January 30, 2024
Are we nearly there yet?!
<said in a whining annoying voice>
Oh My Goodness. January seems to have lasted about eleventy thousand million days and it’s NOT EVEN OVER YET. Wowzers.
But to encourage the time to go faster, I’m giving you my month end update. Living life on the edge I really am. Strap in kiddiwinks, it’s about to get exciting. (It’s not. Sorry)
Pantry challenge shopping or not shopping went alright but we were not very well prepared this year and had a distinct lack of cheese to survive on. So yes, we had two occasions where we went shopping for the allowed cat food and milk and ended up with a few more things. It was a max of £25 though which I’m not angry about. A household our size (without the furry hooligans) spends on average £45/week so just £25 in a month was a bit fab. Obviously Olio helped massively with that and our indifference to cooking too. I dislike cooking and I find it such a chore, honestly, I’d rather iron than cook.
I sewed things and read things and wrote birthday cards and letters and tried to keep busy. No gardening as it’s too muddy. Lots of chicken refereeing too. Sigh. But we have eggs again finally which is very lovely.
My needle count for the month is at four. My migraine count for the month is at more than four.
My personal no spend went ….. okay. Of course, we have things that we cannot totally quit on and so I did spend £61 on (ahem) personal care. You don’t need details on that. And exante – my meal replacement company of choice – has decided to close down and move into protein stuff – so I spent £39 on shakes which is essentially food so maybe not so bad? I spent £20 on birthday gifts for an 18th which is entirely allowed I’m sure we would all agree. I had to spend £5 on some ‘undertray shield car clips’ which are bright orange and needed for the repair work that will happen next month. I still have to buy three more bags of clips for the panels or something, it’s just words about the Smart that he’s telling me.
I spent £8.50 on crafting materials and I KNOW. I know. This was most definitely a banned item but I can justify this I promise. I was going to make a *thing* out of some *items* for Christmas last year for someone. When I came to make it, I found Diesel had taken umbrage at the *items* and had wee’d on them. As only Diesel does. But in a big fat sale in a shop that I had ONLY gone into to shelter from the rain, I found a starter kit for this *thing* at half price. So I can now make it, and it will not smell of cat urine. And I think they’d appreciate that more than a stinky version.
And then I failed last weekend quite spectacularly. I fell into an ebay black hole and just … lapsed.
When I was at uni all those decades ago, I started collecting Pocket Dragons. And looking at them now, I can understand how I’ve become a bat lady. These little green figures were a treat for exam results or a gift from himself for events. When I had hospital stays or life events, there was a dragon. I found a photo of my dragons from my first uni house and to see the collection now some 25 ish years on is … impressive … We even had these dragons on our wedding cakes.
But the actions of the weekend and the way my brain behaved made me realise something quite scary. I am obsessive about my hobbies. I want ALL the dragons I’ve found I’m missing and I want them RIGHT NOW. When I was introduced to the gorgeousness that is Black Toast crockery by Emma Bridgewater I went mad for a few months buying Every Single Piece I didn’t have. Popsy dresses were a similar project and the El Camino steps too.
My rule for myself this year is that I can only purchase EB, Popsy frocks, Amazon items and El Camino bits with vouchers I have or earnt or get given. It’s working quite well so far, there is nothing I’m desperate for as yet. Although this holiday will trigger a required El Camino step that could, okay, probably wait until birthday. But ebay is a huge problem. I spent £53 on dragons; four dragons only. However. In my watch list thing on ebay I have 87 listings saved under ‘decorative collectables’ which will be mostly dragons and a couple of York Ghosts.
I would happily, without second thought, without remorse or thinking or conscience buy them all. Just. Like. That. I want to set a limit of one a week or two a month but I wouldn’t stick with it. I could make a wishlist but I don’t want to wait until August and December and no-one but me believes in the importance of half birthdays that fall outside of bat season!
I miss that dopamine rush. I miss happy post. Our postie thinks I died because of the lack of mail landing for me. I don’t want to go shopping in an actual shop, I don’t want to interact with real humans (other than our lovely postie) but I do, very much, want happy post and boxes of green joy.
