The No Spend Weekend: How to Have a Lovely Weekend Without Spending a Penny

Last Saturday I woke up and checked my banking app before I'd even had a cup of tea. Not a good sign.

Payday felt miles away. The fridge was half empty. And I had that familiar feeling of, "What am I going to do with myself all weekend if I can't spend anything?"

So I tried something. A no spend weekend. Two whole days without spending a single penny.

I'll be honest, I thought it would be boring. It wasn't. It was actually one of the nicest weekends I've had in ages.

Here's how I did it, and how you can too.

1. Plan it on Friday

This is the bit that makes it work. If you wake up on Saturday with no plan, you'll end up wandering round the shops "just to look". We all know how that ends.

On Friday night, write down a few things you want to do. Nothing fancy. Just enough so the weekend has a shape to it.

2. Shop your cupboards

Before you even think about the supermarket, have a proper look at what you've already got. Tins at the back of the cupboard. That bag of pasta. The frozen veg you forgot about.

I made a pasta bake out of things I didn't even know I had. It was lovely. Jasper sat by the oven the whole time hoping some of it was for him. It wasn't.

3. Get outside

Walks are free. Parks are free. The beach, the woods, a nature trail you've never tried. Jasper and I went on a longer walk than usual and found a path I'd never noticed before, even though it's ten minutes from home.

Take a flask and some sandwiches and it feels like a proper day out.

4. Do the jobs you keep putting off

This sounds like the opposite of fun, but hear me out. Sorting that drawer. Clearing out the wardrobe. Finally going through that pile of paperwork.

There's something so satisfying about ticking things off. And you might find stuff you can sell, which is even better. Money coming in on a no spend weekend? Yes please.

5. Have a proper night in

Pick a film you already own or something on a streaming service you already pay for. Make popcorn if you've got it. Blanket, pyjamas, phone on silent.

My friend said to me once, "You don't need to go out to have a good night. You just need to decide it's a good night." She was right.

6. Catch up with someone

Ring your mum. Message the friend you keep saying you'll catch up with. Invite someone round for a cuppa. Time with people costs nothing and it always makes me feel better.

7. Notice how much you saved

At the end of the weekend, think about what you would normally have spent. The coffee out. The takeaway. The little bits from the shops that add up.

Then put that amount aside. Even if it's just £10. That's £10 you didn't have before.

If you want to make it a habit, my 52 Week Savings Challenge Tracker is in the shop. Colouring in the boxes each week is weirdly addictive, I promise.

To finish

A no spend weekend isn't about being miserable or going without. It's about remembering that most of the good stuff in life is already right in front of us.

Fresh air. Good food. People we love. A dog who thinks every walk is the best walk ever.

I'm going to try and do one every month now. Why don't you try it with me?

Let me know in the comments if you give it a go. I'd love to hear what you get up to. 💛