Tag: Uber Frugal January

No Spend January – Results

So how did I do at not spending any discretionary income in January? Well, I did spend more than $0, but I have no regrets.

As planned, I spent discretionary income for one restaurant meal – our quarterly dinner on the way home from medical Botox injections. Spousal Unit & I thoroughly enjoyed it, as usual. [We ate in our vehicle, because we’re still not dining indoors.] We also bought lunch at the grocery store on this trip, but one could argue that belongs in the groceries category, rather than discretionary income. Either way, it’s what we do once every quarter, and I always enjoy it very much.

Other than that planned expense, I also spent discretionary income this month on presents for a couple of family members. In addition to these presents, we also paid for postage to pass along a few things we no longer use to 1. a family member and 2. a friend who wanted them. [Downsizing for the win!]

And I bought more anticavity fluoride mouthwash, which arguably would fall under a budget line item for sundries, but it is notable as the only thing I bought from Amazon this month.

So I did spend some discretionary income this No Spend January but I still consider it a win because the spending fast *did* reset the profligate mindset I had in December.

[Note: When I reconciled my credit card statement for January, it reminded me that I also spent for Patreon support of my favorite podcast, The Golden Ratio. Gotta remember those subscriptions!]

I was strongly tempted once this month to get takeout, but was saved from myself by the fact that the restaurant was closed when I attempted to place an order. (Thus leading to my discovery that they’re only open for breakfast and lunch.) Since then, I have had no major cravings for takeout.

I was also tempted several times to buy things I need/want for ongoing house renovations (which arguably are also things one could plan for in one’s budget). But I resisted because the greater goal was to reset my spending mindset.

Since I am an abstainer, once I go off the rails in December, I need a spending fast in January to get back on track. (Resetting from ALL to NOTHING.) However, it is also true that I could just set aside a designated amount to spend during the holidays and stick to my budget, and hopefully that would prevent me from getting into the SPEND mindset. Maybe I’ll try that this year.

As far as the criticism that some people manipulate the challenge by shifting their spending to the month before or the month after a no-spend month? To be fully transparent, I do intend to order some of those home renovation items in February. My goal for January was to reset my spending mindset, which I believe I have done. But the projects still need to be completed.

However, I will continue to try to resist takeout meals in February. We have house guests coming in March, so I hope to defer my eating out and entertainment spending until then.

In the mean time, we will continue to eat down the pantry, and we will continue to catch fresh seafood. It’s really not a deprivation to avoid takeout when you have the ocean’s bounty to (sustainably) enjoy.

RESULTS: I did not succeed in spending no discretionary income in January, but I spent in alignment with my values (one treat meal, presents for family, healthcare item, podcast that brings me joy).

CONCLUSION: I found that this No Spend January made me reflect on the excesses of the holidays (not only spending but also eating). I think I’ll try this year to resist the temptation to buy ALL THE THINGS and eat ALL THE THINGS by being mindful of the fact that I am an abstainer and that it is so easy for me to get derailed by the holidays, and by enacting some safeguards ahead of time to keep me from getting off track and needing to spend at least a month afterward recovering.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I acknowledge that it is a privilege to have discretionary income, and that it is a privilege to have enough money to be able to splurge at the holidays. It is also a privilege that I did not have any emergencies come up during January to force me to spend money, discretionary or otherwise.

BOTTOMLINE: No Spend January *did* reset my spending mindset, as expected. If you are a moderator, you may not need this or find it helpful. If you are an abstainer, give it a try and see what you think. It might be just the ticket to get you back on track.

Feeling Resolute

What can I say? After years of no New Year’s resolutions, this year I’m overflowing with them. Mostly because I seem to have gotten an energy bump this January, so I’m taking advantage of it.

This particular resolution, if that’s what you want to call it, is to spend no money in January. IOW, this January I am reigning in my discretionary spending. I tend to be perhaps a little too generous/spendy during the holidays, so I find being intentional about my spending in January helps me reset that spending mindset (which is strongly encouraged and reinforced by all the holiday marketing!).

I find that I get into a mindset of not being as critical of my spending during the holidays, and this helps me reset so that I stop and think before I spend. Plus, an uber frugal January helps offset the excesses of December and get my budget back on track.

Although I got the idea from Mrs. Frugalwood’s “January Uber Frugal Month Group Challenge,” I don’t participate in her groups when I do my January reset. For me, it’s enough to know that it’s January and I’m on a spending fast. However, if group support would be helpful for you, consider joining her group challenge next year. (I don’t know if this year’s groups are still open.)

I acknowledge that it’s a privilege to have discretionary income (money left over after paying bills, buying gas & groceries, etc.). And that it’s a privilege to be able to spend freely (however one defines that) during the holidays. When I was young, my family did not have that privilege, and I am grateful for it now.

So far, it’s January 10th and I haven’t spent any money. But I will be making my quarterly trip to the VA hospital for medical Botox injections later this month, and I plan to stop for Mexican food on the way home – my quarterly treat. (AKA, one “cheat day” from my spending fast.)

Otherwise, no restaurant meals this month. (Which we’re still getting to-go, because COVID.) We’ve got plenty of food in our pantry and freezer (also a privilege), and of course we can buy groceries as part of our normal monthly expenses. And no rationalizing other discretionary spending.

Hopefully after a month of resisting the urge to spend, I can break the holiday-inspired attitude of “I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it.” The January uber frugal money fast usually does the trick.

[This approach works for me because I am an abstainer, not a moderator. If you are a moderator, perhaps a different approach would work for you. Or perhaps you moderate your spending during the holidays and don’t need to get back on track after the holidays because you never got off-track.]

Do you splurge over the holidays? What techniques/tricks/hacks do you use to get your budget back on track in January? Or do you set a spending budget for November/December and stick to it? Please comment below.