Less then a month to go...

Well, well, well... time flies!!!  There is less then a month to go for my shopping ban that started last year! You can read about it here.

Next black Friday in November 25th...  please BUY NOTHING!!! I know I won't!!!

During this year, I have learned that no matter how much you THINK you NEED something... wait it out and it will pass...  almost always...  with a few exceptions! I mean, it is reasonable to assume that eventually all our clothes will worn out...  and especially socks, underwear and footwear... even more so when you don't have a car!  In your home, what you have now is OK... you don't need more... and probably could do with less...  only buy to replace something that no longer is usable.

Use it up. Wear it our. Make it do. Do without.

It has been my mantra for the last year and will remain so for the rest of my life...

My biggest issue, just like most women, was clothes...  and I realized that clothes are really just covering your body (Sweet November movie)... of course they should make you feel good... but play around with what you have... modify your clothes to your liking ( scissors are my best friend)...  get second-hand and make them fit your lifestyle and style!  Be creative... life should be FUN! And getting dress too! It's easy to hem something or just cut it without hemming...  add patches to elbows... or change the buttons... you can also dye something you like but no longer care for the color...  Look into the men's section of your favorite thrift store...

Next biggest spending would be kitchen... who needs 25 pots and pans? A set of dishes for every occasion? A set of dishes and silverware for guests? No one really... sorry to break it to you! Every day is a special occasion...  everyone eating at your table is a guest... plus older dish wear were actually sturdier and last longer...  I have dishes that date back to the 50`s and 60's found in an antique store... and they don't even match because when you buy random items that are not a "set" it is MUCH cheaper!  Plus it gives you the chance to select the plate for each guest to your table!  As for pots and pans, just refine the way you eat, re-organize your cooking schedule and you'll be able to do with much much less!!! And you'll spend less time in the kitchen and more with you family and/or guests!  It's a win-win!

As for music, film and books, you can legally (and this really matters to me - everyone deserves to be paid for their work and creativity) download, borrow from a friend or the library, or buy used and sell back after...

And it goes on and on... there is so much second-hand stuff available that you really do not need to buy anything new anymore... or hardly!

Think about it... and if you still choose to buy new, and I know I do sometimes, make sure you'll use it up or wear it out.

Thanks for boycotting this coming Black Friday.

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

10 down... 2 to go....

I am almost done with my shopping ban...  or am I?  After everything that happened this year, I am pretty sure the shopping ban will be a permanent lifestyle change!!! But more on that at the actual end of my shopping ban.

Right now, I would like to go into details about one of the rules I had set for myself in this shopping ban... the one rule that was really difficult for me to follow...

The one about buying 2nd hand first!

Where I come from... I was, unfortunately, thought that 2nd hand clothes.... or 2nd hand anything were for poor people....  it was not really hygienic to wear second hand clothes... and that stayed in my head for the longest time!!!! I am ashamed to say it today... but as I am always honest with you guy, I must admit it...

Later, much later in life, I met this awesome, always very well dress, and quite wealthy woman who confined in me that most of her clothes were second hand... and that revelation changed the way I saw things...  she was doing it to avoid using "new resources" from the earth and THAT I loved!

At that point, I tried going into thrift stores... but I could not bring myself to buy anything...  but at least, I would walk into them....  that was a start. As I have a tendency to not give up, I continued going into them...  but always by myself with my pre-conceived notion in the back of my head...  Eventually, I moved to Moncton and this other woman I met told me that ALL her clothes (OK maybe 98% of them) came from the thrift stores or were hand-me-down... because she did not wanted to spend money on clothes... and she could not "afford" it only because her priorities were travelling! That was another eye-opener to me...

I knew I took a HUGE pay cut working in a coffee shop part-time compared to a big full time corporate job...  I also knew I was MUCH happier and at peace living this life...and I enjoy having free time maybe even more so then shopping excessively... but I LOVE clothes...  no matter how much I try telling myself that it was an addiction and everything, I realize that it is more of a passion then an addiction... I can stop whenever I want (would it be a true addiction, I could not)... as I proved over the years by several shopping bans...  BUT, I don't want to... I love buying clothes... and I love wearing them... What changed over the years it that I now know what I really love and I have refined my style. I no longer follow trends and that is a huge money savior! I am willing to save money by living in a smaller apartment, not owning too much furniture (and it is ALL second hand - except for the rocking chair I got when my son was born), I save money by not buying music or books... or expensive jewelry... or a crazy amount of foot wear... but the clothes have to stay...

