Low Buy Update • I've Been AVOIDING YOU

Another week into my Low-buy and much as I'd like to be the font of knowledge and wisdom I have to admit that it's not getting any easier!

It was a rocky start last week... Read about it HERE.

This low-buy business is TOUGH.

I'm sharing my update LATE because....

The truth is....

Hmmm....

I've been avoiding you!

There.

I've said it.

It's confession time....

{I've written all about my reasons here and how sadness and stress make me shop...as well as other important triggers HERE}

This week was supposed to be easier.

I was expecting to start feeling good about saving.

Saving money, time AND the environment.

However, it's tougher than it sounds.

Being on this mission of change I (naively) thought I could be this beacon of positivity and strive forward making a difference all whilst sharing my tips and tricks with you.

Hmmm?

Did this happen?

Find out more in my (full-disclosure) spending diary below....

Dear Diary....

After last week's weaknesses (eBay... and others!) I'm determined to do better.
I'm pretty pleased with how many UNSUBSCRIBES I did last week.... not to mention the (more tricky) UNFOLLOWS.

To be honest, I've missed some my favourite Youtubers (and a few email updates) BUT I'm getting over it!

Not being sucked in to recommendations is doing my wallet some good.

So this week I'm continuing my mission to be a better shopper and a better consumer.

Here goes...

WEDNESDAY 17th:

Check me out!

I bought NOTHING that wasn't an essential today.

Feeling pleased with myself, especially after last week's slip ups.

I CAN DO THIS!

Positive Actions:
Unsubscribed from any emails as they arrived in my inbox.

Weaknesses:
None!
Strengths:
Not shopping

Not shopping!

NOT SHOPPING!

TOTAL Non-Essential SPEND:
£0 (insert SMUG face!)

THURSDAY 18th:

I've had another positive day. No non-essential shopping.
Have I cracked it?

Positive Actions:
I took my own food into work instead of buying lunch and snacks.
Weaknesses:
None today!
Strengths:
Deleting and unsubscribing as emails come in.
Putting marketing letters straight in the recycling... NO I don't want 20% off your stuff thank you!
TOTAL Non-essential SPEND:
£0
(YES!!)

FRIDAY 19th:

Oh dear... things went seriously TITS UP today.

Once again I ate all of my lunch at tea break and then bought another lunch at lunchtime... (NOTE TO SELF: Take more food on a Friday!)
Things then went from bad to worse...

I bought 2 fashion magazines on the way home. I wasn't buying magazines remember?!

PLUS chewing gum... I don't even like chewing gum....sigh. Why?

A glass of wine after work and I'm online buying a pair of wedge espadrilles on eBay.

I could argue that they've been on my WISH LIST for a long time but the truth is that I admired them on someone at work and immediately searched eBay to find them in my size.
Yes, they were a massive bargain BUT I didn't need them.

I have other perfectly decent shoes.

It gets worse...

I decided I needed to buy more suncream for myself and the family.
I then found myself buying more than I needed (Suncreams and tanners) PLUS I added a random blouse to my basket too.
A blouse I definitely don't need!

Another FRIDAY Fail.

Postive Actions:
(I'm struggling to find a positive here!) Maybe identifying MAJOR shopping triggers...Post work stress + Alcohol.
Weaknesses:
Not doing anything about my triggers... Alcohol and browsing online! (just stupid)

Buying a pair of shoes I didn't need.

Buying magazines I didn't need... and gum I didn't even want!

Deciding to shop for things I needed while holding a glass of wine in my hand. (Duh!)

Buying much more than I should when shopping for things we needed.

Adding a completely unnecessary purchase (the blouse) to my basket

Strengths:
None today.... just pathetic really.

TOTAL Non-essential SPEND:
£94 (£5 in M&S (lunch) £9 in WH Smith (magazines) and £17 on shoes, £63 on creams and a blouse).... Shameful behaviour.
I also bought things for my daughter and a bodysuit (underwear) I genuinely needed... I'm calling these an essential even though they weren't really!... This would push the total over £120 so I'm not including them.

SATURDAY 20th:

I'm suffering from a post-shop guilt.
Something needs to be done!
I'm not shopping AT ALL today.

Not a thing, not even things the family needs!

Positive Actions:
Avoiding online browsing.
Weaknesses:
Feeling generally rubbish TBH!
Strengths:
I didn't shop today BUT I still don't feel great about it.

TOTAL SPEND:
£0 (big wow... not!)

SUNDAY 21st:

A good day today!
I did shop online BUT out was for essentials (from the pharmacy, toiletries and medicines etc) I also did something BIG.

I deleted the eBay App from my phone.

This might sound trivial to you but it's big news for me.

I now have NO SHOPPING APPS on my phone and the only social media I have on there is Instagram.

Postitive Actions:
Not shopping, apart from things we needed.
Deleting the eBay app... phew!
Weaknesses:
None today!
Strengths:
Getting rid of eBay.
TOTAL Non-essential SPEND:
£0
I did spend £80 in Boots on things for the family and myself... but these were things we genuinely needed.

MONDAY 22nd:

After my essential shopping yesterday I'm wondering if shopping for essentials acted like a buffer for my compulsive browsing?

Were my feelings of success premature? I think probably yes.

Essential shopping is still shopping after all AND, if I'm completely honest, were all of the items REALLY ESSENTIALS?
Hmmmm.... probably not!

I need to be more careful.

Positive Actions:
Not browsing.
Reflecting on my behaviour.

Weaknesses:
None today!
Strengths:
Being aware of my weaknesses.
TOTALNon-essential SPEND:
£0
TUESDAY 23rd:

Today went well.

I DID find myself online (on eBay again!!) looking at stay gold sandals but I didn't make offers or buy anything.
I just looked and admired and checked myself by remembering that I have a REAL LIFE of trainers and sandals, not a FANTASY LIFE of gold scrappy heels.
Reality check!

A good day.

Positive Actions:
Checking myself but still enjoying looking at the pretty shoes!
Weaknesses:
None... I felt strong today.
Strengths:
Realising what I was doing and checking myself.