But, oh the ease of it. . .

So, I have several family birthdays coming up and they each have simple requests. My mom wants a "hot shot" to heat her tea and another friend a ball cap. And my sister a few new clothes. I looked for these things used, but they are almost double the price, then shipping. And then there is the bidding, the looking. So I ran out of time and money and simply went to amazon and for very little money and no shipping at these items at my door step the next day. I think this is the exact problem that I started with when I had this idea to buy nothing new! Our American consumer goods are made in other countries on the backs and lives of other people and here we can't not buy them and our lives are supported and made up of them. I mean how can I resist how easy and cheap these type of shopping is? So instead of re-using the hundreds of hot shots that are in other American's basements, I buy another. More plastic, more slave labor, more cups of tea for my mama and more money saved for me. Not to mention, more gas polluting the air because of the delivery. How do I escape this process? How do we change this process? In October I bought: A shovel for our yard renovation Nails to hang pictures Hot Shot Ball Cap Bath toy for gift

"New to us" house

So I bought a new house?!! Well, techinically it's not new. Just new to us. But with that of course comes the need/desire to buy new STUFF. So far, this is what I have bought in regards to the house: PAINT lots of paint (I am not sure if this counts because it is not a thing. .. mmm maybe stretching it) Rollers (these are disposable so not counting them) Two new paint brushes A new lawn mower (craigslist wasn't cutting it ha ha no pun intended) A new weed eater Hand clippers for garden Because we are on such a low budget, there hasn't been too much else we have bought. Its fun to reuse and recycle and go to the thrift store when needed. The commitment to buy nothing new really laid the ground work for our new lower budget of living! Now we can't buy much, but it's kind of freeing to live simply for now.

Half way through the year!

Here are some thoughts half way through the my year of "buying nothing new." The biggest thing I have noticed is my habits changing. When I go to target for toliet paper and diapers, which is usually about once a month, I no longer meander through the store. I used to check out the end racks for the clearance sales or consider if the kids need a little trinket from the dollar bins in the front. Now, it has officially become my habit to not even slow down at the dollar bins. (Although a dollar Frozen puzzle would have been well worth the dollar on our trip to NC. I did resist though.)I don't cut through the ladieswear or slow down near the toys. It's straight to diapers/wipes, through the groceries and then grabbing toliet paper to finish off. Not only does this make the trip faster and cheaper, it is a bit of a mental relief. How much is my shopping an obligatory -dont want to miss something that is cheap-mentality. Being aware of how this consumerism has entered my life from our culture is a huge blessing. I am hoping this year helps to push this way of thinking out of me. To have a simple mind, a simple heart that is able to live doing and being with the people I love, not distracted by things. I also don't reflex to amazon quite as fast.I think things through more, how can I get this object from someone else or where could I buy it used? Suprisingly a lot of the "things" I don't really need. The ones that I do, I have to get creative to find. A car charger for my phone would make life so much easier. Last weekend I was on a trip with the kids without Pete and my phone, which I was relying on for directions, died. I had to go to a college library to charge it and then write down the directions to get back. Pete told me buy one, but I resisted asking him to. I didn't mention my buy nothing new commitment (he forgot.) And I am proud to say that I didn't ask him to buy me anything yet this year! But lo and behold, he came home with a car charger for me yesterday. Wooo hooo! We were one basket short for the Easter Bunny in April, but a quick email to some friends, and I had one the next day. Some things, don't work out quite so easy. I found a flower girl dress on craigs list for 20 dollars for Miriam for a wedding. But then ended up paying 35 bucks ?! to have it altered. Would have been easier and cheaper to buy a new one that fit her. For the same wedding, the girls both needed dress shoes. Three thrift stores later, I decided that my commitment to buy nothing new was becoming more of a burden then a blessing, so off to target I go. I bought two sparkly silver pairs, one for each girl. It was a big deal to break my commitment, but I figured her being a flower girl was a big deal. Of course, Miriam didn't like them and walked down the aisle barefoot. I will return her pair. Nori is so sad that she wasn't the flower girl, a new pair of shoes (9.99) is the least we can do. I am thankful for these deep habits changing. We are moving in a few weeks and it will be even more challenging to not buy anything new then!

Birthday

So, it was my birthday and I got some NEW stuff. I requested sunglasses because after looking a few thrift stores didn't find any. I received two pairs from my brother (with a gift receipt.) The gift receipt was pretty exciting because that meant I could return one pair and had 7.99 to spend on ANYTHING in target NEW?! I was so excited. I ended up with a new sports bra. The next week I lost the sunglasses. SO,I creatively used an H and M card to get another pair as well as some new clothes. All of the buying made me feel very spoiled and it was fun to shop.

