The key is to really go all in no this idea no buying stuff just to prepare before you start, and no just putting things off until May. It works way better if you keep it simple, like you're not buying anything you truly need, instead of making a list of rules and exceptions you'll spend the month trying to find loopholes in.
I found that cutting out all the extra spending actually helped me focus more on what I truly needed and how to meet those needs. Most of the time, what I was buying wasn't even the best way to get what I really wanted. Honestly, a lot of the buying was actually counterproductive. And here's the cool part: having more time to do things and connect with people in a meaningful way is just as awesome as saving money.