Once I realized all that, and watched "The true cost" I asked my friend to bring me with her... and with all I had been thinking about... and the beginning of this shopping ban, I went into a thrift store and made my first buy...  and it felt OK... not great!  I am not going to lie... but as I was wearing my findings and people were complimenting, it helped... and the more people I met here in Moncton, the more woman I met with awesome style that were doing the thrift store thing!  So I kept on doing it...  I did make a few rookie mistakes... I bought stained pyjamas, a pair of short that thorn a few wear later...  but I am learning and now I take more time to actually examine the clothes before I buy them.  Here is what I currently own, that is second hand in my wardrobe on top of the bag at the beginning of the post.

I do wear all those clothes.... quite a lot... As you can see they are mostly skirts... 2 jackets, a big bulky men sweater and a scarf... I have only one top!  My next objective is to go beyond the fact there was "arm-pit contact" and start looking into buying more tops! Hahaha! I'll get to it...

Now I would like to know what you think about 2nd hand shopping.  Do you do it? Where do you go?  What are your tips and tricks?

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

My reading marathon

Beginning of 2016, I had given myself a challenge: read 42 books in a year.  This, was A LOT for me... I was not such an avid reader... I was always kind of an on-and-off reader. I could read 3 books in a row and then nothing for months...  If I wanted to read 42 books in a year, I could not afford to do that...

I had set a few rules/directions for myself

1) I could read in English or French
2) I could read anything... as long as it interested me... novel, science, psychology, biographies...
3) Books that were more then 500 pages were equivalent to 2 books, more then 600 pages, 3 books and more then 900 pages 4 books.  I have only read 2 books that fitted in those categories, they were respectively 530 pages and 639 pages...
4) I'd have to read books that are currently in my home - whether they belong to my son, husband or myself  - or get them from the library or borrow from a friend (After all, I am right in the middle of my 367 days shopping ban, I did not wanted to use this as an excuse to buy stuff).
5) No need to keep track of the actual list of books I read... only the number. (I wanted to see what would stick to my mind naturally)

I had no idea on how I would find those 42 books.. which ones would I read and why... I had no list of books I wanted to read before hand - Now, I have a list of 60 books!!!

So here's what I did: I started with a book taken from the library... I honestly can't remember which one but I am pretty sure it was from Alexandre Jardin.  Then, I let my reading, and trips to the library, guide me to more books! I would write down books from an author I was reading, I would take note of authors or titles mentionned in a book I was reading (not listed as "in the same collection" or "by the same author" but actual books the characters were referring too in a novel - that THEY were reading)... I would note down the title of a book someone was reading in a coffee shop if they seemed "similar" to me... In the library, I would always check the section "New books" and "Books you may have forgotten" ... If I discovered a new author, I would note another book title they wrote... And last but not least, I would take down suggestions friends made to me. I also noted down a few books that inspired movies or TV shows.

Therefore, one thing to another, I ended up with always more then enough books to read.... way more!

Why would I do that challenge?  Not sure...  but I remember, Jan 2014, I wanted to train to run a marathon - an actual one.  My body, which is in pretty good shape overall, does not like me getting to "warm" - it has to do with MS.  This really disappointed me...  and for some reason, this year, I had already been reading 5-6 books by the end of January, I decided to do a reading marathon...  Which, I was sure then, would be challenging enough... in another manner but challenging.

I had not idea what to expect... but here's what happened...

And you might think I am crazy for that...  but it is REALLY what happened...

With no pre-established list of books to read... and with the method I had to select books, believe it or not... it seemed like one book would flow into the next...  And I am not sure I can explain this well here...  but it seemed as though each book would prepare me for the next one AND each book would find a way to answers "questions" and/or "concerns" I had at the time of reading it... I would read really anything... in NO specific orders... sometimes a classic followed by a very recent novel and then a philosophical assay and then a more scientific one and somehow they would "melt" into one bigger thing in my brain! Links would create themselves from one book to another... I would see things more clearly... Life seemed more "understandable" - if it can be.

I think this will be a lasting effect... my life will never be the same...  after reading some 10k pages (assuming books averaged 250 pages) in only 9 months, it is as though I have become another version of myself...  They say you remember on average 10% of what you read... This means, that somehow, I have created my own 1000 page book... in my mind... it cannot not have an effect on one's life.

It also made me realize what type of books I like to read... I like to read things about psychology, sociology, anthropology, some personal development stuff, nutritions (but with a science base), novels (but not any type - I am now better at knowing that books I will love or not) and some biographies (but then again not systematically all of them).

