6 month no spend challenge update

We are 10 days into our no spend challenge and so far we’ve done well. It was the start of school holidays when we started which can often see a blow-out in the budget with movies, takeaway and other expenses to keep the kids entertained. Instead, I was super sick and we had no option but to stay home.

To give you a reminder, the no spend challenge included:

Essentials (allowable expenses) include:
– Rent, electricity, insurance, gas, water, medical needs, basically any bill that has to be paid to provide the basics in our home for my daughters.
– Groceries that are under $150 per week total including alcohol, any cleaning supplies etc.

Non-essentials (banned expenses) include:
– Take away of any form
– Clothing (excluding sneakers for each of my daughters and uniforms if necessary. They are having a growth spurt).
– Travel outside of planned travel unless it is a paid trip
– Mobile phone. It is generally essential for me to have credit, however, I want to see how long I can go without recharging. I have wifi pretty much everywhere, mostly use Facebook messenger and rarely make calls or send texts.

Basically, if I can live without it, I will. One grey area others may disagree on is my monthly beauty salon trip I will not give up. I get one thing done and I have looked at more permanent options but I am not a candidate for them. I do my own hair, manicures, pedicures etc. So I can live with this minor monthly expense.

Recap on how we have gone

We spent the school holidays doing some cooking, crafts using fabric, old clothes we had and boxes we collected the week before the school holidays.

We have been so planned with our menu and cooking in advance I haven’t had the desire to eat out. We planned out ‘takeaway’ meal – nachos, which was easy and loved by the whole family.

We are spoilt where we live, on the top floor there is a private lounge you can book with a fireplace, big TV, lounges and lots of space. We booked it for a family Nerf fight which the kids loved!

I mended our clothes the other day while my daughters designed things they wanted to make then we got started on some of their sewing.

I have had an unexpected trip come up in September, almost everything is covered so I am still working out how to do the rest. It isn’t something I can miss.

I’ve managed to not buy more phone credit as yet which has been a learning curve. I do miss being connected at times when I am out, especially if I have to wait for something. Overall, it hasn’t been too bad though.

I have been to sick to tally up the savings so far, however at the end of the month I will give a full account of exactly how we saved and how much.

Have you done a no spend challenge or are you doing one?

You might also like:
10 ways to make $1,000 this month
101 ways to make money from home
50 ways to live for free
What to do with unexpected bonus money and how to get it

Like us on Facebook for more frugal fun!

For more ways to make and save money follow us on social media:

TheThrifty Issue Facebook Page

The Thrifty Issue Facebook Group

The Thrifty Issue Instagram