Did you know people do this? They make a plan, a pact, a commitment for a year to not spend anything. For some of them it's for environmental reasons, for others it's for monetary ones.
Okay, they do spend money on food and health/safety items. For some of them it is okay to buy something as long as it is not 'new'. I suppose that has to do with turning against our consuming nature.
On some level, I like the idea. However, I have kids and I just don't think it is practical. I suppose I could do it just for myself. As I think about this a little more, I realize that I'm pretty close to no spending for myself. I rarely buy myself anything new. So maybe it wouldn't be so hard.
Who am I kidding? It WOULD be hard to not spend anything!! Congratulations to those who take this path or even attempt it. Do you think you could do it?
No Spending For A Year. Could You?
August 30th, 2009 at 05:02 pm
August 30th, 2009 at 06:18 pm 1251652724
August 30th, 2009 at 06:32 pm 1251653545
I've gone one solid week, two weeks and almost made it to three and noticed how much I actually did not spend by doing this.
August 30th, 2009 at 06:38 pm 1251653881
August 30th, 2009 at 06:45 pm 1251654302
August 30th, 2009 at 07:55 pm 1251658502
And also, the whole idea of not spending money ... EXCEPT for groceries, and bills, and this, and that. I mean when you get down to it, people can grow their own vegetables, and where does the line stop for bills? is cable allowed? is a landline allowed? what about internet? and all those little bits of extra things that are put in the grocery trolley? these things aren't neccesary, they are a luxury, and that defeats the whole purpose of the exercise.
anyway, i couldn't do it
August 30th, 2009 at 09:20 pm 1251663630
August 30th, 2009 at 11:52 pm 1251672740
August 31st, 2009 at 12:03 am 1251673393
Anyway, I don't like the idea that "spending is bad" across the board (or non-necessity spending is bad, whatever).
As long as we can afford it, why not buy that culinary magazine subscription, that set of golf clubs, that jacket that pulls together our whole "look" this season? These are the things that help us cultivate an identity and bolster self-esteem.
Key phrase was "as long as we can afford it", I guess.
August 31st, 2009 at 04:32 am 1251689555
I just had to replace my sneakers since they were so worn out my feet were killing me when I wore them. This was not a want, but an absolute need. Then, yesterday, DH ripped out the crotch of a pair of jeans. He only has 2, so it's kind of important to replace those. Ok, maybe if I was really good at sewing we could patch & go on, since it's not just a ripped seam but the fabric stretched and tore too, but that just isn't the case. So, those are my life happens examples.
August 31st, 2009 at 03:34 pm 1251729298
It was good at times because it made me look around the house for other alternatives before purchasing anything. That's a habit I use to have, but had gotten out of. OTOH, it got kind of old by October. The original plan was to aim for a year, but 10 months was more than enough.
I have to agree with Sarah that there is a movement towards this that is a bit elitist and pompous. It's just something we did without mentioning to other people, but recently I was reading an article about this in a magazine and the people profiled did come off a little holier than thou. We saved a lot of money, but it didn't make me feel closer to my family, and it didn't change my core values- those things were in a good place before we didn't spend.