂

Mell967, it's a great idea and one that I adopt every so often! I understood your post to mean 'no frivolous spending', rather than spending nothing at all 😊
I shall aim for this in May, as in the months leading up this I have a few days out planned, and I have already bought a new washing machine and countless sale items (for birthday/Christmas gifts) already this month!
Hope you achieve your goal, let us know how it goes!

Callistemon21

Oh come on, Mollygo you could make lots of lovely meals with all that, it just requires a vivid imagination

Rice with soy sauce followed by rice pudding .....

😂😂😂

🤣🤣🤣 I must get my act together!

Trying not to buy on impulse for January, no clothes except socks etc, no books unless 99p and favourite authors not at the library,.....and use up freezer contents.