My Contentment Challenge Results

On January 10, 2022 I started my first Contentment Challenge. I finished April 10th!

If you missed my post on what the Contentment Challenge is and why I’m doing it, read more about that here. Basically, its 3 months of giving up shopping on materialistic items, and focusing on more essential things in life.

Thoughts after Month 1

Going into this challenge, I thought it would be difficult. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised how easy it’s been.

I’ve followed this challenge perfectly so far, with an exception to getting my son a new toy for becoming fully potty trained! =)

Rather than spending money on materialistic items, our money has been going to experiences for our kids and family. Weekends use to be spent browsing at Target to get out of the house, or browsing at the grocery store, spending money on more snacks then needed…

Now, we are becoming more intentional with our time. We are scheduling activities on the weekends where we have nothing going on. We took the kids bowling for their first time, went to the Adventure Science Center, visited local playgrounds and returned to the library to check out books.

This shift of spending feels GOOD. I’ve always been a great saver, but this challenge has me thinking about all the non-essential things we’ve purchased in the past, and how that money could’ve been used in better ways.

Another benefit of this challenge has been how simple balancing our bank account has been! Less transactions on the account means less time reconciling! This has already saved me SOOOO much time! (I’ve also switched over to Mint, which has simplified things as well.)

I think what’s made it so easy for me, is that I’m doing most of my grocery shopping with Kroger clicklist, so I’m not going into the store. I stopped going to Target, etc. just to walk around. I deleted my amazon app, and use my computer to purchase my monthly subscriptions (supplements, diapers, etc).

I am starting to notice holes in socks and my favorite yoga pants, so those will have to be replaced soon. But I wont feel guilty replacing them because they will be intentional purchases!

Thoughts after month 2

Overall, another month of the contentment challenge was successful! However, I did have some unplanned purchases pop up during the month.

My sweet grandma of 95 years passed away in February. We traveled back home for the funeral and I needed clothing for myself and twin boys. We also grabbed some new car activities to keep them busy during our 10 HOUR drive.

With all the Easter stuff out, I planned ahead and grabbed baskets, plastic eggs, snacks and books for my kids baskets. Last year, I waited until the last minute to buy plastic eggs and they were all gone! This year I purchased what I needed ahead of time.

While our spending has decreased by not purchasing miscellaneous items, the cost of food increasing has really affected us. Our grocery bill has gone WAY up and I’m trying to figure out some ways to cut costs at the grocery store. I am starting to be more intentional with the items I’m buying, and trying to use up pantry items before purchasing ingredients for new meals. We are planning on doing more vegetarian meals during the week to cut costs. This will be an ongoing process!

What I learned after month 2

I’m learning to be more intentional with my spending. Being off social media helps A LOT with the impulse buying I did previously. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on what’s “new and cool” right now. I’ve also been looking around my home, noticing things I could part with. I’ve done a whole-home purge TONS of times, and am always surprised to find more items to get rid of, as time goes on.

The less I have, the more time I’m finding I have. I feel like my home is becoming more relaxed, and cleaning is becoming less of a burden to me. Granted, I still don’t love to clean, but with less items, there is less to clean!

I’ve been envisioning what I want my home to look and feel like. It’s making me more focused on the items I will want to purchase once this challenge is over. Rather than home décor, I’m looking at shower head filters, anti-mold humidifiers and gardening items. I would much rather spend my dollars on things that will bring my family wellness and self-sufficiency, than miscellaneous home items I’ll be sick of in a few months.

Thoughts after month 3

Three months of no shopping and I feel like I could continue! This challenge has helped opened my eyes to the truly essential things in life. My impulse buying has stopped and although the challenge is over, I’m feeling so good about the no spending, I want to continue it!

Not shopping at all anymore isn’t realistic, but I feel so much better about going to the store, grabbing the items I NEED and leaving the rest. Will there be times I grab things I don’t need? Absolutely. But now I am a lot more conscious about these decisions.

I really thing everyone should try this challenge. 3 months went by quickly, and it absolutely switched my perspective on spending. I would MUCH rather spend on experiences than materialistic items.

What I learned after completing this challenge

1. I got more joy spending money on experiences than materialistic items.
2. I can get pretty scrappy when I need to. =)
3. My kids are just fine not getting new toys.
4. I still have more items in my home that I don’t need. These items will be getting sold or donated very soon!
5. I am more conscious about my spending habits.
6. Being off social media has greatly reduced my impulse buying.
7. Deleting apps like Amazon and Target has been SUPER helpful.
8. I am ready to adopt a capsule wardrobe and focus on quality over quantity.
9. The less items you consume, the less cleaning there will be. Less cleaning = more time in your day!
10. I’d rather spend my money on items that will bring my family good health and wellness. I get more excited buying a mold-free humidifier than I do home décor or clothing. =)

I really thing everyone should try this challenge! You don’t have to wait until the beginning of a new year. Start now!