Back at the beginning of 2006, there was a book that came out entitled Not Buying It by Judith Levine. The book chronicles her year of limited purchases based strictly on necessities. To give you an idea, there was some discussion as to whether or not Q-tips were a necessity. It was pretty dang strict. The book was more bio than how to, but the thought kind of stuck in my head.
On message boards across the web, there are similar threads to the No Buy on the Disboards. However, not all boards are as supportive and kind hearted as the group who have banded with me there. I couldn't even imagine trying to post to some of them and list my September Disneyworld trip as an exemption. I'd be Flame Tree BBQ before you could say, "Hi ya, pal!"
Here is the description from our No Buy January:
The Game Plan: Everyone sets their own lists of essentials and exemptions. Think carefully over the month and try to plan ahead. For example, if you know you have a birthday coming up and need to buy a present, or if your Disney trip is coming up, list the trip period as an exemption. Everyone sets their own rules.
The Goal: To become aware of everyday spending habits and save a little money. Or, as I think of it, to end the $100 detergent habit. What's $100 detergent? It's when you run in Target or Wal-mart for laundry detergent and end up spending $100. Now, you may use everything you bought and it may fit into your budget structure, but if you are in a saving mode, did you really need it at that time? Or is it a money leak?
Posting: Try to post your progress every Monday. I found that the more often I posted, the more it kept me honest and the more I thought about it while I was in dangerous situations. If you need/want to post more often, that's up to you. We love lots of posts!
So, I guess you could say we formed a kinder, gentler No Buy support group. Honestly, the thread is more about budgeting, planning ahead and controlling impulses. While not spending can have a positive impact on the environment due to less consumption, we really do not get political. We set our goals, sometimes reaching much higher, sometimes falling off the wagon, but for the most part, we stick to it and stay friendly and flame-free.
Personally, I have come to love my No Buy lifestyle. It was a bit weird at first and it so seemed like I was depriving myself, but I got over it. Do I leer longingly at Jamba Juice when I pass by? Well, sure. I've only had 1 since last August, and when I ran into the counter guy, he said he thought maybe I had moved!
This No Buy thread has taught me a true life lesson about my attitudes towards money and objects than anything I can think of from my past. It is truly a positive turning point in my life.
What have been the top lessons in my six months of No Buy? Next post, baby!
Overheard in the bookstore:
Nothing! I've been off for two days and tomorrow I'm off again! Yippee! But I'm sure that out there somewhere, someone asked where the non-fiction books were.
Current reading:
Still reading the Clason, I keep re-reading parts, and if it didn't belong to the library, I'd be highlighting the heck out of it. Oh, and it's in the non-fiction section.
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