Long time readers know that as well as my jar/cash system & frugal shopping schemes another way I save a lot of money and stand against consumer culture is no spending days. These are days where I don’t purchase anything, that means no coffee out, no picking up milk/newspapers etc at the store, no buying for other people, not even a stamp from the post office. I found as soon as I cut spending 3-4 days a week I began to save more money, those little things really do add up.
I plan my no spending days in advance, but not too far in advance that I’m not able to stick to them & then get frustrated and throw the towel in. I usually plan on a Sunday which days will be no spending days for the week, this week they are Tuesday, Friday, Sunday.
Last night in anticipation of a no spending day today, when I saw the stray cat was back I went to the shop and bought some cat food. I only took the money for the cat food and knew it would prevent me from spending today. Today I was invited out with friends this evening and while I’d love to go, it is a no spending day, so we’ve arranged for another evening. Some people think that this prevents you from having fun, that it traps you in some way, but honestly there is no bigger trap than being in debt, then not having an emergency fund for when something goes wrong.
No spending days might make me have to plan in advance, they might make me have to wait, they might make me have to get creative in the kitchen but the gift they give me in return is priceless!
How about you? Do you have no spending days? Do you find they save you money?
I’ve been following your posts for a month now, it took a lot to read from the beginning, I also skipped some stuff, but now I’m logging on regularly to see your new posts.
I admire you for your choices and you inspire me to take some of the actions you take. I live in a Romania, in Eastern Europe and in a way I feel my country has moved from a frugal restrained society in the 80ies to a aggresively consumerist one in the 21st century.
I now look back to the times when it felt normal to live with 200 euros per month, while now I spend ten times as much and I am very lucky to afford it. Yes, we are a family of four now and not only one person, but expenses add up too fast.
So in a way I am one of those you do not really connect to, as they would not be willing to scale down everything to the mere frugal, but only to take a haircut on the exaggerated monthly budget and feel they are very conscious and careful.
To answer to your question, as that is the reason that got me to reply, yes, I have no spending days, it is always one of the working days, mainly towards the end of the month when there’s no more money in the bank account and just a little in the wallet. Say 1 or 2 per month, they do make a difference, and it would make sense to have more of those.
I also have “little spending days” where I only spend a euro or two on petty things. I can log 1 or 2 of those every month.
Much to go from here I know, but your posts make me think more an more that I want to downshift sooner rather than later. Maybe I’ll add more later…
Admire
Thanks for your comment! I think it is very normal when people/societies haven’t had to then want & become consumer driven. There are copious examples of this throughout history.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
Oh and thank you for sharing your experiences!
I think you’ve made a valid point there FT, and I think it applies to individuals as well. I’m pretty sure part of my poor control of money comes from having none growing up, then as soon as things became a little easier (unfortunately, around the time I went to uni and started ‘managing’ my own money!) I picked up some really bad habits – which I’m struggling to get rid of now.
I haven’t really implemented them ahead of time, but I have tracked them as I go, and the more no spending days, the less I spend overall – even a few smaller amounts that haven’t been spent add up after awhile.
That said, I would like to implement them a bit more officially, I think, so that may wind up working it’s way into my schedule.
So true Jenn, simply cutting out one or two days a week where you don’t spend shows results at the end of the month.
I think maintaining no-spend days really pays off if you’ll pardon the pun. I’ve been trying to simplify my life for roughly a year now, starting with debt, and the novelty has worn off. I haven’t been following the no-spend day rule lately, and it’s amazing how quickly will power erodes when the situation isn’t as dire.
I’m trying to stay motivated by reading blogs like yours, and you’re right: watching your finances in order to simplify your life and give it some meaning is not a trap. I live in a city where going out and spending money is a common source of entertainment, but I can have just as much fun sitting home with a book which is what I’m going to do tonight instead of going out.
Thank you so much. I’ve been reading your blog for several months now, and there’s something about your attitude that inspires me to work harder and stay on track.
Jen, I know for me when the month isn’t a good month I can track it to not having no spending days! I can really relate to the city life & spending, I lived in London for 9 months and it was very much the case there.
Thank you for the nice compliment about the blog.
I am working on adding no spending days to my regular routine. I want to start with one day a week (and I would like to use Friday, because that is the day we are most likely to throw in the towel and order take away) and then add a 2nd day of the week (like Wednesday) and possibly add a third at the start of the new year. I also like no spending weeks. And would like to incorporate 1 a month where I simply spend no money. Right now I am trying Crunchy Chicken’s no spend August challenge (which allows for back to school purchases, bills and food) but I have had a couple of bad days. Limiting it to one day or even one week seems like a good place for me to start.
