"refrain from spending" is correct and it can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want someone to resist the temptation to buy something. For example: "I suggest you refrain from spending too much money on non-essential items."
And while consumers in Germany anxiously refrain from spending, demand is surging in the poorer countries.
As a result, they argue, companies are even more likely than consumers to refrain from spending the money.
Studios are asked to refrain from spending excessively on Oscar campaigns and to keep print and television advertisements for films free of endorsements from academy members.
Maybe people won't be familiar with that stereotype if you, yes you personally, can refrain from spending millions of dollars and countless hours of your time on perpetuating that stereotype in order to sell potato chips".
Despite Mr. Ahmadinejad's call for Iranians to refrain from spending the money immediately to help prevent a sharp jump in inflation, witnesses reported that many customers were withdrawing the full amount at once.
The state N.A.A.C.P. has for two years urged Americans who oppose the flying of the Confederate battle flag, including the six Democratic presidential candidates, to refrain from spending in South Carolina until the flag is removed.
The city kept the money, though it refrained from spending it after the judge in the case warned not to.
To make it more inclusive, organizers are urging women to take the day off only if they feel they can, and they are encouraging alternate actions, such as wearing red in solidarity on the day of the strike and refraining from spending money except at female-owned businesses.
Romney raised $56 million during 2011, more than double the amount raised by any of his Republican opponents, and refrained from spending his own money on the campaign.
One of the three primary donors to Cruz's presidential efforts, a private equity manager who recruited the other two top donors, has refrained from spending the vast majority of his $10 million contribution to bolster the Cruz campaign.
Mr. Bernanke has warned Congress and the White House to refrain from big spending cuts or tax increases in the near term because the economy is still fragile.
