Lessons from a 30-Day Shopping Ban
Ok, so the first thing you need to know is this: I failed. Like pretty miserably.
When I set out to give up shopping for the month of January, I wasn’t shooting for the moon here. Our family budget was staying the same. We were still going to spend the same amount on groceries each week. If something in the house broke, I had every intention of replacing it. What I’m saying is, I wasn’t asking anything drastic of myself.
And yet, I couldn’t stick to it. On the upside, I DID make some needed changes and have shifted my spending habits for the better. If you’ve ever felt discontent with your spending, here’s how I did it.
Looking for a Reset
I simply needed a spending reset.
And our finances were not in a bad place. We have a monthly budget and stick to it for the most part. We save for all the things. And yet, I was noticing this creeping discontent lurking in each area of my life.
I was constantly thinking about spending. When considering a purchase, I couldn’t not think about it. I would obsess about whether or not to take advantage of a sale. Should I throw the dice and try to predict what sizes the kids will be next year?
After I made an online order, I immediately felt regret, even if it was something that our family needed. I hated the self-doubt and anxiety that seemed to accompany every spending decision.
And so, a shopping break felt like the right path for me. On the outside, it was easy for me to convince myself that I didn’t need to make a change. We’re following our budget. We’re not using credit. See, no problem. But something just felt off. I hated devoting so much time and energy to consumerism in all its stages. I felt powerless to taking advantage of a sale.
Whether you need to make a change with your finances or simply want to cultivate more contentment in your life, you may be considering your own shopping ban experiment. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
How I Set It Up
It helps to go in with crystal clear expectations. I did not want to waste any more precious energy deciding on purchases. The answer would be no all month, and then I could move on with my life.
After writing out our budget for the month, I sat down and wrote down my business budget. This is where I usually got into trouble because every time I took on an extra freelance assignment, it felt like play money.
Having the 30-day limit made it easier. When I told myself that I wasn’t going to buy something, it didn’t mean I never could. Waiting 30 days felt like no big deal, and most of the items that I was considering in January are things I’ve already forgotten about.
What I Cut Out
My main goal was to cut out any unplanned purchases. With Amazon Prime and same-day Target pickup, I had fallen into the habit of using my shopping cart like a grocery list. As soon as I thought of something we needed or could use, I added it to my cart and opened the package 2 days later. I had taken all conscious thought out of the process.
The things I cut out for 30 days were impromptu purchases, takeout coffee, random Amazon finds, Target dollar aisle goodies, and literally anything I saw on Instagram (more on that later but I found a direct correlation between time on social media and increased spending.)
To keep track of any items that I thought I really did want to buy after the shopping ban, I kept a wishlist note on my phone. This way, my brain could relax because I knew I wouldn’t forget.
Why Try a Shopping Ban
There are so many benefits of a shopping ban, and if you’re curious, I really don’t see any downsides. My only caution would be to watch the energy you bring to it. Walking into the month with a sense of possibility instead of shame is important.
Attempting a change with only a vague sense of “I should do this” probably won’t sustain you. A shopping ban isn’t a punishment. It’s truly life-giving if you want it to be.
Most of us have enough shame around our finances, so you don’t need to pile it on. My shopping ban was an act of kindness toward myself. It freed up so much brain space and brought me a deep sense of peace.
A shopping ban may be for you if you feel anxiety around your budget, feel out of control with your spending, or have savings goals that always seem out of reach.
What I Found
My month-long experiment helped me at the moment but the real benefits came later. Taking the time to sit down and reflect on how much this impacted me was where I realized how important it had been. Everyone will have a different experience, but here are the benefits that I noticed:
More creativity: When you can’t buy things like a single ingredient that you forgot at the grocery store or a new book that caught your eye, then you’re forced to just figure it out with what you have.
Less anxiety: As I mentioned, the main reason why I wanted to try this shopping ban was because of how much brain space I had been devoting to consumerism. I hated always thinking and worrying about my spending. When the decision to spend was taken off the table, all of the worry and anxiety went away too.
More clarity: It’s amazing how many items that I put on my wish list no longer interest me at all. Implementing a built-in 30-day waiting period helped me understand what purchases really impact me and which ones seem important in the moment but quickly lose their usefulness. It also helped me see how often I switch from Instagram over to Amazon without pausing to ask if I actually need the new headband that my favorite blogger recommended.
Less wanting: After a while, when your brain knows that you’re not going to be taking advantage of the J.Crew sale, it stops thinking about it so much. The best outcome for me was a renewed sense of contentment with what we had.
Would I Do It Again?
YES, but not right away. After 30 days of a dedicated effort to not spend, I feel like I’ve hit control, alt, delete on my spending habits, and I’m in a much better place.
Note: I did not succeed in my goal. I DID have a few purchases throughout January.
I think it was good for me to choose to do something uncomfortable and not give up even when I tripped.
