Planner No Buy Check In & Struggles

#planner #stationery

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[tbelsom]

IMO, either you’re in or you’re not—you’re justifying. Fix what’s not working; cover the calendar or see if you can remove it with your computer program and stop being lazy!! Reprint and cut. Be a better steward with your money! NOW, with that being said, I have to organize the avalanche of planner crap that just slid off my bed and sell some of it. It’s so ridiculous how we stress out SO much over this stuff. We’re successful adult women for heavens sake!! Ugh!! 😑 😂😂😂😂 I’ve found that handling money is kind of like dieting in the sense that the more you deprive yourself, the more you can’t get it out of your head. Then…we self justify and go ape shit and spend more than we would have in the first place. It’s like a slippery slope and a delicate dance. Good luck my friend. ❤

[shannaastor]

Use an inexpensive month stamp and write in the dates on the second page. Or draw the calendar yourself and then you’ll have a calendar on each page.

[heartofwool]

Hi, Sam! Re your request for advice... I think it depends on what the goal of your no-buy is. The goal of my own no-buy this year is equal parts spend less money AND be content with and use what I have / detach my dopamine and serotonin from purchasing/planning purchases/getting the perfect thing/opening packages/having new stuff. So the acquisition you've described would be cheating *for me* because I would feel like I've cheated myself out of that second goal a little bit. BUT if you will not feel that way or your goal is primarily focused around spending less money, then I would say using the gift card achieves that goal. At the end of the day, we know deep down whether we are cheating or deceiving ourselves, and how you will feel about it and yourself is really the only thing that matters, not accountability to the internet or how other people will interpret your acquisition. I think your thoughtfulness around this is already a success if we are trying to move towards fewer mindless purchases. ❤

[numberedpages]

I like your example of chair shopping, then realizing you could use a cushion to solve your immediate problem. And your reminder to ask why we think we need to buy something right this instant; whether we can save up for it over time instead, intentionally. Do you use any budgeting software? I’ve used YNAB in the past, and it’s built on this philosophy of setting aside money into categories that gradually build, for things you know you want but don’t need immediately. I’m making a mental note now to go update my own budget now, heh.

What if you just inserted a blank page between each of the weekly spreads in your ring planner? That would give plenty of extra space on a companion page to the week, like a hobonichi weeks has. I think it’s easy for wants to feel like needs. For me the whole point of quitting buying stationery completely is to give my brain a complete break from thinking about it, and to give it a chance to stop wanting things. Sure you can justify it financially, that it’s not expensive, and it’s a gift card, but is this helping you mentally? When you say you’ve thought about it a lot, does that feel like a positive thing, or does it feel like mental shopping? If you purchase the Filofax inserts, does it open the door to make more exceptions? I would also not be afraid to add extra clarification to your rules as the year goes by. When something comes up that is ambiguous, maybe ask whether it’s in the ‘spirit’ of the rules. Just my three cents!

Nice job already finishing a book by the way! I’ve also been reading more and avoiding instagram and youtube both. I’m reading this really interesting book called “Stolen Focus” by Johann Hari. It’s about how we’re losing our ability to focus on things for very long, largely thanks to social media and other platforms that are incentivized to keep us looking at screens as much as possible.

[elizabethridall]

You can white out the calendar, glue a rectangle of plain printer paper over it or even glue a plain tip in over the top of it, or use a sticker from your stash. As for the to do list paper, you can add your own from your printer paper, scrap paper or graph paper that you have in your stash. I like to be creative and think outside the box when I'm on a tight budget. I think it makes the struggle more fun.

[Rickilynn]

As a fellow planner also on a low buy I use gift cards as anything goes. Clothing and planning supplies are items on my no buy list, but if I get a gift card for a holiday, I allow myself to get items from that list, as long as it doesn’t go over the gift card amount. I think other people have mentioned this, but it is always helpful for me to wait a period of a few weeks before making a purchase. As a recovering shopping addict, I have found this to be a great practice. I am loving your content, and congrats on everything you’re accomplishing! I’m on month 5 of my low buy, and it’s awesome to see someone on a similar journey. It makes it feel less lonely!

[estherforcier]

Hi Sam. Because i am cheap i would keep the inserts and find some file folder labels (you know you have some) and just cover up the calendar so you can write in that area. White out?😊

[TheSchnoodlemom]

If it's not going to bother you, use a hole punch and just make the holes a bit larger and it'll be fine. I've done this many times. I either miscalculated the placement or they were too snug on the rings. Just a tad off on either side of the hole and problem fixed. It will be perfectly imperfect.

