My idea is to go on a Spending Fast ® for a year – spending money on necessities only to see what happens, how much debt I can get out of and how much I can get into savings.
When I mentioned to a good friend that I was thinking about going on a spending fast for 2010 she sighed and said “Well, that doesn’t sound very fun.” Then, I told my husband what I was thinking about doing and he wasn’t very excited about it either. He said “Great. No more fun. No more eating out. This is gonna suck.”
I have to tell you, I feel the same way. Who would want to not get want they want? I’m the type that buys what she wants when she wants because I work hard and I feel like I deserve it. I know plenty of people who have the same feelings as I do about work and money and spending and not spending.
Inside my head I hear this loudly: “YOU DESERVE IT DARLING!” and truly, I believe that I do. I mean, I woke up early for goodness-sake! I did what was asked of me and I was even nice while doing it! I DESERVE that super cute trinket or hat or whatever from Etsy dammit! Besides, I work a full-time day job AND I run a full-time wedding photography business AND what else can I think of? I do a lot and my spending is justified… until it isn’t anymore.
When I was planning for our wedding that took place in May 2009 my dad gave me a little chunk of money that I could use as needed for wedding stuff. I got really used to having that money around. Being able to spend like I wanted helped me morph a kinda-bad habit into a super-bad habit. And once the wedding rolled around and things changed from “planning the soon to be fond memories” phase to the “Oh, remember that?” phase… guess what didn’t stop when the planning stopped? My spending.
And.. that’s where I am today… starting January 1st 2010 I’m gonna spend money on necessities only and I’m fully prepared for this to suck.
My Spending Fast ® Wants and Needs List
So, I know some of you are thinking “Well… you’ve got to spend SOME money this year don’t you!?” and my answer to all of ya’ll (imagine that with a southern twang) is “Yes, I will have to.” Oh yeah, I’ll HAVE TO. Force me why don’t you. I imagine that this will kind of be like a person who is in Overeaters Anonymous who must still eat but can only consume the “right” stuff. Where it would be a whole lot easier if you could just eliminate it completely from your life.
The goal of this whole spending fast is to get my spending back on track, save some money and get rid of a lot of the clutter and time sucking that comes along with having a lot of stuff and buying the new stuff. Managing it, maintaining it, cleaning it, rearranging it, you know.
Plus, I want my priorities to go like this: people and relationships are #1 and I don’t want things to be at the top or even close to the top of the list. Where as now, that can become questionable sometimes.
Setting up my priorities like that makes sense.
Obviously, situations will happen this year that I won’t be able to predict, so I’m gonna have to weigh those unexpected situations and remember that my motto has to be “Make Do and Mend” rather than “Make More to Spend More.”
Ok. So. Here is the brutal break-down of how things will be going down this year:
What I will have to spend money on (My Needs):
Rent
Utilities (keeping lights and water off as much as possible; keeping the thermostat at 68 and wearing a hat and long johns inside, if needed)
Cell phone (taking the internet off of it)
Food (store-bought, off brands, in season fruits and veggies and only when I run out of stuff in cupboards)
Gym membership (local gym, it’s reasonable and health is important)
Doctor co-pays
Medicine
Photography exhibits (done inexpensively)
Car payment
Some gas
Bus eco-pass
Box hair dye (hey, I have needs)
What I’m NOT spending money on (My Wants):
Gifts (sorry friends and family… homemade crafts or re-gifting will be happening. Hopefully you all like macaroni magnets.)
Coffee at coffee shops (sad face)
Clothes (remember: “Make Do & Mend!” and in honor of that I need this. haha!)
Trinkets
Etsy stuff (another sad face)
New make-up
Eating out
Movies
New business cards (I have a bad habit of getting new ones because I like a different design better)
Coats (see Clothes above)
Shoes
Bed linens
Towels
Fancy html email service (down-sizing it)
Decorative house stuff
Fancy haircuts at fancy hair shop
New music from iTunes
There you have it. There’s no way it can be completely comprehensive but I think it’s a good start.
And, my new name is Mrs. Cheapskate. Nice to meetcha’.
How To Do A Spending Fast ® and Get Out of Debt Quick
A spending fast is considered an extreme but very effective method of getting out of debt quickly. A spending fast works through the elimination of all “non-need” spending.
There are a few things to think about before you start your own Spending Fast and these elements will affect how fast you are able to become debt-free.
