We encourage you to take some time to think about how you’d like to shape your Lenten practice of giving up buying material goods and prayerfully set your intention.

Consider:

• Is there an area of your life where you feel you have a disordered attachment to buying particular items?
• Are there ways in which you are feeling stuck or “unfree” with regard to material possessions?
• How will participating in this shared practice make space for you to be able to love more freely?
• If you decide to not buy anything outside of essentials during this time, how will you deal with unexpected events such as an item breaking or being lost?
• Will you still buy gifts for other people if special events occur during Lent?
• What else do you need to consider to enter into this Lenten practice?
• Have a conversation with God about if this the practice that you’re being called to this Lent

Here are some example pledges to inspire you:

• This Lent, to make space for the sacred and to love more deeply, I pledge to:
  • refrain from buying meals out unless I am eating with loved ones.
  • avoid buying coffee in disposable cups.
  • give up buying all non-essential items (outside of food, transportation costs, and replacing toiletries).
  • give up buying any items in a particular category until I have used all of what I already own.

This Lenten practice is completely unique to you so frame it in whatever way makes the most sense and feels most helpful. Bringing some of these questions to prayer will likely help you discern how you’re being called to live out a no-buy Lent.