Making the Internet My Accountability Partner

July was a bad month for me financially. It’s nothing I can’t recover from, but I have realized that having strict rules for my goals has been the most beneficial for me. Next month I may consider using cash for certain categories to help me stay on task, but we’ll see. So exactly how bad was this month? If my math is correct (because I didn’t write it down) I believe I had $242.27 left over from June that was spent. I currently have $483.27 on my credit card that needs to be paid off next month. I also am ‘borrowing’ $65.23 from my August 1st paycheck to pay for August’s rent. I like to have July’s money pay for August’s rent, then August’s money pays for September’s rent, etc. except this month I don’t have enough left over to do that. All in all, I overspent by $794.77.

This month I’m instituting a No Buy to ensure I keep my spending in alignment with my goals. The main focus is that I will not bring in any new objects. For me, temptation categories include books, candles, skincare, and makeup. I will allow myself to potentially buy replacements of skincare/makeup if I somehow use up a staple I cannot live without, but I doubt it. I have more than enough books and candles that I will not allow myself to buy any for this month, and ideally, I shouldn’t buy any more for the rest of the year. I am explicitly allowing myself $100 to buy and ship gifts. I am also allowed to pay for experiences and I am allowed to eat out, although I’d like to limit how often I’m grabbing fast food or just stopping for a drink.

I am prepared again to practice not just denying myself a want but also self-soothe that disappointment. I plan on using some recommendations I’ve found online for the denying part such as taking photos of things I want. I’ve mentioned a few helpful accounts in previous posts, particularly from Hannah Louise Poston and the Financial Diet on YouTube. I also want to shout out @circesporkroast and @depressiondotgov on TikTok for helping me build a better internal narrative where I can appreciate something without needing to buy it.

I will absolutely have a check-in at the end of the month to discuss my progress, but I doubt the other posts this month will focus on the No Buy. I am posting this today instead of on my usual Saturday so that I have all of the month covered in public accountability. I encourage anyone who is considering it to join me in a No Buy. I hope that this comment section can be a useful place for us to support each other.