Day 14: So now it ends.
Today's the final day of my Challenge, two weeks without spending. I've been trying to reflect on the experience and see what useful insights I can glean. I have my daily spending records for the the year to date, and they speak volumes when compared with the past to weeks.
First point is that I really do use spending as a mood-altering drug, as a distraction, and as a device for procrastinating tasks I know I should put behind me.
Second point is that much of my discretionary spending is trivial and unnecessary -- books I could likely get from the library, CDs and DVDs I certainly don't need. Gadgets and such to solve "problems" I could address with what I have on hand, groceries I could manage without.
Third point is that I use spending to organize my time to a greater degree than I realized -- the Monday round of errands run, lunching out to meet friends and provide an event focus for a day, comparison shopping when the price/quality difference is meaningless except as an exercise.
Fourth point is just how important these little expenditures and outings are in the fabric of my life. The Sunday paper is a Great Big Deal for me, and I disproportionally miss it when it's not there. The regular contacts with familiar faces at the the grocery, the bank and my other stops are actually a social network. I value the brief exchanges, shared quips, and recognition, the mentioned fragments of their lives and experience. I appreciate eating out occasionally for the time shared with others.
And finally, I conclude that I'm actually content with much of my spending behavior. It serves my needs and provides good value at this point in my life. I could spend less, but at what cost to my sense of satisfaction?
Anyway, there you have it. Not sure any of that means anything to anyone else, but it's just where I am on the last day.