10 Months of No Shopping: Update

Ten months down and two to go. Where do I even begin?

I will just start with dishing out my best advice. Stay busy. This challenge has truly been so simple because this year has been pure craziness. I feel like every weekend Chris and I are up to no good (totally kidding) and there has literally been only a handful of times where I had the time to even go to the mall. 

When I was in accounting in the spring I was too busy to go shopping. Then summer happened and I was looking for a teaching job, so we were a one income household. I found my dream teaching job and ever since the first day of school in August I have not slowed down. And, when I do have a chance to kick back and relax, I am usually sleeping or eating ice cream; not shopping. 
My wants have changed throughout the year. In January, I was dying for an Aztec printed sweater. Now, mehhh. If I got one I would be happy, but I am not longer dying to have one. Over the summer I reallyyyy wanted new wedges. Seeing that I only dressed up a couple times this summer, I realized that would have been a complete waste of money. Now going forward, I am hesitant to really, really want anything because I know if I wait it out, I'll probably be over it in about a week.

I have decided that when I do shop, I want to stick to classic and mature pieces. Pieces that I can have for years and not have to give away when I become a mom. Pieces that show off my style. Trendy, yet simple and classic. I want to think twice before buying the "item of the season" because I can count the hundreds of dollars I have spent on items that were sooooo cool....for a hot minute. 

Most importantly I have learned what it is like to be secure with what I have. I have shifted the weight I used to put on materialistic items to a relationship with the people in my life. Instead of meeting up to go shopping, we meet up to have coffee or actually hangout. I don't need new clothes to go to a wedding. I don't need a new dress just for one occasion. I don't need that Aztec sweater just because everyone and their mom has one. I am okay with what I've got.

The thought of going to the mall and searching for clothes doesn't even sound appealing to me. After only stepping foot in a clothing store probably six or seven times this year, I can honestly say that I might have officially broken my shopping habit. Not shopping has allowed me to never get stressed with parking spots at the mall, never get stressed about lines and crowds, and never have to worry about those dreaded sales where you are conned into spending $200 to get $50 off just when you wanted to buy a cardigan. 

So, I would like to tell you what I am just dying to buy on January 1st, but since that list has changed 100 times over the course of the year, I'll just wait it out and see what I find when I make that first trip back to the place that used to suck up all my time and money. This time, though, I am going in with my fists up. 
If you would like to read all about my 2013 Resolution, click here.
Happy Tuesday!