About 10 years ago, I started the year off with the decision to not buy anything I didn’t genuinely need. I was able to do that for around eight months. I don’t remember why I stopped.
During that time, I remember being disappointed that once, when I was out and about, I genuinely needed to buy a pair of sunglasses. (It was very sunny, my eyes are very sensitive, and my sunglasses were somewhere else at the time.) I bought a pair on sale for $9 from Ann Taylor and was really annoyed that I had to buy something!!
I have been trying to live like this recently, but I’m conflicted. DH and I have a boatload of money saved for retirement, and now – we’re more or less retired! I keep reminding myself that spending on things I enjoy is really OK. We’ve started going to the movies (which we never, ever used to do) and traveling more to see our children. But I’ve definitely given up buying yet another scarf, or pair of shoes, or tangible items that I have enough of.
I was all set to participate in this thread, but does it count if I failed before I could even post that I was ready to join?
Just got a new set of LL Bean sheets…I was weak, and I rationalized that we needed them. What we needed was a king fitted sheet, but the entire king set was only $8 more after the special email promo.
I see this month of mindful spending as being a “reset” of sorts. Especially after the gluttonous holidays.
The visits to see your children, family, friends related travel - to me, that’s LIVING. It’s the material stuff that bogs me down. Another pair of running shoes, another sweater to add to an already big collection, more pillows for the living room when the pillows there are really just fine…
I am checking in to say I plan to do my best to participate in the spirit of this thread. I can’t commit to not spending, as what makes me really happy is taking my kids to dinner when they have the time to spend with us and enjoying a glass of wine with friends on the weekend. However, I do need to be more mindful of how and where I spend…there are many things I buy that I don’t need…in January I probably bought 6 black or navy sweaters because I could just not pass up the deals. Who needs 6 dark colored crew or v-neck sweaters? So, I’m in, at least in spirit.
But my H is in the “we can never have too much TP” camp, so I suspect there will continue to be a backstroke of at least 6 rolls in our linen closet You’d think we lived 20 miles from the closest store instead of 5 minutes.
I imagine that we are moving to and living in one of those 400 sq. foot Japanese apartments. Would it fit in there? The answer is almost always no, unless it is something like earbuds. I have even been able to control my Costco urges, well except for paper towels, TP and giant bags of fruit. No more 3 lb bags of chips, cookies or salad.
Slickdeals shout out! Have been a member since 2006. To be honest they do have a free forum section, coupons and a reseller area which is most helpful.
Mindful spending…so that is what it is called when I hear my wallet crying and whimpering.
Does it count that I ordered Chocolate covered Strawberries for my husband for Valentine’s day?
The only shopping I am doing now is scouring the sales for donations to several high schools I support for their auctions. It is really part of our charity contribution fund. I might need to order my granddaughter’s first communion dress, IF it is found from the store that I have a credit card that gives me free shipping.
Oh, I have to purchase a light fixture to replace the one that the workers who are fixing the house because of a pipe bursting January 2nd. (What a mess!!)
I don’t think people are saying “DON’T BUY ANYTHING!” But buy purposefully and with mindfulness. (I know, I’m repeating myself…)
You need that light - it’s a replacement of something valuable.
Ordering your GD’s confirmation dress isn’t really a frill - she will need one for the day!
I agree with the idea of Mindful Spending. I certainly don’t expect to buy nothing in February. I just noticed I’m running low on vitamins. I don’t consider buying vitamins, for example, a violation of the way I’m approaching this February spending freeze. I’m also planning a trip in March and will need to start making reservations. I don’t consider this a violation either. I did, OTOH, not go on slickdeals this morning which I normally do. Will be interesting to see if I end up staying away for the whole month!
Went to the grocery store today and spent a bunch of money. But I clipped coupons and didn’t look at the clearance racks for things I have and don’t use up. I bought paper towels, I’m down to my last roll and could have bought the one or two roll. But the 6 roll was on sale and I had a $2 coupon. So I spent more but the price per roll was less.
I feel that is more mindful spending I had a few expensive things to buy. The rules are whatever you want them to be. If stuff breaks, you’ll be sure I will buy something to replace it. I’m not going crazy here, just cutting back on mindless unnecessary stuff.
But I didn’t look at the sale candles, didn’t even look at the extra % off racks and that was a win.
@OHMomof2, of course you can have the rules you prefer, but to me, if it’s a relatively inexpensive item and will increase your fitness to stay at your WonderWoman physique, I think splurging on that ONE item is certainly still mindful and would fit within MY rules. The important thing is to USE it to exercise.
I plan to cook from the freezer. We have so much stuff in there I am not sure we even know what all is there. DH tends to do the shopping on an almost daily basis since he is usually in charge of dinners and does not decide until that day. I am trying to convert him to our Instapot so he thinks of cooking from frozen, too. I guess I will take more a lead to make it happen this month.
^^I often do this this time of year. Just live out of the freezer for dinner until I can’t come up with a creative dinner out of what is there. Then I clean it out real good and start spring with a organized clean freezer!
Does going out to eat count? A friend drove me to a docs appointment today…I was not allowed to drive. I treated her to brunch on the way home as a thank you. I ate too!
You’d think we lived 20 miles from the closest store instead of 5 minutes.
The important thing is to USE it to exercise.