The concept of a No Spend Day is very simple – it’s a day where you don’t spend any money! I think that No Spend Days (or NSDs) are the key to much better finances, especially during the week where the work canteen can sometimes be a temptation, or that coffee on the way to work as a pick me up. I also think that purposely having NSDs during the month helps me to stick to our budget month in, month out.
Our system is very simple – I count the days when I don’t spend anything at all; no cash or card purchases during that day. As most of our direct debits come out either on our payday or the 1st of the month, this makes the process easier. I also find that keeping very little change in my purse works well too, as the work canteen only accepts change! I also plan my spending so it happens on the same day, often a weekend day, so that I can keep my run of NSDs going during the week. So, if I’m going grocery shopping on a Sunday, I’ll think about if I need anything else and then I’ll purchase it on Sunday as well. I’m already spending, so I might as well!
The problem with spending little and often, is that it adds up. A cup of coffee here, a chocolate bar there, a newspaper or magazine as a treat, soon add up to lots of pennies every month. This can be the difference to making it through the month and meeting goals, or wondering where your hard earned cash has disappeared to because you have little to show for it. And, the little splurges here and there can suddenly become an everyday habit. By all means, treat yourself occasionally, but that’s what a treat is supposed to be – an occasional thing. Because if they become an everyday thing, then they are no longer a treat.
I also love tracking them in my NSD tracker so I can have a very visual representation of when I spend and when I don’t 🙂 it helps to figure out spending habits and when the danger days are.
Do you track your NSDs? Do you agree with the concept? Let me know in the comments below!
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I have NSDs but I’ve never thought about tracking them or making them a goal each month. Brilliant! Do you find that consecutive NSDs make you go nutty and result in a super-heavy spend day?
They did to begin with, but not now! I’m quite competitive so I like to see the NSD number go up 🙂 give it a go and see how it works – let me know! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I love a NSD, I don’t generally make a point to have one but I love the realisation when I have unexpectedly had one!
Unexpected NSDs are great! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I never track no spend days because they seem rare, but I should probably start. I bet we have them more often than I think we do! I just connected with you on twitter, by the way 🙂
Thanks for connecting on twitter, and stopping by to leave a comment 🙂 I bet you have more NSDs than you think you do!
To those of us who have been living better on less forever the concept of being UNABLE to have no spend days is just so weird.
It’s simple – DON’T SPEND ANYTHING!
Nicola,
This is a great concept I never thought of! I have plenty of No-Spend-Days, and I think I’ll make a point to keep track of them from now on! This is genius.
Best regards,
Dividend Beginner
Hi
I’m new to the idea of NSDs and I have a question – if I have to spend bus fare to get home from work, does that mean I can never count a work day as an NSD, or would that not count?
Thanks,
Melissa
Hello!
I wouldn’t count that as a spend day as getting to work is a necessity 🙂 it’s up to you though, but that’s how I’d do it 🙂