I bought something very new and it's barely February

Last week I was diagnosed with frostbite. It seems my raynauds disease (bad circulation) is getting worse every year. I was only outside for 5 (long)blocks and cried when I made it back to the car. I decided to go to my doctor to make a plan for not only this episode of damage, but long term. Dr. Obvious told me to buy a good pair of boots, after of course asking what I did for a living. Yes, I am a PA and no I don't own a good pair of boots and yes I have raynaud's. I guess I just never felt they were worth the investment because I don't spend any amount of time outside in the winter. And I don't like the inconvenience of changing shoes, etc. So, I agree to take some new meds, consider complimentary medicine ideas and to buy a good pair of boots. I first went to ebay. I wasn't about to break my resolution so early on in the year! I found several pairs of boots, all second hand for around 50 bucks. But as I tried to check out it felt like I was letting my decision to buy nothing new be a principle that trumphed all. Buying used boots probably meant on Jan 1 of 2015 I would invest in the pair that would really last and be super warm. Why do this just to entertain my self imposed "rule"? (and probably waste more money in the long run.) The other part of me thought of how I hate excuses. I am a fairly determined person and believe in sticking to our goals and commitments. Yea, sure I can summon some pity for my purple toes and act like I can't not buy boots. Ulitmatley, I got on zappos and bought the 90 dollar boots that will last me at least 10 years, good to -40 F, and don't look half bad. Was this out of instinct of my old ways? But no longer did this seem as instinctual as it once was. I am not a guilty person, I don't feel guilty. But it does make me feel a bit like my resolution is just a game and I can leave it at any time if I have to. I also feel less motivated now that I "broke" the rule to continue. I mean really, I can't make any great claims at the end of the year now. I wore the boots around the house yesterday, to be sure they fit. And still considered using the free zappos return policy. But alas, we woke to yet another winter storm today and out into the slush I went dirting the boot bottoms past the point of return. I trudged to the train, resolution shattered, feet happily clad cozily in their new nests of warmth.Not only are they warm, but waterproof too. I feel extravagantly rich and powerful. I feel humbled too, to be true to my feet and my heart.

What I have bought new. . .

January: birthday candle (not sure if this is considered a usable good or not) February: Big fat expensive NEW warm boots March: a paintbrush for preparing house to sell June: dress shoes for girls for wedding, returned one pair July: A lawn mower, weed eater, garden scissors, paint and paintbrushes (Fell off the wagon with the new house!!) August: Chalk for a bday gift for Miriam September: New school shoes for Nori (after going to 5!!! thrift stores) In October I bought: A shovel for our yard renovation Nails to hang pictures Hot Shot Ball Cap Bath toy for gift

One month in. . .

. . . and I am loving having this gentle boundary on my life! It is not an overriding part of my life, but pops up now and then. Nori started dance class and needed a specific outfit, including pink tights. So, I ventured to a few thrift stores and then ended up at a play date with a friend who had a few pairs to pass on! Usually I would have simply ordered the 5 dollar pair online. But this way, I had time to check in with a friend as well as an outing to the thrift store. The other kids have cuter leotards (and I kind of want this for her) but I think she is okay with her second hand ones. After all the buying of christmas, it feels like a nice healthy fast to not shop or even think of shopping.Maybe this will change as the year goes on. A few fun things happened: to make Nori's banner for her birthday we used leftover paper and ribbon and it turned out great. I would have bought new usually. It feels good to look around to see what we can use. I also made a mobile for a friend and rummaged through my fabric scraps instead of buying new. I also had to borrow stuffing from a friend, but she seemed happy to share. I needed wire for it that I didn't have, which meant dismantling the christmas wreath in the trash can to find some. Better than it ending up in the landfill:) I spent an hour scrubbing our bath (no slip) mat to try to get the mold out. I didn't make much of a difference. So not sure what to do about that. It's a freeing commitment so far that keeps me focused on what matters. At Target I don't feel the "obligation" to look thru the sale rack "just in case." And I don't fuss about bringing extravagant gifts to bdays and baby showers. We have so much second hand stuff to share, just hope everyone else is okay with that! Yesterday, we were snowed in. Nori and I started to write and illustrate a book that I was thinking we could copy and give as gifts as well. Here is to more present-ness, less stuff and less time spent in stores!