This is a follow-up to my Temptation post. I didn't intend this to be a series at the outset, but I've been enjoying talking about not shopping and also received good feedback on my first video, so here I am sharing five more things I wanted but didn't buy.
1) Beautyblender set
This was a Black Friday deal that I stumbled across, and I wanted this set for the value aspect. I think there was a pricing error, because I'm fairly certain the set was around $48 when I originally saw the deal; however, when I went back to take the screen shot, the price was higher at $55.98. It was still a great deal for four Beautyblenders (and four mini Beautyblender solid cleansers), but then I thought back to my existing stash of Beautyblenders, and I also envisioned myself counting my Beautyblenders at next year's makeup inventory. The thought of adding to my already ample stash made me feel uneasy, so I'm very happy I decided to forgo the deal.
2) Two sets to take advantage of a Sephora promotion ($25 off a $75 purchase)
When I look back at how I was feeling when I almost purchased these two sets, I realized I didn't really want these items in particular. What I wanted was to take advantage of the Sephora promotion. I scoured the Sephora website to find items that I wanted that would total as close to $75 as possible, and I settled on a Tatcha set for $30 and a Kopari set for $50. When I took a pause to consider these purchases, I realized I didn't need or even want any of these items, so I closed the browser and went on with my day.
3) iPhone XR
If you've been following my journey, you'll know that I've had this phone on my radar since the Apple Keynote. I was fulling intending to buy this phone when I got back from the silent meditation course. But something happened when I was lost in my own thoughts for 10 days. I couldn't seem to justify buying a new phone, even though my current iPhone 6S Plus is a little busted. When I got home, I got another sign that I didn't need a new phone. Hubby had opted in to test a new phone and had received one for free, so he loaned me his Samsung phone for photos and videos. While part of me still wanted the iPhone XR, it felt right to use what I had, so I resisted the urge.
4) Waffle maker
"Do I really want to make it easier for myself to eat waffles?" Nuff said.
5) Flight to Portugal
This was the most recent temptation that crossed my path, and it was a difficult one to resist. Before I quit my full-time job, I would obsessively plan our vacations--sometimes I knew exactly where we would go over a year in advance. For example, since last summer, I've had Portugal on our shortlist of travel destinations for fall of 2019. This is a great way to score flight deals because you can wait for a seat sale; however, booking months in advance means you might change your mind on where you want to go when vacation time rolls around. Since quitting my job, I haven't experienced the travel bug for any significant length of time, and I wanted to spend my gap year being more flexible and spontaneous. I didn't want to lock us into a travel destination, so it took me by surprise when I was so tempted by this seat sale. Thankfully, hubby and I are still on the same page with not wanting to spend a whole bunch of money on a trip right now, so we decided to let this deal expire.
TOTAL $ NOT SPENT
It might be interesting to tally up how much money I saved by not buying these items. Let's just see, shall we?
1) Beauty Blender set: $63.26
2) Sephora sets: $62.15
3) iPhone XR: $1,466.74
4) Waffle maker (assuming I'd buy only the less expensive one): $28.24
5) Flight to Portugal (round-trip flight for one person on the dates I was looking at): $540
Total amount saved: $2,160.39
Note: all items above are in Canadian dollars and include applicable taxes. I've been clumsy lately so I likely would have purchased AppleCare+ for my new iPhone.
Showing posts with label mindful shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mindful shopping. Show all posts
Friday, January 11, 2019
Monday, January 7, 2019
My 2019 No-Buy Year
In 2019, I'll be embarking on a no-buy year. I talked about this a little when I shared my 2019 goals, as well as in yesterday's post, which was the first in my new "What I Bought This Week" series. My intention for my no-buy year is two-fold: (1) I want to reduce my expenses since I will have no full-time income during my gap year; and (2) I want to reduce the number of items I bring into my home since I'm still trying to declutter. I don't think this no-buy year will be too difficult, as 2018 ended up being an accidental no-buy year in the categories of clothing and accessories, and I've also had zero urge to shop for quite some time.
For this no-buy, I want to be kind to myself and trust in my ability to make the "right" decisions for my life, so my rules aren't going to be onerous. I'm intending 2019 to be a year of self-discovery and healing, and I'd like to get back to following my gut and my intuition. In order to create an environment that supports my intentions, here are the rules I've set for my no-buy year:
1) I can buy replacements for staple items.
This is the overarching rule for my 2019 no-buy, which will encompass the categories of clothing, accessories, toiletries, makeup, and home goods--otherwise known as basically everything. The category that gave me the most trouble in 2018 was toiletries. I purchased a lot of skincare from The Ordinary because I wanted to try a variety of different products. The other categories didn't really tempt me in any significant way.
2) Staples are true staple items that have no substitutes.
True staple items are important to define, as I'm not intending to replace everything I use up or wear out. An example of a true staple item would be my rain boots, which I replaced in 2018. My Hunter boots, which I wore for years, had sprung multiple leaks. I tried to patch them up and even used duct tape for a little while as I racked my brain for a substitute, but my Crocs Kadees were only appropriate for mild weather and my winter boots were only appropriate for snow. Eventually, I decided I needed to buy a new pair, and I bought a pair by Aigle.
3) Replacement items can be purchased in bulk but only up to a six month supply.
In 2018, I had a tendency to stock up on toiletries. I already mentioned The Ordinary, but I also stocked up on products from The Body Shop. Since I track my usage of beauty products now, I have a good idea of how long it takes me to use up each item. Instead of allowing myself to buy up to a year of backups, I'm only going to allow up to a six month supply.
4) I will use my judgement when accepting free stuff or using gift cards.
Free can mean items purchased with points, provided for PR purposes, or given to me as gifts. I'm going to allow myself to use my judgement when accepting free stuff or using gift cards, because I want to use this as an opportunity to hone my decision making skills.
5) I can buy items that truly add value to my life.
This year is not going to be an exercise in deprivation. I still want to be able to buy items that truly add value to my life. I'm not intending to find loopholes or cheat at my no-buy, so when I say "add value," I mean it. I'm going to ask myself if an item truly supports the life I want to lead going forward. I can't imagine any clothing, accessories, or makeup items falling into this bucket.
