Lessons Learned

It's been more than a year since I made my little New Year's resolution to not buy anything new for one year. At the time, it felt kinda like a big deal. Now, not so much. I think the hardest part was finding time and topics to blog about.

I've been asked at the turn of 2011 what my new resolution would be in relation to last year's. And I've got nothing. I've decided that not buying anything new really isn't that big of a deal and I'll continue to do it this year and probably, in some form, forever. Not only is it easy, it's almost a requirement nowadays. Here in the Fort there are so many thrift and used stores that a person really doesn't have an excuse to immediately buy an item new without looking to see if they can get it used first. Not only will I keep doing it, I've realized that I like it a whole lot more than traditional shopping.

A couple of months ago I refinanced my house and found myself with a little extra cash. I decided that since I had been good all year I 'deserved' to do a round of shopping at Macy's. I grabbed some of their great coupons and off I went. It was one of the most hideous shopping experiences of my life - seriously. I trolled through this gigantic store getting more and more pissed off as I went. I was in there about 15 minutes and had to leave. Without an object of desire to search for I found just strolling through a department store a dull experience and a huge waste of time. What I realized from this little jaunt was that I really don't like shopping for shopping's sake unless I'm in a used store. Not a major revelation but enough for me to know that not buying anything new is the way of my life. It has been for years and will continue to be.

I would say that in one year I probably bought 10 or so 'new' items. At least three of these things were sympathy cards because I just can't make an appropriate sympathy card. I did just purchase a new vacuum and make no excuses for it. Buying a used vacuum is silly and in my house a vacuum is definitely a health issue. If you've ever lived in a hair ball, you know what I mean. If it wasn't life-threatening to shellack my dog I wouldn't need the new vacuum. And let me tell you, having a vacuum that actually works is a very pleasurable experience. It was all I could do to not leave work early last Friday to go home and vacuum. This might speak more to the lack of excitement in my life...

Consumer Culture War

I'm not a grinch, not a holiday-hater, no bah humbug here. But I do HATE the consumer culture that surrounds all things holiday this time of year. I write this on what's quickly becoming a holiday in itself - Black Friday.

Seriously, people. What the hell is up with waiting in line overnight in below freezing temperatures just so you can snag a $100 TV? I just don't get it. I can't think of anything more hideous than to wake up at 3 a.m. to make it to Target in time to buy a $75 camera or a $3 toaster. In my cost-benefit anaylsis of Black Friday, sleeping is worth way more than the $10 I might save on said toaster. Really, don't we all have a toaster anyway? I don' t know anyone that wants one for Christmas either. If I'm waking up at 3 a.m. it had better be for work or an emergency or some great life experience that doesn't involve a debit card.

As I was getting ready for work this morning I was watching a bit of the news on TV and they actually had reporters out 'covering' Black Friday. It's apparently news that we are all consume-crazy. Now while I do realize that this year is a bit different what with the Recession and all, people are generally feeling better about life (at least those of us with jobs) and are ready to spend a little money. Here's a fun fact for you - the average person will spend over $600 this holiday season. $600!

It's seemingly not enough that stores open at 4 a.m. Retailers now feel the need to be open for business on the one holiday that every single American can celebrate . Thanksgiving is the one day of the year where we can be lazy, hang out with family and friends, watch football if that's your thing, catch a movie, eat too much monochromatic carb-filled food and take an afternoon nap without feeling guilty. People should not have to work or think they need to work to make double time. The option shouldn't even be available.

It's like we all have this chip in our heads that is programmed to buy, buy, buy. As Americans our commonality is based on our consumer culture. We are many things (incredibly philanthropic, giving, compassionate, and kind) but our American culture is based on purchasing, buying and consuming. The chip in my head turned on big time after I refinanced my house. The urge to purchase something was a little overwhelming. Fortunately, I was able to curb my desire by remembering my deal to not buy anything new. I'm now struggling with the deal I'm making in my head to buy something after the first of the year. Somehow then it won't count.

Junk Jaunt 2010

Nebraska - a superb Bruce Springsteen album, ultra-conservative in pockets, lots of corn but none in the grocery store unless you want canned, and the absolute middle of the country. Seriously, Kearney, NE is the bulls eye of the U.S. Kearney might be worth 50 points on a dart board but I can't figure out why anyone would want to live there. Beauty is certainly in the eye of beholder here. Being from Colorado I'm clearly biased in my opinion and I don't mean to offend any native Nebraskans, who are lovely people by the way.

I traveled to Kearney to meet my parents for a little visit and to check out the Junk Jaunt. I'm always up for a road trip and Kearney is a mere 6 hours from Fort Collins so why not? The Junk Jaunt is billed as a 300-mile garage sale. It's really more of a Junk Journey, heavy on the Junk. Basically there are about 30 towns in Nebraska where the townies host a number of garage sales over three days in September every year. It's a great way to see the Nebraska countryside as you travel between towns hoping you don't run out of gas.

I ended up spending $34 - a basketball, chalk board, some jewelry, bowls, a New Jersey glass and random other crap. The only real revelation I had was that if you need any sort of dishware Nebraska is the place to go. I could've outfit every home in Fort Collins with the dishes, pans, bowls, cups, glasses, serving platters, etc. that I saw at EVERY single place we stopped. It was truly stunning how much of this stuff there was.

My favorite part of the trip was the giant billboard of Sarah Palin asking Nebraskans 'How's that hope 'n' change workin' for ya?' I felt bad for the farmers that drive by that everyday.

