When I first started getting budget conscious and really looked at where my money was going, I was amazed to find how the little things added up – the bottle of water from the store, the gum & newspaper on the way home, the quick bite to eat with friends, it all = spending.
So, I began with 1 day a week that I didn’t spend. That means I don’t buy anything at all – no food, no stamps, no papers, no mints or music – nada! It was exceptionally difficult at first to even manage 1 day a week, within a fortnight I built it up to 2 days a week, then 3 and I’m now at 5 days a week of no spending. What this means is I have to plan my spending, I have to know what I need and wait until a spending day to purchase it. I’ve found this no only stops silly spending on stuff, but actually once you have to wait for something you usually forget about it. No spending days have transformed my spending habits and I urge anyone trying to cut down on consumerism to consider having no spending days each week! The monthly goal for me now is to have 20 no spending days a month as a minimum. Why not see if you can do it to?
I’m going to give this one a shot – it might help me with my own get out of debt quest. Great site!
Thanks for the inspiration. Have had the desire to downsize and simplify, ect…. for a long while. Sometimes confirmation is all we need to put a thlought into action. Thanks for the advice.
I like how you did this, starting with one day a week and gradually increasing. To go a whole week without spending right off overwhelms me, but I am going to try it your way.
I have committed to downshifting this year and am using several of your ideas. Thanks for being a pioneer in this new life style in the western world.
I love the fact that you are a witness that it is a very doable lifestyle even in the city.
Fabulous idea……………I am the queen of the “must
have” purchase…………I can justify anything, however self indulgent. I was drooling over a $1200.00 necklace ( re-issued after 12 years) that
“I have always wanted” . Crazy.
Time to think of how something gets to us, who really profits and who suffers, and what is the true cost ( interest, labour, enviroment etc.)
Debt comes from small purchases & wants…not needs……………..thanks for the project!!!
What an excellent idea! I like the fact that you built up gradually – that must have made it easier to do. I have just increased our monthly savings amount and am looking for ways to save more money, so I was pleased to find this idea – I will definitely put it into practice.
Thanks,
Roz
http://lifeinaustralia.today.com
Such a good idea!
I love this idea. I try to do it myself, but any ideas on how to get a resistant hubby on-board with it as well?
Cicily, the best way to get a husband on board is to show him how much you’ll save and make it as easy as possible. Ask him what he struggles with, what days of the week would be the best no spending day for him etc. Show him the sums, spending $3 a day means you are more than $1000 worse off a year etc.
Ask him to pick one day a week, the same day each week and for you both, for your relationship and finances and family stick to it. No one I know who has done it has wanted to give it up, in fact they want to do it more!
Good Luck
Great idea! When I was really hard-up when my kids were younger it was hard working full-time in a big city office and avoiding spending so I just used to take a set amount out with me every day (say 2 pounds for example) and no cards or anything which would enable me to withdraw or spend more. Because I had a very limited and small amount I thought twice about spending it and didn’t make light-hearted purchases and ended up coming home with all or most of the money intact more often than not.
I battle to stop smoking, so this year’s clever plan is to put money for too-lazy-to-cook-meals, wine, ciggies in separate envelopes, based on average costs over a month – and the amounts are scary!!!. All money left over goes into a holiday account. So, the less I use those envelopes, the sooner the holiday.
There are simple rules: our book club meets once a month, for instance, so no “withdrawal” from the envelope – that’s part of the main budget. Really just an attempt to curb “want to, want to, want” spending.
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I just blogged about you- thanks for the inspiration!
http://ekkentroslife.blogspot.com/2009/04/no-spending-days.html
How great to achieve 20 no spend day’s,this morning i set myself a challenge to not spend untill next Tuesday, when i do my fortnightly grocery shopping, you have inspired me to try harder, if i get thru till next tuesday i would have done 12 no spend day,s this month, don’t you just love those no spend day’s? money in the bank isn’t, makes me feel good, love your site, Regard’s from Carol in australia.
As we’re preparing for lean times ahead, I’ve extended your excellent idea into absolute zero non-spending weeks – I buy everything we need at the weekend, and, during the week, I try to spend nothing at all. Last week, I spent $5 during the week, this week, I’ve spent $7 – not too bad!!
Thanks again for the inspiration,
Roz
Your blog is wonderful! I am so glad I discovered it. What a nice voice you have.
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Hi,
I find logging into these frugal living websites to be encouraging. I have been good with money in the past, but not to the extent talked about here. I find it hard to break the habit of spending, although I spend much less than the average person I still find it hard to go all week without spending anything except for necessities. Any suggestions about what to do if you are feeling deprived?
I have finally amanged my first week with a single no spending day in it! I have tried for 2 weeks and found it really difficult. Found that I really need to plan my spending, as suggested. Just need to make sure that I do not spend twice as much on a spending day to compensate for a no spending day! Going to try for 2 days this week.
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You inspired me to have a no spending week AND to halve our grocery bill. I just put a post on it up on my blog. http://caitlynnicholas.blogspot.com/2010/03/frugal-yikes.html With lots of links to your lovely blog.
Many thanks for a great blog
Managed my first intentional no spend day yesterday! It was tricky as my workplace is full of vending machines, shops and cafes with tempting treats, but I remained focussed. Would like to do it again today, but we need milk. Hopefully this will be the start of many NSDs.
Happy to hear that you have taken on this approach!
It really does help when living more simply, and it brings a person down to earth and to the reality of the matter.
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