If you're a regular reader, you know that I created my own personal "non-shopping" challenge for 2011 (and, December 2010). So far, I have a spotless record. My challenge includes not shopping for any clothes, shoes, or makeup (unless I run out of an essential makeup that I wear every day & don't have a backup in my makeup bag). The exception is running shoes, in the event that I need to replace them before 2012.
Here's my dilemma. M bought me a few fabulous birthday gifts, & they include: a beautiful gym bag, a pair of weekender tennis shoes to replace my very old/falling apart ones (read - not for working out, but the park with the kids, etc), and a new pair of pants for the gym. I have no issues with these items, as they were gifts and not something I bought. If you read the "why" of the challenge, I think it will make sense why gifts are not an issue for me. Nonetheless, I really don't need a replacement gym bag. The one M picked is seriously gorgeous, but I have a functional one that I can continue to use for at least another year. Yesterday I exchanged the gym bag for a gorgeous black hoodie. The hoodie was more expensive than the gym bag, so I payed $21 for it. I can't decide if I want to consider this a problem for the challenge. In theory, I spent my money on clothes, which is a no go. In reality, I exchanged a birthday gift for something that I will use a great deal more than the original gift, which makes me happy. But, I'm having guilt about it & I think I'll return it.
Similarly, M bought me the super cute weekender tennis shoes, but after seeing them in black (vs the white that he chose), I decided that black would be more practical, would stay cleaner, and would last longer. I exchanged them & they were $5 more. I really, really don't want the white ones.
If you were me, what would you do? I'm thinking of exchanging the hoodie & keeping a store credit for next year, but that seems a little draconian - the original gift was a birthday present. I'm really not too tempted to return the shoes. I have no idea why New Balance feels compelled to charge me more for black vs white, but it's the exact gift M intended for me to have, just in another color.
Help a girl out, please, and post your thoughts. :-)
Haha how ironic that you are having these dilemmas!
ReplyDeleteI honestly think that since these were gifts, they should not be counted. EVEN if you exchanged them and paid a little extra. Gifts are meant to be useful and loved by you, so it's good that you took that extra step to spend a little more for what you actually want. Don't exchange the hoodie! It's really cute and will prob get more use than the gym bag.
I think you should keep them. It's your b-day for Pete's sake. You've been doing an earnest job of trying to keep to your goals and you deserve something to keep you motivated!
ReplyDeleteI have been inspired by your great attempts at not spending - seriously! We're on Dave Ramsey's get out of debt plan and we have two more years to go before we are totally and completely debt free. However, I find in these winter months I've been spending extra when I don't need to. So I've been trying to focus on the wonderful things I do have instead of what I want to get. I, too, turn 35 next month. Go class of '94! LOL
Thanks, ladies! I appreciate the feedback. I ended up exchanging the shoes, & although it wasn't my intention, the pair I liked best was $60 less, which more than covers the cost of the jacket from Lulu. Plus, M's not sure if he loves the Lulu jacket, so I may exchange it yet again.
ReplyDeleteShannan - 35 is great! ;-)