These Factors Will Affect Your Spending Fast
- Your income
- The total amount of debt you have
- How much spending you decide to cut out
- How committed you are to the process
- The length of time that you chose for your spending fast
- How much money you can make by selling your unused possessions
- What you chose to do to generate additional income and how much money you can bring in with the side job(s)
It’s time to end the cycle of debt, guilt, and remorse. Let’s do this!
1. List Your Debts and Their Interest Rates
Make a list of all your bills, and then write the highest-interest rate bill at the top of the list with the lowest interest rate bill at the bottom of the list. This will determine the order in which you will eliminate each bill: highest interest rate bill to the lowest interest rate bill.
2. Ask Your Creditors for Lower Interest Rates
Call the credit card companies and ask them to lower your interest rate. They just might do it so it’s worth a shot to call them and ask.
3. Picture the Life You Dream of Living
Determine your priorities by putting actual pen to paper and by writing down your ideal life. What would you be doing if you didn’t have to work for a living? How would you spend your time, and when are you the most happy? Ask yourself, ”Is there any way I can reach my goals with the debt I have?” If the answer is “no” and you don’t feel good about it, then it’s time to start thinking about making some serious changes. Be very honest with yourself. Do you find that you’re making decisions about things to do (or not do) based on the amount of debt you have? Does your debt prevent you from living a life that is true to you? Does your debt (and your obligation to it) pull you and angle your decisions in even the subtlest ways?
4. Make The Commitment To Be Done With Debt Once and for All
If you’re not ready to be done with your debt, then you might want to try some other methods first. The spending fast technique requires a lot of commitment and dedication. A spending fast is a way to get extreme results in a relatively short amount of time, but you have to be ready to go forward full-force with it. Your life will change and it will affect every area of life. Getting out of debt and committing to the spending fast is worth it, it’s just not easy!
5. If You’re Partnered, Try to Get Them to Do the Spending Fast With You
It’s a lot easier to change your life if your partner is on board but, if they aren’t, then consider doing the spending fast solo. Separate bank accounts are very helpful if you’re doing the spending fast by yourself.
6. Set a Time-Frame for Your Spending Fast
I recommend a year, so you can get past the difficult beginning part (where all your habits are getting changed) and into the real benefits part (where your debt is getting paid off). A year can seem long day-to-day but at the end of the year you’ll be surprised how fast it goes by. If you chose to do a weekend-long spending fast, a week-long spending fast, a couple of months or a year, you will still get results and it will still positively affect your financial situation.
7. Make a Public Declaration of Your Desire to Become Debt-Free
Tell your friends and family about your decision to do a spending fast so you can have the accountability that comes along with it. In addition to telling your family and friends, take the Debt-Free Life Pledge, and read the entries from others who are committed to getting out of debt too (it’s super inspiring to read the pledges and I always read them when I need extra motivation).
8. Create a “Wants and Needs” List
The “wants and needs” list is the backbone of the spending fast. On the “needs” list include just the necessities needed to live: rent, food, utilities, etc. On the “wants” list, put everything that is an “extra” in your life. Things that went on this side of the list for me were items like clothes, coffee at coffee shops, movies in the theater, gifts, bed linens, new music, new make-up, shoes, etc. (See my original spending fast wants and needs list above) The “wants and needs” list can (and will) be different based on each person’s varying priorities in life. If you decide that something should be on your needs list that wasn’t on mine that’s okay! Just try not to justify adding things just to make it easier. You can do this!
9. Spend Money on the “Needs” Side of the List Only
This is the simple-but-not-easy part of the spending fast.
10. Think About What You Can Buy Rather Than What You Can’t
If find yourself starting to feel bummed out when you’re in the thick of the spending fast, try to shift your perspective, because it will do wonders for your morale. Remember to keep having fun (just the free kind). Remember that the spending fast isn’t forever;that’s why you set a time-frame at the start. Remind yourself of why you’re doing the spending fast in the first place — it’s to get out of debt once-and-for-all and to change your life! Look at the list you made in step #3 when your morale gets low.
11. Become Immersed in a Community of Like-Minded People
Get involved in the And Then We Saved Community. This is where people share their questions, struggles, accomplishments, set-backs, tips, tricks, and most importantly, their getting-out-of-debt successes. It’s a great place to get a reminder that we aren’t alone in our dreams to live debt-free lives.
