How to Set Financial Goals

Financial success doesn't happen by chance; it's the result of careful planning and setting clear objectives. Whether you're looking to build an emergency fund, buy a home, or retire comfortably, financial goals are the roadmap to achieving your dreams.

In this blog post, we'll explore the step-by-step process of making financial goals that are realistic, achievable, and tailored to your unique circumstances.

Step 1: Assess Your Current Financial Situation

Before you can set meaningful financial goals, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of your current financial situation. This includes:

• Income and Expenses: Calculate your monthly income and track your expenses for a few months. This will give you a clear picture of your spending habits.


• Assets and Debts: List your assets (savings, investments, property) and debts (credit card balances, loans). Calculate your net worth by subtracting your debts from your assets.


• Emergency Fund: Determine if you have an emergency fund. Financial experts recommend having three to six months' worth of living expenses saved.


Step 2: Define Your Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

Financial goals can be categorized into two main types: short-term and long-term.

• Short-Term Goals (1-3 years): These are goals you aim to achieve in the near future, such as saving for a vacation, paying off credit card debt, or building an emergency fund.


• Long-Term Goals (3+ years): Long-term goals often involve more significant financial milestones, like buying a home, funding your children's education, or retiring comfortably.


Step 3: Make Your Goals SMART

To ensure your financial goals are effective, they should be SMART:

• Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve. Instead of saying "save money," specify the amount and purpose, like "save $5,000 for a down payment on a home."

• Measurable: Your goals should be quantifiable so you can track your progress. Use numbers and dates to measure success.


• Achievable: Ensure that your goals are realistic and within your financial means. Consider your current income, expenses, and savings capacity.


• Relevant: Your goals should align with your values and financial priorities. They should also make sense within your current life circumstances.


• Time-Bound: Set a timeframe for achieving each goal. This creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay focused.


Step 4: Prioritize Your Goals

It's common to have multiple financial goals, but it's essential to prioritize them. Determine which goals are most important to you and rank them accordingly. Prioritizing helps you allocate your resources effectively.

Step 5: Create an Action Plan

Now that you have well-defined goals, it's time to create an action plan:

• Break Goals into Smaller Steps: Divide larger goals into smaller, manageable steps.

  For example, if you want to save $10,000 for a vacation in two years, break it down to saving $5,000 per year or approximately $417 per month.


• Set a Budget: Create a budget that allocates a portion of your income to each goal. This ensures you're consistently working toward them.


• Automate Savings: Set up automatic transfers to your savings or investment accounts to ensure you don't miss your monthly contributions.


• Monitor and Adjust: Regularly review your progress and make adjustments if needed. Life circumstances may change, and your goals may need to be modified accordingly.


Step 6: Stay Accountable and Seek Support

Share your financial goals with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor. They can provide encouragement and hold you accountable for your actions. Consider joining online communities or forums where you can connect with others pursuing similar financial goals.

Setting financial goals is the first step toward achieving financial security and realizing your dreams. By assessing your current situation, making SMART goals, prioritizing them, creating an action plan, and seeking support, you'll be well on your way to financial success. Remember that it's a journey, and with determination and discipline, you can reach your financial aspirations.

Summer travel: Packing for a family tips and tricks

Are you traveling this summer? Here are some tips and tricks to help you along the way!

Today we are getting ready to go on vacation so we are packing and I thought I would give you tips for saving your sanity, saving money, and saving time when traveling with young children.

Make a detailed packing list

I do this in the notes app on my phone. I like to use the checklist feature and I make a list for each member of our family and a list for the van.

Bags for everything

A bag for swimsuits, a bag for shoes, a bag for snacks. This just makes things faster and easier. I like to use a reusable shopping bag for wet swimsuits.

Pack full days of clothes together

I put a complete outfit with socks and underwear rolled up together in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag.

If traveling to more than one location pack a family bag so that you don’t have to transfer all of your belongings from the car to the hotel.

Stay in places with a kitchen

I will do a Sam’s run before we leave and grab food. We like to stay in places that have kitchen access. And I will bring my Keurig and AirFryer and make simple meals like hotdogs, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and stirfry.

