11 Tips for a Successful No Spend Day
If you find yourself trapped in one of those weekly spending binges you’re unable to control, then you’re not alone.
If you’ve been working hard to manage your finances and save money, then it’s time to consider freezing your shopping sprees for a few weeks to re-examine your finances and embrace some money-saving severe tips.
Going on a week-long financial austerity regime cannot only slow down the drain on your bank account, but also help you focus on your most significant financial weaknesses.
The “No Spend Days” where you stop dolling out your cash for everything apart from the bare essentials is increasingly becoming a must-have attitude for millennials and pretty much everyone else.
A successful no spend day is an opportunity not to spend any money. It’s one of the proven ways to drastically reduce impulse spending, quick trips to the store, and eating in restaurants.
A no-spend day is accomplished by only spending money on necessities for a day. These are items such as:
· Food
· Gas
· Airtime
· Bills
· Emergencies such as medicine, field trips, etc.
So if you’ve never liked the term: “tighten your belt,” here are ten tips for a successful no spend day:
1. Stop eating out
As you start the no spend days, plan to eat at home as much as possible. Avoid watching those streaming commercials that tempt you to eat in a restaurant.
Restaurants are full of temptations that attempt to attract as many diners as possible who end up parting with a considerable chunk of their earnings besides the inevitable tip.
If you must eat out, then it’s a good idea to plan it.
Else make a list of your freezer pantry inventory and use the list as a starting place to plan your meals for the no spend day. Since we all must eat, the objective will be to use what we already have and keep the grocery items to a minimum. This needs some planning.
2. Look for free coffee
Finding free coffee is top on many people’s list. When you add it up, your daily fix can go up to $60 a month. You can download some coffee and café shop apps that offer incentives like a free coffee if you register.
You may also get a supermarket card, which allows you a complimentary hot beverage.
3. Avoid the malls and supermarkets
As much as you can, only visit those places where you need the essentials.
This is the grocery stores.
Avoid department stores, malls, and supermarkets as much as possible. They are designed and staff trained to lure the consumer and they’re good at it.
4. Look for cheap or free activities
A search in your local town’s Facebook pages will reveal free or inexpensive activities you can get involved in. Check out the towns open swimming pools, parks and libraries that don’t charge for their services.
5. Stock up on necessaries
Make sure to stock up on any needed items, including food, toothpaste, hygiene products, dog food, and toilet paper. There is an upfront cost to this but it’s worth the effort. If you miss out on an item and need to rush to the store, ensure you don’t spend money on a thing you don’t need.
6. Unsubscribe from cable or satellite TV
Unsubscribing from streaming services such as Netflix, Comcast, and DirectTV for a few days or months is a good idea. This is an excellent tip if you’re trying to save money.
The TV is addictive and can tempt you into spending money you may not have.
So remove the temptation and unsubscribe. The good news is you can always re-activate your subscription later when you stabilize financially.
7. Use gift cards for items you need
If you must see the latest Avengers Movie, look for that complimentary ticket you’ve had in your wallet for a while.
This is the right day to take inventory of any gift cards you may have and use them for events that pop up during the no spend the day.
8. Borrow DVDs and books
If you must watch the latest DVDs or read the newest edition, reach out to your friends and family to see if you can borrow the copy temporarily. Borrowing and giving are great social attributes that cement our social fabric, besides saving money.
Still, on borrowing, search out for sites that swap items. You can give objects you don’t need away and look for things you may need.
9. Carry lunch and water to work
If your way to work is through a battery of vending machines and lunch kiosks, then give them a wide berth. An effective way to do this is to carry your lunch and water to your place of work.
10. Avoid the internet
Did you know that the websites you visit could be secretly tracking stuff you search for online and using that information to send you ads for the same item a short while later?
This is digital marketing at its best. This makes your no-spend day more challenging to realize, so try spending less time online.
11. Don’t Carry Cash Around
The last tip is probably also the most important in our list. Avoid carrying cash. While money could be the root of all evil, cash is perhaps the mother of all spending.
Carrying cash creates a crisis of self-control you could easily avoid if you did not carry it in the first place. You end up getting tempted to buy items at a boutique or sale that you had not planned to buy in the first place
Final Thoughts
As you struggle to achieve a successful no spend day, remember not to beat yourself up about it. Some things crop up unexpectedly that force you to spend money on. This should not be the end of the world.
However, avoid making it an excuse to weaken your no spend day resolve. If your instincts force you to go for an unplanned event or eventuality, that’s fine. The objective is not to spend money. Just steel your stamina.
If you’re looking for a successful no spend day, it’s time to ramp up your spending freeze and challenge yourself to a no-spend day or even a no spend a week.
Looking for even more lifestyle changes to make to save more money? Check out this list of 101 quick ways to save money every day.
