I did a year of no spending. How to save hundreds in September (and still have fun)

I’m no stranger to frugal living when my finances are tight. During my “no-spend year” in 2024, I saved thousands by refusing to spend on any non-essentials; that meant no more new clothes or meals out. But this summer, I let my frivolous spending habits creep back in. From holidays, new summer outfits, fresh holiday manicures, to dinners out, my outgoings have got out of control. Like most, the cost of living remains a heavy financial burden. I have recently renewed my mortgage on my London flat, which means an additional £200 per month, alongside rising household bills, inflated food prices, service charges and travel fares. Just when I thought my home repairs had finally been resolved, my garage roof collapsed, which is expected to cost over £1,500 to fix, assuming it doesn’t have asbestos. As a freelance journalist, my income is unpredictable and payments are often delayed, so I’m feeling the pinch even more. With Christmas looming, and my “rainy day” savings dwindling, September is the prime time to get a handle on my finances. But, unlike my no-spend year, I intend to strike a healthier balance between being frugal and having fun. Here’s how I plan to stay savvy yet social. Shorts Identify your spending triggers Money-saving experts recommend going through your finances with a fine-tooth comb to understand exactly where your money has been spent. While there are various budgeting apps, I prefer to sift through my bank statements so I can remember what happened on the days I splurged, and identify my triggers to avoid excessive spending in the future. By doing this, I realised I seek out “glimmers” on bad days, whether it’s a takeaway or a new lipstick, which is a pattern I can make a conscious effort to avoid. Resist sales and promotions We’ve heard of “girl math”, but I am coining the term “mindful mathing”. Over the summer, whenever I spotted a yellow sale sticker on M&S food, a summer sale or a bundle deal on workout classes, I immediately added it to my basket. I justified these purchases by telling myself I was saving money, but it’s not really a saving if I didn’t need it in the first place; quite the opposite. I was also tempted to join a new Pilates studio near me because it was offering new members three classes for £45. This sounded like a bargain at first, until I broke down the costs and realised £15 per class isn’t that cheap. So, this September I am not falling victim to discounts, and I’m working out the real costs before I buy. Do home workouts I was suckered into various new fitness classes this summer, which came with expensive fees I could have avoided. This month, I am seeking out ways to exercise for free, whether it’s a long leisurely walk, a run, or a home workout with equipment I already own. Admittedly, I struggle to motivate myself to workout, but saving money is a big incentive I will remind myself of. Use shopping lists and meal planners Over the summer I barely cooked a homemade meal because it was too hot to switch my oven on. Instead, I relied on takeaways, dinners out and supermarket picky bits for quick al fresco meals. Unsurprisingly, those convenient meals have been detrimental to my bank balance, as I occasionally spent my monthly food budget within two weeks. This summer I have probably spent around £750 on heatwave-friendly food. To shake this lazy habit, I have compiled a menu of healthy homemade meals I can batch cook throughout September. I have also drafted a list of ingredients to ensure I don’t go wild in the aisles, yet still eat well. ‘It’s a hangover from school, but I always consider September the start of a new year, and prime time for a ruthless clear-out,’ writes Maisie Bovingdon The £5 rule Buying an overpriced coffee in central London is my most common spending mistake, but one I can easily avoid by making my own coffee at home in my coffee machine. I’m not just curbing takeaway coffees this month, but other small purchases that quietly drain my account. One day, I spent over £20 on insignificant small items, such as a £2 bottle of water, a cereal bar, tissues and plasters. I didn’t register how much I spent mindlessly tapping my Apple Pay on the card machine until I recently reflected on my accounts (see point one.) Consequently, I am taking Apple Pay off my phone, and I am thinking hard before I buy anything under £5 – if it’s not essential, I’m not buying it. These purchases might seem cheap but these are the ones that quietly add up. Affordable activities During my no-spend year I sacrificed seeing my loved ones to keep costs down. But there are plenty of free activities to do in London I plan to seek out this month. My friends and I have spoken about starting a book club for decades, but I am proposing a twist on this idea – The Sisterhood of the Travelling Book. Instead of everyone buying a new book each month, I’m suggesting we rotate books we already own, and then meet to discuss them, which will be an affordable alternative to an expensive dinner out. Spend on the things that can’t be missed In July, I missed my friend’s baby shower in Paris because it was too expensive for me to travel during peak season. However, I don’t want my savvy September to get in the way of major milestones. So, I am monitoring train fares and hotel prices to try and visit her and her newborn later in September. While this trip will eat into my funds, I’m hoping that planning ahead will get me a better deal. Ultimately, I am trying to strike a better balance between being frugal and having fun. So, I’m being selective about what and whom I’m spending my money on. Some events are too important to miss. Do a ruthless declutter It’s a hangover from school, but I always consider September the start of a new year, and prime time for a ruthless clear-out. I plan on decluttering my wardrobe and selling anything in a wearable condition on secondhand sites, such as Vinted, Thrifted or eBay, to claw back some savings. For items that have seen better days, I will donate to high-street recycling schemes, such as Zara, H&M and Boots, in return for a voucher, which I can redeem on future shopping sprees. While I don’t regret splurging over £1,000 on memorable experiences this summer, like my long weekend in Greece, there are materialistic buys I wish I hadn’t made. A H&M haul of £130 that included a pair of capri trousers from the kids’ section, but they are a little too tight, and a few tops in this order, but I missed the date to return. Plus a £250 pair of Monica Vinader earrings to replace a pair that broke because they couldn’t fix or refund me the original set. After reflecting on my summer of spending, I am reminded (once again) that the fleeting gratification of buying something is eventually replaced with guilt and self-loathing, particularly when I’m scrambling to put money together to cover unexpected building works, on top of the financial burden of essential living costs. While I don’t think financial stress will ever leave me, taking stock of my finances regularly helps me build a healthier relationship with money, and being intentional with my spending means I don’t have to sacrifice quality time with loved ones or miss out on milestones. Wish me luck!