Hit up your library

Before we go on a trip we head to the library for new books, DVDs, and audiobooks. We have brand new content our kids have never seen that keeps them engaged and interested.

Also, apps like Libby and Overdrive help us listen to audiobooks for free with our library membership.

Lap desks

I got my kids some lap desks from Target for $5 but I’ve seen them in other places too. They have a drink

holder and places for books and snacks. We pack Legos and small toys for the car as well as sketch pads, coloring books, and other quiet activities.

Car quiet time

I have a toddler who still naps and we might be driving during her nap time. So I got my older kids Bluetooth headbands so they can listen to audiobooks in the car so we can all have quiet time.

Eating on the road

Hitting up the drive-through with a family of 6 is incredibly expensive. I found some cute sectioned containers on Amazon and make what I like to call “Carcuterie.” I will fill each section with lunch meat, fruit, carrots, crackers, and hummus.

Find rest stops

We like to get out and stretch our legs every few hours. Rest stops help with that. Some apps help you find rest stops based on the interstate you are traveling on.

5 ways being prepared saves you money

Today I am sharing 5 ways that being prepared saves you money. You cannot be prepared for every scenario. But being ready for every day little things and developing good routines can save you money here’s how. 

How being prepared saves you money.

You cannot be prepared for every scenario. But being ready for everyday little things and developing good routines can save you money here’s house. 

Meal planning:

Spending 30 minutes meal planning each week saves me thousands of dollars a year. How? Well, cooking at home is cheaper than eating out. And if I eat out, I wanted it to be a planned enjoyable experience and not a last-minute excursion because I forgot to put something in the crockpot. Because it cost my family at least $45 just to go to McDonald’s. 

So, for example, if I haven’t planned anything for lunch on Sunday, we’re all hungry after church, it’s easy and tempting just to hit up the drive-through. But I’m taking just a few minutes to plan out what I’m either going to cook when I get home or throw something in the slow cooker that saved me money. 

This is one of the reasons that I also freeze our leftovers. Let's say Thursday rolls around, and I’m tired, and my plans have fallen apart. I can pull something out of the freezer and throw it in my instant pot and we still have a meal. 

Saving for upcoming expenses 

Expenses have a way of sneaking up on you. But things like back-to-school shopping, major holidays, or annual recurring expenditures are not emergencies. If you look ahead and know it’s coming you can plan for it. 

This also brings me to this little tip if you’re like me and you lose things and then you re-purchase them because you lost them go into Google calendar when you put something away and put it in your calendar. Then later you just search your Google calendar for Halloween costume or Mother’s Day gift and you know where you put it. 

Get the information 

This week my son is being allergy tested. I found out ahead of time what our insurance covered and what it didn’t and negotiated a payment. 

I think a lot of people don’t realize that you can negotiate your medical bills even if you have insurance. You can even do this after you’ve gotten a bill. But it’s easier to do it before the service is even provided. 

Set expectations 

So this is actually a question from one of you left on Instagram someone asked how do you save money on outings because even going to the park means we buy ice cream. Here’s the thing you have to set expectations before the day begins.

For example if I take my kids into the store with me inevitably one of them is going to asked to look at the Legos. Before we go into the store I’ll say, "today we’re going in to buy the things on my list. We’re not going to be looking at anything extra please do not ask me." Or one day I may say, "we’re going into the store and while we’re here we’re going to look at the Legos but we’re not going to buy anything however we can take pictures of the really cool sets that we see and maybe you can earn them later or ask for them for your birthday. " 

If we’re going to go to the park or an outing are usually take lunch and snacks with us and then that way were not tempted to stop and buy anything. 

Let them know this outing is the treat we don’t need to do anything extra. 

How to lower your credit card interest rate just by asking.

Did you know you can lower your credit card interest rate just by asking? We were able to do this two times while we were paying off our debt. Here is what worked for us.

Tip: This works best if you always pay your bill on time, even just the minimum.

Starting with the credit card you have had the longest.

Call the issuer and tell them you’re looking to pay off your debt and that you would like a lower rate.

Maybe financially you’re struggling and you need a little wiggle room n your budget.

I’ve personally found that you’re going to get the best results in the daytime hours. I know that's not always feasible if you work traditional daytime hours, but this will yield better results.

