We are halfway through “No Spend January”! Here is my latest update –
On January 1st, I began a “No Spend” month, in hopes of curbing silly spending and focusing on what I really need to purchase. I knew this would be hard, because, let’s face it – it’s SO EASY to make purchases these days. From the Amazon app to Apple Pay, I can whip that credit card out in a heartbeat to buy pretty much anything.
At the halfway point I can honestly say it’s going pretty well! I had a couple of expenses come up (which happens!) but overall, I am being very conscious of my spending.
What have I spent?
$34 for gas at Costco $9 for toilet repair parts – I am going to have an expense here later because my fix did not repair the problem completely and I’m going to have to have a plumber come. $13 to the Container Store to replace two containers I need for my pantry (not something I absolutely needed, but an organized pantry makes me happy so I spent it.) $22.50 for a ticket to see my friends in “First Date” on February 14th. Tack on the $33 I spent the first seven days of the month and I would say I’m doing pretty good!
I am obviously not counting my fixed expenses that include utilities and IRA contributions, etc.
Some other successes from the first half of the month – I called my cell phone provider and asked them to lower my bill and magically got $40 taken off per month! This kind of makes me mad because I wonder WHY do I have to keep calling to get my bill lower? Shouldn’t my bill be the lowest it can be by default? I know, I know – they’re in business and that’s how they make money – by suckers like me continuing to blindly pay their bill and not calling for a cheaper rate. Well, this sucker got wise and got the cheaper rate!
I also called my cable company and asked them to lower my bill. When they came back with a measly $4 a month savings, I finally got the nerve to just cut the cord. Yes, me, a lover of all things TV, has finally cut her cable cord. I have signed up for the Disney+/Hulu Live bundle and it will cost me about $55 a month. I’m saving more than $100 a month now! I know I could save even more by not having the streaming services, but as I said, I am a lover of all things TV!
What are my tips halfway through the month?
Use what I have. This has been my mantra. I am using groceries out of my pantry and freezer instead of just haphazardly purchasing what looks good at Albertson’s. I have planned meals to make sure I utilizing what I have and only had to acquire some perishables with the $33. I have not had to go to the grocery store yet again this month.
I have been deleting emails like crazy. Wow – I did not realize how many marketing emails I get until I started really paying attention. And they ALL seem to be advertising amazing sales! I have been ignoring them and just deleting without looking. For many of them, I am also just unsubscribing. I don’t need anything! I need to use what I have.
Some things I continue to focus on going forward:
I’m going on a weekend trip for Martin Luther King Day to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. I will be spending some money on meals, but I am going to NOT buy anything extra. A confession- we are seeing “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and I may be purchasing some swag, but I feel this is a special occasion and I have planned for it.
Becoming more sustainable. As I have already stated, I am really trying to not buy anything new that I don’t absolutely need. This is hard! I see cute leisurewear and I just really want to purchase it! But NO!!!! I have clothes, I don’t need anything new. And if I find there is something I really do need? I’m going to try and shop resale first. I will stay strong!
So that’s my update halfway through the month. How are you doing with your “No Spend” January? Let me know and we can help each other along the way!
Leave a Reply