my first NO SPEND CHALLENGE of 2024 (spoiler: it didn't go too well...) | WEEK IN MY LIFE VLOG 

are you going to try a no spend week in 2024?!

Dear Zoe, thank you for not deleting this video! I've been struggling quite a bit with spending so I'm doing a no spend challenge in February. I find your content soo relatable and just so comforting. It does not really matter if we buy that one coffee or not, what matters is the mindset❤️✨ thanks for the amazing content, I look forward to your videos ☺️

Thank you for still posting this video despite the challenges your encountered during that week. As someone who also struggles with perfectionism, it was refreshing to see someone else deal with things not going going to plan. Give yourself grace

When I do a no spend challenge, I have an exception list! Health, parking and groceries, etc! You did as good as you could! Sometimes purchasing things in different cities, hold a bigger meaning/memory! You’ll forever remember that memory in Quebec City with your family anytime you wear those PJs 😊

Legit thank you for being so transparent. You are one of the realest RU-vidrs ever

The key to a no-spend week is preparation. Right now, I don't have a no-spend week planned, but I do set a monthly goal of no-spend days. Last month, I did 5 no-spend days and this month I am doing 10 no-spend days.

Hi Zoe, thank you so much for posting this. I have been attempting a no buy or low buy month. I was doing good, until I bought take out last week and it honestly broke my spirit so bad. I felt super disappointed in myself and once I entered the “simple” $13 into my expense tracking sheet, it crushed my soul. I appreciate your honesty and being so open. I find myself relating to you the more I watch your videos. I don’t ever comment on videos, but felt I needed too here. Keep pushing forward, you’re doing amazing💝

@Zoe - I don't think it's just you, somethings up with January in Canada lol. I've been depressed for no damn reason, I board a plane and leave Canada I'm happy, come back depressed lol. I am working via laptop even when I leave so it's not the "VACATION" bs, I am LITERALLY LIVING my life EXACTLY how I want, do what I want when I want, work if I want and Don't if I don't want to. So point is that I have no reason to be depressed, but somehow I am feeling it. Might be Winter blues, maybe I suffer from it or not I don't know, this is just ODD. Point aside from my RANT, I think somethings just off this January, you're not the only one who had a Wonky Week.

I completely bombed my no spend month. I think I will do a week first. Thank you for showing us the real deal.

I just found your channel about a month ago and I barely comment on any videos but I’ve been binge watching your videos and I must say it has really change my perspective on finance. I don’t know if it’s because you’re also from Montreal and it feels “easier”/relatable to adapt some of your advices. But all this to say I just wanted to say thank you. Budgeting and just finance in general is something I really enjoy but end up always giving up because it’s overwhelming but being in my early 30s and having a family of my own, you’ve made me realize how important it is even more so now to really take charge of my finances (even better when you’re younger and single) I’ve decided to take on the challenge to do cash envelope method and my husband is as excited as I am. With our 2nd baby on the way we feel soo good that we’ve taken this step towards really taking charge of our finances. So thank you!!!!

Thank you for sharing! Also fyi we are boycotting Starbucks for 🍉. Will save you tons of money too. ❤

Love this video. I have 3 kids.. so I’m in your older viewer category ❤but lemme tell you this is still 100 percent relatable even for me. It’s hard to get through a week without spending … it’s hard to do/ maybe impossible/ and a little exhausting😅. But I don’t call this video a fail. It’s just real life. I appreciate your honesty and sharing. I think being mindful and tracking helps us all be more aware and that’s a win in itself.

Glad you didn’t Delete this video! I love the no spend week idea. We made an eating at home more mindset… so we started ordering meat from the butcher box online (not sure if they have it in Canada). This has been super fun to find fun and different recipes. 🎉😊

Kudos to you for having the courage to post this video! ❤

I really like watching your no spend weeks and I'm glad you're documenting them. Also it's really nice that you share the reality with us. I feel like you really needed and deserved that coffee, it made you feel better and gave you some energy for your class. It is completely fine if you don't always follow all the rules. I really enjoyed this video, it was real, honest and fun ❤

You are so hard on yourself! Little slip ups are not fails, you won in so many ways whether it was learning lessons about the reality of a busy life or not spending in other categories. I often try no-spend challenges for a week also and end up "failing" for the same reasons. Watching you go through it yourself and being honest about it makes me feel better about how mine turn out. Progress is progress, maybe we need to erase the term "failed" so its not so pass/fail more like an improvement because at the end of the day we are still lowering the cost of our spending. Language makes such a difference!

