Southern Belle in Training

Fashion, Travel & Lifestyle Blog || Est. 2012 || Virginia Beach, VA

May 11, 2017

Why I Decided To Do A Four Week Shopping Fast.

     I've mentioned in a couple blog posts from this month that I'm currently in the middle of a four week long shopping fast, so I wanted today's post to explain a little bit more about what this is and why I decided to do it. 



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     My definition of a shopping fast means no shopping for fun or anything unnecessary for the duration of the fast, which I have set at four weeks. That means no online shopping, no strolling the mall or local boutiques after work, and just no personal shopping in general during this time! I made sure to stock up before I began this on a few beauty essentials that I use in my daily routine. I was going to do the shopping fast through the whole month of May, but I didn't want to miss out on Memorial Day sales, which can be some of the best of the year after Black Friday, so I began the fast a few days early at the end of of April, and I'll finish it at Memorial Day Weekend.


      So why exactly am I doing this? And more specially, why now? Here are my reasons:


     1. Moving out of state is EXPENSIVE: This one is kind of self-explanatory, but true. Moving out of state each summer when I was in college was an expense for sure, but nothing even close to doing a full blown out of state move. I am really thankful that my parents were able to help me out this time around with a lot of the major expenses (although that probably won't happen next time around!), BUT there was a still a lot that I had to pay for too. Things that you don't think about... like tipping your movers and all of the DMV fees that you have to pay upon arriving in your new state. That all adds up fast. And it adds up even faster when those things and other things come due before you've had your first paycheck! Needless to say, my bank account definitely needs some time to recover after having a lot of expenses all at once like that.


     2. Budgeting is difficult (especially when you're bad at math): A fun fact about radio: even though I am 100% convinced I have the best job in the world, the one downside of it is that I don't work in the highest paying field. Starting pay in radio is really low, and that's an unavoidable fact. To me it's worth it- because my career satisfaction makes up for the lower salary! But a lower starting salary means that I have to be really money conscious and stick to my budget (which I'm in the process of making). Unfortunately for me, math of any type has never been my forte. It's helping me this month as I figure out necessary expenses to completely eliminate the unnecessary ones.


     3. I've been reevaluating and appreciating things I already own: Taking a month off from shopping might seem really unusual for a fashion blogger to do... after all, one of my jobs here on the blog is to keep up with the latest trends and styles, and the report on them and style them for y'all! But one problem that I do see sometimes in the blogging world is materialism creeping in to someone's life and starting to take over. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a girly girl who loves clothes, shoes, makeup and trends. But there is a problem when this starts to become an obsession, someone's money starts going only to fund shopping habits, and someone believes they find their worth in material things. That's a big NOPE! When you spend so much of your time each week working on your blog (or even just as a reader of blogs) it can be hard sometimes to notice materialism creeping in. Buy cutting out shopping for a month, it will help me to focus on other priorities, and also realize how much stuff I already have! Seriously- I gave away a ton of stuff before I moved, but I STILL have a closet FULL of clothes and accessories!



      So those are my reasons behind my shopping fast! I'm already looking forward to the Memorial Day Weekend Sales, but surprisingly starting this month hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. (Although I do really have my eye on this pair of sunglasses- haha!)



     Have you ever partaken in a shopping fast before? Let me know in the comments!!



     Hope y'all are having a great week. I have a busy day coming up tomorrow with more radio events after my show- I love having a job that keeps my week interesting!



     God Bless,


     xoxo Annaliese (or Charlotte XO on the radio!)
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24 comments

  1. I love this! I need to do this in June I think, I don't really have a summer wardrobe because last summer I was job searching and the summer before I worked at a place that was business! I've been stocking up on summer essentials, but need to look at Marshall's & TJ Maxx more!

    Love this!

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  2. I love this idea! I need to start this immediately. And I agree, sometimes blogging makes you feel like you have to keep up and always have the latest and greatest, even if you don't need it. Thanks for inspiring me to start my fast!! :)

    Erin Schabo
    Top Knots & Sweatpants

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  3. shopping fasts are a must for my wallet and my sanity!

