Things I'm addressing now:
- I've taken a hiatus from Facebook. For now, it's projected to last until January 1st, but it may very well last longer. I need to gain control of my "free time." Hendrix is curious and creative, and I need to nurture and inspire that in him. Telling him, "Give mommy a minute while I finish reading this person's ridiculous status update" isn't cutting it.
-I've borrowed Suze Orman's book, "Women & Money." I'm educating myself. I am creating a budget and a goal plan for the new year. Also, note: BORROWED. I joined the library. WOO-HAH!
-I've started Henry's scrapbook... Yes, this might have started a little late, but I'm super proud of the progress I've made so far. I plan on it being the coolest scrapbook ever. I'm having way more fun with it than I though.
-I've been making dinner. Albeit not insanely impressive, I've made dinner BY MYSELF the past two nights in a row. Tonight, I held an impromptu dinner for 10 people, and I only freaked out for an hour about it.
-I'm preparing myself mentally for my new year's resolution. I want to be insanely committed to it. I want it to change my life.
WHAT IS IT? YOU ASK?
I'm not buying anything new in the New Year.
Let me explain. I have a problem. It's really been an ongoing one for me. However, since I became a stay at home mama, it's gotten much worse. I BUY THINGS. I'm a buyer. No, I don't have an addiction to Gucci bags or designer clothes. I just buy STUFF. I can't even tell you the things I buy, because half the time I come home and I'm like: 0__0 why did I buy this shirt? i didn't need it! Repeat. Repeat.
Here are the ground rules:
- Obviously, I can buy new food/ groceries. DUH. However, I'm working on a budget/ making more dinners at home. So, my trips to the grocery store will be different than they have been. I'll make a list and stick to it. I'll go in with a plan.
- Things that Henry really NEEDS: sippie cups, binky's, random baby things that he would put into his mouth? WILL BE BOUGHT NEW.
- However, clothes for Henry? SECOND HAND, baby. There are a lot of awesome Goodwill's/ Consignment stores around here. So, Hendo will be rockin' recycled goods. I have a feeling he won't know the difference, but MY GAP CARD WILL.
- Birthday gifts can be bought new, but I will try my best to buy them used if possible. This (yay), will mean that trips to Goodwill will be about inspiration and fun. If I see something that I like for someone, but their birthday isn't for a few months? I'll buy it. Hopefully this will equal more thoughtfulness and less last minute scrambling.
- If Eric is with me, I can buy something new. Ahem. Eric made me put this in the ground rules. We VERY RARELY go shopping together (we're talking MAYBE 4 times a year), but when we do, he likes to spoil me a little. So, if I'm with E, we can splurge a little.
- IF I GET PREGNANT IN THE NEW YEAR... little baby things can be bought new (nothin' crazy... but, you know). Note: this is not at ALL in the works. :)
I have no idea how this will shape my new year, but I'm thinking quite a bit. I have a feeling it might shape my life. I need to work on my addiction to STUFF. I have got to get a hold before I become one of those peeps on Hoarders. SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY.
What do you think? Should I tighten my ground rules even more? Am I being crazy? Any bloggers you know doing something similar?
What a great plan for the new year! I love it... and I'm going to think about following your lead. We're planning at least one move in the new year... if not two, so that could pose as a problem, though I'm not sure how yet. We'll see. Also, I am starting a new rule - if I am buying a new article of clothing I need to say in my head which article of clothing already in my closet is leaving to make space for the new. Good news? Consignment shops will buy your clothes, so if I can plan what clothes will go, I can also make some $$ moolah $$ to buy new clothes or save or do whatever with.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Kelly! Love it!
Wow. This is amazing. And inspiring. And challenging. And I sorta want to do it. Wow.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, I really should look into consignment clothes around here for that EXACT REASON. I'm super stoked about this. LIKE, I'm STOKED.
ReplyDeleteKristal, first of all, thank you for reading this! I LOVE your blog, and get so excited whenever you've posted something.
I think it would be awesome if you both did something like this. I am really excited to see how it will affect my life (and my finances!).
Sending lots of encouragement your way.
ReplyDeleteI'm closing in on the one year mark of not buying a single new piece of clothing. I did let myself buy things from the thrift store (sometimes you have to satiate that consumer thirst), but it really put things in perspective for me and helped me battle my addiction to cheap, unethical clothing.
In general (though clothes are still off limits), I buy things if they're handmade -- and really, birthday and Christmas gifts could and should be bought on etsy!!! Anything you need can be made by yourself or someone.
Lastly, I started repairing my clothing and shoes instead of throwing them out.
Through this all, I estimate that I've saved somewhere near 2k in 2010.
I am excited to see your journey through this!
I think this sounds amazing! I have been battling this beast myself... Over the course of our 8 years, we have had ups and downs in this regard. For a while we're super thrifty, then things ease up a bit so we spend a little more, then we have a month where we can't buy groceries for the last two weeks (until the paycheck comes) and we try our best to tighten up again. I have gotten better about not buying STUFF, but clothes are still a big temptation. Especially relatively cheap clothes. But then they never fit well and I end up hating everything in my closet anyway. Haha, so silly.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I admire your commitment on this front. Good luck to you. In all your New Year's efforts, try to be loving and patient to/with yourself and remember that Eric, Henry, and I love you JUST THE WAY YOU ARE. (And I'm sure a bunch of other people do too.) As for me, my New Year's goal is the most cliche resolution of all time: Lose some weight. Again. 2011 will be the year, dammit! :-)
Love you lots.