6) I will be fully transparent and document all the items I buy or bring into my home.
To support my 2019 no-buy, I'm going to be documenting all my purchases or items I bring into my home via a weekly post on this blog and a monthly recap video on my YouTube channel. This is my way of keeping myself on track and holding myself accountable.
I'm very excited for this intentional no-buy year! If you're participating in a no-buy or a low-buy this year, please let me know. I would love to hear about your journey!
For this no-buy, I want to be kind to myself and trust in my ability to make the "right" decisions for my life, so my rules aren't going to be onerous. I'm intending 2019 to be a year of self-discovery and healing, and I'd like to get back to following my gut and my intuition. In order to create an environment that supports my intentions, here are the rules I've set for my no-buy year:
1) I can buy replacements for staple items.
This is the overarching rule for my 2019 no-buy, which will encompass the categories of clothing, accessories, toiletries, makeup, and home goods--otherwise known as basically everything. The category that gave me the most trouble in 2018 was toiletries. I purchased a lot of skincare from The Ordinary because I wanted to try a variety of different products. The other categories didn't really tempt me in any significant way.
2) Staples are true staple items that have no substitutes.
True staple items are important to define, as I'm not intending to replace everything I use up or wear out. An example of a true staple item would be my rain boots, which I replaced in 2018. My Hunter boots, which I wore for years, had sprung multiple leaks. I tried to patch them up and even used duct tape for a little while as I racked my brain for a substitute, but my Crocs Kadees were only appropriate for mild weather and my winter boots were only appropriate for snow. Eventually, I decided I needed to buy a new pair, and I bought a pair by Aigle.
3) Replacement items can be purchased in bulk but only up to a six month supply.
In 2018, I had a tendency to stock up on toiletries. I already mentioned The Ordinary, but I also stocked up on products from The Body Shop. Since I track my usage of beauty products now, I have a good idea of how long it takes me to use up each item. Instead of allowing myself to buy up to a year of backups, I'm only going to allow up to a six month supply.
4) I will use my judgement when accepting free stuff or using gift cards.
Free can mean items purchased with points, provided for PR purposes, or given to me as gifts. I'm going to allow myself to use my judgement when accepting free stuff or using gift cards, because I want to use this as an opportunity to hone my decision making skills.
5) I can buy items that truly add value to my life.
This year is not going to be an exercise in deprivation. I still want to be able to buy items that truly add value to my life. I'm not intending to find loopholes or cheat at my no-buy, so when I say "add value," I mean it. I'm going to ask myself if an item truly supports the life I want to lead going forward. I can't imagine any clothing, accessories, or makeup items falling into this bucket.
6) I will be fully transparent and document all the items I buy or bring into my home.
To support my 2019 no-buy, I'm going to be documenting all my purchases or items I bring into my home via a weekly post on this blog and a monthly recap video on my YouTube channel. This is my way of keeping myself on track and holding myself accountable.
I'm very excited for this intentional no-buy year! If you're participating in a no-buy or a low-buy this year, please let me know. I would love to hear about your journey!
Friday, November 30, 2018
How to Disrupt the Holiday Gift Giving Cycle
Over the past few years, I've been trying to live a more simple life with fewer possessions. For the most part, this has worked really well. I've decluttered a lot and stopped the flow of products coming into my home. I've implemented a lot of pattern interrupts, and I've been feeling good about the changes. With the holiday season upon us, I've been thinking a lot about the gift giving cycle. What we give, how gifts make us feel, and why gifts seem so integral at this time of year. I've started making little adjustments in the gift giving cycles that I'm personally involved with, so I wanted to make this video in case any of you feel similarly. I haven't moved completely away from giving gifts, but I try to adopt a more minimalist mindset when it comes to selecting gifts. I've also tried to replace some gift giving with cards and/or celebrations instead. The result has been more quality time with loved ones and less pressure/stress associated with shopping.
If you're like me and you want to somehow disrupt a gift giving cycle that you're currently a part of, I've included four strategies that you can utilize today to start nudging behaviour in a new direction.
Strategy 1: start having conversations about gift giving
This is about being honest with yourself and your loved ones. Since I started decluttering, I stopped wanting stuff. I don't put as much value on gifts as I used to, so I really don't want my loved ones to spend a lot of time, effort, and money to pick out a gift for me, when what I really want is for us to spend time together. As a result, I've started having conversations with family members and friends to let them know that I prefer not to receive gifts.
If you're not in the same situation as me, but there's something about a current gift giving cycle that doesn't sit well with you, I recommend having a conversation as soon as possible in order to start opening up the dialogue.
Strategy 2: give and receive with a minimalist mindset
To me, minimalist gift giving has a couple of key characteristics:
- The gift shouldn't create clutter or burden for the recipient. Since I started decluttering, I've been liking giving and receiving perishables as gifts. Not just any perishables though--the perishables should be something that the recipient will use up rather quickly.
- Most minimalists are very intentional about the the products they bring into the household and they like to pick out their own stuff. I give a lot of gift cards and cash for this reason. These gifts have a bit of a reputation for being impersonal, but they allow for flexibility and choice--which are key attributes that all recipients appreciate.
Another approach could be to start giving gifts at times of the year that do not correspond to a holiday or occasion. I love giving small, unexpected, and zero-obligation gifts that are not tied to a holiday or occasion. It's thoughtful and does not create a burden on the recipient to reciprocate.
Strategy 3: exchange holiday cards instead of gifts
This strategy is pretty self explanatory, but it was a pretty big AHA moment when hubby and I implemented it this year for our 9th wedding anniversary. If you've followed my YouTube channel over the years, you will have seen that hubby and I tend to buy each other a lot of gifts for special occasions. It was really eye opening last year when we did the Love Languages quiz and found that "receiving gifts" ranked very low for both of us. We've tweaked our gift giving traditions over the years, but gifts were pretty much a constant. We've been following the traditional annual gifts for wedding anniversaries since the beginning (1st year was paper, 9th was willow). Instead of buying each other a willow gift this year, we made each other cards somehow incorporating the concept of willow. Hubby did so well with his card--it was hilarious! To me, this was much more gratifying than exchanging gifts.
