Summer is one of the most expensive times of the year, second only to the winter holiday season. The cost of summer vacations, outdoor concerts, and barbecues with friends and family can really add up, so it’s important to give your wallet a break as we head into autumn.
Tello Mobile’s No Spend September Challenge is the perfect way to get your budget back on track after a costly summer break. Here’s everything you need to know to participate in this challenge and start stacking up the savings!
What Is Tello Mobile’s #NoSpendSeptember Challenge?
If you’ve never done a No Spend September before, you’re probably wondering what it entails. Contrary to the challenge’s name, you’re not going to cease all spending this month. After all, you still need to make your rent or mortgage payments to have a roof over your head.
Participating in Tello’s #NoSpendSeptember Challenge simply means that you’re going to try to cut out (or at least cut back on) nonessential spending. You’ll still pay for needs like housing, gas, utilities, and groceries. But in order to save money, you’ll try not to splurge on wants like restaurant meals, movie tickets, and pumpkin spice lattes for the rest of the month.
Refraining from eating out and making impulse purchases will enable you to pad your bank account and save up for important goals. Whether you want to set aside money for Christmas presents or your next vacation, joining Tello’s No Spend September Challenge can help you achieve your savings target.
Hacks to Help You Save This September
Doing a no spend month is a challenging test of your frugality. It takes a lot of willpower to say no to drinks with friends and other treats for a whole month! But don’t worry—below are some money-saving hacks that will help you complete No Spend September without making yourself miserable. Read on to learn some easy lifestyle swaps that can help you save money without too much sacrifice.
Review Your Expenses
You’re still going to pay all of your recurring bills during this challenge, such as rent and utilities. However, it’s a good idea to review your monthly expenses and find cheaper alternatives if possible. Although you probably can’t pick up and move, you may be able to save money by swapping your expensive cable package for a more affordable streaming service.
The same goes for your monthly cell phone bill. On average, consumers can save up to 50% on their cell service by switching to Tello Mobile, a prepaid mobile operator. Tello offers premium cell phone service without the staggering price tag, and No Spend September is the perfect time to make the switch!
The average cell phone bill is a whopping $166 per month. Tello’s phone plans all cost under $30 per month even if you need unlimited data and minutes. Here’s a quick look at some of Tello’s ready-made phone plans to give you an idea of how much you could save:
- 1GB + Unlimited Talk & Text = $10/mo
- 2GB + Unlimited Talk & Text = $14/mo
- 5GB + Unlimited Talk & Text = $19/mo
- Unlimited Data + Unlimited Talk & Text = $29/mo
Plus, every Tello plan comes with freebies to help you save even more money, such as international calling to over 60 countries and a complimentary mobile hotspot. Many carriers make you pay extra for these features, so it’s a big plus that Tello includes them by default.
Doing a no spend challenge definitely requires some sacrifice, but joining Tello doesn’t. You’ll get the same great cell service you’re used to at a fraction of the cost, which is a huge frugal win. You can even bring your current device with you and port in your phone number so you don’t have to memorize a new set of digits.
Only Buy What You Need
A great way to economize and save money in September is to only buy what you need. For example, a study on food waste showed that two-thirds of households throw away between 20% and 50% of the food they buy. Even the least wasteful households end up throwing nearly 9% of the groceries they purchase in the garbage.
One way to avoid food waste is by making more frequent trips to the supermarket. Buying smaller quantities of food decreases the chance that produce and meat will spoil before you get around to cooking it.
Purchasing groceries with a longer shelf life such as frozen and canned food can also help you reduce waste and save money. Additionally, planning out your meals and choosing recipes that use the same ingredients will ensure everything you buy gets used.
Eliminate Data Waste
Another common source of waste is paying for more cell phone data than you need. A recent survey revealed that 85% of respondents with unlimited data plans use less than 10 GB of data per month.