I am very aware that spending less than £200 on ‘stuff’ is probably blinking marvellous in the grand scheme of things, but when half of that could have been avoided if I’d been stronger is a tough pill to swallow. But ooooh shiny, ooooh happiness, oooooh need/want/desire.
February is a reset. February is the month I recover from a two thousand plus pound tax bill, it’s when I spend three thousand pounds on getting my car less colander like and more solid. February is the month I have a half birthday, I go on my summer holiday (in advance of bat season summer) and get some sunshine and vitamin D and celebrate the foolishness that was leap years day. It may be short but it’s the month where my outgoings are more than seven times my income!
I. Must. Try. Harder.
January 8, 2024
A whole week in.
After the drama that was NYEve, I really needed January to be smooth and gentle with me. I forgot though that January has eleventy billion days in it.
I have survived one week of 2024 without any personal shopping. Yey me. I did have to buy batteries for the office though and that was tough because the website had so many lovely things to look at and it <winge> wasn’t fair and ebay keep sending me offers of 15% off and Emma Bridgewater have a 70% off selected items and I absolutely NEED to buy things I didn’t get for Yule.
However. I have resisted.
I don’t feel happy or smug though. I’m just miserable that the reason I’m having to do this is not for personal challenge or a big fat reward but for the scary car fixing issue. Hey ho. Maybe I’ll find a biscuit tin in a cupboard stuffed full of notes that I’ve forgotten about – even though I would absolutely not be rummaging cupboards looking for biscuits. No.
There was a question from my previous post about burning stuff, so I need to elaborate on that and just clarify that I am not a dodgy pyromaniac. We have three open fireplaces in the house, one is used almost every day, one used occasionally and the third is just used by stupid pigeons when they fall down.
Every bin point in the house has two bags one brown paper and one bread bag usually b’cs why pay for bin bags?! Everything that cannot be eaten, reheated as left overs, composted, fed to the chickens, recycled via the council or reused as quiz night scrap paper somehow will fall into those two categories – burnable or not. Not burnable is usually food packaging or vomit filled tissues b’cs we have learnt that cat vomit stinks when burnt. Everything else – thin cardboard, tissues, wipes, ice cream sticks, receipts, old shopping lists, post appointment wax strips, quiz night notes etc etc goes into the brown bag and is forming what we call ‘burnable bags’ and these are laid in the bottom of the open fire grate as starters. Through the summer we build up a stash alongside the wood and in the winter we get through them. Simples. It means we put out very little in terms of black rubbish to landfill. On bin night we would put out maybe half a bag and this is usually 3/4 cat litter and 1/4 plastic food wrapping.
The food wrapping comes from Olio, we have no control over that unfortunately. But avoiding food waste is a huge positive in our eyes. Last week we scored an absolute major Olio haul – a WHOLE DUCK from Tesco, formerly £37 and not purchased even when reduced to £16. It lasted us three nights combined with Olio egg noodles and veggies. Three nights of free food and blinking delicious it was too. Oh my days, it’s a high bar to ever match in the future.
Last night we had out of date Angel Delight made with Olio unclaimed milk. Not quite as amazing as a whole duck but pretty good in the grand scheme of food satisfaction. And so far this year, the pantry challenge has required us to only buy milk and cat food – the authorised things.
How is your experience with Olio going? Have you signed up yet? Found you need to never buy bread again but do need a second freezer for all this veg and fruit that pops up? Do share peeps.
January 3, 2024
Be careful what you wish for
Goodness me I should keep my words to myself.
‘No spend challenges are easier with a target’
What an absolute plonker. Really, I should be tarred and feathered and dragged through the streets behind a horse. Ugh.
I finished temping on the Friday and I like to reward myself for not stabbing anyone so I had a little ebay splurge on the Saturday – things I absolutely need to improve my life – slipper boots, a jewellery tree, a stand thingy for my EB hoard, some felt leaves for an idea and maybe a little piece of sparklyness too. You know, essentials.
