I’m kind of over my No Spending Challenge. I haven’t cheated and I’m sticking with my goal of not shopping until April 1, 2014. I entered into this challenge knowing that it would be difficult to complete but I love doing challenges. I want to see what I’m capable of and I continue to be amazed that I’ve stuck with it.
I’m finding that winter has been harder for me in terms of not shopping than summer. Living in Colorado there is a point where it is consistently chilly for awhile. I am bundled up in comfy and cozy sweaters, scarves of multiple colors, hats, and coats in the latest colors. I enjoy picking up a couple of new items every winter because I know I’ll be wearing them for months/years. This year, that’s not happening. I’m using what I have and I’m grateful for what I have.
The truth is I’m getting bored. That boredom translates into thousands of dollars lost throughout my lifetime. How many times have I gone shopping when bored, lonely, or sad? What could I have done with that money? I ask myself this question from time to time. That question is irrelevant though because I wasn’t treating my money with the care and focus that I should have done-I would have wasted it before this year.
As for Using My Sh$T November. I just realized that I have been working on using up my product and getting things to manageable levels since JANUARY!!! WHAT!!?? Somehow, I just thought I’d been working on this since May. Because I’ve been working on this for so long. There are several things that I’ve learned from the Using My Sh$t Challenge.
Here it goes.
- We have too much sh$t
- You have to actively use what you have or it starts to build up.
- It takes longer than you would expect to intentionally use your stuff.
- Anything with a creamy texture takes forever to use up. Think: Lotion, Sunblock, Face Wash. If it has a creamy texture have no more than 2 of that item. I still have lotion that I’m working through from last year.
- I like to smell good. I had several bottles of perfume and body spray. I think from now on I only need about 3 to 4 at any given point in time. I had at least 4 body sprays, and 4 perfumes.
- I spend a lot on grooming products.
- I get a lot of product samples.
Are you using up your stuff? Do you stockpile product or something else?
Do you consider your stockpile a problem?
Link Love November:
Athena from According to Athena wrote a wonderful guest post entitled: You’re Awesome! That was published on My Diary Entry.
Johnny Moneyseed talks about The Sacrifices We Make To Save Money I love the idea of optimizing spending in such a way that one doesn’t sacrifice quality of life. Please read and think about how to apply this idea to your life.
Jordann from My Alternate Life writes “I’m Debt Free!” I love reading these posts.
Over at DearDebt she ponders the her truth. Sometimes you have to walk to the beat of your own drum.
Michelle over at Fit is the New Poor writes a post that resonated with me on so many levels. Jeez. Surviving the crappy job-My Career Progression
Tony over at Budget and the Beach writes about dating. D is for Dating… and Dread I totally understand and feel your pain!
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Wow, no spending until April is impressive. I seem to spend a lot these days, even though I have cut all unneccesary shopping (like Ross and TJ Maxx visits). I think a dollar limit challenge would be good for me, like no more than $100 for anything other than food and transportation non-fixed expenses. That goes quickly when you think about stuff like drycleaning and car washes!!
I’m getting a little tired of the challenge but that’s the whole point of doing one-to push through. I have learned a lot about myself and how I view material possessions, money, and time. The dollar limit challenge would be a fun one to do too! Let me know how it goes.
Ugh, perfumes and body sprays. I probably have close to 10. I have two favorite body sprays that I wear on a normal basis, and two other favorite perfumes for special occasions. It’s definitely overkill, and I haven’t purchased any for over a year. Thankfully most of them are small bottles so hopefully a few will be finished next year. I also use Tom’s toothpaste =).
Getting rid of lotions is hard. I have lotion and hand sanitizer that I got for Christmas *last* year that I’ve had at my work desk, and they’re still halfway full.
I typically rotate my product when I get bored. I have regular sized product and that’s part of the reason it took so long to work through it. I can’t believe I’ve been working through my product for a year!! It’s ridiculous. I actually get Tom’s for $1 I’m still working through a particular tube of lotion that I’ve had for a year-it’s starting to make me crazy.
I don’t have a beauty stockpile (never really had a problem with that), but I have a thing with variety and clothing.. I like collecting pieces. I guess my issue is I want one of everything so I never have to think about: OH if ONLY I had skinny tweed pants… << because I already have them.
If that makes sense. 🙂
I LOVE variety in clothing and am starting to have a really hard time with my No Shopping Challenge. I want to add color and variety to my wardrobe and I can’t. I also want to switch up the materials I’m wearing. And yes, I would love a pair of skinny tweed pants. I plan on approaching clothing shopping very differently when I start shopping again. Quality before quantity. Period.
Holy cow, this is a pretty tough challenge. Kudos to you!
Also, what is with the #2 talk? Is my bathroom talk rubbing off on you at a subconscious level?
Hehe-you are a bad influence!!!
Ooh I get to be Tony again instead of Tonya! Usually I get TAnya. I love when I change identities! 🙂 I’m bad about sunscreen. I have 1/2 used bottles all over the place.
I freaking hate auto correct! It makes me crazy. I am super addicted to sunscreen and use it every day on my face, neck, and hands. It’s still taking forever to work through the two bottles that I have. YOU should be slathering it on considering that you play beach volleyball!
For a long time I had way too many body products, like you, I told myself I couldn’t buy anymore until I used up the ones I had. Now I don’t have any body sprays/perfumes (guess what I asked for for Christmas? ;-)) But from now on I’m not going to keep more than 2-3 at a time. Oh and I also use and love Tom’s toothpaste!
I am working on a strict protocol for purchasing products from now on. It’s ridiculous how much I was buying and it’s ridiculous that it took so long to work through all of the stuff that I had. Now, I’m working through all of the travel sized stuff I got from all of the hotels I stayed at this year!
I know what you mean about creamy products – I’ve been using the same body lotion for more than a year now!
I can’t believe how long it is taking to use up this specific thing of lotion! At least it still smells delicious 🙂