NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

117pauline

Katkin - that sounds as though you have followed the ethos to the letter - you have brought life to things that were going to be binned and you are getting pleasure, both in the renovating and using - perfect.

I think one of the things about Not Buying It is the pleasure principle. Things do still give me pleasure but somehow the less you indulge yourself in things, the more pleasure you get when you do make a considered purchase (acquisition!)

But the free pleasures such as a beautiful view or a telephone call from a friend are still priceless.

After three weeks, it is interesting to see we are all still making the effort to buy less; we haven’t always succeeded yet, here we are, still keeping on.

We have taken a long time to get to this point (I am one of the 50 years plus contingent) so it is going to take a while for us to lose the “want” to spend. The good thing is that we keep trying to make better/more considered decisions.

7_week_wonder

katkin wrote: »

Then I'm looking forward to a hot bath with my own essential oils & porridge in muslin bag water softner and a homemade face pack.

Thank you, thank you for reminding me about oat water softeners. Just before I was diagnosed with coeliac disease I bulk bought some oats. I've given loads away, but still have some in the cupboard: and now I've got a use for them. Genuis:T

eandjsmum

Slowdown wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30849473

This is a link to an article about our 'Stuff'. Looks like many people are starting to question this desire. I'm really glad we are doing something about it



Kind regards
Slowdown:)

Great article I read it and now I will try to borrow the book from the library. The old me would have brought it.


Today I walked into town and back, ( so no bus fares or parking). I deposited some savings into the Building society. I then went to a free Art exhibition and brought some garden bits in £land.
Oh has broken his glasses so a small win as he replaced them in B**ts used my vantage card. I then spent the rest of the day decluttering, only stuff I no longer use, but that's a start. I now have two bags for the CS. I can now see the top of my dressing table as I sorted that out into stuff to continue using now and stuff to go back into the stash.


Hopefully I will be able to get into the garden tomorrow.


Keep on sailing shipmates.

FrugalWorker

Islandmaid wrote: »

Hmm.... Row with DH..

Started clearing the kitchen, we,re getting a new one fitted so its the ideal time to be ruthless....

Last year DH was given a second hand enourmous pasta pot, we,ve never used it and I said we should get rid of it as its way too big and takes up space for no reason - que rant...... Its the only thing he,s asked to keep etc, it,s his, he was given it... Bloody childish was waiting for him to lay on the floor and kick his feet... Phahhhh.....

So much for the peace and harmony of decluttering - i,ll put the bloomin thing in his wardrobe....

Moan over

Ha ha, I can empathise with you.
Him >I hate getting rid of stuff, we don't have much stuff, rant, rant...
Me >I'm not asking you to get rid of anything you are using or might use in the future - but really do you think you'll use this again?
He will then wear something just to prove me wrong and won't be worn again till I try and throw it out again I've learnt, don't try and change someone else. I'm left to focus on my own stuff and have serenity at looking at my own cupboards.

Coulddobetter

Hi Shipmates

I love this thread. I have placed 4 books on my amazon list to buy, so this morning I copied them down and went to my local library. Guess what they are ordering all 4 for me even though 2 have just been published. What a result. Without the thread I would have bought them, cluttered my home and spent money I didn't need to. I am so pleased. Even made the librarian laugh as one of the books was about decluttering. I told her what was the point in buying a decluttering book that would add to my stuff.....

Have taken 3 large black bin bags and a small bag full of stuff to CS, seems like a Saturday routine, long may it continue.

I am one who wants more experiences not stuff. I have stuff, some of which I don't actually fit in at the moment but that's the next challenge. I need to think mindfully about stuff and food. I am still on baby steps but you are all helping, thank you crew. :j

Could do better x

GreyQueen

:eek: I've just been removing the items which I am donating from a Word doc I have (with tables for each garment type) and am shocked to know that I own 123 items of clothing and footwear and that I paid £1,271.09 for them. And I haven't even attempted to itemise underwear and socks.

My gosh, it's a sobering thought to think that I am chatelaine of such a mound of textiles. And that I tend to wear the same few things out of laziness and not being able to get at some of them (now remedied by KonMarie-ing my clothes to an extent).