Tree – I think that is the point, find the right place for you to start. Well done with the challenge!
I think they just come if you avoid going to the shops. I am living on a very small budget so have been gradually ‘changing my mind’ about they way I live. I find that with the mentality different, shopping has become a chore rather than a hobby and I spend my time at home – or in the park with my son. So spending isn’t an option. And I don’t miss it.
It is all about attitude isn’t it Mo
i really like this idea. it sounds really simple but i think it will be more challenging than i anticipate (no “just nipping to the shops for one or two bits”) i will think about it some more but hoping to start implementing at least one or two per week…great idea!
Rachel, I remember it being so much harder than I thought it would be when I started, wow even 1 day a week was hard! But now, it is still a challenge to get 4 a week, but I know I can do it! Good Luck!!
No-spend days are one of the few things I don’t specifically plan ahead for, I just try to make sure I have a few each week. It’s more organic for me that way, and I prefer to choose not to spend by being creative when I forgot to pack lunch or some such. Of course, that should change now that I’ve much more time on my hands!
So glad you’ve found a system that works for you and that they come organically to you!
Ramit over at I Will Teach You to Be Rich has an interesting take on the No Spending tired of being frugal days. He inverts and and asks instead
‘What do you NOT care about spending money on?’ Lots of people talk about spending on things you value. But what about the things we DON’T care about spending on?
When you put it that way, your view of spending changes, for example I realized I don’t like spending money on Petrol, so I drive a small car, gas up at the discount gas station, buy a bus pass and take public transit when ever I can.
I also don’t like spending money on shopping so I shop sales, but I love quality fresh fruit so I spend extra (sometimes a lot) to buy fruit from the market and local vendors.
I also don’t like spending money of electricity so I turn off lights unplug things (much to annoyance of the wife) before going to bed etc.
I do enjoy spending good money on a nice bottle of wine (about 15€) when visiting friends.
Most importantly I hate making car payments, CC payments and loan payments (almost debt free) but I enjoy being able to give tithe and without having to worry about the budget.
Check out the link is here
http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/what-do-you-not-care-about-spending-money-on/
I like his blog because he is Anti Frugal in the sense of focusing on the big things and not worrying about the odd cup of coffee. Unfortunately his blog is very US based so not everything applies to us.
FT sorry about the long comment but it has had a big impact on my thinking.
Thanks Rob, I’ll have a look!
ps I tend not to do no spend days as much as work hard to keep my weekly budget as low as possible. For example carefully planning out my shopping taking the bus when I can, avoiding unnecessary spending etc. On a good week I can knock a third off my week budget, a bad week, well I try not to think about it.
“On a good week I can knock a third off my week budget, a bad week, well I try not to think about it”
AMEN!
A different point of view from James Lovelock: “Recycling, he adds, is “almost certainly a waste of time and energy”, while having a “green lifestyle” amounts to little more than “ostentatious grand gestures”. He distrusts the notion of ethical consumption. “Because always, in the end, it turns out to be a scam … or if it wasn’t one in the beginning, it becomes one.”"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2008/mar/01/scienceofclimatechange.climatechange
I’m not sure if this is depressing or liberating.
EJ that is interesting, I’ll have a read!
Definitely a great idea, and you are right, there is no greater trap than debt.
I think for me work days are the worst as it’s always “easier” to go out for lunch rather than make it, or i see something i need/want in the shops, so I have started making my lunch in advance and taking a book to read through my break so i don’t have to walk through the tempting shops
Sounds like a great plan Ms Thrift!
I used to hate paying bills – the gas, electricity, council, tax, car bills. Then I realised that I was so LUCKY to be able to have all these services and so now I don’t have a problem with the payment of them, although I do try to cut down the amount.
I have been very fortunate never to have been in debt … if I can’t afford it then I don’t buy it. Simple. I’ve also learned to admire things in the shop and leave them there …. only more to dust, more to organise, etc.
Also, when my children were around 13, I gave them a monthly allowance FOR EVERYTHING … clothes, school lunches, etc. I wanted them to learn how to make this allowance last a month as usually, that’s how they would be paid when they grew up.
THINK it worked!
Sorry this has gone off into a random butterfly-minded ramble.
xx
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