As per usual with the fun and difficult things I set out to do in blogs, which are applauded by all, from friends to family and the husband, this did not turn out entirely as hoped. I tried to lose weight, that did not go as planned; now I’ve tried not to shop, and it would have been boring if I’d succeeded. I set out not to buy things I don’t need in February, and this was interesting to say the least. On January 31 I bought a love seat, a purchase I wanted but did not need. But it was still January, correct? So no harm done. At the beginning of the month I always set out to buy the groceries in bulk for the family, so I did that without overspending.

I started to listen to my thoughts instead of acting on them.This is the gist of the conversation in my head while walking through Sanlitun.

“Lets go to H&M.”

“You are doing No Spend February Pauline, it would be mental to go to H&M.”

“But I just want to look, maybe I’ll find something I need.”

“There is nothing you need at H&M.”

“Come on Pauline, it will be fun. Maybe some cute earrings?”

“Stop talking to me.”

As you can see, my inner shopaholic tried to take over for a quick and easy shopping rush in H&M, but I kept walking. I felt a bit bored to be honest; I tend to look around trying to find a “hunting ground” to blow money. I have always acted on these urges, ending the month with more month than money.

I was lucky that February was the Spring Festival month, so not buying stuff online wasn’t hard. However ordering food and dining out was super easy. So even without shopping sprees, money flew out the window. Especially when our fridge broke down and we ordered dinner each night. I have learned a few things: I shop for no real reason other than getting a rush. Many times I don’t need the item I buy.

I have found that if I make a picture of the thing and I keep thinking about it later, it might be a nice buy. However from all the things I made pictures and screenshots of, I didn’t remember a thing when I browsed through the pictures. I buy stuff when I am sad; I buy stuff when I am happy. I had a setback this month and I went and bought a pink hat. When I had something to celebrate I went to Roundabout to buy an adult tutu.

Having conversations with my inner shopaholic is a more frequent occurrence and I embrace this. I stop acting on impulses, and tell shopaholic Pauline to go play with all the fun things she has in her home. Surprisingly we had money left over at the end of the month, and when I checked my internet shopping account I did not buy a single thing in February. And I disconnected my husband’s credit card from my WeChat account; better be safe than sorry. Not the exact victories I was looking for, but instead of major leaps I decided that baby steps are also good.

Truthfully my husband will laugh so much at this post, you will hear it all over Beijing. But for the first time in the five years that we have been married I am committed to beat my shopping addiction, and work on our adult financial situation. I won’t lie, I absolutely love to shop, for any occasion: when I am sad, when I am mad, or when I am happy. There are many great reasons in my head for shopping sprees, online, at the mall or even at the Roundabout store. I don’t shy away from a long car ride to get some shopping done. I love to “hunt” for treasures, and living in Beijing with kuaidi men at my fingertips has only made it easier. I don’t know how to speak Chinese but I know how to speak to the delivery guy on the phone.

After many times apologizing to my husband when we have more month than money left you might think he would take away my privileges of being in charge of our finances, but he has done no such thing. For some reason he still trusts me with our salaries. But enough is enough, and I am going to set myself a challenge and have even given it a name: NO SPEND February.

I can hear my husband’s laugh already. But I am adamant to not buy anything I don’t need. My home has furniture, and my child has plenty of toys and clothing. I want to declutter, I don’t want to add to the mass consumption of the world. I won’t go online and find stuff I don’t need; I won’t go to the mall and find more things I don’t need. I will keep Beijing posted on how I am doing and what kind of tools I have found to help me budget.

But I have set myself a few rules:

-I won’t spend money on things I don’t need in February.

-I will buy groceries- we need to eat in this home and use toilet paper on regular basis.

-I will go to the hospital if needed and pay for medication.

-If I attend a clothes auction I can only take as many pieces as I have brought.

-I will use the taxi service Didi, but try to use my bike more.

-I will set a budget for eating out and ordering food and keep to it.

-When my daughter gets invited to a birthday party I will buy the birthday child a present.

-I will make pictures of the things I think I need to buy, and review in March if I really need them. This won’t be a shopping list, but an “I can’t believe I wanted to buy that” list

Picture Credit Pixabay