Instead of overpaying for cell service, consider switching to one of Tello Mobile’s build-your-own phone plans. You can customize your plan by mixing and matching different amounts of data and minutes, allowing you to only pay for what you need and save money. Build-your-own plans range in price from $5 to $29 per month, making them an affordable option for anyone on a budget.
Switching to Tello Mobile will also change how you think about value. When your phone plan only costs $10 per month for high-quality coverage, suddenly a $5 latte doesn’t seem worth it. You’ll have an easier time saying no to overpriced luxuries if you think about how many months of cell service each impulse buy could cover!
Make Saving Fun With Weekly Challenges
Since you can’t go to the bar with friends, you may be wondering how you’re going to have fun during No Spend September. Luckily Tello has created some fun weekly challenges so you can stay entertained while saving money.
The first week of No Spend September is all about DIY projects. Instead of eating out, flex your culinary muscles and make your favorite restaurant meals at home. You can also do fun art projects with your kids and work on fixing up your home and furniture with the tools you already have.
Explore Week is next and involves becoming a tourist in your own city. Instead of engaging in activities that cost money, look for free museum days or enjoy nature by going hiking or having a picnic. Thanks to Tello’s nationwide 4G/5G LTE coverage, you’ll have reliable cell service no matter where your frugal adventures take you.
After all that exploring, you’ll probably want to take a break and stay in. During the third week, challenge yourself to have fun at home by enjoying a spa day or baking with ingredients you have on hand. Tello customers can also pass the time at home by messaging friends because free unlimited texting is always included. And don’t forget to utilize your free international calling to chat with loved ones in over 60 countries at no extra cost!
Last but not least, week four is focused on frugal family fun. Get the kids involved by having a movie marathon, playing board games together, or playing a sport in the backyard. You can even invite friends over and have a potluck to celebrate a successful No Spend September.
Use Points, Coupons, and Discounts
You probably won’t be buying much during your no spend challenge. But it’s still a good idea to use points and discounts to save money on the daily essentials you need. You can lower your grocery bill by looking at your local supermarket’s weekly ad and planning your meals around what’s on sale. Plus, you can use apps like Ibotta and Fetch to scan your grocery receipt and earn cash back on your food purchases.
If you have any credit card points saved up, consider redeeming them for cash back and depositing the funds into your bank account to increase your savings rate. Alternatively, you can use your rewards to get gift cards for gas stations and grocery stores to lower your spending this month.
If you’re a Tello Mobile customer, don’t forget about your referral bonuses. Tello allows you to earn $10 every time a friend or family member uses your referral link and makes a purchase. If you have enough Tello Dollars saved up, you can use them to cover your phone bill this month to save money.
Get Motivated By Tracking Your Progress
Staying motivated is one of the hardest parts of No Spend September. It’s easy to lose steam after one or two weeks and fall off the wagon. However, tracking your financial progress can inspire you to keep saving even when you feel like your willpower is gone.
Tello created two printables to help you keep sight of your financial goals and stay dedicated. This No Spend September calendar allows you to put a checkmark on days that you avoided spending money on nonessentials. At the end of the challenge, you can look back and see how many days you successfully prevented impulse buys and feel proud of your progress.
Although small purchases like your daily latte may seem insignificant, they can make a big dent in your budget. In fact, the average person spends $150 per month impulsively. So if you can cut out those unnecessary purchases, you’ll be surprised at how quickly the savings add up.
The savings jar printable below can help you keep a running tally of how much money you’ve saved over the course of the challenge. Simply color in the jar whenever you hit a new savings target to see a visual representation of your hard work. Watching your money stack up in the jar will give you the motivation you need to stay on track.
Join the #NoSpendSeptember Challenge!
Joining Tello Mobile’s #NoSpendSeptember Challenge is a fantastic way to save money after a long expensive summer. No matter what you’re saving up for, switching to Tello and cutting out nonessential spending this month can help you achieve your financial goals.
Read More:
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Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money-saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.
You may read her other articles at More Than Finances| Everybody Loves Your Money | The Frugalpreneur | Blogging Away Debt
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