Hasta La Vista Materialism pt 2

I kept a little diary of how my 30 days went, it would be pointless to enter all 30 days as some days simply say 'bought nothing', but journaling this experience definetley helped me stay accountable.

Day 1: Today is the day after the boots, it’s went better than yesterday that’s for sure. I have bought nothing and its pay day, so I feel that’s a great first day. It’s pay day and I’ve bought nothing, who is this girl???

Day 3: We went to our local town today, and I had to return some things to NEXT. There was a sale. Old me would have used girl maths to tell myself that if I didn’t buy anything I was losing money, I really wanted to buy something.

But then I thought about my pretty printable ‘hasta la vista materialism’ sheet, and I really didn’t want to have to colour a box in red. I browsed but made no purchases, go me – I am unstoppable…

Day 7: Today is one week in. I want to buy something. Joao is away on holiday for the week, I’m all myself, shopping would make me feel better.

…. Later that day, and I’m sat colouring in my circle green, I resisted the urge to shop- this feels good. Go me.

Day 16: Ok, so I had my birthday day out today, but that’s an experience so it doesn’t count as spending under the rules…. But while I was out, I was wearing heels and got sore feet so nipped to Primark to buy a pair of sliders. So, I’m going to have to paint this circle red, but I mean this time it really wasn’t my fault.

Day 23: Today I wanted to buy a waffle machine, I resisted the urge, I may buy one at the end of the 30 days… but I’m going to think on it until then. Then at least it won’t be an impulse buy.

Day 27: I woke up this morning thinking ‘wow, I have been doing so good with this challenge, and it’s actually starting to feel quite easy.’ So, then I decided that I had been cured as a shopaholic, and as reward I should get to buy something early?

I went onto the NEXT website and added some new clothes for the kids to my basket (for the record, they do not need new clothes). I proceeded to checkout, and at the last minute managed to stop myself. I feel pretty proud of myself, but I now realise I am far from 'cured'.

Day 28: Pay day again, I have bought nothing. This feels strange, two pay days now and I haven’t bought anything wasteful. New me who dis?!

DAY 30: Another day another green circle, I can’t believe I only have one red circle.

My thoughts on the challenge

Minimalism has left me feeling more fulfilled and lighter. Even though I never quite managed 30 days, it is still an accomplishment, and I need to keep going. So many times, I thought over the last 30 days ‘oh I’m getting it, to hell with this challenge’, but you know what I stuck at it. I wanted to cheat at this so bad, but it feels good to be honest with myself.

I’ve tried to adopt a minimalist lifestyle over the last month, I have cleared out junk drawers, gotten rid of some clothing items, cleared out my children’s rooms of things they no longer need either.

Some of the clothing items I had in my wardrobe still had the labels attached, I had most likely bought them on sale, or they had been impulse buys.

I don’t think I will ever be a minimalist but I’m going to be more mindful with my purchases. Going forward I will ask myself meaningful questions about items, such as ‘how often will I use this item’, ‘do I need it’, ‘will it bring joy or purpose to my life’. If the answer is no to any of these questions, I’m letting it go and not getting it!

I want to quit impulse buying all together as what I have realised over the last 30 days is that so many of the items that I thought about failing this challenge over, after a couple days I realised that I didn’t even really want it.

Or I would have only used it once and I genuinely felt relieved that I never wasted my money.

And you know what, I’m glad I never wasted my money on that waffle machine, in hindsight it was a novelty purchase that I would have only used a few times, and then it would have sat at the back of a cupboard only to be used once a year if that!

I would also like to add that remember those boots I bought at the start of this? You know how many times I’ve worn them since I bought them? Zero. I have never once worn them yet, and I’ll probably end up only wearing them once if that.

So, while girl maths told me I’d be losing money if I didn’t buy them, the reality is that I’ve actually lost money by purchasing them.

I would love to know if anyone else tries this challenge, make sure to let me know how you get on. If I can give it a go anyone can.