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  4. Number three has really been on my mind lately. I find that the more I buy the more I want and the more dissatisfied I am with my own closet (when in reality at one point I really wanted each of the pieces that is in there). I have been a bit of a shopaholic since I got my first job in high school but over the past 9 months I've been really trying to be less materialistic (for my wallet and the planet). It's a difficult balance that I'm not sure I'll ever perfect (like you said there is nothing wrong with being a girly girl who likes clothes and shoes and makeup) but I think it is important to be mindful of. All of this long tangent is basically to say I think it's great you're doing a shopping fast-I need to do the same thing!

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  5. I use the everydollar app for budgeting if you need something to start with! It's been really helpful. I am vacationing this month but I plan to do a 6 month shopping fast (June-Nov) to work on shopping my closet and getting closer to a capsule wardrobe. I am allowing purchases of beauty supplies I run out of but other than that, no extra shopping outside of groceries. Jess at Just Jess

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  6. I don't do much shopping in terms of clothes these days, but when it comes to home decor, now that's a totally different story! I love the idea of shopping your own home (kinda like shopping your own closet) to reinvent items you already own.

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  8. This is amazing! It takes so much self control to do what you're doing. Such creative ways to say accountable :)

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  9. I've actually decided to start a shopping fast this week! I agree that it helps you appreciate the things you own more. I always forget how much I love styling the clothes that I already have in my closet. Thanks for the inspo girly!

    Xo,
    Courtney
    www.courtneyfashionista.com

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  10. I tried to do an entire spending fast before, and I made it like 21 days or something. I'm honestly not a big shopper, so that's never really been something I feel like I need to "fast" from. Books though. Oh man. I used to buy SO many books!

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  11. I've been taking note of everything I buy and questioning whether it's a want or a need. Even things I think of as essentials at the grocery store!

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  12. I've never really considered a shopping fast, and in my mind I don't shop all that much, but I am certain that if I actually tried this I would probably die halfway through

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  13. Sometimes shopping fast are just needed! But never fun lol.

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  14. I want to take a shopping break sometime in the near future to save some money. These are all great reasons!

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  15. I so love that you are doing this! I try to do this once every few months because it really does help you appreciate what you have. As a blogger (you know exactly what I mean) I get sent product and so I have to make a conscious effort to use up what I have and not just go pick up new things to have them to blog about! Thanks for being one of the bloggers that is actually up front about this kind of stuff :)

    xoxo, SS


    www.southernandstyle.com

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  16. Good for you! I rarely shop actually! I went on a 4 month shopping fast about 6 years ago and never really got back into it!

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  17. Great advice and honestly great self discipline! I applaud you.
    xo, Alexis
    https://cincinnatisass.com

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  18. This is so great! I don't shop for clothes very often, but house goods and decor get me every time! I've actually been on a little fast with that now that I'm thinking about it - I've been diy-ing most of my decor items lately!

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  19. What a great idea! The past few weeks have been so crazy and I've had to get so many gifts, go out to events, etc. so I've been thinking about taking a spending fast. This is just the inspiration I need, but maybe I'll wait till after Memorial Day Weekend ;)

    Kristen | www.sophisticatedgal.com

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  20. So cool to hear about this! I love point #3. I feel like that's definitely something that I've been doing lately. I've been looking for new and fun ways to work with what I already have!

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  21. I'm really loving this! I have the same issue where I always want more new clothes but never wear or appreciate the stuff i already have!! plus it gets expensive!!

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  22. I've unintentionally been on one lately! It's definitely been good for myself and my bank account!

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  23. girl I am so with you- moving anywhere is hard and consumes a lot of $$! Such a smart idea to do a shopping fast!

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  24. I did a shopping fast back in September and it was so hard but definitely helpful in saving up some money! Good luck girl!

    xoxo,
    Katie
    chicincarolina.blogspot.com

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Thanks so much for reading Southern Belle in Training! Comments make my day- so feel free to share your thoughts on this post! I read each and every comment.
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