It’s Feb. 1, the start of our 2nd annual No-Spend Challenge.
In case you missed it, click here to read all the details of this year’s money moratorium. Click here for a look at what happened during last year’s Month of No Spending.
But in a nutshell, we won’t be spending any cash this month on food, cleaning supplies, personal items, gifts, entertainment. Basically, if we don’t NEED it, we won’t be buying it.
We’ll be eating from the pantry and freezer, staying out of the stores and learning to use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without, as the saying goes.
Since I won’t be out and about chasing bargains, I’m hoping to spend more time at home, getting things organized, clearing more clutter and tackling a few projects. But more on that later.
If you’d like to join us in the No-Spend Challenge — even for a week or a day — I’d love to hear from you in the Comments section.
And if you’d just like to watch from the sidelines, I understand. Weigh in with a comment anyway.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Noah // Feb 1, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Or you could just make more money, and the need to Not spend wouldn’t be there. Just a thought.
2 Amy P. // Feb 1, 2010 at 8:30 pm
I think that your No-Spend Challenge is a great idea! I had a question about how you handle Valentine’s Day. Did you buy little gifts ahead of time, do you make things for your family, or do you not do anything at all for your family for Valentine’s Day? Thanks for your inspiration!
3 Amy Dunn // Feb 1, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Hi Amy. Great question. Not exactly sure how we’ll be celebrating Valentine’s Day but I imagine it will involve baking something a little extra special. A cheese cake, perhaps? If I’m feeling especially festive, I may serve it on antique china by candlelight. Pretty simple. No stuff, no cash involved.
4 Amy Dunn // Feb 1, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Noah. You are so right, I could just make more money, and, in fact, I am currently trying to do that. But this challenge is more than just being about the money. It’s about taking a month off to simplify and remind ourselves how lucky and blessed we are living in the American land of plenty.
5 Lisa // Feb 3, 2010 at 5:58 pm
I found Noah’s response to be a bit offensive. Making more money DOES NOT fix problems! The no spend challenge is a way to stretch your dollars and to be aware of your spending. We are a 2 income family and watch every penny. We will pay off our house WAY earlier than the loan requires. This is the thought process of not only millionaires, but of frugal families as well!
Just my 2 cents. Thanks for the blog!
6 Hiptobeme // Feb 6, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Poor, poor Noah. He really has no concept of frugality. More money does not equal less need. It increases percieved needs and spending. Good for you on the no spend challenge. A very disciplined approach to the budget. I am currently on a no spend challenge until pay day, but that is because I have to. Today i scrounged for milk with a coupon. But I still have it better than many!
7 Amy Dunn // Feb 7, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Thanks so much for reading my blog and taking the time to comment. I’ll be updating the No Spend Challenge on Tuesday and am planning on addressing the handful of negative reactions I’ve received. By and large, though, the comments have been like yours, cheering me on. I admire you for so cheerfully refraining from spending until pay day!
8 Kristie // Feb 8, 2010 at 10:20 am
Wow. I’m thinking of Noah’s comment about, “the need to not spend wouldn’t be there.” Consider the inverse, the need to spend would be there. There’s a whole blog posting embedded in that!
My comment, however, is that no matter how much money your family makes, it’s not about the money you make. It is about the money you spend. My husband and I have great salaries, but we used to spend every penny and then some. Now we have some freedom from debt and are very intentional in the way we spend money (which means we enjoy it!).
9 Amy Dunn // Feb 8, 2010 at 10:37 am
Well said, Kristie!
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