Just a heads-up: Beginning tomorrow, we start the no- or low-spend February challenge. Given the comments I received on the original post, some of you are as intrigued as I am by this chance to look closer at your spending and, if need be, to get control of it.
This time around we’re doing “low-spend” as an option. I want to encourage people to do their best not to spend – but I also want them to let it go if they do have to spend.
Your teenager has no control over whether they grow out of their shoes next month, and your car isn’t going to wait until March 1 to break down. As thoughtful as those things would be, life isn’t perfect. It doesn’t conform to our expectations. (I expect most of you know that already.)
As I noted in the original piece, it’s more of a “spend-super-intentionally” month. The object isn’t privation. It’s innovation, and it’s discovery. How can we come up with clever workarounds vs. spending on autopilot? And just how much do we spend while we think we’re being frugal?
Also as noted: We’re going for mindfulness, like masochism. You can still buy stuff. Heck, you can even buy stuff you don’t technically “need,” as long as you keep the low- or no-spend February club rules in mind:
Is this a need or a want?
If I need it, do I have something already that will work as well, or 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?
No- or low-spend February tips
Again: This sounds onerous, but I swear that it isn’t. For example, remember when you first learned to drive a car? For me it was a terrifying swirl of variables: Move the seat forward, put the key in the ignition, press the clutch, turn the key, where the heck is reverse on this thing, look behind me and back up, put it in first, how soon should I shift into second, suppose I have the right-of-way but some schmuck ignores the “Yield” sign and zooms out in front of me, am I going too fast or too slow, lord how I hate parallel parking…
Very quickly it all became second nature. Still don’t like parallel parking, though.
A few tips for those who want to join us this month:
Stay out of stores/off the shopping sites as much as you can. As Oscar Wilde said, “I can resist anything except temptation.” Don’t tempt yourself.
Clean out the pantry/fridge/freezer. That stuff isn’t getting any younger. There’s a great deal of satisfaction to be had in finally clearing out your old stores of food. As you eat, figure out how much you might have saved by not going to the supermarket or ordering takeout.
Entertain yourself at home if you can. Streaming sites. Library books/DVDs. Give yourself a facial using ingredients you already have. Invite a friend over to play board games. Bake this stupid-simple rustic bread. Do your nails. Do your partner’s nails. “Entertainment” can mean whatever makes you relax or stimulates your mind – and the two are not always mutually exclusive (e.g., crossword puzzles).
Attack a project. Organize your tax paperwork. Take a few things off the pile of mending (with luck, you’ll get into the zone and keep sewing). Vacuum out your car. Clear out closets/the garage, then put things you no longer need up on Buy Nothing or Freecycle; if the things you want to get rid of are valuable, put them up on Facebook Marketplace or on a consignment site.
Take notes. As you go along, notice how much you didn’t spend. Realize how good it feels finally to have de-cluttered, even a little bit. Think about ways the “extra” money in your budget can be applied to financial goals.
Give yourself some credit. Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back, but do acknowledge that you’re making positive steps in your financial journey. At this time of year, we need all the positive affirmations we can get.
Thanks for being part of this, and I hope you’ll leave comments on this post during the first week in February. I’m looking forward to reading how the no- or low-spend February works for you.
Already on it! Took down wallpaper and am going to paint my kitchen, in no hurry…..have been looking at colors (some version of white) ….just helped my Sister paint a spare room at my Stepmom’s house (a version of white)…we still have to touch up the edges, but she will have almost a full gallon leftover which she said I could have when we finish! My kitchen is small, so it should be enough, and since I am in no hurry and not picky about the color, I jumped on it!! Free paint!!
That is quite the bargain — I expect you’ve noticed the price of paint these days.
Bonus: What with removing switchplates, moving things out of the room, masking, etc., you will be occupied for parts of several (or more than several) evenings. No need to spend anything to be, uh, entertained.
I did my no spend in January. It feels really good to have accomplished so much in a month. The weather was awful from start to finish so going out and spending anything, anywhere was not even an issue! Good Luck to everyone!
Did a „need“ only January, and it went well. Will do the same for February and spend the savings when our grandson visits the first week in March!
