How I Plan to Save Extra Ksh10K This November Through the No-Spend Challenge

The rising cost of living continues to stretch many households, and as we approach the festive season, spending habits tend to spiral. To avoid ending the year financially drained, I decided to take part in the No-Spend November Challenge with a target of saving an extra Ksh10,000 on top of my regular savings. 

We are now mid­way through November and I have already saved Ksh4,600 - nearly 50% of my target. My focus for the remaining weeks is to save the remaining Ksh5,400 - without touching my usual savings. 

I earn a net salary of about Ksh80,000, and my monthly budget typically runs as follows. 

• Rent: I live in a two-bedroom house at 87, Uthiru, paying Ksh18,000.
• Food and household shopping: I live with my wife and child. This normally takes Ksh18,000.
• Transport: I work in Westlands and spend Ksh160 daily, totalling Ksh3,200 a month.
• Utilities: Wi-Fi, electricity, and water cost Ksh6,000 monthly.
• School fees sinking fund: I set aside Ksh5,000 every month for my child’s education, which I do not touch under any circumstances.
• Wife’s upkeep: I allocate Ksh5,000 for her salon visits, grooming, and personal needs.
• Family outings: We spend Ksh4,800 per month on leisure and family time.
• Personal upkeep: This usually takes up Ksh4,000, which I spend over the weekend while watching football with the boys or alone.
• Monthly savings: I do save Ksh16,000, separate from the school fees fund, which I put in a Money Market Fund.

How I Am Cutting Down My “Wants” to Save Extra Ksh10,000 This Month

The No-Spend November Challenge is not about depriving myself of essentials or basic comforts. Instead, I’m focusing on trimming non-essential spending. Here is how I am doing it.

1. Cutting Down Family Outings – Saving Ksh4,000

Our family tradition is to go out twice a month for a treat, usually costing around Ksh4,800 per outing. This includes snacks, a small meal. For November, we agreed to cut the family outing completely.

To replace the outings, we are exploring free or low-cost activities— nature walks and a movie night at home, where we intend to spend only Ksh800 for snacks, saving the remaining Ksh4,000.

This shift allows us to still spend quality family time without spending too much. 

2. Smarter Food and Shopping Choices – Saving Ksh4,000

Food is a non-negotiable expense. However, the way we shop and consume food can be adjusted. From our usual Ksh18,000 food budget, we analysed areas where we overspend—especially on delivery related costs for small items that we could buy in bulk. 

We made three key changes that are helping us save:

• Switching to wholesale suppliers for dry foods and household essentials: Instead of buying rice, flour, cooking oil, sugar, and tissue from the supermarket, we now buy in bulk from wholesalers. This one change alone saved us around Ksh1,200.
• Buying meat from the market on specific discount days: Instead of eating meat products three times a week, we have reduced it to twice a week. This has saved us roughly Ksh1,500 this month.
• Cutting down on snacks and processed treats: We reduced spending on sodas, crisps, yoghurt, and mandazi, replacing them with homemade alternatives like popcorn, homemade juice, and homemade snacks. 

By making these small but intentional changes, I estimate we will have saved a total of Ksh4,000 from food expenditure alone—without reducing food portions.

3. Personal Upkeep - Saving Ksh2,000

Instead of going to watch the game every Saturday with the boys, I decided to watch the game at home for 2 weekends. Normally, we do contribute Ksh1,000 each for drinks. This has seen me reduce the budget of Ksh4,000 by half. 

Final Thoughts

No-Spend November is not a financial punishment—it is a mindset reset. In just a few weeks, this challenge has forced us to rethink our spending habits and become more intentional with where our money goes. 

We have found joy in simple, inexpensive experiences, discovered smarter shopping options, and created more meaningful family time.

With December fast approaching—a month known for excessive spending—and the harsh financial reality of January around the corner, this challenge is timely. 

The goal is not just to save for one month, but to create long-term behavioural change. If we can maintain this discipline for 30 days, we can apply parts of it beyond November and adopt a more financially conscious lifestyle. Are you participating in the No Spend November? We would love to hear your story. Reach out via Editor@money254.co.ke.