No Spend Challenge 2025

2024 proved to be a year of major highs and lows for our family. The highs included traveling to 9 different states, 1 other country, selling our old home and buying a new one, my son graduating high school and getting his driver's license, and 2 of our kids starting their first jobs. The lows were lower than I could have ever imagined. Not only did our oldest two cats pass away this year, but I also lost my father who meant everything to me and was my biggest inspiration.

With all of the extremes that we experienced, 2024 summed up in one word was “STRESSFUL”. It seems like the year passed by in a blur and it also wreaked havoc on our finances from all the major costs associated with things that happened.

Going into 2025, I’m ready to begin having a normal routine again while focusing on making more money and spending less money. As the “money manager” of our household, it is up to me to ensure that we not only cover all of our expenses but also reach all of our financial goals. It comes with some added stress, but I do find comfort in knowing that everything is taken care of. I also like the challenge of making it all work.

Entering the new year with a No Spend Challenge is a very exciting opportunity! I’m excited to see just how much self-control I have and see the results in our finances! In order to prepare for this challenge, I took the time to create a plan that will inspire me and hopefully keep me on track throughout the year.

Some of the ways I plan to increase our income this year are:

1. Request a salary increase - I haven’t had a raise in over a year and a half, so it’s time.

2. Support my husband in getting his promotion to Supervisor at work - fingers crossed!

3. Start separating my aloe plants and propagating my pothos plants to add to my farmstand.

4. Have a yard sale after decluttering the whole house and property!

5. Edit the book I wrote by January 31st and start submitting it to publishers!

6. Become a YouTube content creator.

7. Make my blog successful.

8. Sell all babies from goats & sheep.

   
   

Some of the ways I plan to save money this year are:

1. Quit smoking!

2. Meal plan using ingredients I already have.

3. Only go to the grocery store once a week.

4. Pay cash for everything - no credit card purchases!

5. Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without.

6. Don’t leave the house unless it’s for work and go grocery shopping after work while I’m already out to save money on gas.

7. Not purchase any new subscriptions. Maybe even cancel some I already have…

8. Not adopt any more animals!! This is difficult with me working at a Humane Society, but not impossible!

9. Not purchase any of my weaknesses: books, candles, clothes, shoes, handbags, electronics, pet toys or clothes, or home decor. I already have far more than I need!

10. Not purchase seeds, plants, or trees. I have tons of seeds from 2024 leftover. This year we are going to focus on caring for the plants and trees we already have and learn how to plant our seeds to thrive and produce enough that we no longer have to purchase produce from the grocery store.

    
    

Our approved expenses/purchases for 2025 will be:

• Mortgage payment and utilities

• Phone and internet

• Debt payments

• Fuel

• Healthy groceries

• Livestock feed, bedding, and vaccines

• Pet food and flea/tick prevention

• Vet care as needed for pets

• School lunch money

• Insurance premiums

• Vehicle registrations

• Sports for our youngest child

• Current monthly subscriptions

• Valentine’s Day trip to Philadelphia

• Anniversary trip to Puerto Rico

• Passports

• Christmas Cruise - no gifts!!

• Home interior and exterior paint and stain

• 1 additional chicken coop

• No more than 10 baby turkeys to start a flock

• Items to repair/maintain things we already own (home, auto, etc.)

• Cleaning and personal products to replace ones that we use regularly and run out of

• 4 birthday gifts per person in the household only - want/need/wear/do and eating out on birthdays only

• Garden soil in the spring

• Pre-determined weight loss goal incentives as goals are reached

Even with the approved spending, we will still be spending a fair amount of money, especially on travel. Travel is a necessity for us though, and I will be comparing prices to save as much money as possible per trip. However, as seen in the past by tracking all of our spending, there is a lot of money that goes out that doesn’t have to. Eating out, random purchases while shopping, and buying things for hobbies seems to be the areas that drain our budget. Adding income to our monthly budget while reducing our spending dramatically should allow us to save thousands by the end of the year! It can easily be done, but ONLY if we are strict with our rules and build our self-control muscles that are hiding inside of us.

To ensure our success for this challenge, I have already set up automatic transfers of $60 to our “Emergency Fund” savings account every week so we can reach a goal of $3,000 by the end of the year. I also have a scheduled amount going to our “Travel Fund” savings account to cover the trips we have planned for 2025. I will be tracking our income and spending on a daily basis to keep us on track and our challenge rules are posted where we can see them on a daily basis. Each month, I will also publish a blog tracking our progress in an effort for everyone to hold us accountable for our goal!

Cheers to homesteading and a life of fulfillment! And HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!!!