2025 No Spend/Low Spend Challenge Thread

My plan is a Low Spend.

Really, I need nothing but necessities. My reading goal for 2025 is to read large books/series. These are mostly books I already own, minus King’s Dark Tower series. My hobbies should be decently covered with supplies.

There is one journal kit that will be purchased, if I like it—The Archer & Olive Halloween kit. The 2024 kit is amazing!

I have a plan, so I feel positive about the level of success.

I need to cut back on spending.

I stocked up on skin care and hair care during sales the past two months, so I should be set for months (skin care) and the year (hair care). I only want to replenish items.

I am not buying any Lego sets until I build at least 2 sets I already have. I do have a couple sets I have in my wishlist nearing retirement, so that gives me incentive to be productive.

I am only buying clothes as needed as I continue to lose weight. I also need to not buy clothes in my new size(s) unless I have an immediate need for them, as I purchased some nicer pants on clearance, but never had the chance to wear them before they became too big.

I did really well not purchasing stuff from Ali Edwards this year, the only thing I purchased this year was the 2025 OLW class yesterday. The last order I placed was 12/25/23, which is amazing. I need to keep it up.

I did not do so well with purchasing stuff from Scrapbook Generation. I need to keep it to sale items or free kit weekends. I'm hoping to go back to WeCreate in September (this time with an old friend from college), so I need to save up money for that. If I am able to go, I'd bank all of my purchases to receive them at the crop, so it's like a mini Christmas celebration for me.

I need to stop purchasing bags from Portland Leather Goods, full stop. I have a number of bags I need to post in the bst groups, so hopefully I can recoup at least some money.

I think those are my main triggers for unnecessary spending, so that's where I going to focus my low spending efforts on next year.

This. I have plenty of stuff. And I went a bit wild with spending in 2024. I am sort of disappointed in myself, TBH. So I am planning to go low spending in 2025.

I'm doing low buy in 2025! Ready to downsize and prioritize what matters most.

I'm spending whatever I want. Guess this isn't the thread for me.

Like why even comment? 🙄

I’m going to try to be better.

I promised DH - no makeup or candles this year. I have more than enough of both so I’m more than fine.

My goal is to focus on different things so we’ll see.

I am trying for a low spend year.

The thing is, I am not particularly frivolous myself.

But the last few years' spending has been very high. A combo of vehicle and appliances failure, and immediate home repair needs.

Just came one after another.

Low spend here

Today will be easy - we’re at the kids still and today is planned as a lazy at home day except for packing up our stuff - we leave tomorrow

Thursday and Friday should also be pretty easy - we’ll be on the road. I already have car snacks and breakfast Friday is included with our lodgings. Lunch and dinner are included in the vacation budget

Saturday will be groceries - plan is to just buy milk and produce and eat from the freezer and pantry. I’ll check back in afterwards

I'm going low spend. I've already cancelled several paid services-Amazon Prime, Audiobooks, Disney Plus and Apple + . I did get BritBox for the year on sale. It was 1/2 the price of a yearly Disney Plus subscription. My son with disabilities only watches one show on repeat so I bought the dvd LOL

We live frugally anyway for the most part. We don't go to movies and rarely out for dinner. But we do endulge and make great food at home.

I'm going to focus on my Kindle unread book list. I've been a sucker for .99 cent book sales and have a lot of unread books. Spotify has 15 hours of reading per month with the subscription, so I'll use this. My library holds are full.

I want to use up my craft stashes. Yes! I will do so LOL. We all say this but I'm determined to use up some of the yarn for donated projects.

I use my Walmart CC for all bills and rack up points. I pay in full each month. I use the points for groceries, yarn or gc for myself to buy at other shops like Kobo or Bass Pro.

I'm going to give myself $50 a month for discretionary spending or use at the second hand store.

My goals are to retire in June with an extra $10,000 in my account.

I feel like I am already a low to no spend person. Christmas always makes me cringe with the amount of "stuff" that gets purchased. I take my coffee to work, along with my own lunch from home. My hobbies are reading and puzzles, both of which the thrift stores keep me in business. 

I have switched (switching) my cleaners to more sustainable products and low toxic, not using plastic storage anymore, gone to beeswax wraps and glass containers.

I always cook at home so eating out is not a worry for us.

This next year we will have expenses for our land. We purchased land and are planning on building. It will be huge up front cost, but in the end (after this house sells) it will be a wash and then I can spend all my money on chicken and goat feed

I told my sister I have entered my hippy grandma era.

I'd like to try a low spend year. I have 18 months until I will retire (can retire now, but working to get supplemental medical paid for during retirement). I'd like to try to live in 2025 with what I would make in retirement with just my SocSec and pension. I'm getting SocSec already (widow benefits) and have an estimated $$ number for my pension. If I can do that and not draw down my savings, I'll feel much better when it comes time to stop working, knowing I can do it. I'll bank/invest the rest of my salary to boost my savings.

My biggest expenses right now are my cardmaking hobby and the dog. Those weekend cardmaking retreats are expensive! I'll budget for one or two,  but not the 5-6 I did last year. 

Back from the library and grocery stores. Did NOT buy anything from the FoL book racks. Spent $100 on groceries and $7 on a french press - DS uses it for his loose tea when making iced tea and I have a LOT of loose tea (and bagged tea) to use this year.

Stuck to my list - the only Aldi aisle of shame purchase was the (preplanned) french press. Given that my fridge and produce was EMPTY (due to being on vacation for two weeks), I think I did ok.

Next planned expense is my farm box - $28 on Monday for next Friday's box

I'd like to low spend, but January is impossible for me as there are a plethora of birthdays.
So for Jan and Feb, I'm just going to cut back.
March through May should be okay for low spend.
This summer depends on what the kids want to do for their birthdays