Key Takeaways

• Set a clear goal and budget for the no-spend month.

• Eliminate unnecessary expenses like dining out, shopping, and subscriptions.

• Plan meals in advance and use grocery delivery services.

• Avoid temptations by unsubscribing from retail emails and limiting social media.

• Find free entertainment options and track your progress.

Continue reading and you'll get to know everything in detail including, emergency fund, stopping your bad spending habits, and more.

What is the "No-Spend" Month Challenge

The no-spend challenge of a month is when you don't spend money on non-essentials for a month. You eliminate all unnecessary expenses, and you live a frugal lifestyle. It's a challenge to yourself to live without frivolous items.

When you don’t spend money for a month, you learn control, and you can pocket the extra money you would have spent. It's basically like giving yourself a raise. But how can you do this? We'll show you how and when to go without those extras for a month.

Should You Not Spend Money for a Month?

If your spending is out of control or you have an emergency, like the AC unit dying, you’ll need money. If you can’t ask for or won’t get a raise, you’ll have to take measures into your hands.

Or maybe you want to save money for a big vacation or a new car. Regardless of your need, not spending money for a month is just the ticket to put some cash in your pocket.

This is a time to reevaluate your financial habits. You'll have a better idea of what truly brings value to your life and learn what items or activities you can do without.

How to Prepare to Not Spend Money for a Month

Everything you do in life will work if you do the proper preparation. Not spending money for a month is no different. Don't just jump into it; you'll set yourself up for failure. Make a plan and have your financial house in order.

Establish a Goal

Before you start, set a goal. Why do you want to go a month without spending money? There are several reasons to do this. They include:

• you spend too much
• you have too much stuff and want to rid yourself of some of it
• paying off debt

Make a list of why you want to cut out your excess spending for a month.

Prepare a Budget

This might not be the most exciting thing to do, but it’s necessary. Otherwise, you'll be going blind into the month.

You still must pay bills during this month. So, sit down and list everything that absolutely needs to be paid. These include any:

• car payments
• housing payments
• utilities
• insurance

You'll also need to set a grocery budget. Ensure you only have the essentials on your grocery lists. Chips and cookies can inflate the bill really fast, and you don't need them. They're a luxury.

Preparing for Something Special

If you have a wedding or other event that requires a gift, remember to budget for that from the beginning.

But you don't need to give the most extravagant gift. Keep it simple. There are many inexpensive gifts that the recipient will appreciate. So, when you're budgeting for it, do the research on what you can buy and incorporate that into your budget.

 Items Not to Put in the Budget

There are some items you'll want to eliminate from your budget. That's the point of not spending money during the month. Some items that must be eliminated are:

• coffee stops at shops
• restaurants
• clothes
• shoes
• books

And watch those gift cards. You might have a $50 gift card to a store, but ensure you only spend $50. Don’t go over the card. If you do, you’ll be spending money and don't want to do that. Pay attention to what you're buying with that gift card.

Take an Inventory of Your Pantry

Check out your pantry and cupboards. What foods can you eat (but watch those expiration dates)? If you have cans of chicken or tuna, these could be a few meals. All you need to do is buy some bread.

Once you’ve taken inventory, figure out and write down what you need to buy to supplement the food. For example, if you have pasta, buy some sauce and you have a meal.

Sign up for cashback sites when shopping. Some of them include:

• Ibotta
• Rakuten
• Swagbucks

These sites give you cashback on your purchases. Some of them also offer coupons. If you’re buying the item, anyway, why not earn some money to cover part of the expense?

Here’s a tip: sign up for more than one cashback service at a time and receive extra bucks.

Rules to Not Spending for a Month

Only you can decide how challenging you want to make it when you plan not to spend money for a month. Here are some simple rules that you can use as a guide.

You must pay your bills. This is not an excuse to skip medical expenses or credit card payments. You’ll end up paying a late fee, and that defeats the point of not spending for a month.

If you have an unexpected major emergency, suspend the no-spending rule for a month. After you've dealt with the unexpected expense, you can do it again for another month.

You must only spend money on what you need, not what you want. This is where the no-spend rule comes into play. When you start to reach for that wallet, decide whether you need it or just want it.

For example, you need to buy dressing to go with your salad. You don’t need to buy those new shoes just because they’re on sale.

Tips on Not to Spend Money for a Month

A month may seem like a long time to go without luxury items. But there are many things you can do to keep yourself on the straight and narrow when you don't want to spend a month.

And, who knows, you might find you can live without some of these items and incorporate deleting them into your lifestyle.

Know Why You’re Not Spending for a Month

This goes back to setting your goal, but we want to emphasize it. You must know the why, or you may fail.

If your spending is out of control and you're racking up credit card debt, that's an excellent "why". Maybe you want a simpler lifestyle.

Regardless, write down your "why" and look at it when you're tempted to buy something not within your budget.

It’s Important to Choose the Right Month

It’s important to choose a month that doesn’t have big expenses built into it. A bad month could be:

• November and December
• a month with a lot of birthdays or special events
• vacation time

Choosing one of these months will set you up for failure. Think of the month you choose as a financial fast. You can’t fast at a banquet.

Plan Meals

We talked about taking inventory of the pantry, but you need to take the next step. Sit down at your computer or take pen to paper and plan your meals.

Remember, you won’t be going out to dinner or getting takeout. Every meal will need to be written down and priced.

Just because you're eating in doesn't give you permission to buy that steak or expensive seafood. Keep it simple, but don't starve yourself.

Many times, when we shop at a grocery store, we walk up and down the aisles and look at everything. We're often tempted to grab a box of this or a bag of that just to try it.

You may see that cake that looks delicious, and you buy it.