Sunday was apparently NYEve, lets face it, none of us have any idea what day it is, other than an eternal cycle of tuesdays and wednesdays for the next seventy thousand days. Anyway, I was frantically cleaning aka hiding stuff in the dining room because his little sister was coming round for a cheese and pineapple feast and the boy wonder came into the kitchen and just blurted out ‘Your car is absolutely fc***d, I cannot fix it’
Now what am I supposed to say to that? I don’t think I used words, just a series of noises and strangled moans. Turns out, he’d been treating some rust on a door and then took the colourful panel off and found the door panel was more like a colander than a door panel. He then foolishly took more panels off and took photographs.
So. I have an MOT in mid-March. He says, if they can’t see the rust, they can’t fail it. But my car is now 22 years old and it’s struggling on the emissions targets. I need to save 10k for a new car it seems because of course, I used ALL MY SAVINGS ON A NEW HOUSE. Except new cars aren’t just 10k anymore and if I’m investing in a new car, is this when I go EV? And as technology is changing so quickly, should I lease not buy?
Sunday was a huge shocker. Huge.
I did not shop on Sunday. Or Monday. Or Tuesday. Or so far today. I need to stick with this big time. Your support is very much appreciated peeps in the internet. Scary start to the year indeed.
December 30, 2023
Consumer Minimalist but Eco Maximalist
I spoke about the video I’d watched about the 50 things to not buy in 2024. So I re-watched it and noted down the items they mentioned and have added my thoughts. I’d be curious to know what you would add or remove or adapt – I need inspiration and encouragement!
Essentially, the message to take home was don’t buy stuff. This creates less clutter, less environmental impacts and is better for mental health and physical health too. They call it Eco-minimalism, or environmentalism for your local outside areas.
Also, if you’re reviewing your shopping habits, rather than just saying ‘I don’t want to buy anything’ try and use this no shopping goals to aim for a financial goal. Eg I want to save x thousand of pounds for a holiday. Apparently a target is more achievable than an abstinence challenge.
So the things that are not being bought in 2024 are:-
Oil aerosol cans (uses a metal refillable one) – I’ve never heard of these
Kitchen foil (uses silicone baking sheets) – I’m curious, although I don’t treat foil as a single use object. How would silicone sheets work under bacon under the grill?
Cling film (uses lidded tubs or beeswax) – fair enough but sometimes, cling is useful!
Single use water bottles (own bottle or soda stream) – duh.
Coffee pods – I don’t drink coffee but we have a machine at home and work for coffee drinkers. I’ve recently found out about ‘PodsBack’ so I feel less wasteful about offering people their preferred drink now I know the pods are recycled.
Pre cut veggies – I wouldn’t buy these personally but some people can’t cut stuff up and I know if my hands are particularly bad, this would be good for me. But, if you are able to chop, please do.
Paper towels (uses washable cloths) – I really like this idea. But. We have a cat who wee’s on surfaces and another cat who vomm’s frequently. I do not want those two …. spills … in the wash with my clothes!
Napkins – they offer these washable cloths as alternatives. I don’t have posh linen napkins but we would use kitchen paper for messy fingers at mealtime. However, we burn them on the fire. And I have a washable bib (or 2)
Ziploc bags (uses silicone bags, can be dishwashed) – we reuse our ziplocs anyway. Who wouldn’t wash and use again?
Plastic sponges (uses wooden and sisal brushes) – we burn ours. I assume they means sponge pads/scourers?
Pecans – they have a tree. I’m the same with raspberries, rhubarb and damsons
Alcohol – they have chosen to go sober. As someone who is medically sober I do see how much money I am saving by not buying booze. I buy it for raffles and gifts though.
Paper cupcake liners – I do have silicone ones which are great if I’m baking for us but if I’m baking for a party or take and share how do I get my liners back? I do think I’m still using the paper cases I bought 20-odd years ago though as I hardly ever bake for others!
Period products (reusable underwear or cups) as someone who used to have incredibly heavy periods I wish these things were cheaper as it would cost me a fortune. I agree that we shouldn’t be product taxed for being female so if you are able to see if something different works for you then go for it.
Under eye patches – I have no idea what these are.
Face sheet masks – I have some, I use them as moisturising sheets on holiday and then when they are dry, we burn them.
Razors – it’s a choice how you treat your body hair. I have no opinion on how you treat your body.
