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| image: Ed Yourdan |
It seems like more off us are swearing off superfluous buying these days. I decided to buy no new winter clothes, which turned into not buying anything besides food and essential products (like soap) yet in 2012. It's Not Easy Being Green declared March a no-buying month (food and other essentials only), Meg at MakeItDo (interesting tumblr by the way, definitely worth checking out) challenged herself to go all year without any non-critical purchases and NotBuyingAnything tries to buy as little as possible all the time. All of which makes me wonder, exactly how long could I continue this not-buying challenge?
Not buying unneeded stuff for 2.5 months this year has been surprisingly easy. As long as I stay away from my temptation stores, I've been fine. I've even gone in stores and managed to leave empty-handed. I did pick up a few items during thrift store visit once, but upon further examination I realized I didn't need them and didn't even like them that much so I left empty-handed. But I don't think I could keep this up all year. For one thing my hot weather wardrobe is seriously lacking. I doubt that I have five work-appropriate outfits, so that would be an issue. Other than that there might be a thing or two I want (bike gloves for instance), but I could live without them.
My reduced shopping habit has also paid off in the personal finance department. Upon doing a little research, I saw that even though January and February tend to be low-spend months for me, due to the excess of the holidays no doubt, I ended up having my lowest total spending month on record in February. That translates into at least an extra $100 or so that went straight to savings. Imagining the impact of 12 or more months of that kind of increased savings is a pretty powerful motivator.
It's really quite amazing to think that a couple of years ago the boyfriend and I spent at least one weekend day a month shopping, well window-shopping mostly, for something. Now that seems like a waste of a perfectly good workfree day.
Are you taking any not-buying challenges this year? How long could you go?
Related good reads:
- Why I am SO Not Buying an iPad 3 by Mr. Money Mustache
- Do You Love This Thing by Deliberatism - This post is along a similar vein, one of examining the stuff in our lives, although it doesn't specifically address the shopping portion of that equation. Still this blog is a new and very interesting find that I wanted to share.
I've never done a "no buying" challenge before...well at least not purposefully. I'm naturally someone who doesn't buy stuff, but I do notice that I'm WAY lax about it with the kiddos and hubby. Just the other day we spend $30 on schmancy new night light creatures for the boys to encourage our oldest to stay in his room and not mess with his light switch. I'm 90% sure I'm taking them back since he's turned it off both nights since we bought them, then proceeds to SCREAM to get it turned back on just to turn it off. UGH! I'm lame with them! I think I need to control my spending on others and dictate a little of that towards myself. I have a list of simple things that I have avoided buying for over a year now (like new cookware to replace the toxic non-stick, a tumbling composter, metal spatula, etc.). I think you've just inspired me to try a no spend on the boys challenge...man, they're gonna hate me ;)
ReplyDeleteI say go for it, as long as I'm not blamed! :)
DeleteHa! I think my whole adult life has pretty much been one long buy nothing challenge! Other than the pens, that is!
ReplyDeleteIt's sort of gotten to the point where I really HATE shopping. I couldn't bring myself to spend $6 plus shipping for a used copy of YMOYL on Amazon, and there's a several month waiting list at the library... so yesterday since I had to go to the bank so I drug myself to a few thrift stores to look for one... struck out.
In the past I probably would have been tempted to look around and see if there was anything I couldn't live without, and I did venture into the kitchen section because I need a baking dish to replace a ceramic one that broke... and I did find one (with a cover even... woo hooo!!!)
BUT... I couldn't escape the feeling that I just wanted to get out of there. I could just picture myself having to haul all of the crap back to the thrift store one day in the not so distant future, and it really just made me want to run away quickly.
I used to see "needing" something as an excuse to spend money or go shopping, but these days I see it as a burden... just one more thing to deal with... and shopping is generally my last resort for solving the problem!
It does feel good to fix problems without having to buy things!
DeleteI agree with EcoCatLady about increasingly hating shopping. This is a feeling that's developed for me over the past year or so as I've tried to practice the "buy nothing" philosophy. It's working out very well. The less I've shopped or bought (other than food, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc.), the less I want to shop or buy. I go grocery shopping once a week and try to make that my only trip to a store to shop. (OK, I do treat myself to a Dunkin' Donuts 99cent iced tea a few times a week!)
