Mindful Spending: My Financial Mindset Glow Up and No Shopping Challenge

This tale starts when I was 14 and started giving fastpitch pitching lessons to 8 to 10 year olds in my town. It was my first job. I was making $15 an hour (in 2010) and made my own schedule. It was a pretty sweet gig for a 14 year old! Through high school I stuck with it and eventually had so many girls that I was making almost $1,000 a month. I did not have a car or many financial responsibilities, so I saved all the money I made from pitching lessons and graduated college with thousands of dollars in my bank, ready to take on the world!

Except that last part about savings never happened. I wish!

Instead, I never believed I could save so I never really tried it. Once my lesson business started to take off, the parent of a lesson asked me what I was going to do with the money I was making. I said I wanted to save up to buy a car, to which he laughed at me and said “good luck with only $15 an hour.” My high school self thought “well if an adult does not think it is possible, then I guess it isn’t!” Feeling dumb for ever thinking I could save, I decided to stop saving. Counting my earnings in the passenger seat after lessons I asked “Mom, can we stop at Marshall’s?”... And that is really where this tale begins.

Here are the two steps I took to elevate my financial mindset:

1. I started to believe I could be a saver.

Fast forward about 10 years and I told my mema this story to explain why I am just bad with money… to which she laughed and pointed out “you could change that.” Uhhh no mema. I am a spender not a saver, it is too late!

Turns out mema was right! Once I believed I could save money, I was actually able to do it! I never saw myself as financially responsible, so I never put in the effort to change it (until recently of course).

Now my beliefs are shaped by these three affirmations: Try writing them down and saying them outloud. To take it a step further, close your eyes and visualize what each affirmation looks like to you.

"I attract financial abundance with ease and grace.""I am in control of my money and confidently create a secure future.""I am grateful for the wealth flowing into my life and use it wisely."

Try writing them down and saying them outloud. To take it a step further, close your eyes and visualize what a secure future and flowing wealth would look like for you.

2. I aligned my spending with my goals and values.

I admit, I was a sucker and fell for every marketing trick in the book. If an item was marked “low stock” or if there was a countdown on a “limited edition” I was even more vulnerable. I was convinced the weird knick knack at Home Goods or the latest trendy lip gloss was going to change my life. Obviously they did not, but it did not keep me from trying to buy the dream that was being sold to me.

That is, until I realized what I wanted could not be bought at a store or even online. I decided my money and energy was worth putting towards deeper, less materialistic items.

Use these journal prompts to determine your own values and evaluate your current spending habits. Next time you make a purchase, take time to make a mindful decision and check in with this journal entry to see if the purchase is within alignment (even if there is a count down!):

• What makes you feel fulfilled?

• What guiding principles help you make your life choices?

• What words would you want others to use when they describe you?

  
  

  How does your spending align with your values currently? Where can you make improvements?

  
  

No Shopping Year

My no shopping challenge will span all of 2025 and is not about spending zero dollars, but making more mindful purchases that will not clutter my life and keep me searching for more to put in my cart. The inner work you have done should be reflected in the guidelines of your own no shopping challenge.

Here is what I can still shop for this year:

• Groceries

  Of course, I will still buy groceries for my household (boyfriend and 3 pets) but I will stick to a budget. If I go to my local farmer’s market (one of my favorite places ever), I can only get grocery items and it must fit in the weekly grocery budget. Find a grocery budget that aligns with the financial and life goals of your household.

• Replacement home, hygiene, and beauty products

  When I run out of home, hygiene or beauty products then I will replace them. Running out of these products means the item must have added value to our lives since we used it all, so I believe it is safe to replace them.

• Dark jeans and summer clogs

  This one is oddly specific, but everyone has those items they actually do need. These purchases have been well thought out and will serve a purpose that aligns with your values. I have been looking for dark jeans that fit me right for YEARS (tall girl probs.) and I know I will wear them all of the time. I need summer clogs because I need to replace a pair of open toed shoes with close toed shoes because of a toe-trauma injury that I will not get into (well, not now at least!)

• Thrift store items (but not online second hand)

  Alright I feel like thrifting could be considered cheating to some, but not in my challenge! Each thrift purchase will be thoroughly vetted to ensure it is a mindful use of my funds. I take pride in creating fashionable thrifted outfits and classic second hand home decor. Thrifting is a hobby of mine and is a sustainable way to express myself (rather than fast fashion hauls). This does NOT include Poshmark or Facebook market place (sites I usually LOVE) because I do not get as much satisfaction from these sites in the art of scavenging like I do at Goodwill. You do not want to set yourself up for failure, so set reasonable expectations to stay consistent.

• Gifts for others

  Cooking meals for my parents and getting gifts for my friends' babies will always align with my values, so in my challenge these kinds of purchases are acceptable. I largely value doing things for my loved ones so I will continue to do so.

  
  

Once you elevate your mindset and find what you actually value in life, set no shopping “rules” for yourself and make yourself a more mindful spender. Let me know how it goes in the comments!