Buy Nothing August - Update

It's been simple living around here recently. Not window shopping and not buying has given us more time with each other, more time to think, and just generally more time to sit around and be bored. The Olympics have done their fare share of eating into our time, too. I have read in several different places this week that retailers and advertisers sell products by making us think we're unhappy without their new thing. I have, and I'm sure you have too, felt this many times. I see something I want, I can't buy it, I feel bad about not owning it. Whether it's new clothes, something for the house, sewing things, whatever. Funny thing is, I buy more than enough food, I have tons of clothes, the bills are paid, Husband does a great job of keeping me company, so why in the world would not having more stuff make me feel bad? It is quite ridiculous when you think about it.

During our 'Buy Nothing August' I have felt the emotional tie to buying release from my life. Yes, I've seen several things that I want, but knowing in advance that I will not be buying them prevents the inner push/pull over the decision to buy. I'm just not buying it. Done. No emotions, no bad feelings. After August is over (as we are nearing the end of the month) I can see this carrying over into 'Buy Stuff Months'. If I need a new pair of pants, buy a new pair of pants. If I need something for the house, buy something for the house. Do NOT wander around Target looking at every item and considering 'Should I buy this? Do I want this? Do I even like this?'. Obviously, you do not need it if you are asking yourself these questions!

Now, don't think that we've been 100% on par and our bank account is bursting at the seams. We have bought things. Have we bought a whole lot less than we normally would? Hell yes! The only things that I can recall us buying are books for work and my purse handles. We have been eating out... we're starting to slip in this area, but the cash system for fast food helps. Starbucks and the new Burger King Mocha Joe [WOW these are good] do not help, either.

Overall, August ended up being a 'actually consider where your money is going and therefore buy a whole lot less than you normally would' month for us. No one died from not going to the mall or Target, and we're rethinking purchasing just to purchase. Success!

BNA Update #1

We're one day in and we're on track. Yesterday we went out to go to the bank and avoided the TWO targets we passed on the way. We also had to return some things somewhere else and didn't even take time to browse around. Instead of dinner out we had a great dinner in with friends.

I did spend $3.94 on coupons, but I only bought ones for things we ALWAYS buy. Total savings after using the coups will be $25.

Tonight we're heading out to the movies. Our local theater does buy 9 tickets get one free. The free one has to be a two week old show. I have at least 5 free tix in my wallet, so that gives us a couple of chances to go for free. I'm already planning on making our own chocolate covered pretzels to take, too.

Hopefully tomorrow (tonight?) I'll have a new skirt to show you from Sew What Skirts. Mustard yellow crinkly cotton. Sounds weird; should be nice. I'm still debating on zipper or elastic, though. I'm planning on attempting the zip and turning to elastic when desperate times call for it.

Buy Nothing August

Husband and I have decided that August will be free of new, unnecessary stuff at our house. We already have everything we need to live (and more). And it sucks to admit, but some of the stuff we own was bought at the expense of our credit card balance. Redirecting money not spent on stuff to credit card balances is really the best solution for our family.

AND... it was great this morning to open my Google Reader and see this-

One of my favorite bloggers (and queen of monthly challenges), Crunchy Chicken is heading this one up and I invite all of you to take part as well. Her rules are as follows:

• No new clothes
  
• No new gadgets
  
• No new furniture or housewares
  
• No salon services (except haircuts)
  
• No new makeup
  
• No new tools
  
• No whatever the hell else people buy
  
• No eating out
  

As is, these rules will not work for us. So we're modifying a bit. Husband gets a $20 fast food stipend for the month (damn you McDonald's sweet tea!) and we're allowing ourselves to eat out three or four times this month (but no more!). We are also not just holding off on purchases until May; we are really not buying stuff we don't actually need. I really hope that we'll get used to not buying unnecessary crap and this will have some lasting results.

In other news (eh em... good thing it's still July!), we bought this orange duvet cover and a couple shams from Pottery Barn last week. Organic cotton, on the clearance rack. Duvet was normally $130, bought for $20. Shams were $25 each, we paid $6. Not too shabby, and a great reasonable purchase to say goodbye to buying and hello to saving resources and $$$!