Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. ...Making Do with what's in my hands. That's my goal for staying on track with our spending plan for 2009.I got my inspiration from a new blog, The Non-Consumer Advocate, passed on to me by a fellow fabulous frugalista. The Non-Consumer Advocate is one of many blogs subscribing to The Compact, a group of individuals committed to buying nothing new. Basically,
"The Compact has several aims (more or less prioritized below):
- To go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of disposable consumer culture and to support local businesses, farms, etc. -- a step that, we hope, inherits the revolutionary impulse of the Mayflower Compact.
- To reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er).
- To simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)
#1 Don't buy new products of any kind (from stores, web sites, etc.)
#2 Borrow, barter, or buy used."
After getting overwhelmed by all the stuff coming in our house during Christmas (which was followed by a trip to Goodwill), I love the idea of reducing clutter and waste in my home and keeping life simpler.
So, I'm committing myself to a Year of Making Do with the following guidelines:
1. Borrow, barter or buy used.
2. Stick to the projects and purchases in our spending plan
3. Buy the following new:
- Perishables (we will be supplementing from our vegetable garden next summer)
- Toiletries (we'll use up my stockpile first)
- Items in our Spending Plan that can only be purchased new (insulation)
- School Uniforms and shoes (though I'll be looking to barter or buy used first)
- Gifts (I try to give based on our gifts/interests as a family, and sometimes this means buying new. For example, I made a calendar with photos of the kids through Winkflash for Christmas this year.)
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