What we're doing

Several of you have commented saying you'd be curious to know how we're filling up our time since we're not going out to movies and dinner and whatever.  I'll be honest and say I don't have a super interesting answer for you!  Before we started this project, we weren't really on-the-go all the time, so that hasn't really changed.  I work and go to school, and Alex works 2 jobs, so our free time is actually very limited.  If anything, I sort of feel like I have less free time because I'm cooking so much more!  But, I love that, so it doesn't bother me. 

I have been working out more, I think mostly due to the fact that I haven't been eating out, so I don't feel like crap.  It's been a nice change!  Other than that though, it's working, cooking, studying, reading, walking dogs, visiting our families, blogging, hanging out with each other, cleaning up the kitchen from all the cooking, and sleeping.

I'm planning on doing a week soon where I don't watch cable.  (Because Alex works for the cable company, we kept cable because we don't pay for it.)  But, because most people doing this project would surely do without, I'm going to try it too.  Not this week, but soon.  I'll keep you posted!  (If this doesn't seem difficult - trust me.  We are TV PEOPLE.  It might just kill me.)

Sticking with it

Today on my drive home I realized that this is the longest I have ever stuck with a resolution of any kind - New Year's or otherwise.  Now, 2 weeks of sticking with it definitely doesn't earn me a metal, but at the same time, it feels like an achievement.

For my entire life, I have been the type of person who makes plans and then falls through with them.  When I was younger on summer break, I used to make hour-by-hour schedules for the day so that I would be productive (Yes, it's very The Great Gatsby but that was long before I ever read that book. . .)  Of course, being 12 years old or so, I never stuck with the schedule.  I think I just liked the planning aspect.  When I was probably 14, I vowed to stop watching TV because an older boy I had a HUGE crush on didn't watch TV.  That lasted about a weekend.

Embarrassing stories aside, I love to make resolutions.  I think most people do actually.  Haven't we all at one time or another dreamed of being a completely different person?  Someone who has it together?  Someone who weighs less?  Someone who has most interesting hobbies or is more popular?  And you think, well, then I'll just become that person!  It won't be hard, just change a few things, and voila!  My whole life will be fantastic!

Obviously, that's not how it works.  But there is something transforming about sticking with a resolution.  You realize that all your fantasies aren't going to come true, but you become a more confident person, someone who believes in themself (which is such a cliche but something I struggle with), so the fantasty life doesn't matter as much anymore.  You're happy just doing your thing.

Meltdown day

Poor Alex, it has been meltdown town (get it?) around here today.  It really truly has nothing to do with the not buying, I think just school, work, tired, etc. all happened to converge on today to make it very UGH. 

Latest meltdown happened less than 10 minutes ago when the super awesome chicken I was making for dinner (From scratch, per what I'm trying to do!) didn't cook in the amount of time it was supposed to, but everything else I made for dinner did.  So, I stuck the chicken in the oven and removed myself from the kitchen for a few minutes, and here I am.  I intended to update last night, but got totally distracted by American Idol.  Take that, Terri!  :-)

So far, I have to say, not buying has not been too painful.  We are right now trying to decide plans for a trip to Boston we're taking in the fall for one of my best friend's wedding.  Never having been to Boston, or New England, we're wanting to take advantage of the trip and sightsee a little bit, but want to keep as true to our plan as possible.  We've already decided that we're driving, to be more economical, and will plan on doing as much free sightseeing as we can.  We're hoping to take a little side trip to Niagara Falls as well!  Everyone should see it, right??

OK, writing has put me in a better mood.  Trust me, Alex will be grateful.

Oh, and here's a pic of the awesome chicken, before I realized the inside wasn't done at all and it had to go in the oven!

Through the weekend

So, while this is actually our second weekend not buying, it's the first weekend we've had time off and would have been able to spend money if we had wanted to. (But we didn't . . .)

It seems to me that everyone spends more money on the weekends. On some level, I think there is a cultural pressure that you're supposed to be out doing something Friday or Saturday (Call it "Date Night" if you will . . .) Saturdays at the mall are packed. And then, there's Sunday brunch out, which we love, and I truly like breakfast food best when eaten at a restaurant. There is just something about those diner-style pancakes! Yum! I can't get results like that at home!

OK, I digress.

This weekend, we experienced the fun of staying at home, vegging out, reading, cooking, napping. It's been great. Of course, I'll enjoy experiencing those pancakes at Wild Eggs again, but I bet not having them for a while will make them even better!!

