5 Tips For A Successful No Spend Month
Implementing a No Spend Month can seem intimidating, but with these 5 tips and FREE PRINTABLE, you can plan for a successful one!
I don’t know about you, but with raising kids and shuttling them from one sport to another and everything in between, my finances can become out of whack quickly if I don’t have a system put in place.
About two months out of the year, I like to try and implement a “No-Spend” month for two reasons:
- It gets me re-focused on areas that we have been lazy in our budget
- It helps the kids understand that sometimes you have to buckle down in order to have the things we want in the future
I know this concept can seem scary for someone that has never done it. Trust me, I KNOW! It is so refreshing when you are at the end of it though.
In order to make it a bit easier, I’ve come up with 5 ways to help make your No Spend month a success!
I’m also including a FREE PRINTABLE for you to download to take some of the anxiety of tracking everything! I am ALSO giving you FREE Weekend Ideas for the month!
Take a breather and let that anxiety of a no-spend month go and let’s jump into ways to make it easier for you and your family:
Plan Your Month Right
This one is HUGE! You want to make sure that your No-Spend Month isn’t full of obligations and birthdays! I know, I know – if you’re like me, then not many months would work. Just pick one and DO IT!
Avoid vacations, holidays and any other events that could potentially affect your ability to save.
Make Rules
Before you start your No-Spend month, you’re going to need to assess what is a NEED and what is a WANT! Make sure that you have set rules that you can follow. Non-negotiables are going to be things like rent, mortgage, utilities, etc. The other non-negotiables (food, tobacco, gas, etc) need to have a budget set so that you know what you can’t go above! Everything outside of that is a NO SPEND!
Plan Your Meals
Take inventory of what you have in the pantry and freezer and use what you have. Sure, you can still spend $800 a month on groceries and not go out to eat, but the goal is to use what you have on hand so that you spend even LESS than your normally would.
Clean Up Your Email
You’re probably wondering what in the world this has to do with a No-Spend month, but it’s KEY! Get rid of ALL of the promotions and selling in your email so that you aren’t tempted by the HUGE SALE going on this weekend at Kohl’s! Removing the temptations that we are taunted with everyday will make it easier to succeed.
In the FREE PRINTABLE that I created for you, you’re going to be able to mark off days as you complete them! It’s going to feel refreshing to see the days that you succeeded when you come across a day that’s hard.
I’m also giving you access to an entire list of FREE things to do in your community! These are all things that you should have access to no matter where you live..
Lastly, Be Kind To Yourself
There are going to be days where you don’t quite succeed in the no-spend concept. Be easy on yourself and try again tomorrow. The ultimate goal is to just be conscious of where you are spending your time and money.
This is something I would encourage you to do at LEAST one time a year! You’ll feel better about your finances and budget on the month’s that seem like your expenses are far outweighing your income!
If you’re looking for some other money-saving articles and printables check these out:
Share this with your friends and you can hold each other accountable! PIN it on your finance or budgeting Pinterest board so you always have access to the FREE PRINTABLES!
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