First of all, I said my shopping ban included all clothes, accessories but also bath/body or makeup for myself. I did cheat here. I bought a few makeup items and also some facial products to try out in my ever suffering quest to have better skin. Most of these things were things I didn't truly need. And I was guilty of "I'm just buying this one small thing here or there". Small things add up. Fast.
Secondly, I didn't include Oliver in my shopping ban. He's a growing boy, so he did need some new clothes this summer. I also bought him a few more age appropriate toys. I tried to do it secondhand when possible, but it still added up. Nate's theory is maybe I was channeling my energy of not shopping for myself into shopping for him, he may be right. Either way, it didn't help my cause much!
I also have a significant car loan from purchasing my parent's car in March. I'm so happy to have it, but I don't want to take advantage of them in any way so I'm trying to get it paid off as soon as I can.
Beyond that, the grocery trips, items for the cats and our various activities do add up. It's hard to give everything up all together. I learned a lot about just our daily expenses and it makes me wonder where we'd be if I hadn't given up shopping at all.
So where do I go from here? Well, I don't have the answers yet. Sadly I just know we are not ready for me to cut a day from my work schedule yet, I don't think we can afford to lose that day of pay. I am continuing to count my blessings that I have the type of job I do - an understanding boss, close proximity to my parents so I can at least get my lunch hour with Oliver, I have a nice time off program. I am going to keep working on not shopping - my closet is full to the brim and there is nothing I truly need. That being said I am letting myself hit the thrifts later today for 50% off day but I'm going to be very discerning as to anything I choose. I only want things that will work with other items I already have. After today though, I'm back to no more shopping. I have a birthday in two months and Christmas and I plan to ask for gift cards at that time.
Helping me continue to shop my own closet and remix are three more Instagram style challenges that I'm very excited about - Style Me September, a Patterns challenge and another round of Pinned It Spinned It. I have been enjoying these Instagram challenges - I may not hit all of them at once again, but between them they give me ideas and options and I like interpreting them my own way.
The other thing I'm going to attempt for the rest of the year is a Project "Use It Up" - I am going to try to not buy any new makeup/bath and body/hair products/etc until I use something up. If you have seen my bathroom shelf, this could take me awhile. It's just time.
Beyond that, Nate and I are really going to start working on a budget and figuring out how we can best still enjoy our day to day life while working towards the goal of me being able to stay home a little more. I still believe we can make it work, just gotta keep on trucking. I am not going to really say a whole lot more about this for the time being, but I do thank all of you for your support while I have been working on this shopping ban! We'll see how things shake out as we keep going!