Absolutely love this video! Quebec is beautiful!

Ha ha every time I try not to spend, my favorite store has a free shipping and/or 20% off sale. I think they know. Loved your video! Downloaded for smoothie recipes to use later too.

Dear Zoe, thank you for posting this video. I like watching your spending. Keep being real! I splurged on a 150€ jacket this month. Your videos help me feel good about it. ☺️

Echoing the sentiment of fellow commenters - so glad you didn't delete this video! I love how relatable your content is and how honest you are with your process. It's so helpful to see this type of challenge where there's a realistic balance between goal setting and living life to its fullest. In the past, I've deprived myself of souvenirs on vacations and I always regret it. As great as it is to achieve a goal, it's important to recognize what's a fun challenge versus what's necessary. You're at a great place with income, debt, etc., so it's perfectly okay to allow some fluidity to your allotted spending. Again, thanks for showing it all

This video was inspiring, Zoe! I definitely feel less guilty for making unplanned purchases when I see that it's challenging for everyone (especially someone like you who we all admire!). This video got me thinking about my finances in a positive way

Love the honesty !! I know I would struggle too 😢❤

About your barre class: don't worry, the prep will get easier as you gain teaching experience. I started teaching an accounting class at my local cegep a couple of years ago and at my very first class, I was so stressed and freaked out that I completely froze and told the students I was having tech issues and cancelled the class (it was Jan 2021 and we were online). Since then I have improved thank goodness and can now teach my in-person accounting class with my eyes closed. So don't give up! It gets easier!

This video is real and appreciated much more relatable than most of the ones I see and that’s what I’m here for

Thank you for being so transparent. I try a no spend challenge and I fall off and feel guilty. Thank you for being real❤

For the hello fresh thing my suggestion would be to make some freezer meals! At least they can go to use then?

Being loving your videos recently 🫶🏽 I have really bad TMJ too and the only thing that’s provided consistent/long-ish term relief is Botox in my jaw and eyebrows/forhead 💅🏽 Also - I’m dual citizen in Canada and US but live in the US - everyone says Canadian health care is super cheap so I was SHOOK at the PT price tag??

Hello Zoé, thank you for this video ! Last year no spend week help me set up a one week a month no spend so first of all, thanks for that. Regarding you spending, it all seemed essential to me and I have one rule : no budget on holidays (you never now if you will go back!) I also wanted to add that having conscious no spend moments help think more of the spending throughout the year, that’s a huge change !

Zoe , I wished you vlogged your Quebec trip 😭😭😭. It looks so amazing.. I hope you had fun.

I love the "emotional support latte"😂 I totally understand

Zoe there’s so much space and nuance between success and failure!! And you ended the week SPENDING time with your family and loved ones - what’s more valuable than that?

Zoe you did your best and that is the most important thing! The goal is to control your habits however sometimes life happens and you just need a coffee (I’ve been there, I’ll be there tomorrow haha). Maybe in the future you can break the challenge down by habit or category to switch things up 🤷🏽‍♀️♥️♥️.

You didn't blow your budget (other than Hello Fresh messing with you) and you learned some good lessons for the next No Spend Week. No harm no foul as long as you remember how it went for the next time you want to do this.

Not for everyone, but maybe someone here just needs to know that it is possible. Since covid we switched to a 2 week meal plan. We grocery shop every other Thursday and we never go over budget anymore on groceries.

I agree with JS about Hello Fresh! I used to love it years ago and the recipes have never been bad, but then the portions kept getting smaller and it just wasn’t worth the price anymore. They also did the same thing where they were sending me boxes with no notification at all except the charge on my card which i didn’t appreciate. I’m sure they do it on purpose to get the money.