Strategy 4: celebrate together without exchanging gifts
My friend and I have a tradition where we get together to during one of the busiest shopping days of the holiday season and buy each other gifts. One of us picks the theme for the year and then we have around 1-2 hours to shop, wrap the gift, write the card, and get back to the meeting spot. We then go for dinner and open the gifts. This is a really fun tradition, but I wanted to try something different. Since it was my turn to come up with the theme, I approached my friend and asked her how she would feel about trying something new. I proposed my idea and she agreed! Our holiday event this year won't involve gifts, but we will celebrating together over good food and good conversation. What could be better?
If you're like me and you want to somehow disrupt a gift giving cycle that you're currently a part of, I've included four strategies that you can utilize today to start nudging behaviour in a new direction.
Strategy 1: start having conversations about gift giving
This is about being honest with yourself and your loved ones. Since I started decluttering, I stopped wanting stuff. I don't put as much value on gifts as I used to, so I really don't want my loved ones to spend a lot of time, effort, and money to pick out a gift for me, when what I really want is for us to spend time together. As a result, I've started having conversations with family members and friends to let them know that I prefer not to receive gifts.
If you're not in the same situation as me, but there's something about a current gift giving cycle that doesn't sit well with you, I recommend having a conversation as soon as possible in order to start opening up the dialogue.
Strategy 2: give and receive with a minimalist mindset
To me, minimalist gift giving has a couple of key characteristics:
- The gift shouldn't create clutter or burden for the recipient. Since I started decluttering, I've been liking giving and receiving perishables as gifts. Not just any perishables though--the perishables should be something that the recipient will use up rather quickly.
- Most minimalists are very intentional about the the products they bring into the household and they like to pick out their own stuff. I give a lot of gift cards and cash for this reason. These gifts have a bit of a reputation for being impersonal, but they allow for flexibility and choice--which are key attributes that all recipients appreciate.
Another approach could be to start giving gifts at times of the year that do not correspond to a holiday or occasion. I love giving small, unexpected, and zero-obligation gifts that are not tied to a holiday or occasion. It's thoughtful and does not create a burden on the recipient to reciprocate.
Strategy 3: exchange holiday cards instead of gifts
This strategy is pretty self explanatory, but it was a pretty big AHA moment when hubby and I implemented it this year for our 9th wedding anniversary. If you've followed my YouTube channel over the years, you will have seen that hubby and I tend to buy each other a lot of gifts for special occasions. It was really eye opening last year when we did the Love Languages quiz and found that "receiving gifts" ranked very low for both of us. We've tweaked our gift giving traditions over the years, but gifts were pretty much a constant. We've been following the traditional annual gifts for wedding anniversaries since the beginning (1st year was paper, 9th was willow). Instead of buying each other a willow gift this year, we made each other cards somehow incorporating the concept of willow. Hubby did so well with his card--it was hilarious! To me, this was much more gratifying than exchanging gifts.
Strategy 4: celebrate together without exchanging gifts
My friend and I have a tradition where we get together to during one of the busiest shopping days of the holiday season and buy each other gifts. One of us picks the theme for the year and then we have around 1-2 hours to shop, wrap the gift, write the card, and get back to the meeting spot. We then go for dinner and open the gifts. This is a really fun tradition, but I wanted to try something different. Since it was my turn to come up with the theme, I approached my friend and asked her how she would feel about trying something new. I proposed my idea and she agreed! Our holiday event this year won't involve gifts, but we will celebrating together over good food and good conversation. What could be better?
Monday, November 26, 2018
The Fulfillment Curve
The fulfillment curve is a classic inverted-U curve as it relates to fulfillment and spending. This concept is covered in Your Money or Your Life, which I highly recommend if you are interested in financial independence. Essentially, the fulfillment curve operates like this:
Survival: Many of us start out at a low level of fulfillment and a low level of spending. This is when we start to become self-sufficient and make enough money to purchase basic necessities.
Comfort: As our income becomes to grow, we can afford a few more things that make our lives more comfortable. We derive more fulfillment as we spend more money.
Luxury: As we progress in our careers, we start accumulating wealth and perhaps have more disposable income. We can afford a few luxuries. It's important to note that "luxury" does not necessarily mean designer goods (although it can). For some people, "luxury" can be a fancy drink from Starbucks. The point is we have the means to spend a little more to treat ourselves.
Once we reach a certain point though, spending more money can actually result in decreased fulfillment. There can be a number of reasons for this. Maybe the pursuit of making more money to buy things is resulting in less family or leisure time. Perhaps having more things contributes to clutter and leads to feelings of guilt. Regardless of the reason, this part of the curve represents overconsumption.
The magical place is the point at which you derive maximum fulfillment for the amount of money spent. This point is simply called: ENOUGH.
I've been through the fulfillment curve many times for many different categories of things. I started with fashion and accumulated huge bins of clothing, shoes, and handbags. When I reached the overconsumption tail for fashion, I moved on to camera gear. Then to beauty products. And most recently, to a broad category that I'll call experiences that encompasses restaurants, alcohol, events, and travel. As I spent more and more and more, I realized, I'm not longer deriving much fulfillment. In fact, I feel less fulfilled the more I spend. I was at the tail end of the curve, way past my point of enough.
For the past few years, I've thought and thought and thought about my money and my life. And sometime in the spring of 2018, I woke up. I crunched the numbers and decided to quit my job. Enough was enough. In the 3 short months since I left work, I feel I've been able to shift my fulfillment curve to the left. I'm spending less than I've spent in a decade, yet I feel more fulfilled than ever.
I used to reward myself with things that money can buy. Now I reward myself with time to do activities I love. Instead of buying a new handbag, I curl up on the couch with a library book. Instead of going on an expensive trip abroad, I take a walk to meet a friend to check out a museum. Instead of making a reservation to the hottest new restaurant, I cook a nice dinner while listening to a podcast. Instead of working 8 hours a day at a job I don't love to buy things I don't need, I play with Truffle and Lulu. I take an Epsom salt bath. I listen to music. I record a YouTube video. I talk to my husband.
It's amazing to be at the point of enough.
