I’m ten days into to my own personal version of hell – no shopping for 31 days. It’s not easy. Not by a long shot. I can’t count on my fingers and toes the number of times I have wanted to buy things – a scarf from Husk and ear muffs from Bardot high on the list.
On day 1, I was tested barely 9 hours into the start of the challenge. My boss sent me to purchase a going away gift for a co-worker who was leaving us after 6 years. I took our collection – mostly in small change – and headed to Melbourne’s GPO, which was closed (apparently people who shop at GPO like to sleep in, which is true, if I wasn’t working, I’d be sleeping too!). So I waited. And while I waited, I window shopped. Mimco, Sass and Bide, Alpha 60, Veronika Maine. I could have stayed all day, but by 9.30 I couldn’t take it anymore and I headed to Myer.
Myer was no better. I tested perfumes, rummaged through handbags and perused jewellery but the blurred line between looking for my collegue and looking for me was starting to become clearer and I knew I had to get the gift and get out. Across the road to David Jones and I couldn’t avoid the red signs screaming at me. July is not a good month to go on a shopping strike.
The days between then and now have involved lot’s of tinned soup and staying at my desk during lunch. I’m avoiding shopping sites online and was even told magazines were a no go zone – horrifying after my Marie Claire (which I subscribe to) went AWOL, perhaps Australia Post, perhaps the neighbours, but maybe its shopping kharma trying to keep me away from temptation.
In other areas, I have been sticking to the 2 days on, 1 day off running schedule, except for Friday (yesterday) when it was officially the COLDEST morning of the year and sometimes even sheer determination will not get you out of bed. No chocolate in the house is a saviour although I am gearing up for a fun night in with the girls tonight, involving cookie dough.
As much as I am not seeing any benefit money wise as yet (this might come when my credit card bill arrives and is surprisingly lower than usual) I have managed to eat out a lot in the past ten days which could be just because there have been a lot of events on or because I am avoiding sitting at home, given the opportunity to think about wanting to shop, eat chocolate or drink.
How are you doing with your Dry July resolution. We are a third of the way there!!
