Have you ever tried a no spend day? Or even a whole week? If you haven’t, you should consider these tips on How To Make It Through A No Spend Week to help you put some cash on the side.
How To Make It Through A No Spend Week
Adding a no spend week into your budget every month can be healthy for your finances, and has so many benefits. Trying to do a no spend a week (or even just a day) can be difficult, and turning down a good deal or an enticing sale can be even worse. If you’re considering a no spend week, here are 4 things to do to help you get started and help you through the week.
This post contains affiliate links.
Be Prepared and Commit
If you want to have a successful no spend week, you need to be prepared and be fully committed. Make sure you have plenty of gas in your car and groceries for the week. Don’t be tempted to pick up that Starbucks coffee after dropping off the kids at school or on your way to work. Create a list and stick to it.
- Make your own coffee at home.
- Cook your lunch and take it with you. Whether you work out of the house or are just running errands. It’s too tempting to stop and grab a bite to eat.
- Bring your own refillable water bottle.
- Add some extra snacks in your purse for yourself and the kids in case you are out.
Get Creative To Save Money
Figuring out how to use what you have can be one of the hardest parts of not spending money for a week. This is where you might need to be a little creative to stay committed and on task.
- Create meals from your pantry instead of buying groceries.
- Popping your own popcorn at home and watching a DVD you already have instead of going to the movies or renting something.
- Borrowing a book from the library instead of buying a new book.
- Ride your bike to the library or the park instead of taking your car.
- Take the kids to a local park, rather than paying for an indoor activity.
Look For Free Fun Local Activities
Most people are completely unaware of all the free events happening in their own city! As the week progresses, you will start to get bored, especially if the kids are home during summer. Don’t get discouraged, it can be done! It’s during this time that you may be tempted to give up your spending freeze and do something fun instead.
Keep a list of free activities and events handy that you can turn to whenever your family gets bored. This could range anywhere from a board game night at home to a free concert nearby. Look on your local cities Facebook page or website for a list of weekly activities going on locally.
Find Ways To Get Outside
This one is coming from personal experience. During your no spend week, find time to get outside with your family. The more you stay cooped up in your home, the harder it will be to stick to your no spend week commitment. Whether you go for a walk around your neighborhood, sit on your front porch, or have fun in your local pool. Just make sure you are getting outdoors.
My family loves being outdoors, but we can get pretty lazy, especially during the summer months. It’s so much easier to just head over to an indoor bounce location, but trust me, the kids will have more fun playing outdoors.
Making it through a no spend week can be pretty easy by making sure that you are planning ahead. Set yourself up for success and follow through your weekly plans. Saving money doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with the family, it just means that you are going to have to be a little bit more creative, but it will definitely be worth it.
You Are Also Going To Love:
If this article on How to Make it Through a No Spend Week was helpful, then you will also enjoy reading the following budget-friendly tips I have put together for you:
Have you ever tried a no spend week?
Leave a Reply