How To Do A No Spend Challenge
A No Spend Challenge helps you to reassess your shopping habits and save more so that you can spend on things that actually matter (like travel and quality time with loved ones).
It seems like every year, the holidays burn a hole in our pockets and every January we have to reset.
Slowing down and consuming consciously can be beneficial not only for your finances, but also for the planet and society.
I've been a slow fashion advocate since 2018, and naturally that's led me to cut down on a lot of my spending.
With the Buy Now documentary shedding light on some of the subversive tricks that brands use to get consumers to buy more, and the recent Amazon strikes protesting unfair labor practices used by the marketplace giant, it feels like conversations around degrowth and ethical consumerism are now more pressing than ever.
So if you're done with contributing to the problem, then this is your sign to join a No Spend Challenge.
One month of no unnecessary spending. You can do it!
Here are the top tips and tricks for budgeting and accountability to help you succeed.
First Off, What Is A No Spend Challenge?
A No Spend Challenge is exactly as it sounds: for a set period of time, you're challenging yourself to not spend any money on unnecessary goods.
No fast fashion. No takeout. No impulse splurges! 🙅🏻♀️
However, your bills are still getting paid. You're still allowed to buy groceries. And depending on your specific rules, you might even budget a little for "fun" spending.
Think of it like this: you've got "wants" and "needs."
For a brief period of time, we're cutting out all the "wants" and only spending money on "needs."
A No Spend Challenge can technically last for as long as you'd like but I recommend starting out with one month.
It's a good amount of time to reset your shopping habits and after the month, you can reflect on your experience and decide if you want to extend the experiment! Trust me, it flies by faster than you think.
For the purpose of this article, we're going to use "No Spend Challenge" and "No Buy Month" interchangeably.
So, What Are The Rules For A No Buy Month?
The beauty of a No Buy Month is that it's extremely flexible and the rules can be adapted to your unique circumstances.
However, below are the two principles that most people abide by:
No new unnecessary purchases for the month. Make sure that you define this clearly using the tips outlined below.
It's okay to spend on essentials and emergencies. Remember, you still need to live so make sure that you’re covering your basic expenses.
How To Do The No Spend Challenge
Technically, you can just suddenly stop buying things but I don't know how long that would last. So, here's how you would plan for a successful No Spend Challenge.
1. Set A Goal
It can be a specific monetary amount or something more vague (like cutting out all fashion and accessory purchases), but take this time to reflect on what matters you and why you're doing this, and set something that seems attainable (but still challenging).
2. Set A Timeframe
Your challenge can be as short or as along as you want it to be.
The first time I did a No Buy Challenge was over Slow Fashion Season when I cut out all new purchases for three months.
However, for first-time participants, I think a month is a good enough time to reframe your relationship to shopping and save a decent amount of money.
3. Set Your Rules
I'll dive into some specific questions to ask in the "tips" section, but when you set your rules for the challenge, you want to account for your budget and outline guidelines for each category.
Get granular with the details as this will help you envision living in that particular way. It'll also help you anticipate any problems or chokepoints and assess how practical the challenge feels.
4. Find An Accountability Buddy
This step is optional, but it can be helpful to find a friend to keep you accountable. You can do weekly check-ins and troubleshoot challenges together.
Benefits Of A No Spend Month
1. You’ll Save Money
When you spend less, you save more. Whether you’re trying to build up your emergency fund or work your way to financial independence, a no spend month can help you jump start your financial goals.
Furthermore, you can allocate the money that you save towards big-budget items that you really want, like a trip to Italy or your wedding.
2. You’ll Help The Environment Out
So much of what we buy ends up in the landfill. By saying no to fast fashion and other convenience-based goods, you generate less waste in the long run.
3. You'll Have Better Control Over Impulse Buys And Emotional Spending
Whether you’re shopping to cope with stress or are trying to numb something else out, a No Buy Month can help you take a long hard look at why you spend the way you do.
4. It’ll Help You Set (And Stick To) Your Budget
A budget audit can be scary, but it’s also empowering.
No Spend Challenge forces you to take a peek under the hood and assess where your money is actually going. Only when you understand your spending habits can you budget correctly to feel satisfied (and not deprived).
5. It’ll Free Up Mental Space
Have you ever started your day with online shopping and then just felt unproductive for the rest of the day?
That's because shopping causes decision fatigue!
When you decide to go cold turkey, you suddenly free up a bunch of mental space. A No Spend Month will also help you break out of the search-buy-declutter cycle and save you a bunch of time on scrolling through online listings.
6. Say Effe You To The Capitalist System
Stop making billionaires richer while you (and the planet) get poorer.
If you’re a little rebel at heart (the way that I am), a huge benefit to doing a No Buy Month is that you take yourself completely out of the capitalist system. Break the cycle and just say no.
Top Tips For A Successful No Spend Challenge:
I’ve been shopping mindfully for a few years now, so here are some of my top tips for an easier No Buy Month.
