I've been thinking about how I've resurrected this blog, and well, thinking about how boring it is. I've already run out of things to write about as it pertains to buying or not buying and let's be honest, it's just not that interesting. A decade ago when I decided to not buy anything new, it was sort of a new thing. While there were certainly resale stores and the like, it wasn't hipster like it is now. There are The Minimalists, sparking joy with Marie Kondo, and a new trend where you travel without luggage. Like why? That's like eating head cheese or beef tongue. Haven't we progressed as a society past eating the entire cow? Hey, you do you, but I think we've moved beyond eating food we don't need to in order to survive. And traveling without something to put your toothbrush and magical travel totems into is just silly. For fuck's sake, we have luggage on 360 wheels now! It's a brand new day, people. The movement to use and consume less has spawned a cottage industry of its own. Only in America do we decide to consume less and then monetize it. I mean, really.
After talking to a wise friend, the same friend who wondered why I wanted to deprive myself, I realized that what I really want to do is write, and I think I started up this blog again as an excuse to do so. Like most dedicated, life-long readers, albeit slow in my case, I've thought of writing a book. Not sure what kind of a book, but a book nonetheless. I started college at Michigan State a declared journalism major and would've graduated with that degree had I not gotten sidetracked by a very mean and petty man trying to teach me a lesson, which is a story for another day. So, I'm going to come clean and declare that I just want to write about stuff, and I'm going to use this blog as an excuse to get into the habit. And because I like a challenge, I will continue to not buy anything new or used and unnecessary, and I might write about that too. I've gone most of January without buying anything new and I've gotta tell ya, it's not that hard.
I'll try to be open and share the odd, and usually funny, things that happen in my world while I practice this writing thing. I've been heartened by friends supporting this endeavor. Like Amy, who sent me a card so I'd get mail without having to buy something to get it - so sweet! And my friend Ann, who offered to let me borrow new books from her so I didn't have to wait for a used paperback. Pure goodness! I'm not going to limit myself and only write about my purchasing habits. They're just not that interesting. I do however, have a pretty interesting life and I'm going to try and share it with you. Believe me, I have no illusions about you continuing to read this blog, but I'd love it if you would. Please share your thoughts with me if so moved, I want to hear about your lives, too.
Friday, January 24, 2020
Monday, January 13, 2020
(Not So) Delayed Gratification
Is delayed gratification meaningful? Is gratification supposed to be meaningful, or merely just gratifying? Before I embarked on my little journey of self-prescribed depravity, I conveniently ordered some stuff online - clothes, tiny earrings, and a very lovely Tiffany ring, therefore delaying gratification. Before anyone gets in a twist about that shiny Tiffany word, I bought it used from Real Real, a great website for used high-end clothes, jewelry, etc. I justified the need part of this purchase by telling myself it was my birthday present to myself, and it was very reasonably priced, I swear!
I conveniently purchased these items knowing they'd be delivered in January and I'd be able to milk my shopping jones a little bit longer. The last delivery of clothes-I-don't-need came last week and as I was putting things away (moving my shit around), I thought about how I'll feel when the only packages I'm getting in the mail are mouthwash, hairspray or my replacement toothbrush head. So flippin' exciting. I love getting the mail, always have. I used to steal it when I was a kid. Sorry, Mom. Before I unlock my mailbox, I have a flutter of excitement about what's inside. Even if it turns out to be bills and fliers, I still enjoy the potential that a gift of some kind might be included. Knowing that the various and sundry boxes from retail locations far and wide will no longer be sitting on my stoop as I pull into the driveway, well, the thought kinda makes me sad.
One question before me is why is buying new things somehow exciting? What am I not doing while I'm buying some new, and a lot of used, shit? Most of which I really don't need. The next time I get a shopping itch, should I note it and think about something useful I could be doing instead? When I don't see the box of fun sitting on my stoop at the end of the day, should I conjure my bank account in my head and pat myself on the back for saving some cheddar? Where's the gratification in that?
A dear friend brought up something over the weekend that I'm pondering, and that I think has some merit. She's worried about why I feel like I need to deprive myself. Like, when I challenge myself, I have to somehow deprive myself in the process in order for it to really be a challenge. Interesting, huh? Trust me, I've spent some time going without, so I'm not unfamiliar with the sensation, but why am I trying to recreate it? Is this challenge somehow indicative of a larger existential crisis? Maybe crisis is too strong, maybe an existential, thought provoking idea to think about, while I wait at the mailbox.