Use a competitor

Another option is to use a competitor card to your advantage.

So say you have a Visa, see if you can find a Master Card with a lower rate.

Call Visa and tell them and see if they’re willing to match or beat that lower interest rate.

Talk to the right person.

The customer service rep likely can’t do much. Politely ask to speak to someone who can. Don’t belittle and DO NOT BE RUDE.

If they say no just take notes of the conversation and try again in a few months.

The worst they can do is say no.

21 money mistakes to stop making in 2021

Happy New Year! I feel like we punted 2020 out the door and ran. It’s time to move on to better things, right? But before we move on why don’t we have a quick chat about all the money mistakes we’re going to STOP making in 2021.

Before we dive in a quick note. NO ONE is perfect with money. Let’s not pretend to be perfect little money angels. We have all made mistakes and will continue from time to time to make mistakes. We are human. Do your best and learn from your errors.

Money mistakes to stop making

Carrying a balance on your credit card

The average U.S. household has $15,355 credit card debt at 15% interest. (Source)

Say you're paying 2% or $300 as your minimum; it would take you almost 7 years to pay off that debt and you would end up paying over $9,000 in interest. So that $15,000 you borrowed costs you $24,000 to repay. Furthermore, almost half of that total is interests. Paying off your cards in total every month will save you thousands of dollars.

Not using a high yield savings account

A HYS isn’t what it was a year ago. Mine fell from 2% to .6 %. But that is still better than the .01 my bank gives me. Keeping your emergency fund in a HYS account means you will get more interest on your money. (I do not recommend investing your emergency fund. It’s for emergencies and you need to be liquid.)

Not saving money for retirement

Did you know that women invest 40% less over their lifetime than men? But did you also know that when they do invest there is a higher rate of return? (source)

Some people think it is because women are more risk-averse. And maybe that is true. But do you know what another big risk is, besides investing, not having any money to retire and being dependent on someone else to take care of you? 

I find this all very interesting. But regardless- MORE WOMEN NEED TO INVEST MORE MONEY. 

Read: How much do you need to save for retirement?

Buying single stocks

It’s fun to buy some stocks and track them. But single stocks are not the key to wealth building.

Copying what other investors do.

You’re a different person with different goals. Don’t spend too much time thinking about what others are doing.

Ignoring your taxes

Taxes are your biggest annual expense. What are you doing to make sure you are taking advantage of programs that lower your taxable income.

Not taking advantage of retirement

This lowers your taxable income (like a 401k through your employer. Or a solo 401k if you’re self-employed)

Not having a health savings account

Again, an HSA will lower your taxable income. You save this money pretax to be used on healthcare-related expenses.

According to Investopedia: “A Health Savings Account, or HSA, is a savings account with a unique triple tax benefit. Contributions reduce taxable income, their growth within the account is tax-free, and qualified withdrawals (that is, ones used for medical expenses) are also tax-free.”

Not investing to the match on your 401k

I don’t care what any financial guru tells you. Even if you’re in debt, not matching your companies 401k is like burning money in your front yard. It is you literally telling your boss you do not want part of your salary and benefits.

You have no life insurance

It’s not fun to talk about, but you need life insurance. If something happened to you who would take care of your family?

Having no emergency fund

It’s like a safety net if you fall off your tight rope. Most Americans don’t have enough money to cover a $500 emergency. This is tragic. Arm yourself.

Four steps for building up your emergency fund fast

You are over-insured on your car

Many people complain about paying too much for insurance when it turns out that they have purchased more insurance than they need. Make sure you don’t have policies that cover duplicate categories. For instance, if you have AAA membership, you don’t need to purchase towing insurance

You have too many memberships

You didn’t cancel cable just to pay $80 on various streaming platforms. Pick 2. Cancel the rest.

Having more house than you can afford

I’ve made a lot of money mistakes in my life. And I have been on the end where I had more house than I needed or could afford (the property taxes is what did us in). When we bought this time we bought way less house than we were approved for.

Only having one income source

I know it’s exhausting. But having a small income source you can fall back on has been a huge lifesaver for us. Think of some things (large or small) you could do to bring in a little more income.

Using a budgeting style that doesn’t work for you.

