No Spend/Slow January 2026

 It's so hard to believe that we are already in 2026.  I know that 2025 was alot.  It was alot of everything.   No Spend/Slow January is like a reset for your life, wallet, your house, everything.  The plan is also to be slow and simple.

Goals don't seem to be a motivating factor for me, so I always go with guidelines, and I have some things I would like to accomplish with this No Spend/Slow January.  

Clean out the freezer.  My freezers are a mess.  My big freezer and my kitchen one.  Jam packed they are.  It's hard to tell when might be there.  Meal planning will start by digging in the freezer.  The meals will get interesting, they always do when this needs to be done.  I know there is pork, ham, chicken and ground beef in there, just 100% sure where.

The Pantry is Not Better.  The pantries (we have one in the kitchen, and some overflow in the basement) is not much better.  Random soups and pasta sauce.  Again, meal planning will focus on cleaning this out.

Use Everything.  We have talked about the pantry, and freezer, but I noticed that we have an overflow on other household goods, lotions and cleaning products.  No new any of that until we use what is in the closet.

The Payoff.  The end game in this is to end January with more space, and to do a monthly restock in February.  Then get on a program where I do a big restock once a month, and weekly shopping is veggies, milk, etc..

Dry January.  I am always mixed on this.  I think that if you have already bought the booze, drink it, just don't buy anymore.  That's called compromise.

Go through your closets.  A couple of months ago, I found 2 sweaters that I completely forgot about.  Take an inventory.  Honestly, this is the time to purge.  Get rid of things you don't like/wear/doesn't fit.  Sell them.  Donate them.  Upcycle them.  Please don't just throw them out.

Eat at home.  This is a slam dunk in the saving money category.  Get creative, get a cookbook at the library and work your way through it.  Also, pack your lunch and eat your leftovers (can be done at the same time).  Pick a day everyweek, to make a meal plan for the following week.  Shop your freezer and pantry and then the grocery ads.

No takeout.  No delivery.  If you do take out, pick it up on the way home from work.  You will save on delivery fees, and tips.

Do your own shopping.  Please see above.

Subscriptions. Think about taking a break from some of your apps, and streaming services.  Maybe you won't miss them.

Simple.  Keep in simple.  Don't judge yourself.  It's hard to be perfect.  Make your own rules/guidelines/whatever you call it.  

Happy New Year, Good Luck and we can do this.

~Cyn