Enjoy the feeling of being „mindful“
Save where you can and spend where you want — it works for me and apparently it works for you as well. You’ll be able to enjoy that visit fully.
I am ready! We resumed our plan of no silly spending about two weeks ago after drafting the plan to knock out our consumer debt, hopefully by the first week of July, which is a small project compared to paying off our mortgage early last year.
In a weird way, I enjoy the discipline of doing this. It’s not deprivation because it makes me be so creative, plus I absolutely hate shopping anyhow and now have a built-in excuse. 😀
Creativity is key — and coming up with those workarounds does seem fun once you get your head in the game.
On the last day of January, I paid off a $4,000 credit card (unexpected house repairs). I am looking forward to putting money in my savings account this month. Gotta rebuild!
I took out $400 yesterday to cover gas, food, and misc. I figured one hundred a week. That’s pretty bare bones, but I can do it!
I believe you can do it! And I hope you will share how it went.
And congratulations on the credit card repayment.
I wasn’t really planning to participate in No Spend February, but accidentally started off right.
I recently cashed in a large amount of airline miles to get a family member a flight to relocate to our area this month.
I don’t use a lot of points programs but find airline credit card miles to come in handy when we (or in this case a family member) needs a flight.
Glad to see you on the roster, Ro. You’ve got a lot of experience to share.
And how kind of you to donate miles to ease the family member’s relocation expenses.
I had been thinking about signing up, but on the 1st I had to make an unexpected trip to the vet. The outcome was good, and I don’t regret it at all, but it did alter my plans temporarily. At first I just threw up my hands and laughed at life. After thinking about it, I’ve decided to join in on the “mindful spending” side of things and target a specific area, groceries. We have a pretty good stash, and I’m committed to depleting as much of it as I can. A bonus is that it should make some room in the pantry and the freezer compartment. I’ll have to replace some things that we use up regularly, but I think that some creative cooking can help cut down on food expenses, especially for evening meals.
Well, there you go: You’re in! And any time we have unexpected expenses, doing a pantry challenge is one way to cut extra spending. As you say, it makes room in the pantry and freezer — room that will one day be filled up with more great deals, in theory.
Glad the vet visit led to a good outcome.
Thank you, and thank you for being such a bright spot in this world.
I’m in, Donna! I’ve never been a fan of this month, so having a project to focus on and distract me really appeals to me.
I’ve requested a couple of days off so I can take donations to Goodwill. (I have to go out of my way to get there, I miss the days when they picked up donations.) Also really need to donate some books to the main library which just re-opened last month. As for no spend/low spend, that’s always my plan.
Thanks for being a dependable advocate for frugality that we can always count on.
Wonder if I should put “dependable advocate for frugality” on my business card?
I expect getting those donations out of your home will bring some satisfaction. De-cluttering for a cause!
After I moved (and moved back) to Alaska, February became the month where it all turns around. Still months of winter to go, obviously, and we can’t put any garden plants in the ground until the end of May, but February is when we start to notice the light coming back. Well, we notice it when the sun is actually visible; we just experienced many days in a row of clouds and/or snow. Yesterday the sun came out for a while and the blue sky and daylight made us a bit giddy.
I’ve been in for the low spend February. Being very mindful about spending and using up some surplus food on hand. Been tracking spending carefully since beginning of year. I’m hoping to retire in 3 1/2 years and really want to clearly see where the money goes and what categories need to be fine-tuned. Frugal by nature and I thank my German grandmother for that. (Thank you, Gram K) Seldom dine out unless special occasion. Eating at home is a huge money saver and healthier. We vacuum seal meat or anything that goes in the freezer and label what it is and date it. I jokingly told our daughter’s if something happens to your dad and I use up what’s in the freezer since you will know what it is and how old. I make my own soups by saving the bones/broth/vegetables from other meals. Make my own yogurt and sometimes bread and breadsticks to go with the soup. Like you mentioned Donna, it’s not about deprivation. I really enjoy getting the best out of what we have, kinda makes me proud actually. Can’t wait for garden season here in PA.