Start saving money fast with a No Spend Challenge in November!
Use these No Spend November Rules And Success Tips to easily limit your spending and save money before the holidays!
With the holidays coming up quickly, it’s time to think about how to cut back on expenses and save money where you can.
Even if you’re not used to spending a ton of money for the holidays, each purchase can quickly add up.
In this post, we’ll dive into some of the best tips to do a No-Spend November so you can save money fast for the holidays or to give your savings account a boost.
Use these tips as a guide and a simple framework on how to quickly change your spending habits for the better.
With just a few eye-opening options, your wallet and bank account will increase in what you’ll have in there!
What is No Spend November?
The November No Spend Challenge is a month-long challenge and social media trend where participants avoid all spending for the month of November.
During a No Spend November, participants may only spend money on necessities.
For the duration of the month, you don’t buy anything new and either put the extra money in savings or focus on paying off any outstanding debt.
There are many benefits to doing a no spend month money challenge!
You can learn how to save more, make better financial decisions, and live more simply by not overspending.
The No Spend November challenge is an excellent way to save up for holiday gifts or give yourself a well-deserved break from shopping.
No Spend November Rules & Success Tips
The biggest thing to keep in mind when you’re starting out looking for ways to not spend money during the month of November is that you need to look at the areas that you’re spending in excess.
This could be as simple as eating out less or cutting down on those subscription services that you really don’t even use.
And above all, remember to be kind to yourself in the process.
Transitioning from “free-spending” to “no spending” isn’t an easy process in the beginning, but it is something that you can do as long as you remember to give yourself a little bit of grace.
Here are some of the simple no spend month rules that can help.
Be Realistic About What A No Spend Month Means
Logically, it’s impossible not to spend ANY money at all during the month.
You more than likely have rent, utilities, insurance, etc., that you have to pay monthly for.
These are not the type of expenses that you need to worry about cutting out for a no-spend month.
Participating in a No Spend November is great because it is right before the holidays which we all know is when most people spend way too much money.
No spending during the holidays means that you’re cutting out the EXTRA purchases and expenses.
These would be things such as dining out, going to the movies, buying new clothes, shopping online when you’re bored, and various purchases like that.
Basically, put it in your mind that during the month of November, the only money that you’re going to be letting out of your bank account are the bills that you’re required to pay each and every month.
Make A Plan And Stick To It
Nothing derails intentions like not having a plan.
It doesn’t have to be a rigid plan, but you do need to have an idea of what you’re hoping to accomplish and how long you’re wanting the plan to last.
Since this is about a No Spend November, you can plan out in your mind that this plan needs to last for an entire month.
Once you have yourself a timeframe, you can then work on creating the task at home.
Don’t forget to create a plan that works best for you.
You can plan out your budget a week at a time or a month at a time – whatever you find that motivates you best.
It might feel hard to spend no money, but it’s easier with a measurable goal and plan.
Actively incorporating at least one no-spend month every year into your life goals will really help you stay on top of your financial situation.
Create A Budget
Making a budget is important to make sure that you are mindful of your November spending.
Budgets are just a smart financial task that makes sure you are living within your means.
First, you need to know what your monthly take-home pay is for the month of November.
This is how much money you earn during the month after taxes and other deductions.
Next, you need to know your monthly expenses.
These are the things that you must spend money on each month like rent, electric bills, groceries, transportation costs, and loans/debts payments.
Finally, add up all of your expenses and subtract them from your income.
Now decide how much of that money, that is left over from your budget, that you want to save.
Remember, the whole purpose of a No Spend November is to not spend any money on anything other than your necessities.
Saving money in November will really help your budget if you can’t afford Christmas!
Let Your Friends And Family Know
Just because you’re not spending any money during the month of November doesn’t mean that your family and friends got the memo.
They might derail your plans and not even mean to!
Talk to them about your plan for the month so that they’re aware of your commitment to making it happen.
And who knows, you just might rally a support group behind you that you didn’t even know you needed!
It’s always easier to hit goals and stay on track when you have a fan base cheering your along!
