TAKING THE NO SHOPPING CHALLENGE

What does it mean????

A no shopping challenge is the best way to learn how to stop a shopping addiction and break free from the endorphin high we get from buying things we don't really need.

You will still need to spend money on necessities but even that can be limited with proper planning.

Completing this challenge might be harder for some than it is for others, especially if you are used to buying what you want when you want it.

Step one of the no-shopping challenge is to make a list of your regular purchases. How many of them do you actually need to survive?  Your list should include items such as:

* Groceries.

* Fuel for your car.

* Cleaning products and toiletries.

* Clothing necessities. (Real necessities, like replacing socks and underwear.)

* Cosmetics. (Try to stick to the basics if you have to purchase cosmetics.)

What things do you normally spend money on that you can replace or rework? For instance, if you normally take the family out to a movie once a month, why not try a family game night instead? Instead of purchasing expensive cleaning products, try some natural ones.

There’s very little that you actually need. Keeping shopping cues “out of sight, out of mind” will help you keep the habit.

Your no shopping challenge can be for 30, 60, or even 90 days. Pick what works for you.

BE 

VERY STRICT 

WITH YOURSELF. 

You are only allowed to buy something if you really need it.  If you can borrow something for a one-time event, then do that instead of buying something used or new.

To succeed in your no shopping challenge, you need to remove the temptations and stop any online impulse shopping. Delete shopping apps or hide them from sight on your phone. 

Just like you need to remove digital temptations, you also need to remove physical temptations. Avoid retailers at all costs. As you become more practiced, you will start to not notice the marketing and temptations.

If you slip up during your no shopping challenge, don’t give up the challenge altogether.  Think about why you slipped up, and then think about how you can prevent it from happening again.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE: I want to share with you another aspect of living a simple life that I was struggling with until Covid came and saved me, figuratively speaking.

I was an online shopping addict. I really thought I was doing myself a big favour by buying stuff sold cheaper and having it delivered FREE OF COST.

And so I would scroll and add items to my cart just to reach the target of Free Shipping. Last year, I even subscribed to Amazon Prime so I could shop for single items and watch some movies, etc FREE. Ha, ha. 

This year during lockdown, AMAZON was unavailable. And we learnt to do without and to find creative ways to survive. So I decided, why subscribe to Prime? I wrote that amount down as my first income - Rs 999. 

I stopped checking Amazon Pantry and decided to make my own snacks at home or buy only if really needed. I stopped buying disposable diapers for my son and instead started waking him up to go in the middle of the night (he's 9 years but still has a problem). 

The Mall, not being open, turned out to be a blessing, because I used to frequent it once a month just to use the free coupons given for some promotion the year before. When the coupons got over in February, l decided to never do that again. Then lockdown started the next month. Hurray!

Having learnt to cook and eat healthy food at home, I am not likely to go again to any fast food places and I hope my boys will also have learned the same lesson. We usually don't visit restaurants but I used to always think we should go out at least once a month. 

But post Covid, I would rather not. Why spend a bomb on what you can cook much better at home? If you need it to be special, call a friend or two to join you and see how much more fun you have.

Please share your Covid lockdown lifestyle changes in the comments. It will help many to make realistic lifestyle changes for their betterment and that of the environment.