October 31-Day No-Spend Challenge Day 1: Commitment

Hello again, savvy savers! As many of my readers and online friends may know, I am always juggling several projects, business opportunities, scholastic goals, and home projects at any given time. With so much constantly going on, it’s sometimes easy to forget one of my main passions, and antithesis for this blog, the ability to save money, while live a better live, in hopes of having a “whole living blog,” to help me have a better run life.

So, for 2015 I have decided to take an old-school approach to spending, and so for every other month this year, for the months of February, April, June, August, October, and December I will be participating in a NO SPENDING month cycles! 

Why this crazy idea? Well, a month of NO spending is an awesome way to both reset your spending patterns, as well as to either kick-start your budget or revamp and make changes to any existing budget you or your family may have. This is also a great challenge for personal responsibility; you can track what you have been spending your hard earned funds, and keep yourself on track, in terms of responsible spending thereafter. 

I will be blogging daily about my NO SPEND struggles, victories, and suggestions from the previous day, and will be posting easy-to-follow daily challenges for my readers during my no-spend months. As well, each Sunday will share what I’ve learned, saved, and gained from this challenge as part of my Weekly Goals & Reflections Posts. I hope that many of you will join me in this challenge, as we can all you use more ways to save around the home.

The rules are pretty simple:  

• No spending on anything  beyond absolute necessities.
• Eat from your pantry & freezer as often as you are able.
• And make changes to the way you purchase and consume goods, services, and commodities in your home. 
• The idea of the challenge is to keep up with your daily activities,, but the main goal is simply to stop spending.  
• This challenge can be a life changing experience, as you may just be amazed at how your mindset and perspective will change after just a month of seeing how you can enrich your life, without spending more!

Challenge 1: Part 1, Commitment

This first challenge has two parts. The first part of the first challenge is committing to the challenge itself. Knowing that starting any personal challenge, starts with following through with the challenge itself, and this no-spend month is no exception! 

Also knowing that this October is not just about not spending, although that will be our main goal.  I always challenge each of you to find ways to live well, live better, find new sources of joy, will spending less. You may just find out just how much we already have, and how little more we really need.  And hopefully, by the end of them month, a life rich with family, friends, and creative planning, secured by fiscally responsible measures, will be who we truly are. In addition, I hope to make my posts comments section a place of encouragement and accountability for us all, too!

I’m not gonna lie, there presumably will be tough moments, and for that reason, with one week remaining, stock-up on any items you currently feel you cannot do without. But the biggest reason for following through with this month daily challenges? In the month of February, I was able to save $1,456.87! 

This month is not about thinking what you won’t be spending and economizing on, but what you are saving for!

The second part of this challenge? To physically take a few  minutes to make a list for this month, to include the following:

• How much you plan to save this month.
• What are your long-term financial goals.
• What activities will you plan this month, to take the place of your spending.

Also, for those following the Living Well Spend Month No-Spend Challenge, you will have received your spending commitment sheet this morning in your inbox. I’ve already filled mine out, and will have hubby sign our pledge this evening as well. For those who have signed their pledge, be sure to post a picture of your pledge to Instagram with the hashtag #LWSZ. It’s always easier when savers help to keep one another accountable! 

Stay tuned for my end of day report updates on Instagram!

Here’s to saving.