In case you missed it, I published a blog post at the beginning of May pledging to go the whole month with only essential purchases. Now it's time to report back: did I succeed? 

Yes, yes I did! 

I'd love to tell you how it went, but first, let's review what a no-spend challenge is and why I did one. 

What is a No-Spend Challenge? 

For a set amount of time, you challenge yourself to only buy necessities. I chose to do the month of May, but I've heard of people doing a weekend, a week, or even a year!

Why Did I Do a No-Spend Month? 

I chose to go a month with only essential spending for two reasons: first, I wanted to develop more appreciation for what I already have; second, the challenge was supposed to provide a detox to my spending habits and help me be more intentional with my choices.

Results of My No-Spend Challenge

The obvious question: did the experience benefit me as I hoped it would? Yes! Although a lifetime of habits can't be completely overhauled in a month, I do feel I'm moving in the right direction. 

At the end of my original blog post, I'd listed a handful of questions to ask yourself after you've completed a no-spend challenge. I'll answer those now. 

What were the greatest challenges I faced? 

The siren calls of convenience and mood boosts! There were some days when I was tired or stressed, and I was tempted to fall back on the comfort of a drive-thru coffee or a convenient dinner out. Also, when I was switching over my summer wardrobe, I had the urge to fill the gaps in my closet that I would be fine without.

Did anything happen that surprised me?

Honestly, it surprised me that I didn't struggle more. With a few tweaks, like making my iced coffees at home and buying groceries ahead of time that would realistically work with my energy levels and time constraints, it went much smoother than I expected. 

How did it feel when I said no to myself? How did I feel afterward?

It was a struggle at times! As I mentioned before, the urge to buy was strongest when I was at my weakest. Still, when I stuck to my guns and got through to the other side, there was definitely a feeling of accomplishment and pride. 

Are there any changes I'd like to make with my spending?

Oh, yes. Before, I had gotten into a tricky habit of buying myself "little treats" way too often. I also struggle with impulse spending on things I can live without. I don't want to switch to the opposite extreme of never buying anything for fun, but instead, it would be great to find a happy medium. 

What did I learn about myself?

I learned that there are so many things I love doing that are much more fulfilling than the quick fixes money can buy! For example, I spent more time outside, especially while walking my dog, AJ. I also made it a habit to read before bed instead of scrolling on my phone (which often included online shopping!). I even started writing again – and even though I can't give all the credit to the no-spend month, it certainly was a factor!

How do I feel now that I've gotten through a month without extra spending?

Content and proud. I was a bit nervous beforehand that I wouldn't be able to handle it, but I could! It also feels good to be content with what I already have; there's peace in not having to constantly upgrade my life.  

Would I do this again in the future? 

Absolutely! I'm sure there will be times when I need to slow down and reset my habits again. The overconsumption culture has a way of subtly creeping back in. 

Would I recommend this challenge to others? 

Yes! The benefits apply to anyone, not just people within a certain income range. We all could use more mindfulness and intention with our spending habits.

Advice to Succeed at Your No-Spend Month

Thinking about doing a no-spend challenge yourself? Here are some practical tips I found helpful:

Inventory your food. This helped me build meals around what we already had, instead of buying more groceries. 

Let friends and family know. When others are aware of your efforts, they'll be less likely to tempt you. Also, they may join you! My roommate and I did our no-spend challenge together, and that helped keep us both accountable.

Plan ahead. I knew that on certain evenings I'd be tired and tempted to buy something quick and convenient, so I made sure I had grab-able meals stocked up at home. I also stocked up on ingredients to make iced coffees at home, which costed much less than buying them out!

Make exceptions ahead of time. I knew there would be certain events I'd need to spend money on that weren't strictly necessary. For example, a month before I'd decided to do this challenge, I'd made plans to go out to eat with a friend. Also, some good friends of mine had their anniversary, and I knew I wanted to get them something. 

Final Thoughts from My No-Spend Challenge

 As I mentioned, my goals with this challenge were less about the financial aspect (although that was nice, too) and more about the mental and emotional side. I wanted to rely less on the short-lived dopamine hits of retail therapy and drive thru orders.

After all, no matter how delicious an iced coffee is, will it actually get rid of stress? And no matter how excited we are about the clothing haul we got, will it actually improve our life in a substantial way? 

Don't get me wrong; I'm not against unnecessary spending. But it has its place, and I want to keep it there!

As I talked about in my most recent article about why we overspend, having a balanced view of money and things can help us live a happier, more meaningful life. That's what I truly want, and what I wish for you, too!

So what do you think? Are you going to give a no-spend challenge a try?