The first time I suggested this, back in 2019, it was simply a no-spend February. Given the current economy, I propose to make things more inclusive with a “no- or low-spend February.” This welcomes everyone, including those who might have reasons why they can’t just quit buying.
Besides, this exercise doesn’t mean “stop buying anything at all for 28 days.” Of course you can still put gas in the car or fresh produce in the fridge.
As I said back in 2019, a no-spend month is really more of a “spend-super-intentionally month” – and I’m confident that readers of this site are up to that challenge.
Some of you already have to spend super-intentionally, all year round, due to issues like underemployment, health conditions, family financial crises or, lately, inflation. Other readers spend carefully in order to meet specific goals: minimalism, sustainable living, giving to causes they believe in, early retirement and the like.
Whatever your reasons for being careful with your dough: Who’s in for a no- or low-spend February?
It’s pretty simple. Instead of spending the way you normally do, you interrogate your purchases:
Is this a need or a want?
If I need it, do I have something already that will work (almost) as well?
If not, is there any way to get it cheaply or free?
If not, how can I find the best possible price?
This may sound tiresome, but I promise you that it quickly becomes second nature.
The only other rule is that there are no other rules. I can’t make spending decisions for you or anyone else. All I can do is suggest making informed spending decisions for those 28 days (and maybe beyond).
No- or low-spend February tactics
Suppose you’ve been considering a new coat because your old one’s looking bleak. It’s still warm, but it’s…obviously a veteran garment. And right now you might find a very good price because wintery warmies are being clearanced to make room for springy thingies.
But you could also check a consignment store or thrift shop for an affordable coat, or a Buy Nothing group for a potentially free one. If you’re determined to buy retail, you might cash in points from rewards programs to make that clearance-price coat even more affordable.
No matter how you approach it, you’ll be getting creative about how you spend – and how much you spend. During those workarounds, your old coat will still be keeping you warm. And when you do get a replacement, you’ll appreciate it that much more.
Another example: It’s raining/snowing, you’re leaving work exhausted and you really want (there’s that word!) to get takeout because there’s nothing interesting to eat at home. You could decide to pick up pizza or tacos on the way home.
You could also decide to Googlewhack your pantry and come up with a fast, creative, interesting meal with sunk-cost ingredients, rather than spend $10 or $20 (or more) on a dinner you’ll quickly forget. (For information on Googlewhacking your pantry, and other ways to save money on meals, see “Food, food, glorious food.” It’s a chapter from my second book that I’ve turned into a free Google doc.)
Note: If your day has been beyond awful, maybe that fancy cupcake or Thai takeout should be considered a need and not a want. Balance. It’s about balance. If you get the takeout or coffee almost every day, it ceases being special. But if you do this only some of the time, the treat feels more like an occasion. Or like therapy, if it’s been a really lousy day.
So we get cheat days???
To be sure! We’re going for mindfulness, not masochism. Now that the movie theaters have reopened, I’ve been going two to three times a month. In late November I bought some discounted Cinemark gift cards. Since those are sunk-cost, I consider them no-spend.
And if I run out? I will cash in for a Cinemark gift card from Shopkick, which sends its e-scrip almost instantly, and not spend any money for the movies. (For more on Shopkick and other simple but lucrative apps, see “Rewards programs FTW!”)
Here’s what might prove a challenge: My daughter has invited me to visit in February. Using a frequent-flier ticket means no cash expenditures for travel, and she generally takes me grocery-shopping (her treat!) so I won’t have to spend anything on meals.
But I’ll likely cash in rewards points for a restaurant gift card or two to take her out to eat; all I will need is cash for the tip. Hoping to meet up with a friend while I’m there, too, which will mean some additional cash expense. Whatever: It’ll be a cheat day. (Besides, with COVID-19 surging in Phoenix, my daughter might ask me to postpone until March.)
A few other frugal hacks that might work for you as well as they do for me:
- The public library for books, movies and music
- Suggesting/hosting a potluck (several writers and I do this every month)
- Hanging out at a friend’s house to watch movies or a TV series on a streaming service (one they already have, or a free one you can access), or DVDs from the library
- Hosting a board game night at your own home – and making it a “bring your favorite snack to share” event, with your own contribution made from ingredients you already have
- Taking a long, hot bath and going to bed an hour early some night (this can feel positively spa-like)
Again: No one is telling you that you can’t spend any money. Just pick your spots.
