Could You Get Through A Day Spending Practically Nothing?

It may seem silly to try to go a single day without spending a dime — maybe because one no-spend day is just a drop in the savings bucket or maybe because you don’t think you open your wallet very often throughout the day. However, whether it’s your commute, a daily cup of coffee, or an irresistible online flash sale, you may be surprised at how often you are reaching for your credit card and don’t even realize it.

My advice? Challenge yourself to a no-spend day — or as close to that as you can manage. You’ll understand your daily spending habits and learn how to better manage your day-to-day finances. This will allow you to pocket a few extra bucks that can go toward those upcoming holiday expenses (a.k.a. gifts for the significant other, holiday travel, or even a new cocktail dress for your New Year’s Eve party).

Check out some of the most popular daily rituals we spend money on and a few tricks to help you hold onto your cash, one no-spend day at a time. Admittedly, not all of these actually save money (not going to the gym when you have a membership already paid for, eating food you bought the day before), but by following the guidelines below, you will hopefully realize how much spending money is a habit and how you can go about breaking it.