Instead of shopping yourself, use a grocery delivery service. This will keep you out of the store, and you'll only buy what you absolutely need. Some delivery services include:

• Instacart
• Shipt
• Hungry Root

Many local grocery stores also have delivery services. For example, Walmart and Kroger have grocery delivery services.

If you insist on going to the grocery store, never go hungry. That’s a recipe for disaster. Eat your lunch or dinner before you go.

Don’t Go to Your Tempting Stores

Avoid stores where you often splurge. For example, if you’re always tempted to buy something cool at Home Goods or clothes at Target, avoid going to those stores.

If you need paper towels and cleaning supplies, which you usually get from Target, go to Walmart instead, so you may not be tempted to buy clothes or any unusual item.

As we mentioned, the grocery store may be your spendy place, use a delivery service.

Shutdown Online and Smartphone Spending

Online shopping can blow a budget. It's where a lot of emotional spending takes place, and that could be the downfall of a no-spending month.

Do you have shopping apps on your smartphone? Get rid of them! If you can’t tap your phone to go shopping it means you have to make an effort. That will give you time to think and ask yourself if you really need the item that you want.

If you don’t want to eliminate the apps, at least eliminate your saved debit and credit cards. This goes for any online shopping.

You have your cards stored with Amazon; take them out. Once you take them out, you'll find it slows down or eliminates the buying. It's a bother to go and get your wallet to put in your debit or credit card. Doing it gives you the opportunity to decide if you really need those new earrings or polo shirts.

It's also a good idea to unsubscribe from retail brands' emails. This will help you avoid temptation. Remember, just because something's on sale, it still costs money and is an expense you don’t need.

Instead of buying something new, shop your closet. Take a day and clean out your closet. You’ll probably find clothes you didn’t remember you had. Some may still have tags on them.

Play with it and put new outfits together. This will freshen your wardrobe without spending a dime.

Limit Social Media

Try to limit your use of social media for the month. Social media is full of brands selling products and sending you items on sale.

You also won’t see friends and family who are showing off the new Olukai shoes they just bought and be tempted to buy a similar pair.

Staying off social media can help your bank account.

Eliminate Subscriptions

How many subscription services do you have? Eighty-three percent of Americans have a subscription service. The average number of subscription services per household is 4.1.

Are you one of those 4.1 households? Do you really need more than one subscription service? One isn't that expensive, but more than that can add up and put a dent in your cash flow.

Examine your usage. You’re probably not using them as much as you think. Pick the one you use the most and dump the rest. Your wallet will thank you.

Find Those Old Gift Cards

You probably have gift cards around that were past gifts. Pull them out. Then you can still have your shopping fix without spending money.

But as we mentioned, don't supplement the gift card with your money if you exceed the amount. Make sure you spend only the amount of the gift card. So instead of new shoes, you might end up with cool socks. But at least you get to shop.

Look for Free Entertainment

Go online and look for free entertainment in your area. Many communities host activities, especially during the summer months.

When was the last time you went to a library? They not only have books, but many offer free movies to borrow.

Have a game night with your friends. From board games to gaming, you can have a great time without spending money.

If you're athletic, go for a hike. Even if you're not, you can go for walks in the park. This is an excellent time to get in shape.

Tell Everyone About Your no Spending Month

Peer pressure, or at least being embarrassed, is a great motivator. Telling your friends about your plan is a great way to keep you accountable.

Calling a friend when you feel like buying something will take your mind off the possibility of making a purchase, and you'll receive encouragement to stand firm.

Your friends or partner may even want to try a month without spending too.

Write Down Your Wants

If you find something you think you can’t live without, don’t buy it. Instead, write it down on a wish list. Look at it the following month after you finish your no-spending month. You’ll probably find that you don’t need it.

With time comes perspective, and you may find you don't want that "must-have" item. You may even have forgotten about it.

Don’t Cheat

Don’t tell yourself you can have a cheat day. Go back and look at your goals. Think about why you’re doing this. Is cheating worth it to give up that vacation you’re saving for? Or don’t you want to pay down that credit card with the money you’re saving?

Remember, when you cheat, you cheat yourself.

Keep Tabs on Your Progress

Stay motivated by documenting every day you’re spending free. It helps if you keep a calendar marking your progress.

For example, if you usually go to the coffee shop daily, calculate how much money you've saved weekly. This is a great way to stay motivated.

You’ll also have a firm number at the end of the month on what you saved.

Stop Emotional Spending

Emotional spending can be the downfall of your month. You’ll shop during times of:

• stress
• sadness
• excitement

You'll recognize this if you buy items you later realize you didn't need.

During emotional times, avoid the store or the computer. Don't go window shopping or scroll through Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've discussed how to avoid spending money for a month. It can be challenging but worth it. But you might need some information we haven't provided. Here are some frequently asked questions.

What are the benefits of not spending for a month?

There are several benefits to not spending for a month. It allows you to take a hard look at your spending. You'll stop emotional spending. And most of all, you'll be saving money.

Do I need a no-spending month?

You need a no-spend month if your spending is out of control. It is ideal if you want extra money to pay off some debt or take a vacation.

What will hinder me from doing a no-spending month?

The biggest hindrance to a no-spending month is not formulating a budget. You also need to identify spending habits and break them. Not reminding yourself of your goals will also hinder you.

Conclusion: How to Not Spend Money for a Month

Establish the goals you want to achieve before you start the month, then form a budget. Double-check your habits and ensure you don't slip into them during the month. But ensure you pay your bills.

Take the time to eliminate the easy ways you spend. You can do this by eliminating shopping apps and saving credit cards from your favorite retailers.

If you question everything you want to spend money on, you'll make it through the month without spending money.