March was a good month. Actually I think I will always look back on my Spending Fast of 2010 as a great growing experience. I'm thrilled to report that I succeeded in my goal and am really happy with the results. Here's a few of the things I've learned.
I don't need to go to the store nearly as often as I was. I assumed this but until I tried it I couldn't be sure. My days were FULL. They just weren't full of going to the store. Calder and I actually did so much more. We spent long afternoons at the park, hours at the science museum and had playdates with friends. I think he was happier doing less shopping and more playing.
I am happier not going to the store as frequently. That doesn't really make sense since I love to shop. But here's the thing, I have always had some serious buyers remorse. If I impulse buy, I'll feel remorse. It doesn't matter if that impulse buy becomes the bag I use every day for 3 years and was a totally good investment. I need to plan my purchases in order to feel good about spending money. If I buy something after drooling over it for a month, I am much happier and don't feel remorse at all. After this month I've become more committed to sticking to my list and writing my wants down.
I checked out a lot of books from the library about personal style and clothes. I appreciate the list of wardrobe recommendations and spent a lot of time assessing what clothes I have and what would enhance my current wardrobe. It has been said that we wear 20% of the clothes we own. We have another 10% for special occasions and the the other 70% just sits in the closet. I don't want to have the other 70% wasting space. Around the middle of the month I tried on most of my clothes. It was like I went shopping, and that made me happy. I found a few outfits for each item I own and although I got rid of a couple garbage bag full of clothes I feel like my wardrobe has expanded. I had been holding on to a few items that I liked but never wore. I forced myself to wear each item for a day and find an outfit to wear it with. If I didn't like it at the end of the day it went in the donation bag.
I can and should live with less. I seem to buy a lot of different cleaning supplies when I could buy one multitasking spray. (I know I could make my own but scent is a huge thing for me) Having fewer cleaning supplies is much cheaper and takes up less space in my house which makes me happier. Also, I ran out of paper towels around the 5th of March. I could have replaced it but didn't want to fit them into the budget. I still haven't bought more. I have just been using regular wash cloths for most of the stuff I used paper towels for. Better on the budget and better on the environment.
I don't really need to eat out much. Going out to lunch seems a bit wasteful and going out just because I don't want to cook is silly. I want to eat out to celebrate. Along with that, I want to eat really good food when I go out, not just mediocre chain restaurant food. (Please don't take offense if Chili's is your all time favorite place to eat. I'm not trying to offend I promise)
I've picked up the habit of obsessively checking craigslist's free section. I didn't actually go pick anything up but it was nice to know I could if I wanted to. I mean, I could afford it. I drooled over this one midcentury modern hutch that someone took out to the curb for about a week. I wanted it so bad. I even asked Jason if he thought it would fit in our car. There's no way. Plus he didn't want to have to move it in a few months. He did promise that once we have a long term (longer than 1 year) house I can find the perfect hutch or sideboard. That made it all worth it.
In the last two days I've bought the following things:
I don't need to go to the store nearly as often as I was. I assumed this but until I tried it I couldn't be sure. My days were FULL. They just weren't full of going to the store. Calder and I actually did so much more. We spent long afternoons at the park, hours at the science museum and had playdates with friends. I think he was happier doing less shopping and more playing.
I am happier not going to the store as frequently. That doesn't really make sense since I love to shop. But here's the thing, I have always had some serious buyers remorse. If I impulse buy, I'll feel remorse. It doesn't matter if that impulse buy becomes the bag I use every day for 3 years and was a totally good investment. I need to plan my purchases in order to feel good about spending money. If I buy something after drooling over it for a month, I am much happier and don't feel remorse at all. After this month I've become more committed to sticking to my list and writing my wants down.
