I hope all of you who participated in “No Buy Month” during February learned as much as I did. Not only was I surprised by what I could actually do without for a few weeks, it really made me think about what I actually spend my money on. As outlined in the “No Buy Month Rules” I paid bills and bought groceries, but didn’t buy anything extraneous unless it was with points or on a gift card that I already owned. Below is a list of what “No Buy Month” did for me.
- Making my own coffee instead if buying it saved me about $20 a week
- All of the things I did this month will come in handy if I’m ever strapped for cash.
- I can workout just as well at home as I can at a gym if I make the effort
- I was really surprised how many fees I got charged by my bank when I started paying attention.
- I don’t always have to spend money to spend time with friends.
- I can live on way less that I thought.
- I was shocked to realize that I often waste more than I use.
- Budgets really are sexy. (thanks J.!)
- I really only wear 4 or 5 pairs of shoes on a regular basis, everything else is just extraneous and/or special occassion.
- I was shocked to find out how many credit card points and travel points I had racked up without even knowing it!
- I was surprised how many things I could get for free just by asking (makeup samples, hot water for tea, coat check, etc.)
- Sometimes upcycling or repurposing something is just like getting something brand new!
- The act of putting myself on a financial “diet” is an active form of budgeting.
- Hardly anyone around me knew that I was participating in “No Buy Month” if I didn’t tell them. (No one looked at me like I was “broke”).
- I was able to get work done on my house through deferred payment just by asking.
- I was able to make money by selling what I didn’t need on eBay.
- I was able to barter services to get some computer work done.
- Many people who are considered “rich” got that way by living their lives like this every month.(Check this out)
- There’s tons of music and books to read for free online and that are downloadable
- I really don’t need cable. (I watched most of my entertainment online, through hulu, Netflix and YouTube).
I don’t know if I could live like this every month. but I am definitely going to to do this again this year. If not for a full month, then for a few weeks intermittently throughout the year. I really saved money and it made me very aware of “sneaky” spending that happens when we’re not paying attention.
• What did you learn during “No Buy Month”?