Low-quality selfie for a high quality day. A woman Low-quality selfie for a high quality day. A woman... a Black and Indian American woman as VP! Thank you Madam Vice President Kamala Harris for breaking this glass ceiling and for all the women who made it possible. #stillwithher
Açaí you! This açaí smoothie bowl from @cincya Açaí you! This açaí smoothie bowl from @cincyacaibol was so fresh and the pick-me-up I needed during these gloomy winter days. Is anyone else craving all the fresh fruits & veggies rn? 
——
@cincyacaibol operates over in the west end and is run through delivery or carry out that is brought to your car. But they have plans to open a storefront later this year 😍🙌🏻 #cincyeats #cincinnatiblogger
I AM A MAN. When Black sanitation workers in Mem I AM A MAN.  When Black sanitation workers in Memphis took to the streets in March 1968, they carried signs stating: I AM A MAN.  The purpose of the strike and march was to take a stand in favor of fair wages and better working conditions after the death of two sanitation employees, Echol Cole and Robert Walker.  This strike was a focal point of the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King joined to show his support. This is where he gave his last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” He was killed the next day.  The "I am a Man" Plaza is located next to Clayborn Temple in Memphis. The area includes a sculpture along with a wall listing the names of those who participated in the strikes.  We’ve come far, but there is still more to be done. #MLKDay
GIVEAWAY 😍🥳🤩 Sometimes self-care means ga GIVEAWAY 😍🥳🤩 Sometimes self-care means game night & takeout. 🙌🏻 Ryan and I love Gold Star & decided to mix things up and try some items other than chili. The double decker sandwich was so good 😋 plus the garlic parm fries are 💯. / ad 
You can win a $25 gift card to @goldstarchili to make dinner time easy peasy.  To enter:
Follow @goldstarchili & me.
Comment the food emoji that relates to what you’ll be ordering 🍔 🍟 🥪 & Tag a pal you’ll be sharing with.  Not associated with IG. Winner will be picked randomly on Monday 1/18. #goldstarchili #cincinnatibloggers
Sunday self-care 😌 I have seen so many jokes th Sunday self-care 😌 I have seen so many jokes the last week that everyone has given up their #dryjanuary resolutions because of recent events. And yes, the jokes are funny, but I also believe that alcohol just makes stress even more stressful. 🙃 so if you’re participating in dry January or just trying to cut back alcohol in 2021 then the post at my #linkinbio has some tips to keep going.
Happy 2021 ☺️ / If you haven’t yet, let me r Happy 2021 ☺️ / If you haven’t yet, let me remind you to refresh your professional accounts/brand. By this I mean:
• updating your resume (even if you’re not looking!)
• update your professional site (if you have one - I use @squarespace)
• update LinkedIn (update your experience & any projects you’ve led in the last year, use their featured section to highlight the work you’re most proud of, etc.)
• create a folder where you can save “wins” for the upcoming year like emails from your boss when you’ve done great work, media coverage, recap decks, etc. 
• update your headshot 😌 I shared this on stories a while back but if anyone is interested I’ll make a Reels showing how I used my iPhone & Canva to create a refreshed headshot for LinkedIn & my social accounts 
• what else have I missed? Anything you do at the start of the year to get your professional spaces/work in order?
I’ve likely shared this one before but I always I’ve likely shared this one before but I always find this message to be inspiring. I personally find the coming months to be so bleh and dreary and it really makes me feel gloomy, so I’m reminding myself how much inner strength we all have. Everything that has happened in your life this far, you’ve made it through. 😌🙌🏻 #lovethecov #happynewyear
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 Photo taken at @kinleyh Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 
Photo taken at @kinleyhotelcincinnati because we do not have a tree this big and pretty with our two cats. 😂 swipe for more pics of their beautiful space! I hope you all have a peaceful, relaxing and joyful holiday!
Forget the milk, Santa wants a Fairy Ring cocktail Forget the milk, Santa wants a Fairy Ring cocktail to go with his cookie. 🍪🍹 ⠀
Taken at @kinleyhotelcincinnati downtown on Race Street.⠀
If you haven’t been I highly recommend for the vibes alone! But also the cocktails, desserts and customer service were 💯.⠀
The bar lounge area is decorated beautifully and was spacious so there was plenty of room for groups to safely distance from one another. ⠀
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Casey La Vie

Lifestyle + Travel Blog

Living · December 28, 2017

5 Tips to Prepare for a No-Spend Challenge

If saving money, following a budget and spending less are part of your New Year’s resolution, or your response to get back on track financially after the holidays, then you ought to try a no-spend month!

