Shopping Fast — Oliveyah Fisch

I challenge you to go on a shopping freeze on all clothing, shoes, cosmetics, accessories, and personal items that are not needed for survival. In our world today it's easy to feel like we NEED everything we buy. We need a new sweater because it's winter, we need new jeans to go with that sweater. We need a new iPad and a new phone because we are 2 generations behind. We need the best watch because watches are back in. We need better shoes, nicer makeup, a better camera, a new coffee machine, a fancier water bottle.

For most of us there is an ongoing shopping list in our heads at all times of things we need to have. I want to free you from this infinite list for 1 month.

Why do a shopping fast?

1. Freedom: This challenge will give you the chance to refocus your lives away from consumerism and materialism and instead focus on doing and thinking about things that are more important to you. You will be free from asking yourself, "To buy, or not to buy?"

2. Discipline: It's a good practice to do without things that you feel like you cannot live without for a period of time. It allows space and distance from the behavior to create a more balanced lifestyle.

3. Resourcefulness: This practice will give you the opportunity to live more effectively. Your imagination may be sparked as you are challenged to use what is already in your life and make them great. Look in your closet and see if you can make up 3 new outfits that you have never worn before. Polish your boots and they will shine like new or mend that shirt you love that hasn't been worn in a year.

4. Save for Something Great: It so happens that we may even save a bit of money in the process. Every time you don't buy something that you would have normally, write down the amount the item cost and keep a tab of how much you have saved! It may make you smile!!!

Your Shopping Fast Challenge

From February 1st thru the 29th put a shopping freeze on all clothing, shoes, cosmetics, accessories and all personal items that are not needed for basic survival.

Set Your Ground Rules

Make your shopping fast personal to you. What personal items do you tend to buy yourself that you can put a freeze on for 1 month? How can you start spending less? I encourage each of you to set your own ground rules for the month. Be as specific as possible of things that you are allowed to buy and not allowed to buy so that you are clear before the fast begins. Below is a list of my ground rules as an example.

example:
1. Groceries and gas are okay to buy.
2. Eating out and take out is allowed only 2 times/ week. This includes prepared food from the whole foods deli at lunch time.
3. Gifts for birthdays are okay to buy.
4. No online shopping for household improvements.
5. Entertainment budget is $300 for the month. (This includes shows, live music, nightlife spending, movies, massage and salon services.)

How to prepare

You have a few days to prepare so get organized. Check out your calendar for February and see what your month looks like. Is there an event or trip coming up that might make it hard for you to achieve your goals? What can you do to modify your ground rules to make this challenge work for you?

10 Things You've Put Off

Make a list of 10 things that you want to do that you have been putting off that are important to you. Here's the time to make them happen. When you are giving up an old habit it is important that you substitute it for a positive behavior so that you have a go-to when you feel like falling back into your habit. There may be times in the month when you feel like you want to shop. You may feel impoverished, left out, unsure or uncomfortable because you are not shopping. This is where this list will come in handy. It will give you the opportunity to bring into your life practices or hobbies you are interested in. You can include in your list chores you want to get done or people you want to connect with. Below is a list of my 10 things that are important to me as an example.

example:
1. Call my brothers and sisters.
2. Go on a hike/ run in Point Reyes.
3. Work on accounting and taxes for 2011.
4. Use my recipe book and cook a dinner that I've never made before.
5. Make a fire in the fireplace and read a book.
6. Go to the beach.
7. Clean out my closet.
8. Research retreat centers for work.
9. Learn how to play a new song on the guitar without having to look at the lyrics or music.
10. Practice stillness for 15 minutes.

Make it Happen

Okay… here we go! It's time to do the work. Make your a lists and check your calendar for February and plan ahead for all spending. Make your ground rules personal and meaningful to you. Feel free to post your ground rules and your list of 10 things you've put off. Share with the group what you didn't buy and how much you've saved. I'm looking forward to doing this challenge with you and creating a support for us to achieve our goals for our spending freeze.