If you’re struggling with making or sticking to a budget a weekly budget might be the things for you.

A weekly budget might be the very thing that turns things around for you and gets you on the frugal bandwagon.

A budget is a great tool in your arsenal for getting out of debt, putting money into retirement, funding goals, and creating a lifestyle that you want. But a monthly budget might be overwhelming and it’s okay to admit that. It’s okay to take a step back and admit your frustrations.

There is NO WRONG WAY to budget. I’ve personally found that it is easier to commit to something for seven days than for a whole month.

Not allowing yourself to enjoy some of your money

You worked hard. It’s okay to spend money just because you want to.

On the other side of that coin- spending like you never want to retire

Not tracking your spending

Whether it’s an app or pen and paper, just track your spending.

Not protecting your identity

Identity theft can cost you a LOT of money. Doing simple things like changing up your passwords, or seeing if your insurance offers id theft protection goes a long way.

FINALLY, Taking shame-filled money advice

If you’re listening to advice that makes you feel bad, if you’re listening to voices that make you feel SHAMED because you spend or calls your dumb because you had to take out debt for whatever reason, it’s time to stop listening to those voices.

SIX money tips for new graduates

Graduation season is here. And while this year things might be different without the sound of pomp and circumstance. There is still some money advice graduates need to know.

1. Understand the terms of your student loan repayment. 

Can you defer? What is your interest rate? Is your payment income-based? You need to fully understand what you're dealing with before you begin making payments. 

And do not depend on loan forgiveness programs. 

2. Make a plan to pay off that loan as fast as possible 

Know that you can pay it off faster than you think. In 2018 the average student loan debt total was around $39,000. That's a lot, but it's not so much that you can't knock it out in a few years. Just know that getting that paid off is your first priority. A cool apartment, a new car and a fabulous trip to Barcelona can wait. Trust me, debt freedom is priceless. Let that be your focus. 

3. Make your first budget 

Chances are you weren't budgeting in college, but if you were KUDOS and you need to spread that message of frugal education to everyone you know.

But if you weren’t budgeting now is the time to start. If you've never made one before that's okay. It's easier than you think. Here is a guide to get you started. 

4. Enroll in your company's retirement match

Hopefully, you have a job. Maybe it's not your dream job. That's okay too. You'll get there. But enroll in your company's retirement matching. Don't let this free money just sit on the table. 

5. Save something from every paycheck

Plan to put money away from each paycheck. Even if it's just a few dollars. Over time this savings grows and grows and grows. 

6. Set up an emergency fund

Make no mistake, emergencies happen. If you have some money put away it will soften the blow. If your car needs repair, you have the money. If you have a medical emergency, you have the money. If your grandmother dies and you need to fly to Idaho for the funeral, you have the money. 

5 ways to immediately cut costs and how to get free cell phone service

Today’s post is sponsored by TextNow. All opinions are my own and this post was written by me.

You may be facing a job loss or your hours have suddenly cut or maybe you’re just bracing for potential economic uncertainty as we all navigate these weird months ahead. Whatever the reason, today I wanted to share with you a few ways to cut costs immediately.

Plan based on what you have.

I grabbed my planner and went through my pantry, freezer and fridge and planned as many meals as I could with what was on hand. Even if your pantry seems slim you might be surprised with what you can do with what you have already in your home.

Limit your streaming services

How many shows and movies do you really watch on all those streaming services? It might not seem like you’re spending a lot of money if you’re paying $6.99 and $9.99 and $12.99 but all that adds up quickly. Pick one or two that you use the most frequently and let the rest of them go.

Cancel all your subscriptions

Do you need to pay for upgraded versions of free music streaming services? Or those cute little makeup bags that come once a month? If you’re like me you have enough and could skip a few months of subscription boxes.

Switch to a free cell phone provider

I know some of you are doing a double-take right now reading that. But it’s true. I had the opportunity to try out a new service called TextNow that allows you to make free calls nationwide and send free texts (even without a WiFi connection.)

TextNow runs of the Sprint network and is ad-supported, meaning ads do show up on your phone (they’re definitely noticeable but not disruptive).

