One month shopping free
Thursday was my birthday. And on that day, and on a whim — for no reason I can comprehend, not yet, at least — I all at once decided that I won’t buy anything unnecessary for a month. Food, toilet paper and medicine make the cut. Anything else I think I need I’m not gonna buy. And that’s it, with one unnecessary exception: paint. Because I can’t buy it used, like most other things. And because not painting at this point would be counterproductive to the attempted simplicity at the heart of this experiment. No?
Don’t worry papa. I haven’t gone granola on you. It’s only a month. I’ll keep you folks updated.
An excellent plan! Does red wine count as a necessity? If not I’m quite sure I would fail miserably, but I look forward to reports of your success…..
Well, what do you normally buy that you won’t buy this month? And you’re doing this because it’s fun?
No, unfortunately red wine is out, too! (but that doesn’t mean I have to turn down a drink someone else buys, now does it?)
As for what I would buy … well, I want to figure that out. Lots of money seems to go towards dinners out, shows or concerts or art, clothes and just stuff. Things have a habit of accumulating, even though I would say that I’m less materalistic than most (you’ve seen my, umm, â€cozy†apartment and gently-used, perhaps somewhat-dated car, right? Afterall, I am a reporter. And we all know where the money is at … obviously, public school teaching, right Krisi?)
So … I have too much stuff. Waaay too much stuff. I want to see how much I miss it. I want to know what it is I really want.
This is just a small experiment to get things rolling. To answer a few other questions I’ve received:
Yes, I will still buy gas, but I hope to a much lesser degree. It’s not exactly cool, or effective reporting, to pull up to a fire or crime scene on my bicycle. I bike where I can, but I’ve got to drive to work, at least for this point in my life.
And yes, I’ll still feed the kitty. Obviously.
No, I haven’t become a nun.
And yes, this is for fun.
I totally get the too much stuff thing- I think it’s a very American malady and I am as guilty as the next poor consumer. I go to Target to get laundry soap and paper towels, and walk out with $95 worth of “stuff”- how and why does that happen?
Aside from a steady indulgence of books and cds, there is the ocassional pair of new shoes, or purse or some odd thing that I really don’t need…I am thinking maybe this could be my lenten activitiy this year (though I’m still going to count red wine, as a necessity with food, toilet paper and dog treats….
I have a weakness for bags. All bags. Pretty ones. Small, large, with long handles, short handles, plain, with elaborate patterns. And come to think of it… I like accessories. How sad, but I do understand the too much stuff thing…
I do have to say that I’ve had an easier time since being married… because Chris and I now share a bank account, we both have to be aware of what we’re spending… not because we’re tight, but if we didn’t we would become tight.
Interesting experiment… how goes it so far?
By the way, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?
Thanks … glad I’m not alone in this.
There’s a new post updating the experiment …
Thanksgiving? I’m working, and looking for an interesting story that day, something different than the same feature papers run every year on homeless shelter’s thanksgiving dinner soup kitchens. While important, I just want something more fresh. I have that wednesday and friday off.
[...] What, it’s been like a week and I’ve already botched my own plan. I don’t want to justify my spending … but I think I’ve come up with some great excuses. I’ve deemed each of these purchases necessary. Take a look: [...]
[...] Let me amend my last post with this: Since the social experiment began, I’ve become hyper conscious of how I spend money and $40 is all of a sudden a big deal. In three hours I spent as much as I had in a week. [...]