I can’t believe that it has been over a year since I finished my No Shopping Challenge. I can’t believe that I spent a year not shopping. I can’t believe that I used to spend around $4300 a year on fashion and fashion related items.
Madness!
Before my challenge I would shop all the time. Any excuse to rome around in the mall I would take in a heartbeat. What I didn’t realize was that at the end of that year I would discover some uncomfortable truths about myself.
Like why I shopped the way I did, and the toll it was taking on me. When you stop a habit in the way that I did, you notice an absence and then you begin to have some internal conversations about that habit. You start focusing on the “why.”
Let’s be clear-I do love fashion. I love new shoes, bags, and lovely dresses. I love putting together an outfit that make me feel like I look my best. But this was different. I was shopping to fill a void. I was deeply profoundly lonely, stressed about my finances, and unhappy at my job.
So what I was doing wasn’t healthy. It was very unhealthy, and it showed in my wallet and in my habits.
Now
I still love fashion…but the urge to shop in the way that I was shopping has completely gone. I still would like to buy new pretty things, but I have experienced a huge change in how I think about shopping in general, using what I have, and the role that shopping has as I work towards my future goals.
I am consciously using what I have, focused on gratitude, and I still look nice when I go out the door. So how much do I plan on spending on fashion this year?
Less than $700
I would be shocked if I spent more than $700 on shopping. I still buy new and used clothing. And I have found Magical Goodwill to be a wonderful place to pick up something “new.” The issue is that I would like some Frye Boots (very expensive-good quality). They do have the boots on sale via 6pm.com , so I will keep an eye on the sales and side hustle to pay for the boots.
I would rather spend time with people. I would rather invest my money. I would rather use my money for a trip. I just don’t see the point in spending mindlessly anymore.
I have other things that I want to do with my time and money.
Who knew that I would not only save money, but discover some painful truths about why I was doing what I was doing?
I love the simplicity and the time that I save by practicing gratitude. I am excited to fill that space up with people. Will tell you how that goes.
And no, I didn’t cheat.
Have You Done A No Shopping Challenge?
For How Long? Did You Cheat?
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Confronting habits that don’t serve your greater good is always challenging because they become habits for a reason, they make us *feel* good, even if that feeling is only a fleeting one. Isn’t It funny how the most destructive ones seem to have the most immediate reward?
I quit my shopping habit early on. I realised that shopping to cover how unhappy I was in my work just perpetuated the cycle: If I had no money, I had to keep showing up at a job I hated. That realisation has stayed with me ever since.
I’m still challenged by other bad habits though! 🙂
The second part of your comment is basically the key to everything. I had to continue showing up to a job I had outgrown. It was demoralizing and super frustrating. Now, I am dealing with other bad habits, but at least I have the energy to deal with them LOL!
Oh my. One year? I can’t believe you put yourself in that challenge, Michelle. That is more than a challenge. I myself would have surrendered in just two months and I’d definitely cheat if I were in that challenge. Haha! Good luck!
Yep! I just got into the zone and I am the type of person who tries to always do what I say. So, if I said I wasn’t going to shop-I wasn’t going to shop. But, it was so damn hard! I got it done and I probably could do it again (but I don’t want to! LOL!)
Congrats on not only making it through the challenge, but making a long-term change!
I think that people (myself included) underestimate the impact of doing a challenge like this one can have. It’s saving me a lot of money and time. I like that 🙂
I´ve never really enjoyed shopping, so a no shopping challenge probably wouldn´t be hard for me. But a no eating out challege? Those are tough! I do them from time to time, but only for a couple of weeks or maybe a month. A whole year to give up your weakness is very hard to do!
I think that eating out is a very hard habit to get out of for a lot of people. It’s such a normal thing to do and people are also very removed from cooking in general. I want people to embrace cooking again.