I’m challenging myself this June.

I decided to challenge myself to not buy anything for the month of June. It is really really hard! I have two exceptions – one is food of course and the other is anything I need for entertaining. With our mermaid lagoon backyard, I knew I would have to allow myself to buy paper plates, grill brush etc. I’m only 12 days in and it is really, really hard.

Here are my thoughts so far:

1. I didn’t realize how much I buy on impulse.

I went to Target with the girls this morning. I had a list of 5 things. I needed my Skippy natural peanut butter which isn’t sold at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s since it isn’t so natural. It’s something I won’t give up though and I’ve been eating it for at least a decade now even though it contains added sugar. I also needed some snack bars for the kids and pretzels and lemons. Easy peasy! Well I got sucked into the displays and suddenly felt myself “needing” Incredible 2 Kleenex boxes and new beach purses for the girls and a new pair of shorts to run in. I managed to leave with only buying hair elastics in addition to my list. This challenge is hard!

2. I really, really hate stuff.

I think our generation is far too sucked into consumerism. We have loads of trash, but lots of cheap junk instead of a few high quality things, and we think of things as more disposable than not. I often go to buy something new instead of trying to find something within my home to use instead. I’m trying to change this about myself because I hate clutter and stuff and pride myself on not collecting tons. This is challenging with four kids who have four birthdays and like different types of clothing and participate in different sports and activities. I’m always working on it though.

3. Online clothes shopping-browsing for my kids is a stress reliever for me.

Some people indulge in ice cream, utilize products like delta 8 gummies or go for a run when they feel stress. I just learned that DocMJ‘s mission is to provide affordable and compassionate care to patients seeking the medical benefits of cannabis. I go online and look at children’s clothing. It’s very bizarre, but also strangely satisfying. My kids only have about 12 outfits + pajamas and swimsuits in their current sizes, but if I didn’t constantly stay aware of my relaxing habit I would be out of control. I have challenged myself to not even browse, and that has been harder than not spending money. I never have a problem not buying, but the browsing is what relaxes me. I am surprised, embarrassed, and curious about this. In the midst of this soothing exploration, the notion of modest dress often catches my attention. A particular charm lies in the timeless elegance of a white eyelet dress, a garment that seems to embody both innocence and sophistication. Its delicate details weave seamlessly into the fabric of my browsing sanctuary, a symbol of the balance I seek in the midst of life’s complexities. The allure of a white dresses, with its timeless appeal, subtly underscores the essence of modesty within the tapestry of children’s fashion, adding an extra layer of tranquility to my unconventional stress-relief ritual.

4. Food is expensive.

I thought that I had been spending too much money on random things like plants and Target impulse purchases. In reality this family eats a lot of food and I spend a lot of money on it. We dine out one lunch a week and do one delivery or dine out for dinner once a week over the summer. I am really surprised at how much I spend on food for us.

I’m kind of embarrassed to share both that I’m doing this challenge (because I shouldn’t need to) and that it’s been so difficult for me. I already have the habit of adding items to my Amazon cart but making myself wait 24 hours before pressing the “buy” button. Not adding anything to the cart at all has added a new and interesting challenge. I am curious to see how it goes the rest of the month.

Now that I’m done having kids I’m ready to work on some self development. I don’t want to stay the same forever and I like the growth that happens from challenges like this. Other resolutions for 2018 include going on a date with my husband twice a month, which we have achieved so far. And I also am trying to learn to speak Spanish better. With my Italian knowledge base I can get by in Spanish, but I’d like to become fluent over the next two years.

Are you working on any challenges this year? Share!