What I'm watching today

Came across this video, thought it was interesting and very easy to understand.  Reminds me a little of the UPS white board ads (which Alex can't stand, by the way). Also, thought it was very appropriate for this blog! And it made me feel horrible about myself. It's really a complete package.

First grocery trip

So, I just returned home from the grocery store - which was hilarious and looked like we were all preparing for Doomsday due to impending snow and senior discount day.  Anyway, the grocery provides a plethora of debate for the want v. need discussion.  Seriously, I could probably blog for an entire year just about making good food decisions.

For the record, in Not Buying It, the book, (as opposed to Not Buying It, my life,) Ms. Levine doesn't buy any pre-made or processed food with the exception of bread.  Why bread, I don't know, since bread can be made at home with less difficulty than a lot of other things.  She was so hardcore that she wouldn't buy crackers - she would just slice her store-bought bread thin and bake it or dry it out or something (I can't honestly remember, and can't look it up because my copy of the book is currently on loan to a friend.)  However it happened, homemade crackers were produced.

While I totally respect and understand what she did - making everything I eat from scratch is not feasible for my life at this point.  Could I do it?  Technically, yes.  Would I have time to do anything else, like study and sleep?  Probably not.

So, I'm going to do my best.  Make from scratch what I can, and avoid those food items that we obviously don't need.  (Sorry chips and salsa - see you in '11.)  Moral of the story - if you see me in Kroger with a jar of Prego in my hand, please don't judge, I'll do better next time.

Our first dilemma

OK, blog friends, we would like you to vote.  Once a week, Alex goes out of town for work.  While he is on the road, any food he eats will be reimbursed by Insight.  Seems OK - he spends, then gets paid back.  However, good on paper doesn't necessarily equal good for the conscious.  He could just brown bag it and really not buy, or buy and get paid back.

What would you do???

Back to it

Although we didn't have a holiday break the same way a lot of people did, today felt like the first day back in the real world.  I started my 3rd quarter of school, plus an evening at J. Jill, and Alex worked at Insight and Home Depot.  Things felt back to normal, and as such, I was confronted by what has typically been a part of my routine - Starbucks.

OK, I know I sound like such a cliched yuppie right now, a title which I generally gladly embrace, but damn it, I love Starbucks.  It's not even worth talking about how overpriced it is; everyone knows that.  And I'm definitely not going to whine about my lack of Starbucks, but did just want to take a moment to acknowledge how badly I wanted one this morning.

 

Moving on.

A few points I'd like to address about what we're doing -

1.  This project is not solely about saving money, although I would be lying if I said that wasn't a benefit.  Our main goal is to stop living an indulgent lifestyle.  I'm just tired of buying "stuff."  And don't get me wrong, I love stuff.  I wholeheartedly embrace the stuff I have and the stuff I will eventually buy again - at this point in my life though, I'm over it.

2.  I'm constantly aware that the decision to live with fewer luxuries is a luxury itself.  A lot of people out there are also "not buying it," but out of necessity, not choice.  I'm very fortunate that the decision to spend less is a decision, and I don't for one minute feel like we're actually really sacrificing much, compared to what many, many people are dealing with.  This blog is not about patting us on the back - because honestly, the odds of us actually completing this are slim, let's be honest.

But, today, 4 days in, I'm still feeling great and determined!  Alex and I have decided it feels a lot like playing a game, and hopefully it's a game we'll both win.  (OK, seriously, that was cheesy.  I know it.  I embrace it.)

New year, new challenge

It's a new year, and a new decade, and like millions of others, Alex and I have made resolutions.  Of course, there are the usual suspects - get in shape, keep the house cleaner, watch less TV, etc. But, the one we're most excited about is our most challenging.  For the next year, Alex and I have resolved to stop buying.

This is not an original idea - it was inspired by Judith Levine's 2006 book "Not Buying It: My Year without Shopping."  The book essentially tries to distinguish between needs and wants and how we decide which is which.  I really liked the book, although a quick read of the amazon.com customer reviews shows me that maybe I'm one of the few.

Of course, we will still pay bills, buy groceries and gas, still take the dogs to the vet.  But, we will not, hopefully, buy a single thing we don't NEED for the next year.  I'm inviting you all along for the journey, partially because I think it might be funny, but primarily to hold us accountable.  Also, I might need some input along the way to help us make decisions.

We're planning to write up a contract for the project, so I'll share all the rules and regulations soon.

Feel free to write in with any thoughts or suggestions - but please don't tell us we're nuts.  :-)

Happy New Year to you all!