1. Know Your Why & Set Intentions
Everything’s easier when we’re clear on motivation.
Start your No Spend Challenge by writing down your intentions and return to them when you see something that you like. Writing down your goals can help you stay strong in your commitments and visualize what you hope to gain from this experience.
2. Set Clear Ground Rules
Having concrete rules for your experience will help you more easily say “no.”
Ask yourself:
Which categories am I refraining from shopping?
What counts as an essential need vs a want?
Do secondhand items count?
Are cheat days allowed?
Are there any consequences for mistakes?
How will I reward myself for each successful week?
By pre-establishing these rules, you take the guesswork out of the equation.
3. Be Smart About Timing
A lot of people choose January for their firstNo Spend Challenge. It makes sense.
We purchase a whole bunch throughout holiday season, so in the following month, there’s this tendency to want to remediate that by cutting back and honoring what we already own.
That being said, you can obviously start your No Buy whenever..
Just make sure that you don’t have any big trips or events coming up. Having a bit of foresight will help you anticipate any potential purchases and give you time to scour swap groups or no buy communities to find the things that you need instead.
4. Assess Your Budget & Conduct An Inventory Check
Before you begin, I highly recommend that you get crystal clear on what you own and how much you normally spend.
This way, you can budget appropriately for essentials.
Setting Your Budget
When setting your budget, you should look over your spending habits for at least the past three months. Then give yourself a range for each category: groceries, shelter, utilities, transportation, medical, debts, and entertainment.
Conduct An Inventory Check
For your one month No Buy Challenge, you’ll have to work with what you already own.
Most people have a good idea of what they have around the house but lose track when it comes to their closet. So we’ll talk exclusively about the fashion component.
Begin a wardrobe inventory check by conducting a closet mass index and then tracking your garments in an app like Stylebook or recording them down manually. Doing this before your challenge will help you get a better feel for what you own and in turn, help you style creative outfits throughout the course of the month.
From there, join a few Instagram outfit challenges or watch styling videos on Youtube to help you still have fun with fashion even during this No Buy Month.
5. Join Relevant Communities
Join your local no buy groups on Facebook or do some research on swap communities
You can also ask a friend to participate in thisNo Buy Challenge with you and opt to borrow from each other when necessary. Just because you’re committed to a no spend month doesn’t mean that you’re limited to using only what you have.
6. Go Public For Accountability
Telling someone about your commitments can add an additional level of accountability. Whether you're sharing on social or simply telling your best friend, vocalizing this undertaking will make it that much more concrete.
7. Unfollow Influencers & Unsubscribe From Newsletters
Okay, okay, maybe unfollowing is a bit harsh…but you should at least mute them for the time being.
Sticking to your no buy becomes so much easier when you don’t have people on social media telling you to purchase more. If you use influencers as a way of finding new inspiration and love the creative interaction behind that, get into the habit of bookmarking their recommendations instead.
Rather than purchasing an item right then and there, save it to a list of “potential purchases" and then revisit that list in a few months.
If you still want those items, consider looking for them secondhand. More likely than not, the trend will have passed and you won't want them anymore.
In that same vein, unsubscribe from marketing newsletters. If there’s a brand that you really love and still want to hear from, see if you can change the frequency of their emails. That way, you’ll still hear about major deals but don’t have to fight the urge to buy every other day.
8. Track Your Progress & Stay Motivated
It’s easy to see a No Spend Challenge as self deprivation, but not if you make a game out of it!
Use a printable tracker or an app like Goal Streaks or Done to game-ify your experience. Then treat yourself to a budget-friendly reward when you succeed at each No Buy Week!!
Stay motivated by joining frugal or minimalism communities. Whether that’s via social media or in real life, connecting with people on the same path makes the experience that much more fun.
9. Be Kind & Don’t Give Up
We all make mistakes. If you end up purchasing something, give yourself grace. Reflect on your actions and then decide whether or not you want to do better.
From there, let go of any guilt or shame and allow yourself to fully enjoy that purchase for a long time. Take care of your clothes and if you’d like to reset the counter on your no buy, you can continue to push yourself to attain a new streak.
Late stage capitalism and excessive consumerism not only drains your wallet but also harms the environment. Instead, we need to center the conversation around degrowth and cut down the rate at which we consume.
Does It Actually Work?
As someone who has done a handful of No Buy Challenges now, they do work.
However you have to set a clear goal and stick to your specific guidelines. Remember it's all a part of the process, but if you want results you have to stick to the plan.
What To Do After Completing The Challenge
If you’ve decided to participate in a No Spend Challenge, congratulations!
Deciding not to spend a single dime on clothes, accessories, or consumer goods for 30 whole days allows you to take a step back and reassess your relationship with shopping.
I really hope that this challenge allows you to reframe your mindset and inspires effortlessly conscious shopping in the future.
Cut impulse shopping out of your life with these 5 important questions or make the most of your existing closet by learning how to use a capsule wardrobe!
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