I have a problem. It’s official. Well, it’s actually been official for quite some time. I don’t know how to not buy things. 8 summer skirts. What’s another? But I don’t have that EXACT shade of eye shadow. I really don’t like the other 4 black dresses I already have. I won’t spend X amount on 1 thing but on 3 or 4 isn’t so bad (even though I don’t need 2 of them). My name is Jo’van and I have a shopping problem.
Today is the beginning of Lent. While I am not an overly religious person, I grew up in the church and certain things stick with me. If I didn’t work every day of the week, I would have tried to find a church home here. But alas, bills are constantly calling and Sunday is a well paying day. In addition to praying before eating, thanking God for the life I get to enjoy every day and saying bless you when someone sneezes, I work to observe Lent. (Yes, there are other much more important things that I could be doing but I’m just being honest.)
Lent is a limited New Year’s resolution for Christians. You only have to give up something for a month and half and you get to pick. Now, it should be something you abuse, a vice of sorts but you can pick whatever you want. Know you should stop drinking 4 Diet Cokes a day? Okay, wait until Lent, try it, cheat, and pray for forgiveness. Need to exercise more often? Try if for 40 days and give up. Have a shopping problem like me? Hide that credit card for a little more than a billing period. In the spirit of the recession, I’m giving up creating more unecessary debt (or limiting paying off my existing debt).
Last year, I gave up buying music. It was very difficult. (I kind of cheated but it’s not my fault. Ok, it was. I went to a concert and loved this opening band I’d never heard of, Mute Math. I simply suggested that my roommate, who agreed they were good, buy their CD. If she decided she no longer wanted it – after uploading it to iTunes -, I would buy it from her after Lent 🙂 ). This year, I’ve decided to give up shopping altogether. Aside from groceries and toiletries, I don’t NEED anything else. I’d LOVE new shoes, pants, socks, lipgloss whatever. But I can survive without them. In fact, I can more than survive. I can look good without them.
It’s time to reevaluate my closest. What haven’t I worn in a while? What have I NEVER worn? It’s really sad how much I have and don’t need. Every few months I take bags to Buffalo Exchange and Goodwill. But it never amazes me how the bags seem to refill. Where do these shoes, purses, dresses, pants and anything else come from? Oh yes, Ross, Penney’s, Kohls, Theory, New York and Co. Again, I have a problem.
Giving up shopping for Lent is not going to fix anything but it should help. But maybe I can make it a habit.
Shopping in her closet,
Jo’van
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The Truth: According to Jo'van 
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