Why suggest this now, so early?
February is still 11 days away. The reason I announce this now is to give you some lead time. Use that time to prepare yourself both mentally and practically.
Do a quick inventory of groceries, pet supplies and anything else your household needs to keep body and soul together. Stock up on these things before Jan. 31, so you’ll be ready to limit your shopping in February.
Sure, it’s likely you’ll have to shop for perishables at some point in February, unless you use grocery delivery or are cheerful about canned and dried products. The point is to stay out of the stores as much as possible. Out of sight truly is out of mind. Even if you just need milk and lettuce, you might walk in just as they take chocolate-chip cookies out of the oven. Your brain will immediately announce: “Smells like a cheat day in here!”
Or if you need to stop by the pet supplies warehouse in mid-February for a sack of kibble or box of litter, will you be able to resist buying a new chew toy or a catnip mouse? Maybe you will. Don’t set yourself up to fail.
Finally, why not use the next 11 days to think about what you want to get out of a no- or low-spend month? Perhaps you went into a bit of consumer debt during the holidays and want to retire it as fast as you can. Could be you want to rein in your overall spending, which has gotten a bit amorphous during the pandemic.
Maybe you want to beef up your emergency fund, or make an extra payment against your mortgage principle. Or maybe inflation is making you nervous, so you’re looking for ways to track and trim certain budget categories.
Share your stories
Last time I did this, readers were great about posting their week-by-week experiences: frugal hacks, interesting workarounds, funny anecdotes. This is me, hoping you’ll do it again.
You can start by leaving a comment on this post. It could be either a basic “I’m in!” or an explanation of any specific financial goal(s).
After that, watch for “How’s it going?” updates every week in February. Your comments on this post and the four February ones would be a big help. Or leave comments on the Surviving and Thriving Facebook page.
Back in 2019, I noted that this self-disciplinary exercise is a good one – especially for those of us who think we already are pretty money-savvy. Sometimes we’re surprised by what we see once we focus on what we are doing rather than what we think we’re doing.
So: Any takers? I look forward to reading about your creativity, your problem-solving and your goals for what you’ll do with the money you save. Or, maybe, for goals going forward: The more mindful we are of our money, the more we’ll be able to make it work for us in the long term.
Just a comment on FB Buy Nothing groups. In my group it’s dang near impossible to get anything good because when something good is offered, it’s not unusual for there to be 30 people on the list & it’s a random (?) drawing (so they say.
Well, someone will get it, right? The odds aren’t great, but someone will end up with the item. Maybe not you, which is frustrating. I get it.
In my neighborhood group, some people use a random number generator or the fabulous Wheel of Names. Others say, “Tell a dad joke and I’ll have my husband pick the winner.” Or it’s “Tell me your favorite color and I’ll let my kid pick.” Others just choose without saying whether it’s random.
Ours was like that at first. But it’s like our group is SO GOOD that everyone relaxed and starting only claiming what they really want instead of the “Oh I’ll claim because it’s cool that it’s free.” Now usually not more than five people.
So far I’ve given away three air conditioners, a couch, a washing machine and more clothes than I can remember. I’ve gotten a large screen 4K tv, a couch, my own black dress BACK as we’ve all been using the same formal dresses:-), a bread maker and a convection oven.
It’s a fun hobby that literally costs nothing is how I look at it. The side gig as a nanny has me driving the kiddos around picking up freebox stuff. Maybe they will learn frugality from me:-)
Your group sounds like ours. Freezers, washer/dryer combos, full suites of furniture and other great stuff has been offered up.
This group got so big and unwieldy that the moderators had to split it in half. Sadly, the new section had not nearly as many good offers; in fact, someone who’d been placed in that group reported to a friend that many of the posts during the worst of the pandemic were requests for food. Yikes.
I’m in. I tried to have a no spend month this January, but have had lots of unexpected vet bills as well as some (expected) medical expenses!
