The very best thing about January is that it’s the month of my annual No Spend Challenge. I started this tradition back in 2018 and look forward to it every year. While it started in 2018 as only a way to save money, it has evolved to be something more enriching. It is still about not spending but it’s also about better understanding my values, resetting how I spend my time, and perfecting a form of self care.

What is a No Spend Challenge? Well, that’s up to you. That’s because you make your own rules and set your own priorities. Here are mine:

1. I pay my bills. 
2. I buy gas for the car.
3. I buy grocery, personal care and cleaning products that I need.
4. I stop eating out unless necessary. Sometimes I travel during my workday and lunch with colleagues is an allowed expense. Fast food because I’m too lazy to cook is not allowed.
5. Every other bit of spending must be assessed. If I break the heel on my favorite work shoes, I’ll shop my closet before going to the store. There will be a decent pair of shoes in there even if they aren’t my favorites.  If I blow out a tire on my car, I have it replaced. My car is how I get to work and, in a rural area with no public transit, this is vital to my ability to keep my job. 
6. This isn’t a license to be cheap. If someone is collecting cash for a coworker in need, I still give. If I eat in a restaurant, I still tip my server. 
7. I try to make it fun! 

So those are the ground rules but there’s a lot more to a No Spend Challenge than just the rules. You see, when I’m not out adventuring and spending idle time shopping, I suddenly have more free time and I spend most of it hibernating at home. 

Here are some things that happen:

Less Online Time – I practice hobbies, read, declutter, clean and rest more. I purposefully walk away from my phone as much as possible given that I manage social media for work. I worry sometimes about what screen time is doing to my brain and attention span and how it will impact our society as more people exhibit signs of addiction. I still spend time on social media, googling random questions and playing in Pinterest but try to do it more mindfully.

Cook More – When I cook more, I tend to eat better. Plus, I’m using up things that might be languishing in the back of the cupboard. I went through my pantry the other day and pulled out a handful of things that are nearing their best buy date. Some canned apples will soon be apple cobbler. That’s hardly health food but I can make it with healthful ingredients and really, what’s better than a fresh baked goodie in winter? A bottle of salad dressing will make a great marinade for some roasted veggies and potatoes.

Waste Less – I am not a wasteful person but I’m more alert to potential waste during these challenges. For example, I will scan the fridge every day for things that need used or frozen. I keep a bag in the freezer for odds and ends of peppers, onions and mushrooms because this combo is my favorite in omelettes, quiche, homemade pizza and pasta dishes. Leftovers often get frozen for future enjoyment and I’m better at using what I have rather than stopping at the store for something better.

Use Up Stray Stuff – This may sound nuts but sometimes my hair gets tired of the shampoo I’m using. It’s like it no longer feels clean or it feels flat. So I switch to something else and put the other bottle away for later. But later never comes because I end up forgetting about it and buying something else. How many half used products do you own like lotions or random hair products? I shop these on-hand products more carefully before buying new.

Declutter– On a related note, I tend to declutter more in January. This year, my January goal is to declutter 100 items that I no longer need. Nothing makes you want to stop shopping quite like dealing with the massive amounts of stuff you have that you don’t need. It’s especially sobering when you realize how much you spent on that item you no longer like.

Practice Gratitude – On a related note, nothing makes you appreciate what you have quite like a No Spend Challenge. If you are satisfied and at peace with all that you have, you are less likely to want more stuff. I try to set aside time each day to stop and think about the many abundances my life provides.

Do Things You Enjoy – Every December, I begin making a list of things to do during my No Spend Month. My list includes hobbies, hiking, a chat with a friend, decluttering, movie day at home, planning a summer trip, making a new recipe, writing a short story, playing with my cat, exercise, putting together a puzzle, and rearranging things I already own to freshen up my home. My list is extremely home based and solitary because that’s how I roll. Your list might include free events at the library or hosting friends for a potluck and game night. There may be free activities in your community to get you out of the house. My list currently includes 71 activities that I enjoy.

Rest – Cutting out the extras and staying home creates more time for things that matter. For me, rest is extremely important. I don’t always sleep well and my body naturally makes me feel unrested even when it should feel good (thanks to my thyroid for this fun trick). In the winter when I’m stressing over a work project and fearful of all the bugs and germs people are passing around, I like to prioritize sleep. It’s good for you!

Build Better Habits – Ideally you won’t reach the end of your challenge and run wildly back to your pre-challenge lifestyle. I like to build better habits that will at least carry me through the season. For example, free activities, cooking at home, embracing the darkness for an earlier bedtime, creating a more healthful schedule, reading and avoiding things designed to create lifestyle dissatisfaction will make my life better.

Some years, my challenge will bleed into February. One year I made it to March 31! For the last couple of years, I have kept going through February with some modifications to accommodate an exception. This year, I would like to ensure that my better habits carry me through March. Maybe then I’ll reassess how to retool those habits to accommodate the rest of the year when I tend to be outward bound, seeking adventure and fun anytime I can. There has to be some balance!

While it’s important to make your own rules, it’s equally important to remember that there is no room for negativity and deprivation during this challenge. Unless it was in the first year, I don’t think I have ever been upset because I can’t buy something or go do what I want to do. Instead of thinking about what I can’t have or do, I focus on all that I already have and the excess room there is to enjoy it.

My challenge is different than others because I built it to suit my own tastes and boundaries, needs and interests. It’s easier for me because I don’t have a spouse and kids who don’t buy in to the idea. It’s easier for me because I genuinely believe it’s vital for human beings to embrace the winter season and that quiet time at home is as good for me as hibernation is good for the animals. The earth puts herself to bed for a reason and so should we.

So much of what I have touched on here is just a 10,000 foot view of my No Spend Challenge. I hope to take a deep dive into a few of these topics to help you make sense of them and perhaps find inspiration to do your own challenge. And if you’re not digging the concept, you still might find some inspiration for your own daily life! 

I know people for whom every day is a No Spend Day because they don’t have money to spare. I know others who should be doing this because their spending habits are out of control. For many of us, the holiday season was expensive and there were demands on our time and money at every turn. This is a terrific way to reset your relationship with money, to reset how you spend your time and to just slow down your life to a more relaxing pace. 

Want to know more? Ask your questions and I’ll try to answer them!