***
If you're joining me on today's journalling or thoughtfulness prompt, I'd like to focus on:
Who are the people in your life you can't get enough of? What are the things you love about them?
I'll be journalling on this at some point today, so please feel free to join me. You can set aside a specific block of time to journal (it could be as little as 5 minutes), or you can add to your journal entry throughout the day each time you feel like buying something. If you don't like journalling, you can just think about the prompt instead of shopping.
***
In each video, I'll also ask:
What's the best thing that happened to you today?
My former colleague (and friend) shared this question with me as it's a daily practice she implemented in her life. I loved the concept, but I've been off and on about applying it in my daily life, so I thought we could practice together. My twist for this 5-part series is that my answer can't involve shopping.
The best thing that happened to me yesterday was spending many hours at home relaxing with hubby, Truffle, and Lulu. So simple, yet so best!
Sunday, November 25, 2018
The Joy of Missing Out
The Joy of Missing Out (JOMO) is a concept I discovered recently. I first heard about JOMO in a podcast, but I've since seen and heard the term in a variety of different contexts. I've been trying to practice JOMO more often in the past few months, and it has provided me with a happier and healthier outlook on life.
JOMO has benefited my life in so many ways--the main benefits as they relate to shopping are:
Benefit 1: Accumulate less clutter
Benefit 2: Save money
Benefit 3: Have more time to do the things you love that don't involve shopping
***
From yesterday's journalling prompt, I found I had a surprisingly long list of things I love to do that don't involve shopping! Today, I'd like to journal on the following:
What have you experienced the joy of missing out on recently? How did you feel and why did you feel JOMO?
I'll be journalling on this at some point today, so please feel free to join me. You can set aside a specific block of time to journal (it could be as little as 5 minutes), or you can add to your journal entry throughout the day each time you feel like buying something. If you don't like journalling, you can just think about the prompt instead of shopping.
***
In each video, I'll also ask:
What's the best thing that happened to you today?
My former colleague (and friend) shared this question with me as it's a daily practice she implemented in her life. I loved the concept, but I've been off and on about applying it in my daily life, so I thought we could practice together. My twist for this 5-part series is that my answer can't involve shopping.
The best thing that happened to me yesterday was having a cooking night with our friends! Not only did we have an amazing dinner and share so many laughs, our friends also have two sweet and affectionate cats, and I loved petting and cuddling them throughout the night.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
JOMO has benefited my life in so many ways--the main benefits as they relate to shopping are:
Benefit 1: Accumulate less clutter
Benefit 2: Save money
Benefit 3: Have more time to do the things you love that don't involve shopping
***
From yesterday's journalling prompt, I found I had a surprisingly long list of things I love to do that don't involve shopping! Today, I'd like to journal on the following:
What have you experienced the joy of missing out on recently? How did you feel and why did you feel JOMO?
I'll be journalling on this at some point today, so please feel free to join me. You can set aside a specific block of time to journal (it could be as little as 5 minutes), or you can add to your journal entry throughout the day each time you feel like buying something. If you don't like journalling, you can just think about the prompt instead of shopping.
***
In each video, I'll also ask:
What's the best thing that happened to you today?
My former colleague (and friend) shared this question with me as it's a daily practice she implemented in her life. I loved the concept, but I've been off and on about applying it in my daily life, so I thought we could practice together. My twist for this 5-part series is that my answer can't involve shopping.
The best thing that happened to me yesterday was having a cooking night with our friends! Not only did we have an amazing dinner and share so many laughs, our friends also have two sweet and affectionate cats, and I loved petting and cuddling them throughout the night.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Saturday, November 24, 2018
How to Shop Your Stash
When I started reining in my spending and decluttering, I heard the phrase "shop your stash" a lot. I kind of knew what this meant, but I had no idea how to go about it. Simply looking at my clothing and beauty products and pretending to shop just didn't do it for me. So I started experimenting with my collection and trying different things until I finally figured out how to "shop my stash" in a way that worked for me.
1) Get bored.
When I started shopping my stash, I didn't really get it, because I didn't allow myself enough time with each item (or set of items) before moving onto something else. I would look at my clothing and products over and over again, and everything looked like the same old, same old. It didn't feel like shopping at all, where things are shiny and new. Then I implemented the beauty basket and the capsule wardrobe. I can't remember exactly how long it took me to get bored, but I think I used the same beauty basket for 3-6 months and I'm sure I kept the same capsule wardrobe for 1-3 months. This was enough time for me, but you may need to experiment to find what works for you.
For my beauty basket, I would use the same set of products for 3-6 months. I found it took me around that amount of time to get bored of something like a blush or eye shadow pallet. When I eventually got bored, I would then "shop my stash. Lo and behold, I got the "shiny and new" feeling from products I already had in my collection! I felt zero need to buy something new.
For my capsule wardrobe, I started out doing product 333 but only for my work wardrobe. I took photos every morning and posted them on my Instagram account. I had to tweak this challenge a bit before I found something that worked for me. I found it a bit difficult to pick out pieces at the beginning of the season, so I switched to a fluid capsule wardrobe, where I would build the capsule throughout the season, adding items here and there until I reached the 33 pieces. I liked this better as it required less planning ahead, but I found that my capsule was not cohesive. Eventually, I decided to do a monthly capsule with a theme, and I loved this approach! I would basically pick a theme for the month; it could be related to colour or some other theme--for one capsule, I wore 5 dresses and 2 pairs of shoes for the entire month. It was fun, flexible, and cohesive. When the next month rolled around, I would be excited to change the theme and wear other clothes I already had in my collection. It really made my wardrobe new and exciting again.
In both instances, I had to get bored with what I was currently using or wearing, before "shopping my stash."
2) Create an abundance mindset.
Having an abundance mindset is key to shopping your stash. If you think you have nothing to wear (in terms of makeup or clothing), you're much more likely to go purchase something new. One easy way to create an abundance mindset is to take out all the makeup or clothing in your collection and do an inventory. It can be a visual inventory (your pile may be much more than you thought you had), or if you're like me, you may want to do a physical inventory (e.g., on Excel). I love Excel, data, counting, and analyzing, so I find tremendous pleasure in doing inventories. The inventories definitely helped me create an abundance mindset as they provided tangible evidence of what I currently have in my collection. By doing this inventory periodically (around once per year), you may also find items you had tucked away and forgotten about.
