The No Spend Year cover art

The No Spend Year

How I spent less and lived more

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The No Spend Year

By: Michelle McGagh
Narrated by: Lucy Brownhill
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About this listen

Personal finance journalist, Michelle McGagh, takes on a challenge to not spend money for a whole year in an engaging narrative that combines personal experience with accessible advice on money.

Michelle McGagh has been writing about money for over a decade. You'd think that would make her a whiz with her own cash, right? Wrong! Spending with abandon and ignoring bank statements were her modus operandi. Just because she wasn't in serious debt apart from her massive London mortgage, she thought she was in control. She wasn't. Something needed to be done, but rather than cut back here and there, Michelle's approach was more radical. She set herself a challenge to not spend anything for an entire year. She paid her bills, and she had a minimal budget for her weekly groceries and household essentials, but otherwise Michelle didn't spend any money at all. She was finding creative ways to get the things she needed, to travel and to still be able to enjoy her time. Not only has she saved money, but she is happier, no longer feeling the desire to buy things all the time or feeling the pressure of being sold to. Her relationship with money, with things, with time, with others has changed for the better.

The No Spend Year is Michelle's honestly written and personal account of her challenge. But it is more than that; it is also a tool for life that will help you get to grips with your own financial situation. She talks about money in an accessible, unintimidating and often entertaining way, and interspersed throughout are really brilliant personal finance tips and life hacks about interest, mortgages, savings , pensions and spending less to help you live a more financially secure life, too.

©2017 Michelle McGagh (P)2017 Hodder & Stoughton
Investing & Trading Personal Finance Personal Success Stress Management Taxation Budgeting Inspiring
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What listeners say about The No Spend Year

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  • Overall
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Very Impressive!

I am in absolute awe of Michelle. I have lived on tight budgets in the past but she has set a new standard!
As I have become older and (slightly) more affluent I've lost sight of my true financial values. Not any more; The No Spend Year has re-affirmed what I knew I should be doing and given me lots of new ideas too. Love the free, unbiased financial advise about ISA's and pensions. Highly recommend this to people who want to reign in their spending and live in a more satisfying non- rat- race kind of way.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Some really good money saving ideas for the UK

I found the book interesting and definitely gave some good money saving tips and guidance on saving, investing etc but it was very UK specific as the writer is based in London so of course very understandable but made it a bit difficult to relate to some of the advice being based in the Republic of Ireland myself. I also thought, although I actually like the idea of a no-spend period of time (a month, a year etc.), the writer was very strict on her no-spend year and I thought having also read 'The Year of Less' by Cait Flanders that I preferred that approach personally, but it is a very personalised thing and what will work for some may not work for others. I liked that the pros and cons of the whole experience were also explored in the book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Different take on savings/investing journeys

I enjoyed Michelle’s journey and hearing her highs and lows. I’ve implemented a few things but no where near as extreme. It’s amazing what you can do when you push yourself!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Interesting book

What did you like most about The No Spend Year?

The book was easy tbut listen to and gave some practical tips and ideas on how to review your spending habits. The book was enjoyable and funny and hit home on the consumerism habits I have bought into

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Let down by the narrator

This is a lovely, interesting book about frugality, but the audiobook was let down by the narrator. She says every sentence in the same way, even if it doesn't make any sense, making it quite tedious and repetitive to listen to.

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this sceptic is proved wrong

when i read about mcgagh's challenge, i admired her courage but also thought she was mis-defining some of her spending habits. sure, two quid down starbucks every day is a habit we should all cut but pub drinks isn't about boozing, it's about friendship and socialising. right? mcgagh answered many of my questions, taught me a lot about personal finance and how setting the right financial standards for myself might unhinge worn-in friendship habits but would ultimately be worth it. my go-to money guide from now on.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Is an insightful book on a persons mission to save

She takes you through her joys and struggles to save some dough.
A good chunk of it wasn't relevant to me personally so I had to speed play it fast, but very useful to those how need this advice.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

how to save money when you have money....

while I enjoyed listening to this book and found certain aspects interesting, a lot of the advice is not exactly news to those of us who are already living on a budget. It becomes very clear that a lot of the advice is simply not possible if you have dependants and the long section of savings and over paying mortgages is just laughable for those who truly NEED to think about their spendings. looking to livea more comfortable life when you already have then this may be good for you

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

OK but didn't learn anything new

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I was expecting to learn something new I didn't, but it was interesting to hear about her year.

Was The No Spend Year worth the listening time?

I completed it but only because it was short

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Insightful and thought provoking

I bought this book as some inspiration to reduce my spending and begin clearing my debts. I enjoyed it and it was narrated well. A little repetitive at times but has definitely gave me some ideas to put into practice : )

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