comes to a HALT...
I really did TRY to do my shopping moratorium.
I found myself making too many 'exceptions'.
I was still at Target more than once a week.
I still bought all of Isabella's party supplies for next month.
Household items, Birthdays, Grocery store, Gift cards, Redbox...those things didn't count.
I bought $2.40 earrings at Kohls and 2 bracelets at Target for $1.04.
How could I pass them up?
This journey was to become a more mindful shopper and to realize the triggers that send me shopping and spending.
I wanted to refrain from buying anything for myself or any decorative things for the house. Because, believe me, I can ALWAYS find something to buy - needed or not.
I know that $20 here and there adds up.
I know that $100 is the rule at Target or the Grocery Store.
I know that my children do not need half the things I buy them.
I know that I go shopping when I want to get out of the house or kill time before picking up Bella.
I know I just LOVE to shop. I LOVE to find deals. Shopaholic would be the word.
BUT I also know that I am not bringing in any income...
So, the journey (it is exactly that, a journey) will continue.
I will continue to think about purchases and decide what is really necessary.
I will continue to become more respectful of my husband's hard earned money because if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have financial security.
I will continue to loose weight so I can fit into clothes that are nearly new in my closet.
When I am bored, I will find something to clean, exercise, do some work, or go outside to garden.
The point being, I will still continue...No, it will not be a full moratorium (I just like the word to be honest)...but I will get there!
3 comments:
you know what's awesome about what you wrote?.....you are not alone! i'm right there with you...everyday! i can always find something or some excuse to shop.....my tip....every time I think of something I want to go buy or think I need I put on a list with the approximate price next to it and as the day or week goes by I keep adding and something about seeing the total and list makes me slash things that are just not necessities, this includes food too! also I try to clean something or play w/ my kids or do something that will get my mind off of what I wanted to go rush and get....hang in there friend...you are an awesome person no matter what!
You are more of a mindful shopper then you give yourself credit for...remember our Target/Kohl's Saturday Mornings (okay, I was an enabler, I get it)? We would always put things in our carts and "think about it" as we shopped...then we would put some of it back, because we really didn’t “need” it…
One thing that has helped me a bit in my quest to have more shopping control is my cooling off period: If I see something I like, but don’t love, I will put it back , leave the store and then “think about it”. Then if I can’t stop thinking about it I go back and buy it, if it’s still there. If it’s not, it wasn’t meant to be. This works great unless you really, really want it after the week cooling off period….then it’s a mission to find it! =)
Since I am on a REEEEAAAAALLLLLY small and tight budget lately, what helps me is I figure out my "weekly allowance" and take out that amount in cash. For me my weekly allowance includes gas, groceries, EVERYTHING BUT my bills that I pay at the first of the month, but you can do your weekly "Target" money, etc. I do not carry all the cash around but put it in a "safe spot" everyweek and pull from as needed throughout the week. Then once the cash is gone, that is all I can spend, so it allows me a tangible and visual result. I also have a "wish list" of items that I treat myself to if I have extra money at the end of a few weeks. I actually saw this idea in Money Magazine. I don't know if it will work for you, but from someone who has really had to cut down, it helped me control what I was spending. =)
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