January Mid-Month Check In
The no buy year is off to a great start! I have certainly already had temptations but I have been holding strong and not spending any unplanned money. This is my birthday month and I made some advance plans on money that I would spend, knowing that I was going to spend money so it was better to do it mindfully! As a reminder, you can structure your no buy or low buy year in a way that works for you – mine is sticking to a pre-planned budget and not buying things I don’t need (most notably clothes, shoes, makeup/skincare, and home goods!)
I planned a spa day as a birthday gift to myself, but I decided that I really did not want to go out to a spa. I have been in a very “nesting” mood this winter and I have been trying to honor that. I decided that instead, I would buy some spa type items from Ulta. I spent just under $50 on Hello Kitty face mask and bath bomb, some foot and hand masks, and a nail polish. This cost significantly less than getting a facial and massage at a spa which would have likely been around $400-$500 with tips. I also bought myself some fancy KitKat flavors from World Market and a Tokidoki mystery box. Everything from Ulta and World Market was less than $100 and while that was definitely a savings from my original plan I did feel guilty about spending money, like I was doing something wrong. I had to remind myself that other than the small Tokidoki figure, everything I purchased is something that I will be using either on my birthday or otherwise be consuming. I know that I am prone to all or nothing thinking and I don’t want to go off the rails one way or the other!
Temptation and resistance
My first big temptation came while scrolling Instagram. I follow a local consignment shop and someone had brought in 4 Farm Rio dresses in my size. They were all in great condition and priced at under $100. Farm Rio is one of my favorite brands and I typically buy them second hand because new dresses run $300-$500+. They are a company with ethical business practices, use more earth-friendly fabrics, as well as offering carbon neutral shipping, but let’s be real most of us can’t afford those prices for everyday clothes.
Seeing the photos on Instagram, I felt a pang of desire. I really liked one dress in particular and even though I do not need the dress, have no place to wear it, and it is probably too low-cut, I wanted to go to the shop and try it on before someone else snagged it. However, I stayed strong and did not go! I was proud of myself for doing that! It also meant that I was able to donate the $100 I would have spent on that dress to a podcaster that I have listened to for years who lost his home in the Eaton fire in Los Angeles, CA.
It Really Put Things Into Perspective
He and his family were able to get out with their pets but they lost everything else in the fire. I thought about all of the things that I own and how quickly they could all be gone. He posted a photo of himself wearing a t-shirt from his high school improv team that his mom still had. Remembering how little things actually matter made it a lot easier to resist spending. I know I have made the excuse countless times in the past that thrifting and consignment shopping are guilt free, but they aren’t. It’s still money that I am spending and things that I don’t truly need that I am bringing into my home. People matter, pets matter, but dresses don’t really matter. I was glad to be able to donate to his Go Fund Me (which has raised over $100k so far!) to help his family get things they actually need.
Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is
If you have read my Why I Am Doing a No Buy Year post, you know that one of the things that I am saving for is travel. I have spent money booking lodging for my friend trip to Dollywood and also for visiting my family that live 2 hours away from Gatlinburg. I am already feeling really thankful for my mindset shift, so that it was very easy to do that without worrying about where it was coming from. I know life is going to throw some curveballs, 2024 taught me that, but I am really ready to be flexible when something unplanned or unexpected happens.
I will be doing a monthly round-up each month but I wanted to go ahead and share this small victory!
About Me
I was late diagnosed with ADHD in 2024, which made my life-long struggle with impulsive shopping and cluttered home make a lot more sense! While I want to reduce what I own so that I can appreciate what I have more and invest in items that will last, I am closer to a maximalist than a minimalist. You will not find photos of white kitchens with items perfectly re-packaged in glass containers here. Unless they’re stock photos!
When I am not working on decluttering or blogging about something, my real job is being a mental health therapist focusing on neurodivergence and trauma. I have too many projects (thanks, ADHD) and my 2025 project is repainting vintage Christmas/Snow village pieces to create the town of Stars Hollow, CT from the Gilmore Girls. Follow the Stars Hollow Snow Village Instagram to keep up with that! I also love traveling, hiking and spending time outdoors, and animals including my 3 very spoiled dogs.