And this is why, I will take up another challenge a friend of mine gave me:  to keep on reading, in the same manner, at the same pace, with the same "rules" another 108 books - apparently, once you get to 150 books something happens...  I am up for it!  I have already seen such a huge difference in my life those 42 books have made, I can't wait to see what another 108 added to that will do! It's a good thing I have a list now... but I am afraid that list will keep on growing... because the more I read, the more references I see, the more new authors I discover, the more I'll go to the library and leave with books that were not on my list to read and the more people will give me suggestions...  Is this ever gona end? It doesn't really matter... I have many more years to enjoy reading... now that I can afford to work part-time!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

Less then 3 months left to my shopping ban!

As you might know, last November I started a 367 days shopping ban... and you can read more by looking for the "367 days shopping ban" label.

I thought it would be much harder then it actually was...
Did I respect ALL the rules ALL the time?  Of course not... but a challenge is not necessarily about respecting rules...  in the sense that all I really wanted to do is CHALLENGE my shopping habit and I did!!!

I did update you on a few occasions about where I was going with this... I think that, as this is getting close to an end, I can make an extra effort on following my established rules AND update you on what happen in the last month or so...

Last update I made, was after 7 months and I have now completed 9...  Therefore during the course of the summer, here's what I got:

1) a bike - but I did not spend a penny for it!!!  Someone surprised me with it...  they were cleaning out their place and remembered mine got stolen and gave me their extra one!  And it's purple!!!

2) a summer dress - OK I did not need that one... but it was not from a "regular" store and it is made in India - supposedly fair trade!

3)  went to the Salvation Army because a friend of mine had a 10$ off a 25$ purchase coupon...  we split the discount and for 15$, I go 2 skirts that can easily be worn year round, fit with many things I already own and are really "ME" skirts... and I also got a men's knitted grey sweater - I have been wanting THAT for a long time!!!

4) got a pair of Converse shoes - mine are falling apart - therefore, it is a one in/one out type thing

5) a a peace Lilly - a plant I have been wanting for a few years now (as pictured above)


Now, for the 3 months remaining, I am reminding myself of the rules I had first set up when I started this shopping ban...  here they are:


1)  I can only buy personal stuff if I need to replace something. One-in-one-out kind of!

   Try to find locally, second hand or fair trade items...

I have actually not been too bad at this...  but I must say that some stores are still quite a challenge and fall will be difficult as I love fall season for clothing...  perhaps I should stay clear of stores but it is not always possible... and how would I know how I am doing with my addiction if I don't tempt myself?

2) I will accept gifts...  but strongly suggest to people wanting to offer me something that it'd be something that I can use up (food, tea, candles, incense...), something that is local... or second hand. Or a plant!

Just like the bike I got!!!

3) If I want to give something to someone, I will gravitate toward the same thing as in 2)...  or something I made! And do not thing this is me being cheap... I need to do this for a year!  You will survive if I can!

4) If I run out of books.... or want to read something different... there is always the public library!

I have actually been very good with the public library!  It is now one of my best friend! I did not buy one book since that challenge started!  This is great new for me as book were usually my "go to" when I would do such a shopping ban - I never included them in shopping bans before knowing I could buy that it hte urge came!

5) Obviously, magazine are out the window...  because their only purpose really is just to make you wanna buy stuff... The only exceptions would be a National Geographic or Scientific America type magazine... and then again, only if there is something in there really interesting me.

Here again, no magazine at all - not even Scientific ones...
I now even think they are basically a waste of paper also... and they repeat themselves all the time!

Conclusion:

As I am getting close to the end of this shopping ban, I realize that it has been easier then I thought it would be.  I am assuming that this as to do with my reading marathon (goal is to read 42 books before the end of the year) which is keeping me busy and away from temptation...  I also think that my increased mediation/yoga practise of the last couple of months has something to do with it...

I know I am not completely out of the woods with fall coming up...

But I am now certain that this shopping ban will have change for ever the way I shop or not!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

Peace... finally...

This morning I felt like writing... but not quite sure what to write about...

I realized that I write a lot more when I am tormented by something, when I want to create to new goals or objectives, when I need to clarify what is in my head... not so much when all is good...

It has been years that  I am working toward feeling like I feel today...  It took time and was not easy... you can look into that by reading my pasts blog posts... I do not feel like repeating myself again! 

I know they say that happiness is not a destination but a journey...  but really, at some points in my life, I felt like that was a big fat lie!!!   I was not completely unhappy but there was always something not quite right... and I was working toward achieving a certain state of peacefulness in my life and felt like there was always something not quite right or something missing... After years of working on myself and my surrounding, I finally am where I wish I could be... and that feeling is awesome! 