12. Attack Your Debts
At the end of the month, send all the money that is left in your account to the bill that has the highest interest rate. Continue to send the minimum due on your other bills. Once a bill gets knocked out, be proud of yourself! You’re really doing it! You’re becoming debt-free! Next, start working on the next highest interest rate bill on the list. Become competitive with yourself; try to get better numbers than the previous month and keep track of your savings from month-to-month. To be able to see all the savings at the end of the year is amazing.
13 & 14. Be Committed to the Process and Continue With the Spending Fast Until You Reach Your End Date
It’s unrealistic to think that “mistakes” won’t happen so keep going even when they (inevitably) occur so when they do, re-focus, and get back at you. Stick with the spending fast for the entire time-frame you committed yourself to. If you reach your goal of paying off your debt and you happen to do it before your predetermined end date (um, awesome!), then why not keep going? Squirrel away the extra money and prepare yourself for the next step — financial security.
15. Be Proud of Yourself for What You Accomplished — Big or Small
When you come to the end of your spending fast, look back on all you were able to do. Being proactive and being willing to take charge of your life and finances is definitely something to be proud of!
Throughout the Spending Fast, always be on the look-out for ways to cut the “needs” list down even more, get creative with ways to save money, and be willing to make things yourself in an effort to save.
Before you know it, saving will become (unbelievably) more fun than spending and your financial life (and day-to-day life) will be forever changed!
Get started now and change your life forever! Take the Get Out of Debt Pledge today!
Spending Fast is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.
above image by Erin Hanson
40 Comments
I love this idea! Thanks Anna :)
I think this is a great website – you won’t believe how many people I meet as a financial advisor who need just this sort of thing – this is going to be part of my much recommend resource list from now on!
Much appreciation.
Zehra Mahoon
Thank you for this, you have motivated me – I AM GOING TO DO IT! I have to get out of debt, it haunts me, and I can’t wait to put your plan in my life. Thanks for the tips and plan!
Thank you! :)
Loved your website. Thanks for creating and inspiring others. Nice to have a few online “friends” who are trying to learn to live within our means.
My husband and I decided to take a step backward in order to have more
security in our lives; and we’re buying a dblwide manufactured home. We’re
excited about this change and being able to have less going out each month.
My biggest problem now is trying to figure out how to cut down on my clothes. To me they’re “friends”; it must be something needy there, though
I have many clothes and friends. But in new home, will have much less closet
space, and I have a great deal of trouble letting go, though haven’t worn some for years. Help! Any suggestions? Thanks, Carol Ann
a couple of ideas for dealing with your sentimental clothes:
- take pictures of the clothes so you can remember them without the clothes having to take up space (and time)
- host a clothing swap with friends and since you said you don’t have space for more clothes just donate the clothes into the “swapping pot” and then…
- donate the clothes to a womens domestic violence shelter or a thrift store (be sure to get a receipt for the tax benefit at the end of the year)
- give the clothes to friends that truly like them (as opposed to just giving them clutter and more to take care of themselves)
- bring the clothes to a “buy-sell-trade” shop like buffalo exchange or scout: dry goods and trade. if the stores accept the clothes they will give you the option of receiving money or trading so you can pick out new items.
Found this site by chance and just in time!
Thank you for this and I do hope to make this work… I need it with almost $200K in student loans :(
Hallelujah! Your website is just what I’ve been looking for! :D After going through endless blogs with tips on how to save money that are simply common sense, your blog is actually full of really helpful, inventive ideas on how to save money, and, more importantly, you have actual tips on how to WANT less, which is my main problem. I am planning to go on a spending fast for 6 months to clear my credit card debt, and the “Want too many things – need to want less” is spot on. My first step is to cut my own hair – can you believe that a regular, 20-minute haircut in Oslo, Norway, costs $160!? Buying a bigger flat in about a year is my goal, I hope I make it! :) Thanks for a super great blog! Love from Guro, Norway.
THIS MAKES TOTAL SENSE. JUST WHAT DAVE RAMSEY SAYS REGARDING DEBT, GET OUT AND STAY OUT. LIFE IS MORE FUN WITHOUT IT.
Just in time I need this in my life
thank you!
