Wow, does this feel weird. I haven’t blogged in a hot minute,
and to sit down with inspiration and motivation (…finally), I come bearding a
challenge. Yes, you heard me correctly. I’m about to embark on a mission to
improve the way I live, the way I think, and ultimately… the way I spend.
Today is Ash Wednesday. To be honest, I didn’t realize how
early the Lenten season was this year until I ate half a box of Girl Scout
cookies yesterday, and one of my co-workers said, “it’s Fat Tuesday, so you’re
fine!” Although I’m not as devoted in my faith compared to when I was younger,
I always take the time to recognize the season of Lent. It’s a time where
observers give up an action in their daily lives that they consider to be
harmful, wrong, or I guess you could even say vice. I understand that there may
be some of you where religion isn’t involved in any aspect of your life, and
that’s okay! You don’t have to recognize a certain tradition in order to
reflect and take action to improve yourself or your habits.
For the past couple of years, I’ve taken the time to really
think of what I could “give up” that is considered one of my vices. Some I’ve
succeeded at and some I have failed, because I mean, we’re only human. But as
I’ve grown up, I can now more clearly see the bad habits I have and how I can
realistically change them (and myself) for the better.
This year I haven’t really put much thought in to it. Like I
mentioned before, I didn’t even know Lent started this week until yesterday.
But this morning, it hit me. Literally… not kidding. I was getting dressed for
work this morning, and when I pulled a sweater out, a Bath & Body Works
shopping bag filled with candles came falling down on top of my now bruised foot. I don’t even
think my first thought was “ow”.
I first remember thinking… “When did I get
these?!”
I spend money. A lot. Especially now that I have a constant pay check
(not a very big one, I should add). I like to shop. I look at my closet and
think “I have absolutely nothing to wear”. Honestly, I look at anything and
think “I need more”. It’s kind of a gross mentality. It’s one thing to spend
money on the things you actually need, but it’s another to probably spend twice
on the things that you only want. I’ve been reading blogs and watching videos
of people taking the challenge to better their spending habits, and I’ve
decided that I can do it too!... hopefully.
So for the next 40 days, I’m making the promise to not spend
unnecessarily.
I’m hoping this will not only help with my spending habits,
but also give me a clearer vision of what is a need and what is excess. I hope
this also teaches me to better understand the value of the well-earned dollar. I
want to not only keep track of my process through my blog, but I want to keep a
log of what I do spend my money on throughout the 40 days and see what I spend
on things I consider in my life to be a necessity. I’m hoping this experience
will help me budget better while also clearing my mind of clutter, meaning making my decision-making process easier since
I’m limiting myself in terms of funds.
So no more random trips to Target where I go in for one thing
and come out spending my entire paycheck (and probably forgetting to purchase
the one thing I actually needed), no more eating out, no activities that cost extra.
Here are the only exceptions I’m making the next 40 days:
1.
Emergencies - Obviously emergencies happen. I'm living in this thing called life and it likes to get in the
way sometimes. This is obviously a necessity that needs to be taken into
consideration.
2.
Gift cards – At first, I wasn’t going to even give myself this little pleasure
of spending… until I realized that some of the ones I have are about to expire. Any
other times in life, gifts are accepted. I understand that this goes under not necessary
to live. But I’m looking at it as this was something that someone else gifted
to me. It’s not my dollar being “technically” spent. I know I’m pushing the
limit, but I would feel guiltier if I let the gift go to no use.
Thank you to the blogs and videos that inspired me to do
this. I will link a few below. And also thank you to the people that I know will support me as I try to
better control my spending (...and hold me to my promise).
I’ve said it before that I don’t believe God put me on this
Earth to just pay for stuff and parish. I’m ready to look at life a little
differently and I think this is step one in achieving a new mentality for 2016,
one that will hopefully stay with me for the rest of my life. I want this to be my Year of You project. This process will have many
steps, this only being the first. But I believe it is a great stepping stone to
the life that I want to live. I will update you on my Year of You, what it means and how I plan to achieve it, along with my 40 days of frugal spending.
Until next time,
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