No Spend August
/August is here! And to kick it off right, I’m beginning a "no-spend" month.
A little background on the timing:
Every July and August bring school supply displays and back-to-school advertisements. Over the past years, August would bring feelings of excitement and to be honest, intense anxiousness. For the past 8 years, August would have me preparing for new students, new faces, reviewing curriculum, and pouring over individualized educational plans. And when I was a student myself, I would prepare for a new school year, new teachers, new assignments, and new milestones of growth. It's always been focused on school, school, school.
This August means something so, so different to me because I will not be going back to my career in teaching.
This year I will be creating and mapping out my own day, I will be driving my schedule, and I will be filling my time to best meet the needs of my family and my business. This next month I will be embracing a more minimalist approach to life and finding the joy in the things we own and letting go of the things that no longer serve us.
Here’s a list of things I am saying NO to:
- Going out to eat
- Shopping for clothes or home decor
- New and unnecessary beauty products
- Entertainment
- Buying more books
Here are things I can spend money on:
- Our current bills and mortgage (hello responsibility!)
- Groceries (Only what we need. Clear plan and schedule)
- Scheduled work jobs for our kitchen renovation (We have already planned and prepared for these)
- Necessary toiletries (i.e. deodorant if it runs out, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)
- Business expenses and needs
And of course, this is not a perfect solution or an answer to all the questions and unknowns we have. This is however, a step in a direction of sitting with what we have and being more intentional with how to move forward.
What do you think of a "no-spend" month? What would it look like for you? Or what's one way you can give some extra focus to all the great stuff you already have?
