No spend week: how did I do?

Last Monday I made a pledge that that week (or Monday to Friday at least) would be 'no spend week'. As I mentioned in my previous post, it seems like you can't walk out the front door in London without spending a fiver on some unneccessary toot. So how on earth was I going to manage five days without spending a dime?

The challenge was on, and I nearly managed it, bar a couple of teeeeeeny purchases. My aforementioned coffee date turned into a lunch date at Nandos. Darn. the other thing I had to buy (and I don't feel guilty about this one) were some 99p antihistamines in an ongoing attempt with my doctor to decipher why I've had a cough and runny nose for over a year.

Despite my hugely limited spend, I didn't spend the week crying into my pillow feeling lonely and hungry. I ate well, I spent time with friends and had a couple of dates with the fella.

It helped that I was exhausted on Monday, so Frank stayed over and we sat up reading and chatting before going to sleep super early. I was good about taking my lunches into work, which included cous cous, salad and some leftover beef casserole too. My lovely colleague Rachel treated me to a coffee one lunchtime, and I had the foresight to have plenty of cereal and coffee in to make a hearty breakfast at work every morning. In the evenings I still ate well, making bacon, chilli and courgette pasta, toad in the hole and a scrummy stir fry.

One of my guilty pleasures is internet shopping. I find all sorts of excuses to 'treat' myself. I may have worked 'particularly hard' one day, or I consider myself to have had a 'bad week' (really Sally, two bad hair days and you deserve a treat?!) I put an end to that completely this week, and made sure to keep my bank cards firmly tucked into my purse.

With time spent away from restaurants and the pub, I had a few extra hours to address some nagging 'to dos'. Among other things I filed my paper work, managed my money (without spending it), booked a hair appointment, set up some direct debits for my bills, wrote some blog posts, phoned my mum, did some laundry and changed my bed sheets. It felt good to be so productive.

I also spent time doing some 'me' things. I put on a face mask, painted my nails and finished reading my book. I wrote my journal and sent a couple of letters too.

Luckily for me I still managed a little treat, without actually spending any money. My mum owed me a Christmas present, and I bought these gorgeous wellies from Joules. Unfortunately the snow stopped just as they arrived, but hey ho, there's always a use for wellybobs.



Overall I'd say a 'no spend' week is a great way to instil some discipline, while also saving some pennies. Have you given it a try?

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