Day 33: One Decision Saved over $1000 this Month

There is no way I would have realised how much this ghastly consumerism costs me without looking at the numbers. 

We reduced our impulse spends by 85% and saved over $1000. We Rock!

What do our bank accounts tell me?

We looked at our bank accounts from last year and the impulse buys stood out like big hot steaming turds. It was sickening to see how many things we bought from impulse....we were the marketers dream couple. Drawn in by the shiny, sparkling signs and juiced up by the 'bargains' we found.

It's a scam people!! 

Browsing our bank accounts showed that most of the non-necessity spending was impulse buys. 

We both had colluded on this unconscious way of living...and we are darn glad it has stopped!! 

Here are the impulse spends that jumped off the bank statements:

• dinners out (always impulsive, never planned)
• clothes shopping (never planned)
• op shopping (no predetermine plan to buy)
• DVDs (no real plan to buy until we passed the store)
• Nights out after work (mostly alcohol costs)

In January 2014 we spent $1195 on impulse consumerism!! How stupid is that?

This year we spent only $185 with two dinners, one night after work, 2 DVDs and a quick bite before the movies being all we spent. Although these have been considered impulse buys, all but the DVDs were discussed well before the decision was made to spend.

Being in the business improvement industry, I love data. The numbers tell you the truth. The data tells me that things are shifting big time for our family and it is all because we made a decision....here it is. 

DECISION: To let go of the false relationship and compulsive need (addiction) from the consumer culture I have happily, if unconsciously colluded with. To experience myself, others and life via a relationship built on connection, creating and discovery.

This decision has changed our lives!

What went out - 2 items

Two more coats left the building. One watermelon coat I have only worn once and one 1960 coat I have worn twice. Both really nice....but no longer considered part of the family.

What came in - 0 items

It is wonderful to have nothing coming in
 

INSIGHTS

(1) Ignorance may be bliss, but consciousness is empowering
(2) I have gained so much more than money from this shift
 

TOTAL: OUT - 627   IN - 49

Day 20: You Can Bank On It

How do you rate success? How do you really know if you are making a difference?  
 

Show Me The Money

It is wonderful to not only feel you are achieving an outcome, but to see the real results (in the form of data) will show you the full impact of the level of change. That's why I have a tally at the end of the blog. It's going to be interesting at the end of the year. Any guesses on the total out / total in?
 
Another indicator will be the bank statements. I will check each month and compare impulse spends from last year to this year. At the end we should see some very interesting (embarrassing, shocking, 'you're joking') charts. I promise to publish them monthly no matter how embarrassing it is.
 
Getting nervous now. I think it will be around 80% less spending on impulsive consumer stuff....maybe more. 

Keep Your Eyes Open

Jerry added to the rubbish pile by tossing out an old pair of sunglasses. They broke about 4 years ago and had been sitting in the car ever since waiting for a lens that never returned.

I bet there are stacks of things like this lying around the house. You know the ones, sitting in the 'fix it later' box. Gone-ski I say. Or at least we will make a commitment to fixing things by a certain date and then gone-ski if we don't.

What went out - 1 item

Jerry's very stylish, sadly broken, need another pair now dear, sunglasses.

What came in - 0 items

Nothing once again.

INSIGHTS

(1) Good intentions are useless without the actions to back them up
(2) Things don't last like they used to (I sound like my mother now)   


TOTAL: OUT - 410   IN - 28