No-Spend September

I'm currently on a spending freeze. I haven't purchased any stamp/scrap supplies since last Christmas and I have to say, it feels great to be out of the buying habit. I'm not sure when I'll buy anything new, but not before I do an large purge of all the old stuff that I never use.

I got through the weekend without any purchases, scrappy or otherwise. The SG free kit kept calling to me but after organizing paper over the weekend I just didn’t feel like adding more things to store.

That's amazing! The only time I manage to get out of the buying habit is when I'm not scrapping.  

I've window shopped and put some things in carts, and had to remind myself it's only for 30 days, no need to buy now.  But this is proving harder than I thought it would be. 

YOU CAN DO IT!

This is what I've been doing when the urge to shop - even just from my phone - starts to get to me.  1) I put whatever I'm thinking about on a to be considered later in October list.  If I still really want it in 3 weeks - I haven't lost track of it.  2) I am trying to shop from my house.  Especially for craft supplies.  I start opening drawers and digging through baskets and usually come up with a stamp set or a die cutting set or a project kit or something that I haven't spent too much (ahem!  any!) time with and I see what I can do with it.

I had to get dog food (essential) at Chuck and Don's today, and it is right next door to Michael's. Like walking next door, not driving. And I did NOT go in. That is huge for me.

It was my husband's birthday today, so we did go out to eat at the fancy restaurant 😄. It was a late meal. I ordered dessert. Peach pie, delicious! There's a stamp set I really like, but I think I'll wait until October to reward myself for doing virtual school with my son. Everything is hands on.

Checking in. Still holding strong for the most part. No crafty purchases so far. I did place a scholastic book order for my kid because it was due before the end of the month and the way the last quarter of last year fell apart - I wanted to contribute. My husband suggested we go to brunch yesterday, but we ended up not doing it - partly because of No Spend September. My mother and sister invited me out to go shopping yesterday - it was my mother's re-entry into society after basically being home 24/7 since mid-march. I turned them down for that too - again partly because of No Spend September and partly because my sister isn't really taking COVID seriously. I hope my mother's mask was enough to protect her!

I'm not specifically tallying my savings, but it's been wonderful not having so many receipts to enter/keep track of in my Quiken program.  Entering all that data depresses me - I do it once a week usually.  It's been uplifting to not have more than groceries, gas, and the occasional one-offs to enter.     

I'm keeping a shopping list of things to consider once Oct 1 rolls around.  I won't buy them all, but it's so I don't lose track of things that have come up that I have a need for/that I'm out of/that would be a gift idea/etc.  If I decide Oct 1 I don't want something on the list anymore - well, impulse spending averted!  I already have two things I know I'm going to order from a papercraft supplier.  Some (okay, too much) of my discretionary spending is also snacks, eating out, treats, etc.  I need to do better about unnecessary food purchases.  I'm going to try to stay strong on this front following Oct 1.  

Usually in October I start targeting one person a week on my holiday gift list.  First week of October might be a sister.  Second week might be my oldest niece.  Etc.  It helps me avoid mass purchasing.  And some weeks I don't need to buy anything because I'm making something for that person so it's my target date to finish that project up.  It sort of works.  It does help level out my gift spending splurges vs. having shop-a-thons where I spend far more than I budgeted for some people.

I broke my spending freeze on non-scrapbooking items (1st time at Hobby Lobby in months and I picked up a couple Fall decor items) but nothing scrapbook related.

I had planned to spend last weekend, but I went way over what I intended. This is really a challenge for me lol. I have things in various carts, but I'm ok not hitting buy. I did go ahead and get page protectors for my JYC album, I'm using the sb.com 6x8, now to wait for the album I want to come in.

This is really the only area that I overspend, and I have no idea why. I know some of it is because I'm tired, or don't have time to scrap so shopping makes me feel engaged with my hobby, but it's gotten ridiculous since the quarantines.

Well I lasted about 2 weeks. Shimelle and Spellbinders did me in. Back on the wagon.