Day 40 or so?

Oh My'lanta!!

So Jen and I have officially called off the bet.

Trips shouldn't count! Back in TO, I will resume my strict regimen - $100 a month.

I will endeavour to continue my detox efforts while at home, but like I say (and like some of my friends say) Trips don't count!!!

Day 38

May the Force be with me in Atlanta!

Not sure I can do this. Already my mind swam to "well if I forgot something, I can just buy it!" Also, thinking I may finally pick up that Longchamp tote that I've wanted for years (lightest bag I would own).

Ah!!!!

Day 36

Haven't bought anything since Anthro pants last week. Guess it's because I've been working all week and haven't stepped into a store. :P Well actually I lie, I went to Forever21 and didn't get a thing *A-mazing*

So BIG tempation coming up next week - ATL baby! I have to admit with the dollar doing well so, it's a tease. le sigh~ I need to hold out til LA.

Which reminds me...need to pack some super cute (strictly dress to impress) outfits for my Cali trip. At least I can do laundry there so worst case, I can wear everything twice. In different cities. Ha!

Day 31 - 1 damn long month!

I am shame faced.

Amanda took me to Anthro yesterday so she could get HER dress and I (of course) HAD to check out their sale section. Found a pair of navy khaki's on sale for $20!!! WTF? Of course it fit me like a glove. $20?

So anyway, Amanda was going to buy it for me, but after I called to check with Jenn if this was "allowed". She said it was cheating. So Jenn and I decided - we should re-evaluate the rules.

Here are the NEW rules (much more realistic):

1. Each mth, get $100 to shop

2. If you don't use up the $100 w/in that mth, it can carry over into the next month

3. During the next 5 mths (Mar-Jul), we are allowed 1 big ticket item that has no cap.

4. At the end of 5 mths (the NEW extended deadline), we put into our savings $500 + the value of the big ticket item into our savings.

Deal? DEAL!

So I lasted 1 mth without shopping.

Here's to a less aggressive detox plan. Cheers!

Day 30

My dilemma now - as mentioned in the last post is spending way too much on food, but also, now that I'm not shopping, I feel like I have a free rein to spend $ on foolishness.

Prime example - who got suckered into a college basketball fantasy pool and playing the lottery with a bunch of co-workers!?!? NC double what??

WHO AM I?

First of all, I don't watch NBA or even care for the sport as a whole. So why the hell am I betting on a whole bunch of teams I don't even know. Beats me :P Apparently without shopping I turn into a gambler! haha

Day 29

Woot Woot* Almost 1 whole month of not buying: makeup, bags/purses/clutches, pants, jeans, tights, skirts, tees, sweaters, hoodies, tops, jackets, scarves, hats, underwear, bras, lingere, pajamas, workout gear, accessories, dresses, shoes, shoes, shoes...

Sigh - I have a sneaking suspicion that where I saved in clothes, I will have spent on food this month.

My two remaining vices ;)

I may have to concentrate on that next. Kill those two and I will be on top of the world!!!!! (And probably afford that downpayment on a condo..ha!)

Day 28

Resisted shopping in MTL (pat on my back)

Lusting over this clutch, maybe if I can last until Cali, I will treat myself to this...and a new camera lense (35mm f/1.8 nikkor)...

Day 20 - shopaholics anonymous

Out of curiousity, I googled shopaholics anonymous:

http://www.shopaholicsanonymous.org/

On it was a "compulsive buying scale", I took the quiz. Here it is to see if you fall into a compulsive buying category. Sorry the formatting is kinda wonky because I just copied and pasted: (I have also kind of tweaked the definition of the rating scale)

Compulsive Buying Scale © Valence. D’Astous & Fortier

Please express the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following statements. Please place an X on the line that best indicates how you feel about each statement.

• That's me! (5)
• Not all the time, but sometimes (4)
• Meh - I don't have a strong opinion about that (3)
• I kind of don't agree that I'm like that - rarely?! (2)
• Nope, that ain't me, sista! (1)

When I have money, I cannot help but spend part or all of it. (Uh hello! Money in the wallet = money out of the wallet. That's why I try not to keep too much cash in my wallet - maybe not on shopping but definitely on food or other stuff)

I am often impulsive in my buying behavior.(Ok yeah, I don't sit there and mull over if I want something for days. If I want it, like it, I buy it!)

