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We are heading towards the end of No Spend January!
My aim was to spend nothing at all on anything except essentials, ie regular bills, petrol and food, and to keep our grocery bill as low as possible by eating food we already had in our cupboard and freezer. So how did I do? Here are my No Spend January results.
No Spend January results
What were the rules?
A no spend challenge can be brilliant for refocusing your mindset about money and spending. Having rules around what you can and cannot buy can help to instil a discipline that can last way into the future. I do a no spend January most years and find it tends to lead into a frugal February. When you don’t buy anything for a while you get out of the spending habit!
I allowed for three spendy occasions, which I budgeted for in advance. My youngest daughter’s birthday was during January and I obviously wanted to buy her some gifts. Luckily I had Amazon vouchers, so the air fryer and recipe book I got her were effectively free! In addition, I got her a couple of nice gift sets that were half price in the Boots sale.
My eldest daughter moved into a flat last week and I promised her a new double mattress as our moving in gift, along with the bed frame I found second hand on Facebook last month. This was purchased via Top Cashback*, which meant that as well as getting a discount in the sale, I got money back on my purchase.
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The final potentially spendy thing was attending our friend’s wedding. It was a lovely occasion in the town hall – what a beautiful venue! We hardly spent anything in the end as there was plenty of free wine and Prosecco, plus water on the tables. We just made a contribution to the newly weds travel fund. Better than a present when you are in your fifties and already combining two households.
So, those were the things I had planned for and were unavoidable. What about the avoidable costs?
Off to the pub
We barely ever go to the pub, but an ex-colleague was moving onto a new job and was having a few drinks. It was an opportunity to see her and catch up with all my old colleagues. I hadn’t seen some of them since I took voluntary redundancy last May, and I just couldn’t resist.
I only had a couple of drinks and a bag of crisps, so it didn’t break the bank. Nevertheless, strictly speaking it was a no spend January FAIL that cost me about £6.50.
Junk food
I barely ever eat junk food. It’s just not my bag. However, my eldest daughter loves a McDonald’s.
Having been humping boxes and furniture up two flights of stairs all morning to move her into her flat, she managed to persuade me that we both ‘needed’ a double cheeseburger and chips. Reluctantly, I gave in – since most of her food was still packed away in boxes.
I regret this one and should have held firm, or foreseen it and taken us both a packed lunch! Two burgers, chips and a side of cheesy things came to about £7.50, my second FAIL. I didn’t think I would see this one in my no spend January results!
Redemption
However, I redeemed myself when I got home. Tempting as it was to eat more convenience food or order a takeaway, I threw together a chicken curry using a Simply Cook* mix with some rice. It only took 10 minutes to make and was delicious.
This wasn’t what was on my meal plan as I had decided on a slow cook chicken jambalaya, but it used most of the same ingredients and we really enjoyed it.
This is when Simply Cook comes in super handy. The kits are more interesting than most of those you can find in the supermarkets and use healthy ingredients (although Asda do sell a few Simply Cook kits as well now). If you are interested in trying a Simply Cook box for £3, containing four recipe kits, you can use my referral code here*.
Eating cheaply
Other than my two fails, I have been planning as many meals as possible around what we already had available and mainly buying fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, yogurt and other perishables. However, as I was over my Iceland the other day, I thought I would take advantage and buy our meat and fish for next month to put in the freezer.
We have spent a total of £132.47. Without the Iceland shop, this was £112, so we have spent around £28 a week for the two of us plus the odd cleaning product, a couple of bottles of wine and a few toiletries. I think this is pretty good.
I am generally happy with my no spend January and looking forward to frugal February. Did you join in? If so, how did you do and what were your no spend January results?
If you need to save money fast, a no spend challenge could be just the thing!
Chrissie says
Well, I started off well then, whoops, bought husband an all singing and dancing chair ( he is knocking on a bit and suffers with his neck and knees ), the chair is made to measure and lifetime guarantee but really expensive. We have to get rid of a chair so I decided I will have a new corner sofa that matches, so those two together £2,500, then washing machine needed a repair, £97.50,then, an “I”m a failure “, take away, £17, dog’s haircut £20. So, February it is !!!!
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
It will soon be a new month and you can have another go. Sometimes life gets in the way!
Julia says
I wasn’t taking part, but all I’ve spent this month is £25 on a night out with some old school friends some of whom I hadn’t seen in 40 years and the monthly pub lunch with my walking group – both of which I could have budgeted for if i had been doing the NSJ, and £20 on a pair of jeans to replace the other pair which ripped, oh and £6.50 on another lunch out which was a treat for me, because I’m worth it!!! 😀
So not too bad really, but also fairly typical anyway.
I will need a new pair of everyday shoes at some point as mine have recently got a staple or nail poking through into my foot, but as hammering it back down once in a while seems to be doing the trick, I’m putting it off, as they’re otherwise so comfy for all the walking I do!!
Su says
I’ve spent £39.93 on food for me and the dog and £18 on bus fares and that’s it.
ratnamurti says
Oh dear, I didn’t do well. On the one hand I spent very little except for food and I am a frugal shopper anyway. But I did buy a carry cot for my new grand daughter who is due soon. And a new, albeit quite cheap, haircut. I resisted all of the sales. Used up a couple of birthday and Christmas vouchers instead as I honestly had so few summer clothes (I’m from New Zealand). Didn’t go to any fairs which are prolific this time of year. Am about to go and spend money on a healing, which I do feel in need of. I usually just do swaps with friends. Joined a gym as it is so cheap! Cut corners elsewhere.
shoestringjane@outlook.com says
That doesn’t sound too bad! Most would consider that a low spend month