3) Stimulate your creativity.
This is probably the most "out-there" recommendation, and most people I know personally wouldn't go to these lengths, but I find that taking photos or videos of myself wearing my makeup (lipstick, nail polish, etc.) and clothing helps me to get creative with what I already own. To be clear, you do not have to post these photos or videos in any way--they can be reserved for your own personal use. After you review them, you can delete them! From personal experience, photos and videos are very different from looking in a mirror, and these forms of media really helped me gain a more objective perspective on how something looks on me. Once I saw myself in certain makeup or clothing items, it stimulated my creativity, and I was able to utilize what I had in new and different ways. Since this is the most abstract point, here are some examples of how it helped me:
- When I recorded my handbag collection video, I thought of combining an existing bag strap with the body of another handbag I have in my collection. I love the combination and wear it all the time now. This combination injected new life into these items, both of which I wasn't really reaching for previously.
- When posting daily photos of my work outfits, I played with different combinations, and I could easily see in my feed what I liked and what I didn't. I was surprised because I loved some combinations that I didn't think I would, and this breathed new life into my wardrobe. I began to experiment more.
- When I did the lipstick-a-day challenge, I got more comfortable with wearing bold lipsticks both to work and in my personal life. Previously, I had a lot of bold lipsticks in my collection but always felt too self conscious to wear them. The lipstick-a-day challenge changed that, as I saw through my videos how nicely they brightened up my complexion and added a pop of colour to my otherwise neutral look.
Experimenting with and seeing your products and clothing in a different light is key to finding the "newness" in something you already own.
***
Yesterday's journalling prompt really made me feel good! Since it's Saturday, and many of us don't have to work, I'd like to journal on the following:
What are your favourite hobbies (or things you love to do) that don't involve shopping? Please try to list at least 10 ways you truly love to spend your time!
I'll be journalling on this at some point today, so please feel free to join me. You can set aside a specific block of time to journal (it could be as little as 5 minutes), or you can add to your journal entry throughout the day each time you feel like buying something. If you don't like journalling, you can just think about the prompt instead of shopping.
***
In each video, I'll also ask:
What's the best thing that happened to you today?
My former colleague (and friend) shared this question with me as it's a daily practice she implemented in her life. I loved the concept, but I've been off and on about applying it in my daily life, so I thought we could practice together. My twist for this 5-part series is that my answer can't involve shopping.
The best thing that happened to me yesterday was going to an event with hubby and a couple of our friends. Last year, hubby and I watched a documentary called Living the Game, and I subsequently wanted to check out an esport event, but I eventually forgot about it. I'm so happy we finally got to see the action in person! I found it incredibly interesting watching gamers play Street Fighter with their custom consoles just like the gamers in the film. I love getting immersed in different cultures, and that includes the subcultures surrounding different hobbies! The event was free and included 3 drinks, a t-shirt, and an eSmartr sleeve, which I wore when writing this blog post to boost my mental capacity and creativity (I think it worked). There was lots of food, but I stuck to the eat-at-home challenge. Best of all, I got a chance to chat more with my hubby's colleague's girlfriend, who is absolutely lovely.
Have a wonderful weekend!
1) Get bored.
When I started shopping my stash, I didn't really get it, because I didn't allow myself enough time with each item (or set of items) before moving onto something else. I would look at my clothing and products over and over again, and everything looked like the same old, same old. It didn't feel like shopping at all, where things are shiny and new. Then I implemented the beauty basket and the capsule wardrobe. I can't remember exactly how long it took me to get bored, but I think I used the same beauty basket for 3-6 months and I'm sure I kept the same capsule wardrobe for 1-3 months. This was enough time for me, but you may need to experiment to find what works for you.
For my beauty basket, I would use the same set of products for 3-6 months. I found it took me around that amount of time to get bored of something like a blush or eye shadow pallet. When I eventually got bored, I would then "shop my stash. Lo and behold, I got the "shiny and new" feeling from products I already had in my collection! I felt zero need to buy something new.
For my capsule wardrobe, I started out doing product 333 but only for my work wardrobe. I took photos every morning and posted them on my Instagram account. I had to tweak this challenge a bit before I found something that worked for me. I found it a bit difficult to pick out pieces at the beginning of the season, so I switched to a fluid capsule wardrobe, where I would build the capsule throughout the season, adding items here and there until I reached the 33 pieces. I liked this better as it required less planning ahead, but I found that my capsule was not cohesive. Eventually, I decided to do a monthly capsule with a theme, and I loved this approach! I would basically pick a theme for the month; it could be related to colour or some other theme--for one capsule, I wore 5 dresses and 2 pairs of shoes for the entire month. It was fun, flexible, and cohesive. When the next month rolled around, I would be excited to change the theme and wear other clothes I already had in my collection. It really made my wardrobe new and exciting again.
In both instances, I had to get bored with what I was currently using or wearing, before "shopping my stash."
2) Create an abundance mindset.
Having an abundance mindset is key to shopping your stash. If you think you have nothing to wear (in terms of makeup or clothing), you're much more likely to go purchase something new. One easy way to create an abundance mindset is to take out all the makeup or clothing in your collection and do an inventory. It can be a visual inventory (your pile may be much more than you thought you had), or if you're like me, you may want to do a physical inventory (e.g., on Excel). I love Excel, data, counting, and analyzing, so I find tremendous pleasure in doing inventories. The inventories definitely helped me create an abundance mindset as they provided tangible evidence of what I currently have in my collection. By doing this inventory periodically (around once per year), you may also find items you had tucked away and forgotten about.
3) Stimulate your creativity.
