No Spend Challenge Ideas! {12 Tips for Success}

Use these No Spend Challenge Ideas to help conquer your debt and to kick your savings into high gear!

Are you ready to give your savings a serious boost? Or maybe you just want to pay down some debt fast? Then it’s time to challenge yourself to a no spend month! A No Spend Challenge can be the ideal tool to help you pay down debt or to inflate your savings!

Whether you’ve had a recent drop in earnings or your expenses have spiraled out of control, you can get back in the driver’s seat with a no spend month! Not up for an entire month? At least give it a try for a week! Or would you like to go next level? I’ve heard of several people that challenge themselves to a no spend year!

So how does this work and what are the rules? It’s easy! And don’t worry… you can still spend some money, but you’ll put your energy and focus on cutting out all unnecessary spending! You won’t believe how much you’ll save!

Plus… you’ll learn all sorts of new skills, have some fabulous family time and me-time, and make sweet memories you’ll cherish for years to come. This short-term financial planning strategy can really help you break out of your normal routine, and achieve your financial goals so much faster!

So let’s do this, shall we? It’s the perfect time to save some serious money… by spending less!

No Spend Challenge Ideas and Tips

Related: How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half!

Wondering how to shop on a no spend challenge? These simple tips will help…

#1: Stuff Your Wallet with FREE Gift Cards!

Now for starters, you’ll want to stuff your wallet with Free Gifts from Swagbucks to use at your favorite Stores. You can shop all you want in-store or online during this time if it’s FREE! It will also give you a major morale boost when you use some of your free gift cards for fun little splurges!

Here are some of my favorite gift cards you can start earning today…

Get a Free Target Gift Card + 20 Ways to Save Money at Target!

How to Get Free Walmart Gift Cards + 15 Clever Shopping Hacks!

How to Get a Free Visa Gift Card for Gas, Groceries and Online Shopping!

Plus, right now you can score 100 FREE SB Points when you sign up with Swagbucks using code FRUGAL100.

Then keeping earning SB Points with the help of my easy tips: 16 Best Ways to Earn Swagbucks.  The more SB Points you earn, the more Free Gift Cards you’ll score!

After you cut your unnecessary spending, you’ll need to replace expensive activities with free experiences. Here are some ideas…

No Spend Challenge Ideas for Food…

So as I said… a no spend challenge doesn’t mean you’ll spending NO money at all. It just means you’ll spend money ONLY on essentials.

When it comes to food, that’s an easy part of the budget that can just spiral out of control, right? Well this month it’s time to take back control of your food costs, and it’s easier than you might think! Use these simple tips and tricks below to get started…

#2: Take the Pantry Challenge, and Eat What You Already Have!

Food costs can be one of the easiest parts of our budget that just seems to spiral out of control, right? But what if your cupboards are already full of food? Well, now is the time to eat through your pantry and save BIG this month! Then at the end of the month, just gradually build up your back stock as you see amazing Grocery Deals!

Homemade Pancake Mix Recipe

#3: Then Raid Your Freezer!

Another place I bet you’ve got some food hiding is in your freezer! There’s no better time than now to go through your freezer, see what you actually have in there, and start enjoying the delicious things you’ve stashed away!

For example… if you’ve got a box of spaghetti in the pantry and some ground beef in your freezer, tonight just might be the perfect night for some Spaghetti & Meatballs!

Leslie writes: “I’m ‘shopping’ my pantry and freezer first to use more of what I have in the house instead of buying more groceries!”

#4: Skip the Restaurants, and Eat at Home!

Going out to eat is always fun, but guess what… when you know how to make delicious food, it can be just as fun to eat at home! You can even have fun re-creating some of your favorite restaurant dishes at home with these Restaurant Copycat Recipes!

Turn on some tunes, light some candles, and let’s get dinner started! Get inspired with these easy recipes below…

250+ Easy Crockpot Recipes

35+ Easy Instant Pot Recipes

#5: Pack Your Lunch for Work

Last night’s dinner you cooked was amazing, right? Well, enjoy it again when you take some more to work!

