Tag Archives: spending

No Spend Update

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My 2026 No Spend Challenge actually began on December 30 so I’m a little over a week in. Things are going mostly as planned so far.

I filled up the car’s gas tank yesterday and had to order a $7 part for a toilet. The part will be here tomorrow.

This is a perfect example of how life happens and sometimes you have to buy without guilt – even during a challenge. Note that a month ago, I would have added a book or some random thing to my Amazon order since it was so little money.

I didn’t do that this time because rules are rules.

Tomorrow I will make a list of any grocery items that I need this week but it shouldn’t amount to much and I’ll make a point of sticking to the list better than I normally do.

While this week has been sort of busy, I am focusing on healthful meals that use up some things in the freezer and on restful sleep. I still need to form a plan for all that darn frozen spinach!

The first real temptation arrived last night when I realized that a favorite author has a new book out this month. I will want to own this book but it will have to wait. Books and groceries are probably my biggest weaknesses so this is a great exercise to curb overspending. I can have it but not this minute and waiting never hurt anyone!

Are you doing a challenge this month? I would love to hear about it!

De-influencing Shopping Habits And Patterns

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Social media has gifted me with the videos of a woman who reminds followers they don’t need to buy anything today. She has a lovely Puerto Rican accent that makes everything she says sound charming. 

Her videos go something like this:

You don’t need anything from Target today. You do not need anything from TJ Maxx today. You don’t need anything from Amazon today. You don’t need anything from Ulta today. You have plenty of things already. What you need to do is clean.  Don’t shop, go clean your fridge.

Sometimes she instructs viewers to make an extra credit card payment instead of shopping or to declutter instead of buying more. I don’t know who this lady is but I like her!

There are few hills I’m willing to fight for but one is that cleaning and decluttering are the most powerful tools for curbing spending. I have said this repeatedly in my Winter No Spend Challenge stories and agree with her belief that cleaning is a lowkey way to save money. 

When you find yourself decluttering the stuff you once thought you couldn’t live without, you are reminded of the money wasted on small things that don’t matter. There’s something calming about cleaning what you own and appreciating what you already have. 

I don’t need someone to film a video every day telling me not to stop for coffee when there’s free coffee at work or that I don’t need to bargain shop at Marshalls when my kitchen is packed with gadgets. You may not either. 

But after years of watching the rise of the social influencer – you know, the ones who do videos of Walmart hauls and who color coordinate their Stanley cup to their outfit- it’s awfully nice to see people out there reminding us that what these people do isn’t normal. 

I have a good life. I have everything I need and much of what I want. I would travel more if I could but that isn’t in the cards right now.  I have a birthday coming up and the people around me are asking for gift ideas. I’m coming up short unless they want to buy me a kitchen door or maybe another book. Ha! But isn’t that a wonderful problem to have?

If you find yourself in the habit of shopping regularly – for entertainment, for stress relief, for a chance at keeping up with the Jones’ or for whatever reason, today is the day to ask yourself why. Look closely. There are patterns to your behaviors. You just have to pay attention to see them.

Do you need the things? How else can you entertain yourself? What do you already own that you can be using instead? How else might you use that money? 

You don’t need a bunch of random stuff and clearance shelf junk. Go for a walk, clean something, declutter your closet, cook a good meal or call a friend. Focus on building a better life that doesn’t require an avalanche of random things you didn’t know you needed till you saw them at the store.  

Have you considered doing a No Spend Month? Here’s a story about my No Spend Challenge rules! 

No Spend January

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Illustration by Lore Pemberton.

January is a different kind of month for me and I have come to look forward to it. You see, I do what I call a No Spend Challenge.

It’s a simple concept. Bills are paid and necessities are purchased. So I put gas in the tank and buy groceries but try not to eat out or buy a lot of extra stuff I don’t need.

If the heel breaks on my good work shoes, I dig through my closet for a suitable back up. If I feel like it’s necessary to replace them, then I do so but the rule is I can only buy the shoes I need and not something I just want.

If there’s something I think I want (or need that’s not an emergency), I usually write it down. Often times, by the end of the month, I no longer care about the thing. In other words, there’s not a mad dash to the store to buy all the stuff I missed shopping for in the previous weeks.

This isn’t an outlandish concept. After all, many people live within these boundaries every day by choice or necessity.

I’m reasonably frugal and a smart shopper but have a weakness for buying sale groceries, books, and small items at the cash register like Tic Tacs.

These things add up.

January is a great time to do this as there’s no where to be and it gets dark so early that I’m pleased to stay home where it’s cozy and warm.

Focus is placed on using what I have and taking care of my home. I tend to tidy the kitchen cabinets, clean out the closet and purge a few things. I cook more, making extras for the freezer. Activities like reading, puzzles, movie nights and bubble baths take the place of browsing antique stores and running around. In 2020, I wasn’t out shopping in stores so much but did a fair amount of online shopping and driving around looking at stuff.

This month is a method of realigning habits and priorities while killing the urge to shop. Plus I save money.

Last year, I was so pleased with my no spend month that it ran over into February.

In preparation, I spent some time last week listing all the things I can do to entertain myself for free. Hiking, reading and painting made the top of the list that runs seventy items strong. This particular exercise is an amazing way to remember how much there is to do that’s fun or at least useful and that costs zero dollars.

I was practicing the Norwegian concept of Hygge long before it was cool or even before I knew the term for it. Nothing makes me happier than warm pjs, soft blankets, and delicious aromas emanating from a pot on the stove. I’m so excited to be home more and doing this right now.

January is the perfect time to start or to polish these cozy ways.

The image above is a fun illustration from artist Lore Pemberton. I found her on Instagram this year and immediately was entranced by her vision and artistry. I ordered a couple of small pieces from her for Christmas when she had a sale.

This particular image is a depiction of how I think of my life in January.

Home. Warm. Cozy. Reading.

If you have the time, take a look at her work on her website or follow her on Instagram.

Does a No Spend Month sound like something you would enjoy? Comment! I’ll be happy to chat about it.

One Month Down

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January is typically a quieter time for me but this month has been extremely low key. I’ve been home a lot – stress has played a big role along with weather which has made it difficult to get outdoors for hikes.

This has actually made my No Spend Month a little easier. If you stay home (and away from your favorite online retailers), there’s little temptation to buy stuff you don’t need. Even still, I did have some unplanned purchases – a work function took me to a cute vintage shop which I wanted to support. So I spent $21 on two cute hats.

I ate out more than I wanted because of work travel and ended up exceeding my grocery budget as well. This was mainly because I found some deals that will save money in the long run. Even still, I ate well and came in under what I would normally spend on groceries.

There were a number of opportunities to shop for entertainment, to pick up clearance deals or seek out vintage treasures. However, I was so busy doing other things that I don’t feel like I missed out on anything.

I did buy tickets for a couple of upcoming local shows that I really want to see and I’m ok with that.

Perfection isn’t nearly as important to me as “good enough.” And I did good enough.

My little cat is happy having me home more and I’m better read, having plowed through a big stack of books in January.

I didn’t focus on exercise nearly as much as I wanted, opting instead for more rest. The treadmill isn’t nearly so inviting as the open trail.

In all, January feels like a success. It has been pleasant enough that I’m planning to continue through February with some new exceptions to the rules.

So, there you go. One twelfth of the year is now complete. One twelfth! How quickly did that pass?