It’s been a year since I challenged myself to take a closer look at my spending habits and make some changes. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve always been comfortable spending a little more than I probably should. But as times change, and as my son grows along with our expenses, I knew it was time to try something new.
To Recap
I had seen a social media trend about doing a no-spend challenge, and I decided I wanted to try it. Most of what I saw online focused on not spending for a short period of time (like a month), but I knew I wanted to commit for longer. I decided to try it for a full year. I also knew that a true zero-spend year wasn’t realistic for me, so I adjusted it to a low-spend year instead. I gave myself a small “cash allowance,” for lack of a better word, to use as fun spending money. I set goals for myself along the way, along with rewards. I gave myself a metaphorical star for each day I met my goal, and I could eventually cash those stars in to treat myself.
The Final Update
At the start of the year, this challenge felt new and exciting. I tracked my goals regularly, but as the year went on, that tracking became less consistent. I don’t think that was a bad thing, though. Over time, the goals I worked so hard to track at the beginning simply became habits. I didn’t have to try as hard not to spend, and I’m a little proud of that.
Of course, there were still moments when I spent more than I probably should have. Preparing for our Disney road trip definitely came with some extra costs – matching shirts aren’t free. Still, I can honestly say I put much more thought into my purchases. That annoying “Do you really need that?” question my mom used to ask became a question I started asking myself. If I didn’t need it, I didn’t buy it. It really became that simple. I can say I’m proud of myself for changing a bad habit.
If You Want to Challenge Yourself
Some things I researched and also learned along the way, if you want to try this challenge yourself:
- Set very clear rules for what counts as “spending.” For us, anything nonessential was considered spending. For example: Groceries are essential; fast-food is nonessential; hygiene products (soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.) are essential; and makeup and extra self-care products are nonessential, unfortunately.
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Decide on a clear timeframe. I chose to do this challenge for a year. In my mind, it felt like a nice, well-rounded amount of time.
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Start small and work your way up. I didn’t do this one, but I can see why it would be helpful. I tend to jump in with both feet.
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Give yourself rewards for your progress. With any challenge, having a reward to work toward can really help keep you motivated.
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Give yourself an allowance. If you’re doing a low-spend challenge instead of a no-spend one, decide ahead of time how much you can spend. We gave ourselves a set amount each week for nonessential items. I personally like using cash; being able to see the physical money and how much is left really helps me manage it better.
