Week 9 Status Update

The week goes by so quickly! Now I understand how last month slipped by without me noticing...or posting. It's like time passing is a new concept and at the same time it's speeding up. This is another example of how I need to be more intentional with what I spend my time doing. If not, I'll wake up in 50 years with nothing accomplished and a lot of regret.

Anyway...

The above paragraph is essentially a way for me to say (yet again) how I haven't spent a lot of time in prayer about how I should be giving during this "fast" of sorts. Honestly, I feel like I haven't really changed my behavior at all aside from resisting impulse buys for myself. So I guess I can give myself a task/reminder to be prayerful about this time and really listen to what God is saying. I mean there really isn't a point to me doing this if I don't understand His purpose in all of it.

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Week 9 Summary:
Donated

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Sadly, I can't say that I donated anything this week...not even a photo. 

Here's to that whole being intentional thing...

-J

Week 5, 6, 7, & 8 Status Update

Ummm....I hope I haven't started a pattern. It's been a month since my last post and my lack of updates equals my lack of focus on this project. I've been seconds from giving up several times now. It hasn't been over large items I've wanted to purchase either. Once it was because I wanted to buy sheets. I also tried to reason with myself that sheets don't count as buying something for myself (plus they're only $30)...but I forced myself to accept that I have perfectly good sheets so I do not need new ones.

I actually bought a toilet cover and bath mat from Target because they were WAY on sale...like only $3.88/each on sale. I felt incredibly convicted, so I used an app called shopkick to redeem points for a $10 gift card, meaning I was able to buy them without breaking the rules. Gift cards are free game as long as they are given to me or I earn them...I can't just buy myself a gift card.

Temptation I couldn't resist.

I have also purchased plastic containers to organize some things around our house. We're in the process of preparing for a move, which means I've been sorting through our belongings, purging, and reorganizing. I'll admit, I LOVE organizing...like REALLY LOVE it. It's one of my favorite things to do. Again, I struggled with the issue of want vs. need with these containers. My conclusion was two-fold: 1) I would have bought temporary boxes to move the items that are now in containers and 2) I will donate the amount I spent to Project Little Black Dress 2014. I'm also trying to sell some items we no longer need which could cover the cost of the containers as well...regardless I'm still going to donate to Project LBD 2014.

Week 3 & 4 Status Update

I didn't even make it a month before slacking...apparently blogging once a week is too much for me (insert sarcasm). I also have a terrible memory, so I can't exactly fill in the past two weeks with what I experienced. I'm going to go with nothing too earth shattering. I know last week I worked late every night, so I had no time to think about anything at all. Regardless of my forgetfulness, here are two takeaways:

• One area of giving I've paid more attention to this past month is tipping. Why? I don't know. Most people probably wouldn't share how much they tip someone, but I will go ahead a do it anyway. I tip at least 20% when eating out, more if they are exceptional. I'm not trying to brag or make anyone feel guilty. I haven't been a waitress or anything like that. It's just an opportunity to bless someone else.

• I guess I should fess up. I cheated. I bought a book (see below). It was on my first week's summary as a wanted item. I was trying to hint to my husband that I wanted the actual book rather than the Kindle version and he just wasn't catching on...so I bought it. I was going to have him buy it, but me telling him to buy it is the same as me actually buying it myself. Let me know if you disagree, but it's too late now. The book is for a Bible study, so I'm not sure if that really counts against me, but now you know.

Week 2 Status Update

Alright, this past week was atypical and my schedule was all over the place. I had to go out of town for work, I visited with a friend who was in town for her work and then I went to Raleigh for the long weekend. This meant I wasn't able to focus on finding ways to help others or give in my free time or write any blog posts, like I had intended on doing last week.

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Week 2 Summary:
Wanted
Clothes

Donated
6 Photos through Donate A Photo (Johnson & Johnson)

Wish List
Posture Corrective Brace
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Being busy also didn't allow for much time of wanting either. So I guess I don't have much more to say about Week 2.

-J

Week 1 Status Update

So it's been a week since I began the challenge to stop buying things for myself...for a year...in order to give more. Before beginning this project, it was already one of my passions to give to others. However, I didn't make much of an effort to give other than tithing and the occasional fundraiser that popped up on my radar.

I haven't felt much different this week. I realized that I don't really spend much money on myself in terms of things. I spend money on food and experiences. For example, this week I bought lunch on Tuesday and Friday. I also went to dinner with co-workers on Wednesday and with my husband on Thursday. Then we went to DC today, so we had lunch there and grabbed dinner after church tonight because we will both be gone this week for work (didn't want leftovers). I had only planned to eat out twice a week if you read my last post. But Wednesday's dinner, I didn't end up paying for, which means I technically only broke my rule three times by eating out five times instead of two. That doesn't justify breaking my rule, I'm just impressed I was able to keep my eating out somewhat in check. Another example - I bought bus tickets to NYC for my husband and myself.

These are minor purchases in my realm, but it opened my eyes to how much I spend on food. Having an unlimited budget for food seems like cheating, so I'm glad I made some rules for myself. When I bought the bus tickets, realized that I have a few trips planned this year and I will have to make an adjustment to the eating out rule, or I'll be really hungry (and not pleasant). Eating out rule adjustment - when Aaron or myself do not pay for the meal, it does not go against my two meal a week rule.

Now that I've confessed my purchases, even though they don't count, let's move on.