We had a few goals when we set out on the No Spend Challenge in January of this year. One of the goals was to learn more about what we spend money on and why. The challenge of not spending money when I want to is revealing to me more about what I value and what motivates me to buy. For instance, I have a great fondness for books. It is an inherited trait passed on from my parents. I love books. Aside from the beach, a library is my favorite place. Give me a stack of books on the beach and I’m in heaven.

While I try to exercise some amount of restraint when it comes to buying books, it’s hard for me to walk away. My husband once got really anxious because I started making piles of books to buy at a Goodwill. He thought we were going to go broke from all the books I planned to buy – until I pointed out the sign that showed they were $0.50 each. I hit the jackpot that day. When my kids’ new school books come in the mail, I’m more excited than Christmas. Hopefully you are getting the picture: I really love books.

As you might expect, one thing I have had a difficult time giving up is the acquisition of more books. The funny thing is that I have bookshelves full of excellent books, many of which I haven’t had time to read yet. So, my desire to buy more books isn’t based on a need for more reading material. My love for books is really about my appetite for new ideas and information. It’s about learning, but even more, it’s about the promise of something better that new knowledge or another perspective so often ushers in. I feel that if I just read the right book on the right topic it will unlock the missing piece in whatever project or process I am trying to improve.

The No Spend Challenge has brought me face to face with my love for books and the underlying reasons why. I’ve started asking some new questions about myself, my books, and what I’m really trying to gain. Plus, I’ve been taking another look at all the books I already own. It’s time to start (or finish) reading the dozens I have already collected. I have some excellent books that I have not even cracked open yet. Stopping my spending so I can’t buy more books has given me the opportunity to evaluate this area of my life.

While I have to admit I have been tempted several times to justify the purchase of a new book, I have kept the challenge and looked deeper at why this expense is so important to me. This is the core of the No Spend Challenge; it is an invitation to take a closer look at my money, my stuff, and my motivation. A week into our 7th month of No Spending and I’m still excited to see what the rest of the year brings.