Avoid These Pitfalls Before And During Your No Spend Challenge to guarantee a successful experience.
Any new habit takes practice before you can get really good at it.
A no-spend challenge is a pretty big change in lifestyle, so you should be prepared to cross some hurdles along the way.
Don’t expect perfection. That will only slow you down and tempt you to quit.
Instead, be prepared by knowing some of the issues you might face along the way.
Check out this list of pitfalls you might encounter before and during your no-spend challenge.
Start Slow
The idea of saving money is exciting.
Some people get so jazzed about this new lifestyle that they want to jump right in. That can be a mistake.
Instead of committing to a year of no spending right off the bat, consider taking baby steps. Start with a weekend or maybe a week in order to get a feel for how things work.
Once you get some experience under your belt and see just what you’re capable of, try a longer challenge with higher stakes.
Avoid Temptations
Temptations seem to be everywhere when you’re trying to cut back on something or eliminate it altogether.
You can prepare for such things when you plan ahead.
There are simply some things you should try to avoid if you don’t want to be tempted to spend money. One of these is excess downtime. When you’re bored, it’s easy to find yourself surfing Amazon or Etsy browsing cute things to buy.
You may also want to avoid friends or family who aren’t supportive of your goals.
That doesn’t mean you have to cut them out of your life completely. Just be aware that these folks may be enablers who try to talk you into going out for drinks or to the mall.
Speaking of the mall, avoid it and other places where you could be tempted to spend at all costs.
In addition, don’t carry credit cards or extra cash around. Keep just what you need on hand.
Don’t Stock Up Too Much
It may be a good idea to stock up on some pantry essentials to help get you through your no-spend challenge.
After all, if you have food at home, you’ll be less tempted to eat out. However, try to avoid stocking up with everything and anything.
For one, chances are you may not use all of it and things will go to waste. Also, you’ll be spending more than you need to on these supplies. That’s the opposite intention of the challenge.
In addition, part of the point of a no-spend challenge is to teach you to be more creative with what you have.
Stocking up with a ton of stuff won’t allow you to stretch and grow because you’ll have everything you need at hand.
Try to take inventory and use a good bit of what you already have in your kitchen, supplementing with some shopping before the challenge.
Cut Yourself Some Slack
Finally, go easy on yourself. Learning new things takes time. You’re going to slip up every now and again. It’s inevitable.
Just get back up on the horse and keep going. Some progress is better than none. So, don’t get discouraged and give up. Forgive yourself and move on.
Keep these tips in mind to avoid pitfalls before and during your no-spend challenge. Just think of the rewards that are in store.
If you like this Challenge, you’ll love our other challenges too:
More No-Spend Challenge Articles:
- What is a No Spend Challenge?
- How a No Spend Challenge Can Change Your Mindset
- Tips to Set Yourself Up For Success With a No Spend Challenge
- Avoid These Pitfalls Before And During Your No Spend Challenge
- Creative Ways To Get What You Need During Your No Spend Challenge
- Tips For Dealing With Negative People During Your No Spend Challenge
- Free Entertainment and Gifts
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