This is probably the most "out-there" recommendation, and most people I know personally wouldn't go to these lengths, but I find that taking photos or videos of myself wearing my makeup (lipstick, nail polish, etc.) and clothing helps me to get creative with what I already own. To be clear, you do not have to post these photos or videos in any way--they can be reserved for your own personal use. After you review them, you can delete them! From personal experience, photos and videos are very different from looking in a mirror, and these forms of media really helped me gain a more objective perspective on how something looks on me. Once I saw myself in certain makeup or clothing items, it stimulated my creativity, and I was able to utilize what I had in new and different ways. Since this is the most abstract point, here are some examples of how it helped me:
- When I recorded my handbag collection video, I thought of combining an existing bag strap with the body of another handbag I have in my collection. I love the combination and wear it all the time now. This combination injected new life into these items, both of which I wasn't really reaching for previously.
- When posting daily photos of my work outfits, I played with different combinations, and I could easily see in my feed what I liked and what I didn't. I was surprised because I loved some combinations that I didn't think I would, and this breathed new life into my wardrobe. I began to experiment more.
- When I did the lipstick-a-day challenge, I got more comfortable with wearing bold lipsticks both to work and in my personal life. Previously, I had a lot of bold lipsticks in my collection but always felt too self conscious to wear them. The lipstick-a-day challenge changed that, as I saw through my videos how nicely they brightened up my complexion and added a pop of colour to my otherwise neutral look.
Experimenting with and seeing your products and clothing in a different light is key to finding the "newness" in something you already own.
***
Yesterday's journalling prompt really made me feel good! Since it's Saturday, and many of us don't have to work, I'd like to journal on the following:
What are your favourite hobbies (or things you love to do) that don't involve shopping? Please try to list at least 10 ways you truly love to spend your time!
I'll be journalling on this at some point today, so please feel free to join me. You can set aside a specific block of time to journal (it could be as little as 5 minutes), or you can add to your journal entry throughout the day each time you feel like buying something. If you don't like journalling, you can just think about the prompt instead of shopping.
***
In each video, I'll also ask:
What's the best thing that happened to you today?
My former colleague (and friend) shared this question with me as it's a daily practice she implemented in her life. I loved the concept, but I've been off and on about applying it in my daily life, so I thought we could practice together. My twist for this 5-part series is that my answer can't involve shopping.
The best thing that happened to me yesterday was going to an event with hubby and a couple of our friends. Last year, hubby and I watched a documentary called Living the Game, and I subsequently wanted to check out an esport event, but I eventually forgot about it. I'm so happy we finally got to see the action in person! I found it incredibly interesting watching gamers play Street Fighter with their custom consoles just like the gamers in the film. I love getting immersed in different cultures, and that includes the subcultures surrounding different hobbies! The event was free and included 3 drinks, a t-shirt, and an eSmartr sleeve, which I wore when writing this blog post to boost my mental capacity and creativity (I think it worked). There was lots of food, but I stuck to the eat-at-home challenge. Best of all, I got a chance to chat more with my hubby's colleague's girlfriend, who is absolutely lovely.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, November 23, 2018
3 Tips to Become a More Focussed Shopper
In the past, I was an extremely unfocussed shopper. I loved to browse for deals, and I was easily enticed by sales. I didn't know what I truly needed or wanted, and as a result, I bought everything I thought I wanted. Once the clutter started accumulating, I realized I had too much, and I hadn't truly wanted most of the things I had purchased. That's when I started taking steps to becoming a more focussed shopper. In this video, I share 3 tips on how I did that.
Tip 1: Unsubscribe from retailer email lists
Unfocussed shoppers can be very susceptible to fear-based sales or marketing tactics like "Limited quantities available!" or "Sale ends in 24 hours!" or "80% off!" These marketing tactics prey on your fear of missing out. Yup, your FOMO. By unsubscribing from retailer email lists, you can become blissfully unaware of sales you are missing out on, on things you don't need or want. I unsubscribed from ALL retailer email lists when I first started to curb my shopping. I've since re-subscribed to a few retailers, but I've started feeling a bit tempted by sales again, so perhaps it's time to re-unsubscribe.
Some of my friends have a dedicated email account for junk/retail marketing lists, and this can be a good strategy too.
Tip 2: Avoid window shopping and online browsing
One of my favourite pastimes used to be going to shops and browsing to see what goodies were available. This is a huge no-no for unfocussed shoppers. I ended up buying tons of stuff I didn't need. At the height of my unfocussed spending, I even knew I didn't want some of these things, but I bought them anyway. That was such a strange time in my life, and I'm so happy I no longer feel the urge to window shop.
In my (very old) beauty ban tips and tricks video, I shared a strategy that involved online browsing, where you go through all the motions of picking out items to purchase and putting them in your cart. The key to this strategy is to close the browser and walk away before confirming your purchase. Invariably, your desire for those items will fade over time, and you won't end up going back to make the purchase. Since I don't browse as much these days, I don't use this strategy very often anymore; however, I did a couple of times recently, and it still works for me. If you're someone who would continue through to the purchase and confirmation stage, you'll probably want to stay away from online browsing altogether.
Tip 3: Keep a well thought out list and stick to it
I never used to shop with a list, but now I always do. I try my best not to go off-list when I shop. Recently, I showed myself shopping at a Chinese supermarket and I went off-list to buy a jar of pickled vegetables. I even said, "I'm going off-list" in the video! I later regretted it because those vegetables weren't very tasty. It was only a $2.99 lesson, but it stuck with me.
In terms of online shopping, I still try to meet the minimum threshold for free shipping, but I don't look at off-list items like I used to--that's how I accumulated pineapple shot glasses and a whole host of other things I didn't need. Now, I purchase one or two more of the items that were already on my list that I know I will use up rather quickly, like tooth powder or dish soap.
***
Yesterday's journalling prompt was a lot of fun for me! I journalled for around 10 minutes on the things I'm grateful for that money can't buy. I felt warm and fuzzy afterward. I knew I hadn't journalled in a long time, but it was interesting to see that my last entry was on Canadian Thanksgiving weekend! I'm glad I'm picking up journalling again, as this really helped me clarify my thoughts when I journalled daily at Grail Springs.
Today, I woke up to a slew of Black Friday deal emails, and I was momentarily tempted to buy a BeautyBlender set. I tend to beat myself up when I'm tempted by purchases that I know I don't really need or want, so I thought I should practice a little self-love. In light of this, today's journalling prompt is:
What traits do you love about yourself?
To go deeper, ask yourself: Why do I love this about myself?