TextNow offers unlimited calling and texting anywhere in the U.S. All you need is a compatible Android or iOS phone and SIM card (find out if your phone and sim are compatible here ). Then just download the TextNow app and create an account. The app is available on Android  and iOS.

Then select Free Coverage as your option to activate your phone and you’re ready to go.

If you have a compatible phone but no sim card you can purchase an activation kif for a one-time fee of just $9.99. If you don’t have a compatible cellphone TextNow has a range of affordable phone options for every budget.

This is a great option if you’re looking to drop your expensive cellphone coverage, or you need a phone for potential job interviews.

Don’t use online shopping as a coping mechanism

I get that everything feels really unsettled right now. And you might be seeking something you can control. And let’s be honest, there is a little dopamine hit that comes when you hit purchase on Amazon and you know a package is on its way. But shopping online out of boredom or as a way to deal with negative feelings right now, isn’t going to help you.

And don’t let guilt because your child’s spring break plans or field trip or birthday party has been canceled or put on hold. I know how hard mom guilt can hit, trust me, and buying them something new and exciting sounds like the answer. But it’s not. Unlink your debit card number from Amazon right now. Unsubscribe from all sales emails. Don’t shop to cope with negative feelings instead pick a better, free way to manage. If you can get out and go for a walk safely do it, journal, pick up an abandoned hobby, text inappropriate memes to a friend. But limit your online shopping to just what you need.

Is FabFitFun worth the money? A completely honest review of FabFitFun

Today I wanted to share a completely honest review of FabFitFun.

Full disclosure. I was sent a box to review recently from FabFitFun (this wasn’t my first time getting a box, and I have purchased boxes in the past as well. There are NO affiliate links here. I do have a coupon code but I don’t get a commission.) 

Now before we go any further I want to say, if you get a subscription box ANY box and you love it and you think it’s worth the value than it is. Value is subjective. It’s worth what someone is wiling to pay. And if it brings you joy and you look forward to a treat, GO FO IT. 

I’m just offering insight from a lady who has made it her job to help you save money. So let’s go:

You have probably seen the boxes touted all over the internet from your favorite bloggers to Instagram influencers. (Insert joke about contestants from The Bachelor here.) People rave about these boxes. If you go to YouTube you will find hundreds (possibly thousands) of videos each quarter of people unboxing their FabFitFun boxes.

And there are websites dedicated to helping you pick out the best items (if you have a membership you can pick out your own items).

But are they worth the money?

This is how it works, at full price you pay $49.99 a quarter for a box. However, there is always a $10 coupon code, so you can get one for $39.99. 

You get four boxes a year. This is NOT a monthly subscription. You only pay quarterly for it.

FabFitFun claims that you can get at least $200 worth of products to discover and love. 

But are the products actually worth the money? I am going to let you be the judge of that. 

This is what I received in a box sent to me recently. 

Caravan Diamond Woven Rug $48

Shoshanna Umbrella - $40

Gravity Weighted Sleep Mask $39.99

Stone Cold Fox Tea Towels - $38

Ciaté London Fierce Flicks Precision Tip Liquid Liner - $19

Winky Lux Rainbow Tinted Lip Balm- $16

ThisWorks Deep Sleep Body Cocoon - $40 (I tried this lotion and it smells horrible. Like lavender trying to cover up cigarette smoke. That’s the only way I can describe it.)

Mile High Club™ Volume and Length Mascara - $26

So in total, my box was work around $216. 

However, I think these items’ value is greatly inflated.

I did check the websites for each individual item and these is what they retail for. But I think you could find comparable items of the SAME quality for much, much cheaper. 

For example, the umbrella was nearly identical in quality to one I purchased for $10 at Walmart.

When broken down you would end up spending only $5-$8 an item depending on your coupon code and I actually think that’s a pretty good deal. But only if you think you need or will use these items. If you’re buying something just to buy it, it doesn’t matter how good the deal is.

Before purchasing this or ANYTHING, ask yourself if you really need something and if it will provide you with value.

They did send me a coupon code and I am going to share it because I agreed to, however, don’t buy it without really thinking through. If it’s in your budget and you think it’s fun and will bring you joy, go for it. But don’t be influenced by all you see online, please.

