Know that you will get itchy fingers to shop and that’s okay. On those days, avoid Target and other Target-like temptations (see bowls from Anthropologie above — I hear your siren call and I resist. Resist!) at all cost. Cath and I are going to start a series called “Instead of shopping” to give you ideas of what to do when your phalanges get the urge to creep toward your wallet.
21 February 2016
Tip #1 for living with less
when I feel the seemingly irresistible urge to spend I sometimes transfer the amount of money I would have spent to my savings account to remind myself of my long term goals (travel, my next move, next music festival).
Shen, this is a genius, genius idea and I’m going to work on adopting it. Remembering your bigger goals is sure to keep me from buying unnecessary smaller things that I think are in fact necessary!
xoxo,
Lar
I go ahead and buy so I can get rid of that itchy feeling. Then I usually end up returning it all. My life is a never ending cycle of buying and returning 🙂 Of course, those times I get stuck with something I didn’t really want, I question my life choices.
I do this online kinda! I put a bunch of things in a shopping cart and then when I go to check out I realize the itchiness has subsided. But I am so impressed you actually return stuff in person! I am too lazy and end up keeping the stuff I don’t want — hence the “online window shopping.”
Questioning life choices is a good thing — gives your skin a glow like an exfoliator ;D
xoxo,
Lar
Ooh great idea! I’m looking forward to seeing your tips.
My ways of fighting itchy shopping fingers right now:
-Since KonMari-ing, I’ve been writing down everything I buy that’s not a necessity or a consumable. For example, a shirt or a scented candle will count but not a pack of pantiliners from the drugstore. Seeing a list of everything I’ve bought in a month makes me realize how much I’m spending on random trifles and discourages me from buying more stuff.
-I work out. I’m already paying for a Bar Method unlimited monthly membership anyway, so I’ll just sign up for more classes to keep myself busy, tired, and high on endorphins.
-If I must spend money, I’ll spend it on an experience, like a movie or an amazing meal at a new-to-us restaurant, or taking a weekend trip somewhere.
I love, love, love these tips, Lisa! I’m going to start making a list too. Because you’re right, it’s so easy to forget that amount that we buy.
I’ve hopped on the exercising band wagon too! I’m not quite as committed as you’ve been with the Barre Method (so inspiring btw!), but I will be now that I can use it as another way to not buy stuff!
And, yes, Cath and I have both talked about saving for experiences — memories last so much longer than stuff (even with my sieve of a brain ;D).
xoxox,
Lar
I have always been terrible for buying needless crap, so this is definitely something I need to keep a handle on. Lately I’ve gotten a bit better, and what has worked for me is the make clear saving goals, with actal prices next to them (my savings account online banking allows for this), which has made saving a lot more real in my mind and has made it therefore easier to say no to needless spending.
I also find that since KonMari-ing my house, everything has it’s own place, making it easier for me to know what I have and not to double buy.
Yes! I found the same thing too with the KonMari method — once everything has a place you are less likely to add things because you are more thoughtful of where it might live. This really helped too when I was living in a smaller flat in Scotland. Our apartment here in Seattle is spacious in comparison and I do find it hard to not feed into my “horror vacui” (fear of empty spaces).
xoxo,
Lar
Those bowls are difficult to resist! I love the idea for this series and can’t wait to check out more of your tips 🙂
Thanks, Mia! I know, aren’t those bowls lovely?! But I did resist and hopefully our tips will help you too!
xoxo,
Lar