Many people choose certain days of the week that they won’t spend money or choose to not spend money from Monday through Friday. Another great way to save money and spend less is to pick a weekend (or two) out of the month to not spend any money.
During the week, you have a lot going on. You are working. You have meetings. It is easier to resist the urge of going out and spending money when you are busy.
When the weekend rolls around, many of us are excited about heading out to do something. Whether it be shopping, going on a weekend trip or a nice dinner out, weekends present a huge opportunity to spend extra money. You don’t have to go to work, so what else should you do? Well, here are a few things you can do instead of spend money:
- Work on your yard
- Have a movie marathon
- Host a potluck (have everyone bring something to contribute to dinner)
- Have a game night
- Cook a nice dinner at home using what you’ve got (there are apps that allow you to enter the ingredients you have)
- Window shop
- Surf the Web (YouTube can waste hours of your life)
- Binge watch your favorite TV show
- Spend a day in bed (this can be extremely rewarding)
- Clean up around the house
- Catch up on laundry
- Try new hairdos (this can waste a lot of time!)
- Gather items during the week and take on a DIY project
- Rearrange your rooms (it is fun)
- Invite a friend over and just hang out (it is possible)
- Do a puzzle
- Dust off your DVD collection and watch a few movies
- Search for change and cash it in (it is everywhere, trust me)
- Clean out your closet and get rid of stuff you don’t wear
- Clean out your refrigerator
- Read a book
- Go to the library
- Enjoy the outdoors (especially as the weather is getting nicer)
- Go to a local park and people watch or exercise
- Scout out free events in your area (outdoor concerts, art walks, etc)
If you choose to do one of these things (or something else, if you have an idea of your own) instead of spending money, you can save quite a bit of money. Think about the movie ticket for the weekend ($15 average), dinner ($30), going to the bar ($40+), buying a new outfit ($50) and the other expenses that may go along with your weekend plans can stack up quickly. Spending one (or two) weekends a month at home or not spending any money could save you $100 or more each month and help you achieve your overall savings goal.
Have you ever tried a “no spending” challenge? How did it work for you? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Photo: Flickr: Chris Potter
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