Ready to reset your spending and simplify your life this summer?
Welcome to No Buy July—your invitation to step away from unnecessary spending and focus on what you already have. It’s not about deprivation—it’s about intentionality.
If this is your first time hearing about the challenge, you can head over to my 2022 post for all the background details and tips. But in a nutshell, No Buy July is one month where you commit to pressing pause on excess purchases. You’ll use what you have, get creative, and discover where your money really goes. It’s based on a World War II-era mantra:
Use it up. Wear it out. Make do. Do without.
Last year, I saved over $500. And even better than the money saved? I gained clarity, control, and contentment.
This year, I’m simplifying things, focusing on three of these areas.
1. Use It Up: Reassess Your Pantry and Freezer
Do you know what’s hiding in the back of your freezer or tucked behind cans in the pantry?
Before July gets going, take 15 minutes to take inventory of your food supply. Toss expired or unusable items and make a list of what you can use. Knowing what you have will make it easier to plan meals and avoid unnecessary trips to the grocery store.
Helpful tools:
- Cold Food Storage Chart to check what should stay or go.
- My Fridge Food or SuperCook to create meals based on what you already have.
2. Make Do: Refrain from Unnecessary Shopping
It’s easy to spend without thinking—especially with tempting deals a tap away.
This month, I’m deleting shopping apps from my phone and unsubscribing from retail emails. I’m committing to wait and evaluate before buying anything new. Do I really need it? Or can I make do with something I already have?
Try This:
Keep a list of “wants” and revisit it in August. You might be surprised at how many items no longer feel necessary.
3. Do Without: Limit Eating Out
This one is always a challenge in our house! But with some simple meal planning, cooking at home becomes less of a burden—and more of a blessing.
Using up pantry staples, making freezer meals and packaging up snacks to-go helps me skip fast food and convenience store stops. It saves money and makes me more intentional about how we nourish ourselves.
Even cutting back just a few meals out can make a noticeable difference by month’s end.
The Heart Behind the Challenge
This isn’t just about saving money. It’s about creating breathing room. It’s about rediscovering contentment and paying attention to how we’re living—not just spending. For many of us in midlife, this is a season for resetting priorities and creating rhythms that support peace, purpose, and joy.
Living it Out: Join in the Challenge
Let’s do this together. Whether it’s July or any other month, take the opportunity to refresh and reset.
✅ Visit my original No Buy July post for details and tips.
✅ Pick your focus areas and write down a few habits you’d like to reset.
✅ Stay tune each Monday for more insights to help you save money!
Together, let’s spend less, simplify more, and find joy in what we already have.
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