Year of Less... Spending Ban

Starting today (as I type this), and continuing for 6 months, my husband and I have agreed to go on a Shopping Ban. Of course we will still need to purchase essentials, but beyond what is needed, we are going to attempt NOT buying extra junk... Not thrifting, fast-food, frivolous stuff of any kind.

Dates of the Challenge: August 2nd thru January 30th

• Our list of NOPEs:
• Clothing (unless to replace an item we have - one in one out rule)
• Beauty Supplies (hair color, make-up, nail polish)
• Candles or Wax-Melt
• Decor Items
• Books & Magazines, Journals
• Coffee from Starbucks / Gas Station
• Fast food (other than Smoothies, limited to 1x per week)
• Eating out at Restaurants/Carry Out Orders - UNLESS for a Date Night
• Gardening Supplies
• New Tech (except our Cell Phones)
• Lastly... Storage Fee's (Cuz we're planning to get out of our current unit)

These are the areas we feel we need to cut back on, use up what we already have, or minimize our collection of. Personally I'm gonna have a hard time with candles and books/journals. We both depend way too much on eating out for time and convenience throughout the work week, but this just doesn't support our financial goals, plus it's not really healthy.

In support of our personal goals, we have a list of items we can buy in the next 6 months. I don't believe we will get EVERY item on the list, and we may decide to purchase these items used or have them gifted. This list serves as a reminder for what we are trying to build toward, things we actually want so that we won't keep nickel-and-diming our money away on smaller stuff. It also encompasses the "essential needs" of basic living:

Approved Shopping List:

• General Needs - 
• Groceries
• Toiletries
• Cleaning Products
• Kitchen Items - 

Summer Plans

Today is July 1st and I have been busy putting plans together for the start of this month.

...And here we are.
I don't feel ready, or completely settled, but I don't think that matters. These are steps I'm planning to take to help me get to a New Place. A year from now I want to look back and see such a shift in how I live my life, that I find it hard to judge my abilities in the future. I want to say,  "Wow, look at that! You really CAN do something if you put your mind to it! Awesome job!"

So... what's the plan?

Well, as is my style, I have looked over several approaches to decluttering, pairing down clothing, getting out of debt, and I plan to incorporate a bit of each. Here's the the overall picture:

No.1 - Spending Ban

About a year ago I tried to do a spending ban. I had just read The Year of Less (Cait Flanders), and was excited to try my hand at becoming a more mindful consumer - owning less and saving more. This year, in the midst of everything 2020, my husband and I are both on board to see this thru.