So it seems we have support for weight loss and exercise, would anyone want to join me on a spending freeze for February?
It happens slowly, I see a “good” deal, I see this or that. It creeps up on me. I’m a sucker for a great bargain. But seriously, I don’t need anymore, clothes, shoes, makeup, random amazon purchase. Maybe it’s that occasional Starbucks or that new book you want. Anything really that creeps up on you.
I have so much stuff, really so blessed.
For one month, the shortest, I want to really think about those random purchases. The stuff I mindlessly buy. That I really don’t need.
I’m hoping I can get at least one other person who thinks the same. Who can help and support not browsing the internet for a great bargain and help keep each other on the straight and narrow. Who knows, maybe it will turn into a trend.
What I’d rather not have this turn into is trying to “out cheap” each other. Some of you may be good at not buying those random unneeded stuff. I’m not. I’d rather this thread die than being told how great everyone is at not buying random great buys.
Intriguing idea. I’m definitely one of those who buys randomly. Although, of course, I, at the time, think about how nice it will be to try xyz or replace something I have with a new abc. But, I agree, I have what I need. I may join you. I derive a lot of pleasure from those purchases and, honestly, can afford them (they’re never significant dollars). However, I hate clutter, love to purge things out of my home and do think about the environment when I buy new things/get rid of things so that would be my motivation.
Oh good. I will join. A while ago we did a little experiment of our own - buying only stuff that was not made in China unless it was an emergency. It worked quite well as it made us think about whether we needed something or not.
Off to HD to buy that brad nailer we desperately need while it is still January.
And if this thread gets a ton of traction, I will seriously rethink my stock portfolio.
I’m game. One test I know I have coming up…the Costco rebate check comes in February…a new iPad would be nice…or should I use it towards someone painting our bedroom a job I could do but don’t want to?
Amazon is a temptation for me. SO easy! I think I’ve had three separate orders in the last week. Most needed but…like dog food, but I’m often like…“well while I’m placing an order…how about another pair of my favorite running socks?!”
Will take a stance to think twice with each purchase…and hopefully not drive myself crazy second guessing myself!
Are you counting eating out? I have a friend who did this and would, smartly, go on FB and say “does anyone have size 10 ski pants we can borrow for next weekend” or “I really want to start weightlifting, does anyone have an old set around they don’t want?”
I have a few planned purchases, so I won’t commit completely. However, I love the idea. I read this article on Ann Patchett commiting to this in the NYT and gave it some thought. I concluded that I have a few wardrobe needs that I need to be ready to jump on when I find the right items. For example, my size often sells out early in certain brands and I need a new dress. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/opinion/sunday/shopping-consumerism.html
When my husband and I were young and always saving money for travel, I got into the habit of writing down everything I bought. And I mean everything: a quarter that went into a bubble gum machine was written down. Two things happened: I got really sick of writing down my expenses… and I saw just how much was being spent that could have been spent instead in, say, Paris or Mexico. Saving money became a game to avoid the chore of writing down stuff and seeing how much was going to be spent in some cool destination.
The rules are whatever you want them to be. For me, the rule is to be more mindful of what I buy.
For instance I have a million coffee mugs. I was in a boutique and their holiday stuff was 80% off. I found a really cute coffee cup and bought it, I mean it was so cheap! I don’t need another coffee mug! But it does give me pleasure when I’m drinking my morning coffee.
My d decided she was eating lunch out too much, so she has decided to go out to lunch twice a week. It’s too much to always bring her lunch, she needs to get out of her cube occasionally. She and her boyfriend were going out to eat on the weekends, she’d like to plan some meals in so they don’t go out so much. H and I eat most of our meals in, so for me I will plan a couple of meals out. Cook needs some time off too!
It’s not to cut out buying completely, but to really think about what you are buying.
I’ve been doing some serious decluttering and purging of items we no longer use. It makes me hesitate to bring in more stuff through the door.
Shopping gives a dopamine hit, then the satisfaction is fleeting. Then you need another hit. It’s not easy when your reward center is pumped and primed for that kind of cycle.
I’m one of those people you don’t want to hear from … except when it comes to eating out. I could stand to eat out less. Dh and I started doing date night a year ago on Fridays, which is fine, but we are eating out more and more on other evenings. It would help if I were a more creative cook.
@“Youdon’tsay”, that’s exactly what I was trying to get across. You want to eat out less, so you can make a decision to do that. Make whatever plan you want, maybe it’s to put a number of how many times you do want to eat out. Or to make a plan to mix up what you cook. My sil was eating out and not planning meals. So she signed up for one of those meals in a box. She wants to eat less meat, so picked the vegetarian plan. 3 nights a week she has meals planned and new things to try. And now she usually has leftovers for her lunch.
@midwest67, exactly! I want to try and break that thrill. At this point in my life, I need to start being purposeful in my spending.
For instance, I impulse bought a new iPad at Christmastime. I didn’t need it and almost returned it. But you know what, oh my, it’s so so much nicer than my old iPad and works so much better. I’d like to make more purchases such as that, ones that I really love and use. Instead of buying more socks because they were a really good deal. Even though I really like those socks, I have a drawer full of socks. I could go month(s) without wearing the same pair.
I’m pretty frugal but finally bought myself an iPad last month. I’ve wanted one ever since they came out so I guess you can’t call it an impulse purchase although I did splurge for the huge memory one. I used to use an iTouch, then I got an iPhone two years ago. I love my iPad soooooo much! And now I have no urge to upgrade the phone.
Yesterday I was in Home Goods picking up a few household items we really do need. Talk about temptation! Their displays should be illegal. I almost weakened in the outdoor decor section but tried to figure out how to explain to my husband why we needed giant seahorse sculptures and huge vases. So I used one of my window shopping techniques - visualized owning the items I craved, imagined them in our home, thought about how I would feel after a week ( would they still bring me joy LOL), and walked away. I got the vicarious thrill of possession without the cost.