Dental floss (water flosser) – I have a packet, it’s probably a decade old. And as the empty box and packaging can be terracycled, I have no guilt over possessing this.
Shaving cream/foam – I used to use soap or shower gel, again, if you need something special for your skin, you do you.
Cotton balls and pads – I have washable pads, they’re great.
Paper tissues – again endorsing washable cloths but I’m not sure I’d want to blow my nose on a cloth I’ve also used to clean the bathroom with.
Make up wipes – I wasn’t aware anyone used these any longer! I have some from a gazillion years ago as I hardly ever wear make up but again, they’re burnt.
Nail polish / manicure appointments – I love having my nails done, it’s a treat. I don’t buy polish or kit, I have an appointment and I feel it’s important to have things like this. Others drink or have nights out, I get my nails done now and again.
Plastic toothbrushes (bamboo) – We have plastic toothbrushes, we terracycle them once we’ve used them for our teeth then for cleaning. We get proper use out of them!
Plastic loofah – I don’t know what this is. I’m sure we all have different things for scrubbing ourselves
Cardboard nail files (has glass/metal one) – I have a collection of cardboard ones that have come with sets and things. They’ve lasted a while and I will burn them once they are no longer fit for purpose.
Fillers and Botox – they are expensive, they don’t last and if you’re having them to look good on social media then I’m confused as to your motivation. As someone who has botox for medical reasons, I will object to giving this up. But I pay through my taxes, not to a private company.
Lint rollers – I use nothing, I wear my cat fluff with pride.
Bic biros (has refillable pen) – I’m intrigued as to what a refillable pen is. Are we talking parker ink cartridges like the stuff of school nightmares? I tend to steal my pens so no money involved.
Lighters or matches (has rechargable lighter) – I need to investigate this a bit further. We do have a refillable lighter that he shoves on a yellow canister thing to fill up but they talk about a lighter they plug in, hinted at usb powered. But again, we don’t buy new, but we do buy whatever that yellow canister is!
Plastic Tupperware (glass and silicone bags) – I have nice plastic tupperware, I use it every day. Glass would be too heavy for me. Buy what you can afford and keep using as long as it lasts.
Plastic/paper cups or plates – who does this any longer? So many compostable options out there. If we go to a take your own event, I just use our camping stuff.
Disposable dusters ‘swiffer pads’ – no idea what a swiffer pad is. I don’t dust often anyway.
Cleaning products (just uses vinegar, soap, bicarb and lemon) – I don’t buy often, I don’t buy much but I do have to use bleach based products because of my immune system.
Fabric softener – I don’t buy this
Dryer sheets – Don’t have a tumble dryer
Scent boosters – nope, don’t buy these
Air fresheners – bleugh.
Febreeze – we have one can, we’ve owned it for possibly five plus years. Sometimes, the cats are nuclear and we need to hide it.
Holiday decorations (clutter, storing for a month use, homemade or natural) – the issue here is how long do your decorations last and do you get joy? Their argument was if you store somethings for 11 months for just 1 month of joy, is it worth it? I feel this is more an american thing as we don’t really decorate for anything more than Christmas over here. Yes, I have pumpkins and bats which could be argued are Halloween but they are up ALL YEAR ROUND for bats are my permanent celebratory things.
Planners, diaries, calendars in paper (digital alternatives) – nope. I love my filofax organiser. I’ve tried digital, it’s just not me. But yes, you’ve guessed it, I burn it once it’s used and finished with.
Fake plants (buy real!!! They clean the air, not adding petrochemicals) – I have one fake succulent, it’s in a ghost. Enough said. I also have proper plants that I beg to stay alive every single day.
Tiktok shop – No clue what this is but it led into a rant about hair tools and how expensive things are for volume/straightening/curling/fluffing – it was all words I did not understand.
Hair tools – I have the hairdryer I was given for my 14th birthday still. Enough said.
TV subscriptions – we have sky. We do not have amazon or disney or netflix if your household needs these then up to you.
Books (library) – I adore my local library and I use the BorrowBox facility too which is audio and digital books via the local library. I’m part of a reading group online and we do book swaps and giftings so yes, I occasionally buy books but the happiness of gifting and swapping is worth it.
