No Spend January

Not a hope of ‘no spend January’ for me. I really need to buy new shoes, I can’t get away without a haircut any longer, it’s DD’s birthday month and I have an expensive car service coming up too. I’m not, and never have been, a big spender but some things you can’t skirt round.

Being a bit careful for a while doesn’t necessarily mean you haven’t been living within your income, Monica. It doesn’t necessarily = ‘austerity’, either.
We’re still going to the ballet very soon - probably after a nice warming bowl of ‘dustbin’ soup first. 🙂

M0nica

Well, we went to a live screening of an Opera from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York last night. A one-off opportunity, which we immediately took up.

Live sensibly within your income all year round and these fits of austerity in January or any other month will not be necessary.

They may not be necessary but they make us feel virtuous! 😁

Burn wood and pay less utilities, save.

Have you seen the price of seasoned wood? 😮😮

Well, ‘minimum spend’ anyway, so that includes using up everything lurking in the freezer.

My mother used to call it ‘going on frugals’ after any expensive time such as Christmas, so her ‘dustbin soups’ (whatever you’ve got) would appear more often than usual.

I still make quite a few of those in winter (multi veg, pearl barley etc.) - they’re a favourite of dh.

Well, we went to a live screening of an Opera from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York last night. A one-off opportunity, which we immediately took up.

Live sensibly within your income all year round and these fits of austerity in January or any other month will not be necessary.

Week 1 and I’ve already had to pay out to replace a tyre on my car and to get the details of my divorce from the court so that I can claim state pension. Sigh …
(Divorce was 25 years ago and long forgotten 😂) Maybe ‘spend as little as possible February’ could be a thing!

Only the essentials for me this month. Feeling holier than thou already! 🤭😁

I’m doing a ‘do I really need this?’ January.
Needs and not ‘wants’.

I’m having a ‘no unnecessary spending’ January. I will, for example, be buying fresh food as I run low but I won’t be walking through M&S and buying yet another sweater simply because I fancy it. Something I find all too easy to do!

fancythat

It can change attitudes though.

But I suspect that most people who do it, have already changed spending habits several times already.

Of course people can change spending habits, becoming more thrifty. No coffees out, save. No lunch at garden center, save. Less clothing purchased, save. Burn wood and pay less utilities, save.

Galaxy

The OP asked a question people responded. I didn't realise we had to nod in agreement.

Where was that Galaxy?

It can change attitudes though.

But I suspect that most people who do it, have already changed spending habits several times already.

No spend January only works if you either buy ahead in December or delay expenditure to February. It doesn't save money, merely changes when it will be spent.

The first firm I ever worked for paid salaries on the last Friday of the month. Except at Christmas when they paid out a week early. Very handy with the expense of Christmas but it meant that the wait for the January payday was six weeks. It taught me to watch the pennies and meant that January was as near to no spend as possible and the habit has stuck. (I was still always overdrawn.)

So, No Spend January isn't such a bad idea if it makes you use up left over food, look at your finances and think about what you have, but many are already doing it out of necessity.

The OP asked a question people responded. I didn't realise we had to nod in agreement.

We have booked a steam train journey and a two night stay in Edinburgh in the summer.
If we had waited until next month, the trip would be sold out and hotel prices more expensive.

We eat a lot of fruit and veg and frozen fruit doesn't always freeze well.
Fresh bread, milk and veg are a necessity for us.

However, I have decided not to read seductive emails, offering 20% off. That should stop me visiting websites and buying things I actually don't need. 😉

I hope you achieve your goal, Mel.

I have no intention of not spending on my weekly fresh organic veg, fruit, milk and eggs. That alone is costly

I have a lot of wholefoods stashed in my garage, larder and freezer so I will not be buying any more for quite some time. Just as well as my big bills arrive all at once during february/march

I am reining in my endorphic spending on patterns and fabrics, I already have a `lot` of both. The way I am getting around the impulsiveness is by using the wishlists eg today I put a bag pattern in there. If I still want it in a few weeks, then I will get it

Going by another thread you are on, I think you are genuine.

I did sort of half heartedly try it once.
I soon came a cropper with family birthdays.
I have also read of others who give it a go, and are ok unless car troubles.

But it is definitely possible to do it to some degree. It helps with cashflow.

It's good to have goals Mel1967 and good luck with this.

Obviously everyone does not live thd same sort of life style. We always get some on these threads who think their's is the way others must live or want to live - I would ignore them.

I think it should be possible for a month. I freeze extra meals quite often and every now and then have blitz using up what is in the freezer. This seems like an extention of that and January a good time to do it, especially if you are the one who entertained others.

Too late for me, I've just bought a Sydney-London return ticket!!

Well you will achieve a number of things if your challenge is successful

Recoup some cash from the pre-Christmas binge.
Use up old stock and start the new year afresh
Get satisfaction from a challenge well met
And a chance to ignore the lemon suckers 😄

Good luck to you, Mell. I enjoy a challenge myself and think it does me good to step out of my comfort zone.

I won’t be joining you in this one though. DH and I both have birthdays this month, for starters. In any case it’s a bit extreme for my liking.

Mel1967

Shinamae

Haven’t just paid last months Amazon bill. I am definitely cutting down on that. 🤦‍♀️

As long as you haven’t paid your Amazon bill, then that’s ok 😉

It should’ve said having!😁

M0nica

Mell967 It seems to me you either shopped up before 1 Jan or are a wasteful shopper. Do the majority of pet owners hold a month or more of pet food inntheir home, unless stocking up before a period of not shopping for it or have you accidentally ended up with more pet food than nornmal.

It's not wasteful if it is going to be eaten/used.