This is an IHeart podcast.

Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of IHeart Radio.

Good morning. This is Laura.

Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.

Today's tip is to try a low-by-month. You might try minimizing new purchases for a month and see what happens. People often save money but handled right. It's possible you might save time.

So I have noticed that people love month-long challenges.

Dry January.

Nanomriamo, which is National Novel Writing Month, 30 Days of Yoga, the Whole 30 Diet,

and so forth.

And I understand the appeal.

A month-long commitment feels doable, but it's also long enough to be meaningful.

You can make real progress.

With that in mind, a lot of people have sung the praises of doing a no-by-month.

Now, I know it's my questioner side coming out, but I doubt most people who do a no-by-month,

truly buy nothing. Groceries are an obvious exception. And most of us are still going to pay for

ongoing services, or at least we should. If your kids are signed up for piano lessons,

you will pay for piano lessons during your

no-by month. If you get a parking ticket, you should probably pay for your parking ticket. In general,

money is a tool, and in many cases, money can be used to solve problems. I have zero problem

with that. I also think many people might enjoy spending more on experiences.

It would be stupid not to go to a girl's night at the Paint Your Own Pottery studio with your dearest friends,

because you happen to be in the middle of a no-by month.

...