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Cold Turkey - spending wise?

have you ever gone cold turkey on your spending?

i have been watching "spendaholics" on you tube. The episodes are from 2008 to 2010/11. The cold turkey week seemed a great challenge.

the cold turkey week was all spending, including food, for a week - spent using cash only. Typically the challenge is 20-25% of the previously high average. So if weekly spend was £300, cold turkey would be £50.

Cold turkey really focused people on what they spent, where and when!

May 26 NSD 4/16
Mag 26 Grocery challenge £0/£310

Debt-Free April 2026

Comments

  • Jemma01
    Jemma01 Posts: 673 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper

    That's interesting, I'll probably YouTube it lol

    I've not followed a concept like that before, where spending is normal, and one week it's ultra sharp thin! I've gone to the extremes of only spending what I really need, and done that for a while when targeting my debt. But it's a totally different mindset. I'll probably try it once I'm debt free. It's good to remind yourself every now and then of the power of holding back, as long as the following week is not 600 😆, it better be the same average as the week before

    I'm FTB, not an expert, all my comments are from personal experience and not a professional advice.
    Mortgage debt start date 11/2024 = 175k (5.19%)... Q1/2026 = PAID (3.94%)
  • weenancyinAmerica
    weenancyinAmerica Posts: 2,484 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper

    Does it count as going cold turkey when your spendable income is under $10 a month anyway? When I set up money pots, it's just change in each of them. I have to save up to go visit a charity shop to buy clothes. Some people on here used to have spend-free weeks (or months) when they went "black belt" into saving. Fortunately I'm retired now, so not a lot of spending has been necessary but every month seems like it is black belt time.

  • Sallyp2
    Sallyp2 Posts: 437 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper

    i think so

    a spend free week sounds old school - but things are way more expensive now compared to 2008-10

    May 26 NSD 4/16
    Mag 26 Grocery challenge £0/£310

    Debt-Free April 2026
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