My "No-Spend Weeks" Experiment: Cutting Monthly Spending in Half

In February, I decided to run a little experiment with my personal finances—no-spend weeks. Every other week, I’m only allowed to purchase true necessities like groceries. Anything else? Off the table.

The results have been fascinating.

For starters, Instagram continues to hit me with perfectly targeted ads, tempting me to buy things I absolutely think I need (and would probably return a week later). But now, during my no-spend weeks, I browse knowing I cannot purchase. If something really catches my eye, I delay-send myself an email with the link for the next week. If I’m in a store, I simply make a mental note to return next week if I’m still thinking about it.

Here’s what I’ve discovered:

😊 My monthly spending has been cut in half (at least)—and that’s no exaggeration.

😊 When I receive those delay-sent emails on “spend” weeks, I often just laugh and delete them. Turns out, most of those purchases weren’t necessary after all.

😊 I’m far more intentional about my spending, especially when it comes to shopping. This experiment has taught me how much of my spending was impulse-driven.

This simple shift has been a game-changer for me, and it’s been both fun and eye-opening. If you’ve been looking for a way to be more mindful with your spending, I highly recommend giving this a try.