No Spend January

Not a cats chance in hell of it happening here,Celtic Connections is this month,I've seen me buy tickets for upwards of 15 gigs some years and I enjoyed every single one .I love the atmosphere in Glasgow at this music festival time

A great idea. I admire you. Though I couldn't manage it myself. A friend is going to limit herself to 5 new pieces of clothing this year and two of us have considered joining her. I had already bought two pairs of shoes and two thermal vests and one pair of thermal leggings in the sales. So that is 5 already. But I have sent the shoes back because they didn't fit well and we have agreed underwear shouldn't count. So I am back at five again. Also making or altering clothes doesn't count. I have gone down a dress size and thought I should have a special allowance for that. But maybe I can alter my summer dresses.

I can't imagine why anybody would think this is a bad idea. We'd never manage it because I swear my husband is phobic about running out of food and always keeps everything stocked up. We buy our raw animal once a month as it is cheaper to buy in bulk. We don't drink milk, can make our own bread and have lots of frozen fruit and bread in the freezer. As to passing a homeless woman begging in the street, I would give food rather than money which I would give to a Homeless Charity.

Good for you. I'm not quite so disciplined but I'm avoiding the little impulsive spends that accumulate very easily, eg coffees out, books when I already have so many waiting to be read... I already pruned the standing orders on my bank account. Getting more organised generally.
Best of luck and report back 👍👍👍

Celtic connections for me too paddyann, plus Wicked this week in Edinburgh. Although tickets were bought in December so does that count?
I will be leaving my house to my children ( unless they put me into a home!!), what little money I have in savings will be funding my lavish lifestyle until it runs out

I too love Celtic Connections, just not well enough to go.

My colleagues and I used to go for a pre-theatre meal, Celtic Connections, a few drinks and last train home.

Those were the days!

Sounds like a great plan! How many times a month do I think ‘There's nothing in the freezer’ and then go out and buy more stuff, when actually I do have a lot in the freezer/cupboards that I could rustle up into a nice meal with a bit of imagination? And so often, I throw old/ out of date food away.
Hope it goes well 😊

Interesting idea - worth a try. Certainly means you'd use up food that approaching use-by date and save quite a bit - although watch the re-stocking reflex!

This is very typical of GN’ters to veer off-course of what OP’s topic of interest is. Whether perceived as snarky or not, it makes this platform interesting. We all have our own interpretations and points of view.

I came very close to being homeless once so when I see a homeless woman, man or child it does tear me apart. I sometimes cry.

I was fortunate to climb my way out of my dilemma (it meant divorce) but I regained my self respect and new paths to work and career, and a new home. For which I am grateful every single day. This does not happen for everyone.

So for anyone with a holier-than-thou attitude, unless you walk in those shoes, let’s just stick to the original post.
(We ALL have stories, eh?)

No...this month so far I have purchased a coat, a dress ( Boden sale), a leather bag , new lipstick, gloves and lots of salad stuff, cheese and rye bread!

Brilliant idea I am trying same thing. With green tea when ai run out of milk etc

I have always tried to use up food in the house in January. We always seem to buy too much at Christmas, I would find it impossible not to spend on fresh milk, meat fruit and veg.
I admit I do love a sale bargain as well, I buy quality jumpers and cardigans when they are reduced and put them away for next winter. My DD copies me and will be buying school uniforms and winter clothes for next year in a bigger size in the sales. So in a way, we are saving or that's what I tell myself.
Best of luck to anyone who can manage it.

Bought apacket of picture hooks and the newspapers today.

I will be doing a class tomorrow so I will be paying for car parking, and also my lunch as it is an all day course. On Thursday I will do the week's shopping.

I was in Dobbies today. Lots of Christmas decorations at bargain prices. Swiss roll at the cash desk only 25p. I resisted as I didn't need anything. If you don't need it don't buy it.

I’ve had no spend thrust upon me…..I have such a rotten cold I don’t feel like going anywhere!

I try to use up all my freezer and store cupboard goods but still need to buy fresh - milk bread etc . It definitely helps reduce my spend in January and sometimes I can stretch it to February

You could just buy longlife milk before jan and use frozen veg ,canned fruit too if you really wanted to avoid shopping in jan.

But all you would be doing. Zoe65 is spending in December the money you would have spent in January, so that you do not spend it in January, which annuls the whole process.

I am sorry the whole idea strikes me as pointless.

I’ve reduced my spending greatly this month except to buy the usual essentials. I have had to break out and spend on a new travel bag , I’m off on holiday next month and need this to carry small items on board Jet2 I’m getting ready to party🥂🥂🎉🎉

The point is often cashflow M0nica.

If you havent got it, or not enough, not much choice.

In 2019 I had a ‘neutral spend year’ on personal luxury type items. At the start of the year I sold a few things and made £550 which I then spent during the year . A variation on the ‘one in one out’ system.

I’m just about to do it again this year, slightly retrospectively as I couldn’t resist the ROKA Lucky Dip last week which worked out brilliantly.

fancythat, but that is not what is being discussed here. What is being discussed is someones attempt to have a no spend January. I can understand no drink,go vegan, no clothes and all the other specific things you do or do not do in January 9or any other month).

But to go completely no spend, asI said seems pointless, because it is done by either spending in december in preparation for the month or delaying paying until February expenditure inccurred in January.

But to go completely no spend, asI said seems pointless, because it is done by either spending in december in preparation for the month or delaying paying until February expenditure inccurred in January

Exactly!
I’m spending very little on my weekly food shop at the moment as I’m still using up frozen/tinned food that was bought before Christmas.

The money has already been spent.

It sounds like a spring cleaning of the mind and home . It uses stuff up and clears the way for fresh stuff. It tests your mind and gets people out of a January rut. Plenty of people go on diets this is a personal test . Lots of people in this country are having to live very frugal lives . Choosing to do it will aid food waste and give an idea of how little you need to survive on .