Claire Roach, 39, is a mum-of-five who managed to stash away £1,500 in one month – and says you can do the same.
Clare, from Penarth, Wales, lives husband Luke Angove and their five children, Ashleigh, 23, Joe, 15, Rosie, 11, and twins Lola and Esmee, four.
Last January, she managed to swerve the usual festive expenses and saved £1,500.
Now, she hopes to save £2,000 more, by doing another no-spend month.
The mum, who used to often face debt before she started her savings journey in 2016, has shared her tips for how others can put away more cash, even when looking after a large family.
‘I completed my first no-spend month in January 2016 and have continued doing it every January since, as it was such a success,’ said Claire.
‘A no-spend month directly after Christmas and the New Year is so easily doable and enables me to financially recover from the holidays, eat more healthily and get loads of exercise.’
Here, she shares her tips for anyone keen to do the same this January.
Hunt for bargains when food shopping
Food shopping is typically Claire’s biggest monthly expense but in January, it is one of her biggest savings.
The mum said: ‘I would normally spend £250 per week on food, household and toiletries.
‘During a no-spend month, my total budget is £250 plus £10 per week for extras such as milk and bread. This saves me my first £750.’
The family also cut out all coffees, takeaways and restaurant meals, which saves a further £100 per week.
Make a meal plan and batch cook
Claire recommends meal planning so that you can do one huge shop at the beginning of the month and have three meals per day for 31 days.
‘Batch cooking is a great way to cook cheaply and have plenty of home-cooked food available throughout the month,’ she said.
‘I plan every meal for a month, then buy a shop that gets delivered 2 January. I batch-cook all the fresh veg into soups, stews, and curries.
‘However, I do save a £10 weekly float for milk and bread and any other emergency bits I need.’
Make your own entertainment
Each January, Claire and her family ditch pricey entertainment with country walks and at-home movie nights, saving her around £200 – plus £80 thanks to reduced petrol costs.
Keep money pots
Claire recommends having dedicated money pots for every eventuality.
She said: ‘I have one for Christmas, one for the holidays, and one for emergencies.
‘This year I will be doing the same as I do every year but hopefully, I will hit my goal of saving £2,000 during my no-spend month.’
Get friends and family involved
The mum said: ‘I found saying no to people the hardest part at first but now everyone knows I refuse to spend any money and are really understanding.
‘With Christmas just a week prior to my no-spend month, I always ask my relatives to purchase us gifts that will help us through the month such as toiletries.’
Track your spending
Claire also suggests keeping track of your spending using a free printable template online and planning ahead.
‘The more you do it, you get more invested in it and learn better ways to save, which means every year I have saved more and more,’ she added.
‘The money is used to pay off any loans, BNPL, Credit Cards, etc.’
For more money-saving advice as well as chat about cash and alerts on deals and discounts, join Metro.co.uk’s Facebook group, Money Pot.
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