The irony of posting a no spend challenge hot on the heels of a post about an extravagant Mother’s Day treat, is not lost on me. I’m happy to say, the two are not linked. March was an expensive month for me. Between a broken oven which I had to get fixed, a broken car which I had to get fixed and a multitude of school runs in taxis whilst the car was being fixed, my finances took a battering.
That’s not the sole reason that I’ve decided to challenge myself to a no spend April, even though a financial reset in its own right is valid enough. As anyone who knows me will agree, I love to buy things. Bags and dresses is a particular favourite, but stationary, craft supplies, random toys for little miss all feature highly on my ‘things I don’t need but I’m going to buy anyway’ list. So, I feel a mental reset is in order too. I want to try to get off the consumerism hamster wheel at least a little.
So, for the month of April I’m doing a no buy challenge. It’s not as strict as some of the no buy challenges I see people doing. I’m still going to be buying takeaways/meals out, day trips and socialising, because I don’t believe in torturing myself. What I will be trying very hard not to buy this month is.
Clothes - All clothes. I don’t need anything, I will use my current wardrobe more thoughtfully and hopefully at some point will be able to bring my spring/summer clothes out of storage too, which is like having a whole new wardrobe.
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| My most recent hat purchase, when I wear it I’ve been likened to Che Guevara and Citizen Smith |
shoes, bags, hats, jewellery, in fact any accessories, for the same reasons as above.
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| Dug this photo out of the archive, and still use that Aspinal bag sometimes |
Books. My TBR pile is already huge
Stationary- My stock of pens and notebooks is also huge
Toys for little miss (aside from her birthday presents in April)
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| All the toys and she’s still sooner play with a cardboard box |
Makeup - I have plenty, plus backups
Toiletries, unless I have totally run out of something and absolutely have to replace it as there’s no alternative.
Craft supplies - I should actually use some of the stash I have.
Reusable cups/bottles - I have a problem with these. I do use them, but I really don’t need anymore… and I have been tempted recently.
I will be buying supplies to do some decorating, as well as some days out over the Easter holidays so by no means will it be a totally spend free month. There’s no point, however in me just adding to the copious amounts of things I’ve already got.
I’ll check in at the end of the month to see how I got along.
Wishing you good luck with your no spend April. I should really take a leaf out of your book as I too have plenty of clothes as well as a toppling TBR pile. Make-up and toiletries are a particular weakness of me too, so I would have to make a conscious effort to avert my eyes when I'm running an errand in the low countries' equivalent of Superdrug ;-) xxx
ReplyDeleteWishing you loads of luck in your no-spend quest. You can do it! x
ReplyDeleteApril no spend challenge sounds like a great idea. I like that it is reasonable and easy to do. I used to do the no spend challenges in the past. As time goes by, I find resisting buying new clothes easier and easier, so I don't even need a spending ban.
ReplyDeleteI love crafts but when buys crafts supplies one should always be realistic with how much time one has. I would buy craft stuff all the time if I didn't stop myself. However, I have to be realistic. I don't have more than a couple of free hours a week for it. I don't count painting as arts & crafts, as I usually sell my art. I usually spend the art supplies I buy rather quickly so it doesn't pile up. But other stuff- like sewing stuff, and other crafts- I try to be realistic with what I need.