the no spend challenge

a left hand with a pale blue manicure holding colourful european money with a bed linen backdrop
The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket. – Wil Rogers

I have been thinking of doing a no-spend challenge for an age now, but whenever I would sit down to plan it, I would end up with a whole list of caveats of what to spend money on, and not a whole lot of things of what I would categorically not be spending money on.

Which is probably why I need the challenge in the first place.

But as I’m dangerously close to increasing my debt yet again, I need to bite the bullet and just. do it.

My biggest hindrance, I think, is the ‘but what if I fail’, which mostly revolves around hypothetical scenarios of really wanting something limited edition or encountering a sale on something that’s been on my wishlist for a very long time. And that brings me back to my loop of caveats and ‘if then else’ strings.

My ‘why’, however, is manifold and too strong to ignore any longer. There’s that debt I mentioned in passing. It already exists, the debt, and not only do I have no desire of increasing it, I also want to pay it off quicker than my loan schedule says I would.

I also want to reset my spending habits and build a better relationship with money. My mother had always been frugal, but it was really difficult for her to keep up with the rest of the family, whose default MO would always be ‘throw money at the problem’. Believe it or not, I actually have a strong frugal gene, it’s just been quiet for a really long time, whispering into the void of mood disorder and undiagnosed ADHD.

Another why is I want to be a more conscious and sustainable consumer. Even when I buy cheaply, I somehow manage to prolong the life of whatever it is that I buy to considerable lengths. I imagine if I stop spending money on crap and paying the (cash) poor tax, the lifespan of my belongings would only increase.

I would like to reduce clutter, but also finally get a grip on the areas that could certainly benefit from additional expense, like comfortable basics for my wardrobe, vertical play spaces for my cats, and vitamins and supplements that I’ve been skimping on.

I’ve enough entertainment in this house for years, for example. Physical DVDs, CDs, books – plus select streaming services will be staying for the ride. And I’ve enough “interesting” outfits. And enough makeup and nailpolish to open a salon. But I only have five pairs of presentable knickers that I’m not ashamed to wear to a doctor’s office, for example, and I don’t have a single winter coat that fits me comfortably, and I’m late on my property taxes.

I can easily list a couple dozen things I really want to buy – but I can hardly tell you five last things I spent money on.

So if there’s one person in this world that would benefit from this challenge – that person is me. Hi, hello, pleased to make your acquaintance.

I like things official, and I really like writing things out and making lists. If you’re into that stuff – wait for next post, grab a cuppa, dive in.

If that’s not your thing, then I guess I’ll see you around in other posts, both pertaining to the challenge and not.

But tell me: Have you ever done a no-spend? How long have you lasted if yes?