Coupon: 10 off coupon code "SENN"

Why your stuff isn't selling: selling your clutter for cash

In case you didn’t know, I am a HUGE advocate for selling the stuff inside your home that you don’t need and putting that cash toward debt of other financial goals.

Americans have more stuff than we could possible need. I read a statistic recently that said that we buy 30% of the world's stuff. If you need some cash fast, selling your things online or on Facebook Marketplace or in a yard sale will help you make money in a few days.

But I've heard from a lot of you that your stuff just doesn't move like you want it to. So I'm going to help you troubleshoot that situation.

 1. Make sure you're actually charging a fair price for your stuff.

 Unless that item is highly collectible and really sought after, you're not going to make as much as you spent on that item. Sixty-five percent is a good place to start. So charge 65% of what you paid for that item.

2. Look at where you want to sell and see what similar items have sold for.

Look on eBay's complete listing (that means an item that sold) and see what that person got for it and what kind of condition it was in.

 Look on Mercari or Poshmark or Facebook Marketplace and see what items are actually moving for.

 Also, your area is going to depend on that. I might be able to sell something higher in my area than you are in yours.

 I know that sometimes baby gear can fluctuate in price. Bicycles. That sort of thing. So you really need to keep that in mind.

3. Make sure you're taking good photographs of it.

 If you are taking a photo of something in the back of your garage that's poorly lit and it's dirty, you're not going to sell it. Take the stuff outside. Wipe it down; clean it up. Take a picture of it in natural light.

 If you have clothing items, lie them flat on the floor or hang them in front of a white background. Take a picture of them. Take it from different angles.

 Photograph the defects. Photograph the unique things about that item.

 Don't just lay them on the floor and take a picture where I can see your feet (that's gross; I'm not going to buy it). Put some effort into your photographs.

You don't have to have a fancy camera. You can just use your phone. But put forth the effort to make it look nice.

Now that doesn't mean to hide flaws. You need to always be honest and not be shady. But make your items look good. So make sure it's in good condition. You're not going to get top dollar for items that are damaged, scratched, broken and dirty.

 4. Know where to sell it.

 I have found — after years of selling — that not every place is equal.

 For example, you used to be able to move clothing and handbags on eBay, but that's just not the case anymore. And eBay has gotten harder to use. Their app is kind of clunky, outdated and it's not user-friendly. I would use eBay for rare and hard-to-find items like toys, books and records, or technology. You can sell your broken cell phone or laptop on there.

 I would use Poshmark and Mercari for selling clothing — Poshmark for higher-end items and Mercari for everyday (like Old Navy, Target, those sort of things). A tip on Poshmark: You can actually bundle items. If you see someone that's selling, like, three dresses from Nordstrom, you can ask them to bundle those items and maybe give you a little bit of a discount. I personally do that on mine — if you ever want to buy something from me, make me an offer.

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are the go-to (in my opinion) for selling larger items and furniture, that sort of thing. Because you don't want to pay to ship that across the country. You can move a nice piece of furniture on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.

 You can also sell stuff via Amazon. If you have games, gaming system, DVDs, books, that sort of thing, you can actually ship them to Amazon's warehouse and they will take care of the shipping for you. And the payment is really easy because it is through Amazon.

5. Focus on your descriptions.

 Put as much detail in there as possible — what the item is, what it is made out of, where it was made, what condition it's in, was your house pet-free and smoke-free.

You want clear and concise writing. You want lots of questions answered before they are ever asked — so lots of details in there.

 You want it free from grammatical and spelling errors. You want to come across as professional, like you know what you're doing.

 I got a comment recently that said that the person got annoyed because so many people were asking questions about what they were selling. One, that is part of the deal. That is part of it. You are selling something, so you are in the customer service business whether you like it or not. And, two, that may be a sign that your description is kind of crappy and you need to rewrite it.

 6. You need eyeballs in front of your listings.

If you are selling on Craigslist, make sure to post a link to all your other listings. Make sure that you go in and edit it periodically so people can see it.

Same thing with Facebook Marketplace. Edit your posts frequently so it gets bumped back up.

7. Make sure to be smart.

If you are selling physical items on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, make sure that you meet in a public location, like a police department or library parking lot. Be safe about what you do. If it feels like a scam, it probably is one.