I checked out a lot of books from the library about personal style and clothes. I appreciate the list of wardrobe recommendations and spent a lot of time assessing what clothes I have and what would enhance my current wardrobe. It has been said that we wear 20% of the clothes we own. We have another 10% for special occasions and the the other 70% just sits in the closet. I don't want to have the other 70% wasting space. Around the middle of the month I tried on most of my clothes. It was like I went shopping, and that made me happy. I found a few outfits for each item I own and although I got rid of a couple garbage bag full of clothes I feel like my wardrobe has expanded. I had been holding on to a few items that I liked but never wore. I forced myself to wear each item for a day and find an outfit to wear it with. If I didn't like it at the end of the day it went in the donation bag.
I can and should live with less. I seem to buy a lot of different cleaning supplies when I could buy one multitasking spray. (I know I could make my own but scent is a huge thing for me) Having fewer cleaning supplies is much cheaper and takes up less space in my house which makes me happier. Also, I ran out of paper towels around the 5th of March. I could have replaced it but didn't want to fit them into the budget. I still haven't bought more. I have just been using regular wash cloths for most of the stuff I used paper towels for. Better on the budget and better on the environment.
I don't really need to eat out much. Going out to lunch seems a bit wasteful and going out just because I don't want to cook is silly. I want to eat out to celebrate. Along with that, I want to eat really good food when I go out, not just mediocre chain restaurant food. (Please don't take offense if Chili's is your all time favorite place to eat. I'm not trying to offend I promise)
I've picked up the habit of obsessively checking craigslist's free section. I didn't actually go pick anything up but it was nice to know I could if I wanted to. I mean, I could afford it. I drooled over this one midcentury modern hutch that someone took out to the curb for about a week. I wanted it so bad. I even asked Jason if he thought it would fit in our car. There's no way. Plus he didn't want to have to move it in a few months. He did promise that once we have a long term (longer than 1 year) house I can find the perfect hutch or sideboard. That made it all worth it.
In the last two days I've bought the following things:
- A new front wheel for Calder's stroller (it broke a few months ago and has been held together with duct tape for a while. It still works but the new one will be great. Plus it was only $25)
- A battery for the doorbell (that still doesn't work. Grrr)
- Pansies. About 12 pots of them. My garden and window baskets looks amazing. I'll post pictures soon.
- Carpet cleaner
- A window. It is a huge 8 pane beauty. I love it and have big plans for it. I'll post pictures when I'm done. This particular window is from 1910. I can't wait for you to see what I do to it. I emailed the previous owner of this window on March 13th begging him to save one for me. I'm sure he thought I was a nut. Thankfully he still had one and I could go pick it up today.
I know I had a very low point around week two. I'm so thankful the month improved and it got easier. I think that was the point where I experienced a lifestyle change. I haven't felt like I need to run to the store for every little thing or that Calder and I should go to Target as an outing just to get out of the house. If you're considering doing this or any other seemingly hard thing. Do it. It just might change your lifestyle and make you happier. Oh and if you do, please tell me. I'd love to cheer you on!
11 comments:
Thanks for the summary and for the lessons learned! I've been telling a bunch of people about how awesome you are this month and after much debate, my friend Mandy and I are doing it Apr 15-May 15. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes ... wish me luck - like anything new, there's always an "adjustment" ... yikes!
You're so cool Cami, I'm proud of you! Loved hearing what you learned.
Congrats on making it through the month. You're awesome.
What about all the "extra" money you have now, because you didn't spend it? Did it go to something specific or is it still in the bank?
and you are amazing!
Good job. I loved hearing about.
Madelyn, I should have something awesome in mind to do with all of our saved money but I'm pretty happy just seeing it in the savings account.
Good luck Whitney! You can totally do it.
I love your frank and candid account of your habits and how you've tried to change them. Your experience has made me look at ways that I can improve. What a great example you are!
Yeah! I want to do this. My only concern is that I have family coming to visit every month through July and then July is the move. I like to go out and have fun with visitors so maybe I'll just have to make exceptions for when they are in town. Maybe I'll join Whitney on the 15th.
You go girl!! I think I might give it a try!!
That is so great that you completed your spending fast! You inspire me in so many ways, Cami. We would have loved to run down to Columbus for a visit, but Casey was able to come home with us and we just spent lots of time enjoying being together with family. I definitely want to get down there before you leave (June?).
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