Monday, February 26, 2018

Tips for a No-Shopping Month


As I mentioned in my 2018 goals post, I'm really trying to cut down on unnecessary spending. One of the ways I plan to accomplish that is to dedicate a few months of the year as no shopping months. I made it through January successfully, and I plan on doing it again in March. I know a lot of other people are trying to cut down on excess spending, so I thought it would be helpful to share how I did it!

Avoid months with big sales
I was doing just fine with no-shop January... until the Lilly sale came around. It was so good this year, and it took some serious self-control not to buy anything. When you choose your month of no shopping, make sure there are no major temptations!

Set parameters
I allowed myself to still buy things for our house and our wedding - I just cut myself of from buying clothes, shoes, and accessories. I probably spent about $5 on Valentine's Day decorations for our house, $6 on a letter board for my office, and a lot more on our wedding... weddings are expensive, y'all!

Click "add to cart," but don't submit your order
I came across quite a few things I liked while doing some online shopping throughout the month. Instead of buying them on impulse, I just added them to my cart and left them there. By the end of the month, I had time to reflect and realize that I didn't really need the item in the first place. If you're still thinking about the item at the end of the month, go ahead and order!

Plan your next purchase
Having a whole month to reflect on what I have and what I need vs. what I want, I was able to talk myself out of a lot of purchases. Once February rolled around, I ended up buying a few things that I felt like I needed: a chambray button down and a couple dresses for work.

Reward yourself
I thought all month about what I would reward myself with after making it through the month. I ultimately decided on some NYX butter lip gloss in Creme Brûlée, which only cost $5 and is now my go-to lip gloss. Be sure to keep your reward small, though, or it defeats the purpose of saving!

Don't make up for it the next month
When the first day of the next month finally arrives, don't go overboard and buy everything you see. This also defeats the purpose of saving. Just go back to your normal amount of shopping, if not less.

Have you ever done a month of no shopping? If so, how did you make it work?

Friday, February 9, 2018

Review: Pink Sweater & Statement Studs from Zaful

Remember this post about Zaful and their trendy pieces at budget-friendly prices? Well, they were kind enough to send me a few pieces to review, and I'm so excited to share!

First up is this pink sweater (see my cat in the background).


I love wearing light colored sweaters in February and March because it helps me remember that spring is right around the corner even if it's freezing outside. This pink sweater is perfect for just that, and I couldn't resist the detailing. It adds a nice feminine touch to keep this sweater from looking to boring or boxy. To be honest, I was a little worried because this is a "one size fits all" sweater. I'm on the taller side of average, and I usually have trouble with shirts or shirt sleeves being too short for me; however, this one fit just right! I call it oversized because it is very wide and roomy, but I prefer chunky sweaters like this one to be a little big and cozy.


The back detail on this sweater is what sold me! 


Next are these gorgeous statement earrings



First off and most importantly, they're currently on sale for $3.26!! Most of the studs I own are small, so I was excited to try these out. They add the perfect amount of shine to dress up any outfit. Not that I ever really go anywhere fancy, but I can see them with a little black dress and a curly updo!


Regardless of the size, these earrings are fairly light. I haven't worn them for a whole day yet, but I can tell they won't be very uncomfortable. Since they're so big, they cover up my second hole so I can't pair them with another set of earrings - not that it's a deal-breaker, but it's worth noting.

I ordered one more item from Zaful, but unfortunately it was out of stock. Be on the lookout for one last review once I decide what to order in its place!