I had a pre-planned weekend trip out of town, just returned. I made very frugal choices in restaurants when eating at one was required, we cooked in more than “normal”. Only thing I paid for beyond necessities was $60 for a museum entry and a boat trip for me and my host. As I stayed two of the nights at her home for free, that’s probably less than a wash.
Staying firm with no “stuff” purchases for the month - didn’t buy any souvenirs or anything like that.
Well I bought something today and I don’t feel bad. I feel I passed my test of mindful spending.
I like to xc ski, when the snow is good, I go a lot. But I haven’t invested in any good ski clothes. I was still cobbling together clothes I had. My fleece lined tights were on their last legs. And the jacket was too warm.
We have a locally owned and operated xc ski shop. I went over there today and skied their trails, they haven’t had the best year snow wise and the trails have not been good. I really want this shop to succeed, it’s family owned and the owner is so nice. She knows who I am and who my family members are. We made small talk about the great race results a family member had.
Since I’m probably not going there again this year, I bought a pair of pants. And then I decided to buy the jacket also. I don’t feel bad not only because I’m helping a local business but in the past I might have not splurged because I had spent a lot on nothing. But since I hadn’t, I felt ok about investing in something I know I’ll wear.
So even though I broke my spending freeze today (but I was not going to drive and hour and 15 minutes to buy something I wanted and wait until March, when I was going today), I’m thinking of extending my mindful spending through Lent.
I’m not even particularly religious but Lent starts tomorrow and I want to keep this up. Easter is April 1.
“My fleece lined tights were on their last legs.”
Good use of pun. 
That purchase is a need, not want!
I started on January 1st and it’s actually gotten easier. Maybe there is something to the adage that it takes 30 days to break a bad habit. I even told my husband I didn’t want anything for Valentine’s Day and I genuinely meant it. We are leaving tomorrow for a quick 3-day get away instead, and I am happy to be doing something instead of buying something. I don’t know if I’ll make the whole year, but it seems more doable now than when I started.
I relate to the draw of winter clothes. I’ve always been a sucker for the end-of-season sales and I got postcards from both REI and Patagonia advertising 50% off. I was really tempted, but next year.
Only 15 more days in February!
I’m really going to try to make this a new way of life! I love seeing our VISA card so low. I’m not saying I’m never buying anything, but I’m going to cut the silly stuff (magazines at the Checkout counter, trying new products when I have plenty left of the old, buying clothes because they really inexpensive, etc.) When I make a purchase, I don’t want to feel guilt. So, when I buy something, I know it will be mindful.
I see a (good) pattern here. Many posts are justifying purchases that don’t need justification. The fact that you can post all the reasons you made the purchase is the definition IMO of “mindfulness” which is the habit @deb22 is trying to encourage us all to acquire. In my book, shared experiences, like plane fare to see your kids or tickets for a day at the botanical garden with your mom, don’t need justification. Replacing worn-out items, home or other repairs, and sustenance goods like groceries, deodorant, and pet food also don’t need justification. It’s all the other “stuff” we buy that adds to the pile of things but not to the bank of happiness. A good example is how many times we’ve posted, “how many Xs do I need?”
That long-ago friend who got me asking “how much is enough?” also taught me the distinction between what I can “pay for” and what I can “afford.” The two are very different. I can pay for a lot but whether I can afford to is another matter. Perhaps the things I easily (and repeatedly) pay for are robbing my ability to afford better or more important things or reaching my financial goals. Each person needs to determine what the distinction between “pay for” and “afford” means to them, and that is very much a part of this mindfulness experiment. I’ve been playing this game for years and still slip up, but the point is to just keep going. Small changes can have a big impact over time.
Kudos to @conmama for post #205.
I have to say…I LOVE reading the “good buy of the day” thread…but the only thing I’ve ever purchased was the $1 vanilla from CVS and I needed vanilla to bake cookies.
But all fleece jackets, etc…never have gotten them.
But way fun to read!!
So last night I was researching a topic online (executating my mom’s estate; that’s a new word that I just coined right there) and came across a reference to a potentially useful book, so somehow I ended up on amazon looking at other such books (which I suppose you all might have allowed as a necessary expense) when it hit me – “wait a minute, my mom was a librarian! I should see what they have on this topic in the library!” And I did, and they had some choices, and I borrowed one of them instead of buying one… Support your local library.
I did “fall off the wagon” a bit by buying gifts for my kids for V’s Day so they’d get surprises in the mail. To my delight CVS was have unadvertised special, 50% off their fav candy, so I bought them each 3 small bags of it, made each a V’s day card on computer that H & I signed and made each s small flat rate box which I mailed. Hopefully each will receive it today!
Also bought my niece and nephew insulated lunch bags as a treat from us for when we see them traveling later this month plus a jar of HI baked cookies. Did use $10 off $40 purchase coupon and am happy with the purchases. Still, did think carefully before these purchases.
Buying thoughtful Valentines gifts for your children and grandchildren is not mindless spending,IMO @HImom .Those gifts will afford both the giver and the receiver a small measure of joy and you are thoughtful to do this. I send my kids an e-gift card from Panera each year so they can have lunch on me, so I’m sticking to this opinion!
I have steam coming out of my ears. Last night Mister bought a TV!!! It was in sale at Costco and there were only 2 boxes left. I am really mad as it was done to enable his 15 min a day CNBC watching. OTOH, we are much better off with not paying mega bucks to Comcast for that dubious privilege… Rant over.
I haven’t bought fabric yet this year. Did buy light bulbs yesterday.
How does buying a tv save on comcast?
I like this idea. We’ve been spending money like it grows on trees. 
Time to get serious about saving! Or at least getting out of debt.
@BunsenBurner my DH would say that was essential spending
Watching CNBC will pay for itself in folds.
DH doesn’t buy much, but when he does it’s on large purchases. I nickel and dime. Funny you should mention TV’#. DG saw a 65” on a one day sale at Fry’s for under $700. Wanted it fir the basement, I talked him out of it for now.
@colfac92, I can relate to the library thing. My husband and I both have iPads, and we would often BOTH buy a book on our individual iPad. We could have purchased a book and shared, but that’s not how he rolls, and I accept that. But, I feel like 8m saving some money because now I get most of my ebooks from the library. There are a few I “can’t wait” for, but I have saved hundreds By getting most e-books from the library.