So I didn’t buy anything from May 3rd – August 3rd that wasn’t a household necessity or something for my son’s birthday party. It was both tougher than I thought it would be & easier!
I have often used shopping as therapy, as a drug. I’m a penny-pinching addict, but an addict nonetheless. So I thought I would take a three-month break from buying. I quickly learned that I didn’t really need more stuff. I also started making lists. I love lists. I have an entire notebook of very organised lists. I started to make lists of things that I really want to add to my life – not everything on the list is “needful”, but they are things that I believe will add value to my life. I love the quote by William Morris, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” It’s how I want to approach purchases from now on. Of course, that means that there are things in my house that I need to continue to weed out. It’s all a process.
It’s been a rough week, stressful & I could definitely do with some therapy! I needed to get a couple of things at the store. So I went to Target, list in hand. So strange to wander the aisles without my spending embargo in place. I looked at the clearance racks, saw some stuff that I liked & that, at one point, would have tossed in the cart. It just didn’t hold much of a thrill for me though. So I consulted my list & bought what I needed & left the store. No buyer’s remorse, no nagging bad feelings. It was good.
I’m not saying that I’m not still susceptible to the draw of retail therapy, and I think that I will routinely do spending fastings – it’s good for me. I feel lighter & freer. I have so much to be thankful for & I will not take the blessings in my life for granted.
Lamppostings 
Awesome feeling isn’t; the freedom from wanting “stuff” just because it’s a great deal! Congratulations on being true to your self challenge.
I love this, Melissa! Have you read Jen Hatmaker? She has a few books out – one coming in January called Seven that I pre-ordered and I think you would like. I won’t try to explain it, but it reminded me of your spending embargo and I’m really excited to read it.
Bo – thanks for the heads up. I haven’t read anything by Jen Hatmaker (um, super cool name!) I will definitely be checking out the 7 book. Sounds very cool. Maybe I will take on some of those challenges. Thanks also for reading my blog!
You did it – congratulations!! For real! This is an awesome and hard challenge and I love what you got out of it. Even though we don’t usually have much money to “blow” I know that I’m not exempt from retail therapy either – it probably just looks really different than the next guy. (lady:) Seems contrary to think about, but this just goes to show that there really is freedom within boundaries doesn’t it? Freedom in self-control. Hmmmmm, a very counter-cultural concept really…