I created a life for myself, with the help of my son and husband who have been, during those years, the only two constants.  Everything else was a variable... projects, goals, objective, jobs relationships... they all came and go but those two were always there for me! I owe them a lot... a lot more then I could ever repay them probably!!! And I love them to the moon and back... a million times over!!! 

However, at this point, I can say that we are now officially debt free... one of our biggest concern! 

We are both working at jobs we love...  I mean really... waking up Monday morning is nothing special!!! 

My shopping addiction is well under control and I only buy what I really care for when I have the money...
I have established a more regular yoga/meditation practise...
And refine my home so that it is my temple...
I have re-discovered the joy of reading...
And found a new passion in nature, hiking and camping...
My health is perfect despite MS - as well control by diet and lifestyle

If you'd ask me today, there is seriously not one thing I would change in my life and I can honestly say that I was never at this point before - not even close!!!

I am pretty sure that my following posts will be quite different from the ones before...
In a sense, I think there is much less to say, or write about, but at the same time, I feel like I must continue sharing to help as many people as I can...  and I actually love doing it!!! I feel like this new episode that is starting will be an amazing adventure where you will get to see who I have become after years of fighting for it...

Could I have done it faster? better? differently?  Perhaps.... but it was my way and it gave me the results that I was looking for... isn't that all that really matter?

Well, this will be it for today... a short but, I think, important one to  write as it sets new grounds for what is coming!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

7 months down... 5 to go...

It's been 7 months already...

This post is less about what I bought or not...  Although I have to admit that I did buy a few tops - new and in regular stores...  :-(
but I could not find what I needed in thrift stores or in any "sweat shop free stores"...
made me realize that we do not have very many options...  here, where I live anyway... and no longer having a credit card poses a problem to buying on-line...  I was told that I should look into getting a pre-paid credit card for on-line shopping...  maybe I'll look into that before I buy something next time...

besides that, I have been doing good...  I really do not feel like shopping...  maybe the fact that there really isn't that much close to me that I love helps... but still...  it's progress...

as I mentioned before I have rediscover the joy of reading and I am now up to 27 completed books in my reading marathon! halfway through the year and I already have more then half my objective of 42 books completed...

I still need to work on more yoga and meditation... my problem is that I have a hard time finding a consistent time of the day to do it...  my schedule changes too much from day to day... but I will get there...

what I really wanted this post to be about is what those last few months made me discover about myself... what matters more to me but also what matters less...

1) where I live is important - rather pay more on rent and live in a clean well maintained apartment

2) what is in my apartment matters much much less... as a matter of fact, I sold my couch and put my bed frame up for sale... love to sit on the floor and can put my mattress directly on the floor which makes my tiny bedroom look more decent in size - actually, anyone would come in here and would assume young adults just starting off in life are living here! and I don't care!!!

3) my kitchen table is too big - will put it for sale soon and get a smaller round one...

4) following my whole food plant based diet is the most important thing BUT what I eat is not... I can very well eat the same thing all week and be fine with it! I realize that even though I love eating this way, more then I ever loved eating in my life before, food is not that important to me.. it's a mean to end... the end being staying alive and healthy

5) while I am on the food subject... I love to cook...  BUT love it more when it can be all done in a day or so for the week...  I mean I love doing it because it provides me and my family with real food but if I can, I'd rather be reading, having tea, walking outside or doing some yoga...

6) books, music, movies, etc... I don't care for them... I have a grand total of 7 CD of music... and 37 books...  and I am not planning on getting anymore anytime soon...and I do not own any movies/tv series... I listen to music on youtube, take books from the public library and this way I save ton of money and clutter in my home! movies? tv series?  Netflix...  much cheaper then cable!

7) I care about clothes... at one point in my life it was an addiction.... I had to buy them... whether I had the money or not... and most time I did not have the money because I'd spend it all... well, on my clothes.... lol
therefore I used credit... and got into some pretty serious trouble...  that I am still paying for today - but in 12 months I'll be all right.
today, I still love clothes... and just as I realize, at the beginning of my minimalist journey, that having tea in a coffee shop is something I will never let go off, buying clothes is something I will never let go off either.. not because I can't!  because I don't want to!!! I will be smarter about it...  I pay cash now...  no more credit... I try to go into thrift shops...  and locally own store or local seamstress... I will buy fair trade as much as I can...  and I have develop my own style so I am no longer a victim to trends that come and go every month or so... I now know what I love and wear my clothes until they "die" on me but I will keep on buying them...  after all I keep saying minimalism is not about deprivation but choice... well I choose to have less in my home (less furniture, less books, less music, etc) but more in my wardrobe...  just because...  I can choose!!! I just want to be smarter about it now!

all in all... those months have made me realize that I can be very happy with very little stuff as long as I have a nice wardrobe, cheap healthy food, my yoga practice and a public library close by...

