[Irina]

How do you do a no spend month if you are a single parent with kids with various needs (last minute school supplies, sports fees, clothing needs, etc).

What are some helpful rules?

“As a single parent, managing finances can be challenging, especially when trying to meet the needs of children.

How do you navigate a no-spend month with kids who have different needs and preferences, such as school supplies, extracurricular activities, and food?

What strategies or creative approaches have worked for you to balance sticking to a strict budget while ensuring your children don’t feel deprived or left out?

Any advice on planning ahead, managing unexpected costs, or keeping children engaged and entertained without spending money would be greatly appreciated!”

[Stephanie]

We do a no spend November to put away money for the holidays. For us a no spend month means no eating out, no getting coffee out, no spending on hobbies or entertainment.

It doesn’t mean we don’t buy socks for our kids or kitchen sponges if we are out.

It means we cut (what is to us) frivolous spending, not the spending that keeps our household running.

It means different things to different people so you get to set your own guidelines.

[Annette]

I believe the best course is to understand and employ the difference between need and want.

[Kiersten]

I find no spend months to work best when we have a specific goal we are saving toward, allowing flexibility for true needs that come up, OR when we do a no spend in a specific category for a month (like February we don’t go out to eat but instead save the money for our summer trip, March we spend nothing on entertainment but save the money for xyz thing we are working toward, April we do our best to eat our the pantry/fridge/freezer and use the extra we saved for whatever our current goal is.

It’s easier to cut out one whole category than to cut out literally everything.

But, again, if you don’t have a goal you’re using the money for, there’s no inspiration to stick to it

[Janet]

Stock up on school supplies when on sale. I would leave several trifold displays and poster board behind the buffet.

Buy crayons, scissors, folders when on sale.

[Sonja]

I could never do a no spend month. Kudos to those that can! I’m jealous.

[Jess]

We are gratful to know a thrift store that charges $5 for all you can fit in a tote bag, they receive lots of donations and we hardly ever need to spend money in clothes, shoes, toys, decor, books, and kitchen items.

We also only buy things we really need, I ask my kid… is this going to make a difference in school tomorrow?

If the answer is no, then is not a need.

Lastly, I thoroughly checked the pantry and made a list of meals we can cook with the oldest items we had, that way we only need to spend little money in complements for those meals, instead of a full grocery list.

[Darlene]

one thing my husband and I do to save for Christmas is to save all our coins, put at least 100 a month in our savings account as well as set aside extra money aside for Dec bills and rent so if we overspend then our bills are paid.

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