Buy Nothing January Support Thread

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PP. PSAT books have been procured from the library; they had a selection to choose from. Down the line if my daughter still feels the need for more, yes I will buy her one. But I think the library choices were fine, and recent enough (2016 date).

What is today? Day 16 of Buy Nothing January. I bought nothing.... I did stop by Costco because I lost my card, and I got a new one taken so I could buy gas. I did a brief look through because I was looking for a specific grocery item, but they didn't have it. I did not buy anything at Costco.

My husband needs a new belt for his bathrobe. We have lost the belt somehow. We are substituting a scarf for the moment, but I am going to knit him a belt in the same color as his bathrobe (instead of buying him a new bathrobe.) Maybe another month I'll buy him a new bathrobe, but not in Buy Nothing January!

[Anonymous]

I admire you for doing this. I read on FB a post about a year of buying no jewelry, handbags, or clothes. I'm considering that for this year. It also wipes out buying gifts for others, which I really enjoy, so I am sure I'll keep on doing that part.
Loving your follow-up to all of this.
There is something sickening about the excess of Christmas to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, PP. PSAT books have been procured from the library; they had a selection to choose from. Down the line if my daughter still feels the need for more, yes I will buy her one. But I think the library choices were fine, and recent enough (2016 date).

What is today? Day 16 of Buy Nothing January. I bought nothing.... I did stop by Costco because I lost my card, and I got a new one taken so I could buy gas. I did a brief look through because I was looking for a specific grocery item, but they didn't have it. I did not buy anything at Costco.

My husband needs a new belt for his bathrobe. We have lost the belt somehow. We are substituting a scarf for the moment, but I am going to knit him a belt in the same color as his bathrobe (instead of buying him a new bathrobe.) Maybe another month I'll buy him a new bathrobe, but not in Buy Nothing January!

You have officially won this month if you can make a run thru Costco and not buy anything!!

[Anonymous]

I admire you for doing this. I read on FB a post about a year of buying no jewelry, handbags, or clothes. I'm considering that for this year. It also wipes out buying gifts for others, which I really enjoy, so I am sure I'll keep on doing that part.
Loving your follow-up to all of this.
There is something sickening about the excess of Christmas to me.

Hi OP and PP, good work! I am also trying something similar to the above. Also just still reeling from Christmas excess. Really, I am modeling on the Patchett article that came out a couple weeks ago: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/opinion/sunday/shopping-consumerism.html?_r=0

This part really resonated with me, the loss of time and sort of self-medicated aspect of internet shopping:

At the end of 2016, our country had swung in the direction of gold leaf, an ecstatic celebration of unfeeling billionaire-dom that kept me up at night. I couldn’t settle down to read or write, and in my anxiety I found myself mindlessly scrolling through two particular shopping websites, numbing my fears with pictures of shoes, clothes, purses and jewelry.
...
Not shopping saves an astonishing amount of time. In October, I interviewed Tom Hanks about his collection of short stories in front of 1,700 people in a Washington theater. Previously, I would have believed that such an occasion demanded a new dress and lost two days of my life looking for one. In fact, Tom Hanks had never seen any of my dresses, nor had the people in the audience. I went to my closet, picked out something weather appropriate and stuck it in my suitcase. Done.

So no more clothes, shoes, books (at least until I have read the many I already have lying around which should take at least 6 mos.), consumer goods, electronics, etc. Groceries and basic CVS medicine/toiletries OK.
No more toys and knick-knacks for the kids, except for birthday/holidays. But will buy books occasionally (after deliberation), necessary clothes, and a big exception for craft supplies (that stuff is meant to be used, and no, I am not going to attempt to DIY paint or construction paper).

But I am modifying OP's plan in a major respect and that is I'll definitely spend to save time. In fact, I am trying to conserve time even more than save money. So I am fine with takeout, because we have several reasonably healthy options within two blocks of our house and it is indeed faster. I would not be fixing the pepper mill (I'd probably just use the pre-ground pepper we already have). I don't feel any need to canvass the house first for dental floss (or chapstick in Patchett's example) because those are all consumables and will be eventually used even if I have extra. I would though, as OP did, look through the cupboard to find matching lids, etc., because that obviates the need for a durable good altogether.

GL, all!

[Anonymous]

Good for you PP! Good luck!

OP here -- bought nothing today. Day 17.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OP here, thank you!!

And great idea! For my Buy Nothing January, I am of course buying groceries, necessary medicines, gas etc. But I am trying to not do takeout at all (a big weakness of ours) and am giving myself a $100/week grocery budget. This is on top of having a very well stocked pantry with the basics, so it shouldn't be too difficult. I am just usually strapped for time for cooking.

