our frosty van
Buying nothing new for the past couple weeks has been interesting. It seems like it has been longer than that, and yet I have already noticed some changes. First, I take better care of my belongings. Miriam pulled out one of her little hair elastics the other day and tossed it somewhere, and instead of just shrugging and figuring that they would get lost, and I would just go buy more, I actually put in the effort to look for it. When I take them out of her hair at the end of the day, I’m careful to put them away because I know that if we lose them, it’s no more cute hair for her–for 6 months.
I have two white camisoles that accumulated various stains over time. I washed them and tried spot treatments, but ordinarily if that didn’t work I would just replace them–which would mean throwing them away, and then spending $25+ on new ones. Instead, since replacing them wasn’t an option, I picked up a $3 container of bleach on a trip to the grocery store —and they are good as new (or close enough). I know bleach isn’t exactly green, and if it was summer I would have tried treating them with lemon juice then letting the sun fade the stains for a few days, but it’s winter, and you gotta do what you gotta do.
At first glance it might seem like I have become more preoccupied with things since I am no longer buying, what with fretting over stains and combing the apartment for tiny pink elastics. But I like this old-fashioned shift towards fixing something rather than throwing it away, and keeping track of something rather than replacing what’s lost. I feel like a more grown-up version of myself.
The problem with kids today. . .
In a related story, I spent the first week of January using a pie plate to scrape frost and snow off the van in the morning, since we couldn’t find our scraper. Ordinarily that would have been remedied with a trip to the dollar store, but not anymore. Good times, ha ha. People definitely tried to convince me that I could make an exception, but I know myself, and I know if I started making exceptions this early in the game, I would be making exceptions all over the place by month 6. Happily, a couple days ago I found the scraper in the back of the van, tucked into a plastic container full of items to donate. It’s been unseasonably warm this week, but if the snow does decide to return I’ll be ready for it! And hey, I saved a dollar and reused a pie plate!
Now, to go back to making exceptions–I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to cheat this weekend, and a few more times throughout the next year. One of my best and oldest friends, Kim, is getting married this fall, and I’m in the wedding. While I know she is going to be a gracious and laid-back bride, I am 100% positive that she is not going to be cool with me sporting the thrift store look to accompany her down the aisle. So. . .I will at the very least be purchasing my bridesmaid dress, and possibly shoes and jewelry to go with it, depending on what she wants.
Kim and I on my wedding day–note she is wearing the dress I picked out for her.
I’m not sure what I should do with these items once the wedding (and the 6 months of no buying!) is over.
Sell?
Keep?
Donate?
What would be the least objectionable decision I could make regarding items that I technically should not be buying, per my own rules?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
There will be times when you are going to have to purchase special items…like an outfit for the wedding. Try to bargain hunt as much as possible and purchase a style that you could wear again for a hubby date or another party. The items that you should technically should not be buying?… you seem to be having a good handle there. In fact, the way you keep searching for hair ties is a good indication, that you want to stick to the goal of no spending. You are doing really good
mb
Thanks so much for your encouragement! My friend is willing to let us choose what style of dress we want, so I’m going to do my best to find something flattering (and thrifty!). The dresses will be a nice deep red, so if I do decide to keep it, it could probably be worn again to a Christmas party in the future