Hello Again!

Hello!

I wrote a post a year and a half ago and never published it. I don't want to publish it now because it doesn't align, but many of my sentiments at the time still ring true. 

Since my last published post, I moved into a much larger apartment, and some of my fears in that post have come true: a bigger space means more space to fill. And sadly, I have done a lot of that. But there are some bad habits I have streamlined and curbed. Everything is a constant state of learning, fixing, and reflecting, and I want to be better. 

When we moved here, we had no credit card debt, but things quickly spiraled out of control between needing this and that. Instead of truly addressing the issue, I told myself I would eventually figure it out and getting this or that thing wouldn't matter much in the big picture, or purchasing it would help me accomplish my goals. 

My current goal is to thoughtfully purchase things until the end of the year that can set me up for a successful next year. I have a few more things I want to buy on my list, but once those are purchased, I will go on a serious low-buy and document my process here. I created a Google Sheet to track spending for each month. Writing things down makes you think better about it. I have a few accountability partners who will check on it and ensure I am sticking with my goals.

Here are my rules and reasons for the rules:

1. I will get a $100 allowance that can be used to purchase "frivolous" things; if I overspend, it comes out of next month's allowance; if I don't spend it, it rolls over. I will track these purchases on the sheet. 

I need some restricted outlet to allow me to stay on track. I have gone cold turkey in the past, but that is hard to stick to and creates a massive risk for me.

2. Only add new items to my wardrobe if it is essential (i.e., replacements for things worn at least weekly or if something is for a special occasion).

 

I have more than enough clothes than I could ever need or use in the next few years. While I have reduced my clothing and purchased significantly less, I still have too many clothes. The only exception I can allow for is if I need a genuinely formal dress. While I do not see that happening next year, I want to add it as an option. If I desire another type of clothing, I can purchase it via my allowance, but only if it has been on my Wish List for an extended period.

3. Only purchase skincare or makeup items if I replace something I have used.

I have purchased a decent amount of skincare products, so I want to work through those before they expire. The only exception to this rule is if I buy the Solawave Red Light Mask, which has been on my wish list for many months. I am waiting for Ulta to have it in stock so I can redeem my Ulta points to purchase it.

4. NO bags. The only exception will be for the following: North Face Women's Jester in the light purple pattern and potentially a camera bag of some type (sling/backpack/messenger bag, still not sure).

I have so many incredible bags I never use and always find new ones to buy. I aim to use as many bags in my collection as possible and figure out if I should cull any (I know I should, but it hurts to think about). The one exception I might allow is the purchasing of different straps. I recently purchased a few bags with replaceable straps and a few well-thought-out strap purchases to curb a bag purchase that could scratch the new bag itch while still staying true to the essence of the challenge.

5. No shoes unless needed for a special occasion.

I have been better about shoes overall, but I need to reduce what I have and only purchase when they need replacement vs. when I have a passing whim. The only exception would be for special occasion shoes of some type.

6. No nail polish or nail items unless they replace things I have used up.

I have so much nail polish and cool nail stuff that I shouldn't buy anything new for the next few years until it all expires, and I toss it. I recently purchased the Olive and June Gel Nail Polish set because I always want nice nails, and this set could help me do so.

7. No physical books unless it is for a particular purpose (coffee table or reference book).

 I have had a serious book-purchasing problem, bringing in at least three books a month and never reading them. My Kobo Libre Colour and library card have fixed this problem thus far, but I still want to be mindful of it. If I own a book, I don't read it, but if I check it out from the library, I read it in about two or three days. Additionally, I am working on selling my books. I sold about 20 or so in October, but there are still plenty more to get through.

8. No more camera equipment unless I can purchase it with funds from photography or videography jobs. 

I purchased three cameras this year and other related camera equipment. I barely use them, but I want to use them more. If I focus more on hobbies I enjoy, I can reduce my time online shopping. I know that can be a slippery slope, so I stipulated that I can only purchase more things with the funds from photography or videography jobs. Similar to clothing, if I want something bad enough, it can be purchased via my allowance, but only if it has been on the list for a decent amount of time.

9. No excess kitchen tools or home decor (this one should be easy since I don't buy much of this, but I also don't want it to become a random outlet).

I added this one because I didn't want to use kitchen tools or home decor as an outlet. I'm not a big decor person because I'd rather have stuff that does things! I like purchasing kitchen items that make cooking more enjoyable because cooking at home is way better than ordering food or eating out.

10. Absolutely no tumblers, water bottles, or drinkware. An exception could be made for a tumbler for hot coffee and one for hot tea.

I purchased an absurd amount of water bottles and tumblers this year. I ended up selling some unused ones via eBay, but I still have a lot. Stupidly, I don't have any for hot coffee or tea. While I don't drink much of either, I can do a much healthier hot tea drink (alternative milk and stevia) vs. a coffee drink (sugar, half and half, or heavy cream).

So, those are the goals and the reasons behind them. While it might sound intense or aggressive to some, I need clear guidelines because I am the best at talking myself into "needing" something. I have met all of my needs over and over and beyond. There is nothing I need at this stage of my life- other than a reality check. 

Well, this has been long enough. Before I sign off, I want to add a quick note: I bought that Urban Decay "Born to Run" palette a year or so later. I still haven't used it. I got rid of about 80% of my makeup collection when we moved to this apartment, but I did keep that one because something about it calls out to me. 

Thank you so much for reading! Talk soon (and not 6.5 years later).