One Month Challenge: Shopping Ban, Week Three

April 17, 2010 5:00 pm     Posted in Reality  Kelly - University of Iowa g+ page

Everyone’s got a vice, a bad habit, something they know they need to change. Unfortunately, everyone also has a million excuses why they just can’t do it. Not anymore. Every month we will be following a different CollegeCandy writer as she takes on a personal challenge. This month we’re following Kelly as she proves to her mom, and her wallet, that she can go one month sans shopping.


By Kelly

I GOT MY TAX RETURN! WOO! Thank goodness I have until May to figure out what I want to do with it.

This week has been 127 times better than last, shopping wise. I’ve been so busy that there hasn’t been much time to dig through F21′s new daily arrivals. Not shopping wise though, stress has been killing me. Exams, term papers, projects… I don’t even see my boyfriend anymore. And I live with him!

Not to mention that for the next five nights I’ll only be reachable at my place of employment, filling patrons with fajitas and margaritas on our newly opened outdoor patio. While I plan on making $$$ (and not spending any of it until next Monday), I can’t help but sighhh when I deliver sangria after sangria, and queso dip after queso dip, to groups of girls in the middle of the afternoon. That should be me! What this means is that when this challenge is over, I’ll need a big reward in the form of new sandals.

I won’t post my janky Microsoft Excel “budget sheet” this week because many readers (sorry to call you out, but not really) claim to have no sympathy for my “petty problem.” I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t need to blow money on clothes when I’m in debt with out-of-state student loans (yes, I pay myself for school, my apartment, everything), but it is not becoming a problem where I am $16,000 in debt a la Rebecca Bloomwood. Alcoholism is a problem. Peeping Toms are a problem. Wanting to look nice and have a good time in college is not a problem. I get my bills paid on time, I’ve been able to put a good amount of money into savings, and how I spend the rest of my money should be of no concern to anyone. Hell, my credit limit is $500, not $10,000! And most of it goes towards school books every semester. I know that being a writer for this website leaves me open to criticism, but I would not tell someone whose challenge is to cut out junk food, “There are starving children in _____! You shouldn’t been eating Cheetos to begin with, fatty!” (Fun fact: Cheetos are my guilty pleasure)

That being said, I’ve managed to pay another $50 on my credit card, bringing the balance down the lowest it’s been in months! And even though I made a brief pause at the window, I passed up the new Free People window display in a store on my way to Spanish class. I’m actually feeling really good about this month so far and although I can’t wait to spend my tax return, I don’t think I could ever go back to the hour long debates I have with the “submit order” button like I did last week. Saving money feels good and I’m starting to realize that I don’t need another scarf, another tank, another pair of jeans.

11 Comments on "One Month Challenge: Shopping Ban, Week Three"

  1. Savannah says:
    Sat, 17th Apr 201012:34 pm 

    Good job!

  2. Ashley says:
    Sat, 17th Apr 201012:58 pm 

    I agree! Good job!

    Spending money on stuff is a problem I have too – most of it goes to eating out with friends (I loves me some Qdoba and cheese fries). Since I found out someone on CollegeCandy was doing this challenge, I've been doing it too! I think something that has helped me is leaving my credit and debit cards at home so if I feel the need to spend money…I don't have a way to pay for it! It works…except it's mortifying when I forget when I'm about to order at the local starbucks. Oops.

    Good luck and I look forward to next weeks post!

  3. Kay says:
    Sat, 17th Apr 20101:43 pm 

    Serious props girlie! That's really impressive =)

    It's only when I'm that busy with school, kind of like what you've just described, that I just don't think about shopping. And because of that, I've been saving some money too. It IS nice to realize that you don't need another piece of clothing that you already have.

    You might find http://www.thegreatamericanappareldiet.com supportive!

  4. Celia says:
    Sat, 17th Apr 20102:02 pm 

    GET IT GIRL!

    Seriously, I can identify with this SO much. You are fab :D

  5. Tina says:
    Sat, 17th Apr 20104:11 pm 

    Ahh, I miss the days when my credit card limit was $500. Good luck with paying off your debt! I did it once, then went in the hole even more than before, I hope you are smarter than I was and don't do that when it's done!

  6. Kelly - University o says:
    Sat, 17th Apr 20105:33 pm 

    Ashley: once I started keeping track of where I spent my money, I found out that places like Qdoba and Starbucks are where I spent the majority! And really, those things are totally unnecessary, but it's hard when my apartment building is right above Starbucks!

    This week I'm tackling a closest clean-out. I know there is a Destiny's Child concert tee somewhere in there.

  7. Emily says:
    Sat, 17th Apr 20106:58 pm 

    Don't listen to the haters. I'm by no means wealthy and my only credit card debt is from text books and I'm doing well paying it off, but I'm horrible with spending… Tonight alone I spent about $130 when I just went to the mall to get my eyebrows done (eyebrows, new purse (which arguable was needed), mineral veil powder, sunglasses, black dress (believe it or not, I didn't have one) and a cute shirt). Arguably, I got a lot and found some good deals but I didn't have to do it and I feel so guilty after. During spring break I bought a dress for $55 and I have yet to deal with the guilt. Maybe a month-long shopping purge would do the trick.

  8. Beverly says:
    Sun, 18th Apr 20105:24 am 

    Good job! I wish I was as good about it!

    I know what you mean about people calling it a petty problem. A lot of my friends always give me crap if I have a new pair of jeans etc. I buy it all myself, pay for my textbooks. While tuition comes from the college fund my parents generously set up for me before I was even born, I never ask them for anything, even school supplies. Everything I buy comes from working over the summer since I don't have time for a job in the school year as a neuroscience and management major. I think it's pretty pathetic of other people to judge spending habits (at least while they're in check). I certainly don't call my friends out at the amount they spend at Starbucks every week.

  9. AJ says:
    Sun, 18th Apr 20107:57 am 

    Bravo you. Anyone who says anything bad about your challenge should probably examine themselves and see what their vices are. When I started reading your blogs, I considered taking the challenge myself but I havent got the self controll! Good job and I have no prob with you rewarding yourself with a fabulous pair of shoes at the end of this :)

  10. Karen says:
    Sun, 18th Apr 201010:58 pm 

    I know that you are basically done with your month in a week, but I gave up purchasing for lent. I only purchased things that were food, gas, and entertainment (like movie and museum tickets not DVDs) you'd actually be surprised by how much stuff you can find in your house if you just look around (like when I broke a pair of headphones and almost had to go a month without them). You will also learn to make due with what you have- did you really need to wear that dress that your mom bought you or could you have worn something else? If you own like 60 pairs of underwear is another pair really a necessity during your shopping ban?

    Anyway. The one thing that really helped was that I also gave up online "window" shopping. I going on UO, Topshop, and Gilt everyday (three of my most clicked links) and I didn't go on any website with a shopping cart. It really really helped because I didn't feel the need to go to the stores to try this stuff on. In fact easter happened two weeks ago and I went to the mall for the first time today. I only bought one thing at J.Crew and it was only a t-shirt because I knew that I didn't really need anything. My credit card bills are also minuscule I think I spent like $100 for an entire 6 weeks when you total up both credit cards and that was basically on gas and groceries. I was saving so much money that I started paying for everything in cash and still saved over $500 in six weeks.

    I would maybe suggest that you try this out for another month with even more restrictions because you obviously still have a shopping problem even if you aren't a full blown addict.

  11. Dorie says:
    Mon, 19th Apr 20109:30 pm 

    Good luck! I feel like this may not be the same as stopping addictions with alcohol and cigarettes but saving money is definitely hard in college. I think what you are doing is admirable =D

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