I’m warming up for a no spend year with a No Spend September challenge.

My first rule is “No One-Off Meals” which reminds me I have a part of a kombucha left in the fridge.

Tonight we’re having Flank Steak With “The Neighbors” aka family we share a driveway with. SO we splurged on a hunk of meat, but we’re feeding 4 people with it. And a bonus if we can save a few pieces for Steak & Eggs tomorrow morning.

No Spend on Sweets

I’m not buying sweets this September. I’ve not even been craving sweets this past week and I’m pulling it in as part of the system here.

Slowing down on sweets will be good for me so let’s just try it.

Invest Gas Savings for No Spend September

It cost me $2.50 in gas to leave my house.

Staying home for 4 days saves me$10/mo.

Friday, Sept 6th. I’m staying at home. 5 days a week I go to work. I’m hoping to do my errands on the days I go to work. Stack my errands instead of leaving the house and spending money as a fun little treat.

No One-Off Meals

I’m not buying anything this No Spend September that I eat 5 minutes later. If I buy a sandwich, I have to save half or share. I do not need an entire giant burrito, I will save half for lunch or feed a second person.

Save Something For The Next Meal

We had steak with the neighbors. We made the Steak, they made the veggies. Saved a handful of strips and today we have Steak & Eggs! How fancy! This would cost us $20/each at the local diner. It would be delicious, but we’d be so stuffed and they charge to split a plate!

Finish The Other Shampoo

I’m almost out of my favorite shampoo but I have an old one. I will use that instead of purchasing a new bottle of my standard shampoo. Then, I’ll get my space back that the other bottle is taking up.

Take My Space Back

I will donate unused items to the local thrift store so that I can have my space back instead of keeping the donate-able items in my space.

Use My Compost

Earlier in the summer I purchased some new plants that I’ve kept alive in the 1 gallon nursery pots they came in, but it’s time to get them in their next home before rainy season starts. I’m going to use my compost as soil instead of buying new soil from the nursery.

Reassess My Direct Deposits

September marks the beginning of my second year with a steady job. It’s been over a decade since I’ve been gainfully employed for 52 weeks in a row. I’ve rearranged my direct deposits to head into multiple bank accounts such as an emergency fund, entertainment fund, Spending, etc. The urge to spend and to take out my retirement money is strong but I got my impulses handled with a bit of tinkering with my direct deposits. It FELT like I was spending money, but I didn’t.

Shop the TBR

There are books on your To Be Read Shelf. Read them.

You could take my signature program, try something new every month and apply it specifically to your TBR.

Try Reading Something New from my TBR list…

I’m halfway through 3 mysteries. Who knows what happens? On Audible I’m listening to Remarkably Bright Creatures. I’m reading The Beekeeper’s Apprentice & The Maid.

I really like all of them, but to be honest, I’ve just been having a blast on Threads, and not doing a lot of reading. We’re back to it! I will know the ending of these books.

No Spend September Days

I can’t go every day in Spentember without spending anything. Mainly, because I did not prepare for this, I just jumped on the magic carpet ride I saw floating around Threads. But I can collect days that I don’t spend anything at all. Hoping for more of those in September than other months because I’m trying and not leaving it up to a whim.

No Spooky Spend in September

Halloween is at the end of September and it’s not even feeling like fall where I love. I’m not spending on anything for spooky season in September.

Analyze Summer Spending

One thing you can do that is free and takes time but brings you closer to your goals is to analyze your summer spending in September. Take a free day from your No Spend September challenge and look over your finances thoughtfully. Get in deep with your trouble zones.

What’s Your Next No Spend Challenge?

For a little inspiration, check out my 50 Frugal Living Tips blog post.