#responsiblespender

If anything the Superbowl commercials prove is that we are a brand crazed society and marketing specialists know that. I'd like to think I can cheat the system, or atleast be different; so I am challenging myself to a zero "new" purchase year. There are varieties of these challenges out there, like the spending cleanse or Buy Nothing Challenge, and lots of reasons why one ought to participate. Watch Minimalism (on Netflix) and you will learn how as a consumption culture we have evolved to value profit and products over people and why people take these silly challenges. 

Let's name a few good reasons:

1. Save money. Less purchases means less money coming out of your account and an automatic increase in savings. 

2. Live a simpler life. If you shift your focus away from buying material things you may have more time and energy for other hobbies or interests that don't require money. Like board games or writting letters or hanging out with persons you care about.

3. Be more joyful by letting go. Ask Marie Kondo about this. Again, Netflix. 

I'd like to take this a bit further and add an educational component. I'm not going to stop purchasing stuff, I am challenging myself to learn more about where my stuff comes from and who is involved in the processs. It's easy to be frugal but my intention is to be mindful about my finances with the same care and attention I give the other areas of my life. If I want to speak abundance into my life I need to examine my habits and empower myself to spend in a socially responsible way. Retail therapy is real and eating out adds up. I won't even tell you about my coffee consumption because that's too tender to talk about. You get the gist- we can emotionally spend the way we emotionally eat, and we can irresponsible spend the way we irresponsible joke about people. Especially in a culture that is constantly dictating to us who to be and how to be that. I'd like to live my way into reclaiming purchasing power with mindfulness: with moment-to-moment awareness of my impulses, drives and habits of spending. It will not only provide me personal growth and savings, it will allow me to learn more about my role as a consumer and how I can participate more effectively in the care for our natural environment. Minimalism is not for everyone, but mindfulness practices can be. Is there a way to balance saving money and spending it in ways without causing harm?

I am going to find out. I will keep a journal and report periodically about this journey. My goal is to save $2,000 this year for a family vacation, be creatively stylish, and decrease my carbon footprint. 

Here are my three rules: 

1. Buy, or trade, used items if possible. Make "intentional/mindful" purchases only.
2. Create simpler options, like gather friends at home for a potluck instead of eating out.
3. Fight the urge to spend with research. Spend some time each month devoted to reading about where my preferred stuff comes from.

#nerdalert

Below is the first purchase of 2019. This gently used organic cotton Fat Face dress and vintage boots originally would have cost $155 combined. I found them gently used for $47 at Crossroads. Love Crossroads! 

Cute outfit for date night or a Sunday picnic

If you're courageous, join me. Just buy into my idea and roll with it.

See what I just did there?