clothes fast 2014

Fasts are supposed to be private, right?  No one really knows that you are doing them, in an effort not to draw attention to yourself and stay humble.

Well... Chad and I are embarking on a fast that has become public.  Not intentionally, but I guess we didn't mind sharing it with others... not to look good, more just in a factual way.  And maybe fast isn't really the correct word... maybe we could use"freeze."  It's a "spending freeze."  But since some of our friends found out about it, I decided that it was ok to share it here too, in an effort to get as much encouragement and accountability as possible... and to share what I learn along the way.

It was Chad's idea and I quickly agreed to it (knowing I needed it much more than him).  His suggestion was to not purchase any new clothes in 2014.  I knew I could do it and that I wanted to do it.  For several reasons.

To prove for once that I can be strict in this area, when I fail to meet my budget year after year.
To simplify my life.
To get back the time that I spend purchasing, returning, purchasing, returning.
To redefine my needs & my style.  What do I like and wear the most?  What is my closet missing?
To remove emotional ties to shopping and the idol that it can become.
To be able to shop based on needs and not wants and say "no" when I know I don't need it.
To continue to shrink my wardrobe, with the goal of owning quality favorites that I wear often, rather than owning lots of things - some that I like a lot, some that are just ok.
To have a wish list of things that I want and wait to get them as a gift or with gift $, rather than just buying them for myself and feeling guilty I didn't have more patience.
To challenge myself to wear my clothes in new ways when everything feels old.
To be changed.

And really it goes beyond clothes.  Pretty much any nonessential personal purchase, including accessories, shoes... and things of the like.

I will be honest and say that Chad and I took a shopping trip after Christmas to spend some Christmas $ and get a few more things we wanted before our year of fasting began.  I found myself walking through Gap racking my brain for anything I could possibly need the next year and had to remind myself that wasn't the point.

Maybe I'm naive, but I really don't think it will be that hard overall.  I feel more excitement for the challenge than fear for the future.  I like extreme, black and white situations that force a decision.  Browsing Target and debating on the $20 shirt isn't an option.  Decision made.  There's something about telling myself no that feels good.  And a year goes fast, right?

My prayer is that I really am changed by all of this.  That after the end of the year I can look back and feel different.  Not that it won't ever be hard to go into Jcrew and want to buy just about everything, but that in the moment when that happens, I can take a deep breath, get perspective, and do some smart shopping.

I found a quote by Tim Keller that summarized my perspective on doing the fast and taped it to my computer.  It says:
"Jesus must become more beautiful to your imagination, more attractive to your heart, than your idol.  That is what will replace your counterfeit gods.  If you uproot the idol and fail to "plant" the love of Christ in its place, the idol will grow back."

That's what I want to happen in my life.

I will update you on how it's going and what I'm learning, if you care to know.  Happy 2014 and anyone is free to join us if they feel so led. :)