Here we go again. It’s January and that means I’m in the midst of a No Spend Challenge. This tradition began back in 2018 and it has gradually transformed from something that was endured to something I enjoy.

The last couple of years have also reminded me of how privileged I am that this is something I do for a a month or two a year rather than a forced and permanent lifestyle.

So many people are truly struggling. I don’t know how people are feeding and keeping shoes on their kids. Many elderly folks are choosing between food and medicine for themselves and care for beloved pets. So I know that my rules, lessons and reminders sound downright tone deaf in a society where so many struggle.

Don’t think that’s lost on me.

Here are the basic rules I set for myself.

1. Pay bills.
2. Buy gas and pay for vehicle maintenance. This is how I get to work and a non-negotiable.
3. Buy groceries when needed. This means I use what I have first and buy what may be needed to complete a recipe or pull together a meal.
4. Buy what is needed and pay for necessary repairs. If my hot water heater dies, I replace it. If I realize my snow boots are worn out, that could pose harm to my body. They need replaced but I don’t get to go shopping for other shoes for fun.
5. There are sometimes pre-approved non-essential expenses. One of those is coming up this week when I interview a small business for work. I never like to leave one of these interviews empty handed and will give myself a budget to buy something.
6. Eat out when there’s really no choice. This means packing lunch and carrying a water bottle and snacks when I leave home. Sometimes I find myself in work situations that require eating lunch out but I can’t pick up pizza just because I’m too lazy to cook.

What’s the point of all this?

Well, it’s nice to save some money. It also teaches me something about myself and helps me reset habits, ultimately leading to some long term benefits.

When I can’t stop for a Diet Coke, I drink the water that’s in the cup holder next to me. That saves a couple of bucks but, more importantly, it’s better for my health. I’m not stopping at the Dollar General down the road just to see what they have or to get one $5 thing that quickly adds up to $30 worth of impulse buys.

These things sound small but 24 ounces of water instead of a fake sweetened drink is a lot. Thirty dollars here and there add up.

We are, after all, a sum of our habits.

When I’m not spending, that means I’m not running around so much. I’m staying home more. I’m using what I have to prepare delicious meals and experimenting with baked goods. This weekend I discovered a woman in Kentucky named Mamaw Gail who gifted the world her biscuit recipe via a Facebook video. They are delicious, simple and easy.

I’m taking care of what I have, cleaning my home, decluttering what I no longer need, and getting more rest.

This time I have some more refined goals.

One is health related. Water, sleep, relaxation, nutrition and movement are all part of this attempt to calm my nervous system. Less stress and more relaxation. Less sitting and more doing. More play. More of what makes me happy.

Another is to focus on using up the odds and ends in the refrigerator freezer. I have a chest freezer for longer term storage but the refrigerator is where I keep things that need used up. Half a bag of frozen broccoli, two veggie burgers, and tomato soup I froze last month languish next to a bag of cauliflower rice I’ve been meaning to use. I accidentally bought frozen spinach which I do not like. I need to find a recipe that uses it up. My goal is for that freezer to be half full instead of stuffed to the gills by the end of this month.

I also intend to read a lot. Plus, there’s a writing project gnawing at my brain and a craft room with so much potential. I’m getting closer to making it nice enough use!

What won’t I be doing?

I won’t be shopping for entertainment. I won’t be seeking out new products to try just because they exist. I won’t be clicking on ads. I won’t be accumulating lists of things to run out and buy at the end of the challenge. I won’t be counting down the days until it’s over. I won’t be looking for loopholes or pouting because I can’t buy something.

If there’s an impulse to buy something, I can look through what I own and see if there’s a good alternative already in my possession. What can I use or do instead of running out and buying something?

You know, it wasn’t that long ago that people didn’t go to the store or eat out all the time. They couldn’t order from Amazon the random things they think they need the minute they think of them. The Great Depression forced people to live with the mantra “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” I’m not advocating that anyone do without but there’s something to be said for using fully the thing you already own.

A No Spend Challenge is meant to be personalized to your own lifestyle but it isn’t for everyone. I know people with spouses or children who would simply refuse to participate. Others among us just aren’t interested or have an incompatible lifestyle.

For me, it’s a lifestyle reset and a chance to gain insight into my own habits and preferences. I always learn something about myself and one of those things is that I often curate bad habits during the holidays. There’s way too much shopping, eating out, and overall abundance that can easily become longterm habits.

I’m not saying that anyone should do this. I’m saying this is what I do and it has served me well. That first year or two were hard but it now almost feels like a game. After the gluttony and overconsumption of the holidays, this is a timely reminder that my value in this world is more than just a consumer.

I have written on this topic in the past if you want to search for previous challenges. I’ll write more this month too!