No Spend, Two Weeks at a Time

[or JusRollWithIt]

I’ve found that buying second hand through charity shops, in person not online, helps curb my impulse buying. I go in with items in mind that I need. A certain kind of lamp for a specific spot and purpose, for example. If I go in, look around and they don’t have it, oh well. The hunt continues. So many things eventually turn up if I’m willing to wait a while. And it turns out, so many of the things which I think are urgent purchases turn out not to be so urgent as I can go a few weeks or even months without until one turns up. Bonus is that it costs far less than new. It has helped me not buy things so impulsively, and make me think about what I really want and actually need. More intentional, I guess, rather than reactive to what’s being marketed to me. Didn’t happen overnight, it’s a gradual mindset shift but I’m sharing in case it may be the right solution for anyone here. It’s not for everyone because I know some don’t like second hand, or don’t have access locally, etc.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Think I might have a go at this. I've got things I've obviously bought in to make something, but never have.
I've also set up a recipe notebook (£5 from The Works or Card Factory - can't remember which) that is specially designed for writing down your favourite recipes. So in future if I like something I've made it goes in the book for posterity. Then hopefully I won't have jars/packets/tins of stuff I can't remember what I bought them for!

 

[Angrysue_]

I really need to try and do this. I waste so much money every month eating out, ordering sh*te online that I really don't need, takeaways, all the bad stuff! Any hints and tips would be hugely appreciated.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I really need to try and do this. I waste so much money every month eating out, ordering sh*te online that I really don't need, takeaways, all the bad stuff! Any hints and tips would be hugely appreciated.

I find with online ordering is to put it all in the basket and leave it for a couple days. 99% of the time when I return to the basket I’m not interested in the items

 

[T-time]

I find with online ordering is to put it all in the basket and leave it for a couple days. 99% of the time when I return to the basket I’m not interested in the items

This never worked for me. I already know that everything is a want and not a need and kept going back to see if something that I wanted was on sale.

I just treat it as any other addiction. Where an alcoholic can stay sober for years but can't stop drinking after their first sip, not one drop. I just try my best to not associate my phone, computer or boredom with online shopping.

If I do buy something, the best thing I can do is to not look at what I bought, because I will love it anyway, and send it back as soon as possible.

For me online shopping was too easy. Dopamine high from the hunt. Dopamine high from the catch. Even bigger dopamine hit if it is on sale. Dopamine high if it isn't sold out. Dopamine high from putting it in the basket. From there it's two clicks away from actually purchasing it. Then another dopamine high when I "got the goods" at home. Especially when it was cute packaging with an even cuter freebee.

Putting things in a basket and closing the tab isn't working when you have the attentionspan of a racoon on meth. It doesn't work if you're zoned in on this one, really niche special interest. Works that way with gathering info and also translates to gathering stuff. My brain isn't wired for stopping away, taking a break or put something on pause. It's wired for action. And if that wasn't the case all of the " now on sale", "so much items left", "3 people are currently watching this item", "48 people bought this in the past week" will tip me over the edge. Shopping is emotion and my lizzard brain takes over. Can't reason with lizzard brain so lizzard brain can't online shop to kill time anymore.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Think I might have a go at this. I've got things I've obviously bought in to make something, but never have.
I've also set up a recipe notebook (£5 from The Works or Card Factory - can't remember which) that is specially designed for writing down your favourite recipes. So in future if I like something I've made it goes in the book for posterity. Then hopefully I won't have jars/packets/tins of stuff I can't remember what I bought them for!

View attachment 3635049View attachment 3635050

Update:
My fridge freezer decided to go doo lally so I was forced to quickly eat up as much of the stuff in it as I could.
Luckily after reading this article I'd already started.
The remainder has gone into someone else's freezer as the new fridge freezer was being delivered today.
Unfortunately I'm in a heatwave, kitchen like a furnace, grumpy delivery men etc etc and can't switch on the new fridge until it's had time to "settle".
Just realised I haven't got any food as it's elsewhere.
Luckily found a jar of sauce, tin of tuna and also some Christmas cake that had been in the freezer, so I won't starve.
It's really made me think going forward - I'm going to be more disciplined!!!!

ETA: have been given advice that opening and shutting fridge/freezer doors a lot puts a strain on the fridge. As does putting warm things in it.
I've gone for a new fridge freezer that can cope with heat up to 43 degrees.

 

[HotesTilaire]

I’m sure it will go-to tit soon, but I’m actually managing ok for money and spending recently.

 

[Shimmering]

I own so much stuff. I'm making a conscious effort to use what I have instead of buying more. I'm always very tempted online, wanted to buy some kids vitamins being advertised to me on fb. I got all the way to the purchase screen and then closed the page. Went downstairs and i have literally 6 months supply of a multi vitamin for teens that I had forgotten all about. So now I'm making sure that's used.

Same for face masks I saw being recommended on here. I have a box of sheet masks and a tub of seaweed mask that I have never opened. So why would I buy more? Need to use up what I have first.

I have more than enough clothes. Make up. Perfume. Skin care. I really have no excuse for my level of spending.

 

[HotesTilaire]

Mounjaro price jump. Everything is going to tit, thanks Mounjaro.

 

[Shimmering]

I was bored and about to go to the shop for snacks, but instead I opened a recipe book that I bought years ago and barely use, got out my stand mixer that I bought years ago and barely use, and made cupcakes - I had all the ingredients in already (plus about 3 packets of cupcake cases!) While the cupcakes are baking I've cleaned up using some of the mass of cleaning products I own.