Please join me as I'll be journalling on this at some point today. You can set aside a specific block of time to journal (it could be as little as 5 minutes), or you can add to your journal entry throughout the day each time you feel like buying something. If you don't like journalling, you can just think about the prompt instead of shopping.
P.S. I didn't buy the BeautyBlender set! I filmed today's video instead. :)
***
In each video, I'll also ask:
What's the best thing that happened to you today?
My former colleague (and friend) shared this question with me as it's a daily practice she implemented in her life. I loved the concept, but I've been off and on about applying it in my daily life, so I thought we could practice together. My twist for this 5-part series is that my answer can't involve shopping.
The best thing that happened to me yesterday was meeting up with a friend briefly. She texted me just before noon and asked me to help her pick out a coat. When I got to the store, she was trying to decide among three coats. I watched her try them on and tried to help her hone in on which coat she liked best. I started getting the sense that she wasn't 100% happy about any of them. We got to chatting and I told her about the video I had just filmed and the series I was working on, and she thought it was a great idea. I then asked her if I could ask her the 4 questions. She agreed, and by the 2nd question, she had decided not to buy any of the coats! I felt so happy and proud of her. We left the store empty handed and went to check out a couple of exhibits that she had on her list. We were only together for around an hour, but it was such a nice break in the day, and seeing her really lifted my spirits.
I suppose my best thing from yesterday does kind of involve shopping. But really, I like to think of it as involving not shopping.
Happy Friday!!
Tip 1: Unsubscribe from retailer email lists
Unfocussed shoppers can be very susceptible to fear-based sales or marketing tactics like "Limited quantities available!" or "Sale ends in 24 hours!" or "80% off!" These marketing tactics prey on your fear of missing out. Yup, your FOMO. By unsubscribing from retailer email lists, you can become blissfully unaware of sales you are missing out on, on things you don't need or want. I unsubscribed from ALL retailer email lists when I first started to curb my shopping. I've since re-subscribed to a few retailers, but I've started feeling a bit tempted by sales again, so perhaps it's time to re-unsubscribe.
Some of my friends have a dedicated email account for junk/retail marketing lists, and this can be a good strategy too.
Tip 2: Avoid window shopping and online browsing
One of my favourite pastimes used to be going to shops and browsing to see what goodies were available. This is a huge no-no for unfocussed shoppers. I ended up buying tons of stuff I didn't need. At the height of my unfocussed spending, I even knew I didn't want some of these things, but I bought them anyway. That was such a strange time in my life, and I'm so happy I no longer feel the urge to window shop.
In my (very old) beauty ban tips and tricks video, I shared a strategy that involved online browsing, where you go through all the motions of picking out items to purchase and putting them in your cart. The key to this strategy is to close the browser and walk away before confirming your purchase. Invariably, your desire for those items will fade over time, and you won't end up going back to make the purchase. Since I don't browse as much these days, I don't use this strategy very often anymore; however, I did a couple of times recently, and it still works for me. If you're someone who would continue through to the purchase and confirmation stage, you'll probably want to stay away from online browsing altogether.
Tip 3: Keep a well thought out list and stick to it
I never used to shop with a list, but now I always do. I try my best not to go off-list when I shop. Recently, I showed myself shopping at a Chinese supermarket and I went off-list to buy a jar of pickled vegetables. I even said, "I'm going off-list" in the video! I later regretted it because those vegetables weren't very tasty. It was only a $2.99 lesson, but it stuck with me.
In terms of online shopping, I still try to meet the minimum threshold for free shipping, but I don't look at off-list items like I used to--that's how I accumulated pineapple shot glasses and a whole host of other things I didn't need. Now, I purchase one or two more of the items that were already on my list that I know I will use up rather quickly, like tooth powder or dish soap.
***
Yesterday's journalling prompt was a lot of fun for me! I journalled for around 10 minutes on the things I'm grateful for that money can't buy. I felt warm and fuzzy afterward. I knew I hadn't journalled in a long time, but it was interesting to see that my last entry was on Canadian Thanksgiving weekend! I'm glad I'm picking up journalling again, as this really helped me clarify my thoughts when I journalled daily at Grail Springs.
Today, I woke up to a slew of Black Friday deal emails, and I was momentarily tempted to buy a BeautyBlender set. I tend to beat myself up when I'm tempted by purchases that I know I don't really need or want, so I thought I should practice a little self-love. In light of this, today's journalling prompt is:
What traits do you love about yourself?
To go deeper, ask yourself: Why do I love this about myself?
Please join me as I'll be journalling on this at some point today. You can set aside a specific block of time to journal (it could be as little as 5 minutes), or you can add to your journal entry throughout the day each time you feel like buying something. If you don't like journalling, you can just think about the prompt instead of shopping.
P.S. I didn't buy the BeautyBlender set! I filmed today's video instead. :)
***
In each video, I'll also ask:
What's the best thing that happened to you today?
My former colleague (and friend) shared this question with me as it's a daily practice she implemented in her life. I loved the concept, but I've been off and on about applying it in my daily life, so I thought we could practice together. My twist for this 5-part series is that my answer can't involve shopping.
The best thing that happened to me yesterday was meeting up with a friend briefly. She texted me just before noon and asked me to help her pick out a coat. When I got to the store, she was trying to decide among three coats. I watched her try them on and tried to help her hone in on which coat she liked best. I started getting the sense that she wasn't 100% happy about any of them. We got to chatting and I told her about the video I had just filmed and the series I was working on, and she thought it was a great idea. I then asked her if I could ask her the 4 questions. She agreed, and by the 2nd question, she had decided not to buy any of the coats! I felt so happy and proud of her. We left the store empty handed and went to check out a couple of exhibits that she had on her list. We were only together for around an hour, but it was such a nice break in the day, and seeing her really lifted my spirits.
I suppose my best thing from yesterday does kind of involve shopping. But really, I like to think of it as involving not shopping.
Happy Friday!!
Thursday, November 22, 2018
4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Buy Something
Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who are celebrating today!