[tinabrown]

I say make due with what you have. Make it a challenge to find a creative way to cover up or fix what you don't like about the iinsert. A no buy usually makes you uncomfortable at times but you will be more proud of yourself if you can find a way to make it work without purchasing something new even if it doesn't cost you anythng with a gift card. Good luck your doing great with your goals.

[RG-yfuj]

I was talking about this earlier. Sadly I lost my job so unable to purchase my normal weekly w/notes planner & inserts that I've used for years. I'm having to repurpose old planner & printable freebies. It's definitely a challenge & often frustrating but keep reminding myself I don't have a choice so just make it work. Helps me be more at peace w/it. I know you're not in the same situation financially but you've set a goal so it just comes down to if you deep down feel if it's a real need or if you are willing to bare down & fully follow your goal whole heartedly.

[lavenderladyll]

Thanks Sam
I need to spend less. I am either buying thriftbooks, journaling supplies, freezer/cupboard store deals. So i am doing a tracker of my non spend days. So far this year it has worked and made me aware how much i would boredom shop. I made a chart for meal planning so that i use what i have. It is still a process. Progress not perfection.
I would cover the calendar with label stickers for now and see if you like the format. Make a small calendar insert if you want that visual weekly.

[shellyg]

Hi Sam! I'm on a low/no buy as well. Gift cards that you have gotten as gifts are free game. As far as the rings(which I have and love) goes, i would make it work. To cover the calender I would use correction tape. I hope this helps. Take care 😊😊😊

[afogg_vintagepickn]

Love this content. I'm on a no/low spend journey myself and this is refreshing compared to the overconsumption content that so many post. I'm not saying I don't watch it but this is the kind of content I really need to be consuming.

[funastacia]

What I usually do before buying inserts, is draw them out for 1-3 months (depending on complexity, eg monthly I can easily do for 3 months), and if I still use them by the end of that period - I’m fine buying them! You can keep printing yours let’s say till end of February and then, if you still use them - buy them!

[luannesmith]

It’s interesting how I have had a few of these YouTube channels come up in my feed of those who are on a low spend or no spend journey this year. I’m sure our economic reality is setting in for some of us too. I will tell you honestly that I had passed by on watching your videos as they were tempting me to buy things, so how ironic that I saw your title and was glad to see what you’re doing!
It’s great inspiration as I was really trying last year focused on putting out financial fires, but now I’m trying to clear out clutter and work on small things that I want to stop and take that time to evaluate why I buy or need to reward myself for doing things that are just part of being a responsible adult 😂 I guess I just want to be more intentional and less wasteful with time, money and things. So, it will be a great journey to be on together 🙌🏻

[ThatsNotReallyHowThisWorks]

Keep updating us please. I ordered some stuff from Amazon today that I wanted but definitely didn’t need. I have to be done with that. You’ve inspired me and I’m going to do this too. Also…subscribing. Thank you for this! Good luck with your journey. You sound strong enough to make this happen!

[rinyamashita]

You could make, what's called collections in the Bullet Journal community, a simple table where you might first write the day and then items removed.

Return what you don't like if you've just bought it. You could make that hobonichi weeks layout in your bought book.

Yes, it's still buying even with the gift card. It's money you could spent on clothes.

[mybibliofiles]

Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your journey! I am on a similar one: destashing and focusing on my health and wellness. Congratulations on paying down your card! Could you not white out the calendar or paste a small square of paper over it to give you back that real estate? I am treating my hobby/stationery spending as an addiction and there is no moderation in addiction! Make some clear exeptions and be prepared to be uncomfortable. Good luck! 🙌🏼

[DivaBowie]

Hi Sam, I loved this video - you are doing great and I was smiling at your achievements! However, I wonder if it would be useful to also write down (and refer often to) your reasons for doing the no-buy. Is it to save money? Or to break the habit/FOMO? If it's purely to save money, then it's fine to use the gift cards (although you could use them for the other things you need!). But we're only a week into 2024 and you're already looking for loopholes - like a drinker or smoker who only drinks/smokes when other people buy them isn't making the change they need or improving their life, are they? They're still a slave to the same addictions or habits. You're stronger than you think Sam, hold fast and ride out the cravings, and thank you so much for sharing the good and the not-so-good! xx

[nancynurse]

Personally, I would need to hold off buying planner supplies in any capacity at the beginning. It is a slippery slope when you get that browser open and get the rush of knowing something new is coming in. Maybe save those gift cards for your quarterly "celebration" for not buying for the previous 3 months.

also, you are so proud of yourself for finding a way to not buy a new chair; it would be nice for you to feel the same for your planners. Think through the situation: 1) how much do you need the calendar on the weekly pages 2) if you TRULY need it, can you print off the 26 mini calendars you need and glue them on or simply write them in 3) really thinking you will be uber proud of yourself if you don't buy anything even with a gift card.