A marathon ended... a mission completed

It’s interesting how much you change opinion in the space of one month but that’s just what’s happened. As most of you would know I undertook the February Shop Ban, where you only buy perishable goods and neccessities for the whole month of February. No clothing, no homewares, no CD’s, material goods were simply out of the question. A film or two was good to set my mind away from the trauma, having watched both “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “He’s just not that into you” with friends over the period.

I was once told “You will always want something more, the grass will always be greener somewhere else, that’s life, work with it, it’s fabulous.” I think this is absolutely true. You always want something else and if you take away the credit card, well that’s the only way to stop you from getting that material possession sometimes.

During the ban I kept a diary of how I was feeling, my urges of the day, my insights into human behaviour as I took to the streets researching how it, this mad consumerism, looked from the outside. My first diary entry, on that blissful day of February the 1st 2009 showed little emotion on the topic. It was breezy and looked like an easy path to follow. It was going to be the easiest dare I’d ever performed...

“Suprisingly it's not that difficult. It's sixteen hours into the ban already and I haven't had any urges. I stayed at home which probably made it easier and watched "The Devil Wears Prada" as well as reading some fashion blog to get my daily fashion fix.”

How simple it seemed and yet on day three I was already concerned about the ban, writing...

”I've had one minor hiccup today. I went onto Sportsgirl's online shop and found a lovely bohemian number on sale for only $20. I shrieked with excitement at the bargain and checked if it was in my size, then realised I was banned. I quickly shut the browser before I could bring harm to myself. I also found out that the person I began my ban with a caved in for a skirt at Ice Design.”


The ban was starting to become something I thought about before I went to bed and as soon as I woke up. I may not shop as much as some though, I know I don’t. The girl who inspired me to do this ban spent more than $2000 a month on clothes. I don't spend even half of that but I don't mind a new shirt every once in a while and this ban was stopping me from any opportunity of that. Having no need for shopping caused to be good from me though as in the first week I went and got myself a job and my learner’s license. Strange what sort of things you do to occupy yourself.
It was not until the second week of the ban however that I began to look at what I may buy afterwards. A tan leather jacket makes a number of appearances in my diary of the ban...

“Although I am now craving the purchase of a leather jacket I found in Dotti I have no need for it now and although it may seem so now, it is not worth breaking my marathon.“

“ After work today I went to a both the city CBD with a friend and a westfield shopping centre (for late night) with my brother. I didn't buy anything but my eyes remain fixed on that leather jacket at Dotti.”

Then came that comical day, when I blurted it right out...

“ Well, believe it or not, I'm hating this ban. I was in the city this evening after university and went into Dotti. There were no Leather Jackets present. They have all gone. Oh no. What to do? Oh well, I came home and looked on my favourite websites. Valleygirl has one that looks fabulous, so that's a possibility.

Believe it or not this valleygirl jacket I speak of in one of my last diary entries is my latest purchase, bought on the first of March as it were. Is it not fate that one will pass a test at least once in their time? My test, as of so far, is of course the shop ban and I feel like I’ve done quite splendidly, without abrupting the formality of my rules by breaking them. My fellow companion, whom began the ban with me, fell to the deeps of such as great shopping sea in Ice Design. Thrown to temptation she gave in and bought herself a skirt, a week before the marathon’s end. As for me? Well I’m glad it’s over. On Sunday, March the 1st I went on a great shopping spree. Queen Street to Toombul, where I bought my valleygirl jacket, to DFO where I bought a camisole (featured in 2nd March’s Sweet Outfit), netted tshirt, scarf and lace throw.

”Fear is to be confronted... even if shopping bags must go empty”


♥