One.

Today marks the beginning of Lent, and while it is typically seen as a period of forty days in which one sacrifices something important to honor the sacrifices of God, I feel that Lent can also be used as a time to challenge oneself to make a lifestyle change or break some bad habits. I feel that my sacrifice should not only serve as a challenge, but should also be able to teach me a lesson in the end. With that said, I have decided to give up buying clothing and shoes for Lent. And, to make it a bit more symmetrical, I have decided to tack an extra 20 days onto the duration, making it two full months of no shopping.

I've chosen to give up shopping simply because I do it too often. I'm one of those people who can't resist a good deal, and as a result, have clothing and shoes oozing out every nook and cranny of my room. Try as I might to organize, the piles continue to grow back and multiply, leaving me feeling stressed and cramped.

Let's rattle off some stats about my closet now.

As of today, February 13, 2013, I have:

• 38 pairs of blue jeans
• 21 pairs of colored/printed jeans
• 68 dresses
• 84 sweaters
• 11 blazers
• 29 long sleeved tees
• 27 pairs of shorts
• 76 short sleeved tees
• 19 jackets & coats
• a non-countable amount of shoes
• and a partridge in a pear tree

I honestly didn't feel like counting the amount of tank tops, "going out" tops, blouses, leggings, and skirts that I have, but I think you get the picture. It's a whole lot of stuff, and I really have no need to buy more, so that's where my challenge stems from. In the next 60 days, I plan on buying no new clothes or shoes (no matter how crazy the deal is on them) in an effort to encourage myself to be imaginative with what I have and inspire me to save money by resisting things I do not need. 

Throughout my 60-day journey, I plan on updating my current feelings, telling of any obstacles I face, and posting photos of outfits I have worn on this blog. In the end, I hope that I am able to have learned to enjoy what I have, while figuring out how to make wiser purchases in the future. I'm not saying I will never go crazy at a sale again, but I think it would be wise for me to learn that my life will go on if I pass up a bargain every once in a while.