17/04/2013

The one month spending ban

I find spending bans really hard. I tried to take part in one earlier this year and quite frankly, failed miserably. I've been thinking about doing another one for a while, and after getting home last night and hearing a visitor to my house had seen my stash in the bathroom and called it 'mental', I thought now was a good time to start!

My plan is to initially go for one month. I managed three weeks before, so really, this should be achievable (I say this now...). I've come up with a few rules to keep me on the straight and narrow.

The rules:

1. No buying beauty products. Unless I run out of an essential, then it's not being bought.

2. One magazine per week. I have a massive magazine habit and have quite a few stuck at home still unread. My aim is to stick to one per week to help ease the pain a little (especially as there are some good freebies coming up!).

3. Bring lunch to work at least twice per week. This will help me save more money, as at the moment I spend far too much on eating out at work.

So these are my rules. I'm going to start from tomorrow and ease myself in, but I want to last throughout the entire month of May. I'm going to a meet up in Brighton at the end of April so may allow myself a purchase then, but May will be a no-buy month!

I'll be keeping all my empties for the ban so I can see just how much of my stash I've used up, which I think will be quite an interesting experiment.

Some lovely ladies have also expressed an interest in extending their bans or joining me in a month long ban, and I've listed them below. If you'd like to take part too, just leave a comment below. The more the merrier!

@blogofshadows
@ironic_sparkles
@jenny_redhead
@beauty_balm
@OhNoItsBex
@ElspethDaisy
@allthatslap
Helen Gray
Angelica - One Little Vice
Been there, done that, got the lipstick
Honey Go Lightly

(Please excuse the haul I will be posting in the next few days from the #LDNBBMeet. This is also another reason why I never need to go shopping again!).

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31 comments

  1. Ooh what freebies are coming up? I try to keep an eye out but haven't seen anything about it for a bit.

    Good luck with the spending ban! I'm on a bit of a spending ban but not from choice, due to a variety of factors we have money problems so I've had to cut down, massively, until it's sorted. I've had a few magazines and a couple of purchases that I'd already put moneyn aside for but Boots Points and Tesco clubcard points have seen me through, had some lovely buys thanks to those :D

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    1. I think REN and Benefit are out next month on the front of magazines :) Boots points are always good for treats x

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  2. I need to do this! I'd really like to save for a month and then use the money i don't spend to celebrate graduating! (I finish my university course on May 22nd) count me in :)

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    1. excellent - will add you to the list :)

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  3. Good luck, I just extended the 100-day ban to make up for a slip up I had so I know how hard it is. Your goals and rules and totally realistic though so you can do it!
    :-)

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    1. thanks - i've been reading your posts too and think you've done so well!

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  4. Good luck everyone! I don't have a time limit as such for mine, but until I can afford to move back to my hometown then I'm on a ban so I can save. :) x

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  5. You know I am on this with you too - thanks for listing me. My 100 day ban was not a disaster but I didnt use up any where near the amount of things I wanted to and my stash is more than "mental" LOL

    I dont think it will be that hard though. I didnt find the 100 days too bad. I am only doing beauty this time but I will probably wait until May 1st before I start it.

    Good luck with this - you know I am the spending ban police and I will be watching you!!

    xxx

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    1. You always keep my spending down. Looking forward to being 'ban buddies' ;)

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  6. Yay! I am in too I did have a little wee spend yesterday on Luvlula.com £21ish but that's it from now on in for 4 weeks I'm not buying anything, unless like you it is considered an essential such as cleanser!
    I didn't join in with the last ban but I'm not sure I could have lasted 100 days lol! but I'm confident I can go 30 days without I have a massive stash of everything!
    Good Luck chick - and remember twitter is watching you lol! xxxx
    @jenny_redhead AKA jen@ redheadbeautydiaries.co.uk x

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    1. excellent :) 100 days was far too scary, but I reckon together we can all do 30 days x

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  7. thanks for the mention Kat. Like Grace I'm going to start on 1st May. My stash is mental too ;) x

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  8. Go you! You can do it - I need to do it too and definitely with lunches included! I spend a stupid amount of money on lunches etc! I've arranged with another two bloggers to do a 2-month spending ban starting 5 may. I'm scared! X

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    1. good luck! Let me know how you're getting on and we can keep each other motivated x

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  9. I think after #LDNBBMeet as well I will be joining in with you, I have my husband birthday to get through first so I will be probably be joining in May 1st as well (also gives me a chance to stock up). I know for a fact that husband will support this :)

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    1. 1st May sounds like a good plan. I'm starting a little early, but plan to do the whole of May too :)

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  10. I'm doing the two month spending ban starting 5 May with Shot of Beauty and another blogger! Eeeeek! There's a London blogger meetup at the end of July and my plan is to treat myself then :-) xx

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    1. That sounds like a good plan - gives you chance to save up for the July meet up x

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  11. I will definitely do this!! Need to save for holiday in September x

    http://smash-beauty.blogspot.co.uk/

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  12. I really really really need to go on a spending ban! I seem to have just got into a habit of buying things because I can lately, not good for the bank balance haha! These rules seem like really good ideas as well, think I shall be joining you guys with this one!

    Hannah - squidoodles92.blogspot.co.uk xx

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  13. Go Kat!! I know you can do it hun. :) x

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    1. Shout at me if i mention going makeup shopping ;)

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  14. I will probably give this a go at some point! Love the idea and hope that I will be able to successfully finish it! Need to save up some money for my summer holiday so I have a solid reason to at least try! :))

    XO,
    RosyChicc

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    1. I think having a goal to aim for really helps :)

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  15. The rules are really simple for a spending ban and aren't too strict, but I'm so rubbish at spending bans, you can do it :)


    A little bit Unique - Blog // Facebook // Bloglovin



    x

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    1. thanks - am hoping to complete this one successfully unlike the last one! x

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  16. Count me in! I was just thinking to myself I need to go on another ban gor a month.
    xo

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  17. Tempting not sure if I could do it or not. Would save so much cash though!
    xx

    fashitupandtalkitout.blogspot.co.uk

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