Hoo boy, those vet bills…During the first week in February, I hope you’ll share your experiences.
I’m in.
And any further statements you can coax from your DF on this or any other subject will be appreciated; I greatly enjoyed the most recent set. (I used to have a DH who came up with s**t like this regularly, until early-onset Alzheimer’s entered the mix.)
I am going to try……I will have a few birthday rewards left (Moe’s and Jersey Mike’s) that don’t expire until February. I will wait to cash those in. I’ve gone around this week collecting other birthday rewards and have stashed my free 3 ounces of TCBY and my BOGO Coldstone in the freezer to enjoy as a treat whilst I watch the Olympics. Auntie Anne’s gave me a free pretzel for using their app for the first time, which I did when I ordered my birthday freebie from them. I does not expire until March. In addition to those items, we have a full freezer and pantry, tons of books that await on my groaning nightstand, and a lovely tub (with some gifted bath salts) that I should use more often. Thanks for the tub reminder, Donna. I also have a DH who is a fabulous punster (he enjoyed reading Sh*T my DF says). A. Marie, I recognize you from other blogs that I read. Hoping that you can find peace during what has undoubtedly been a difficult journey.
I’m in, especially for food. We have several totes of frozen food on the porch and since spring snow melting temperatures probably will come sometime in March, we need to eat that stuff up.
Seward’s Icebox isn’t operational for at least part of the year, even in Fairbanks. Welcome aboard.
I’m in! I enjoyed it in 2019.
I’m in!
I’m in. I belong to a few budget-wise groups on fb but I can’t see much accountability with no-spend months when there’s thousands of members. I need to start small … and be held accountable 😉. I look forward learning from everyone and learning more about myself & my habits.
I’m in. I need a complete reset from pandemic over spending and hoarding!!!
A no- or low-spend month is a good way to clear out some of the hoarded items, right???
Yes. I need to find uses for brown rice flour, psyllium husks, sorghum flour that was purchased to make gluten free sourdough bread. That is just a start!
Great idea. Coming on the same day as my year end credit card summary, your post reminded me there is a lot of pruning to be done. I have just applied to join a buy nothing group.
I’m in!
I need accountability like Jeanne and a reset from Pandemic spending like Sandy
I am in. I do no spend weeks throughout the year. Old habits are hard to break
I’m in. Big changes in my finances (in a good way) but I haven’t reworked my budget to adapt and take advantage of them. And I have a feeling that lots of attention to them will make my looming retirement plans even more exciting and wonderful.
Yep. Hope to have some fresh ideas.
I’ve been doing a “Junk Out January” by purging unneeded clothing and household stuff. Following this with a low-/no-spend “Frugal February” sounds great! Count me in!
I am not sure if I’m in or not.
I’ve been super intentional with my spending since I started following your column in 2008 or 2009 so it’s second nature to me not to spend much pretty much at all times.
I am interested to see how everyone is doing though in their quest for no-spend.
I contribute and get gifts from our local Buy Nothing (which I started in 2017 because our area didn’t have one).
Several of my good friends are folks I met dropping off and picking up due to Buy Nothing. It’s a great way to meet like-minded frugal and or generous people. (I recently moved to a new area).
Could be you’re in all year long…?
I’m in. Its probably been mentioned before but my favorite thing to do is read and being able to use the Libby and Hoopla apps to borrow books, music and movies using my library card has been a lifesaver during the pandemic.
I’m all in. I teach Frugal living thru challenging times classes thru our local senior center and plan to rustle up a support following for mindful spending and no/low spend periods. Use your columns for continued inspiration!!!
Welcome aboard! And feel free to share with your class the links to the “Challenge Yourself to Save” and “Food, food, glorious food” chapters from my books:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WcyrT1_92_qh6cphpc_kKvwK5O8CLumZa_rPwiFg37c/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LH-A3e-SQOn_YBF3_hvjLDsfMhKJIFfVtsqfawMDqRE/
The only day that I know for sure will be a no spend day is February 1st—the day I have surgery for a tumor in a deep within “girly spot.” Of course, I will be racking up co-pays for my insurance that day, for sure. So, in preparation, I have stocked up on food, and paid off all bills. I have recently done a re-fi on my condo and am guarding that cash out like a watch dog.
