Buy Nothing January Support Thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, my daughter has been begging for a scarf and it seems like a somewhat reasonable thing to have (except that she is only 3). I went in person to old navy and got one for only $1.50. So I think I’m not going to count it... slippery slope??

OP here. Hmmmm.... I think it does need to be counted, because you "bought something". Yes, it is only $1.50 and that's practically free. Certainly no big deal financially! But yes, slippery slope

Here's the point of "Buy Nothing" challenge (as I see it): to exercise your frugal muscles to find other ways to meet your needs.

Yes, things come up every day that we need, and that we really want, and that make sense, and that we want to have. So if you find you have a need, take the time to see if you can meet that need in any other way:

1) Just do without.
2) Find something you already have that will fit that exact purpose.
3) Find something you already have that you can alter to suit.
4) Fix it if it is broken.
5) Borrow it.
6) Make it from free materials.
7) Make it from borrowed or cheap materials.
8) Get it free from somewhere.

Only after all these conditions have been explored, and you still think it is something you need, is it time to buy it. In this order:

9) Buy it extremely cheaply (like yard sale or thrift store).
10) Buy it on sale, get a good bargain.
11) Buy it regular price.

I feel like a lot of times, I start the process at stage 9) Buy it very cheaply. But cheap isn't free! Steps 1-8 are free. The point of the Buy Nothing Challenge (as I see it) is to work on ALWAYS looking at steps 1-8 first.

So in the example of the toddler who wants a scarf -- obviously the first answer is, You don't need a scarf. But that's not very nice! Another answer could be: do we have any scarves here that would suit? Use a piece of cloth from sewing supplies to sew you a scarf? Could I knit you a scarf? Could Granny knit you a scarf? Is someone giving away a scarf at playgroup? And so on.

So, if your child said she wants a scarf, and you said "OK, I"ll go out and buy you one!"... I think that skipped a bunch of steps.

Of course, $1.50 is not a lot of money and in real life no one needs to go through so many steps and try so hard to find a free scarf (if they don't want to!) But the practice of regularly going through these steps is what helps break the habit of just shopping for everything we need.

Just my opinion!

I did not "Buy Nothing" today, because I needed to make a necessary car repair. Not only that, both children requested clothing items that we did go out and buy! My daughter got her sneakers because she convinced me hers were still too slippery. My son wanted a new winter coat. These two expenses were not needs, but wants. But we could afford them, and had spent a few days thinking about them, so I did buy them.

So today was not a "buy nothing" day.

But...I'll stick with it tomorrow!

OP, how old are your children? IMHO they have too much power over you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP, how old are your children? IMHO they have too much power over you.

They are teenagers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP, how old are your children? IMHO they have too much power over you.

They are teenagers.

I find it interesting that you would buy him a new winter coat because he wants it, yet wouldn’t buy a nonstick pan that is used year round and had to to find an alternative to that. Not getting the logic here. Presumably he has a coat already that fits if this is a “want”. The pan seems more like a need. Yet when I suggested then you and others said it wasn’t helpful.
I applaud your efforts but it seems totally inconsistent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, my daughter has been begging for a scarf and it seems like a somewhat reasonable thing to have (except that she is only 3). I went in person to old navy and got one for only $1.50. So I think I’m not going to count it... slippery slope??

OP here. Hmmmm.... I think it does need to be counted, because you "bought something". Yes, it is only $1.50 and that's practically free. Certainly no big deal financially! But yes, slippery slope

Here's the point of "Buy Nothing" challenge (as I see it): to exercise your frugal muscles to find other ways to meet your needs.

Yes, things come up every day that we need, and that we really want, and that make sense, and that we want to have. So if you find you have a need, take the time to see if you can meet that need in any other way:

1) Just do without.
2) Find something you already have that will fit that exact purpose.
3) Find something you already have that you can alter to suit.
4) Fix it if it is broken.
5) Borrow it.
6) Make it from free materials.
7) Make it from borrowed or cheap materials.
8) Get it free from somewhere.

Only after all these conditions have been explored, and you still think it is something you need, is it time to buy it. In this order:

9) Buy it extremely cheaply (like yard sale or thrift store).
10) Buy it on sale, get a good bargain.
11) Buy it regular price.

I feel like a lot of times, I start the process at stage 9) Buy it very cheaply. But cheap isn't free! Steps 1-8 are free. The point of the Buy Nothing Challenge (as I see it) is to work on ALWAYS looking at steps 1-8 first.

So in the example of the toddler who wants a scarf -- obviously the first answer is, You don't need a scarf. But that's not very nice! Another answer could be: do we have any scarves here that would suit? Use a piece of cloth from sewing supplies to sew you a scarf? Could I knit you a scarf? Could Granny knit you a scarf? Is someone giving away a scarf at playgroup? And so on.

So, if your child said she wants a scarf, and you said "OK, I"ll go out and buy you one!"... I think that skipped a bunch of steps.

Of course, $1.50 is not a lot of money and in real life no one needs to go through so many steps and try so hard to find a free scarf (if they don't want to!) But the practice of regularly going through these steps is what helps break the habit of just shopping for everything we need.

