No/Less/Intentional Spending in 2026
How I'm trying to save money and spend less in 2026.
Spending in 2026 - Making Intentional Choices
In 2026, I’m trying to curb my impulsiveness.
“No Spend” videos for 2026 keep popping up in my TikTok feed. Basically, it is just things people aren’t spending money on in 2026 in an attempt to either pay off debt, save money, or both. I’m in the “both” category. I’ve gotten some good ideas from these videos, so I wanted to discuss my own spending rules for 2026.
I’m looking at it more as less or intentional spending. I don’t like setting up hard rules for myself that completely limit me, because if I slip up, it throws me off track because I’m too hard on myself. I also think that looking at it as more intentional choices is less anxiety-inducing and will also be less likely to have me focus on perfectionism.
Here’s how I’m looking to be more intentional with my spending in 2026:
No Spending, Less Spending
No new makeup or similar items until I’m out of it: This is one I keep seeing on TikToks, and it makes sense. I don’t need to try new makeup or hair products. Use what I have until there’s nothing left. I’m pretty happy with the products I’m currently using, so there really isn’t a reason to mix it up (Although if someone has some type of magic hair product that deals with oily hair and dandruff, let me know). When my nail girl left the business last spring, I decided to start doing my own nails and alternate between regular polish, gel polish, or glue-ons. While not getting my nails professionally done is a money saver, buying polish or fake nails can get pricey, too, and it can be tempting. I also alternate the shampoos I use, and one is more on the expensive side. Typically, I buy it in the smallest size and can make it last. An exception to this would be the occasional sheet mask, but those are typically less than $5 or I can buy in packs and still be following this.
Not coloring my hair: I have to be honest, this one will be hard. My hair is naturally a dark brown, and I love being blonde. But when I got laid off in August, his was the first thing to go. I did get it colored to match my natural brunette to keep it looking neat instead of dealing with it growing out (and driving myself insane). I’m also considering letting my pixie grow out for the eventual savings of needing less haircuts. Here’s to hoping I can get a little curl or wave in my hair to make it less painful…
No new books and utilize Libby more: This one might also be a bit of a challenge. I have soooooo many books on my Kindle and my physical bookshelf waiting to be read. I don’t need new books. There are plenty of books to read and readily available. However, there are two exceptions to this, although I think it will only be the one: I’ll buy my new Star Wars novels (I already have preorders in), and if by some miracle, George R.R. Martin releases The Winds of Winter.
No new clothes: I have enough clothes. There is no way I can dispute that. I could do with getting rid of a few! Although, I would like a pair of overalls. Mine are shorts. And I do have to include a couple of exceptions, which I think are reasonable:
If I were to lose a significant amount of weight (a goal of another kind).
I get a job that has more of a business dress code. I had to buy dress pants for my last interview because at the time, somehow, I didn’t own any. If I need to dress up, I’m more likely to wear a dress with leggings or tights because it’s easier on my leg and doesn’t lay on my SCS battery (what a weird problem to have but it can be really irritating when my pants rub on my battery).
Shoes aren’t included in this. As I’ve previously written, shoes are a nightmare when you have CRPS from your hip to your toes. It’s such a literal pain and entire thing when there’s an issue with my foot and shoes, I’m just not including that in my little project here. And I can’t really impulse buy shoes even if I wanted to; I don’t buy shoes because they’re cute. It’s a different kind of intentional spending. So this is me pushing shoe spending outside of the bounds of the mental box that my no/less/ intentional spending goals are in.
No new bags/purses: This is a major spending vice of mine. I cannot see any scenario where I need to buy a new bag this year. Nada. None. Zilch. And the majority of the bags I do own are quality brands - they’re lasting. They don’t need replaced.