I've made 21 cupcakes! Me and my kids will eat them

It's just so strange to me to actually use things I already have maybe that's absolutely pathetic at my age but I'm hoping to start new habits!

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I own so much stuff. I'm making a conscious effort to use what I have instead of buying more. I'm always very tempted online, wanted to buy some kids vitamins being advertised to me on fb. I got all the way to the purchase screen and then closed the page. Went downstairs and i have literally 6 months supply of a multi vitamin for teens that I had forgotten all about. So now I'm making sure that's used.

Same for face masks I saw being recommended on here. I have a box of sheet masks and a tub of seaweed mask that I have never opened. So why would I buy more? Need to use up what I have first.

I have more than enough clothes. Make up. Perfume. Skin care. I really have no excuse for my level of spending.

I’ve been doing this too. I organised all my beauty products into categories and threw away anything I’ve opened and didn’t like.
Still sat with loads of different products so will slowly work my way through them

 

[neverbeeninfluenced]

Dropped off this thread and my spending habits have spiralled again!
in part due to weight loss as I actually needed clothes but I genuinely didn’t need 14 summer dresses for a 2 week holiday or 4 new swimsuits etc….. I hope it was the novelty of being a size 14.
But I saw this tip yesterday in a general way to reduce phone scrolling which hopefully in turn will reduce my online spending due to targeted ads. Basically change the colour of your phone to grey. Scrolling on social media isn’t actually that interesting and I wasn’t tempted to click on the ads. Day 1 so don’t want to be too smug but I need to try something to help as it’s out of control!

 

[T-time]

Dropped off this thread and my spending habits have spiralled again!
in part due to weight loss as I actually needed clothes but I genuinely didn’t need 14 summer dresses for a 2 week holiday or 4 new swimsuits etc….. I hope it was the novelty of being a size 14.
But I saw this tip yesterday in a general way to reduce phone scrolling which hopefully in turn will reduce my online spending due to targeted ads. Basically change the colour of your phone to grey. Scrolling on social media isn’t actually that interesting and I wasn’t tempted to click on the ads. Day 1 so don’t want to be too smug but I need to try something to help as it’s out of control!

If you want you can also not give your permission to anything and use a browser like Brave. With the function that auto deletes cookies after you close a screen. No ads and if an add comes trough, it's not targeted.

I'm not interested in cars. That is what the algorithm shows me. Now it's waiting untill the commercial is over and I'm not even thinking about the ad anymore.

 

[bcfc999]

I was really motivated at the start of the year to have loads of no spend days. Just updated my tracker: we're on day 252 now, I've missed recording about 50 days and cba slogging back through my online banking to try and work out what I spent when, so of the 200ish I've recorded, 50 have been no spends. Not sure whether that's good or bad really. I definitely think at the start of the year it just led me to save up my essential purchases for one day of the week rather than buying them as and when, which maaaaybe made me think more about them and I suppose if any weren't truly essential, it gave me time to think about whether I really needed them.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I was really motivated at the start of the year to have loads of no spend days. Just updated my tracker: we're on day 252 now, I've missed recording about 50 days and cba slogging back through my online banking to try and work out what I spent when, so of the 200ish I've recorded, 50 have been no spends. Not sure whether that's good or bad really. I definitely think at the start of the year it just led me to save up my essential purchases for one day of the week rather than buying them as and when, which maaaaybe made me think more about them and I suppose if any weren't truly essential, it gave me time to think about whether I really needed them.

I think that’s pretty amazing. I don’t have any no spend days but that is because my daily coffee is my treat/motivation to myself.

 

[Duchessofmanchester]

Anyone fancy joining me for a No/low spend January?

 

[Strawberries and cream]

Anyone fancy joining me for a No/low spend January?

Definitely!!

I'm getting married in February and we’ve had a very spendy December.

I have already made a start by getting all the random little shower gels we’ve accumulated over time and putting them out instead of our usual bottle. I don’t only want to not spend anything I want to clear the cupboards of all their nonsense

 

[Darvos]

Great idea, I’m up for this. I have cupboards of everything except fresh stuff.

There’s one birthday to buy for I can think of, but I’m doubling up by including their spouse’s early birthday in an event they’ll enjoy. I might have a night out catch-up in the last week of Jan, with friends back from Oz. Oh, and the HMRC self assessment payments also near the end of Jan, but having had a rubbish couple of years has at least limited these. Silver linings

As ever, the important bit feels like keeping a focus on avoiding non essential spends. Looking forward to it.

 

[charlied0106]

Anyone fancy joining me for a No/low spend January?

I'm in

My circumstances have changed quite considerably over the last few months - some positive but some negative - so I really need to start getting savings behind me.

I have 2 birthdays in January, one of which I have already bought for so just leaves 1 to buy. I have a lot of tinned and cupboard foods etc, and my freezer is pretty well stocked, so for January I’m going to aim to only buy fresh vegetables, fruit, bread and milk, but even then I will try and do without as long as I can and work around what I have. The only slight issue is I am on a healthy eating/weight loss journey and so far have lost almost 4 stone, so I need to be mindful to still eat pretty decently.

My biggest thing I have to stop, though, is constantly buying toys for my cat - let's be honest, he doesn't even look twice at them

 

[Jellycat369]

Anyone fancy joining me for a No/low spend January?

I'm in. Our house is listed for sale on the 5th and we've reserved a new house. Not to not spend as much as possible!