Money (well?) spent

 Assalamu aleikum wa rahmatullah dears :) how are u today?

I have a total day off, I don't need to do anything, not even cook because today we will eat leftovers. The weather is a bit gray, might rain later, which I don't mind. Next week will be hot in sha Allah. Hot like my tea which I'm making, hehe. I am programmed to have a cup while I write, it's a must.

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Days like these, when I just relax, it's tempting to look Vinted a bit, just to see what's there today. I guess I'm programmed in this too, shopping clothes.

Now having some sort of hobby or interest is not a bad thing. But maybe sometimes it's on the brink of obsession, which is not so good anymore. I haven't bought many brand new items this year, only underwear and socks and one knit scarf from discount. Oh, and I bought the hijabs too.. But yeah, I have spent almost 400e this year on clothes and that feels so much :( I have a guilty conscience. 99 percent of this spending is on Vinted, and I haven't bought anything expensive, but it's the small purchases that count. Every month I've been buying something, less or more. But now this must change.

I'm going to have a no-buy-rest of the year, in sha Allah. I will delete Vinted too for now. Of course now I have everything what I need in my wardrobe, so this is possible to do.. And I will just be content with what I have. I'm not saying I can't make any purchases, but at least I can try to show myself that I don't need to buy things I don't absolutely necessarily need. That money can be used for something else, mostly saving and also for sadaqah, instead of clothes.

Because even though I have still a more of a minimal wardrobe, I got it all: winter clothes, summer clothes. Jackets, coats, shoes. Shirts, pants, scarves. Bags. And what I wear? Mostly the same two three outfits I feel comfortable in. 

I have tried to reduce my clothes shopping for many times now. I always end up in this situation that I have enough, but then I get excited of something new and change my wardrobe again. Also in the past it has been necessary, because my weight and size has also changed. But now I have pieces that can last with small changes in weight, either way. So it's a good time to revaluate my habits and build better ones.

I don't also want to repeat myself. I want to be able to make changes and take action. And if I can't change the world, I can change my own life for some parts. Maybe it's also about having control, not in all things and every little thing, but a healthy feel of having the threads in your own hands, as we say in Finnish.

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So we have now a short but effective list:

- delete Vinted

- don't buy anything even on sale 

I also have my dream list, which includes

- beautiful long leather gloves with embellishments for the autumn/winter

And I might get it, or not, but I allow it to stay on the list. I am not a minimalist to the core, I'm more of a minimalist for organizing and comfort, I guess. Having little joys, but now tackling a bad habit. 

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Also it feels good to start something new. I always need goals in life. Have something to strive for. We're in the middle of the summer, and I'm mostly on holiday, but autumn will come and I need to have something to carry me through the darkness. I know, I know, I'm a muslim and that should be enough to carry me. Well, that's the core. But for the fruit, I must work for something. I have some ideas on my mind, and time will tell how I'm able to proceed with them. But what I mean is that I try to encourage you too to make plans and think how you can build up your life. It doesn't mean you are not happy with what you have, but more that you are part of the motion of moving forward, as life goes.

And the change happens only by changing. It's like bad habits: you can't quit any other way than quitting. Of course you don't have to do it cold turkey, there's different ways which work for different people. I'm the type which benefits from small changes and a steadfast perspective. And who doesn't stop for small falls, but lifts herself up and tries again.

So it's time for something new, with being content with the old, and enjoying what is right now, as it should be. We will get to the right balance in sha Allah, hehe.

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I have written these past two times on a different time, here time being now 4 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. I hope you will find my texts still. I just have had more time in the day time to write..

.. but now I gotta go set the table and see what's Suttis doing! Thnx for reading dears, I love you guys :) Later then,

Aisha