This is an awesome idea! My husband and I have become accustomed to being able to both save and spend more the past couple of years because of our blessing of a living situation. (No rent or utilities – only insurance and bare minimum cell phone payments.) I’ve been trying to mentally prepare myself for the near future, you know, the one with bills, so this would be a great diet! The only thing I would caution women about is the makeup. If you’re planning on not buying any new makeup for a year, you’ll either have to cut out some at some point, or make your own. Here’s a guide to how long different makeup staples last: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/photos/how-long-does-makeup-last/best-face-forward
I’ve begun buying fewer, better quality and natural makeups, and I’ve saved money that way. Thanks for the tips and inspiration!
Great blog!
Just wondering…during your initial spending fast, what did you do about things like, say, trash bags and light bulbs? Regular, everyday items that need to be replaced or often purchased, but that don’t fall into any of your ‘needs’ categories?
Looking forward to your answer!
Hi, we bought them because they were on the “needs” side of the “wants and needs” list. We went to the dollar store and sought out the sale and cheapest versions.
Hi there – I loved your post about cutting your own hair. Would you be able to do a similar post on how to color your own hair? I was surprised to read that you do it at home and would love tips, as cutting out trips to the salon = huge savings.
Cheers,
Cindy
You know, the same thing happened to me when I was planning my wedding. I got so used to seeing packages come in the mail that for a while afterward, I was still buying just to get excited about the mail!
This is so fantastic! The new year is just days away and I am commited to starting the year saving. I’m in grad school to become a 2nd grade teacher and working full time. Next year I will have a minimum income and I want to save all I can instead of spending loan money. My husband is great at saving and we jsut got married so I would like to feel as comfortable as he is. I’m in! So glad I found this and thank you for sharing your story. <3
I need all the help I can get–thank you for this inspiration….
At 63 years old, I am trying to live more on my own terms. This means working less, spending more time on my own personal growth and having energy and time for those I love. This will not be possible unless I totally change my spending style and recognize the richness of frugal living.
Thanks again.
Jane
I would like to know how that first year turned out. How much debt (roughly) were you able to eliminate? How much (roughly) were you able to save in addition to eliminating debt? I REALLY like this idea and would like to suggest to my husband that we try it out to a certain degree. However, without some hard numbers to present to him, I don’t think it will fly in my house.
Hi Julia, Check out the total savings tab in the left sidebar there for the monthly break-downs.
I just want to tell you how excited I am to have stumbled on to your blog after seeing “56 Things To Do..” on Pinterest. At first I clicked on here thinking “Oh cute! another fun blog.” But then I saw what you are all about and my heart almost exploded with excitement!! Sure, I love design, DIY and even the occasional lifestyle blog as much as the next girl, but YOURS is the content we ALL need to be reading! I am excited to present this concept to my husband and share your blog with my pals! eek! :)
Pretty good, except you don’t need the gym. That is a luxury. Run in place, get a jump rope, take a walk, buy some weights at the thrift store.
That’s the cool thing about the ‘Wants and Needs’ list, each one will vary based on what is a priority in each person’s life. For me, I just don’t end up working out much at home so the gym qualified as a need. I know it wouldn’t on appear everyone’s list and there are tons of great, free workout options out there (thankfully!). :)
I want to to thank you for this wonderful read!
! I absolutely loved every bit of it. I’ve got you bookmarked to look at new stuff you post…
We have been debt free for 4 yrs now thanks to the Dave Ramsey teachings by rklfinancial.com (Shaun Somers) but I have decided to take it one step further and thanks to finding yor website thru Pinterest I’m now challenging myself to a spending fast! Ive been an emotional spender. time for change! Thanks for putting Yourself out there!
Thank you so much for your awesome website and all these great tips! I’m doing my own spending fast for the month of January and have found a ton of help and inspiration through your blog. I’m updating on my meals and eating on my blog through the spending fast, since that’s my husband and I’s biggest expense, aside from rent. Thank you so much again for all your inspiration!
So cool. I hope the recent food posts have been helpful.
New year and New me….getting out from under my Credit Card debit once and for all. Your site is amazing!
Thank you so much for the information in your blog! We really needed to read it. We lucked up on finding it but I will begin following your blog. We really need to get out of debt and start saving. We are on a very fixed income and neither of us are able to work but I do have things that can be sold, especially clothing. We will be making lists of needs and wants and will stick to them. No more spur of the moment buying for us, only necessities. Thank you again!
I’m so glad the blog is helpful. Selling clothes is a great way to clear out a lot of stuff and space. I love getting rid of stuff and its even better to make some money from it! Let me know if you have any questions about the Spending Fast.:)
Yes, i’m in! i am beyond thrilled to start this.
