A Low Spend Summer

A no spend summer is something that I have considered doing for a while. Every November for the past several years I have participated in a no spend month to practice gratitude for what I already have and to protect the environment by limiting my consumption of things. While I love the idea of doing this for an entire season, it is not a great fit for me right now. But that does not mean I cannot take some of those no-spend practices for a low-spend summer. This is exactly what I intend to do.

There are many reasons why someone may want to have a no-spend month or season or even a full year.

Not spending money can change our relationship with money and our finances, increase our savings, pay off debt, improve our habits around shopping and over-consumption, and help us develop better coping methods while also protecting the environment by buying less and reusing more. It teaches us gratitude for what we already have, changes our perspective, and makes us more resourceful and creative with our resources.

I began the summer with the best intentions to have a no spend summer this time around. I began my list of exceptions because even a no spend season requires spending money to sustain myself. Like everyone, I still have living expenses like my rent, transportation costs, hygiene products, groceries and medicine to pay for. My list of exceptions looks like this:

• Groceries
• Bills: rent, car payment, phone, internet and electric
• Medicine and vitamins
• Doctor visits if needed
• Gym membership
• Emergency home or vehicle repairs
• Vehicle costs: oil changes, gas, tires, etc.
• Pet care: pet food, vet visits, etc.
• Business costs: supplies needed for my business, my adobe subscription for editing photos, web hosting, etc.
• Refills for my home and hygiene products: tooth paste, deodorant, shampoo, laundry detergent, dish soap, etc.
• My student loan repayment

This list of exceptions will look different from person to person. For example, a parent is going to have a very different list than a student, a caregiver, a retired person, or a traveling nurse. Parents might have childcare costs like daycare or babysitter expenses, school supplies for their kids, extracurricular costs, and clothing for their kids. A college student might not have rent or a car, but they will have to buy school books or a new laptop if theirs breaks. A student might have computer programs they need to pay for to do homework or participate in class.

While I encourage everyone to try a no spend week or month, a whole season or year is not the right fit for everyone. Nor is it realistic. Life after all costs money. And there are those who spend very little and who are already living paycheck to paycheck with no where else left to cut corners. I’ve been there. This is not a punishment or something anyone has to do. Some of us have no choice. It can be a personal challenge that could have a positive impact. Although I have come to the realization that this is not a good fit more me this year, I do want to challenge myself to a low spend summer. I have been in the position where I have been deprived on necessities. So the idea of spending less for myself feels counterintuitive because I understand what a privilege it is to be able to afford things I need to live and to also have fun. I believe that I am a frugal person. I do not typically over spend. However, I do want to increase my savings and challenge myself to spend less. Lately I worry that I ever spend some times as a coping mechanism to deal with stress at work.

When I added my exceptions up, I had too many exceptions because there were goals on my list for this summer that do require money. I spent a lot of my younger years deprived due to circumstances and do not feel the need to deprive myself of doing things I wish to do to meet some imaginary goal. For my low spend summer I am going to keep my list of exceptions and then add some fun items to the list. Things like curtains for the tea room which are on my wish list and items I really want for our home and garden. I’m saving room on the list for fun items on my wish list such as a badminton set and rack for our kayaks so I can play and go on kayaking trips this season. I also have a few books and magazines on my summer reading list. If there is something I need for a craft or a gathering, I don’t want to limit myself too much.

That being said, I am going to limit a few things where I feel my spending can be tightened up. I will be avoiding unplanned purchases and window shopping. These are some of the ways I plan to implement my low spend summer:

• No new books unless they are the few on my summer reading list or the next in a series I am currently reading. (For your list this might be confess out, buying lunches instead of packing one, etc. For me, my vice is buying books.)
• No spontaneous trips into stores.
• No new clothing or shoes unless it is to replace an item that I have outgrown or worn out.
• No tech.
• Only eat out for special occasions and make my meals at home instead.
• Choose low or no spend activities when hanging out with friends.
• Practice delayed gratification when planning to make a purchase.
• Use what I already have.
• Be honest with myself when buying something new: is it a want or a need?
• Thrift instead of buying new when possible.
• Save big purchases for later if necessary.

Outside of book shopping or the occasional clothing purchase, I do not spend much money when out. I do not buy treats for myself like coffees or tea when out form home. I do not buy tech or fun items for myself like games, movies, or toys. I also do not eat lunch out except for the rare occasion. If you have a shopping vice like buying soda or candy every time you stop at the gas station, daily coffees, or tech upgrades, take a moment to consider what items you can limit for yourself this summer and add them to a list of your own. Where do you typically over spend?

I may not be going all in for a no spend summer, but I’m looking forward to committing to a low spend summer this year. I am hoping that it will aid me growing my savings and change my spending habits for the better. I plan to alter the focus of my summer to gratitude and having fun with an old fashioned summer; plenty of time outside and at the beach. The fact is that you do not need to spend a lot of money (or any at all) to have summer fun. Most parks and beaches are free. Spending time with friends does not always mean having to go out. You can cook a meal together or play a game you already own. I will be sharing a long list of no spend and low spend summer activities to inspire your own low spend summer. So what do you say, would you like to join me? I am looking forward to a simple low spend summer.