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty shocking, though--like min hus said--to realize how much of my life I spent shopping for stuff. Stuff that I subconsciously thought would soothe some discontent I was feeling. Whether it was craving new clothes because I was anxious or depressed, or lusting after new sports equipment because I thought a new endeavor would add excitement to my life.
More and more I try to take pleasure in the simplest and cheapest of activities--like biking or rollerblading or borrowing library books instead of buying them. And more and more I'm really enjoying these activities even more than I did before I really committed to a simpler and cheaper lifestyle.
Well said! I so agree with everything you've written here Carol. The less I shop the more I hate it when I do get around to shopping! And I find myself much more relaxed and satisfied after spending time reading or biking rather than shopping.
DeleteOver at the Stripper Project, that is one of my main goals! No buying (except food and essentials) for 1 complete year. I actually have a post going up on this very thing tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI haven't found it particularly difficult so far, but staying away from the shops is a definite must. I never knew I would get such a high from spending money on groceries!
"For one thing my hot weather wardrobe is seriously lacking. I doubt that I have five work-appropriate outfits, so that would be an issue."
ReplyDeletePerhaps as a culture we need a rethink (and if everyone wears something everyday its hard to be the only one to change) - My Mum used to have only 3 outfits which she used to change with scarves or jewellery. Now I'm retired I have only 2 changes of summer shorts for around the home and two outfits for my volunteer work.
I was staggered to find the expectation on one american website that the average US person would have 50 tee shirts. 5 is my maximum at any one time.
Hilary
Needing a culture rethink is a very good point Hilary, although five outfits would be my minimum since I refuse to do laundry more than once per week.
DeleteAnd as far as t-shirts go, I definitely have less than 50, but might have 25. Course, I still have t-shirts I've had since high school, which was quite awhile ago now.
I never have nor plan to do a no-spend challenge. I'm naturally not much of a shopper but I'm just not very good at restrictive stuff like this (and dieting). I think moderation is working fine for me. I'm trying to be more conscious about my spending though and that seems to rein in my spending even more.
ReplyDeleteI like Hilary's suggestion to re-examine our wardrobe expectations. I do think we go through cycles that we do "need" to replace clothing as things get worn out. However, I think that it is possible to make do with less even with work clothes. I have much less shoes and work shirts / dresses than many women at my work but I can probably still get by for 2 weeks without wearing the same item twice. And I still tend to wear many of my favorites more than other items.
Hi Candi!
ReplyDeleteYou've been an inspiration to me to keep it up past this month. I'm halfway through my no buying month and have slipped up only once (new artisan indie chocolaterie, we were the only people in the shop, I accepted a free sample...well, I had to get a small box). It's been fine so far. I really don't feel like anything is missing from my life. I know I can't keep it up indefinitely since I do actually need a new oven mitt (it can't be good that my current one seems to be melting), but I'm seeing how much of my shopping used to be because I was bored, not because I needed something.
Like Cat, I've slowly come to realize that I don't really enjoy shopping and have plenty of more interesting activities to fill my time with.
Thanks Jennifer, is there anything better than hearing that someone sees you as an inspiration? I think not.
DeleteI definitely can't keep up the no-buying stuff thing indefinitely, nor do I see a need to since I don't spend above my means. But being more conscious about my spending has definitely been beneficial.
Oh and if chocolate counts as slipping up then I am totally screwed! Chocolate and candy *is* are essential purchases for me! They're food! Kinda, sorta.
DeleteWhat oilandgarlic says. I'm not really a natural spender and when I do spend it's generally without regret. Moderation is good. (Though I will say our spending on all sorts of stuff went way down once we stopped having to make regular diaper purchases at Target!)
ReplyDeletehttp://nicoleandmaggie.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/what-do-you-think-about-no-spend-days/
Forgive me readers for I have consumed. It has been 13 hours since my last uncritical purchase.
ReplyDeleteYep, I purchased, big time: Bird feeder (to replace a broken one), bird seed, onion sets and seeds. Doh! And that reminded me that I've purchased seeds a couple of times before during 2012 (flower, not veg), which isn't as bad as say, a Justin Bieber CD (shudder), but is hardly a critical purchase.
I'm embarking on a month of self-imposed poverty, much the same concept as not buying superflous things. Check it out (www.simpleandslow.com)if you're interested on seeing how to survive on $1.25 a day for a month in South Africa!
ReplyDelete