No Spend September: A 21-Day Challenge to Create Margin Without Feeling Deprived
Monday, September 08, 2025
🎙No Spend September:
A 21-Day Challenge to Create Margin Without Feeling Deprived
🎧 Listen to this episode right here or on your favorite podcast platform:
Episode 21 – A Cup of Hope Podcast
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase a resource through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources I truly use and believe in.
Punishment or possibility?
When you think about saying no to spending, does it feel like deprivation — or could it actually be an invitation into curiosity, discovery, and freedom?
That’s the heart of No Spend September. This 21-day No Spend Challenge isn’t about restriction. It’s about creating margin in your budget, building peace of mind, and making confident choices without the weight of fear or crisis.
What Is Margin, Really?
Margin isn’t just money left over at the end of the month. It’s breathing room. It’s peace. It’s the ability to say yes when the right opportunity — or even a crisis — shows up.
Recently, I traded my Cadillac Escalade for a newer-to-me Toyota Camry. I loved my Escalade, but today margin matters more. The Camry gave me room in my budget — space to pay extra on my house, travel to visit kids, and enjoy more options overall.
Ten years ago, I didn’t have that margin. When my old minivan broke down on a trip, I was terrified and desperate. That contrast reminds me why margin matters: it gives peace, dignity, and choices before a crisis.
Boundaries Protect and Restore
Lately I’ve been studying the books of Ezra and Nehemiah alongside the topic of boundaries. Henry Cloud describes boundaries as property lines — like a fence with gates to let the good in and keep the bad out.
That picture made me curious about what was happening in Nehemiah’s day. The temple had been rebuilt, but the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down. Nehemiah said this left the people vulnerable and in disgrace. Rebuilding the walls was about providing protection, safety, and restoring dignity. It was about honoring the God they served.
And that’s exactly what healthy financial boundaries do for us. They’re not punishment. They’re protection. They create margin, provide dignity, and help us live in peace.
Curiosity Over Perfection
As I was preparing for this No Spend Challenge, it reminded me of when I did Wendy Speake’s 40 Day Sugar Fast.
At first, I had all the questions: Does this mean no fruit? What about carbs? Just desserts? That black-and-white thinking made me quit the first time, because I couldn’t do it perfectly.
Later, I realized the fast wasn’t about perfection — it was about discovery. It taught me to notice what I was turning to for comfort and where I needed God to meet me instead.
And it’s the same with a No Spend Challenge. It’s not about deprivation or rigid rules. It’s about curiosity — paying attention to where your money is really going and discovering how to create margin without shame or fear.
Old Money Scripts vs. New Awareness
So much of our money story comes from what we picked up growing up. Rachel Cruze calls them our money classrooms.T. Harv Eker calls it junk software — those old money scripts running in the background, taking up space, but not serving us anymore.
If you’ve never explored this before, Eker’s Secrets of the Millionaire Mind is a powerful read for recognizing those old beliefs.
Rachel Cruze’s Know Yourself, Know Your Money is another great tool to help you understand why you handle money the way you do — and how to change the story moving forward.
5 Practical Experiments to Try
During your 21-Day No Spend Challenge, experiment with these simple practices:
1. Practice gratitude. Write down three things each day you’re thankful for. Rachel Cruze’s 90 Day Contentment Journal is a great tool
to guide you through gratitude, humility, and contentment.
2. Audit without judgment. Look for expenses you don’t use or need anymore.
3. Ask the What-If question. If a crisis or big goal came, what would you keep and pause for a season? (Focus on the four walls: food,
utilities, shelter, transportation.)
4. Learn what you already have. Review subscriptions, coverage, or services. A quick call saved me $70/year on insurance.
5. Use what’s on hand. Instead of rushing to the store, get creative. One client’s microwave broke, and instead of buying a new one,
she figured out how to make do — and even learned to pop popcorn the old-fashioned way!
💬 I’d love to hear about your discoveries! DM me @sherrydushaw or share it in our private Master Your Money, Transform Your Life Group on Facebook.
☕️ One Last Sip
"Margin isn’t about white-knuckling deprivation. It’s about creating space — space to breathe, space to choose, and space to live with peace and dignity before a crisis forces your hand."
🌱Growing Deeper Prompts
📝What does margin mean to me? What does it look like, feel like, and give me?
📝Where am I tempted to see boundaries as punishment instead of protection?
📝How could I approach a no-spend challenge with curiosity instead of perfection?
📝What’s one way I can use what I already have before buying something new?
🏎️ Ready to Start?
It’s September 8th — the perfect time to join me for the 21-Day No Spend Challenge. And here’s the good news: you can start at ANYTIME! You can jump in anytime this month and still complete your 21 days.
And here’s something extra to sweeten the deal: when you sign up for the challenge, you’ll automatically be entered into a special giveaway bundle, including:
🎁 A free 3-month subscription to EveryDollar (the budgeting app I use and recommend and an $80 value)
🎁 A free one-on-one coaching session with me (an individual coaching session to dive into your money--a $297-397 value)
This isn’t about deprivation — it’s about discovery. It’s your chance to create margin in your budget and gain tools and coaching to keep you moving forward.
👇 Click here to join the challenge and enter the giveaway!👇
🎧 Listen Now:
Episode 16: Hope for the Holidays — Rewriting Your Story This Year
🎙️ Listen on Spotify | 🍎Apple Podcasts | Full Episode Library
💛 Remember: God can take the broken pieces of your story and create something more beautiful than you ever imagined.
Hi, I'm Sherry
CEO Of Best Blog Ever
I’m a Life & Money Coach who helps women untangle the chaos of life and money and step into purpose with hope, confidence, and peace. These days, you’ll find me kayaking, being “Mimi,” tackling DIY projects I probably shouldn’t, and chasing big, brave goals (like training for a marathon in my 50s!).
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