The 'Replacement Basis Only' Challenge: 3rd update

Replacement Basis Only Challenge Wk5 Wk6 progress report update

The ‘Replacement Basis Only’ Challenge continues, where we’re only buying items that we need to replace. It’s a practical way to carry out a low spend challenge over a period of a few weeks, as a true zero spend challenge would be impossible for more than a few days.

Here’s how I got on during Week Five and Week Six, taking us to the half way mark of the 12-week challenge. This is usually the point where the cracks of old bad habits might start to show, and oh boy some gremlins were lurking.

It helps to be honest about those weak spots and occasional challenges, as there’s always something useful to be learned from them. We also had some good luck here and there, which is something to be happy about.

Let’s start by looking at Week Five progress, which was more lucky than unlucky.

Replacement Basis Only Challenge: Week Five

This particular week felt like it was simple but effective, and it definitely helped to get extra organised after the previous week’s lack of structure.

The less time I was in the shops, the less I wanted to get back out to the shops or buy things online. I made a menu, a shopping list, and an ‘allowable spend’ list of things that looked as though they were about to run out or go past the point of repair.

Then it was a case of sticking to the list quite strictly, and keeping fingers crossed that there were no nasty surprises. Spoiler alert: there were no nasty surprises, our luck held out all week.

Our only shopping day was Thursday, a regular Big Shop at the supermarket with the usual allocated budget. I think we managed to save just over £3.00 with reductions and a multi-buy deal – not as good as Week Four but still going okay.

I had to pick up some supermarket and high street chemist type toiletries at the same time. That included the basics and some replacement paracetamol, but nothing too complicated or expensive.

Week Five Summary:

Regulars-only groceries delivery
Toiletries / chemist: Clarifying shampoo, antiperspirant, handwash, cotton buds, paracetamol

From a spending point of view, Week Five was a very successful controlled spend with no unexpected extras. The household kept ticking over, and we had everything we needed.

Replacement Basis Only Challenge: Week Six

Not going to lie, Week Six was the toughest week so far, and I think I nearly subconciously sabotaged myself. Nearly, but fortunately not quite.

During Week Six it felt as though my brain kept looking for all the loopholes. It wanted to create some kind of ‘get out of jail free’ card so that I could go shopping without breaking the rules. Thanks, brain, very helpful. There are no loopholes, of course, the rules are the rules.

I regularly write about bargains, it’s part of my job, and as part of this I tend to dig up an awful lot of tasty offers. Week Six took place in that period of the year when some of the best designer-high street collaborations drop, and the arrivals of the clothing collections coincided with London Fashion Week and the general circus that surrounds it.

It was times like those when I had to remind myself that – as much as I love a bargain – I’d made myself publicly accountable. Most of this temptation is in our heads, sparked by things that we see, and sometimes it’s caused or at least amplified by boredom during the greyer months.

It turned out the trick was to keep busy with other things. Nice events to look forward to, plus a few specific goals and plans. Oh, and reminding myself six, seven or eight times a day that I was not allowed to buy that.

My February goals and plans included starting off some more seedlings for the kitchen garden, and it turned out that I’d run out of compost so the first purchase of the week was to top up the compost supplies pronto. One quick bag. Then we ran out of bananas, so we bought a bunch.

On Thursday we did a ‘regular items only’ groceries shop, which came in just under budget as we didn’t have a gift voucher and nothing on the list was on offer. At least we didn’t go over the limit though, which is the important thing.

The next bit of shopping was for a couple of regular basic toiletries, this time a bottle of shower gel and some hair conditioner. Nothing fancy, but it’s important to keep up with the old personal hygiene, eh?

And finally, a Friday treat. I still had some coins left over from decluttering, so they were exchanged for a small choc bar at the supermarket. Technically free, as they didn’t have to come out of any budget.

Week Six Summary:

Bag of seed compost
Top up shop: bunch of bananas
Regulars-only groceries shop
Toiletries: shower gel, hair conditioner
Small bar of chocolate

Thank goodness for public accountability! Turns out I can resist anything except temptation, unless I have to tell everyone what I’ve been up to. Whatever, it works, will keep going with it.

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Are you trying the ‘Replacement Basis Only’ Challenge?

Let us know how you’re getting on. Any wins or obstacles, large or small.

The ‘Replacement Basis Only’ Challenge: 3rd update