I conveniently purchased these items knowing they'd be delivered in January and I'd be able to milk my shopping jones a little bit longer. The last delivery of clothes-I-don't-need came last week and as I was putting things away (moving my shit around), I thought about how I'll feel when the only packages I'm getting in the mail are mouthwash, hairspray or my replacement toothbrush head. So flippin' exciting. I love getting the mail, always have. I used to steal it when I was a kid. Sorry, Mom. Before I unlock my mailbox, I have a flutter of excitement about what's inside. Even if it turns out to be bills and fliers, I still enjoy the potential that a gift of some kind might be included. Knowing that the various and sundry boxes from retail locations far and wide will no longer be sitting on my stoop as I pull into the driveway, well, the thought kinda makes me sad.
One question before me is why is buying new things somehow exciting? What am I not doing while I'm buying some new, and a lot of used, shit? Most of which I really don't need. The next time I get a shopping itch, should I note it and think about something useful I could be doing instead? When I don't see the box of fun sitting on my stoop at the end of the day, should I conjure my bank account in my head and pat myself on the back for saving some cheddar? Where's the gratification in that?
A dear friend brought up something over the weekend that I'm pondering, and that I think has some merit. She's worried about why I feel like I need to deprive myself. Like, when I challenge myself, I have to somehow deprive myself in the process in order for it to really be a challenge. Interesting, huh? Trust me, I've spent some time going without, so I'm not unfamiliar with the sensation, but why am I trying to recreate it? Is this challenge somehow indicative of a larger existential crisis? Maybe crisis is too strong, maybe an existential, thought provoking idea to think about, while I wait at the mailbox.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
To Be Continued...
Well, Hello 2020! Here you are, the year that so many of us have used as the north star for myriad of goals. The year when we thought there'd be flying cars, an end to homelessness, and a hangover cure that actually worked. The year that begins a new decade and maybe brings us a new president (fingers crossed). The year I turn 52 - still single, still living with an awesome dog albeit a different one, still wondering what the heck I'm doing with my life.
I decided late in 2019 that I was going to do another year, and maybe forever, of not buying anything new. I forgot that I had called this blog Buy the Way, so it took me half an hour to find it online! And while my initial inclination was to update the name, I think Buy the Way still fits. This will be a place for random thoughts, mostly focused on what and how I spend my money and what that says about my life and my place in the world, if anything. As I said in my first post a decade ago, I like to write and don't do it much, so this gives me that opportunity.
So, another year of not buying anything new, huh? Why do this with focused intention again? There are several reasons but a main one is that I'm tired of moving my 'things' around all of the time. I posted about this a decade ago and it still applies. Think about it - how often are you moving your things around, putting them where they need to go, washing them, organizing them? I just spent the last week over the holidays going through most of the crap in my house. I've taken two huge piles of clothes, jewelry, shoes, and linens to my favorite resale store, Repeat Boutique http://repeatboutiquecolorado.com/. I've taken a lot of random stuff to Arc and a bin full of paper, magazines, etc. ended up in the recycle bin. Not only do I have lots of things, I save lots of pieces of paper. Seriously, why so much paper!?
I already love resale, thrift, flea markets, and antique stores, so doing this isn't a huge stretch. While I do want to reduce my footprint, as it were, I also want to think about how not buying anything new affects my day-to-day. Am I more productive, focused and able to make some long-term goals, try something new perhaps? Does doing this even help, does anyone care? Does it matter? I might be the only one that cares but I'm good with that. Doing this makes me feel like I'm living my values.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a real good consumer. I buy things I don't need mostly when I'm bored. I think I'm avoiding, unconsciously, being more productive and maybe trying something I'm afraid to do. Scrolling through online stores or Facebook and Instagram, chock full of ads both of them, is truly avoidant of something infinitely cooler. Thankfully, I don't have extravagant taste although my recent addiction to Athleta feels extravagant. At my age, comfort takes precedence over pretty much everything. Wearing clothing that doesn't make me want to kill someone, or at the very least take my bra off at my desk and hope that no one can tell, has become priority number one for me!