5 Tips to Prep for a No-Spend Month or Challenge

A no-spend month, week, weekend, etc. is a set # of days where you only spend money on the essentials like bills and groceries. Everything else (stopping for coffee, getting lunch at work, buying new gloves, etc.) is banned.

You’ll want to prepare in advance for you no-spend month. This doesn’t mean going on a shopping spree in advance so that you’ll have everything you might want, but instead planning out alternative no-cost options and other strategies to get you through the month.

First, Determine Your End Goal

What’s the reason behind your no-spend month? Are you saving for a trip, paying off a credit card, supplementing your savings? Determine what exactly your goal is and write it down. Put this on a post-it note in your house or even taped to your credit/debit card. As soon as the month is up, take that money and apply it towards whatever your goal is.

Make a Budget for Essentials

In my experience, I still need to purchase essentials during a no-spend month. That means paying bills, gas in my car, groceries and personal care items (if needed). However, this does not include buying sushi at Kroger or picking up a new mascara. Therefore, I make a budget based off of what I regularly spend on groceries. I’ll reduce the budget slightly, so I can work on stretching my money when it comes to food. I also like to use this time to clean out my pantry and freezer. I’m often guilty of buying another pack of frozen salmon when I’ve already got two in my freezer. If you want to be very strict, pull out the exact amount of cash that you’re budgeting for and put your plastic away for the entire month. Then you’re guaranteed to follow your budget.

No-Spend Prep Tip: Check out a Local Events Calendar

There are ALWAYS free things to do here in Cincinnati/NKY. Every weekend and most nights there are plenty of free activities that are family and adult oriented. Make a game plan of free entertainment options for your no-spend month. Mark down which museums are free on what nights, when there’s a free movie playing in the park or a free workout class. With your schedule already planned out you won’t be so tempted to spend money as soon as you’re bored.

Make a List of To-Dos

If you’re anything like me, I always have a few things to get to around the house. But when the weekend or free time comes, I want to focus on fun things and avoid that list. While you’re avoiding spending money, you’ll definitely end up with lots of free time, even outside of the activities mentioned above. So, take care of those things around the house like deep cleaning the fridge or finally hanging those framed pictures. You might even make some money if you decide to clean out your closets and bring your gently used clothes to one of those stores like Plato’s closet or sell some things on Ebay.

Update Your Friends and Family

This is possibly one of the most important no-spend tips to prepare for your challenge!

It’s so much easier to complete a goal if you have a team cheering you on. You might be able to convince some friends or family to join you for the challenge. If not, you’ll still be able to prepare them for the fact that you’ll be turning down dinner and drinks out for the month. Instead make plans to have a game night in, visit the park or finish a bottle of wine that you’ve been holding onto.

Have you ever tried a no-spend month or week? You can choose any timeline for your no-spend challenge.

You might also like this article on Things to Do During a No-Spend Challenge. 

Save the image below to Pinterest for future reference! Thanks 🙂

These 5 tips will prepare you for a successful no-spend month challenge. You’ll find motivation and easy tips to follow so you can save and not spend any money. Plus, you’ll be prepared with plenty of no-spend activities. Keep reading for the 5 things you must do before starting any no-spend challenge whether it’s a day, week or month long.

