July was another over-budget month, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it. After the high of June’s 66% savings, seeing the numbers climb back up again is frustrating. But I’m also not letting it stop me, because this challenge has never been about perfection. It’s about awareness, progress, and playing the long game.
Here’s the thing about July: I didn’t thrift at all. Not once. I didn’t impulse shop. I didn’t browse “just because.” The budget got hit because of real life stuff: my husband wanted to redo the kids’ playroom with new lights (a $500 project), I had a handful of beauty products run out and need replacing, and I finally found a wish list bag I’ve been hunting for since January. None of that is reckless spending, but it all adds up.
So yes, we went over budget. But I’m still here, still tracking, still learning, and still committed to finishing this year strong. Here’s how July played out.
Monthly Reflections
Even though the numbers don’t look great this month, I actually feel really good about my habits. July was proof that I can go an entire month without thrifting or shopping for entertainment, and that’s a huge shift from where I started at the beginning of the year.
Here are my biggest reflections from July:
- I didn’t thrift at all this month, and I didn’t miss it. No thrift store trips, no “just browsing,” no spontaneous stops. That’s a massive win for me, especially considering how often I was going at the beginning of the year.
- I finally found my wish list bag (and I’m so proud of how I handled it). The cow hair print Brooklyn bag from TJ Maxx has been on my wish list since January. When I found it, I grabbed it and left. No browsing, no “while I’m here” purchases, no getting sucked into the TJ Maxx vortex. That’s the kind of intentional shopping I’ve been working toward.
- Most of my spending was restocks, not impulse buys. Mascara, skincare empties, SPF, and a hair serum. These are things I was actually out of and needed to replace. That feels very different from the “buying just to buy” habit I’m trying to break.
- The playroom project inflated the numbers, but it wasn’t my spending. My husband wanted to redo the kids’ playroom with Govee lights, and that came to about $500. It’s a family expense, not a shopping habit issue, but it still shows up in the monthly total.
- Going over budget doesn’t mean the challenge is failing. This is the lesson I keep having to re-learn. Some months are just expensive. What matters is that my habits are better, even when the numbers aren’t perfect.
Budget Recap
July was another month where the total feels bigger than the habits would suggest. Most of what I spent was either restocking empties or a family project that wasn’t my call. Here’s the full breakdown:
Spending overview
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Personally thrifted | $0 |
| Other personal purchases | $396.99 |
| Total family purchases (2026) | $1,929.24 |
| Total family purchases (2025) | $1,734.89 |
Other personal purchases (non-thrift)
- Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream: $22.00
- L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara: $13.99
- Medicube Zero Pore Pad: $21.00
- Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20: $30.00
- Cow Hair Print Brooklyn Bag (TJ Maxx): $179.00
- Pure Radiance Brightening Eye Cream: $43.00
- Sun Veil Illuminating Elixir SPF 38: $38.00
- Kérastase Nutritive Hydrating Split Ends Serum: $49.00
Total other personal purchases: $396.99
What drove the total higher
The biggest factor was the kids’ playroom lighting project (~$500 in Govee lights), which was my husband’s project. The rest was a combination of husband things, beauty restocks I’d run out of, and the Brooklyn bag I’ve been searching for since January.
Lessons Learned
July didn’t give me the “mic-drop” number that June did, but it gave me something just as valuable: proof that my habits are sticking, even when the budget doesn’t cooperate.
- A zero-thrift month is possible (and it doesn’t feel like punishment). Going the entire month without thrifting showed me that I don’t need it to feel good or fill my time anymore. That’s a huge behavioral shift from where I started.
- Wish list shopping works exactly how it’s supposed to. I’ve been looking for that cow print Brooklyn bag since January. When I finally found it, I walked in, grabbed it, and walked out. No browsing, no extras. That’s the whole point of keeping a wish list: so when the right thing shows up, you can say yes without guilt.
- Restocks aren’t impulse buys, but they still need tracking. Running out of mascara, SPF, and skincare is just life. But this month reminded me that even “necessary” purchases add up fast, especially when multiple things run out at once. Tracking helps me see the pattern and plan ahead.
- Not every over-budget month is a personal failure. The playroom lights were a family decision, not a shopping habit issue. I’m learning to separate “budget reality” from “habit progress” so I don’t spiral every time the number is higher than I want it to be.
- I’m still in this, and that matters more than any single month. Seven months in and I’m still tracking, still adjusting, still showing up. That consistency is the real win, not perfection.
Goals for Next Month
August is going to be a real test because it’s back-to-school season and all three of my littles need new shoes and clothes. But instead of panicking, I’m going in with a plan.
- Stay under the $1,000/month budget (even with back-to-school shopping). This is ambitious, but I’m going to try. School starts in 2 weeks and the kids all need new shoes and clothes, so I’m setting aside about $500 collectively for them and hoping the rest of our spending stays low enough to keep us under the cap.
- Thrift for the kids’ back-to-school clothes. A lot of thrift shops do 50% off tag sales this time of year, and I’m planning to take advantage of that. If we can find most of what they need secondhand, we’ll stretch that $500 a lot further.
- Keep personal shopping at zero (or close to it). I just restocked everything I needed in July, so there’s no reason to buy anything for myself in August. The goal is to ride the momentum from my zero-thrift July and keep the focus on the kids.
- Don’t let back-to-school shopping turn into back-to-school browsing. I know myself. Once I’m in a store “for the kids,” it’s easy to start looking for myself. I want to stay focused, stick to the list, and get in and out.
- Keep tracking everything. Even if August ends up being tight, I want to see exactly where the money goes so I can keep adjusting.
Looking Ahead
August is going to be busy: back-to-school prep for three kids, two separate visits from friends, and the ongoing goal of staying under our $1,000 monthly budget through all of it. I know from experience that having people in town makes it easy to say “let’s just go here” or “let’s grab this,” so I want to be mindful of that without being rigid or missing out on quality time.
My plan is simple: stick to the list, thrift smart for the kids, keep personal spending at zero, and enjoy our visitors without letting social time become an excuse to overspend. Seven months in, I know I can do this. It’s just about staying intentional, one day (and one decision) at a time.
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