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

Getting to 6 months and still feeling fantastic!!!

Time for yet another update on that wonderful adventure I embark on on Nov 29th 2015...

Remember by 367 days shopping ban? You can read about it here...

And the latest update was almost 3 months ago!

As we are now April 22nd, I can say that I am almost half way... or am I??? This has been so much easier then I thought... I don't think I will ever go back to my old ways!!! I don't even feel good being in a regular store anymore!!! All I can see is the misery this is causing... and it makes me want to cry!

Lately I have gotten for summer:

1) a skirt locally made by an artist who uses only upcycled fabrics - I loved the idea more then I needed the skirt and I also wanted to encourage her! Plus it is super cute and I'll wear it for years to come!

2) a pair of pants that I turned into short from Value Village - these are the result of me throwing away a pair of short that was to big for me now as I had it for years and wore it with a belt...

3) a skirt from Value Village that can actually be 4 seasons - these are the result of having a pair of short that is now to small for me as I have gained weight over the last winter

These items actually follow the rules... maybe not 1) per say as I did not really needed it but I can live with it since it is not using new fabric and it is locally made by an amazing woman!

I may have to look into a few tops now - thinking one red and one brown... but it can wait.... and I need to still follow my rules!

I also bought a pair of hiking shoes brand new of course.... as my husband and I are planning on taking up this activity (I mentioned it 3 months ago)... I needed some good footwear not to hurt myself. And actually my husband bought them for me so I did not spend the money... technically! I said I would accept gift and this was a lovely one!

Aside from those new shoes I am doing pretty good...at not buying anything new and for myself when I don't need it! I actually do not even "desire" stuff anymore! Who would have thought I would say that one day???

I have completed 6 months and didn't really buy anything from "real store" aside from a shirt as I had received a gift card from American Eagle... and underwear - There is not way I am buying this used!

I keep getting my books at the library... or used book store where I can resell them later...

I honestly thought I would struggle more with this then I do... but it feels good not to! Because I have so much time on my hand now I started a reading marathon! My objective is to have read 42 books in 2016! I am now up to 17!!! The public library is now my favorite place!

I also picked up my yoga/meditation practice... and I am starting to work out for those hiking trips my husband and I are planning on!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,

chloe

xox

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3 months done and feeling fantastic!!!

As you may remember, on Nov 29th of 2015, the most exiting shopping day of the Year (Black Friday), I started a shopping ban for 367 days! Let's talk about going against the main flow...

Well yesterday on Feb 29th, I had gone 3 months without shopping/buying anything for myself...  or did I???

Well....... I kind of did!  Here's what happen:

Books:

I read 6 from the library since the beginning of the year...
And I did buy 2 books... that I know I will read over and over again...  They were both about 10$ each.

Actually, not shopping physically or on line allowed me much more time to read and in the first 2 months of the year, I actually read 8 books and started another more intense one that I will need to read slowly...

This is AWESOME as I love to read but never had "time" to do so!

I did not "not have time"... my priorities were in the wrong place!

Clothes:

My worse nightmare... or is it still???

Well... not at ALL! Not anymore anyway...

I am OK with not shopping for clothes... and actually I don't even feel like doing it!
The fashion/clothing industry is so detrimental to our planet and it's people that I just can't do it for now and when I have to, it makes me so sad...

I remember one sentence in the movie "Sweet November" said by Charlize Theron that was something like "well it is just clothes, it is meant to cover your body so who cares"... or something close to that...  It helps me a lot lately!

For example, I had to buy underwear.... I was long overdue...  and I did buy them... but this is one of the things (along with footwear) that I refuse to buy use... and I couldn't find sustainably made where I live... Also, as it is a replacement of something I own and is no longer usable, it doesn't break the rules per say.

So I did buy my underwear... and spend 48$.  I should be good for the next year.... or perhaps a little longer!

I also bought harem pants from a site on line...  they are lovely and cost me 31$.  This, quite frankly, I had no real need for it... but a friend wanted to buy without having to pay for shipping and I really LOVE harem pants and wear hem more and more during summer!  They are the perfect fit between a skirt and shorts!!! Also they do not come from a sweat shop so that could be OK if I don't over do it!

