It does get better
I just wanna share a happy story in case anyone is just starting to address their shopping addiction.
I have been on a low-buy year for 8 months now. I have slipped up several times, adjusted the rules, and made regretful purchases. Still i have not gone over 3 purchases per month and have generally stuck to the no-buy months.
Regardless of how imperfect my low-buy year is going, so far i have:
- just put the last payment on my car (yayyy)
- put away over $2k in an emergency fund
- paid off all but 1 of my credit cards (over 7k of debt paid, 2.8k left)
I live in a HCOL area as a student, and I don't make a lot, but I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I'm not living paycheck to paycheck anymore. For the first time I have money left over, and i can afford to save more than i planned. I didn't compromise on enjoying life. I picked up a new hobby and most of the materials i use were free from other people in the hobby. I hang out with friends and I don't stress about the bill. I can afford to be lazy and get takeout for lunch sometimes. All because my money doesn't trickle away throughout the month anymore.
the amount of financial stress i was in around this time last year was ruining my life. i was losing hair, losing sleep, not eating. Literally breaking down in tears if ANY unexpected expense came up. if my car started acting up - crying in the parking lot. Or at a random small medical bill - crying in the dentist office.
Now it feels like i can finally breathe. Im tearing up as im writing this because it feels unreal. I grew up poor so having money left over is just nuts to me. Can't even imagine where i'd be if i started sooner.