Well, it’s now November and after 2 months of trying real hard, I’m allowing myself to shop again… and I don’t really want to! It all feels kinda anticlimactic since I didn’t browse online (too much) and avoided stores at all costs. I hear it takes 3 weeks to break a habit so my head feels totally clear of the compulsive shopping/shopping out of boredom/need for entertainment bug.
I wasn’t perfect but I think I did pretty damn well!
In September, I spent less than $50 on 2 pairs of thrifted trousers that had to be hemmed, and a cardigan on sale at Target.
In October, I had to get another cardi for a wedding (totally allowed) but then I messed up and bought two more on clearance. My rationalization of this was that I had gotten rid of so many ratty old hoodies, in at attempt to sharpen up my day look, that I needed a few extra alternatives. Right? Right!
I bought that most excellent dry shampoo at Sallys and I also hit up a massive clearance sale at Old Navy to grab some t-shirts for the bf and got myself some black ponte knit skinnies for $7. I just couldn’t resist and they’re going to fade so fast anyhow, I had to take advantage of the deal. Right!
So, in two months, I spent less than$90 on myself – 6 articles of clothing & beauty items combined! NOT BAD!
Of course, we needed things like body wash and shampoo. Those are necessities of clean living.
I think I’m going to extend this mindset until Christmas is over. I’ll get my shopping fix by getting gifts for others anyhow!
This interview with a woman who put herself on a shopping ban for a year with amazing long-term results was really inspiring to me. I made the extra effort to transfer the balances on my 3 credit cards to a 0% interest card (for 18 months, and super low interest after that) to just make one big payment each month and get this (albeit minor) debt gone. While most of my debt is from car emergencies and other sudden things, I will feel much better about shopping when it’s gone.
I’m putting more into savings for an emergency fund and I broke down all my monthly expenses and now know exactly how much disposable cash I have every week.
Of course, not shopping is not stimulating the sagging economy but; I don’t think the economy would be as bad as it is had we all not bitten off a bit more than we could chew in the first place. Personal responsibility comes first… then I’ll get back to stimulating!
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Great job with the shopping ban! I may need to check out that dry shampoo but I’ve now gotten in the habit of conditioner washing my hair.
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Thanks! I think you’d love the dry shampoo with your lighter shorter hair. It will give you killer texture!
I will check it out! I’ve got the Tresemme one but I’m not 100% in love with it… However, I did like that it gave me enough texture to sort of hawk it tonight. But don’t like smell/feel of it overall. But yeah, the one at Sally’s might be worth investigating.
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The Tresemme stuff was getting bad reviews online but I think you can get away with more when you have shorter hair. I was hoping it could work for longer hair since it’s so easy to get. Oh well. I think you’ll like the Biotera stuff. It smells minty.
Good for you! And beauty stuff totally doesn’t count, unless it’s eyeshadows and you already have a zillion. :)
Don’t worry about not stimulating the economy. Let other people do it for now. Shopping is so much more fun when you don’t get that later “pit of the stomach” feeling about it showing up on your credit card statement. What’s strange about a shopping ban is that I unintentionally did one (just got really busy), and now it’s kind of hard to get back into it. I’m constantly questioning whether I need it or not. (Or maybe I’m watching too much Hoarders!)
Thanks! Hoarders definitely had an affect on me! That and the fact that I TRULY don’t NEED anything more right now. I really want to focus on getting my debt taken care of and putting away some more savings for an emergency fund. It is easier to get out of the habit than I thought!
Great job so far! Have you tried the website mint.com? It’s free and can track your debt and money usage each month and allows you to set budgets and things. It’s pretty nifty and comes in handy, even if just to see exactly where all your money goes.
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I’ve heard a few people talk about it! I’m going to have to check it out. I’m a write-everything-down kinda person so… this will either be right up my alley or I’ll just stick with paper! I’ll let you know! :) Thanks!
I am the transfer balancing process too, but I have always been and OCD maniac about bills and finances. I have to know exactly how much (to the penny) money I have at any given moment or I freak out. It’s a disease.
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I’m the exact same way. To. The. Penny. It’s worth it in the long run though… knowing what your limits are. Painful not to shop as much as I want to.