Other stuff:

Aside from food...  I only bought filters for my water filtering system... 5 of them should last me a year and they were just about 20$.

What do I expect over the next few months?

Well I know I will definitely need footwear as all I own is falling into pieces....  and we are planning to start hiking this summer so I need shoes for that definitely!

I will have to look into getting a new bicycle as mine was stolen last fall when I put it away for winter.... That I am definitely getting second hand!

Aside from that, all my money is going into "buying experiences" instead of stuff!
Buying time by allowing myself to work less since I "need" less money...
I will soon be debt free and hence able to enjoy life more!  And the good news is , by not over spending on stuff I do not need that could destroy the planet and take the lives of poor people we are abusing to produce them , I will not go into debt again!!!  Both other times where I got debt free, I soon after got back into it!!! I needed to get the stuff!!!  What could I have expected?

But  now, all this is behind me...  I am free...  free from over consumption...
I am not a slave to advertising companies!
I am not a slave to our capitalist system who makes us believe buying stuff will buy us happiness...  friends... love and so much more!  When in fact, it does the exact opposite! They want us to believe it because if enough people start believing what I do believe in and live like I live, well the economy will crash and all those rich people will not be making millions anymore by abusing us as workers and spenders! By getting us into debt...  by enslaving us to jobs we do because they give us big money... and hence allow us to buy stuff we do not need to impress people we do not really like... and never get out of the destructive pattern!

Quite frankly, when I started this 367 days shopping ban I was terrified... as I tried this type of challenge before and inevitably failed.... I was not ready for it...  I didn't know if that time I was!  Although I had been shopping less and less over the last year, sometimes all I need is an interdiction to do something to want to do it more! But I also knew that I completely turned around the way I eat so I could do that to! There was/is hope!

I think all the documentaries I have watched did help me....  here are links to 2 of them...
Have a look and you can choose if they are for you or not at this point in your life...

The true cost 

Zeitgeist In total there a 3 documentaries to watch called Zeitgeist.  All great!

These were real eye openers for me... as I hope they will be for you...

In the meantime, I will keep on "not shopping" and do other stuff instead...
I did address my desire to read more... In the next few months, I will be working on my desire to spend more time doing yoga/meditation and find a way to create time, by addressing priorities, to do just that!

I will get back to you soon on my 367 days shopping ban as spring is really one of my weakest time when it comes to shopping!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,
chloe
xox
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1 month down... 11 to go... :-)

As I am writing this, I am on the last day of my first month of 367 days shopping ban...

Perhaps the most difficult one as it is believe that it takes 21 days to create a new habit... but mostly because it is the Holidays... a GREAT time of spending!!  Especially for me....  before!

I didn't keep you guys very up to date so far...  but my first month was...

SUCCESSFUL!!!!

And I am really happy and proud of myself for it!  I did not buy anything for me on the last month... and only 2 books as a Christmas gift for my husband... Bought nothing else... food... chai latte... some sushi... and a few restaurants with my husband over the Holidays... also a movie!  I even had a few people over for a lovely get together and it did not drain my budget! So, this is working out so far... because I am not buying stuff, I am actually able to afford experiences!!! Exactly the point of all this...

Now the impact on my finances might take a few months to show up... but at least I did not get further into debts...  which I ALWAYS did over that period in the past.

Now, more importantly, you might want to know how I managed?  And how I feel right now?

Well, it was, in fact, much easier then I expected...  and I loved the outcome...  it forced me to give some stuff away as Christmas gift instead of buying... I also invited people over without them bringing anything as it was my gift to them...  I gave them time, food and my presence...  It was lovely and I think it is safe to say they also loved it!

I did not make a special effort to stay away from the mall or anything...  I did not have to refrain myself that much or return any impulsive buys... I just simple did not feel like buying anything!!!  My worse nightmare as always books and clothes...  Well I used the library for books and I used my own wardrobe for clothes! I have plenty of clothes I love and want to wear so I just reminded myself that if I bought anything more, I would have to wear less what I already own! And it made sense... finally!

I spent time walking.... reading...  and writing...  keep my mind doing stuff I love!

I even tested myself by going to stores I love and looking at items on sale...  but I did not buy anything!  Didn't even try anything! I swear!!!