I didn’t shop for a year and this is what happened

Today I wanted to talk about my No Shopping for a Year challenge — how it went and some lessons that I learned from it.

In 2018, I committed to not buying clothes. Now I did give myself a few allowances. I allowed myself to buy two pairs of shorts, undergarments and a bathing suit.

 I also decided I'm selling a bunch of stuff off Poshmark. I can use those profits to maybe buy some things that I need, but I ended up buying five things the entire year.

I would say it was a success. And I wanted to recap, share with you some lessons I learned, and explain why.

I realized that when I was out buying groceries, going on a Target run, or if I was at Sam's, I would end up stopping and looking at things — just because they were there. It wasn't necessarily things that I needed or even wanted, but it was on sale. Which is such a stupid reason to buy something — because it's on sale and you might need it later.

I never went into debt shopping. We didn't go back into debt. I wasn't swiping a credit card. I was just buying things I didn't need.

So I decided I'm going to do this little experiment: I'm going to shop my closet. I'm going to be really intentional about my purchases. And I'm going to see what happens.

 I can't really think of any cons to doing this. There were no situations where I ended up missing out on a great fashion opportunity. If I didn't buy it, it just wasn't what I needed to do.

 But I did want to share with you a few pros:

 1. I realized what my spending triggers were: boredom and sadness.

 I will shop because I'm bored. I will get on Amazon. I will get on the Target website. I will go to Target. Because I'm bored. Which is stupid.

 My second spending trigger — sadness — took a little bit more to work through. Over the summer, I had a miscarriage. I talked about it a lot; I'm been very open about it. It has taken me a very long time to work through it, and that's okay; we all move at our own pace. But there are days when something would set me up and I'd be sad. And, then, I would  find myself, during my kids' nap time, looking at Amazon on my phone for things I don't need. So I really had to check in with myself and ask myself: Why are you feeling this way? What brought this on? What can you do to make this a more positive outcome?

2. I saw what I actually wore.

 I had a lot of stuff in my closet I didn't wear — I didn't like it, it wasn't the right color, I didn't like the way it looked on me, it didn't make me feel good, or the fabric wasn't great. I ended up — even though I was purging, not replenishing, and had fewer things in my closet — I felt like I had more options because I didn't wear things I didn't like.

 I rediscovered my love for dresses and really long tops. And I just got creative in how to mix some outfits and make them look a little bit different. In that same vein, I kind of refined my personal style. I like a cute dress. I like a flat to go with it. And that's it. I kind of like more classic looks. I'm not super big into trends. I want things that are easy to wear, but I also want to look nice. I don't wear a dress every single day, but I do most days. And I will tell you that, even though I put zero effort into what I wear, people always say, "You look so nice" — just because you're wearing a dress. (Everyone just wears running shorts and oversized T-shirts now. I don't get it.)

3. I saved time.

 Because when you kind of develop a uniform, you realize your sense of style, and you refine what's in your closet, you're not standing there forever saying, "I have nothing to wear." You  just pull something out, put it on, and go about your day.

4. I have learned the danger and true cost of fast fashion.

 We're obsessed with it, right? We see cute stuff in an online ad, in a magazine or on someone's Instagram feed — and we go out and buy it. We don't realize that, just because we saved a few dollars, there is a bigger cost to that.

 There is, obviously, an environmental impact because of how quickly things are made, disposed of, dyed, and shipped. And all the packaging involved.

 But there's also an even bigger and more horrifying human cost to that — in the way people are treated and the way that they are not paid a fair and livable wage. That's something that I've really had to think about: who made my clothes?

 Now I'm not throwing out everything I ever bought at these fast fashion places because that would be wasteful in and of itself. But I've really had to evaluate where I want to spend my dollars and how I want to vote with my dollars.

5. This bled into other areas of my life.

 I ended up not spending in other areas or just waiting to spend in other areas. At one point, I posted a picture on Instagram of the little bit of makeup that I had been using because I just hadn't bought any. (I did buy some after that.)

 Not buying clothes definitely bled into other areas of my life. I ended up just not spending as much money this year across the board and, instead, using that money to either go into my savings, go towards goals, or going on really awesome trips with my kids.