While I had a nice time visiting with my parents including the requisite disagreement or two with my dad (we did manage to avoid politics), I have to say I found Nebraska worth driving through.

Saving America by Buying a New Car or Getting Rid of One

Before I start, forgive my lateness in discussing this topic. It takes me awhile to process things, like months, actually.

Talk about mixed messages? 9 years ago we were told that one of the best ways to get America back on track was to buy a new car. All the auto companies were offering zero percent interest to make the purchase more palatable and pretty much every commercial was for some new, albeit boring, (don't get me started on how humdrum and plain cars are nowadays) 'American-made' car. We were also told to shop at the mall and basically just buy, buy, buy. Didn't really matter what, we needed to buy crap to keep America #1.

Flash forward to summer 2009 and the Cash for Clunkers program. All the cars we bought in late 2001 and early 2002 we should now turn in as a clunker? This program would put cash into our pockets to stimulate the economy and, by the way, we should also buy another new car with some of that clunker money while we're out. Clearly, a car purchased in 2001 wouldn't be a clunker in 2009 unless it was a Yugo, Pacer, Pinto or an Aztek. Of course, none of these cars were available in 2001 except the Aztek, a car my parents actually bought, love and still drive. But I'm getting off point.

I know that this is a simplistic point of view as I tend to be a bit naive about these things but isn't there another way? Talk of late is that the Cash for Clunkers program didn't really achieve the desired effect and we all know what the rampant debt incurred after 9/11 has done for America's and our own personal bottom lines.

While there are a lot of folks that are trimming expenses and looking for ways to save, the prevailing wisdom is to continue to spend. Aren't we told, with excitement or despair, how overall spending, month to month, is in this country. If it's up we feel more optimistic, when it falls we get depressed.

I think there's a message in all of this - exactly what that message might be is certainly debatable but it might just be, 'hey, let's keep the still-running-fine 1997 car we have, trim some household expenses and maybe decide to wear something in our own closet rather than buy that new dress while we help stimulate the economy by going to a play, giving to charity, or eating dinner in a local restaurant. Let's do this while we also figure out a way to get the school systems a little more scratch.'

Just a thought.

I told you it wasn't a new idea!

I honestly don't know if I could go a year, or a week, without buying clothes. While I've spent this past year not buying anything new, this gal spent the last year not buying new clothes.

Great American Apparel Diet

The difference between me and Sally, besides the not buying new thing, is that I allow myself to buy all the clothes I want as long as they're used. Is one way better than the other? My philosophy on this whole little project of mine is that buying used is fine because I'm not buying new things. I'm buying things that are already in the consumer stream. The things I buy are already out in the world. These items could sit in the used store or in my house - it's six of one, half-a-dozen of another. But is it, really?

Maybe it is better to not buy anything? I know I've saved some cash these past eight months. While I haven't actually tracked it, I know I've saved at least $1000 which was the balance on my Macy's credit card before I paid it off in January. That $1000 was all clothes. I used to go to Macy's when I had a bad day or felt that pang to buy something, anything, to make the day a little more interesting. I haven't been in a Macy's in all of 2010 - and I don't miss it one little bit. It also felt awesome to pay off that card!

Sally estimates her savings over the past year at $5000. That's not only a savings for her of $5000, that's $5000 worth of new items that weren't purchased at all. While I'm buying used, I'm still buying. Either way, I feel like Sally and I might have the right idea. Trying hard to not be a high mass consumer, no matter what tack you take, can't be bad for the world. Go through a thought process before you make a purchase; think about the use of the item, do you really need it, is this a necessary purchase, how will this enhance my life? Buying consciously instead of unconsciously, like a drone, is what I'm getting at here.

By the way, I'll be traveling to the Junk Jaunt in September. 300 miles of garage sales!

Retail Therapy

We all know about retail therapy. The phrase 'retail therapy' is linked most often to women but men do it too. I remember one guy friend in college that showed up at work one day with a new pair of Dr. Martens (the fairly pricey, chosen footwear of the 90's college student in Michigan). After I commented on them he explained that he'd been feeling a little blue and decided he needed a new pair of shoes. You rarely hear about men doing this but I think they do it as often as women, they just don't talk about it. It's not a man/woman thing, it's a human thing.

The other day my horoscope told me it would be "worth it to spend a few bucks on something fun simply for the value of the break it creates in daily monotony." I always look at my daily horoscope hoping for some insight into what the day will hold and now it's telling me to shop wantonly. To shop and buy something unnecessary because it will brighten my day.

What about maybe taking a walk or reading a book or eating something new or, seriously, anything that doesn't require buying something I don't need? Our culture is so purchase centered. 'Things' really do shape and dictate our days. I find that some days I spend so much time organizing my life - moving things from point a to point b, fixing things, purging things or acquiring new (used) things. Thinking about how much time we spend on things really can be crazy-making. We all do it so unconsciously but all of this moving around of stuff takes up huge amounts of time. Time we could be doing something else, say, more meaningful.

None of this, however, changes the fact that I have my eye on a new little black top that I've been trying to justify purchasing for about a month now. Will the urge for retail therapy hit me hard and drive me into the store to purchase this top I don't need or will I choose to walk my dog instead?

They'll do anything to get you to buy crap you don't need...

From a marketing standpoint this makes sense. From an anti high-mass consumer standpoint this is sorta gross.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129187210&sc=fb&cc=fp