What is a ‘no-spend’ savings challenge?
Put simply, the no-spend trend is exactly that: a savings challenge that encourages little to no spending on anything other than essential items for a set period, whether that’s a whole year, a month, or a random weekend in January.
The no-spend trend could be considered as a type of revenge saving, which is another social media-led movement that prioritises saving money. You can find out more about revenge saving here.
How does the no-spend savings challenge work?
What are the rules for a no-spend month?
Whether pledging to put your bank card away for a month or a single day, there are no set rules when it comes to the no-spend challenge, and it’s really up to you if or how you incorporate it into your own financial situation.
While the aim of the challenge stays the same, how long you choose to take part and how strictly you follow the rules is entirely your decision.
Here are some of the ways you could make the no-spend challenge work for you.
- Pledge not to spend any money other than the amount needed to cover the cost of your essential outgoings for a set period of time, for example, a single weekend or one month.
- Limit or entirely eradicate the amount of money you spend on ‘nice to haves’, such as things like beauty products, games, books, and clothes. If you don’t feel quite ready to go ‘cold turkey’, you might prefer to set yourself a budget before you cut out spending altogether. If you usually spend £30 on beauty products each month, you could start by putting a £15 budget in place and work your way backwards until this area of your expenses goes from low spend to no spend.
- Focus on just one area. For example, do you tend to splash a large portion of your disposable income on takeaways? Maybe you could ditch the takeaways for a month and add the money you would have spent to your savings instead.
Top tip: every time you feel tempted to spend money, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is this a want or a need?
- What’s driving my desire for this item? Is it FOMO? Is it an impulse buy because I’ve seen it on social media? Or do I really have a genuine need for it?
- Can I afford it?
- Do I really need it?
- How often will I use it?
- Could I get this item cheaper elsewhere? Could I find it on a second-hand site?
- Could I borrow this item instead?
Possible advantages of the no-spend savings challenge
- Consciously checking your spending could prevent impulse buying, which in turn could reduce over-consumption and clutter.
- Reducing the amount of money you spend will increase the amount of money you save. Having money set aside in savings is a huge positive.
- If you’ve recently forked out more than usual, for example, on a birthday or holiday, committing to a no-spend period could help you regain some financial control and build your savings pot back up.
- No-spend periods could promote resourcefulness and create new opportunities. You might find yourself thinking outside the box when it comes to things like weekend plans, upcycling, and even rustling up some new meals.
- Taking part in a no-spend challenge could help you recognise any negative financial habits that you might have.
Possible disadvantages of a no-spend challenge
- Like anything in life, it’s important to have balance. Saving money is great, but don’t let the possible pressure of a financial challenge leave you isolated from friends and family and the things you love.
- Sometimes, spending money outside of our planned expenses is unavoidable, for example, if your car fails its MOT or your boiler breaks. If you’re taking part in a strict no-spend period, having to cover the cost of a financial emergency could leave you feeling disappointed and stressed. It’s supposed to be a positive challenge with positive outcomes; if you’re feeling more pressured than positive, it’s possibly a sign that you should take a step back.
Simple no-spend swaps to get you started
| Swap... | For |
|---|---|
| Shop-bought lunchtime meal deal. | Homemade sandwiches, pastas, or wraps. Need some inspo? Check out this guide. |
| Coffee out with friends. | Coffee IN with friends. Pop the kettle on and invite the gang round instead! |
| Buying new books. | Joining a library. |
| Buying new clothes (that you don’t need). | Upcycling your current wardrobe. Switch up outfit choices and mix and match pieces. That red blazer from the trouser set co-ord would look fab with a pair of black jeans as well! |
| A day out at a theme park with the kids. | A day in the countryside. Pack a picnic and embrace the simple things in life with free activities such as Pooh Sticks and a nature-based treasure hunt. |
How long should a no-spend challenge last?
Again, this is entirely up to you.
As discussed, no-spend periods could last anywhere between a single day or weekend, to many months, and even up to a year.
As long as saving money doesn’t leave you in a position where you’re struggling to pay for your essential outgoings, and the pressure isn’t hurting your wellbeing and relationships, then you can commit to no-spend periods as often or as little as you like.
I can’t afford to save money; what can I do?
Not being able to save money is a very common and real situation for many households, and there is nothing to feel ashamed of.
When it comes to saving money, there can often be a misconception that you have to be putting aside hundreds of pounds each month for it to count. This simply isn’t true. Any amount of money saved is an achievement, whether that’s £5 or £500 a month. It all adds up and helps to create a financial safety net.
Don’t put any pressure on yourself, and don’t worry about the amount or the frequency, just focus on steadily building up your savings pot as and when you can.
If your finances feel squeezed month-to-month, have you thought about setting some time aside to reassess your budget? It’s not as daunting as it sounds and could help you find areas where you could be making savings.
Here’s how to do it.
- Total up how much money you’re guaranteed to have coming in each month. This should include any wages, benefits, or side-hustle income.
- Carefully go through all your outgoings. Are there any old subscriptions that you’re no longer making use of? Unused gym membership? Streaming service plan that you don’t need anymore? If so, consider hitting ‘cancel’ to free up some money.
- The next step is to make a list of all your essential monthly outgoings, such as housing, bills, food, commuting costs, and pet care. Remember to leave off any outgoings you’ve managed to unload in the step above.
- Remember to factor in any extras that you’re expecting paying for during the month ahead, for example, new school uniform for the kids, or a check-up at the vets for your pet.
- Subtract your outgoings total from your overall income. The amount of money you’re left with is your disposable income. This is the amount you have left to spend or save, however you choose.
I’m worried about money; who can I turn to?
Whether it’s the cost-of-living crisis or debt, if you’re concerned about your financial situation, please consider reaching out to any of the following charities and organisations for free, confidential advice: StepChange, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline.
Please don’t feel like you have to go through financial fears alone. Whatever you’re worried about, you won’t be judged on your concerns and will instead be met with empathy and support.
The information contained in this article is meant as a general guide and does not constitute nor should be taken as financial advice.
January 2026.