by Tricia
“No Spend” days are a fairly popular concept. You have designated days where you do not spend any money. We have a lot of those days since we stay at home a lot. Unfortunately, on the off days we spend a bit of money, but overall we save money because we are not always running out to the store for little things. The little things add up.
What would it be like if you didn’t spend money on new things for a year? If your vaccuum breaks, what would you do? You couldn’t buy one new – you would have to be creative and find one used. Sounds pretty interesting, doesn’t it?
Well, a group of friends decided that they would go an entire year without buying anything new. It’s been twelve months since they started their journey, and their sabbatical from shopping has made a profound change in their lives. They have even decided to do it another year!
You can read the story on Yahoo here.
Some of the key places to buy things were of course at garage sales and thrift stores. But they also went online to places like Freecycle.org and Garbagescout.com. Myself, I am a Freecycle member and I love it! Just recently I gave something away for free to another member, and when she picked up the item, she said, “Thank you so much. I just saved $88.” I could have tried to make a few dollars for the item that I originally bought used for $3.00 at a garage sale, but it felt good to give it for free to someone that needed it.
I think it would be fascinating to do what that group of friends did. It would be such a challenge yet so stimulating. Imagine how creative you would have to be to make it work.
Imagine how much extra money you could have to pay off debt!! 🙂
Thank you for sharing this! I had not heard about this before. It has really really gotten me thinking. I dont think I have the will-power to cut out as much as these people did, but I am inspired to make a change. Thanks for keeping me thinking about the big picture! 🙂
My hubby and I are doing this right now as well. We are trying bery hard not to spend any money at all by reusing/recycling what we have around us and also trying to be very creative for things we do have around the house. That means that garbage bags are essentially plastic bags from the supermarket, baby oil becomes bath oil, makeup remover and skin moisturizer, etc. I’m enjoying the experience so far.
I do that all ready as well I want to try to go a day without using my utilities. I have a candle in the restroom at night so I don’t turn the light on and I am tring to cut all of my utilities in half. I try to wash my dishes by hand if I don’t I only use my dishwasher only 3 times a week. I need sugestions HELP.
There was a book about the this exact toping called not buying it. I can only imagine what it would be like to have all that extra money; I just don’t think I’d be disciplined enough. Going out for dinner or to the bar are my rewards from time to time.
Dawn – you’re welcome 🙂
debtinseattle – it really isn’t that bad to reuse things once you get used to doing it. It really becomes a way of life. I think that the group of friends decided to do it for another year says something.
GInger – just keep reading. There are lots of great sites to get more ideas from under my Living Frugal links.
Matt – I’ve heard about the book. I’m hoping a blogger gives it away so I can have a chance to read it. It would be weird to buy a book that’s called “Not Buying It” 😛
What a great exercise! I bet there is a ton of money to be saved doing this.
Fair play to your friends. I’m going to try something like this next year. I’m halfway there at the moment – and I feel much better for it.
It is a great test of “mind over matter”.
I’ve just started a no-spend year myself and had no idea it was so popular until I started googling! It’s great to find other people doing similar things!