Wouldn’t it be great to have a little extra money this month? Well, that’s what a no-spend month is meant to help you with. The plan is to only spend money on the essentials for at least 30 days. It’s not that you won’t have fun, anymore. You’ll simply be more focused on spending your money intentionally so you’ll be able to identify where to trim costs and save money.
10 Ways to Win No-Spend Month
1. Set a Goal
Having a reason for a no-spend month can help you to stick to your plan. You may want to put the money toward paying off your debt, making a necessary big purchase, or building an emergency fund. Once you have a goal, remember it every time you think about breaking the challenge.
2. Start Meal Planning
Obviously, food counts as an essential item. However, a huge financial difference exists between eating out and preparing food at home. If that’s not something you do often, meal planning can help. Generally, you would shop once per week to get all the ingredients you need for a week’s worth of meals. That may sound daunting but your best bet is to choose easy meals with similar ingredients so you can stay within your budget and eat well.
3. Create a Budget
According to financial experts, it’s a good idea to create a working budget instead of just jumping into a no-spend month. You might not have a set figure, at first, but you can start with recurring expenses like your bills and rent. If you eat out or go out a lot, it might be helpful to use an estimate for food that’s less than eating out.
4. Delete Tempting Apps
Nothing tests your resolve like getting notifications from your favorite shopping apps. You should delete these apps to avoid any temptation. If you don’t want to go that far or it’s inconvenient, removing your billing information from those apps can also help. Since physical stores can also be a problem, you should avoid them, too.
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5. Wait
Just because it’s a no-spend month, it doesn’t mean that good deals won’t pop up. Instead of grabbing them immediately, put them on a list and wait. At the end of the month, you can revisit the list to see if those are items you still need.
6. Scrutinize Subscriptions
With so many subscriptions out there, it’s possible to lose track of how many you have or which services may have started to overlap. Check your email, bank statements, and credit card statements to see what you’re paying for. Once you have a list, compare the services and let go of what you can do without or no longer use.
7. Find Free Entertainment
Believe it or not, you don’t have to pay for every kind of entertainment. There are free streaming services and community events that you can enjoy. You can also borrow books and movies from the library.
8. Stay off Social Media
Social media may seem like free entertainment but it can take a toll on your mental health. Studies show that comparing your life to others can make it hard to enjoy what you have. Since you’re already cutting the frills for a no-spend month, checking out your social media friends may only make you miserable.
9. Don’t Have Cheat Days
Sometimes having a cheat day can make it easier to obey the rules but that doesn’t apply to a no-spend month. You might give up the whole thing if you let yourself have a cheat. It’s better to stay focused on your goal and commend yourself for what you’ve already accomplished.
10. Get Some Company
It’s a lot easier to stick to your guns if you have company. Talk to your friends or loved ones about a no-spend month and get started once you have a good group. You can do things together for free entertainment and be the support structure each other needs.
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How to Incorporate the Lessons in Your Daily Life
Getting more out of a no-spend month is like trying a strict diet for a few days. You might not be able to live that way all the time but there are key things you can use. Since a no-spend month focuses on fulfilling your needs while getting creative with non-essentials, you can always keep doing the things you like. For example, free entertainment is a great way to save money while trying new things.
Meal planning not only saves money but can also be good for your health. Depending on your schedule, you might not be able to do it as strictly as during a no-spend month, but even a couple of days per week can make a difference.
While there’s an emphasis on ‘winning’ no-spend week, it helps to identify ways you can improve your overall financial health. Doing that can increase your chances of achieving the challenge and making a permanent positive impact on your life.