Good Luck!

I challenge you to go on a shopping freeze on all clothing, shoes, cosmetics, accessories, and personal items that are not needed for survival. In our world today it's easy to feel like we NEED everything we buy. We need a new sweater because it's winter, we need new jeans to go with that sweater. We need a new iPad and a new phone because we are 2 generations behind. We need the best watch because watches are back in. We need better shoes, nicer makeup, a better camera, a new coffee machine, a fancier water bottle.

For most of us there is an ongoing shopping list in our heads at all times of things we need to have. I want to free you from this infinite list for 1 month.

Why do a shopping fast?

1. Freedom: This challenge will give you the chance to refocus your lives away from consumerism and materialism and instead focus on doing and thinking about things that are more important to you. You will be free from asking yourself, "To buy, or not to buy?"

2. Discipline: It's a good practice to do without things that you feel like you cannot live without for a period of time. It allows space and distance from the behavior to create a more balanced lifestyle.

3. Resourcefulness: This practice will give you the opportunity to live more effectively. Your imagination may be sparked as you are challenged to use what is already in your life and make them great. Look in your closet and see if you can make up 3 new outfits that you have never worn before. Polish your boots and they will shine like new or mend that shirt you love that hasn't been worn in a year.

4. Save for Something Great: It so happens that we may even save a bit of money in the process. Every time you don't buy something that you would have normally, write down the amount the item cost and keep a tab of how much you have saved! It may make you smile!!!

Your Shopping Fast Challenge

From February 1st thru the 29th put a shopping freeze on all clothing, shoes, cosmetics, accessories and all personal items that are not needed for basic survival.

Set Your Ground Rules

Make your shopping fast personal to you. What personal items do you tend to buy yourself that you can put a freeze on for 1 month? How can you start spending less? I encourage each of you to set your own ground rules for the month. Be as specific as possible of things that you are allowed to buy and not allowed to buy so that you are clear before the fast begins. Below is a list of my ground rules as an example.

example:
1. Groceries and gas are okay to buy.
2. Eating out and take out is allowed only 2 times/ week. This includes prepared food from the whole foods deli at lunch time.
3. Gifts for birthdays are okay to buy.
4. No online shopping for household improvements.
5. Entertainment budget is $300 for the month. (This includes shows, live music, nightlife spending, movies, massage and salon services.)

How to prepare

You have a few days to prepare so get organized. Check out your calendar for February and see what your month looks like. Is there an event or trip coming up that might make it hard for you to achieve your goals? What can you do to modify your ground rules to make this challenge work for you?

10 Things You've Put Off

Make a list of 10 things that you want to do that you have been putting off that are important to you. Here's the time to make them happen. When you are giving up an old habit it is important that you substitute it for a positive behavior so that you have a go-to when you feel like falling back into your habit. There may be times in the month when you feel like you want to shop. You may feel impoverished, left out, unsure or uncomfortable because you are not shopping. This is where this list will come in handy. It will give you the opportunity to bring into your life practices or hobbies you are interested in. You can include in your list chores you want to get done or people you want to connect with. Below is a list of my 10 things that are important to me as an example.

example:
1. Call my brothers and sisters.
2. Go on a hike/ run in Point Reyes.
3. Work on accounting and taxes for 2011.
4. Use my recipe book and cook a dinner that I've never made before.
5. Make a fire in the fireplace and read a book.
6. Go to the beach.
7. Clean out my closet.
8. Research retreat centers for work.
9. Learn how to play a new song on the guitar without having to look at the lyrics or music.
10. Practice stillness for 15 minutes.

Make it Happen

Okay… here we go! It's time to do the work. Make your a lists and check your calendar for February and plan ahead for all spending. Make your ground rules personal and meaningful to you. Feel free to post your ground rules and your list of 10 things you've put off. Share with the group what you didn't buy and how much you've saved. I'm looking forward to doing this challenge with you and creating a support for us to achieve our goals for our spending freeze.

Good Luck!