Spending Pause. 

Sometimes you need to get your spending back on track. Especially after a long holiday season of travel, time off work, generous gift-giving, Black Friday deals and after Christmas clearance.

I'm not talking about a full budget overhaul or financial assessment - just reigning it in.

Brandon and I have done a variety of spending pauses throughout the years. 

One that almost happens every year is “No-Spend January” 

It’s like that diet we all put ourselves on after a season of holiday parties and gatherings. 

Here’s how it works. For the month of January, we don’t spend on things we don’t need. 

Of course “need” is subjective but that’s part of the inner work that the exercise encourages.

By all means, send in your mortgage, pay your bills, buy groceries, fill your car with gas. 

And don’t spend money on anything else. But depending on your personal finances, accustomed lifestyle and intention for doing this there might be some exceptions - Let's look at those:

• I work remotely and often need to spend HOURS in a warm place with WiFi sometimes this means I get a cheat card. But in honoring the spirit of a spending pause I might only get a black coffee instead of a latte. Or I’ve realized that I could pack my hot drinks, bundle up and work outdoors connected to hotspot. I’ve also gone to....(gasp and whisper) the public library if there was one close. 

• You're going on a trip and your kid needs snow clothes (or a bathing suit if you're doing a no-spend July) this gets a pass in our rule book. But first, we honor the spirit of the game and ask ourselves, “could we borrow? Can we look at the thrift first” Answers might be no - so go ahead and buy it. If your someone who struggles with always needing the nicest version. It might be a breakthrough to just get an old navy snowsuit. If it really drives you batty you can return it and buy something nicer. Be sure not to abuse return policies. 

• Let talk about groceries. We take spending pauses as an opportunity clear out the cupboards, pantry, and freezer. By all means, feed yourself! But for this month only ask yourself first “Do I need this?” Remembering it’s for one month. We all have our creature comforts that come from the store. Cookies and chips for Brandon. I love sparkling waters and coffee. Some folks love wines or beer. And this is the beauty of a pause, We're not asking you to give it up forever, just this month. Contrary to popular belief I CAN survive 30 days without sparkly water and you can too!  We do a more intense version of this when we're trying to save money. We affectionately call it a " budget diet". But I'll cover that another time.

• Of course, all forms of eating out, entertainment and luxury experiences get a pause. However, if there is an entry fee for something that I would call "value-aligned" meaning its consistent with how our family wants to grow and spend time together (ie. going to a National Park, taking Liam rock climbing, taking a class, etc) those get a pass. Though we try to wait for the month to be over whenever possible. Always remembering to pause, ask, and reflect before spending. For our families value system expenditures like Disneyland, movies or pedicures get the boot. 

Here are some PROTIPS: 

- Use your amazon cart. There are so many times that genius strikes and  (or we see an ad) and were sure something we can buy will solve our problem.  Or maybe we just think we REALLY need something put it in your Amazon cart AND SAVE FOR LATER. Don't leave it in your cart, you will accidentally buy all that stuff you don't need when you make an emergency toilet paper order. I promise, it always happens. 

- Create a giftful wishlist. All year long when we want things we save it to our giftful wishlist - there's plenty of apps like this one I just like the ease of use but I haven't compared it to others. This has a strangely powerful psychological effect. The gatherer/survivor part of my brain that lights up thinking I need something will stay fixed on that item like a hound dog until I put it in this digital shopping basket and know it will stay there till I want to buy it (or not) at some point in the future. A bonus to this is that it makes gift shopping for each other much easier.

- Journal. I mentioned earlier the "inner work of this exercise".  When we pause, ask and reflect before purchasing or spend something all kinds of things can show up if we listen. I have seen were vanity (or fear of not being liked), laziness, gluttony, selfishness, irresponsibility, In your reflections take time to realize that money is an energy just like time and intention. Notice the experience of lack or abundance, expression or avoidance. What are the things that come up over and over in your dance with spending? Be an observer during this challenge, try not to judge any of it. When I was single spending was always around making myself more attractive. As a working mom, my spending is always about "fixing my family". 

- pause, ask and reflect will open you naturally to noticing the abundance you already have, how little you really need and propel you into the present. 

I hope you'll consider a no spend spree if it seems like good medicine for you at this time in your life.