• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Wonder Quests
  • Travel Hacking: How I Travel For Free & Cheap
    • Travel Rewards Credit Cards
    • Point Rewards Credit Cards
    • Hotel Rewards Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • 0% APR Credit Cards
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

The Wonder Luster

For Those Of Us Whose Dreams Won't Die Between 17 and 65.

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

Experiments In Minimalism: I’m Doing A Shopping Ban

Joy Inducing Tactics | November 24, 2018

Happy Black Friday!  Though today I got some long awaited and fabulous deals on some wellness products I’ve been lusting over for months- namely a fantastic new vegan suede yoga mat from Blogilates and my favorite supplements from Onnit– I’ve been also lusting over minimalism.

Over the last few months, I’ve been purging and downsizing.  I’ve been slowing down on the shopping and getting down to brass tacks to consume less and save more.  I’ve done minimalist challenges and some vlogs on minimalism on my YouTube channel, but I’m really excited about what’s next.

For 2019, I’m not buying anything.  Yep, for a year I’m doing a shopping ban and not buying clothes, makeup, collectibles and even, gasp- BOOKS.  Yes, I’m quite scared.  But I’m mainly excited.  I started to realize that while I was making huge strides in getting rid of things, I really need to sit with my relationship with stuff.  I will never be closer to minimalism if I don’t better understand my triggers and what gets me to emotionally shop.  What is my why behind what I buy?

I have a few rules for this shopping ban, (borrowed from author Cait Flanders):

-I can still buy food and medicine (obviously)
-I will buy toiletries only when I’m completely out (I have plenty)
-No clothes, but if something I wear regularly wears out and can’t be mended, I can replace it.
-Gifts and charitable donations are okay
-Supporting Kickstarters and book launches of friends is also okay (My friends do cool things, I support those things)

So, with that- I did do some shopping on Black Friday- but in 2019, I’m not buying diddly squat.

I already have withdrawals in anticipation of not getting the stuff that brings me a lot of joy, but I’m also excited to potentially get my savings rate up to 50% and make huge strides in getting caught up on my retirement goals.  I’m also excited to prune my behavior to stop buying the things that bring me “meh” joy and will no longer be mindlessly consuming for whatever reason. Double win!

If I stay on track, I’ll easily put away $30,000 by 2020 to put in my retirement accounts- which is pretty snazzy.  I’m at a point in my life that I’d rather have money in the bank and the freedom that comes with it, than the countless moments I shop without thinking about it that fade into the background of behavior I never think about.

For me, living a life that’s sparked and full of wonder is to be constantly experimenting.  To try new things and prune the behaviors that are no longer serving you, to get to where you want to go- folding things back in as they make sense.  Life is a big adventure- and honestly, I don’t want to tell myself I “can’t” do anything anymore.  I told myself I “couldn’t” go without shopping and that alone was enough to get me to try.

I would like to think I can do anything, and even if I fail as an aspiring minimalist- that failure is good data and self exploration.

More On My Shopping Ban in 2019:

So, with that- happy Black Friday and Oh-Em-Gee, I can’t believe I’m going to not buy things.  Bless my heart.

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

« How To Best Utilize Airport Layovers
Embrace The Suck: How A Series of Sucky Setbacks Lead Me To Freedom »

Welcome!

Because you were born for more than putting your dreams on hold between 17 & 65. Reclaim your sense of adventure, become financially free & live your dream life before you retire. Learn more >>

We're on this adventure together to reclaim your life despite a 9-5! Get inspirational guidance on your own amazing journey with my weekly email.

Being stuck in a loud and unfamiliar airport due to cancellation or delay blows. Here are some tips how you can utilize airport layovers to get through it!

How To Best Utilize Airport Layovers

Being stuck in a loud and unfamiliar airport due to cancellation or delay blows. Here are some tips how you can utilize airport layovers to get through it!

See how I did with my first Wonder Quest: Whole30. (Spoiler alert: it was super difficult and I also got a scary diagnosis.)

Whole30: My Surprising Results From Not Eating Junk For 30 Days

See how I did with my first Wonder Quest: Whole30. (Spoiler alert: it was super difficult and I also got a scary diagnosis.)

Women traveling solo: don't let the naysaysers and your own self-limiting beliefs stop you. This trip will teach you so much, including these 4 things.

Women Traveling Solo: Why I Recommend It

Women traveling solo: don’t let the naysaysers and your own self-limiting beliefs stop you. This trip will teach you so much, including these 4 things.

Follow the adventure on Instagram

Kyoto. ✨obsessed✨ we already want to go back Kyoto. ✨obsessed✨  we already want to go back 😍 #travelblogger #familytravel #familytravelblogger #travelwithkids  #japan #kyoto #japantravel
Traveling with kids is no easy feat, but it’s ab Traveling with kids is no easy feat, but it’s absolutely rewarding. I was told once that you don’t take vacations after kids, you simply parent in a new place- and while that’s true, it’s the kind of parenting we find the most rewarding because it’s helping both kids and adults grow, stretch and experience new things together.

Some days, it’s just easier to survive parenthood by staying home and getting through it- but if you yearn to see the world, and you feel you can’t because it’s not the right time to travel with kids at whatever age, I encourage you to reconsider when it would be “perfect” and do it anyway.

Husband and I dreamed of seeing Japan since we were kids, and what a gift it is that we could live our dream with a family in tow.  Will they remember it? No. But we sure will, and that matters too. 🩷✈️🌎 

#familytime #familytravel #familytraveltips #familyadventures #travelwithkids #travelwithme #travelhack #travelhacking #traveling
Planning an international flight with your baby or Planning an international flight with your baby or toddler? Get a bassinet! Usually (not always) it won’t cost you extra, and you’ll be able to safely let your baby snooze while you enjoy a beverage on your next long haul flight.  Since bassinets have to clip into the bulkhead, there’s only about 4 seats, and one area (two bassinets total) that can accommodate a bassinet per flight- so call your airline early and add it to your reservation!  This was a lifesaver for our @delta flight from Tokyo this spring, but not all airlines offer it (though most international, long haul flights) will!  Happy travels! ✈️🩷🌎. 

#familytravel #familytrip #travelwithkids #travelwithbaby #travelblogger #instatravel #familyadventures #travelhacking #travelhacks #familytraveltips #traveltips
You took your babies to Japan??! Yep! We did. Life You took your babies to Japan??! Yep! We did. Life is short. Pandemics happen! We waited for nearly 3 years for Japan to open back up and now we have 2 under 2! 

There is no perfect time to travel. There are advantages to each development stage- so if you have the ability to go, go. Perfectionism be damned! We took a 1.5 and a .5 year old- and while we had some jet lag, we had a great trip.  Slow down, lower your expectations and just enjoy the world school you get to experience through the eyes of a little one!  Plus, if they can fit in your lap it’s cheaper to travel!! 🤑 

We saved $10 a paycheck for several years and used reward points for our hotel. Traveled right before busy Sakura season and had less crowds and less cost! Happy travels ✈️🌎🩷
Getting married wasn’t the best of my life, it g Getting married wasn’t the best of my life, it gave me the best days of my life.  Happy two years of being contractually tied to me, dear husband. I adore you and can’t wait to plan our next adventures! ✈️🌎🩷

Copyright © 2023 · The Wonder Luster · designed by Archer Creative

Copyright © 2023 · The Wonder Luster Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact