What is a no spend challenge?

most people are in disbelief when i tell them I'm doing a no spend challenge for a year. they think it can't be done, "but what about rent, and bills and food?" they say. that is when i try to explain to them that a no spend challenge, is no spending on unnecessary things, such as take away, or a coffee at the coffee shop, or magazines, clothes, shoes etc. they still can't believe it, and would never be able to do it themselves.

well I'm here to say it can be done! it's not easy, but it can be done. I've done it before, several times but only for 3 months at a time. and the differences iv made in those challenges, was unbelievable. you never realise how much money you actually waste each week.

my first 3 month challenge, was about 2 yrs ago. for the first time ever i felt in control of my money, i was able to pay off a couple of thousand $$ of extra bills, i was able to buy new appliances to replace one i was renting, and i was able to put $1000 in the bank. for the first time in my adult life i was debt free. after the challenge was over i was able to buy a new car (well new to me) for over $13,000, i was actually approved for the loan and i could actually afford the loan.

the next 3 month challenge i did was earlier this year. i was able to pay off some things i was paying off, i was able to pay out my loan nearly 3 years early (paid off over $7800 in 1 lump sum), and i was able to put $10,000 in the bank. (admittedly this was helped by center link bonuses and tax)

so the next challenge i plan on doing for a whole year. if i can accomplish all that in 3 months can you imagine what i can accomplish in a whole year. so my saving goal for this time is to have $20,000 in the bank. but i will be pushing myself where i can to get $30,000

i will use the rest of this year to prepare myself.

so the rules:

No take aways
No junk Food
No new clothing (except school clothes, and in the case of children growing out of everything)
No new shoes (except for school shoes and in the case of kids growing out of everything etc)
No food or drinks when we go out (must take snacks, drinks from home)
No magazines, books, toys etc
Christmas and birthday presents only to come out of budgeted money, no going over budget. Most presents to be home made.
Reduce the use of the car, to reduce petrol usage.
No lollies or Soft drink
No paid outings (must be free)
No purchasing grown seedlings for veggie garden, must grow from seeds.
No alcohol (not that i drink that much.
No craft stuff (unless its for presents, then it comes out of presents budget)
NOTHING THAT IS NOT NECESSARY

The kids also want to join in and save their pocket money too, so i will be doing up some colored charts that the kids can fill in each week, to track how much money they have.