If you worry about how you can entertain your family while not spending money for 30 days, then there are plenty of FREE family-friendly activities you can do!
Get A No Spend Month Buddy
Ask a friend or family member to join you in the No Spend November Challenge.
Having someone do the Challenge with you can hold you accountable for spending no money in November.
Teach them the importance of a money-saving challenge.
If you have kids, help them start a penny saving challenge to see how much money they can save by being intentional with saving pennies every day.
Accountability is a powerful motivational tool.
We all need a buddy to hold us accountable for our goals and resolutions.
Use What You Already Have
The new trend of “rethink the basics” is a good way to save money.
It basically means, use what you have!
Using what you already have is an easy rule to follow when you are trying to participate in no spend month.
Whether you are doing a no spend November or just on a tight budget, using what you have is one the most important frugal hacks you will ever do.
If you are trying not to spend money then one must assess what they have on hand.
For example, if you need to make dinner don’t go to the grocery store, shop your pantry!
Use what you already have and make something new or different!
Instead of a new outfit, shop your closet.
Chances are you can come up with some new outfit ideas with clothing and accessories you already have.
We have to be more resourceful with the resources that we have.
This means that we should try to make the most of what we can get.
If you need to give someone a gift, give them something you already have or make them a gift like a DIY happy jar.
We can save money and have no spend a month by finding ways to reuse or recycle items rather than buying new products.
Use this list of things to stop buying to help you.
Make A List Of Things That You Were Tempted To Buy During The No-Spend Challenge
The month of November might feel a bit weird with you not spending any money, but it’s something that is a fun personal challenge to do.
Make sure to keep a notebook full of the items and purchases that you were tempted by during the month so that you can come back to them later and see if you still want them.
It’s often a good practice to wait a few weeks before spending money on something that you think you want to verify that it’s not an impulse purchase.
If you write it down during the month of November and then come back to it later and still want it, you can use that as a guide to show that you took your time to come to that conclusion.
Keeping this list will also keep you from feeling deprived during the no spend month.
Just knowing that after 30 days you can still purchase something will appease your shopping wants and needs.
It’s hard to go from spending money on the things you want to not spending any money.
So this helpful list will really come in handy!
Download this FREE No Spend November Printable Savings Tracker
Make Extra Money In Your Free Time
If you feel like you are getting bored at home without spending money on entertainment, then use this free time wisely!
Download some money-making apps on your phone to make even more money to save.
Or look up some creative side hustles that can help you make an extra $100 a day!
If you are actively trying to make some extra money while trying to save money during a no spend month then you will reach your goals sooner!
You can even get on social media and start making money on Tik-Tok!
There are so many opportunities out there.
Let This No Spend Challenge Empower You
Instead of feeling limited by not being able to spend money, look at it as a way that you can empower yourself to take control of your finances and life.
There aren’t many people out there that can just wake up one day and decide that they’re going to limit their excessive spending over the course of a month.
This is a fun way to challenge your spending habits and take a step back to look at what is working and what isn’t working.
Along the way, you will pick up some smart frugal life hacks and maybe even some grocery shopping hacks to save even more money!
At the end of the month, there’s a very high probability that you’re going to be SHOCKED at how much money you have leftover that you would have normally spent.
November Challenge: No Spend Month
November’s No Spend Challenge is a great way to save money.
It can also be a great way to spend time with family, friends, and the community.
It is important to consider what you are willing to sacrifice in order to participate in the no spend challenge.
If you are committed, there are many possible ways that you can still enjoy life during November’s No Spend Challenge.
Use the FREE No Spend November Savings Tracker Printable in the FREE Resource Library to help stay on track!
Challenging yourself to a no spend month during the holiday season adds a layer of difficulty that many might find to be hard.
But when you think about it, this is the perfect month of the year to get a grip on your spending.
Since Christmas and the New Year are right around the corner, having an entire month of savings will give you a bit of breathing room when two of the biggest holidays of the year arrive.
Just be careful not to undo your no spend month by splurging excessively on the months following.
Allow this experience to show you that spending can be controlled without feeling restricted, and you’ll do just fine!