Temptations
Shortly after I declared to the world I was going to pause my shopping, be more mindful and try to cut extraneous expenses out of my life for a year a bunch of life happened. Good life (insert big smile here) but life. I was on track to be debt-free, at zero, net worth positive on my birthday. The bills have settled, and for now I think I can recalculate my debt payment plan. I'm still going to do the 365 days of shopping pause.
Not surprisingly, the spending gremlins snuck into my brain. Yesterday was a great example of what I hope the shopping pause can help correct. I knew I couldn't buy anything yet I still spend over three hours looking at and tempted to get various things. Oh, the shopping ban has just started, this is okay. It's only x dollars, and you're going to get it sometime soon anyway; why not get it now? If you really want to stick to a whole year, just buy this thing now. etc, etc. I'm pretty sure I spent so much time looking because 1) I was tired and 2) I suspect my subconscious knows that will-power can only last so long and eventually I'll give it.
Success
Good news! I actually didn't buy anything yesterday despite all the temptations! I am also very proud of myself for not giving in on any of the 12+ halloween day only sales and products. That was ... unexpected and hard.
Some of the things I did was to
-Calculate the exchange rate and how many hours of work the item would be
-Close the browser windows after emptying my shopping card
-Look in the stores for what I want without any money/cards telling myself I can come back
-Put the phone to charge and go to another room in the house
-Whine to someone about how I want to buy things
-Think of something I would want more that I already paused on
-Look at how much stuff I have now; think if I have something that already fills that role
-Decide when I might be able to buy that item without any guilt (ie I'll get a new cover when it's time to replace my planner or if it breaks; I'll get a sample of that make-up item when it's time to order an essential item, I think I can make it this year without replacing my x clothing item, wait until you've lost the weight and then replace with something nice you love that will last)
A Plan
I've decided that to really stick to my shopping pause I need a good start. I want a goal to get me focused to aid in preventing slip ups. I know it's going to happen, I know life is going to happen. But... I have a goal I've wanted for several years now. Debt-free.
If I trim all the excess (which is going to be really hard with the holidays upon us) I think I can be debt free on my last pay day in February. Four months from now. 117 days. I only have to stick to only essentials (no make-up, stickers, outside coffee, clothes, non-essential kid stuff, etc) for another 117 days and I'll be at the start again. Only 117.
So that's my mantra this week. 117 days. I can do this.