There is no shortage of blogs about this topic. See https://www.becomingminimalist.com/ and https://www.theminimalists.com/. While in vogue, I started this experiment a decade ago and let it get away from me. Now I'm steering myself back and writing about my observations, pet peeves, and lessons learned along the way. I still hate public storage units, have too many pairs of black pants, and too many tchotchkes in my house, but I have a decade more of experience living life and hope that it'll serve me well as I embark again on a year of not buying anything new, aka deprivation.
Here are the rules, as of today at least:
No buying of anything new except for health and beauty aids, or HBA's as my friend Julie calls them, medical items - prescriptions and such, underwear, sympathy cards (let's hope I don't need any of those), car parts and pieces (if I'd only taken that car repair class in high school, right Dad?), safety items like lights for running or actual running shoes, cultural items like tickets to shows, etc., and experiential activities like vacation and general travel. Oh, and anything house related that's not decorative like a new furnace, etc.
And here's the new twist for 2020 - not only am I not buying anything new, I'm not going to buy anything I don't NEED. Now need is subjective, so this could get interesting, but we all know I don't need another pair of black pants, so here we go...
I decided late in 2019 that I was going to do another year, and maybe forever, of not buying anything new. I forgot that I had called this blog Buy the Way, so it took me half an hour to find it online! And while my initial inclination was to update the name, I think Buy the Way still fits. This will be a place for random thoughts, mostly focused on what and how I spend my money and what that says about my life and my place in the world, if anything. As I said in my first post a decade ago, I like to write and don't do it much, so this gives me that opportunity.
So, another year of not buying anything new, huh? Why do this with focused intention again? There are several reasons but a main one is that I'm tired of moving my 'things' around all of the time. I posted about this a decade ago and it still applies. Think about it - how often are you moving your things around, putting them where they need to go, washing them, organizing them? I just spent the last week over the holidays going through most of the crap in my house. I've taken two huge piles of clothes, jewelry, shoes, and linens to my favorite resale store, Repeat Boutique http://repeatboutiquecolorado.com/. I've taken a lot of random stuff to Arc and a bin full of paper, magazines, etc. ended up in the recycle bin. Not only do I have lots of things, I save lots of pieces of paper. Seriously, why so much paper!?
I already love resale, thrift, flea markets, and antique stores, so doing this isn't a huge stretch. While I do want to reduce my footprint, as it were, I also want to think about how not buying anything new affects my day-to-day. Am I more productive, focused and able to make some long-term goals, try something new perhaps? Does doing this even help, does anyone care? Does it matter? I might be the only one that cares but I'm good with that. Doing this makes me feel like I'm living my values.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a real good consumer. I buy things I don't need mostly when I'm bored. I think I'm avoiding, unconsciously, being more productive and maybe trying something I'm afraid to do. Scrolling through online stores or Facebook and Instagram, chock full of ads both of them, is truly avoidant of something infinitely cooler. Thankfully, I don't have extravagant taste although my recent addiction to Athleta feels extravagant. At my age, comfort takes precedence over pretty much everything. Wearing clothing that doesn't make me want to kill someone, or at the very least take my bra off at my desk and hope that no one can tell, has become priority number one for me!
There is no shortage of blogs about this topic. See https://www.becomingminimalist.com/ and https://www.theminimalists.com/. While in vogue, I started this experiment a decade ago and let it get away from me. Now I'm steering myself back and writing about my observations, pet peeves, and lessons learned along the way. I still hate public storage units, have too many pairs of black pants, and too many tchotchkes in my house, but I have a decade more of experience living life and hope that it'll serve me well as I embark again on a year of not buying anything new, aka deprivation.
Here are the rules, as of today at least:
No buying of anything new except for health and beauty aids, or HBA's as my friend Julie calls them, medical items - prescriptions and such, underwear, sympathy cards (let's hope I don't need any of those), car parts and pieces (if I'd only taken that car repair class in high school, right Dad?), safety items like lights for running or actual running shoes, cultural items like tickets to shows, etc., and experiential activities like vacation and general travel. Oh, and anything house related that's not decorative like a new furnace, etc.
And here's the new twist for 2020 - not only am I not buying anything new, I'm not going to buy anything I don't NEED. Now need is subjective, so this could get interesting, but we all know I don't need another pair of black pants, so here we go...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
