August was one of those months I knew would be tough going in: back-to-school shopping for three kids, friends visiting, and the reality of needing a few things for myself after going almost eight months without personal shopping. And yeah, we went over our $1,000 monthly budget again.
But here’s the part I’m choosing to focus on: we spent 20.1% less than the same month last year. That’s real, measurable progress. It’s not the mic-drop 66% savings we had in June, but it’s proof that even in an expensive month, the habits I’ve been building are working. The spending is lower. The awareness is higher. And the impulse buying? Practically nonexistent.
I’m not going to pretend I didn’t feel a little guilty about some of the purchases this month. I caved and went shopping at TJ Maxx for the first time in months, and while everything I bought was something I genuinely needed (or had been wanting for a while), there’s still that voice in my head that says “you could have made the old stuff work a little longer.” But I’m learning to balance being intentional with being realistic, and sometimes replacing things that are falling apart is just the right call.
Here’s how August played out.
Monthly Reflections
August was a busy month, and it tested my low-buy commitment in a few different ways. Between back-to-school shopping, friends in town, home projects, and finally caving on some personal shopping, there was a lot happening. But when I zoom out, I’m proud of how intentional most of it was.
- We came in under last year’s spending, and that’s a win. Even though we went over our $1,000 monthly goal, we saved 20.1% compared to August 2025. With back-to-school on the table, I honestly wasn’t sure we’d beat last year at all, so I’m taking this one.
- I went personal shopping for the first time in almost 8 months. I finally went to TJ Maxx and spent $97 on workout gear and a couple of fall tops. Most of my workout clothes are years old and literally falling apart, so this was more of a replacement than an impulse. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a twinge of guilt. Part of me thinks I could have done more laundry or made the old stuff work a little longer. The other part of me knows that worn-out gear was holding me back from wanting to work out.
- The cowhide belts were a wish list win. I found two real cowhide belts while shopping with friends in town, and I’ve been wanting them for a while. At $29.99 each for genuine cowhide, they felt like a smart buy that I’ll wear constantly.
- Home projects added up faster than I expected. A light fixture that had been on my wish list for months went on sale ($170, down from $300), and I had a bit of an OCD/ADHD moment restyling all my living room bookshelves. I tried to use mostly what I had at home, but I did spend about $300 on a few new pieces to modernize the look. It wasn’t planned, but I love how it turned out.
- Back-to-school shopping was the big expense, but it was expected. Three kids needed supplies, backpacks, and clothes. I knew this was coming and tried to budget for it, but it still pushed us over the monthly goal.
- Going over budget doesn’t sting as much when you know the habits are solid. Eight months in, I’m less focused on hitting a perfect number every month and more focused on the overall trajectory. We’re still under budget for the year, and I’m still making decisions I’m proud of.
Budget Recap
August was a month where the spending felt justified, even if the total was higher than I wanted. Most of it was back-to-school, home projects, and replacing things that genuinely needed replacing. Here’s the full breakdown:
Spending overview
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Personally thrifted | $0 |
| Other personal purchases | $156.97 |
| Total family purchases (2026) | $2,007.14 |
| Total family purchases (2025) | $2,510.79 |
| Savings vs. last year | 20.1% |
Other personal purchases (non-thrift)
- Brown cowhide belt: $29.99
- Black cowhide belt: $29.99
- TJ Maxx (workout gear + fall tops/tanks): $97.00
Total other personal purchases: $156.97
What drove the total higher
The biggest factors this month were back-to-school shopping for three kids (supplies, backpacks, clothes), a light fixture on sale ($170, down from $300), and a bookshelf restyling project (~$300). My personal shopping was only $156.97 of the total, which I’m honestly proud of after 8 months of barely buying anything for myself.
Lessons Learned
Eight months into this low-buy challenge, the lessons are less about “don’t buy things” and more about understanding the nuances of real-life spending. Here’s what August taught me:
- Beating last year matters more than hitting a perfect monthly number. I went over my $1,000 goal, but I spent 20% less than I did in August 2025. That’s the kind of progress that actually moves the needle on our yearly $12,000 target. I’m learning to measure success against the bigger picture, not just one month.
- Replacing worn-out things isn’t the same as impulse buying. My workout gear was falling apart. I could have stretched it a little longer, sure, but at some point “making do” starts working against you. Buying replacements that I’ll actually use and feel good in was the right call, even if the guilt tried to tell me otherwise.
- Home projects have a way of snowballing. The light fixture was planned and on sale. The bookshelf restyling was… less planned. I tried to use what I had, but I still spent about $300 on new pieces. I don’t regret it (I love how it turned out), but it’s a good reminder to budget for those “inspiration strikes” moments instead of letting them catch me off guard.
- Shopping with friends is still a trigger, but I’m handling it better. Having friends in town meant we went shopping together, and I came home with two cowhide belts. They were on my wish list and I’m happy with them, but I also know that social shopping is one of my weaker spots. Awareness is half the battle.
- Going 8 months without personal shopping (and then only spending $97) is something to celebrate, not feel guilty about. I need to give myself more credit. The old me would have spent $97 on a random Tuesday without thinking twice. The fact that it took 8 months and was driven by actual need? That’s growth.
Goals for Next Month
After a busy August, September feels like a chance to reset and get back to basics. I don’t truly need anything this month, which makes sticking to the budget feel a lot more doable.
- Actually stay under the $1,000/month budget this time. No back-to-school, no major restocks, no planned home projects. This should be one of the quieter spending months of the year, and I want to take advantage of that.
- Decorate for fall and Halloween using what I already own. This is my favorite time of year for decorating, and I have plenty from previous years. If I see something new that truly fits with what I have, I might grab it, but I’m not going out looking for it.
- Don’t let “fall decor browsing” become a spending trap. I know myself. Once I start looking at fall and Halloween stuff, it’s easy to convince myself I “need” one more thing. The goal is to enjoy what I have and resist the urge to refresh for the sake of refreshing.
- Keep personal shopping at zero. I just stocked up on workout gear and fall tops, so there’s no reason to buy anything else for myself right now.
- Keep tracking everything. The habit that holds it all together. Even in a “quiet” month, I want to see where the money goes.
Looking Ahead
September feels like a fresh start. The back-to-school chaos is behind us, the kids are settled into their routine, and I can finally breathe a little. I’m looking forward to pulling out my fall decorations, enjoying the (eventual) cooler weather here in Fort Worth, and seeing how close I can get to actually staying under $1,000 this month.
Eight months in, this low-buy challenge has become less of a “challenge” and more of a lifestyle. I’m not white-knuckling it anymore. I’m just… more aware, more intentional, and more comfortable saying “I don’t need that right now.” And honestly, that feels like the biggest win of all.
Comments (0)