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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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??[/quote]

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![/quote]

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