I’m so glad you made this video! And I’m so proud of your honesty! You truly could have “hid” all of those purchases, no one would have known. But that’s what makes your channel so great. I did a no buy January and had 4 total no spend days but.. I was very successful in not buying ONE item online Amazon included!!! So that was a total win And I liked what you said about being more aware of our spending So glad you shared this video And I super enjoyed JS and you making breakfast It looked yummy and I definitely want to try it!!! Maybe you could announce a week in March ahead of time and then we can all do it together ❤

Inspiring me to do my first no spend (or low spend, in my case!) week this year!

It was so fun to watch ❤ thanks for posting this video.

The biggest thing I did to save money on groceries when living in Montréal was to shop at Maxi or Super C! I think Maxi's produce and meats were better, but still very affordable. If you collect PC optimum points, you can earn/redeem them there, for extra savings. I would sometimes shop at Provigo or IGA but my bill was always way higher 😅

the only failure is in not trying something! I definitely want to try this sometime this year and reflect on it through journaling and my personal finance substack

I think you the bangs suits you so much

so true about mental health and spending.. 😢

Amazing video!! Thank you 😊

Hi, could you possibly do a video on budgeting w/ an inconsistent income?? I feel it’s harder to plan for the next month when you don’t know how much you’ll be paid especially for business owners/self employed. I’m not sure 😊

Tell your Dad that from now we accept him only saying "Hi Blonds" no "Hi vlog" ; dddd

Also, that breakfast sounds delicious!!!

Do a do-over on the spending challenge.

Zoe, as a dentist have you thought about Botox or acupuncture for your TMJ? I have only heard of patients doing it...never referred a patient myself....but you may ask your dentist and look into it if you need other alternatives!

Habibi, if you don't want to age wear sunscreen and stay out of the sun. In the other sense, aging is such a privilege :) Enjoyed your video as always.

Hey!! I just wanted to warn you that if you are taking hormonal birth control or an SSRI, eating/drinking grapefruit can affect your medication and make it less effective!! If you don’t, no worries- but I just wanted to put that out there❤️❤️

We don’t want cheap frugal lives, we want healthy sustainable joyful lives ❤

❤❤❤❤

While a no-spend is possible, to me a low spend is so much more realistic. I'm not going to not eat or not pay rent if it comes up, so a no-spend isn't even real! I'd rather keep my grocery/subscription/necessity budgets the same and limit my "fun money" to whatever feels reasonable. Maybe $30 a week for me. That way instead of "no, I can't have anything at all!" and feeling limited, I can ask myself something like "do I really want this coffee and car wash or would I rather save my fun money for brunch this weekend?". I just find it more realistic and productive.

How many times a week you go to the grocery store!? You already did grocery shopping what twice in this videos and then your boyfriend once !? Is there a reason you guys prefer to do it this way ?

Definitely ask for your money back from Hello Fresh!!!

Here's a trick: Just leave your wallet at home, bring your essentials only and maybe just a $5 bill ....it is extreme but it will work

My No spend year in 2024 FAILED😂😂😂 so No I’m trying to just trying to do one month and see 😂

Aw I thought we were all just boycotting Starbucks :(

Protip: you will get way more coffee if you say ice on the side in a separate cup.

where's the link to the recipe?

Zoe, why not activate the “buy me a coffee” for your subscribers to gift you a coffee? ❤

Zoe: *berating self for getting a coffee* Me: munching on my $15 takeout that I got specifically as a co-treat for the new upload 👁👄👁

Just wanted to say that I really look forward to every video you post. I understand this is a buzzkill to mention and I understand people have differing political opinions, but with all the boycotts happening with Starbucks, was it really necessary to buy a latte from them (and post about it) rather than say Second Cup at the mall? Especially on a no-spend challenge. You support a lot of small local coffee shops, and that's amazing! Maybe be a little mindful, considering this political climate. You're doing amazing with your content and transparency, and I hope this can be viewed with kindness rather than harsh criticism.

U should of already had ur food shopping done tbh it kinda ruins the no spend vibe when u buy stuff at the grocery store almost every day

🥰❤️👍💐