This is the month you’ll want to pack your lunch for work… so you might as well take some of those delicious leftovers from dinner last night!

Amy writes: “I rarely eat out, and almost always bring lunch with me to work. I cook on the weekend and pack my lunches when putting the food away. That way I just grab a container each day.”

#6: Eat at your Parents’ House 1 Night Each Week!

Who doesn’t love Mom and Dad’s home cooking, right? You know Mom would love to treat you to one of her favorite comfort food classics, and Dad is always looking for an excuse to fire up that grill, so go on and give them a call. They’ll love any excuse to have you over!

#7: Skip the Coffee Shop, and Become your own Barista!

You won’t believe how much money you’ll start saving once you know how to make your own coffee recipes at home! Learn some new skills this month to jumpstart your inner barista with these easy recipes…

Easy Coffee Recipes {Be Your Own Barista}

#8: Grow Your Own Food in your Backyard!

Now is the time to work on that Vegetable Garden you’ve been dreaming of, and make sure to plant your favorite fruits while you’re at it, too! Can you say juicy strawberries right from your backyard? It’s always fun grabbing fresh, free produce right from your own backyard!

No Spend Challenge Ideas at Home…

#9: Make Your Own DIY Cleaners!

This month, try not to buy any new cleaners, and make your own Homemade Cleaners with things you already have at home. You won’t believe how well they work, and how much money you’ll save! You just may never go back to those store-bought cleaners again!

50+ Homemade Cleaners Recipes

#10: Get Organized and Sell Your Old Stuff!

Now is a great time to clean out your closet and find some cute new clothes you forgot about! Make it a challenge to piece together some new outfits with things you already own.

Then go around your house, room by room tackling that clutter once and for all. It’s a free activity, and it will feel SO good once you’re done!

Related: Home Organizing Tips and Tricks! {Room by Room Guide}

Once you’ve gone through your home, you’ve probably discovered a bunch of stuff you don’t want anymore. Consider selling these items online or on Craigslist to make some extra cash.

How to Make Money Consigning Clothes! {+ 12 Tips for Selling on eBay}

No Spend Challenge Entertainment Ideas…

#11: Enjoy a Date Night at Home!

And just because you’re doing a no spend challenge doesn’t mean you need to put romance on the back burner! There are so many fun ways to keep the sizzle alive on a budget! Get inspired with these creative ideas…

• Cook a romantic dinner at home together… using items from your freezer.
• Bake up your man’s favorite dessert… using items from your pantry!
• Cuddle on the couch and watch a movie you already own on DVD.
• Enjoy a free music concert at a local park.
• Play a game or do a puzzle together.
• Go on an outdoor adventure hike.
• Head for the lake and spend the day floating on air mattresses while holding hands.
• Roast some marshmallows together over the backyard fire pit.
• Have a picnic with a view or down by the water.
• Head to the farmer’s market and load up on free samples!

55 More Romantic Date Night Ideas

#12: Pamper Yourself for Pennies!

This month is also a great time to focus on pampering yourself with some me-time, too! Take some time to sit back, relax, and do something just for you! Here are some fun ideas to get started…

• Snuggle up with a good book in a cozy chair or outside in the sun.
• Take a long, relaxing bubble bath.
• Give yourself a manicure.
• Enjoy a spa day at home using beauty products you already have on hand. Don’t forget to turn on some relaxing tunes!
• Master the art of window shopping, and just make the temptation go away when you ‘save things for later’ online or delete things out of your online shopping cart.
• Go for a nice long walk with your dog.
• Get outside and enjoy a refreshing jog or bike ride.
• Catch up on old magazines you have been meaning to read.
• Treat yourself to an afternoon nap. You know you want to!

See? A No Spend Challenge can actually be a fun thing, and will be a great tool to help you jumpstart your financial goals!

So in addition to the ideas I’ve shared in this No Spend Month Guide, here are even more money saving ideas to help make your No Spend Challenge a success:

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So have you ever tried a No-Spend Challenge??

What No Spend Challenge Ideas or Tips worked best for you?

Leave a comment & share!