Generally speaking, half way is a good thing.

If this were any other challenge, making it to half way would be a good thing.

Given that I am paid by my employer on a monthly basis, and on the 15th of each month, the half way mark is where this challenge really began.

The way things normally work for me on this monthly salary schedule:

• 15th day: Get paid
• 16th day: Spend it all
• Rest of month: Wait around for next pay day for the next cycle

This time, I've got all that money sitting there and nothing to do with it. The bonus is that all that cash I would have otherwise wasted has made a significant dent in my credit card liability.

I've decided that the easiest way to conquer this challenge is to leave my cards at home and do not under any circumstances visit any shops. Neither of which I've actually done yet. In my defence I have not actually broken my no spending vow to myself yet.

I will admit that at times I've thought about giving up and giving in, but when I think about it, the only person I would let down is myself. No one else actually cares if I spend or not (CEO's of MYER and David Jones excluded), the only person who would care is me.

So regardless of how excited I am about some of the new season lines, and the old season lines on sale, I'm sticking like duct tape to my resolution.

At the end of the day if I fail, if I cheat or if I lie, the only person I am failing, cheating or lying to is myself. Frankly I deserve to be treated with a little more respect than that, if only by myself.

There are some things I just did not anticipate.

Personally, I think I am doing quite well with my no-spending month. When I say that, I mean that I am doing quite well. But the people around me, not so much.

The thing I didn't forsee is that when no one else has made the same committment as you, they don't have quite the same dedication to the cause as you do.

So while I haven't purchased anything for myself, I have been pushed into a couple of corners where I've had to bail other people out and make purchases for them. If somewhat begrudingly, the money was still spent.

For now I think my record still stands since I haven't cracked and made any purchases for myself. Although I think I need a little more willpower when it comes to other people since my resolve hasn't been holding up as well as I would like. If I keep this up it's only a matter of time before I make a slip and buy something for myself.

On another note, I have discovered that the things I'm missing most are not shopping sprees and shoes. The things I am missing most these last two weeks are:

• Nandos
• Max Brenner
• Really good coffee

Come March 1st I think I'm going to take a day trip. Starting with a perfectly brewed, fresh latte in the morning, Nandos for lunch and heading over to Max Brenner for an amazing hot chocolate in one of his adorable Hug Mugs in the afternoon.

Now that I think of it, what day is March 1st? I hope I don't have to be at work that day...

I think in the past two weeks I have started learning a valuable lesson about self restraint and how vital it can be in today's society. We are all running ourselves into the ground because we want everything and we want it right now.

I think we could all learn something important if we took a step back to see the bigger picture and see what we are really chasing.

In the last two weeks, I haven't experienced the instant gratification that comes from shopping for new things. In the time I would have spent shopping, I've taken the time to see my friends and family and create quality, golden moments with them. I have memories that can't be bought and can't be taken away from me now.

I had a really great time doing it and it didn't cost a thing. The best things in life really are free.

Well I suppose Day 1 was a success.

If by success it is taken to mean that I didn't buy anything.

However, at one point I did think I was going to suffer a mild nervous break-down. It was about the time I went on lunch at work and realized I was down to only 2 options:

1. Hit up the shops but touch nothing; or
2. Stay at work where I really couldn't be tempted by much more than a vending machine.

It was a tough call, but the sub zero office air con forced me out of the office on a defrost recon mission, before I made a speedy return to avoid the chances of 'accidents' happening.

All in all, I actually think for the first time that I can do this.
One down, 27 to go!