I’m still being mindful of the 30 Days of Nothing & the Friday Decluttering Challenge. Sorry that I haven’t made it to  the keyboard to post about my progress and thoughts. This next week will prove to be just as busy – some deadlines coming up for school.

To see what happened on the Friday Declutter Challenge, go to this post on Marcia Francois’ Organising Queen.

Click here to see who’s participating with Mary of Owlhaven in her 30 Days of Nothing.

So what are you up to this week?

One trip to Hallmark store today. I needed to buy 2 cards: sympathy and graduation. I did think about making them.  But I didn’t have time and I didn’t want them to look tacky – especially the sympathy card.

 Before buying the cards, I answered the following questions.

Is it a prudent purchase?

Who is affected by my choice of product?

Am I a cheerful giver? Generous?

I decided buying these cards was a necessity given the situations.

 GRATITUDE CHECK: Telephone Ministry. Sometimes it isn’t feasible to talk to someone in person. This can be especially distressing if you are distressed. I am grateful that I have a telephone. When I am hurting I can use it to call someone. Or someone can call me on the phone when they are hurting.

Let’s play 2 truths and a lie.

1. I have fallen asleep while on the phone.
2. I have fallen asleep in the theatre.
3. I have fallen asleep during a 2 person prayer time.

One of the answers is #3. (Shhhh. I didn’t tell and hopefully it wasn’t noticed). This happened today. I knew I needed some kind of help to stay awake at my New Testament class tonight (6-10 pm) and most importantly for the drive home.

I didn’t have time to take a nap that would refresh. So, I did the next best thing, in my opinion. While shopping for my niece’s birthday pressie, I bought chocolate (lots) and a coke for me.

One of my goals for this 30 days of nothing is to buy consciously, thriftily and less. I very consciously bought these things. I had a huge conversation with myself about it. Waffling this way and that over what is the “best” thing to do. The selfish in me won.

Probably won’t be the first time that happens this month.

GRATITUDE CHECK: Religious Schooling for Females.

Last night was my first class of the semester at seminary. It was about 1/3rd female. I am grateful that my country and this seminary allows women to receive an equal education with the men. To receive an equal religious education as the men. I pray that I never take this “right” for granted and that I stay grateful for it.

BTW – the other answer is #1. I’ve fallen asleep on the phone. While not excusable to the hurting one on the other end, it was a little understandable. 

How’s your 30 Days of Nothing adventure going? What truths or lies is it exposing?

30 Days of Nothing sounds so dramatic. Like it’s a big void, no action, or maybe even valueless.  It is in truth a 30 day fast from commercialism. Existing on the bare necessities.  Nothing extra.

Some bloggers participated in such a fast several years ago. Tonia from Study in Brown led this original experience. We spent less, spent more thoughtfully and blogged about our spending journey. It was profound for most. For me.  It was life-changing, but, alas, only in the short-term.

Mary from Owlhaven is hosting another 30 Days of Nothing. Read her post on Why Do With Less?   And how/why she’ll be spending only $200 for 12 people at the grocery store this month.

So, once again, I’ll fast from spending on the extras, the frills, the little luxuries I allow myself.  Like an ice cream cone at McDonalds, another pair of tweezers so I can keep it in my car, or a movie from Redbox. These expenditures and other non-essentials are banned this month.

So, what’s allowed? Plenty of thinking and journaling about why and how I spend my money. I’ll grapple with other questions like . . .

• Is it a prudent purchase?
• Who is affected by my choice of product?
• Am I a cheerful giver? Generous?
• By changing my lifestyle, how may I help others more?

Rather than being classified as no action, it will require plenty of action. I’ll need to take action to avoid impulse buying or buying like a “rich” person.  Plenty of thought to determine . . .

• Do I really need this?
• Can the money be better spent some place else?
• Or if it’s really needed, Can I buy the less expensive alternative?

Because in the United States, we have plenty of alternatives!

Rather than being classified as valueless, I believe this fast will help me to become a better person. I know. That sounds dramatic. But, I believe how I spend reveals my heart, my true person.

I want my spending to show that I am . . .

• Content with what I have.  
• Blessed beyond compare and so share those blessings with others.
• A faithful steward of what God has entrusted to me.
• Living with eternity’s goals in mind.
• Compassionate and generous with my trust fund from God.

So I vow to not impulse buy.

I vow to spend money only on the necessities. Right now, I don’t know how else I’ll thoughtfully live, but I will journal about this process as I live these 30 days with my eyes, heart and soul wide open.

Go here to see who else has jumped on this 30 Days of Nothing adventure.

Related Posts:

Looking at What My Spending Means

Owlhaven is having another go at 30 Days of Nothing. Go here to read her reasoning.

I want to use up what I have. I want to be content with less. I want to share more.

How much can I give up in order to help more people? That’s a good question.

Money spent

• $1.00 for a blueberry glazed doughnut at church. I don’t really like doughnuts, but I didn’t leave enough time to eat a proper breakfast before leaving the house. I am house sitting and I used breakfast time to feed the animals and water the garden.
• $5.00 to add to the pot for a gift. One of my seminary profs (who also happens to be the director of the Sacramento Western seminar campus) graduated with his PH.D. We had a surprise reception for him today.
• $49.68 to fill up my gas tank! I’ll see how long I can make this tank last.

So for today, I overspent by $1.00.

Cumulative total overspent: $1.00.

Read over this past week’s experience and journal to see what’s up.

Please share what’s been going on in your life too.

Yep, they are free this week. Really. So go ahead and partake.
Okay, they are ALWAYS free, but go ahead and take ‘em anyway.

Read here to see what I’ve been grateful for.

And you?

If you want to see how I’m doing with the 30 Days of Nothing, check here and here for my gratitude journal.

Have a looksee here and here.