Things Sam did buy during her no buy month

I did book and pay for travel, but that explicitly didn’t count.

Ditto food which also didn’t count. 🥦

But I broke my no physical stuff rule a few times too. What did I buy?

💵 A lint brush for my office to remove dog fur from work clothes. Caught a glimpse of a black jacket across my office covered in fur while in a virtual meeting. Decided that the home lint brush isn’t good enough and began browsing. A new lint brush is now on its way to me. Not a ridiculous purchase, but still.

💵An audiobook on my wishlist went on sale for $7.99.

But overall,  I’m calling it a success. 

Here’s just some of things I didn’t buy. 

🐖 🪙 I resisted trying a Muji  notebook, John Gushue recommended them in his blog post, A thought on why you should always but always have a notebook. I’m a huge notebook fan. I often get them as gifts, and I have my own favourites. I might even have enough to make it through until the end of my term as dean.

🐖 🪙I also like this bracelet which I didn’t buy.

🐖 🪙And I spent some time browsing swimsuits, two-piece bathing suits with shorts. Mallory and I both like them but we didn’t buy them.

Is there anything I’m on the verge of buying, maybe waiting for the end of the month to come?

First, new ice skates. Second, a dress that I’ve been lusting after is now 60% off, so maybe.

More importantly, how did not shopping feel? Whenever I do this, I become aware of how much I shop online to relieve stress and boredom. And if it worked, that would be okay.

The thing is it doesn’t work really and it adds stress about spending money and about having more stuff in my house. I don’t want either of those things. Also, other kinds of stress relief work better. Step away from the screens–big and little–and pick up a book, cook a meal, tidy, or walk the dog. All of those things help meet other goals, and they’re better at relieving stress. Win win!

And this feels good too.