I haven't bought any clothes thus far in 2015, although I did buy a zip to mend a pair of trousers and bring them back into use. I really think I need to take some kind of pledge and Not Buy Clothes in 2015.

pm2326

I don't have that many clothes or shoes or bags come to think of it

Off the top of my head I have about 15 pieces of clothing (excludes underwear) 2 pair of shoes, 2 pair boots, 1 pair wellies, 1 work bag, 1 backpack, 2 going out bags, 2 coats

emslovesmickey

I have loads of clothes (admittedly) but I have at least stopped buying any now. That's progress right?

Day off today so I've spent it crafting. Almost finished page 2/4 of the starry night cross stitch, made half a tag (entered a craft challenge with it so fingers crossed), made a card (one from the project book) and started making a cluster keychain for someones birthday (using shrink plastic) Got five and a half hours at work tomorrow and then I'm off for a week, so loads more crafting!

I should really start writing again soon but my confidence has taken a knock and I can't get my head in the right place.

bunbun2

Thank you for your replies about ds. He is 16. I have looked at the mind website and also young minds. We have spoken to his head of year so the school are aware. He has mock gcse exams for the next two weeks which are not helping. Interestingly one of the websites mentioned symptom/causes of depression and one was thyroid and parathyroid problems. Ds has a condition where his body doesn't respond to the parathyroid hormone and therefore affects his thyroid. He got up late today, mooches around for a bit then went back to bed and wouldn't come out for tea. Eventually he did get up, had some tea and watched some trashy Saturday night TV. I guess it will be up and down.

I have quite a lot of clothes, not so many shoes though. I have been decluttering and following the kon Mari thread and got rid of a lot of clothes. I have reserved the kon Mari book from the library, previously I would have bought it so that is an improvement.

I am going to take the clothes to cash for clothes to try and get a bit for them. Unfortunately amazon don't want any of my books:(

Had a small,spend today for milk, cereal for the boys and dog food (well that was a biggish spend but will last a while)

PenguinOfDeath

Evenin' all!!


To touch upon a couple of topics mentioned...Yup, I'm one of those who goes over situations in my head to the point of madness, thankfully less than I used to as I adopted the mantra of 'If you can't change it, don't worry about it' It doesn't work all the time but it certainly help to reduce the craziness and calm the mind - a bit!


I also struggle to spend money sometimes, I received one voucher for Christmas and I need to visit the store to spend it as I'd like to buy a clothes item and I need to try on, I can't trust buying without seeing so will have to wait until I can be bothered to go there, otherwise I would just end up buying something for the house online. I also have a fair amount of amazon credit built up but struggle to spend it on myself (especially now they have the minimum spend for free postage) I mainly spend it on presents for others, it makes Xmas and birthdays more manageable


I also try not to keep many thing for best, in fact it reminded me I bought some new jeans a few weeks ago and they still had the labels on, so today they came off and I wore them, not sure what I was keeping them for?!


Had a good catch up on this thread this morning and it really motivated to get things moving again - you lot are achieving something that parents, teachers and bosses have failed to do for so long!


Two large bags (one of clothes, one of random stuff) OUT to CS. A pile of books to go but didn't have any boxes or strong enough bags yet to take with us this time.


I was moaning to OH about not having anywhere 'my' side of the sofa to put a drink (I am lazy most of the time...), today I realised there is a small table in the conservatory just the right height that isn't currently used, it has been moved and is currently looking after my Vimto!


Picture bought at beginning of Jan finally put up, 'new' keyboard (given to me by a friend who didn't need it) hooked up to PC and old rubbish one gone into CS bag above. OH was after a small mouse to use with the laptop, I remembered we have one but I'd put it in the CS pile as it hadn't been used for ages, good job he mentioned it so it could be liberated!
Old manky shower curtain binned and new bargain one put up - purchased as the first time I'd seen a YS reduction in...Home Bargains!
Wanted to buy a fancy hook thing for the back of the bedroom door but found in the cupboard a plastic over the door hook to put bath gowns on, we just cant shut the door properly now but we rarely do anyway.


The only non-grocery spend this week was a much needed haircut, not cheap but not as expensive as the last place I used. This is one area I will not 'not spend' on as it needs upkeep and its not easy to tame so I need to call the pro's in once in a while! The girl did suggest I visit for a weekly blow dry, oh if only I had the time and money!


I also learnt this week that its OK to get down to the last loo roll before you buy some more!! It used to be something I would stockpile as much as feasibly possible but I was brave, lasted out until I needed to go shopping, and no-one was harmed during the experiment! Who knew?!