90 Days of No Shopping.. Day 29

29 Days and I havn't shopped...

I'm pretty proud of myself actually- I thought that I would have subconsciously "slipped" by now. I'm doing a good job of deleting the sale emails that litter my inbox; the sweet nothings of "free shipping" tempt me. I still look at catalogs and my favorite sites, thinking of what the item would look like on me, especially with the launch of ASOS Curve and the fab Monif C's Swim 2010 line - but these are all wants not needs .. and what I need most of all is to get my shopping and financial act together.

Student loans have also been getting on my last nerve; they depress me because they are just way too high. Student loans should NOT be equivalent with a mortgage!! That stark realization about my student loans has forced me to find other ways besides shopping to pass the time and make me happy; I've been getting more involved with the campus life here and putting more energy into improving my apartment. All of these things have been easy on the pockets (the maintenance department here gave me all the painting supplies I needed and I was able to print pictures in the campus photo lab) My mentor came up for a visit and took me on a mini housewarming trip, so my pockets have been ok.

I still want clothes- but I've also been thinking less about my wants and more about others needs. Which is why I donated money to the Haitian earthquake relief - it's easy to not think about getting new shoes when you know that others are in desperate need for the basics. In my position, I teach kids that serving others allows one to learn so much more about themselves - and they've ramped up their efforts to give because it makes them feel good. In hindsight I think of how not shopping has allowed me to give more to others and in the process I'm learning that what I thought I needed before (clothes, shoes) isn't that serious.


But now I'm faced with a slight dilemma; I am taking a group of students to Cape Town, South Africa in March and I might need to get some clothes.

I asked the question on twitter and facebook "Is this considered an exception?"

Some said no, while others said an international trip for work is considered a valid excuse to shop. Others gave me a compromise- get what you need but set a small budget.

I went through my clothes- lots of sundresses, lots of tees, but no shorts. With temperatures in Cape Town at 92 degrees and I know we'll be working/building I think shorts would be appropriate. (I'm not really trying to climb a ladder or the side of a mountain in a dress). I've already started to throw clothes in my suitcase because it will help me to assess what I do have and what I might need.



What do you all think I should do? Grin and bear it? Make an exception and shop? Give myself a limit and get only what I need? What would you do?

~Luvin' My Curves