Thank you so much for this blog and all the great info you’re putting out there and being so candid about your own experiences! It really puts everything in to perspective.
I just basically gobbled up everything you’ve posted and am so pumped to make this commitment.
There will be tough moments for sure but hey, I’ve often noticed that after 10 minutes of having left a store without a purchase, I can’t even recall why I needed those “must have shoes.”
So I did it! I couldn’t quite do a fast like you but every month I wrote down how much I made and I kept track of every dollar I spent and I sent to difference to my student loan company and I paid them off 14,000$ in less than a year! But now I am still broke and I feel like splurging because I have been denying myself of wants. Any tips for a budget after paying off the debt?
Hi Emily, You paid off $14,000 in less than a year!!??!! WOWOOOWWWW!! You’re so awesome!! I was in the same boat as you after the year of the Spending Fast so I started up the Spending Diet. Maybe it will work for you too as a good seque into “normal” spending.
Hi Emily–
Congratulations–I am impressed!!
I find that changing how I spend is a lot like trying to lose weight. If I am too restrictive, after a while I start to splurge (binge). For me, the trick is to plan treats and to make sure they are the best they can be. For example, if I am craving chocolate, I buy a piece of the best chocolate I can find and take the time to fully savor and experience it without guilt.
This goes along with mindful living in all realms.
Hope this is helpful.
Jane
That’s a good idea and also a good point Jane.
You’ve inspired me to save before I even start having to take out student loans! I am going to spend my summer spending lightly to save more money to go towards tuition next semester. I know it’ll be worth it in the end. :)
This sounds glorious if you make enough money to put most of your income towards your debt. What happens if you aren’t left with much after rent, utilities, groceries, and student loans as it is? I shop sales and use coupons more than anyone else I’ve ever met and I still can’t get ahead. I suppose the only solution is to find a higher paying job :/
Create the wants and needs list. There is most likely money to be found and things to be cut out. You might be surprised. I know I was!
Hi there Anna,
I read your webpage, it was a real inspiration. A friend sent me a link to your page because I recently started my own type of spending fast/diet – and have been blogging about it! I’m one and a half months in, and I LOVE the ideas you’ve shared for how to have fun for free. I’m from New Zealand, but so many of them are applicable over here! I just wanted to say thanks so much for sharing your story. If you happened to want to read about mine, here’s the link: http://asoflatelyivebeenthinking.blogspot.co.nz
Hope you’re keeping well and your spending diet is empowering you like it is me.
Like most of the other replies here, I want to say a huge THANK YOU and let you know that you are such an inspiration! I’d like to share my story with you: At the age of 19, I signed up for what I thought was a part of the “American Dream” aka college aka student loans. At that time, I had no idea how this decision would impact the rest of my life. At the end of my college career, I ended up with a mind-blowing total of about $130,000 in debt at the age of 23. I’ve been out of school for almost two years now and FINALLY landed a full time job as a graphic designer last week. While I’m extremely proud of myself for this accomplishment and for the fact that my career actually utilizes my college degree, I can’t help but to feel that I’ve completely doomed myself for life because of the amount of debt I’m in. My monthly payments to my student loan lenders are so significant that I fear it will not allow me the financial freedom to do things in life that I’ve always dreamed of like travel, have children, buy a house, etc. because I’ll never have enough money to do them. I managed the payments on my student loans for the first year, mostly because of a well-paying temp job. After the year-long temp job ended and jobs were few and far between, I started deferring payments by any means possible and that’s where I’m at at this moment. I lived paycheck to paycheck, relying on my wonderful parents and fiance for financial support when I couldn’t pay my bills on my own. And then last week I found your blog, and landed my full time job all in the same day. I’m starting the spending fast so that I can finally feel like I have control of my life. With the promise of a steady paycheck and the inspiration I’ve found here, I feel confident that I can overcome the consequences of the decision I made years ago. Again, THANK YOU!
Hello Anna, I found your website by accident and am glad that I did. :) My husband has about $19,000 of student loan debt currently. His initial student loan was about 20,000 in 2007, and we have been paying monthly the minimum due since 2008 when the payment was due. I feel overwhelmed with interest, cause technically we have paid about 13,000 since 2008. Did you have a lot of interest accrued also? Did paying large sums cut back on both principal and interest of your student loans? These student loan companies are pretty UGLY!!!!
