It’s my favorite and least favorite challenge, and the rules are simple. Join us below!
With Chanukah behind us, it’s the perfect time to launch a ‘No Spend Challenge’ to get our spending back on track after an always-more-expensive-than-we-think week.
What is a no-spend challenge? It means cutting back on everything but absolute necessities, for a set amount of time. If you’re out of milk or eggs, or have to replenish groceries for Shabbos, just make sure it’s in the ‘need’ category. We chose a week: it’s long enough to make an impact on our bank account but short enough that we know we can do it!
This week, suppers are coming from what we already have in the freezer and pantry (get creative!), coffees are being made at home, and we’re passing on that great Amazon deal. And although you may miss your weekly manicure (unless that’s an absolute necessity, we won’t judge), there’s something so freeing about making do with what we have instead of pulling out our credit cards.
Since it’s a challenge, here’s how we’re making it fun!
- Getting the whole family involved: It’s lonely to do this on your own. Make it a family thing, and they’ll be that much happier with homemade pizza in the Betty Crocker and game night.
- Free Sunday activities: I’m bundling the brood up and heading for a freezing park day. I’m planning to head off the complaints with thermoses full of hot chocolate and cookies. Bonus points if you’re really brave: the beach in the winter is glorious. Get the beauty all to yourself.
- Dragging a friend along too! It’s so much more rewarding when I have a friend to compare notes with and encourage each other along. And, of course, celebrate with that store-bought coffee when we’re done!
Let us know if you’re in and your no-spend ideas in the comments!
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Great ideas!
Just make sure you’re bundled up for the beach, too 😉
Yes! We’re doing this too! We’ve been planning “No Spend January” for a while and it’s a challenge we love! I like your idea of doing it by the week though. Probably more realistic for my brood 🙂
This is an adorable idea. I try to do it from time to time to get rid of suppers in my freezer. Funny that they put a picture of eggs, just buying eggs these days costs more than anything else! I’m in!
Interesting idea! I like it. Do you find that your bills are higher than usual the following week? Filling up on all the staples you finished, repleshing supplies etc.
Nope, I really don’t! Maybe a slightly bigger than usual grocery shop, but overall my next week is influenced by the week before and I find myself spending less than an average week!
What a fun and creative idea! Can’t wait to try it!
I think it’s a great idea and I would love to see myself doing it!! I have to say that when you don’t work and enjoy nice things it can get really tough not to spend on random things all over the place…sometimes I feel like i can’t stop it so I would say for myself I would be realistic and tell myself I can buy something extra for myself every other day for up to $10 for that week. I need that little something to keep me going. The other thing I would suggest for people who don’t work and enjoy spending is to find a friend or relative in same boat and hang out in each others houses to keep out of stores! Good luck to everyone doing this
Adorable. Love it! Will try to freezer shop this week!!
Great idea!!!! I’m in!
Can anyone share practical tips about how they track spending? I know there is info on it but need some quick ideas that are practical
Mint is a good one
I love this idea I’m so in… I feel like going to the beach adds another expense which is filling up on the gas where as you can enjoy the small things at home for that week or go to a local park or just a nice walk rather then traveling… there’s so much you can do at home. I try to do that with my kids every so often and I feel so much more fulfilled.
I love the idea, because it gives you an opportunity to clean out your freezer from all the odds and ends of foods that you freeze because you only have little bits of it. Like a half of a deli roll, or a small container of meatballs… etc.
The key here is that when something is not available it is simply not a possibility. What you are describing is what we all do every single shabbos! There is no shopping, cooking and laundry whatsoever and we all have great time. Not in spite of it, but because of it. The key is making that decision real. Amazing advice Reena.
Wow this is a really cool idea! I think I want to try it. But I would probably have to stock my freezer first lol. Also, what do you do about fresh fruits and veggies? Can’t really stock up on those, as they need to be fresh…
Why did you bump this up now? I don’t have anything in the house now after Pesach, my fridge and freezer are empty.
I have started doing no spend challenges on clothing for 3 months at a time, to save money and have less of a negative impact on the environment.