Impulse thrift buys (will I make proper use of it? Will I wear it) – I love a good thrift shop / charity shop rummage BUT this involves getting dressed, leaving the house and interacting with PEOPLE so oh to the heck no.
Trendy décor from big shops (fast advertising/social trends) – we all know that ‘keeping up with the Jones’ or Kardashians’ is not a thing I do. I may see something on a social media feed and think ‘oh, I like that’ but then I move on. I do not rush out to buy anything.
New tech or phones. (Not necessary for every single year) – will use stuff until it is certified dead by an expert. My phone is over two years old, it was only purchased because my last one died. If something plays up, I ask hubby to fix it. If he can’t fix it we find a local person. Our oven died at 19 years old, the engineer tried for 5 hours to bring it back to life, I was furious that I had to buy a new one.
Electric vehicle (can public transport be better? Electric bike instead. Not supporting Elon Musk) – my car is quite efficient. I am not mobile enough to walk or cycle however much I’d like to. We have looked into getting my Smart converted to electric but it won’t be this year.
Fast fashion – I am not a fashion person, let alone fast. But I dislike shopping full stop and shopping for clothes is a thing of medieval evil-ness with poison-tipped spikes.
Art (Want to support local artists but v.expensive. Investment pieces) – I’m not bothered about stuff. It would only need dusting and the cats would kick it off.
December 29, 2023
January blah blah challenges
Do you remember two years ago I did a thing called ‘pantry challenge’ where we didn’t go shopping for a month? If I can work out how, I’ll link to the blog where I described it previously. It probably won’t hyperlink as that is far too technical for me.
https://wordpress.com/post/viewfromthisdesk.wordpress.com/1139
I’ve kinda kept to the principles of no shopping rules since then, we would do a ‘big shop’ maybe once every other month and between that would be cat food, milk and mushrooms really. What has totally changed my view on shopping and food storing/preservation is Olio. Preventing food going into a skip and trying to make the most of what isn’t claimed has absolutely revolutionised our shopping. As in, we don’t. Fruit and veg and bread products are the main Olio products but occasionally there will be meat or cheese or dairy products. A very sad challenge I enjoy hitting is a totally free meal – Olio or homegrown or home laid (when the chickens play ball) or leftovers. I dislike cooking immensely so a teeny bonus is if it’s free.
So, tomorrow I’ll do a pantry audit and get organised over meals. With Olio though, I know I can’t plan seven nights out of seven as sometimes Olio throws something mad into the mix. And sometimes a meal can be just a bowl of soup or a board covered in cheese.
I appreciate that not everyone is okay with yellow stickered food. That not everyone is happy with going beyond dates printed on things. So Olio isn’t something that all people will be willing to join in with. But with the price of food as it is and the wealth of information out there too, preserving and storing has never been easier. Plus, it’s been super useful when the garden has a glut of something.
Food is something I’ve gotten pretty well in control of these last few years. Shopping has been less easy as I’m very much an emotional shopper. I won’t leave the house to go to actual shops but I am a sucker for ebay/Amazon/etsy/temu at 3am when I’m sore or sad or lonely. This is something I need to address in the new year. The easy shopping experience and joy of a parcel is that triggers those neurotransmitters, like dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins, these all play a role in motivation, reward, and gives pleasure boosts when I’m feeling low. Except it’s short lived isn’t it? I really need January to be a no shopping challenge month on more than just food. I almost need an accountability buddy, someone I check in with on a daily basis, who is willing to do this with me. But I don’t know anyone who is as crazy as me to do these sorts of things!
In one of my insomnia fuelled 3am moments I was on YouTube for challenge videos for January 2024. I wanted something more than the pantry challenge and I found a vlogger (is that the right terminology?) that was talking about 50 things they aren’t buying in the new year. So less of a single month challenge and more of an attempt at a life change I suppose. Turns out, they post this video each year and just add a few bits to it which was a disappointment when I started watching previous years.
The first thing they announced they weren’t buying was water bottles. I mean who buys single use water anymore anyway? I was under the impression that no-one bought these, we all have reusable bottles or jugs or whatever receptacle you prefer. I certainly have a stash of various sizes – and travel mugs!