This year has been really interesting, and I've experienced a lot of changes in my life. I recently noticed another change as U.S. Thanksgiving approached: I'm not paying much attention to Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. I used to really be into this "holiday," as it's arguably the biggest shopping weekend of the year. But this year, I've been thinking about how else I could be spending my time (and cooking is at the top of my list). As I pondered this most recent change, I thought about being grateful, giving thanks, and how I can help anyone who is struggling to not shop, as I was not too long ago. This series came to mind last night, as I was telling hubby I wanted to make turkey again this weekend to celebrate U.S. Thanksgiving. But it was dark, it was late, we were about to go out, and I still had a few things I needed to get done. So I shelved the idea.
This morning, when I woke up, I checked my email and was bombarded with Black Friday deals. I've unsubscribed to a lot of retailer email lists, but a few remain, and those few still managed to fill up my inbox. That's when I promptly took the idea off the shelf and created this video. I have no idea what this 5-part series will entail, but I'll be posting about this topic daily, from today to Cyber Monday.
Here are the 4 questions I ask myself when I want to buy something:
1) Do I really need this?
2) Do I have something in my collection that I can use instead?
3) How will I feel over time if I either buy or do not buy this item?
4) Why do I want this?
While I definitely recommend asking yourself these questions when you're not 100% sure about buying a particular item, it's also helpful to think about these questions if you're looking at an item you believe to be a staple in your life. I tend to ponder these questions in my mind (or talk them over with a friend), but I think it would be interesting to journal on them as well. If you like, you can get deep with these questions and really examine the psychology around why you shop.
***
In each of the 5 videos in this series, I'd like to provide a journalling prompt--mainly because I want to journal more! Seriously though, when I stopped shopping, I needed something to occupy the mindspace that shopping took up. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, today's journalling prompt will be:
What are you grateful for that money can't buy?
To go deeper, ask yourself: Why am I grateful for this?
Please join me as I'll be journalling on this at some point today. You can set aside a specific block of time to journal (it could be as little as 5 minutes), or you can add to your journal entry throughout the day each time you feel like buying something. If you don't like journalling, you can just think about the prompt instead of shopping.
***
In each video, I'll also ask:
What's the best thing that happened to you today?
My former colleague (and friend) shared this question with me as it's a daily practice she implemented in her life. I loved the concept, but I've been off and on about applying it in my daily life, so I thought we could practice together. My twist for this 5-part series is that my answer can't involve shopping.
***
That's it for now. I hope you will find this series helpful!
This year has been really interesting, and I've experienced a lot of changes in my life. I recently noticed another change as U.S. Thanksgiving approached: I'm not paying much attention to Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. I used to really be into this "holiday," as it's arguably the biggest shopping weekend of the year. But this year, I've been thinking about how else I could be spending my time (and cooking is at the top of my list). As I pondered this most recent change, I thought about being grateful, giving thanks, and how I can help anyone who is struggling to not shop, as I was not too long ago. This series came to mind last night, as I was telling hubby I wanted to make turkey again this weekend to celebrate U.S. Thanksgiving. But it was dark, it was late, we were about to go out, and I still had a few things I needed to get done. So I shelved the idea.
This morning, when I woke up, I checked my email and was bombarded with Black Friday deals. I've unsubscribed to a lot of retailer email lists, but a few remain, and those few still managed to fill up my inbox. That's when I promptly took the idea off the shelf and created this video. I have no idea what this 5-part series will entail, but I'll be posting about this topic daily, from today to Cyber Monday.
Here are the 4 questions I ask myself when I want to buy something:
1) Do I really need this?
2) Do I have something in my collection that I can use instead?
3) How will I feel over time if I either buy or do not buy this item?
4) Why do I want this?
While I definitely recommend asking yourself these questions when you're not 100% sure about buying a particular item, it's also helpful to think about these questions if you're looking at an item you believe to be a staple in your life. I tend to ponder these questions in my mind (or talk them over with a friend), but I think it would be interesting to journal on them as well. If you like, you can get deep with these questions and really examine the psychology around why you shop.
***
In each of the 5 videos in this series, I'd like to provide a journalling prompt--mainly because I want to journal more! Seriously though, when I stopped shopping, I needed something to occupy the mindspace that shopping took up. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, today's journalling prompt will be:
What are you grateful for that money can't buy?
To go deeper, ask yourself: Why am I grateful for this?
Please join me as I'll be journalling on this at some point today. You can set aside a specific block of time to journal (it could be as little as 5 minutes), or you can add to your journal entry throughout the day each time you feel like buying something. If you don't like journalling, you can just think about the prompt instead of shopping.
***
In each video, I'll also ask:
What's the best thing that happened to you today?
My former colleague (and friend) shared this question with me as it's a daily practice she implemented in her life. I loved the concept, but I've been off and on about applying it in my daily life, so I thought we could practice together. My twist for this 5-part series is that my answer can't involve shopping.
***
That's it for now. I hope you will find this series helpful!
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Temptation
Everywhere we look now, we're being sold something. A shiny new object, a tasty treat, higher social status, a better life. When it comes to material possessions, I haven't seriously wanted to purchase anything in a long time, but sometimes I'm tempted by new stuff too. My most recent desire to purchase a bikini, even though I have zero need for a new one, was the impetus for this video on 5 things I wanted in October but didn't buy. It's not always easy to resist new stuff, but I want to make a conscious and well thought out decision when I do buy something new.
High five for not shopping! :D
High five for not shopping! :D
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Shopping My Closet
When I recorded the mod clips for my Designer Handbag Collection video yesterday, I had an AHA moment. What would happen if I used my Alexander McQueen bag with my Balenciaga Pompon strap? I was recently looking at an inexpensive guitar-style strap on eBay, but I was sure I would be over the colourful pattern before it even shipped, so I quickly closed the browser. The Balenciaga Pompon strap isn't quite as wide as a guitar strap, but it gives a similar vibe, and it's also in one of my favourite non-colours (black). As soon as I tried it with the Alexander McQueen bag, I thought to myself, "YESSSSSSSSSS!" It was exactly what I wanted. I hadn't reached for this bag or strap in months, but I wore the combination today and felt like I had a brand new bag. Playing with combinations is one way I like to shop my closet instead of buying something new. I'm excited to wear this bag again tomorrow. And likely the next day. And the next day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)