As for how I feel?  Great!  Amazing!  Like I am doing something good for myself, my family and the planet! I feel, honestly, like this might be it!  I may overcome this shopping addiction... this dependence on clothes... this dependence on how I look instead of who I am...  I may not look as good in clothes as I once did (as per some people's opinion but not my own...) but I feel much better about myself.... more confident of who I am and what I want...  I feel like what you see is what you get... I am not hiding or pretending to be someone I am not by dressing according to what people expect instead of how I feel... The image/impression you have of me is exactly who I am... no surprise!  What you see is what you get.

I am also thinking that this way, because I look like I feel...  because I portrait who I am... I will attract in my life people who have the same vibration as I do... or people who care for the energy I send out... and those people are becoming my tribe and my family...

I use to shop to feel like I fit in... like I belonged to some group...  but always felt left out...  the odd ball in the game...

I stopped shopping and wonderful things started happening... my surrounding changed... and I met awesome people... and I now feel like I belong... like I am loved and appreciated for who I am... not because my net worth in clothes on my body today is over 500$...  My worth is no longer in $ of clothes on my body but rather in smiles and hugs I get and give away....

This shift happen... slowly over time (since I started my minimalist journey) but I can see it happening faster over the last month... and even though I sometimes still "miss" my old friends, I know I never really belonged with them as I was trying to be and/or portrait someone I was not... and never really wanted to be...

I am confident that this year will be a breeze... and I will do this 367 days shopping ban and succeed...

I will grow during this year...

And I am looking forward to it... it no longer scare or worry me!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,
chloe
xox
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4th day... of my 367 days shopping ban

You can get it here 

Well... I did survive the "Black Friday" week end... off to a good start I guess...

Did a lot of thinking... and talking with my husband... the timing to start this project is actually not the best... but it will be interesting.  I am going to some personal tough times...  where I would usually react by shopping a lot more... and now I can't! But really I could... there is no LAW per say... but I don't want to! I want this challenge to be successful! I am looking forward to it.

I also want to use this project to figure out where my money goes... technically, each month we have an extra 500$ or so... without my husband doing overtime.  Therefore, my debt should have gone done by 500$ each month... but it did not! Therefore it is pretty safe to assume that this money is obviously going somewhere...  but not toward paying debt or in my back account...

This is why I will pull out 210$ per week for groceries (and in my case groceries also include non food items such as soap, lotion, light bulb... and cat food/litter...)  I am pretty sure that this is not quite enough as toward the end of the week, I, most of the time, end up using debit at the grocery store.... but I also know that I use part of that for coffee and treats that should more likely be in another category of my budget.  By keeping all the bills of anything spend out of that 210$ per week... and by using this amount for grocery related items only, I will figure out where that money goes...  and if it is really needed, I can create another category in my budget... and if need be adjust my weekly grocery budget so that it actually reflects what it is. Having a much more accurate budget certainly is the key in my case. And knowing what could and should go towards debt re-paying will surely make it work - my goal is to actually have an amount assigned in my budget toward paying debt that won't be random month per month...

I am doing this because debt is slavery and savings are freedom!

I am currently reading the book "JOY in every moment" by Tzivia Gover.  It is quite interesting....

I liked it where she mentioned that "...the sun and stars are always shinning..." It is true...  and it reminded my that when we have a cloudy day (weather or life related) we tend to forget that the sun is still there... and so is our inner JOY or happiness.... it may be overclouded but not gone.  At any time, we should remember that and be able to tap into it!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,
chloe
xox
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couple of days left....

I am a couple of days short of my 367 days long shopping ban!

I am still not freaking out and pretty confident I can do that this time around. Unlike the first year I tried it and lasted 6 months...

I would like to add to my "rules" that if I ever replace something that broke.... or have a weak moment and actually buy something, I will, for the sake of transparency share with you what it is, where I got it and how much I paid for it... and add a picture.... unless it is underwear... in which case I will skip the picture as this would just be "weird"!   After all, I do get to see some of my readers on a regular basis...

And if I do "fail" once, I am not off-the-hook!  I still am into this for 367 days!  Last time around, once I failed, I went back to my old habit...  not this time!

My main concern, or what I think my weakness will be is if I do get to see stuff I like, and by stuff I mean clothes, as I can pretty much resist anything else, I know I tend to make myself believe that "it is really my style", "it was made for me", "what if next year there is nothing I like"...  "it's a really good price", "but it's on sale"... and all that bullshit!  Years of shopping addiction can make you come up with the silliest excuse to buy something you do not need!  Then I might give in and buy something...

What should help me is "The true cost movie" and all the documentaries I have seen in general...
I should remember why I do that:

I am trying to find more sustainable solutions... I am trying to lower my impact on the environment AND on the poor people working in horrible condition so that we can enjoy cheap/throw-away stuff here in America.

