Lessons I Learned from Using Cash Only for 30 Days (No Cards)

Have you ever considered going on a cash-only challenge for a while?

I’ve given it a go, and I’d love to share some insights from my experience with you.

You might be curious about what it’s like to embark on a cash-only challenge and whether it could be a game-changer for you. 

Spoiler alert: It definitely transformed the way I spend money (but more on that in a moment).

My Journey Towards Personal Growth

I decided to embark on the 30-day cash-only challenge as part of my journey towards frugal living, minimalism, and personal growth.

This adventure began with my quest to pay off debt and led me to explore various strategies, such as budgeting, the No Spend Challenge, and the cash-only challenge itself.

I got so hooked on personal development that I compiled a list of 100 different 30-day challenges, most of which I have completed.

This transformative experience has significantly improved my life in countless ways.

I wholeheartedly recommend investing in yourself, whether it’s through reading self-help and finance books, drawing up your personal development roadmap, or becoming your own life coach.

The Impact of the Cash-Only Challenge

Now, back to the main topic: the cash-only challenge. 

As I mentioned earlier, it truly changed the way I spend money.

So if you’re considering taking on this cash-only challenge, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised by the positive changes it can bring to your life. 

Give it a try and see how it works for you!

Embarking on the 30-Day Cash-Only Challenge

My journey with the cash-only challenge began with curiosity.

I was convinced that the way we pay for things has a massive impact on our spending habits.

The Gym Outfit Dilemma

Let me give you a real-life example to illustrate my point.

Imagine this: you just joined a gym and feel like treating yourself to a fresh outfit to match your renewed fitness resolution. 

On the way home, you spot a fancy tracksuit in a shop window, priced at $59.99. You check your purse and realise you only have $50, so you walk away.

In a financially sensible world, that would’ve been the end of your spending impulse. 

However, credit cards often come to the rescue. You pull out your card, pay for the tracksuit, and add it to your existing wardrobe collection.

Escaping the Credit Card Trap

Credit cards make unnecessary spending and overspending all too easy. 

It starts with one tracksuit, and then it’s something else the next day, and the cycle continues. 

I wanted to make spending more challenging by carrying only cash, knowing exactly when money goes out, and physically feeling when my funds are dwindling.

One problem with relying on card payments is that we don’t see our hard-earned money leaving us. 

When you don’t see money leaving your pocket, you become desensitised to how much and how often you spend. 

Card payments are too quick and easy to feel a tangible loss of money, which can lead to overspending or buying unnecessary items.

Valuable Insights from the Cash-Only Challenge

So, what did I learn after 30 days of carrying cash only?

Let’s dive in:

Lesson 1: Managing Cash Wisely

One thing I quickly noticed during my cash-only challenge was that cash can disappear quite fast! 

Since I take care of essential expenses via direct debit, my largest cash expenditure is grocery shopping

Your budget might look similar, with groceries being the biggest expense aside from your mortgage or rent.

I estimated my monthly budget and withdrew enough cash to last me a month. 

For the first two weeks, I bought groceries as usual, once a week.

However, by week three, I realised I had much less cash left than anticipated.

Embracing Frugality During the Cash-Only Challenge

Cash vanished quickly!

So, I skipped grocery shopping on week three and survived on leftover veggies, beans, rice, spices, and salt. 

Talk about a frugal week! 

By week four, I went to the supermarket with a very thin wallet.

As I picked up each item, I mentally added the total price to make sure I didn’t go over the small amount of cash I had left. 

I felt proud of myself for not only buying everything I needed but also keeping it within my budget. Or so I thought…

Prioritising Planning in the Cash-Only Challenge

At the checkout, the lovely cashier informed me that I was two pennies short! 

Before I could decide what to remove from my basket (something I’ve never done before!), the kind cashier said, “Don’t worry about it. We have plenty of change.”

Phew!

I learned that this situation could have been avoided with better planning.

So, if you’re considering a cash-only challenge, make sure to plan carefully to prevent any similar surprises!

Lesson 2: Breaking Old Spending Habits

During the first two weeks of the cash-only challenge, I realised that my old spending habits were still lingering. 

I didn’t think to spread my cash over four weeks because, at the beginning, I felt like I had enough to not worry. 

However, when cash started dwindling, I became more deliberate about how I spent my money.

To avoid making the same mistake, here’s a tip: if your food budget is $300 per month, divide it by four weeks and allocate $75 per week to make it last the entire month.

Lesson 3: Realising the Value of What You Have

The saying “when push comes to shove,” rings true when it comes to budgeting. 

On week three, I could have withdrawn more cash to top up, but it would have meant going over my budget and failing the cash-only challenge. I didn’t want that.

Surprisingly, I found that I could live with what I had (or didn’t have). It wasn’t much of a hardship. 

When you have a purpose, it’s easier to follow through with your plan, even after encountering minor obstacles. 

You become resourceful and make the most of what you have.

So, I learned that, given enough time, we adjust and adapt to live comfortably with what we have. 

Taking on the cash-only challenge can help you discover your own resourcefulness and resilience while sticking to a budget.

Lesson 4: Establishing Priorities in the Cash-Only Challenge

One interesting aspect of the cash-only challenge was that it helped me set priorities more effectively. 

Before the challenge, I had developed a sudden fascination with tortilla chips and sour cream and chive dip, consuming a 200g packet of chips every day. 

This “addiction” was baffling, especially since I wasn’t much of a snack person.

However, when I skipped grocery shopping on week three, I finally broke this unwelcome habit. 

Buying things with cash forced me to stick to what was necessary and eliminate junk food or snacks. 

It was a significant win for me (and a massive relief).

Lesson 5: Adapting to Life with Less Spending

Regardless of how much money we spend or don’t spend, life continues in one direction. 

Life doesn’t care whether we hoard stuff or buy the latest gadget. We’re the ones who attach price tags to everything and get attached to material possessions.

To make the cash-only challenge a long-term commitment, it’s essential to be realistic with your budget. 

If you’re too strict with yourself, you’ll feel deprived and give up. 

The goal of the 30-day cash-only challenge is to break the card-spending habit that leads to unnecessary purchases.

It’s okay to treat yourself to something special within your budget, but mindlessly grabbing chocolate bars or trinkets while in a checkout line? 

That’s the sort of impulse spending this challenge aims to curb.

Final Thoughts on the Cash-Only Challenge

Card payments can easily cause us to spend more than we need. 

With our environment promoting overspending and impulsive buying through credit cards or enticing offers, it’s crucial to make spending more challenging for ourselves.

If you struggle to stick to your budget, I wholeheartedly recommend trying the cash-only challenge for 30 days. 

You’ll be amazed at how mindful you become of your spending habits and learn that every little choice makes an enormous difference in our bank balance over the long run.

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