In: Living · Tagged: no spend challenge, no spend week, no-spend month

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Low-quality selfie for a high quality day. A woman Low-quality selfie for a high quality day. A woman... a Black and Indian American woman as VP! Thank you Madam Vice President Kamala Harris for breaking this glass ceiling and for all the women who made it possible. #stillwithher
Açaí you! This açaí smoothie bowl from @cincya Açaí you! This açaí smoothie bowl from @cincyacaibol was so fresh and the pick-me-up I needed during these gloomy winter days. Is anyone else craving all the fresh fruits & veggies rn? 
——
@cincyacaibol operates over in the west end and is run through delivery or carry out that is brought to your car. But they have plans to open a storefront later this year 😍🙌🏻 #cincyeats #cincinnatiblogger
I AM A MAN. When Black sanitation workers in Mem I AM A MAN.  When Black sanitation workers in Memphis took to the streets in March 1968, they carried signs stating: I AM A MAN.  The purpose of the strike and march was to take a stand in favor of fair wages and better working conditions after the death of two sanitation employees, Echol Cole and Robert Walker.  This strike was a focal point of the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King joined to show his support. This is where he gave his last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” He was killed the next day.  The "I am a Man" Plaza is located next to Clayborn Temple in Memphis. The area includes a sculpture along with a wall listing the names of those who participated in the strikes.  We’ve come far, but there is still more to be done. #MLKDay
GIVEAWAY 😍🥳🤩 Sometimes self-care means ga GIVEAWAY 😍🥳🤩 Sometimes self-care means game night & takeout. 🙌🏻 Ryan and I love Gold Star & decided to mix things up and try some items other than chili. The double decker sandwich was so good 😋 plus the garlic parm fries are 💯. / ad 
You can win a $25 gift card to @goldstarchili to make dinner time easy peasy.  To enter:
Follow @goldstarchili & me.
Comment the food emoji that relates to what you’ll be ordering 🍔 🍟 🥪 & Tag a pal you’ll be sharing with.  Not associated with IG. Winner will be picked randomly on Monday 1/18. #goldstarchili #cincinnatibloggers
Sunday self-care 😌 I have seen so many jokes th Sunday self-care 😌 I have seen so many jokes the last week that everyone has given up their #dryjanuary resolutions because of recent events. And yes, the jokes are funny, but I also believe that alcohol just makes stress even more stressful. 🙃 so if you’re participating in dry January or just trying to cut back alcohol in 2021 then the post at my #linkinbio has some tips to keep going.
Happy 2021 ☺️ / If you haven’t yet, let me r Happy 2021 ☺️ / If you haven’t yet, let me remind you to refresh your professional accounts/brand. By this I mean:
• updating your resume (even if you’re not looking!)
• update your professional site (if you have one - I use @squarespace)
• update LinkedIn (update your experience & any projects you’ve led in the last year, use their featured section to highlight the work you’re most proud of, etc.)
• create a folder where you can save “wins” for the upcoming year like emails from your boss when you’ve done great work, media coverage, recap decks, etc. 
• update your headshot 😌 I shared this on stories a while back but if anyone is interested I’ll make a Reels showing how I used my iPhone & Canva to create a refreshed headshot for LinkedIn & my social accounts 
• what else have I missed? Anything you do at the start of the year to get your professional spaces/work in order?
I’ve likely shared this one before but I always I’ve likely shared this one before but I always find this message to be inspiring. I personally find the coming months to be so bleh and dreary and it really makes me feel gloomy, so I’m reminding myself how much inner strength we all have. Everything that has happened in your life this far, you’ve made it through. 😌🙌🏻 #lovethecov #happynewyear
Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 Photo taken at @kinleyh Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 
Photo taken at @kinleyhotelcincinnati because we do not have a tree this big and pretty with our two cats. 😂 swipe for more pics of their beautiful space! I hope you all have a peaceful, relaxing and joyful holiday!
Forget the milk, Santa wants a Fairy Ring cocktail Forget the milk, Santa wants a Fairy Ring cocktail to go with his cookie. 🍪🍹 ⠀
Taken at @kinleyhotelcincinnati downtown on Race Street.⠀
If you haven’t been I highly recommend for the vibes alone! But also the cocktails, desserts and customer service were 💯.⠀
The bar lounge area is decorated beautifully and was spacious so there was plenty of room for groups to safely distance from one another. ⠀
Visited The Exchange at @newportonthelevee last we Visited The Exchange at @newportonthelevee last week with Ryan and it’s so cute! 
Photo opps and lots of local businesses set up inside to safely shop. Swipe to see more of the vendors and the goodies we picked up from @andsundries! 🛍 🎄 #nky

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