I like to think that if I can remember why... it will be easier!

I am ready!
I can do this!

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,
chloe
xox
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My shopping ban!

Hello!

remember a few days ago I posted something about the documentary "The true cost" ? I had also said that it triggered in me a desire to jump on another challenge...  but I had to work on the details...

Well here it is:  I will go on a shopping ban between Friday November 27th 2015 (yes Black Friday) and Friday November 25th 2016 (which is most likely going to be next Black Friday) inclusively!

I chose that day to start as it is one of the worse shopping day of all year in America and I certainly do not wanna be part of it!

If you remember correctly, I started this blog to help me with my shopping addiction and because I had declare a shopping ban for 2011.  It lasted just about 6 months and then I gave in...  I must say that over time, I still worked on my minimalism and shopping issues and after seeing this movie, I felt like I needed to do that. Shop much less and smarter.

My motto is now:

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.

I had many discussions with my husband on how to address this in a sustainable way and to avoid setting myself up for failure again...  I wanted to be strict... but also allow for some fun...  I wanted to be able to do stuff I like while not hurting others as much...  I wanted to decrease my carbon footprint furthermore without feeling like I cannot enjoy myself or get stuff I need - and sometimes just want.

Now, about needs and wants...  I need to define those terms... as we tend to have transferred all out wants into needs.  At least here in America.  We need this new perfume... or this new winter jacket!  We absolutely need this new color of nail polish... or that purse!  And who could live without this new Christmas china???  But all those created needs are not real needs.... they are barely what our society makes us believe we need even if we can't afford it.... just so some of us (no you nor me obviously) gets richer while all the others get poorer!

Therefore, as of next week, a "need" is going to be something I absolutely can't do without cuz my life depends on it! And that should not be many things as our life really do not depend on that much aside from some food, a roof over our head and some clothes...  after all, it is kind of cold here in Moncton New-Brunswick!

Therefore, after several discussion and debate with my husband, I cam up with the following rules that I will need to follow and that he will try and follow with me.  Please note that this really is just my thing....  as usual, my husband is lovely enough to jump on that crazy new adventure with me but I will not hold a grudge if he jumps off when he's had enough... Also, this, in no way, does concern my son.  Although he is a very reasonable shopper, I understand that being a teenager is not the best time in one's life to stop/avoid consumption of goods.... but I am teaching him to think before he buys... only buys if he has the money... prioritize his needs/wants and most of the time the one-in-one-out rule so that he stays away from clutter... I must say, he is much better then I was at his age!

Rules:

1)  I can only buy personal stuff if I need to replace something. One-in-one-out kind of!

  And if that happens, first I need to look at locally what I can find...  then second hand...  if all that fails, I am allow to go to a store BUT I must make sure that I will beat the crap out of this item and that it will need to die before I replace it with something else.... and that I get the best quality I can afford.
And I MUST say, that as it stands now, I really do not NEED anything for my personal use.  I have enough clothes/jewelry for all seasons... enough stuff for my kitchen... enough books to read...  and these are really the only things I buy for myself.

There will be one (OK two...) exception to the second hand stuff:  underwear/socks and footwear. I really do prefer to buy those new for hygienic reasons.

2) I will accept gifts...  but strongly suggest to people wanting to offer me something that it be something that I can use up (food, tea, candles, incense...), something that is local... or second hand. Or a plant!

3) If I want to give something to someone, I will gravitate toward the same thing as in 2)...  or something I made! And do not thing this is me being cheap... I need to do this for a year!  You will survive if I can!

4) If I run out of books.... or want to read something different... there is always the public library!

5) Obviously, magazine are out the window...  because their only purpose really is just to make you wanna buy stuff... The only exceptions would be a National Geographic or Scientific America type magazine... and then again, only if there is something in there really interesting me.

I think this covers pretty much everything...

As for leisure, I am still allowed to "do" stuff like movies...  or other type of entertainment... or take time away in other cities...
I can still go out for meals or tea with friends...
I can still take a yoga class...
I can still support some local artisans from here and elsewhere in the Maritime...  but not use this as a mechanism to spend all my money... it has to be random and justified...

My main goal is to learn to shop yet more intelligently and spend my scarce money in a much better way!  My second goal is to pay off debt  and put some money aside for early retirement.  I am starting with 1 year but secretly hoping I could do this for 3!  And then retire...

Is there anything you think I may have forgotten???
Anything else needs to be covered that I cannot think of?

Be who you are... DREAM your life... LIVE your dream...
namaste

love&peace,
chloe
xox
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