Last month a fun group of ladies started a challenge based on the book
“7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess” by Jen Hatmaker.
It’s a super concept where you take 7 months,
identify 7 areas of excess in your life,
and make 7 choices each month in ways to cut back.
Our first month was FOOD. (You can insert a scream here.)
I really didn’t participate last month except to try and NOT eat out.
We are always on the go with kids activities and if I don’t plan ahead every day we end up grabbing something for the kids or getting a chicken or other quick fixes from the grocery store.
I’ll have to say I did really good-
and then made up for it this month by already eating out WAY too much.
It’s made me aware of how much money is wasted when a family of five gets anything out (even snacks or drinks.)
This month?
CLOTHING
This I have in the bag.
I AM a jeans and t-shirts kind of gal.
My choices of clothing for the month:
- Pure Charity T-Shirt (Thanks, *Pure Charity!)
- Jeans
- Park Hill T-shirt
- Black Yoga Pants
- Bird Shirt by Erin
- Heifer Project shirt
- Purple tie-dyed shirt
I’m not counting some things like shoes, pjs, or undies-
and not counting jackets because AR weather is crazy and some days I might need one and others not.
The funny thing?
I was apologizing to my daughter for picking her up from dance looking like a bum with paint all over my clothes and she said “OH! I didn’t even know you were doing the challenge, you dress in 7 things anyway I think!” Maybe after this is over I can get a makeover…
What I’m realizing is that even though I try to live
SIMPLY
the fact is that I am accustomed to excess.
We are moving and as I go through the piles of “stuff” that I will never
use I realize that it’s crazy how much we can accumulate over time.
Even giving away an average of 2 bags a month I have a houseful of things I really don’t need.
We got broken into last week and I was almost grateful.
Crazy, I know
but I was thinking
Maybe he will take it all away so I don’t have to deal with it.
Not the right attitude.
So…
I’m baring and paring
Stay tuned…
*On Pure Charity…
Rewards Network Promo from Pure Charity on Vimeo.
This looks interesting. I just saw something similar to this idea and thought I might look into it. Good luck!
This sounds interesting indeed. I try to purge stuff often, but it seems to pile up way too fast. I think preparing meals ahead certainly helps us with not eating out.