Zero spending, could you do it?

LabR@t

LabR@t

LabR@t

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How long could you go spending zero money, not including food and bills.
A week, a month, a year?

With today's consumerist society how hard would this be? We are programmed to spend, to buy, to consume, to go against societies norms could you cope?

Rent, mortgage, utilities, normal food budget, transport costs excluded.
 
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What do you count as bills? E.g. does filling up the car to get to work count as spending or is that exempt?

When it comes to food, are we talking necessities, or are luxuries exempt as well?

Difficult to answer really without knowing the exact rules on what is included :p
 
LabR@t said:
How long could you go spending zero money, not including food and bills.
A week, a month, a year?

With today's consumerist society how hard would this be? We are programmed to spend, to buy, to consume, to go against societies norms could you cope?
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Selling up and buying less is much very much liberating.

I have been selling all of my personal possessions (watches, electronics etc) & collectibles (Marvel, Lego, Transformers, DC, RC etc) over the last few months and buying nothing bar essentials (food shopping + household necessities + toiletries). Not only have I raised £££££s but the purge and clear-out feels awesome. I won't be getting anything for Christmas either. The amount of free cash I now have going into investment & savings is really surprising.

I have had to replace my car but that was work/timing related and not by choice. Obviously had to pay utilities etc too.
 
I spend less than £50pcm on myself and that's an indulgent month, mostly it's about zero. I don't drink or smoke and I live in my clothes until they rot and fall off me.

My only vice is a cup of decent coffee from 200 degrees in Nottingham every other week.
 
Scrutinize said:
Selling up and buying less is much very much liberating.

I have been selling all of my personal possessions (watches, electronics etc) & collectibles (Marvel, Lego, Transformers, DC, RC etc) over the last few months and buying nothing bar essentials (food shopping + household necessities + toiletries). Not only have I raised £££££s but the purge and clear-out feels awesome. I won't be getting anything for Christmas either. The amount of free cash I now have going into investment & savings is really surprising.

I have had to replace my car but that was work/timing related and not by choice. Obviously had to pay utilities etc too.
Click to expand...

I’m trying to do the same, it’s quite hard though when society constantly trying to make you part with your cash and I’m weak. But this year has been a lot better than before, went to Japan and only spend £30 on souvenirs on myself, and try not to buy anything now at home until it breaks. No more upgrading electronics just because it’s the latest tech but because I need it.
 
It depends. I spend money on other people quite easily and those little bits do really add up, but to spend money on myself I have to really, really think about it. When buying for myself, I end up researching it to death so that I end up with borderline decision paralysis :o It's annoying, but it means that I never suffer buyer's remorse and savings take care of themselves.
 
depends what you count as "bills", does fuel for the car count because if not then 5 days.

otherwise not including my birthday presents to myself (well nobody else was going to) i've been going the past 3 months without buying anything i didn't have to.

i don't really do impulse buys, i almost always spend several days thinking "do i need this" before actually buying it. one technique which really works is when going window shopping on the rainforest or the like, add it all to your basket then don't buy it, wait until you have to buy something (like printer cartridges), you'll be amazed when you look at all the random junk you added before how easy it is to delete almost all of it because you don't need it.
 
Moses said:
Never really understood the people who buy junk on holiday. In the summer I went to Marrakesh and the array of tourist tat everywhere was lol.
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Because people like physical objects that remind them of specific times and events. It's not rocket science :p
 
dont spend much tbh although long overdue laptop last week due to screen falling out and faulty headphone socket ,tommorow will be a typical day off ' drive to newquay .call in lidl to buy snacks take dog to beach..spend hours on beach /call at fiistral on way back and surf if any good .just food and diesel
 
LabR@t said:
Not getting rid of stuff, how long without acquiring more stuff.
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I guess I didn't give a timescale but I wasn't thinking about it like that.

Bar things I have had to replace, family related purchases or essentials it's been months so far and a lifestyle adjustment so no plans to change.

Since my re-focus I estimate I have another 3 months of progressive selling to shift all I want and I don't forsee buying anymore for me.

Without giving up life though, there are lots of things that can't be avoided especially for others and general day to day living including bills and work related.

However, I would love to move away to another culture where actually you can really simplify life, live off the land more etc.
 
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