In January I decided this would be my year of (mostly) not buying things I don’t actually need. I make an exception for a limited number of non-fiction books I can’t get from any libraries in our state.
My husband can do as he pleases; he is the more conservative spender anyway.
We have a ton of stuff as it is, and am actively decluttering, donating and disposing of things. I have made the liberating discovery that I never miss things I have gotten rid of, which empowers me to get rid of still more-- and not buy other things to take their place. My closet and drawers are already roomier.
I am willing to try. My issue is that I don’t spend on myself but spend on D or gifts for others. I try to limit eating out less and cooking more. I don’t have prime or Costco membership so that helps. I really want to try to be good about this. Like @abasket I am tempted by the Ipad but haven’t bought one. The other day my favorite cake was on special at the bakery in the grocery store and I didn’t get it. (Fruit flan) Probably saved myself a bunch of calories. If I don’t see it I won’t buy it so maybe I need to hit the unsubscribe button to some stores in my inbox. My parents just downsized and sold their home and that has got me to start getting rid of things and clutter.
I have a big weakness for kindle books, Anthropologie (daughter gets me a great discount) and eating out. I can use this support to try to reign in all of them. I am doing the de clutter very slowly.
Hmmm, good luck. I agree that writing EVERY single thing you purchase is a strong disincentive to purchase things. I did that all thru college and law school and found it invaluable.
Right now, don’t think this is something I’d enjoy, so will take a raincheck. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.
Use the old arms control protocol, from the Strategic Arms Limitation (SALT) Treaties - every item that enters the house must be matched by a like item leaving the house. Found a new coffee mug? Great, pitch or donate an old one. Same for jeans, shoes, electronics, furniture, etc. DH knows that’s my “suggestion”, but doesn’t follow it nearly as well as I do. It does cut back on impulse purchases.
@“Youdon’tsay” - I’m not trying to get you to buy something new, but we’ve been using one of those food meal prep companies, and are really enjoying it.
When we started using it, we were in a high cost of living area, grocery shopping was difficult, and we kept getting take-out or delivery. So it was pretty cost effective considering.
We’ve since moved to an area with a lower cost of living and easier grocery shopping, but we decided to keep it because a) I hate meal planning and tend to default to the same-old; and b) the recipes are things I wouldn’t normally make, and have been truly delicious.
We receive 3 meals a week, and I am enjoying the food and am enjoying cooking a lot more.
It’s not something I would have thought of or purchased on my own, but H, who doesn’t cook, purchased a subscription as a Christmas gift to me a year ago. Since he doesn’t cook, he agreed to do all the clean-up.
I know it’s the opposite of the intent of this thread, but you gotta eat, right?
I stopped spending cold turkey nine years ago when my husband was laid off. I was one of those shoppers who needed a fix to stay happy. It was a rough patch to get used to not buying “stuff”. Three years later I retired and spent the first six months going through the house and purging it of clutter and unnecessary “stuff”. When you see how much you’ve accumulated, it’s easier to come to terms with not buying it in the first place.
I don’t know if this is a coincidence or not, but on the way home today I was listening to a podcast where the theme was “overbuying vs. underbuying”. Overbuying we understand easy. Underbuying is like when you won’t buy a new tube of toothpaste until the one you have is empty. Or you don’t buy a new phone even though you need it because you don’t want to figure it out.
ANYWAY…
When talking about overbuying they talked about a set of questions to consider for when you are wanting to buy something (not talking about a pack of gum here…) I can’t remember them all but included:
How will I use this?
Do I have something like it already?
Where will I keep it?
There were a couple more. It was good food for thought.
I’ll join in. I am a big spender and have too much stuff- especially clothes and jewelry. I will commit to being much more mindful and cutting back. We’ll see how it goes. I spend when I’m stressed. I spend when I’m happy. I spend when I’m sad. As long as I don’t retire, I can handle it, but it’s stupid!
Author Ann Patchett did a Year Of No Shopping - there are several interviews etc. online where she talks about it. Her rules allowed purchasing books, eating out, traveling, groceries, and only buying toiletries when she ran out. For her it was not about saving money but about having too much stuff (something those of us active on the bag a week thread can relate to.)