32 Trackbacks
[...] The Spending Fast, Newell Jones had to master the art of staying near. If it wasn’t free, she didn’t do [...]
[...] 3 ) & then we saved | home of the spending fast. this chick is a serious inspiration. she got [...]
[...] I’m implementing a 2013 spending freeze (moneyning) or spending fast (andthenwesaved). [...]
[...] Participate in The Spending Fast [...]
[...] accounting for as Needs that are really Wants? Sure. Would I see faster results by doing a full-on Spending Fast? Without a doubt. But at this point in my life, I need to do more than simply cut all of my Want [...]
[...] 5: Do at least two month-long Spending Fasts during the [...]
[...] just added And Then We Saved to my reader. I saw a post about a “Spending Fast,” and I was interested. I have credit card debt and an assload of student loans to pay off. [...]
[...] duo. A few weeks ago we began talking about And Then We Saved Blogger Anna Newell Jones’ , Spending Fast , which helped her pay off $23,000 in debt, and the Spending Diet, which is a modified version of [...]
[...] how this one crazily dedicated woman payed off a giant chunk of debt by going on what she called a Spending Fast. (You should read about it. [...]
[...] then I came across an article in Self magazine today about a gal becoming debt-free via a “Spending Fast“. It was all very intriguing to me. I’ll get into the nitty gritty of our debt in [...]
[...] and saving (or even people who aren’t struggling, and just want to make some simple changes) The Spending Fast, and The Spending Diet. The Spending Fast is a great way to help you get out of debt. You’ll [...]
[...] About the Spending Fast ® [...]
[...] About the Spending Fast ® [...]
[...] learn from their examples and find peace and contentment with my own stuff… there may be a spending fast in my future… anybody with [...]
[...] her post, Rachel shared another site, one which inspired she and her husband to try the spending fast in the first place. This post, [...]
[...] Inspirational reading: Paid of 24k in debt in 15 months! WOW! http://andthenwesaved.com/about-the-spending-fast/ [...]
[...] improve their money situation (check out The Thrifty Social Worker, Carly Wilson, LearnVest, and And Then We Saved for examples of spending fasts and similar strategies). I applaud their efforts and feel that a [...]
[...] improve their money situation (check out The Thrifty Social Worker, Carly Wilson, LearnVest, and And Then We Saved for examples). I applaud their efforts and feel that this can be an excellent way to kick start [...]
[...] done a spending fast (And what does the existence of this say about how much we [...]
[...] inspired by this denver blogger to get our family out of debt. jp and i are on a spending fast. last paycheck alone we had more extra cash than i thought possible to put towards debt — it [...]
[...] month Chop & I are doing a spending fast, we are extremely frugal right now but are curious how a complete freeze on our spending can help [...]
[...] on all the little extras in order to get out of debt. I was inspired by And Then We Saved’s Spending Fast*, and how she paid off all her debt so [...]
[...] I recently started following Chelsea over on No Debt Brunette and now she’s doing a weekly Spending Fast ® article over on Anna’s blog, And Then We Saved. Go check out Chelsea’s brand new [...]
[...] more a “I desperately want my own home” declaration. Then I came across this site. Its Spending Fast combined with some budgeting will help with the whole spend less/save more thing. It will; no [...]
[...] area around your porch is dirt”, just remember one thing. I’m on what you would call a spending fast – indefinitely. Which means I’m watching what I spend my money on in order to get out [...]
[...] coupons, only going out if you have a Groupon or LivingSocial voucher, or doing the fantastic Spending Fast. You are dedicated to saving money, and it even gives you a little high when you see the “dollars [...]
[...] I’ve been reading about Anna’s journey on her blog And Then We Saved, where she talks about how she spent money only on the necessities for a year in order to conquer [...]
[...] “spending fast.” And here’s a spoiler: It worked well enough that she’s now trademarked the term and attracted a following to a blog about the process, [...]
[...] “spending fast.” And here’s a spoiler: It worked well enough that she’s now trademarked the term and attracted a following to a blog about the process, [...]
[...] to stick to necessities and make it more difficult to justify non-essential purchases. Following Anna’s advice (as I plan to do frequently), I have separated my needs from my wants and added no-nos. Needs are [...]
[...] Anna at And Then We Saved listed her wants vs. needs to determine her spending fast. Donations didn’t make either list [...]
[...] Going on a spending fast [...]