Back at the beginning of January one of the scriptures at my church was about if someone has more than one coat they should give it to someone who does not have one. So I went home and gathered up 3 coats (of the several that I have!!!) and took them to the local soup kitchen. The very next day, a friend called and asked it I wanted some coats that were too big for her. That was good karma, no? While I am recuperating from surgery, I will be staying at home for at least a week and that will be no spend for sure. Though I am not from New England originally, I have adopted the New England mantra: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do with out.” Can’t wait to hear of everyone’s trials and errors and successes with this February challenge!!!
Wishing you a swift recovery from the procedure — and hear, hear for the use-it-up mentality.
I, too, am looking forward to hearing about other people’s workarounds.
Sending prayers for a quick recovery! I, too, had a tumor removed several years ago. The doctor said I could be up and around in a week…lol. Not so. Take your time, and get enough rest!
I’m in. My mortgage will hopefully be paid off in July but I would love to move up the PIF date even it’s only by a month.
How awesome is that!! Congrats!!
Woo-hoo! [Insert snoopy dance here!]
I’m in. I want to get back in the no-spend mindset following the holidays and a bunch of necessary home repairs.
🙋♀️ Count me in. I’d like to be more mindful of where I spend my money.
I have to pay for some home repairs soon. After that is done and paid for, I will be increasing the emergency savings and paid more on the cc.
I need a good pantry and freezer cleanout, plus we have four kids so I’m in! I’m excited to use up the canned beans I’m keeping around for no apparent reason and we have some frozen meat in weird portions (like one tiny slab of baby back ribs) that I need to figure out how to repurpose.
Well, you already know I’m in. I will be extra vigilant, however, in February — i.e. lower my food bill by $100 by eating out of the pantry, walking instead of driving (I have to relearn how to walk after breaking my foot!), staying out of stores, and reading through the books I already have.
I do have a vet bill – the dog needs to be neutered ($$$$$$), but I plan on listing a bunch of stuff on Facebook Marketplace and getting my decluttering (for downsizing) underway. I hope to negate any spending I do with selling stuff. I’ll be blogging about it all, and your encouragement is so very helpful! 🙂
Been thinking about your invitation for a few days, Donna. What my finances could use right now isn’t really no/low spending but adjacent to it. I want to transform some of my sunk costs into useful life material, i.e. take stuff I’ve bought and do actual things with it.
I want to finish the book I bought about bookkeeping practices, so I can make small tweaks/improvements to the financial recordkeeping I do for our family business.
I want to turn the 7+ pounds of beef soup bones in my chest freezer (from two different bulk beef purchases) into beef broth, and then turn the broth into soups and stews to go back into the freezer.
I want to list four different items of clothing on Ebay — all of which were ordered online and should’ve been returned because they didn’t fit well. Three pieces were worn just a few times, the fourth still has tags on it.
“Sunk Cost Salvation” — that’ll be my theme for the month.
I like it. Please play along!
Will do!
“Sunk Cost Salvation” — that’ll be my theme for the month.
I love that!!!
We paid off our mortgage in mid-December after a 13-month stint of “No Silly Spending,” which meant only basic necessities to keep us, the house, pets and cars running. There was a one-month hiatus after getting the house paid off during which we replaced a few things that were worn out or about to be so and paid for some high deductible non-urgent medical stuff.
Now we are back in the saddle for round two of No Silly Spending, with the goal of ending on up debt free by July 4th, if Fate allows. So I am definitely on for a frugal February as a bracing start.
Congratulations! What an achievement! I look forward to your sharing frugal hacks and workarounds.
I am in – I also had a lot of unexpected vet bills in January – I spent so much money in January – I was shocked when I added it all together – so a no spend February sounds great – just have to get DH on board with it. I love a challenge.
After January, I’m in!
I’m in. February is my birthday month. Told my husband no gifts, just a fancy dinner, so small extravagance. I’ve been organizing and decluttering and finding “new to me” stuff, so much fun. Another one is unsubscribing to emails that want me to purchase a product. I don’t need the temptation