No Spend January 2026
Happy New Year, you lovely people! 🎉
If you’re reading this, you might already know that we’ve kicked off No-Spend January 2026! a challenge I’m hosting right here on Budget Mum Soph to help us all reset our spending habits, sharpen our money mindset, and start the year feeling in control rather than out of pocket.
January can feel loooong after all the Christmas spending, so instead of hiding from the credit card and pretending it’s fine, let’s pause all non-essential spending and I want you to join me!
What Is No-Spend January?
It sounds simple — and it is! ✨
For the entire month of January, we only spend money on essentials. Everyone’s list is going to look different. The best thing to do is to go through last months bank statement and make categories for your spends. Then you can decide which spends are essential for living and which can be cut for a month.
Here’s what your list might look like:
How I’m Staying Motivated
Let’s be honest, no-spend months can be tough. By the middle of January, it starts to get tough. So I’ve created a monthly calendar of daily activities to keep you motivated, sane and accountable!
Whether you’re doing this for money, mindset or just to prove you can, I’m cheering you on. It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress.
Commonly Asked Questions About No-Spend January
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had lots of messages about No-Spend January, so I wanted to answer some of the most common questions in one place. If you’re unsure whether this challenge is “for you”, hopefully this helps 💛
“What if I have a birthday in January?”
This comes up a lot and the short answer is that’s okay!
Personally, I have my grandma’s birthday and my best friends’ birthdays in January. I choose to put these events under “essential spending” and still enjoy celebrating with the people I love.
No-Spend January doesn’t mean missing out on meaningful moments. It just means being intentional. You can still take part and make huge savings in other areas. For me, birthdays are definitely an essential.
“Can I still buy food and pay my bills?”
Yes absolutely! Please don’t worry.
No-Spend January is about cutting out unnecessary spending, not putting yourself at risk or making life harder than it needs to be. Shopping, bills, rent, childcare, travel, these are all essentials.
By the time December rolls around, I know my spending habits can get a little out of control (hello festive dopamine spending 👀), so January is my chance to completely reset and prove to myself that I don’t need to spend money to feel happy.
“I’m not sure I can commit to a full no-spend month…”
That’s totally okay too!
Some people in the community choose to do a “Low-Spend January” instead and you are more than welcome to join in that way. Trying some of the challenges and reducing spending is still a massive win.
Low spending is always better than mindlessly tapping away without thinking.
Progress over perfection, always.
“How do you keep little ones entertained without spending money?”
This one’s especially important as a mum 💛
We make the most of any yearly passes we already have, and I’m constantly checking Facebook for free local events. I also include baby groups and kids’ clubs under my essential spending, as socialising is really important for my mental health too.
Planning ahead makes a huge difference. Things like, Play dates, Park trips, Library visits, Free community events
You don’t need to spend lots of money to create lovely memories.
If you have a question I haven’t covered here, please send me a message or comment, chances are someone else is wondering the same thing.
Let’s do this!
Love, Soph x
