Six months ago I made a pledge to jump out of the consumer rat race and embark on a no spend year, and I can honestly say the past 183 days have changed my life for the better. Deciding to stop spending money was a shock to the system but one that I, and my spendthrift ways, sorely needed.

Why I'm buying nothing for a year – no clothes, no holidays, no coffee ... Read more

Other than bills and food, I’d decided to spend nothing for a year starting 27 November. The first month of the challenge was almost fun as I settled into a routine of preparing meals and calculating cycle routes. The ease of the first few weeks lulled me into a false sense of security, as the new year brought challenges.

I felt isolated and lonely and I wondered daily whether I’d made a huge mistake in setting myself the challenge. But then something happened; the clocks went forward – there was more daylight, less rain and friends started to come out of hibernation. People didn’t just want to scurry back home after work, they wanted to go out. All of a sudden, living for free wasn’t a problem. I was seeing friends and enjoying myself, but it wasn’t just the extended daylight hours that had boosted my mood.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘Then I realised, the challenge wasn’t about trying to live my old life for nothing, it was about embracing a new lifestyle.’ Photograph: Ray Tang/REX Shutterstock

When I first started the no spend year, I spent months trying to replicate my old life for free. It was an exhausting task trying to find free tickets, free gigs, free food and free days out. Then I realised, the challenge wasn’t about trying to live my old life for nothing, it was about embracing a new lifestyle. It means long bike rides out of London, walks in parks and wild swimming in Hampstead ponds. It also means slowing the pace of life and enjoying simple pleasures. When I started the no spend year, lots of people commented that I wouldn’t be able to last, that I’d give up after a month.

There were times I thought they were right, I did want to give up at the beginning of the year. If I hadn’t changed my mindset completely, there is a good chance I would have slipped up but here I am, six months later and I haven’t spent any money on anything other than standard bills and a weekly food budget.

I’m happier now than I was when I started the no spend year. I’ve said yes to things that I would never have bothered with before such as helping a friend put on a theatre production and volunteering for local park clean-ups. By doing so, I’ve made new friends and got to know my existing friends better. Our chats have been more in-depth and we’ve bonded over new experiences – including an eye-opening evening at a ‘women’s sacred circle’ – rather than shouting over each other in a noisy pub.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘I do have a niggling problem with my derailleur that I haven’t quite figured out, so if anyone would like to help me and teach me how to fix it I would be very grateful.’ Photograph: Harald Theissen/Alamy

The absence of money also makes you far more outgoing as getting something for free often involves a swap. People are happy to exchange food or tickets, and even accommodation, for your time or skills. I’ve become far more resourceful and more confident about completing practical tasks myself. This is especially true with bicycle maintenance. I have had to learn how to take care of my bike as it’s my lifeline. I do have a niggling problem with my derailleur that I haven’t quite figured out, so if anyone would like to teach me how to fix it I would be very grateful.

The last six months have made me happier but that’s not to say I don’t miss lots of things. From small things like buying flowers to big things like my family. My dad and granddad live in Ireland and I miss them a lot. I haven’t been able to see my mum, sister and brother as much as I’d like either as they live miles away so I can’t just pop down on my bike and see them.

As the summer pushes on, I’ve also become envious of the lovely holidays that people are taking. I’ve already missed a trip away for a friend’s 30th birthday and another friend is moving back to Australia and I’ll miss her farewell girls’ holiday. Feeling left out is hard but there is also a layer of guilt that my self-imposed challenge means I am foregoing spending time with them.

This summer, my holidays will be confined to the distance I can cycle on my bike and this weekend I’m gearing up for my first wild camping trip. It’s only a one night trial run but there are longer excursions planned for later in the year. If anyone has any recommendations for places to go – that aren’t too far from London – or tips to share for a successful wild camping adventure, I’d love to hear them.

