Contentment Challenge

Original image: here.

In July, we did a "no spend" month. We decided to see how much money we could save/not spend by strictly not eating out, not shopping, not buying anything online....we did it. We didn't fail. We also didn't save any money. I'm still confused and I don't think I learned anything, other than it made me mad. I felt like we worked too hard, both at home and work to not allow ourselves to buy things when we wanted them, to go out for sushi, to purchase an outfit for your daughter...right? But I think what I was missing was an initiative. Yes, we need to save money, but there is SO much more to it than that.

On various blogs, I've been reading a lot about a "Contentment Challenge"-- no spending on anything frivolous...clothes, shoes, accessories, make-up, gadgets, expensive coffee...etc. For three months... Three whole months.

I've been thinking about doing a Contentment Challenge for a while, although I was (and still am) quite hesitant to write about it. It seems that if I write about it, especially here, it becomes permanent. I can't change my mind, I can't rework the rules. What if I fail? What if I can't handle it for three months? 

Well, I'm doing it. Officially started on October 1...so this will go October, November and December. With a baby due right in the middle, I'm sure my shopping will be down anyway, so it works out. My goal is not to eliminate, not to tell myself "no," but to look at why. Why do I feel the need to buy "things" and instead of considering it a "can't have," I'm going to fill the proverbial void with a reason to be thankful, a reason to be happy, so many other reasons than just material items.

In the end, it's not about whether I pass or fail, but what I learn and discover along the way. Sappy, right? The original challenge is quite religiously based, so I'm going to alter it a bit to fit my lifestyle and general system of beliefs. It shouldn't negate the outcome at all. 

We're going into this at the height of the holidays, when frivolous spending is at a premium, so I want to make sure that I'm doing this for the right reasons. My children (I'll have another one at the end of this...) come first and they'll still get appropriate Christmas gifts that are meaningful, important, and in the budget. 

Here are the guidelines (I altered them from the original) if anyone wants to follow along:

• For the first 10 days, the homework is the following: prepare, organize, and make any necessary purchases that I might need during these months. (This is not a last minute shopping spree! This is one final trip to the store for items I may need, and the opportunity for you to say my goodbyes to Target.)

• Choose 1-3 inspiring books to read during this time. I don't have a lot of time to read, I decided on some of my favorite blogs for things I'm interested in like Young House Love and Finding Joy.

• Gifts are okay! If someone gives me a gift (my birthday is in this three months too!) I will receive it graciously! If I need to buy someone else a gift, by all means, I will do so. The point is not to be rude, but to learn more myself.

• Necessities are okay! If I drop and break my phone (gosh I really hope not!) ,I'll get a new one! I just can't start justifying new purchases for items that I already have. 

• I must actively pursue something - anything - that replaces my tendency to buy stuff. I will begin thinking about something I love or a hobby I've always wanted to do, and make preparations to actually do it.

More to come on this!