It’s day eight of my No Spend Challenge and things are going swimmingly so far.
In case you need a review of the rules, you’ll find that information here. In a nutshell, I pay bills, buy anything that’s a necessity and try to avoid buying things that aren’t actual needs.
Sometimes I feel guilty doing this because I know plenty of people have zero extra dollars and are struggling to keep their kids clothed and fed. Then I remember that I’m not exactly a wasteful person to begin with and that this is a great reminder that life isn’t about spending.
So where are we today?
I filled up my gas tank and bought some basic groceries on December 30 before the challenge started but that means I started out in good shape.
The first week was easy for a couple of reasons.
Basic needs were covered.
I didn’t go anywhere to tempt me.
Work lunches were packed leftovers and the rest of my meals were at home. I stayed off shopping sites that tempt me and deleted marketing emails without reading them. Whatever it is they’re selling, I don’t need it.
In anticipation of this storm we got Sunday and Monday, I did stop at the local grocery for some specific items to help in the event of a power outage: eggs to boil because boiled eggs are good cold, a box of store brand Cheerios because I happened to have milk in the house (also a good cold meal) and a case of water because you can never have too much. It was about $11.
That’s it.
Have I been tempted? You bet I have. I heard an interview with a linguist this weekend and am dying to read his book. It’s not something my local library would ever have and I’m pretty sure I’ll want to own this one anyway. It’s on my list. Maybe I’ll pick it up someday. I’m actively avoiding those people online who film themselves thrifting and show how they style their treasures. I’m not ready for that sort of temptation!
I have paint for my bedroom (this is an anxiety inducing story for another day) and will need to buy some new curtains and possibly a couple of other things to bring the room together. I have pinned ideas on Pinterest but am avoiding online shopping. I want to paint and see how the new shade looks before shopping around for options.
You know, shopping and spending aren’t necessarily a bad thing. I enjoy treating myself and finding just the right treasure to make my home cosy. The part that I have to control is the impulse buy.
One thing that this challenge reminds me of year after year is that purchases can wait and that it’s best to plan. It reminds me that by thinking something through and finding what I really want rather than what’s in front of me now, life can be both less costly and better.
I have done some decluttering this week. I am working on a puzzle, have done some reading, listened to podcasts, and watched a little tv. I got a new walking pad for Christmas and have enjoyed using that while rewatching some “All Creatures Great and Small” in anticipation of the show’s return to PBS on Sunday. In all, it has been a good, happy time.
So, week one is in the books and I made it through without buying any books! I’m sorry if you had money riding on that possibility!
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:
I pay my bills.
I buy gas for the car.
I buy grocery, personal care and cleaning products that I need.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Darkness has fallen, Scout is sitting in a box I had hoped to use, and sweet potatoes are roasting in the oven. The wind is vicious here on the ridge and it’s raining hard enough that I can’t help but wonder what it would look like if it were a few degrees colder and snowing.
It’s the week between years. Those precious few days between Christmas and New Year’s where we are all in a cookie coma and no one knows what day it is. It’s going on 5:30 p.m. and I can honestly say, I don’t recall looking at the clock even once today.
I don’t care what time it is.
Instead of following schedules and clocks or responding to buzzes, dings and rings, I’m simply enjoying the quiet of my home. Truth is, my home is a bit of a disaster as I continue disassembling Christmas and reimagining some pine and lights into something beautiful for winter. I have been putting away Christmas gifts, pausing some to read a chapter in my book and allowing Scout the chance to enjoy my being home. Every time I sit to read, he cozies up next to me for a catnap and a good snore.
This is the week I typically spend preparing for the next chapter. After months of adventuring followed by a season of gluttony and spending, it’s time to dial back the celebratory, almost uncontrolled aspects of my lifestyle into a season of wintering.
I’m so excited for this upcoming season of hibernation and rest. I will take my cue from nature and spend the next couple of months quietly resting, recharging and nurturing myself.
Each January is defined by a No Spend Challenge. This serves many purposes for me and is something I eagerly anticipate every year. I have written about this before and will again soon but, in short, it’s a time to reset habits and to go back to the roots of who I am and what I value. January is defined by staying home to rest and to appreciate all that I have already. It’s defined by finding creative solutions and using what I own rather than embracing the cultural norm that new is always better and that spending can solve every problem.
I reduce food waste, read lots, create more and feather my nest in ways big and small.
Sometimes the challenge lasts just for 31 days while some years it extends into February and March. Some people in my life think it’s silly or that it’s a form of deprivation but they couldn’t be more wrong. It’s about celebrating all that I have and realigning my values so that I’m using my time and resources in ways that are meaningful to me.
Those sweet potatoes in the oven have been languishing here for a while. They could easily be wasted if forgotten. They will be used as a base for bowls for a few days – breakfast bowls with eggs over easy, sauteed peppers and onions as well as perhaps a salmon bowl or two with chipotle ranch dressing, spinach and green peppers. Every ingredient will be from my fridge or pantry and will require no store runs for oddball things that will be used just once.
My mental shift into January has begun although, it turns out I have a return to make at TJ Maxx tomorrow. Since I’ll be in that store and a few others, I’ll look around but am hoping the sight of what’s left on the bargain table carcass after the post holiday sales will leave a lasting impression of just how much excess junk there is out there that I simply don’t need.
Meanwhile, my friends, I hope you are enjoying this week between years and that you are living your very best life embracing what you value. Have a great evening!
