Hello internet!
I had an epiphany this week. A mini awakening.
After 6 years of full time employment, I have a lot to show for myself - a husband, a home, a new car and a 4-month old puppy. I also have a lot of debt. Some if it's good debt (school) and some of it's stupid debt (shopping). As I celebrate my 30th birthday this month, I am realizing that I've spent the last decade shopping. After each trip to the mall, Winners, or online, I'd say to myself, "I have everything I need", only to find something new to add to my collection of stuff.
Three things happened this week.
1. I saw this on Pinterest, and it made things pretty simple for me.
2. I read
this article on Gail Vaz-Oxlade's blog (she is the host of 'Til Debt Do Us Part')
"Clutter is actually a waste of your money… it’s more than you need,
more than comfort, more than luxury. It’s the impulse to accumulate and
it’s not good for your bottom line. Whether you have food that expires,
shoes you never wear, DVDs that are still in their packaging, three
extra sets of dishes you never use, four of the same item (boys, I’m
talking about those screw drivers, drills and bottles upon bottles of
screws and nails), you’ve got clutter.
Two many pens can be clutter. Too many toys can be clutter. Too many
white t-shirts, too many pairs of jeans, too many handbags… all clutter.
Clutter is the physical representation of waste."
3. I had a long heart-to-heart talk with my hubby about finally becoming debt free so that we can do things that we want to do together (have children, landscape, travel, etc).
I've never been someone who can moderate easily. I don't take 2 M&Ms from the bag and then seal it up for later. I wasn't a kid who would walk around with $20 in their wallet, happy to peek in and see it sitting there. Similarly, I don't know if I could just "shop less". I don't really think I could define what that means. There are too many grey areas: too many "I need it!" and "it's such a good price!" and "it's perfect for me!"
So I'm stopping cold turkey and giving myself 6 months to start to turn things around. Our goal together is to have my debt paid off in 24 months. It will be a big commitment to do so and a noticeable financial sacrifice. We are giving up our yard and our honeymoon in order to achieve it. I want to do everything I can to contribute, once and for all, to kicking that debt in the butt.
No shopping. No shoes, no clothes, no purses, no blankets or sheets or pillows. No decorations for the house. No going to the mall to check out the sales.
I have a few exceptions to the rule:
- I can continue to buy hygiene products and household consumables (paper towel, laundry detergent, etc)
- I can replace something that gets used up (mascara)
I have enough.
I want to live simply.
I want to use the time to strengthen my relationships and seek out new ways to have fun.
I want to be debt free.
