Minus 10 Days of Unnecessary Purchases

I can't believe I'm going to propose this challenge. I'm breathing through a brown paper bag as I type this: Minus 10 Days of Unnecessary Purchases.

I started this blog as a way to encourage myself (and hopefully others) into getting things back into perspective. Balancing things out. Sorting out priorities. I believe small changes reap huge results.

See, there are things we need and there are things we want. That's not to say that one should go through life without anything we ever want; it's saying we should understand the difference.

I'll go to the store for formula for the baby. That's a need. When I also pick up the next book we're reading for Book Club that's a want. Even when it's 10% off.

I need to get my daughter shoes that fit for gym class. The super-cute sundress - want.

I need saline solution to ensure my contact lenses are clean and ultimately safe to place in my eyes. I want the pen for work.

And so it is decided that for the next ten days - yes, ten days - the goal shall be to minus the purchases of anything unnecessary. If it's a want it stays on the shelf. Doesn't matter if it's a ninety-nine cent tube of lotion; if you have three bottle of lotion at home waiting for you then you don't need it. If you don't need it, you don't buy it. It's that simple.

For the next ten days keep track of everything you wanted to buy and how much it cost. At the end of the ten days look over your list. How much additional money would you have spent? How many of those items will you make it a point to go back and get? All of them? Or just a couple? Did you find that something you might have purchased on Day 3 you're really not that interested in anymore?