If you missed it last week, I began a 2 week long spending freeze for No Spend November. In this post I will share my No Spend November update and tell you how my spending freeze has been going. I will also give you some advice on how to be successful with your own No Spend November spending freeze.
No Spend November Update: one week down!
You’ll want to read my post No Spend November: Everything you need to know to boost your bank account for the holidays to learn the rules of the spending freeze challenge and see how I started.
How I’m doing:
Great!
I’ve done several week-long spending freezes before and I’ve done 2 No Spend November spending freezes for 2 weeks at a time in the past few years… Every single time they have been absolute torture! It was so hard to hold back from shopping, going out with friends, or even going on a grocery run. I struggled and each time I barely made it to the end.
This time, something has really clicked for me. I’ve got the hang of this not spending money thing and I kind of know what I’m doing.
I’m able to look a bunch of random ingredients in my kitchen and pull together a meal.
I’m finding things to do at home instead of going out.
And I’m not feeling the usual temptation to go out and spend money.
All of my previous spending freeze experience is really helping me.
Now, I really want to tell you that if you’re doing your own No Spend November and struggling through it, that’s normal. Going 2 weeks without spending any money is an incredibly hard thing to do.
But with practice, it does get easier. So, you’ll probably scrape by during your first spending freeze. Your second one will be a little bumpy. But after a while, it becomes easier. Don’t give up!
All of that being said, I’m only halfway through! I have a feeling the second week of my spending freeze is going to be tougher than the first.
I’ll be sure to update you when I’ve completed my 2 week spending freeze, so be sure to check back next week.
Related: The First Step to Saving More Money
What’s working for me?
I’m steering clear of all temptation. I’ve been coming straight home after work. My husband and I have been eating simply using what we have on hand and that’s been fine so far. We don’t really feel like we’re missing out… yet.
I will say there was a day this week that I was eating my go-to No Spend November lunch, a peanut butter and banana sandwich, and a coworker came in with Panera. I love Panera. Seeing her delicious Panera lunch made me feel bad about my sandwich for a second. I was feeling a little jealous.
But then I thought about why I was eating my sandwich instead of her Panera. I don’t want to feel stressed out when it’s time to do my Christmas shopping. I want money put aside, ready to go. No Spend November is helping me find that money. Remembering my why helps me stay motivated. And it makes me feel good about the choices I’m making.
Saying No
For me, this has always been the trickiest part of being on a spending freeze (and really in saving money in general). But I have learned that it is so important to make yourself a priority, and sometimes that means saying no.
This can be saying no to going out, going shopping, or taking part in a fun activity. You’ll probably feel like you’re missing out, and that’s tough. You just have to remember why you’re saying no and know that it’s what best for you in the long run.
It can also mean saying no when your friend asks you to buy something from their child’s school fundraiser. Or donating to something at work. It is tough to say no when someone you know is asking you for something. Remember that saying yes to every request that comes your way will mean saying no to your goals in the long-run. It’s okay to put yourself first, remember your why, and just say no.
Related: How to Talk to your Friends about Money
Let’s keep it going
If you haven’t started your own No Spend November spending freeze yet, give it a try!
If you have started, and you’re struggling, don’t give up!! I know it’s tough, you can do it! If you make it through the spending freeze, you are going to be starting off the holiday season in a much better financial place. Remember to use your savings for the purpose you decided on before you started saving.
Putting one spending freeze under your belt is going to feel great! By the time you are ready to try this again (maybe next November, maybe sooner) you’ll be so much better at it!
Need some moral support?
I’ve been posting about my No Spend November on Instagram! Follow me on Instagram here to see how I’m doing. Share your own spending freeze using #NoSpendNovHHH and we’ll encourage each other along the way!
Don’t forget to check back next week to see how my No Spend November finished up and share your experience as well!
Update: Find out how my No Spend November ended up, Read No Spend November: How I survived my 2 week spending freeze
Want more? Here are some of my best posts about saving money:
3 Tips to cut your Electric Bill in Half
How to create a Savings Schedule you can stick to
This One Simple Change can Save you $100 or more Every Month!
You can read more about my story here: A Spender and A Saver Fall in Love
Congrats on doing so well! I need to try this too…it actually seems like a fun challenge! Thanks for sharing with us at Share The Wealth Sunday!
Avoiding temptation is huge for me! Really helps me stick to my budget!
Your words are so encouraging. I’ll be using some of these tips. Thanks for sharing! Stopping by from Share the Wealth!
Love reading these posts. So encouraging.
Great tips and motivation for a spending freeze, especially with the holidays coming up.
Good luck! Cutting back on spending, even for a couple of weeks, can be tough but rewarding. And saying no on the fundraisers can be one of the toughest…even when we’re not in extreme saving mode, we feel we should buy things we don’t want to raise money for a good cause when really a small donation would probably give the organization more resources. (My daughter’s selling overpriced candy for her Daisy troop. If I gave the troop $3 instead of buying $21 worth of chocolate, the troop would get the same amount of money. But my girl scout wants her badge.)