September is here with its shiny new satchel of optimism so what better day to start something new: A Year of Less Spending. From today September 1st 2015 until 31st August 2016, I hope to track all my spending and spend far less money than I have in the last twelve months. It's not a total shopping ban as I don't want us to completely go without nice treats. I don't believe living with less means having to go without your favourite things, it just means having them a little less often.
Over the last few years we've got much better at managing on a smaller income whilst still enjoying a comfortable but simple life. We've learnt to live with what we've got and make things last (my husband has only ever owned one mobile phone and it's still going strong). We're fortunate to have no debt other than a small mortgage, no credit cards and modest savings/pension provision.
However, despite improvements in my shopping habits such as keeping my grocery shopping more consistent, I still overspend especially when life gets busy and I'm tired.
Then convenience becomes more attractive than saving money. And despite having minimised my wardrobe to forty pieces last year I've added more pieces to it than I'd planned. Convenience shopping and clothing are still my weaknesses. When I add up my incidental spending over the last twelve months it shocks me how much money I'm still wasting.
Spending less money on my hair over the last year has shown me that I can stick to a challenge. Not dyeing my hair, using less shampoo and cutting my own hair with only occasional salon visits has saved me a fortune (probably more than half of what I previously spent). Now I need to apply this mindset to spending less money in other areas. How many times during the next twelve months will I be tempted to buy wants such as flowers, magazines and charity shop finds? How many times can I resist the lure of my nearby lux eight letter supermarket for the four letter supermarket that requires driving through town but whose receipts ring joy? This is what I'll track and share with you during the next year.
Having less income requires careful management, especially when it fluctuates like my earnings do (I work supply hours as well as my permanent hours). From today I shall be back to keeping a spending diary and trying to spend less. There'll be more time spent planning frugal meals and cooking from scratch. I'll try paying with cash and staying away from shops/advertising/online browsing (where we all know the temptation starts) as much as I can.
My aim is that by keeping a spending diary and by reducing costs we'll be able to save for more fun experiences and some sort of summer holiday next year. I'll be able to make a few considered purchases to update my small wardrobe and start saving for bigger future expenses such as a living room revamp and travel plans for my 50th birthday/our 25th wedding anniversary.
Above all I hope to reduce my wants, adequately provide for our needs and build savings to help realise our long term dreams.
One thing we've certainly found is that a higher income doesn't make us happier. As I've written many times we value time together over earning a high salary because of the hidden costs to our health and family life that we experienced when I worked full-time in a management role in teaching. Living with less has made us appreciate all that we have and they're not just material things.
It also makes me more aware of how easy it is to waste money and how uncomfortable excess consumerism makes me feel.
A Year of Less Spending is a balanced approach to minimalism and materialism. At the end of twelve months I hope to be more accountable for my spending, to have had some great experiences and to have acquired more savings than impulse buys.
This sounds brilliant and I'll be following your progress with interest.
ReplyDeleteIt strange this September, it really feels like a new year and a time for new beginnings even though the real New Year is still four months away. So it's very appropriate that you should start your challenge now.
I hope it works out well for you.
With you all the way on this! I too waste money on wants - a charity shop purchase here, a sale item there!! After a good wardrobe clear out with eBay sales and donations I'm afraid it's now bursting with clothes again! So unnecessary. Food is much along the same lines too. We are determined to be more mindful of our spending. I love September. Think it comes from our 3 children starting the new school year in the past, new beginnings, etc. Autumn is also my favourite season. I always seem to take stock of things at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing about your progress, and also about which items you feel are worth spending on.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sue, September is definitely the best time for new beginnings - I think I'll join you - like you, business has lead to less wise shopping choices, particularly with grocery shopping. I look forward to following your progress.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. I am also a lover of Autumn and new beginnings in September, so I am going to join you in your challenge. It's a pity I didn't read it before I had an expensive coffee and treated my at home from uni children to lunch in a beach side hotel here in Poole. To be fair, it's one of the few days this summer that we could have eaten outside on the terrace, but I'd better dig out the receipt and log it in my notebook. Start as I mean to go on! Penny Lxxxx
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Clare. I'll be interested to see how you get on.
ReplyDeleteWe did this many years ago, and it made all the difference, enabling us to pay off our mortgage early and then save. Which in turn has helped us help our (now grown) sons through training and house buying - not something most young people can manage alone these days.
September/October really IS New Year for me, as a Jewish woman - feels very appropriate!
