YAY EVERYONE IN GENERAL, I am so proud of how well everyone seems to be doing!!! My low buy is also going well, though I did already eat out once in the new year... only 9 more times to go this month and I'm not even back at work yet where the big eating out temptation is, but oh well. Other than that, I have only spent money on some groceries and on a train ticket that I needed. Quote:
Originally Posted by
fleurissante /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Hello, I'm joining in too. I decided to go on a 100 day no-buy, so no shopping for me until 10th April.
My main reason for no-buy is the fact that in the last couple of months I bought over 100 nail polishes and didn't even had a chance to wear half of them. I would like to have some time to enjoy the products I have, not just hoard it.
I made my last purchase on 31st December and didn't buy anything since...
Welcome and good luck! I haven't purchased any polish since Black Friday, and actually it is going much better than I thought. Having nails secret Santa helped A LOT but I've also been able to use some of the colors and strips I haven't tried/sed and it's been nice- even fun! I am slowly coming to the realization that maybe I really don't need any more polish for real... other than a thermal. Eventually, I would still love to try a thermal. However, that day isn't today for me
Quote: Originally Posted by
meaganola /img/forum/go_quote.gif
This! What I try to do when I try to do something for an extended period of time and fail almost immediately: Figure out how long I lasted the first time, double it, and make that the amount of time I need to make it this time. So you made it a day and a half the first time. Now you just need to make it three days on your plan. Then, hey, you're on a roll, so you might as well double that and go for six days next. And, hey, that's almost a week, so let's just round it up to a solid seven days. And, wow, made it through one week! Let's see if we can double that. No one can go from no exercise whatsoever to running a marathon without training, after all, and we're trying to build up our marathon-level spending resistance muscles. It takes time.
And a stringent low/no-buy is almost destined to fail if you just jump right into it in part because you haven't built up those spending resistance muscles -- but also in part because when you inevitably have a setback like this, you will just slump in defeat and give up on your plan...
This is great advice in general, and the last paragraph is generally true, in many areas of life not just spending. Just take it one day at a time.
One thing that sometimes helps is to take some time to think over a purchase if you can. Ideally this thinking would last a few hours at least, but if at a store, sometimes I find even a few minutes can be helpful. Literally exit the store, and just spend 5-10 minutes walking around the block/parking lot or in another store that does not interest you at all. No need to kill yourself meditating over the purchase during that time either- simply ask yourself at the end of the 5-10 minutes if you are sure you really want/need it. Again, while you'd get 'better' results waiting hours or even days, sometimes even a few minutes can give perspective/the willpower to get out of there. If online, back away from the computer or website and come back to it if you still feel you want the product later.
Quote: Originally Posted by
usofjessamerica /img/forum/go_quote.gif
i've made it two days without buying anything! thats a start...right??
YES! Nice job!
/emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> I am beating myself up for this because last July I was able to complete a no-buy for that month with absolutely no setbacks so this makes me feel like I'm never going to stop spending if I can't replicate that. Not sure why it was a breeze in July but so tough now. Perhaps I am really feeling the effects of little sunlight and the cold weather lol. But I'm definitely following your advice of doubling every timeframe I get through! 