I'm also curious if I can make it though the month on just one tank of gas? I worked it out -- I use half a tank just for commuting to work for 20 days. The other half would be for errands or kid stuff. We live in a very walkable neighborhood... but... it is pretty cold. Might wait till March for that challenge!!

OP with update.

It is day 8 of my Buy Nothing Challenge. I bought nothing again today -- despite forgetting to bring lunch to work, and being very tempted by the snack machine again. This week, I did buy two non- necessary things -- $60 for new sneakers for my daughter, and $40 towards a coat for my son. So I
"failed" already in my Buy Nothing challenge, but I am still continuing on regardless.

I have cooked all meals, except for one $8 take out lunch for my daughter. That's a big improvement for us!

I "failed" in keeping my grocery/household items bill to $100 this week. I spent $174!! I don't feel like I bought anything very extravagant, and it was all at Aldi's. I never tracked my grocery store budget before this, but I know it has been a lot.

I notice it is easier to keep track of spending, when I am not shopping very often.

I am down to a quarter tank of gas already; one tank of gas for the entire month is not realistically going to happen this month, but I am hoping now I can keep it to two tanks. I'm sure I can make one tank of gas last for two weeks - if I don't have any unanticipated driving to do this weekend. Usually that would be kid related.

Did you skip lunch?

You might find this post (and blog) helpful:

http://www.frugalwoods.com/2015/10/19/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-frugal-weirdo/

[Anonymous]

I did skip lunch that day. My only options at work if I forget my lunch are snacks from the vending machine, or soda from the vending machine.

[Anonymous]

Day 18 : Bought nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You might find this post (and blog) helpful:

http://www.frugalwoods.com/2015/10/19/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-frugal-weirdo/

This couple kind of reminds me of Amy Dacyczyn of the Tightwad Gazette back in the early 90s. She was pre-internet (or at least pre-blogging) so she actually sent out a printed newsletter each month. And she and her husband had 6 children on one income, so severe frugality was needed. I followed her in my SAHM days but have fallen by the wayside.

[Anonymous]

Buy Nothing Day 19: spent nothing!
Buy Nothing Day 20: Ooooh, I failed again. I bought my kids some takeout AND spent $41 on non necessary items (household and clothing) that they have been wanting for a long time and I wasn't able to find elsewhere. My kids are definitely my weak point.

Still -- going to keep on going as if I didn't break fail today and am headed towards 11 more Buy Nothing days.

[Anonymous]

I feel I would do much better at something like this if I:

1. Got rid of the Internet. So much creepy targeted ads and glittery objects. Frankly I'm a bit of an internet addict, so it's total abstinence or nothing unfortunately.

2. Got rid of my credit cards. I find it so much more difficult to part with cash.

3. Muzzle DH. He's not a spender but a total enabler. It's hard enough to budget but with someone cheerfully encouraging you to buy whatever it is it's very hard to stay on track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel I would do much better at something like this if I:

1. Got rid of the Internet. So much creepy targeted ads and glittery objects. Frankly I'm a bit of an internet addict, so it's total abstinence or nothing unfortunately.

Well, you might try it, just for a month? And see if you can break the habit? I can't imagine life without internet access, but could you say for a month you would not order anything you see advertised online?

Even if (like me) you fail a time or two... the exercise helps you exercise your frugal muscles and makes them stronger....Or that's the theory anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You might find this post (and blog) helpful:

http://www.frugalwoods.com/2015/10/19/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-frugal-weirdo/

This couple kind of reminds me of Amy Dacyczyn of the Tightwad Gazette back in the early 90s. She was pre-internet (or at least pre-blogging) so she actually sent out a printed newsletter each month. And she and her husband had 6 children on one income, so severe frugality was needed. I followed her in my SAHM days but have fallen by the wayside.

I think they live way better than Amy did. And they much more thoughtful in their approach than she was, in my opinion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Failed miserably - spent $230 on furniture I didn't need but really wanted (upgraded from a twin to a full-size bed and got a proper dining table instead of a folding table). I'm going to regroup on Sunday. Thoughts and prayers.

$230? What an amazing price for a bed and dining table - it would cost me 2 thousand, so expensive where I live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think they live way better than Amy did. And they much more thoughtful in their approach than she was, in my opinion

Well, she had 6 kids to feed, house, clothe, educate! They had zero when they started and just had the baby, right? So that is understandable.