Jen Russum

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A Good Steward: Clothes {Part 1}

 Do you ever feel like God is teaching you something and it’s going to be the theme of your life for a while??? Well, that’s me right now. I feel like God is teaching me all things stewardship…

How to be grateful for what I already own.
How to say “no” to buying things I don’t need.
How to manage our home better to save money.
How to get really disciplined about finances and following a budget.

Here’s the thing. I’ve always had enough. I’ve always had more than enough in fact. I’ve had a job ever since I turned sixteen. I’ve often had two jobs at once. I’m a hard worker. I’m a saver. I’ve always had enough money to go out to dinner with friends or buy a new shirt at the mall. I mean, I don’t often buy a steak dinner and I always shop the sale racks. But I have more than enough.

But I think God is trying to teach me that enough is enough. I don’t need “more.” The one area I have always struggled in when it comes to spending my money wisely is clothes. I love them. I’ve always enjoyed shopping. I love finding a good deal. I appreciate feeling well dressed. And, as an adult, I’ve loved being able to embrace my own style and feel comfortable in my clothes without being swayed by every passing trend. Cardigans, gold buttons and pointy-toe shoes for life, y’all!

But God has been rockin’ my world lately. Telling me to just say NO. I don’t need to shop. I have a closet full of beautiful clothes. I could hardly wear every item I own in a full year. For those of you who have been here a while, you know that I recently did a 30 for 30 challenge where I chose thirty items to wear for an entire month. The goal of the challenge is to create new outfits with clothes you already own, instead of going out and buying new ones. You can see days 1-9, 10-20 and 20-30 of the challenge here. And the funny thing is that I didn’t even end up using 30 items. I only used 21. Lesson learned: I really don’t need as many clothes as I think I do. Here is a collage of almost all 30 days…

Since the challenge, I’ve really been thinking about how to be a better steward of my wardrobe. I do enjoy fashion and shopping, and neither of those things is bad in and of themselves, but they need to be enjoyed in moderation. So I will be back tomorrow with my thoughts on how to best manage one’s wardrobe…

Hope to see you then!

Linking to the lovely Jami…

Comments

  2. I can so relate to this post! Several years back the Lord led me to radically "clean out my closet" as a answer to a prayer I'd been praying for my three daughters in relation to moderation and stewardship. I have been feeling the Lord prompting me to share about it so your post is conformation! Thank you girl for the encouragement!

  5. I'm so excited that I found your blog through Heather's! Being content with what I have and knowing enough is enough is a lesson I have been definitely been working on, and am doing a spending freeze for the month to show myself that I have enough. Love your blog!!!

  7. oh my word. i've had to totally downsize my wardrobe because we're in between a big move and have downsized to a condo while we wait for the Lords timing. this was just the inspiration i needed. thanks!

    stopping by from call me blessed.

  9. I'm late to the party but I LOVE this idea. I'm currently transferring from the corporate world to working for myself and the wardrobe "requirements" are far more relaxed. Which makes me wonder if any requirements I had for when I worked for someone else were just an excuse to shop!