All good wishes, Deborah
I will work on my convenience food shopping as a step of solidarity with you. Gail
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I am not the only one who struggles. My spending is starting to increase again, I had done so well until the last month or so. My weaknesses are clothes, magazines and kindle books. When I'm busy I tend to treat the local M&S food shop as a corner shop. Thanks for helping me to refocus.
ReplyDeletegood luck with the reduced spending, it is a bit trickier when the expensive supermarket is the nearest one...but you can do it! will watch with interest. X
ReplyDeleteI too have found my spending increase recently, I think convenience food and take-aways are my problem! I am going to try and cut back and track my spending again, I am getting married exactly a year from now so the big save is on. Thanks for a great post :-)
ReplyDeleteThis year I have been trying to live more simply and frugally with quite some success, but I too find it hard when life becomes busy and I'm tired. Your post has come at the right time for me, I am going to reduce my spending and track my expenses.
ReplyDeleteWill be following you with interest I too always spend more when tired and nothing prepared for that time so end up overspending will look out a notepad and start today too. Love your blog
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the next year of reduced spending. I totally agree that our spending often increases without us noticing and then becomes the norm.
ReplyDeleteI will follow you with interest.. Lyndy x
September is a great time to start a new habit. I usually try to start new habits on 01 January, but, today is better! Tomorrow is my 68th birthday. I work full time (small business owner). Even though I am employed full time, My retirement saving account is very meager. I have made a new resolution to start living like I am retired on a small budget and save everything else. I am dejunking my house, "touching" everything in it, and asking "do I need this, does it make me happy, etc?" The less I have, the happier I am. I am wishing all of us "Good Luck" on our 12 month journey!
ReplyDeleteHi Claire,
ReplyDeleteI'm joining you on this one. Although I consider myself pretty good at budgeting, this summer my spending has crept upwards & I need to rein it in. If it's a want, not a need, I'm not buying it & I'm going to stop the mid week grocery top up(s).
Suzi
Hi Claire - I will be following your progress closely. Coincidentally I started a spending diary on 1 September, and may blog about it, if I do I will link to you also :) It's been a while since I have tracked my spend, but I have decided to track it as a) it will make me even more mindful of what I spend and b) may make me fully realise where the unnecessary purchases are - because it does not matter how 'mindful' one is they do creep in. I have 2 small children and feel that I have a real responsibility to demonstrate that being responsible with money is different to being 'mean' or being 'deprived' - that just isn't the case. Good luck! Jo
ReplyDeleteHi Claire. Looks like alot of us will be joining you...definitely I'm in. I agree about September and new beginnings. My weakness is definitely books and magazines. Books being the hardest and I use the library alot. I need to reduce my food bill too. A habit I get into enthusiastically and break over time without realising it. Love reading your blog and will be following this with great interest. Good not to feel alone in these challenges.
ReplyDeleteI am finding your blog such an inspiration and am hoping to work alongside you and drag my family with me! With my eldest just off to uni money is tight and I have realised that the pleasure in having new things rarely lasts before a new hit is required! Thankyou for the inspiration x
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your latest challenge, it will be interesting to read your progress. I can identify with visiting too many charity shops and buying more than I intended! Freda came up the other day with a useful suggestion of if you really have to buy something from a charity shop do it for a short time and then re donate it!It has been a benefit for us in moving as the small town contains independent shops and there isn't so many choice so you only buy what you need. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteThis looks really interesting, I'd love to read about how you do this!
ReplyDeleteI've found my spending has increased since I went back to work. Partly because I'm enjoying earning again, enjoying the treats after many years of no treats. But mainly it's because I've got less time. Living on a budget is fairly doable if you have time to shop around, make stuff yourself, cook from scratch etc. Time is key. But when I'm pushed for time, that's when gifts are bought not handmade, when meals are ready made not home made, etc. Good luck with your challenge! xx
I really do hope this goes well for you. You can do it for sure but don't beat yourself up if you have the occasional slip up. Best of luck and I'll be watching your progress.
ReplyDeleteBlessings Gail
I shall be watching with interest. I too have been trying to spend less, but combining a minimalist approach with an eco aware one isn't always the cheapest way to live I'm finding.
ReplyDeleteJust don't deny yourself everything - sometimes buying flowers can really lift the spirits. I can do without a lot of things, but not flowers in the home. A nice bunch, with greenery from the garden, can be spread out as posies or instead in one vase for a spectacular display.
ReplyDeleteMargaret P