No Buy Year: July Update

Previous Update: June Update and Mid-Year Review

How should I update you about July? Because this month, I kinda slipped up.

Besides saving money, my no-buy year was mainly intended to curb my compulsive shopping issue. Whilst I can certainly save money now that I don’t buy the unnecessary, I’m still having problem with compulsive buying. I thought if I just puasa from buying things, I would somehow stop the urge – that not buying things would come naturally to me. But it’s apparent now that I still need to consciously work and put effort into it. And my willpower, I tell you, is diminishing…

These days whenever I’m window shopping in the mall, I’m becoming increasingly frustrated because I can’t buy anything. I’m so frustrated; it’s like having a very strong urge for something and you just can’t get that something. I don’t know how to explain it to you. It’s like, for example, my partner is now no longer happy being in the mall with me. Because I keep pressuring him into buying something for himself so I can share the happiness and satisfaction. Buying things for himself you know, not even for me. It’s that bad.

So last month in June when I allowed myself to buy books, little did I know that I would set up myself for difficult internal battles that I end up losing.

My issue with buying books

The rule was for me to finish reading one, buy new one. At first, I did just that but then I grew impatient and I just couldn’t stop buying books.

I read 6 books in July; three of those were the ones that I recently bought, one I borrowed from my office library, one from my stack of unread books since last year, and one was audiobook from YouTube. Yes, the number looks impressive. I read the most books in July compared to any other month this year.

But…

I spend RM329.75 for five books in July! It’s ridiculous, super ridiculous! I know books are good yada yada… but the amount spent is ultimately self-defeating.

I’m okay with 4 out of the 5 books I got because they were from my to-buy-list. But one of those books, it was impulsive purchase and it’s expensive! RM149 to be exact. It’s related to my job but that doesn’t justify it because the book wasn’t on my list and I bought it on the spur of the moment.

Sigh, I still have the impulsive buying issue.

Moving forward, I’m freezing my books buying in August and September to cover back the RM300+ that I spent.

So, here we go – back to no buy books again.

My first and last new apparel of the year

My rule allowed me to buy baju raya if my mom insists. I was happy to announce last month that I didn’t have to buy baju raya for Aidilfitri because of COVID. I forgot though that we have two Raya every year. So guess what?

Yes, I bought baju raya for Aidiladha… pfft, I shouldn’t really. It’s not necessary, my mom didn’t force me to but… but… honestly, I’m running out of ideas of excuses. Sigh.

To look on the bright side, it’s on a buy one free one deal. Bought two for RM149. It’s a good deal, RM74.50 for one. I don’t need two but technically, I’m not breaching any rules. Not fully. Right? … Guys, right?

I’m losing. Send help.

Let me tell you something

If you are thinking into doing no buy / no spend, it’s great. You’ll be able to save money. You’ll be able to control yourself most times, but it won’t come naturally if you’re an impulse shopper. You’ll struggle. You’ll see result but you’ll struggle.

When I started this, I expected that I would be able to just stop altogether from buying stuff but it doesn’t really work that way. I’m constantly looking for loopholes in my own rules so that I can get to buy something. I relaxed my rules to buy books, the lesser evils of all (I mean compared to clothes and knickknacks), but I’m still trapped in the same habit and mindset of impulse buying.

All I’m saying, this is a work in progress. It can be frustrating at times. But as I’m seeing the financial results of this, I’ll keep trying. I’m going to keep doing this.

Let’s keep the positivity. Let’s continue figuringgitout.

Next Update: August Update