Eating out intentionally: I have seen many no spend rules include no eating out/fast food, no eating out alone, or no snacking out. I know myself well enough to know that isn’t going to be an option for me. Completely cutting it out isn’t going to work. But I can definitely be more intentional with how I spend my money when I’m eating out. For one, you can’t underestimate coupons (and that’s something to remember with basically all spending). Second, 98% of the time when I’m eating out at a sit-down restaurant or bar, I’m going to have leftovers. I love leftovers, whether they’re from a restaurant or my kitchen. Since I’m not going into an office currently, I’m not spending money on breakfast or lunch. I’m also a major ice cream lover, especially soft serve so I’m always down for a DQ run. But Blue Bunny is a good alternative for soft serve, and so is, surprisingly, Yasso frozen Greek yogurt. I just wish there were more options to buy them in larger sizes or at stores like Sam’s Club or BJ’s (they seem to have very limited options). If I had the space for it, I’d buy a Ninja Creami. Using a NutriBullet for my smoothies has been life-changing, including on the wallet. I said buying bags is a spending vice of mine, but my ultimate vice is Coca-Cola. If I could cut down how much Coke I drink (or completely eliminate it), I’d save money and lose weight.
No new beads until I’m out: Another difficult one, but hear me out. For one, I want to build a jewelry business. I want a website to sell from. But it can be very easy to spend too much money on beads very quickly, especially seed beads. And the learning curve for jewelry making is expensive because you have to try (buy) something before you figure out if you can use it or not. It can be frustrating to buy beads or other jewelry making products and realize it isn’t going to work the way you wanted or it isn’t the quality you expected. And some of these online bead stores have crazy sales all the time, so it’s easy to convince yourself it’s actually a steal to buy that much at that price. However, more recently I’ve been trying to use the disappointing beads either to practice or in a totally different style/for a different product. And I’ve actually been delighted with how some of these new ideas turned out. But I also know there might be times I’ll buy something new for a specific project; I’m aiming to not buy beads just to buy beads.
Invest in self, not things: In 2026, I want to continue to be more focused on developing my best self and with my professional development. During this time of unemployment, I’m trying to make the most of it by learning new things. I want to take that energy into 2026 and into a new role. There are countless resources out there on the Internet, many of them free. But if I’m going to pay for one, I want it to be worth it. One thing I’ve thought about doing is taking a creative writing class because I struggle with writing fiction. I want a Beads & Posh website and registered business, but I also want to register my writing and editing as a business. There’s costs there I need to consider. I’d love to be able to get a professional headshot done or my current website looked over (because Squarespace has been frustrating lately). There’s more I want for myself to build my future and career, and that’s not going to be achieved by buying a new lipstick or handbag.
One thing I don’t want to spend on in 2026 is tech. My MacBook and iPad are under five years old. My phone is almost paid off (what a weird sentence. Imagine reading that in even 2010), and I really don’t want a new phone because I don’t think I could get a newer one. I manage my spinal cord stimulator from an app on my phone, and I don’t believe it’s compatible with anything above an iPhone 14. And I don’t want to have to carry two phones around (they give you a phone to act as a remote).
Managing Goals and Expectations
I feel like it should go without saying, but I’ve noticed some people explicitly saying that they’ll still be buying essentials or getting their oil changed or whatever. I’m not sure if they’re being so specific because there’s also the overconsumption aspect with people trying to consume less? But yes, I will still be spending money on essentials and doing things like car maintenance. I think that’s where some may be losing the plot. It’s not just about spending less and buying less crap. It's about making financial choices that’ll last. I’ve had my car for a little more than two years and only have about 18,000 miles on it. I do not want to have to go car shopping for a long, long time. Keeping up on maintenance is one way I hope will help do that.
Rules can have a negative connotation, so these are my no/less/intentional spending goals. We’re achieving things with goals, rather than just following rules. I don’t want to follow, I want to do. I don’t want to make my own habits anxiety-inducing when I don’t follow them perfectly, I want my habits to help make me a better and smarter person, and maybe intentional spending (meaning, intentional thinking and not acting on impulses) is one way I can do that. And I don’t want to jump to my impulses.
I also think I’m going to get a planner for 2026 so I can write out what I’m doing spending-wise and whatnot. I’m still a “write it down” gal. Help me ID where I can spend less, and maybe track when I don’t give in to an impulse and how much money that saved me. It can add up quick!
Are you doing any type of spend challenge in 2026? Do you have any suggestions?
2025 ended up very much not great, and I’m praying that 2026 is better. Here’s to hoping that intentional moves help make it so!