If I can urge you to do one new thing this year then let it be a dabble with Olio. Food waste prevention through food sharing generates new food adventures, right?!
December 27, 2023
December details
I was trying to think of think of something that involved the word ‘cheerful’ as i do feel quite positive today. Yes, I’m temping. Yes, it’s tipping it down with rain right now and yes I’ve no idea what day of the week it is but things are nice.
I started this blog eleven years and a month ago, it was just after I had my ME/CFS diagnosis from the consultant in Kidderminster and I was being referred to various places for help. I couldn’t keep up with all the questions or people and I was super struggling with the new symptoms and talking and writing so I made this. All the information about me in one place for anyone who was interested in knowing.
And then I started weight watchers and brought you into the joy that is group humiliation on a Monday lunchtime together.
So I’m pleased to say that I’m currently the lightest weight I’ve ever been, I’m lighter than finishing WW and yet it’s still not enough for the medicals. I managed a pair of size 12P jeans for a whole week and they weren’t even uncomfortable. It was a bit of a shock, didn’t even know I had a pair of size 12’s in my possession, it must have been an ebay error.
The botox has been lovely, the CP jabs are booked and I’ve had a letter from the maxfax man about my jaw thing. There were words about joint displacement and stage III sommat. I’m just waiting for a date now. He sent me three letters all the same but I don’t know if that’s because the other cc’d peeps don’t have a copy or what. Maybe my neuro professor and GP don’t know?
It’s been a bonkers year, as ever. We also bought a(nother) house which was not on the plan. It was an opportunity and we had to take it and so once again, Christmas was cancelled and holiday plans were shelved. It was insanely stressful, I am never, ever, ever buying another property. In the famous words of Sir Steve Redgrave, you have permission to shoot me. I want some sunshine in my holidays, I want proper breaks in my working life. I do not want legals and emails about ID and money laundering ever again.
I’m finishing this year not managing, not financially stable and not in the best shape physically but I’m okay with that. It’s curious how ‘fine’ I am about it. I will be making plans and everything over the next few days – no spend challenges, pantry challenges, things for avoiding, things for trying, it will pop up in my crazy little over-active brain soon enough. Especially whilst I’m here …. I’m not exactly ….. busy …..
February 2, 2022
Pantry Challenge – what did I learn?
I didn’t know what else to title this post, what did I learn? Seems quite pretentious and hints that the pantry challenge is over – which you all know, it is not!
I can meal plan still for most of this month. I have not been able to switch off the third freezer yet. My pantry challenge is far from finished. This week though will be an actual shopping trip without rules. I’d like rules, hubby is fighting back. He wants crisps for starters and he finished our baked beans last night which were earmarked for next week’s corned beef hash night. I’d also like some salad and mushrooms again. I think we could go and be strict, or try and not be sucked into deals and offers on stuff we like the look of but don’t necessarily need. If I thought we could do the whole ‘take a £20 note and that is it’ I’d be happy to do that, but I can’t see him indoors agreeing to this.
We both agree we like this extreme level of meal planning. Last night I had a nap after work that lasted two and a half hours. Hubby cooked (I know, shocker!) because he knew what was on the plan. Baked beans weren’t part of the plan but hey ho. Meal planning means we don’t resort to rubbish, we make more effort with vegetables, leftovers are fun. We are using our food more sensibly and making food last longer too. We were never wasteful with food, more greedy, something *could* last two nights with a bit of extra veg or thought but we just ate it all because we couldn’t be bothered to try harder.
What I have noticed is our lack of rubbish. I used to be sad if we put out less than three bags of recycling in a fortnight. Our black bags would only ever be half a bag and that was always just cat and chicken pooh. Since doing this pantry challenge, we didn’t even make one whole bag of recycling for either the January collections. We aren’t shopping so we aren’t collecting more food packaging. We are using up the freezer stuff which means my tupperware collection is taking over the house but there isn’t any garbage. I thought more recycling than the neighbours was a good thing; now I’m not so sure.
