How To Save Money Fast With A Spending Freeze - Fun Cheap or Free (2024)

In a pinch and need a few extra bucks!? It might be time for a spending freeze. You might think it's too daunting or maybe even impossible. We're here to not only show you that it's possible, but tell you exactly how to save money fast!

If you've been around here for a while, you know that I love me a good SPENDING FREEZE! Does the phrase give you chills? Get it? See what I did there? #ImSoFunny

In fact, we do a big spending freeze challenge at least twice a year. Once in Januaryto help you start the year out on track with your finances! And once in Octoberto help save money for the holidays… ‘Cause you know the holidays can be the most expensive time of the year.

*Note: When you click the links in this post, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Here's the deal… We're about to break it down and make it REAL simple. This is what were covering in this post:

• Why you should do a spending freeze…today.
• What is a spending freeze?
• How do you successfully complete a spending freeze?

You've got two options. Option 1 – Watch this quick video online or click and watch below. (Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel!) Option 2 – Keep scrolling to read all about how to save money fast!

See, that wasn't so bad, now was it? It's really not as scary as it sounds. A spending freeze will help to:

• Prepare your wallet for important things that you have coming up (like buying a new house, car, or the holidays)
• Set a good example for others (namely family members!)
• Form good habits, like being resourceful rather than buying things

As an added bonus, a spending freeze will boost your confidence because you're showing yourself that you can do hard things when you set your mind to it! Go, you!

WHY YOU SHOULD DO A SPENDING FREEZE

Now let me warn you right now, a spending freeze can be hard. For some of us, really really hard. It's not as fun as buying things, eating out, going out, or shopping. Let's just be real – cooking food every. single. night. can be annoying and taxing. Staying home can be boring. Running out of something you want/need can be frustrating. Whatever your vice, the only way you're going to get through this week successfully is to set a WHY behind the WHAT.

Why are you doing this, really? I want to save money. Ok, WHY do you want to save money? So I can have more of it. WHY do you want more of it? So my husband is happy. WHY do you want your husband to be happy? So our marriage can be better so we won't fight over money so much. WHY do you want it to be better? Because I love my husband and care about him, and I want us to work together rather than work apart, and this is a great way to start.

That last sentence. Bingo.

Whatever your situation is, you need to dig deep and get specific! Go Dr. Phil on yourselves here, folks! Be sure to set a goal for how much you'd like to save for the week, and how you'd like to use that money. Use our free printable savings trackers and debt tracker to make it easy to stay on track.

SPENDING FREEZE RULES TO SAVE MONEY FAST

Ok, now that we're good on the WHY, let's move on to HOW to save money fast with a spending freeze!

NO SPENDING MONEY FOR 7 FULL DAYS

The most important rule is to set a length of time. For our purposes, we'll start with ONE week. So in that case, the number one rule you need to remember is – NO SPENDING MONEY FOR 7 FULL DAYS!

If you're reading this thinking of all the but what about excuses you can come up with, your head isn't in the right place yet. You should be excited about this and trying to think of every way possible to make this work, not finding loopholes to get out of it. So just head back to the WHY section and come on back when you're ready, mmmmkay? Mwah! 😉

You back!?! You ready to fill your wallet up!?!?

Great! Here are a few words of encouragement: Keep your perspective intact! Remember that the spending freeze is not forever… It's just ONE week. You can do anything for one week!

THE BASICS

• Start on a Sunday and end on a Saturday.
• If you can't do it this week, do it next week! But don't wait for a good week when you think it'll be easy. Stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone!
• No spending includes groceries, eating out, getting a babysitter, washing your car, you name it.
• Utilities and bills are NOT included. However, try to be smart with them! Turn off the light if you don't need it. Take shorter showers. Wash your laundry in cold water. (Check out how I do my laundry the unconventional way!)
• Gasoline is up to you. For me, it's like a utility – it's a must-have and not a want-to-have item. However, just as with utilities, you can be smart about gas. Try to drive less, and only fill up when you need to.
• Basically, if it's not a bill, utility, or unexpected expense, it can wait.
• Got gift cards, vouchers, Groupons, or coupons? Use them! BUT if you have to pay tax, tip, or anything else out of pocket, it will have to wait for another week.

