What I’m allowed to shop for:
- Groceries and essential kitchen supplies
- Gas for Car
- Replacing essential cosmetics when they run out
- Basic toiletries
- Cleaning products
- Pet essentials
- Gifts for others
- Necessary art supplies
- Necessary business supplies
- Restaurants (2 times a month at most)
- 1 Audiobook a month (Audible. No more than the 1 credit)
- Comic Books on your pull list only
What I’m NOT allowed to shop for:
- Non-essential cosmetics (No lipsticks or eyeshadows, LUSH)
- Clothes you don’t need
- Shoes (Pretty shoes, flats, etc)
- Books, magazines, notebooks (Gotta get a library card now)
- Toys, Funko pops, mystery boxes (Overwatch boxes are no-no)
- Video Games
- Household items (candles, decor, furniture, etc.)
- Electronics and appliances
Approved Shopping List
- 2 pair of work slacks (I’m down to one pair)
- 1 pair of work shoes (All of mine are breeeeeaking)
- A compost bin (On my Goals List)
- Hair done once (So my hair doesn’t fall out)
- Oil Change/Car Related Maintenance
- Passport (Also on Goals List)
- Movies/Concerts/Events (I’m not missing Infinity Wars, guys)
- 1 Purse (My tiny purse is breaking)
- My friends’ products they create and sell (#Supportlocal)
- I can replace things that break, but have to get rid of them.
- 1 Souvenir if you travel
It's been a bit over a month of starting my shopping ban so I thought I would update you all on how it's going!
.........not great.
When I first started, I was so pumped. I unsubscribed from all my shopping emails, hid pages for stores, and made sure I stuck to strict lists. I got a library card, started tossing items and figured out what I really needed versus what I wanted.
And then I got busy and then my mind decided that if it couldn't shop for goodies, there were loopholes.
Let's go over each section.
First, what I'm allowed to shop for.
I'm discovering that my mind very much likes to find loopholes in this process.
Groceries? BUY EVERYTHING.
Art supplies? You need that color marker because your watercolors are shit. Buy them.
Business supplies? Guess what? It's the month of a convention so you DEFINITELY NEED ALL NEW DISPLAY STUFF.
Gifts for others? Buy everyone all the stuff.
So now I'm trying to curb that. We have to use all the food in the house before going on a big grocery haul. Unless I NEED new art supplies, no more buying them. And now that the convention is over, I only restock what I'm completely out of. I bought new mailers for shipping and will list only the inventory that I currently have.
It's easy for me to slip into a BUY EVERYTHING mindset after a con. I have extra money and we aren't hurting with bills so obviously that means I should just get what I want? This time, I put everything into savings. I paid off bills and calculated what expenses I can pay ahead of time instead of waiting on my next check. I'm trying, guys!
I stuck to the 2 restaurants a month, but it wasn't easy considering we had both Valentine's dinner and our post-con tradition of getting Chinese buffet. I got a library card so I don't buy books and have been conservative with our pets stuff (though we did get the dogs a new toy and treats for suffering through a week of kenneling and con-prepping).
The list is gonna need to be tightened up a bit to close the loopholes so here's the new one.
What I’m allowed to shop for:
- Only groceries on your list and essential kitchen supplies
- Gas for Car
- Replacing essential cosmetics when they run out
- Basic toiletries
- 1 Starbucks coffee a month
- Cleaning products
- Pet Food and Litter
- Gifts for others (only 1 each, under $50)
- Replace 1 art supply item a month as it breaks
- Necessary Business supplies as needed
- Restaurants (2 times a month at most)
- 1 Audiobook a month (Audible. No more than the 1 credit)
- Comic Books on your pull list only
Now, what I'm not allowed to shop for.
I bought new foundation/concealer because I was out so I think that's allowed. It's the only makeup thing I've bought in forever and tends to last me a long time because I don't wear it often.
Not gonna lie. I flubbed. Guess who bought a Black Panther shirt because in the words of Killmonger "I'm just feeling it." I wore it for the con because I was too tired to cosplay but it's still an unneccessary purchase considering I tossed out 75% of my wardrobe and mostly graphic shirts.
I also got a new blazer and dress shirt for Rony's James Bond award ceremony but I did need a new blazer and I own no dressy button ups so mayyyyybe it's allowed??? Okay, I'm joking myself. I'm probably never gonna wear the button up again because it has giant pirate poofy sleeves so it's going into the garage sale. The only upside is technically Rony bought it but it's still mine so I'm knocking myself for it.
Adding onto the flubs, I may have Pre-Ordered the new Court of Thorns and Roses book but COME ON! That needs a pass (plus I get a pretty new enamel pin with it) because it's my favorite book and TECHNICALLY I haven't paid for it yet because it's an Amazon Pre-Order. But still.
I haven't gotten any new decorations, video games, or appliances even after two different Dollar Section change outs at Target! Target is my weakness! It was haaaaaaaaaard.
So yeah, we're editing this list too
What I’m NOT allowed to shop for:
- Junk food
- Candy
- Gas station snacks
- Non-essential cosmetics
- Clothes that aren't replacing something else
- Shoes (Pretty shoes, flats, etc)
- Books, magazines, notebooks (Gotta get a library card now)
- Toys, Funko pops, mystery boxes (Overwatch boxes are no-no)
- Video Games
- Household items (candles, decor, furniture, etc.)
- Electronics and appliances
Moving on, I did take some things off the Approved Shopping List. I cut down to only needing 1 new pair of work slacks and I'll wait on the new shoes until one of mine finally gives up. I also took off a new purse because I just started fixing and using my old one or a tote bag.
I got my hair done! It was so nice and pretty (but now it's fading awfully -_-)!
I only got a few things from my friends at the convention because I wanted to save my money.
All in all, this is how the new list looks:
Approved Shopping List
- 2 1 pair of work slacks
- 1 pair of work shoes
- A compost bin
- Hair done once
- Oil Change/Car Related Maintenance
- Passport
- Movies/Concerts/Events
- 1 Purse
- My friends’ products they create and sell (#Supportlocal)
- I can replace things that break, but have to get rid of them.
- 1 Souvenir if you travel
I knew this was going to be hard, but I'm learning a lot of ways my mind is a jerk and reasons to buy things. I have a shopping problem. It doesn't even have to be decorations, I just like to buy things whether it's gifts or food.
Now that the convention is over, I'm going to be working hard to stick to this and my goals. March is already here and I'm determined!
Have you done a shopping ban? What tips would you suggest?
-Sam <3