I Bought Only Essentials for a Month. What I Learned Surprised Me

Buying only the basics was easier – and more fun – than I ever expected. Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET When I first saw the no-buy challenge on social media, I was skeptical. As a personal finance editor, I wasn't sure a savings challenge could teach me anything about money management that I didn't already know. But I figured a spending detox couldn't hurt, especially with a recession on the horizon. So, for 30 days, I bought only the basics. And I was surprised by how transformative it wound up being. It saved me a chunk of change, sure. But it also changed my relationship with my money in a fundamental way that will serve me for months -- and years -- to come. And, even more surprising, it was actually kind of fun. Read more: The Simple $1 Trick Helped Me Pay Off Debt and Retire on My Terms. Here's How It Works Spending more mindfully: My no-buy rules "No-buy" doesn't mean spending no money at all. Obviously we can't avoid paying for essentials like housing, food and utilities. But w ... Read full article.