So, this is the first update since my Spending Ban began on the 1^st of January…..only 85 days to go!

I am pleased to day, this actually has not been too hard at all. I thought this ban would be horrendous……and well it hasn’t been so far!

I have been looking through my stash and somethings that I have not used for a long time have come out to play in the last few weeks – and I finished a shower gel, which might not seem like a big deal but the fact I have 4 open shower gels in the bathroom in the moment, means it was a big deal for me (laugh if you want to – thats okay!)

I work in an office and normally spend my lunchtimes and sometimes after work in the shops near work. There is a big Boots, Superdrug, Oasis, Warehouse, House of Fraser (with MAC), TK Maxx and Marks & Spencers just to name a few, right next to work. Since the ban though, I have been going to the gym at lunchtimes – both in an attempt to not be tempted to shop and also I want to lose some weight and get fit.

I have to confess to some spending – I have bought some gym gear, but this was really needed. I cant work out without a sports bra for risk of knocking myself out all the time! LOL – but seriously…. I do think buying them was actually essential so I dont feel bad about it. Plus they were from Sports Direct – so really cheap!

So far its been going really well – last week I went to the gym 4 days out of 5 and I didn’t even miss the shops! I did pop into M&S last week to buy some lunch and passed a handbag on a mannequin. I paused thinking “oh what a lovely bag” but then stopped myself – I told myself “I don’t *need* the bag and kept walking. I did think about it later on that day – but now I don’t even want it as much as I did at the time. You have to bear in mind – I like many women, have LOADS of bags!

At the weekend I was home seeing my parents and so that meant I wasn’t out in the shops getting tempted.

I plan on hitting the gym every lunch time again this week and keeping this up.

Here are a few tips which might help if you are doing the ban too:

• Unsubscribe from emails from shops/websites – especially ones that email a lot like ASOS and MAC. Why add temptation?

• If you see a link to a blog sale tweeted or some other sale relating thing – don’t click on it! Seems simple, but why torture yourself?

• Don’t wander round the shops on your lunch or break from Uni or College – go for a walk instead or join the gym if possible. Even reading a book at your desk is better than wandering around shops!

• If you are finding it REALLY hard then only take enough money for travel and lunch out with you everyday- leave your bank and store cards at home to resist any shopping

Stay busy – if at home in the evening, sort out your underwear drawer or under your bed, read a book or have a long bath – anything to avoid surfing around the shops online when you get bored!

I am not really keeping a “wishlist” of items I want – but there is something I would like to try once the ban is over and that’s the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm, I keep hearing so much about it!

Double click to enlarge

There is a twitter chat all about the ban – use #SpendingBan on Thursday evenings at 8-9pm UK time to join in the chat, we can all keep each other motivated!

How are you doing with your ban? Please drop me a line and let me know!

Thanks for reading!

Don’t forget you can follow allthatslap via Twitter – Facebook – Blog Lovin – She Said Beauty or Hello Cotton!

Related Posts

• Spending Ban is OVER!!
• Spending Ban Update No. 2
• 100 Day “No Buy” Challenge!
• D.I.Y Beauty on a Budget: Aspirin & Honey Face Mask (amazing – particularly for acne prone skin!)
• All About Beauty – January Box

Grace