My low-spend year
One of my goals for 2020 is to improve my relationship with money. We’re friendly, and we enjoy spending time together, but things could be better. So, I decided that my goal for this year is to spend less money on stuff. And, like a vegan (sorry), I think it’ll be all I talk about when I meet folks (hi). So, let me tell you my tale now, and you can follow my year to see how I do to stay on track and reach my goals.
Why am I doing a low-spend year?
It isn’t for deprivation, and it isn’t because I’m a minimalist. Anyone who saw my closet or bookshelves would know I’m a big fan of books and stuff. But I realized two things about three days ago.
“Second, the budgeting app that I use told me how much I spent on shopping in December 2019. Yikes.
I’m pretty aware of where my money goes, and had saved money to buy gifts, and I keep an eye on my budget, but this was unprecedented.”
First, by acquiring more things, I am not taking time to enjoy the beautiful things I am so fortunate to already own. My to-be-read stack is three stacks high — and I keep buying more books. I’ll never catch up, and so I’ll never read all the things I want to read. Or wear all the clothes I already have. Did you know that most of us wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time? And I Marie Knodo’d the heck out of my closet in January 2019.
Second, the budgeting app that I use told me how much I spent on shopping in December 2019. Yikes. I’m pretty aware of where my money goes, and had saved money to buy gifts, and I keep an eye on my budget, but this was unprecedented. Now, yes: it was a gift-giving month and I am grateful to be able to give nice things to friends, family, and myself. But the fact that it was three times normal spending on shopping revealed that this retail therapy was costing me more than actual therapy would.
Shopping (even though it’s 80% online) also takes up a chunk of my time and energy that could be better used elsewhere.
It’s also very clear to me that shopping is something I use as a salve when I am anxious or sad or overwhelmed. I use it to cheer myself up or soothe my stress or fill my time when I’m bored. Sound familiar? When I stopped sleeping this fall, Amazon was something to scroll through instead of Instagram.
Time for a change of my habits.
So, my whys are spending less, acquiring less stuff, enjoying what I have more, and hitting some savings and debt-reduction goals I have for myself.
Low-spend vs. No-spend
Many bloggers and YouTubers before me have done no-spend years. A quick search will yield you hundreds of videos to watch (like I did) for inspiration. I’m particularly a fan of Hannah Louise Poston, Use Less, Lara Joanna Jarvis, and The Personal Philosophy Project. Worth the watch! Some are more stringent than others in what they can or cannot buy. But you gotta do you.
For me, an absolute ban doesn’t make sense. For you, it might be perfect, but I have to go with what makes sense for me — and again, this isn’t about deprivation. It’s about resetting my relationship with shopping for certain things and saving that money for other reasons. And that means making some rules.
The rules
Here’s where we get into the nitty-gritty. If you choose to do a no-spend year or low-spend year, your rules might be different than mine. Like any habit you’re trying to change, you need to find the way to do it for yourself that you’ll stick with.
Gift cards
I hardly ever get gift cards as a present anymore. But, if I do get one, I can spend it so long as it isn’t on something on the forbidden list. If there are no safe spending options, I’ll either use that gift card to buy a gift for someone or sock it away for the future.
Essentials don’t count
Anything that I use in my daily routine is an essential. So, I will replenish those makeup, hair, and skin care products. Medications are required — cold and flu season is here! I drink tea and use dish detergent. I’ll need TP. That’s essential. My routine is incredibly predictable, so I rarely stray outside the lines to use something new thanks to my allergies and extreme brand loyalty. Some of that comes through subscribe and save. That won’t change. I’ll replace something if it breaks or stops working. If I need something for my car or something medical, that’s obviously an essential.
Food is fine
Food is an essential. I have enough trouble feeding myself as it is. It’s not in my best interest to make this more difficult. I will still go to Starbucks and eat lunch out. Those are experiences, not stuff. Besides, these can also be experiences I can share with friends and family.
“I will still go to Starbucks and eat lunch out. Those are experiences, not stuff.”
More positive experiences rather than more stuff
Education and experiences are also essential, so I can sign up for classes and seminars. And hobbies are ok so long as it doesn’t become a sub for other kinds of shopping. That means I might buy yarn to make a scarf but one skein at a time but not a bag-full to hang onto until forever. And movies are fine as are streaming apps.
Work stuff is off the table
Oh, and work stuff is ok too. If I need to learn something new to do my job better or replace my completely-full notebook, that’s essential.
What I Won’t Buy
• NO Clothes
• NO Accessories
• NO Crap on Amazon
• NO Books and cookbooks
• NO Home goods and decor
• NO New makeup unless something I use is discontinued — otherwise it’s just replenish if something runs out
• NO New hair goo(s)
• NO Wrapping paper and gift boxes — gifts are ok
Did I panic shop before my low-spend?
Sort of? I like to get a head-start on things since there’s nothing magical about January 1, so I started on December 28. But I did buy new keds since mine are tea-stained and a new scarf or two for winter.
It’s called weaning, folks.
Low-spend+
If it’s possible to fix something rather than replace it, that’s preferable. Recently, I had a pair of boots re-soled rather than but new ones. Best $30 I ever spent.
I’m going to try to shop locally more for the things that I will buy. For instance, go to Sephora at the mall for the foundation that doesn’t give me a rash rather than play around endlessly on the app looking at new shampoos or curl creams. I’ve already deleted a few shopping apps from my phone, and I am trying to unsubscribe from all those promotional emails. So, Many. Emails. Baby steps, then take the leap!
Wish me luck, Gentle Reader. And please let me know in the comments if you’re doing a low/no-spend year in 2020.
