Today – The No Spend Year
Published later this week The No Spend Year : How I spent less and lived more by Michelle McGagh is really an inspirational read.
The no spend year
Michelle is a freelance personal finance journalist who has been writing about money for over 10 years. But this didn’t stop her having money problems. She wasspending with abandon and getting stuck in the rat race, eventually she realised her aspirational spending was getting out of control. She decided that enough was enough and that she was going to take a radical approach to her finances.
She writes about her journey to her no spend year with a real clarity and insight that saw me nodding along.
It’s one thing to write about how to manage your money and quite another to do it.
But Michelle had a plan!
She discovered minimalism and sold 80% of her belongings and then she took her minimalist mindset and applied it to her spending.
The book is an account of her journey; her highs lows, what she missed, what she didn’t and the lessons she will take going forward. It is a fun and accessible read and it will really make you think about what you waste money on and how you too could seriously reduce your spending.
Michelle managed to reduce her grocery spending (food/house/toiletries) to £31.60 a week!!! Now that’s impressive
Do you fancy stepping outside the consumer cycle? If so this might be a really good read for you.
Win a copy of The No Spend Year
In order to be in with a chance of winning your own copy of The No Spend Year simply enter the rafflecopter below
You can read Michelle’s blog at www.londonminimalists.co.uk
Take a peek here at my guide to Minimalism for beginners and our no spend weekend challenge
I don’t think I waste any money now I used to when I was younger though. I guess we all learn as we go on
I don’t waste money I am living very frugally, would love to win this book, right up my street.
I am quite careful with money so don’t think I really waste any.
Food, definitely. Especially top up shops that end up costing £30 when all I needed was a loaf of bread! Cue 2017 starting eating a lot of freezer gravel… not appetising but it might save me a few quid!
i love watches
I waste money on takeaways.
coffee in nice places!
Going out for meals
chocolate 🙂
mainly food that doesnt get eaten.
We waste quite a bit of money on sweets and treats for the children!
Pop and sweets
Books because I don’t always feel it’s a waste but it’s my downfall
too many toys for the children at xmas!
Coffee when I go on the train, otherwise quite careful with what I spend.
We waste a lot of money on takeaways or eating out. I would love to read this and get some tips!
Buying lunches at work. I need to be more organised with preparing a packed lunch in the mornings
Food
Takeaways and lottery tickets
Smoking – i know its like setting fire to a tenner and i wish i never started.. but Im not sure i want to give it up
On the grandchildren, but I don’t call it a waste really
I need to keep an eye on my income
Food I think I buy far too much
wasting food
magazines for my grandaughter that she only takes the toy out of lol
I think I waste money on gifts, as I usually don’t shop around for the best deals always x
I’m trying to spend less money on food.
As a family we don’t waste money, we are very conscious of our outgoings and lifestyle, however always looking for ways to learn and improve.
take outs when I’m not in the mood to cook which unfortunately is often 🙁
Frivolous things
Takeaways
The cinema probably. I should just wait for the movies to hit DVD’s – it’s a lot cheaper to buy and own a DVD (and be able to wtch it over and over) than to go out to watch a film just the once….especially if you get them from the trade-in stores.
food mostly
I waste money on buying luxury items I don’t really need and aren’t worth the money (eg you can buy them in a cheaper brand)
Central heating in the winter
im not sure i waste any money.Probably electricity maybe x
Food I would say! We always have fully stocked cupboards and end up throwing a few things away which is such a waste!
petrol! I don’t walk anywhere if I can drive
Without a doubt Take-aways….so I have been looking at ‘Fake-away’ recipes recently
I have to be careful with money but i want to cut down on food this year as i tend to buy too much for my store cupboard ie dried foods and tinned foods.
Takeaways when I have food in my fridge ?
Chocolate and desserts! 🙂 Would love to win this book.
we waste sssssooooooo much on coffee!
Magazines – I love them
Fast Food
Take Away, I’m a sucker for a Chinese
Takeaways
I’m much improved, but usually second-hand clothes which are pretty but I’ll probably never wear
food
Food
It used to be takeaways. but now I’m on reduced income due to my long term condition I really have to stick to a budget
not very much – i try to be careful with choices
We waste money on takeaways or eating out.
I waste a lot of money on cigs and alcohol. I’m in my mid thirties and I’ve still got a social life like a twenty something year old. Time so slow down methinks.
Has to be take aways! We def buy more than we should.
Food,mainly due to laziness 🙁
I spend a lot on presents for other people to make them happy.
Easy, instant meals, when I’m tired and have no time to cook.
Take aways…so bad for it 🙁
Coffee out
Food that doesn’t get eaten 🙁
As a household we’re cutting back a lot this year – have cancelled Sky and only getting take aways for special occasions like birthdays (as opposed to Saturdays 😀 )
Eating out.
Probablly food
Definitely my coffee shop addiction
I try not to waste money but I probably buy too much chocolate
Shoes! Two feet and too many pairs!!
Takeaways
Fast food
I think I’m quite careful with money having been brought up with the ‘can’t pay, can’t have ‘ mantra of my parents and Grandma. It has served me well but it makes it hard to splash out when I have money to spare! 🙂
I waste money on convenience food, but I ‘m tightening up!
I waste money on takeaways!
unnecersary food that is already in my cupboards. I have to feed a family of 6 so I try and bulk up but I don’t check what I have already in .
I wasted so much money over the last few years it’s been ridiculous! At the start of this year, I have made a firm resolution to stop spending money on things I don’t need and I have set myself a target to save a certain amount of my wages every month.
I like buying magazines- I do pass them on and share with others but probably don’t really learn anything anyway from them
Pop! Especially at work.
Takeaways, we have one once a week, but to be honest not sure if it’s a waste as we don’t have them a lot and it gives me a break from cooking once a week! 🙂 I do feel that our money is wasted on my husbands cigarettes, I always say to him that it’s the same as burning a £10.00 note 😀 We all have our vices though I’m sure 🙂
Takeaways. We really try to cut back but cave in within a couple of weeks!
I waste money on most things..I over spend when shopping then waste a lot of the food every week. I gamble a bit and I am a member of a golf club but I have not played for 3 months. Help me
Nothing really as we trying hard to get mortgage free
Food and impulse buys
eating out
Energy drinks and takeaways, both of which I am attempting to get rid of, in an attempt to be more healthier and wealthier xxx
impulse buys
Food I seem to throw a lot away which I knows terrible I can’t seem to stop over buying
Has to be foodx
food x