no spending/buying challenge #5 or the end

I can't believe it... 4 weeks of my no spending/buying challenge are over!

This went fast. I had some moments in the drugstore, were I just wanted to buy something from my list, but I didn't. In the end I did 3 non-essential purchases: the beautiful illustrations you saw, an umbrella and a pair of shoes for my girl. The second day she tells me, they are to small... no comment...

My shopping list system was very helpful. I wrote down things I would like to buy in two columns. One for buy it right away, the second was for in the future. In the end I decided that 75% of the things from the list I don't need or don't need now.

My conclusion... I like the end result so much, that I will stick with the 30-day shopping list.

Happy Friday & enjoy your weekend! I can't wait to go shopping, again!

no spending/buying challenge #4

They say, blogs encourage consumerism. I would say yes. Some sort. Some good, some bad... it could be discussed.

It 's already week 3 of my no spending/buying challenge, but I have bought this beautiful illustration, as mentioned, here. Something for myself, because I normally buy things for others. And it's Gita's fault. On her blog ODDS & ENDS, here, I read the interview with Anja Slibar, a young and very talented illustrator, her site here. So, that was it! I looked up her site, wrote an email to see, if I could afford her work, because a lot of empty frames were waiting to go in action... 

Sometimes breaking the rules makes you more happy than you though.

Happy Friday & enjoy your weekend! I have just one week to go!

no spending/buying challenge #3

Hey, it's already week 2 into the no spending/buying challenge! It all started here. I still haven't bought anything,but I have ordered something little... can't wait to be delivered. Other than the emergence/necessity! that happened the other day....

To be short, my girl had a medical check up in another city, luckily, we parked in a shopping center and  she started to vomit... so we had to go and buy a new jacket, t-shirt, trousers... then I saw I forgot my credit card, but  I just had enough cash to get what she needed and we were off, running to the Hospital. In the end she was so happy about the new jacket & I was happy everything went well.

I wish you all happy Easter!

Love Jelena

no spending/buying challenge #2

Hey, officially I am already one week into the no spending/buying challenge. It all started here. And guess what? I didn't buy anything, yet! I am constantly writing down things what I would like to get,  right after the challenge or in the near future. About my shopping list, you can read here. Then I cross over things, that I see that are not needed, then things shift from one column to the other. Right now, I have 7 thing that I will buy/do right away, like change my Iphone glass, it broke yesterday for the second time... or  buy the Kiehl's Avocado eye cream and in the second column I am still thinking about this leather jacket, here.

What about you, what are your shopping habits, tips, how do you spend your hard earned money?

Have a great Friday!

no spending/buying challenge #1

Hey, have you decided to participate in my no spending/buying challenge? Maybe, you will change you mind along the way, but for today, I wanted to share my vision, advice, tip, anyway you like to call it... how to make it through the 30 days without spending. My strategy is I am making a shopping list. Everything on the list should be there for 30 days. So simple as that. I already did my list. It has two columns:

1. for things I will buy after the challenge, because I need them

2. what I will need or really like, as sandals, but I haven't decided on a pair jet.

What do you think, about the shopping list strategy? So you know, till today I haven't buy anything.

Have a great start of the week!

my 100.post + a new challenge

Hey everyone! I am so happy and proud that this is already my 100. post! Yeah!

I hope you like my writing and photos, if you are particularly interested in something, just write a comment below or a mail and maybe I could include it in a post. All comments are always very welcomed, don't forget that!

+

My new challenge I wanted to write about. I decided that in the next 30 days I won't spend/buy anything, except food & other necessities like medicine. So I won't buy nothing new for myself, kids or the home, no new makeup, clothes, accessories, magazines, toys, frames, books ... nothing. I already started on Friday 4.4.2014.

I hope I will inspire someone, to join me in this personal challenge, to get a new perspective on our spending habits and more... So you know, I was thinking about this for a longer time, but then I read a post on The Dwelling tree, here. 

When I mentioned it to my husband he said, but you are not buying anything... Ok, then it won't be hard ;) Let's see. Dare and try something new, join me!