Just my opinion!

I did not "Buy Nothing" today, because I needed to make a necessary car repair. Not only that, both children requested clothing items that we did go out and buy! My daughter got her sneakers because she convinced me hers were still too slippery. My son wanted a new winter coat. These two expenses were not needs, but wants. But we could afford them, and had spent a few days thinking about them, so I did buy them.

So today was not a "buy nothing" day.

But...I'll stick with it tomorrow!

Buying yarn and knitting needles costs more than $1.50 so not sure that would be a win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP, how old are your children? IMHO they have too much power over you.

They are teenagers.

I find it interesting that you would buy him a new winter coat because he wants it, yet wouldn’t buy a nonstick pan that is used year round and had to to find an alternative to that. Not getting the logic here. Presumably he has a coat already that fits if this is a “want”. The pan seems more like a need. Yet when I suggested then you and others said it wasn’t helpful.
I applaud your efforts but it seems totally inconsistent.

I can see how it would seem inconsistent.

I am choosing to do this Buy Nothing Challenge for myself, but I didn't ask the family to sign on and I'll be honest, I don't want them to worry about finances with their dad being ill.

I told my kids at the start of the winter that I would buy them both new winter coats if they needed one. At the time, my son was adamant that he did not need a new winter coat, because he doesn't like to wear coats. He also has a desire for name brand coats and I won't spend those prices. I told him I'd give him $40 for a new winter coat and he could add his own money if he wanted some $180 coat. He wasn't interested at the time. I did pick up a thrift store coats that would do in a pinch, for about $8, but he didn't like it.

Yesterday when he saw how cold it really was, he decided he really needed a winter coat and wanted to go buy one. I was happy because he found something he really liked, on deep discount, at Macy's. It's not the name brand coat he thought he wanted, but he's very happy with it, and I did give him the $40 I had promised him earlier, and he added his own money from Christmas to make up the rest.

This was a want, not a need, because he did have a coat that would keep him warm if necessary. So I do classify it as such, and I agree that in terms of "Buy Nothing January", yesterday, I didn't do that! But I'm still very glad he got the coat he wants, and it brings him happiness and makes me happy that he will wear a coat in this cold now....

Purchasing a new saute pan, or buying a PSAT book, buying new potholders, buying a can of hairspray -- when I have free options just sitting around waiting to be accessed that are perfectly fine -- is just more for my immediate gratification because I don't want to bother to find the free options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Buying yarn and knitting needles costs more than $1.50 so not sure that would be a win.

True, but it is an option. Maybe you have a bag of yarn and knitting needles in the craft closet. I do. Haven't done any knitting in years but it's there.... Or maybe someone you know is giving away a bag of knitting supplies....

[Anonymous]

The thread puzzles me a bit. How can one need potholders? Or non-stick pan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thread puzzles me a bit. How can one need potholders? Or non-stick pan?

Not sure what you mean? People can use towels instead of potholders?? Or that they should already have potholders?

[Anonymous]

OP mentioned that this doesn't include her kids. So if that is the case - I'm already doing this. I rarely buy anything for myself. My clothes are so old its ridiculous....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thread puzzles me a bit. How can one need potholders? Or non-stick pan?

In Russia, no potholders!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I have three cast iron pans that would be great to use (if iron flakes off no problem, it's good for you right?) but it's such a pain cleaning when I fry scrambled eggs. Maybe if I learned to season them properly, they wouldn't stick as much when cooking eggs?

YEs-- do this instead. We use cast iron for eggs, which we eat every morning. I do use butter before I put the eggs in, but I love butter, especially after it is a bit browned and I figure the beneficial effects of a bit of iron outweigh the harmful effects of a bit of butter. I don't trust non-stick. After you properly "season" the cast iron pan, don't wash with soap. Just hot water works for us (if we use enough butter) or hot water and rock salt (if we haven't used enough butter).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thread puzzles me a bit. How can one need potholders? Or non-stick pan?

In Russia, no potholders!

lol!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thread puzzles me a bit. How can one need potholders? Or non-stick pan?

In Russia, no potholders!

Here kids make them in elementary school. That's what I use. The only "craft" that is proudly "displayed".

[Anonymous]

OP here. We were home from work/school again today and I had a lot of time for household organization.

We decluttered the basement, and located in a box of items to donate/toss, a pair of matching, heavy duty potholders. They just had a few stains, but I put them through the wash and they are perfectly clean. So, potholders achieved!

We also located a selection of tiny screwdriver bits, like about eye glasses sized, so I was able to take apart my poorly working pepper grinder. I gave it a good cleaning, and assembled everything back together again. I wish I could say it works like new. Well, it works... better than it did.

Nothing purchased today by anyone.

I decluttered my kitchen too and organized the pantry to be able to do more cooking. Although I'm not including food my Buy Nothing Challenge to myself, I am including non-essentials like vending machine snacks and takeout food. Today marks 7 days in a row that I haven't purchased any takeout food for my family! We have only eaten home cooked food. As a family this has been I think our biggest impulse spending weakness, so I'm very proud of myself for that!

[Anonymous]

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.