For me, shopping is a way of facing the stress of my daily life and relaxing. (So occasionally, after a stressful week, I will go get myself something - perfume, book, clothes, etc. Add a couple glasses of red wine in there as well)

I sometimes feel that something inside pushes me to go shopping.(Usually not inside, but outside - my friends! ha)

There are times when I have a strong urge to buy.(Yup! Albeit - much less often then before)

At times, I have felt somewhat guilty after buying something, because it seemed unreasonable.(Yup! Did I really have to get another pair of jeans?)

There are some things I buy that I do not show to anybody for fear of being perceived as irrational in my buying behavior.(My mum, my Dad)

I often have an unexplainable urge, a sudden and spontaneous desire, to go and buy something. (Yup! Especially when I feel like there is nothing in my closet that I can wear that I haven't already worn a million times)

As soon as I enter a shopping center or mall, I have an irresistible urge to go into a shop and buy something.(Well now, I wouldn't be there in the first place if I didn't want to get something, no? What a dumb question.)

I am one of those people who often respond to direct mail offers.(Hmm...not sure what this means, so they mean sales? )

I have often bought a product that I did not need, while knowing that I have very little money left. (Ok,not that I have very little money left, but I have bought stuff that I didn't necessarily need - see below)

I am a spendthrift (Def: someone who spends money wastefully. Wastefully - defined as of no use, worthless. Maybe....thinking back to when I bought a box of Febreeze - still in my room rotting away, or a few dresses bought over 2 years ago that are still hanging in my closet with the tag on :P)

I have sometimes thought “If I had to do it over again, I would…” and felt sorry for something I have done or said.(Who hasn't?)

Calculating your score:

• • Each X that you placed corresponds to a number: 5 for “strongly agree”, 4 for “somewhat agree”, 3 for “neither agree nor disagree”, 2 for “somewhat disagree, and 1 for “strongly disagree.
• • Add together the 13 numbers for your Xs to get your total scale score.
• • Compulsive buyers tend to score 42.2 or higher.

Where do you fit in? LOL - I have a funny feeling that a few of you are "compulsive buyers" as well *wink*

I won't name any names *ahem*

Day 18 - TGIF

18 days. sigh*

So I'm off work and recuperating next week. That should be an easy way to get to day 27 w/o shopping. I will be home all week catching up on reading and watching shows/movies online.

I've found a way to get a book that I want; by asking my sister to buy it for me as a gift ha! Pfft, that's not cheating. It's a legitimate gift. A get-well-soon one. ;)

Apparently this book will change my life - or rather my health issues "the hormone diet". It will fix me.

Going back to our pact - Jen is itching. She's mentioned to me how BCBG is having a temporary outlet sale at Eaton Centre and debated if we should make the length of the blackout period only to Apr 1, instead of May 1. This was on two different days this week.

Nope! No change - 71 days of no shopping continues. I'm starting to think that I was insane to think I could go to ATL and not shop. What was I thinking? Clearly not.

Back to the cost of the chairs. I told the story at my team meeting today. It was a hoot!

The magic numbers are 4857 (that's not including taxes). $4857... for one f-ing chair!?!?! Is that not insanity? It was gorgeous mind you, but you MUST be mad. I may have paid $485.70 but even that would be a stretch.

Day 14 - shock

OH MY F!

So guess how much that beautiful chair that I referred to on Day 10 is...please, take a wild stab. Actually take a pinata swing at it.

I walked in today after work because I had time while waiting for Jen and Amanda. I went to see if there was a price tag (Nada. Always a bad sign) so I proceeded to approach the guy working there to inquire how much this future chair of mine is. I brace myself, this is Rosedale after all, he goes to check his price book. He tells me how much it is. I don't react.

He repeats himself. I don't react.

My non reaction is actually a big reaction....it's shock.

Let me remind you, this is 1 dining chair I was inquiring about.

Guess...