Almost to the month's finish line!

I decided to stop shopping this month, and it's been a very useful exercise! I've got a list of the things I want to purchase, and it's actually quite minimal. If those were the only things I would have bought, I would be in fine shape on a month-to-month basis.

However I've learned all too well that the $28-dollar face lotion turns into $100+ spent at the register whenever I go into Bliss or Sephora, and the $7 hand lotion becomes three-for-$20. Clearly those marketers know their business!

Here's the money I haven't spent - the specific list of things I would have otherwise purchased (so far!):

wants:
Replacement subscription for Entertainment Weekly: $20 for a year (or $35 for two years)
Subscription to Cook's Illustrated: $26.95
Knitting pattern: $5
Yarn for said pattern: I will have a credit for about $25 at the store, so probably "only" $15

CD from the concert I went to this weekend: $14.99

arguably needs:
Empty jars for food storage: $12-24 (because I'd probably crack and buy extras)
Facial moisturizer: $28
Hand lotion: $7, maybe? I don't know what this costs, really - it's been a while!

All that adds up to about $156. However when I run the numbers for the money I've spent this month, I have spent $623 less than I did on average in July-Sept. If I only look at September, I spent $854 less this month! Granted I still have to buy tires, gas, and possibly a grocery item or two, and I am going out for dinner on Thursday, so the savings won't be quite so extreme, but that is VERY interesting.

After I factor in what I intend to spend this month (tires/grocery/dinner out), this indicates that Stopping Shopping has saved me at least $350-550, which would have just been frittered away while picking up items that I specifically want. That's impressive (and horrifying, and embarrassing). Those savings are worth repeating. I think I'm going to purchase the items that I really want from the above list, and do this again in November.

I've felt a little mindful, but not too deprived. I think I spent a bit more than I would ordinarily at the grocery store, but my restaurant spending decreased, so they balance each other fairly well. All in all, this is worth doing again. I think I can, I think I can!

more spending!

There's already one thing I may buy despite my no-shop month: garden materials for the building's garden.

I forgot I also need tires! And I'm driving to Yosemite at the end of the month, so I'll probably get them before we go. There are SOME things you just do.

Seems to me I thought of something else.. oh yeah, the subscription for my one fun magazine is almost up.. I need to order now so service isn't interrupted. hm. I'm annoyed that they want to charge me $50 to renew, or I can go to Amazon and get a NEW subscription for twenty bucks. Seriously, people.

no-spending update

It's almost mid-October. I have spent plenty of money on food, including groceries for brunch for eight, and wine to bring to a party, but I haven't bought any things since I decided October would be a good time for stopping shopping.

I have a list of things I want to get, though! Which is probably partially the point: to think about what I want, mull it over, list it, and LATER decide if I was going to do it. Here's the list in my head at the moment:

• Jars. Ever since developing a blog-crush on Food in Jars earlier this year, I've been buying and using jars in many ways. And right now I'm just about out of the 16-ounce wide mouths! They're being used to hold four types of uncooked beans, some food leftovers, and I don't know what else. But they're all in use right now. I started some vanilla extract last night and really had to dig for a suitable container. (I used a version of this page's Traditional Vanilla Recipe: three beans split, scraped, and chopped, in 12 ounces of vodka)
• moisturizer - I'm running low! I have my travel bottle left, though, so I won't run out
• hand lotion - only one small bottle left of good-smelling stuff at home. I have a good-sized bottle of plain stuff on my desk at work; I can bring that home if necessary
• The bits and pieces to recreate an Ikea hack for vertical pot storage. That would free up a chunk of space. I'm not sure where I can cram it, and it'll only work if my ceiling is in fact 10 feet or less, so I can at least measure that when I get home.
• oh yeah, and the usual things that have been on my list forever: crock pot, food processor.
• oooh and there are a couple of paintings that a friend's daughter has listed on etsy. I'm not going to link to them to save them for myself, I hope, but they cost $180 and $280, so I'm not convinced I'll ever actually take the plunge and buy them. That's as much as I'll spend on a couple of plane tickets next year! But I do like real art and it would be great to support a friend. As a bonus, of course, I think they're gorgeous.

edited to add:

• oooh: and this pattern for a gorgeous cowl for myself; of course, I'd need to buy yarn as well!
  

stopping shopping

Since I've joined Holly's challenge for this month (technically, I've latched onto something she was doing independently), I wound up skipping this week's shop local evening bazaar. I wanted to just go look, but decided it was pretty pointless. Not only did I not have a shopping list for Christmas, I didn't really have any spare cash with me AND I was on my bike and wanted to ride home with two friends going my way - I'd prefer to have a friendly witness if I got hit by a car!

So that's all well and good. I realized I was almost out of hand lotion at home, but brought home a little bottle I have at my desk at work. There is one thing I may wind up buying - wood for the garden project. I will allow that since it's part of a bigger project!

Looking at my spending, this should save me as much as $500. Should be interesting!

My timing is not so great!

I've decided to join Holly in a short-term shopping ban. She's doing it for three months, but I'm aiming to get through October in one piece. She's a pro, after all, having Stopped Shopping for a whole year!

The rules - no purchasing the following items:
* Clothes
* Shoes
* Bags
* Jewelery/Accessories
* Books
* CDs
* DVDs
* Non-essential toiletries

To Holly's list, I add my big downfall:
* kitchen and household things
* knitting-related things - mostly yarn

I'm just going to try it out for October and see how it goes. It's true that my other big downfall is groceries and eating/drinking out, but this is a great place to start. I track my spending and I've gotten closer and closer to spending 100% of my take-home, which is Not Okay. So, this will help me recalibrate.

Too bad I'm going to an incredibly nifty full moon shop-local event tonight! That's okay, though: I'll learn about new artisans and vendors, and I'm sure I can purchase later if I choose.