If it's not an emergency, it can wait!

OVERCOME SPENDING FREEZE CHALLENGES

One of the biggest expenses most families have is groceries. So that's probably going to be your biggest challenge during a spending freeze.

GROCERIES

If you're a seasoned shelf cooker (not sure what that means? Check out this shelf cooking post.), then you'll have no problems with a spending freeze at all! But if you're new to shelf cooking, then this is a great excuse to try your hand at it.Basically, you're going to raid your pantry and fridge to see what you have on hand that you can use to help you make it through the week!

Make sure that you check out our brand new site, ShelfCooking.com, which is dedicated to helping you cook delicious, homemade, down-home-cooked meals for your family without spending too much time in the kitchen! Basically every parent's dream, right? Join our Shelf Cooking Community today!

ENTERTAINMENT

Worried about being bored? That's okay, remember… It's just one week, you've got this! Plus, there are plenty of fun things you can do at home. Have a family game night. Invent a fun family competition where everyone scrounges to come up with the best dinner idea. You can even start a new family tradition or invite some friends over for a potluck! Is it date night? We've got 20 great ideas for FREE at-home date nights!

Okay, so maybe you're not a homebody and none of those things work for you! Is that even possible!?! Check out this post for how to find fun, cheap, and free things to do near you. Oh, and if you're looking for FREE date night ideas to get you out of the house, we've got you covered!

HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE

Find someone – anyone – to help keep you accountable. Your spouse, family members, or friends. Ask them to check in with you to see how you're doing or even to do it with you for extra motivation.

For heaven's sake, don't forget to also let us know how you're doing with your spending freeze! We're a family here, after all! Instagram has been an amazing community of shared ideas lately, as has our Facebook page. Post photos of how you're avoiding spending money. We'll encourage you along your way!

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE SPENDING FREEZE IS OVER

Your spending will go on as usual. Please, please, pretty please, do NOT run out and spend everything you just saved! Let things thaw a bit. Pause, take a deep breath, and go back to your typical weekly budget as if nothing happened. Use your budget — and only your budget — to buy what you need that next week.

If your fridge is empty, no sweat! Use your normal grocery budget to buy as much as fits within that budget. Tapping into your other budget is okay, just don't borrow from the next week's budget. Trust me, you can get a TON of groceries for even $100.

In general, if a pantry or freezer item is on sale, buy a few extra (as long as it fits within your budget). You will have a healthy stockpile in no time!

USE THE SAVED MONEY WISELY

One of the main purposes of this spending freeze is to save money fast! However, it won't do you any good if you don't make a good plan for that money you're saving.

Take what your budget would be for the week and put that money toward:

• Debt first, such as credit card, student loans, and medical bills. Car and home are also possibilities, but the other three are very important!
• Savings second
• Slush Fund third

Whether you operate with cash or a card, literally move the saved money into the proper place so it's out of sight, out of mind!

See? That's not so bad! Best of luck to you whenever you choose to try your hand at a spending freeze — I'm so proud! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments.

If you found this helpful but still need help with your finances, then you just have to check out Budget Boot Camp!

It's a fun video program that makes money easy to understand! However, if it doesn't work for you for whatever reason, it has a 100% money back guarantee. So really, there's no reason that you shouldn't try it! Plus, you can save 10% when you use the code FCFBLOG at checkout.

Looking for more great budgeting posts?

• Get 7 other great ideas to save money quickly once you finish your spending freeze!
• Learn about the top reasons that couples fight over finances and HOW TO STOP!
• What is an HSA? And why the heck should EVERYONE have one??

Have a great day!