The daily jobs is also going really well. I’m keeping on top of chores without hurting myself or exhausting myself too badly. Tonight our job is to dye my hair and I’m so very excited. I don’t feel me unless I’m purple anymore. My confidence comes with being different and purple is my happy place.
No shopping isn’t going quite so well. I’ve done three transactions since Monday. Two for second hand Emma Bridgewater pieces and one for a KBJ duck from SOT Ducks About Town. I still haven’t reviewed my Jan/Feb wishlist and I don’t really have any desire to either. I also need to buy some gifts for Chinese New Year celebrations and I have happy post to send too.
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to DMc, KH, LW and DHB for my happy post in January. It was a very lovely surprise and made those tough days slightly better. I am lucky to have you all.
December 31, 2021
My 2022 Challenge(s)
I’m not calling them resolutions, it’s not a personal thing this year, it’s a series of tests I suppose designed to change my habits and outlooks on things.
The first one, the biggest is called the Pantry Challenge. It’s American but I’m adopting it; it’s a no spend, no waste challenge as we / you / us have usually spent December stocking up on food and drinks and whatnot and let’s face it, we don’t ever use it all – especially these last few years – and things get shoved in cupboards or pantries and then chucked away. Or you get given boxes of biscuits and sweets or bottles of chilli sauce stuff and you just try and pretend they’re not really in the house.
So. For January, the main rule is that you cannot go shopping unless you have an exemption list. For us, this will be milk. I cannot go without tea for a month, no way, no how. And you lot don’t want me without tea either!!! Milk and maybe lettuce for days when I need a reset salad. The second rule is no takeaways. The third rule is no meals out unless you have a gift voucher which is a very US thing. I might make another exemption yellow stickered items as I hate food waste but it’s possibly the yellow stickers that has gotten us into this mess! Doorstepped meals or someone else’s leftovers are totally fine as there is no money involved and you are preventing food waste. However, be honest, when does this ever actually happen since we’ve not been allowed to gather in groups for parties?!!?
You take this week of unknown days and inventory your kitchen. I have three freezers, a pantry, an overflow pantry, a fridge and cupboards…….. You an imagine how fun this task is. I’ve done everything except the cupboards so far. We have lots of fruit and veg out the garden in the freezers; we have meals and sauces and soups and rice and noodles and tea bags and what have you. There is no need for us to have to leave the house to a supermarket. It’s just easier though, isn’t it, to grab stuff rather than be organised?
No food shopping. Plan ahead, cook from scratch, use what is already in. Don’t take the easy option of a take away or going out. Be strict and use everything you have and don’t moan about it. If you aren’t going to use it in this month then give it to a food bank and for goodness sake, don’t ever buy it again!
I really want to do this. Not simply because we have an excess of garden produce but I’ve been really quite shocked by how much food prices have risen recently. And with the cost of Christmas lurking and rising energy bills etc, I really need to do something towards the household finances that isn’t just chuck more money in the account. The biggest issue with this challenge is that hubby and I absolutely HATE cooking. Gas Mark 6 for half an hour is our perfect meal prep.
The second challenge is the same as last January which is the no spend month. I need to be stricter with this and be more accountable. I’m going to make a thing (a sub-list) on my wishlist and when I want to buy something (usually craft related or a book or new socks) I HAVE to add this item to my wishlist and review it in February or even March. I’m not allowed to do the whole ‘oh, well, one won’t hurt’ and I possibly need to blog weekly to admit the truth and actually be accountable to my actions. Exemption to this no-spend rule is birthday gifts but i’d like to try and craft for birthdays if I can be inspired enough.
It’s designed to remind me that I have lots and lots of stuff already; plenty of books to read, clothes to wear and craft goodies to use up. Basically, I just need to sort my boxes and collections out …… In my third challenge I guess.
The third challenge is called the series of ones. So once a month (or week if you are totally mad) for one hour (yes, set a timer) you have to pick one place eg a drawer, a box, a wardrobe, a room etc and you fill one bag with rubbish, you fill one box with donatables and you find one outfit to get rid of. In most of my boxes it will be one small bag of keeping, one big box of donating and then a lot of dust and glitter to throw away!
Do any of these leap at you? Are you inspired to join me? Am I totally bonkers?
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