By Megan @ The Byron Life
This October I have taken on the challenge of buying nothing
new – all month! It’s part of a campaign
organised by op-shops (thrift stores) here in Australia, and when I heard about it I thought it
would be a great way of reinforcing my desire to live simply and frugally.
The “rules” are simple enough: Buy nothing new for a whole
month unless it is an essential item such as food, medicine or hygiene product.
I thought, being an avid recycler, op-shopper and thrifter,
that I’ll cinch it. Won’t be too hard a challenge for me, right?
Well, as I write I’m
four days in and I can tell you it has already been a challenge. Mostly it has
to do with planning ahead. I forgot about a child’s birthday party that was
coming up, and whereas I might normally go to the shop and buy something new
for a present, that isn’t an option right now so I had to think “outside the
box”. (I ended up finding a ready-made present at home that would be perfect!)
The big test will come when we are fully moved back into our
home in the next week and I start looking around at renovations I would like to
make to the place. How to do that on a budget, buying second-hand or recycling
what we have already... I’m looking forward to seeing what creative ideas I can
come up with.
Could you live for a month, or longer, without buying
anything new? Perhaps you already do – I know there’s a lot of Simple, Green,
frugal readers way ahead of me on this frugal path. Feel free to share any tips
with me – I’m going to need them!
* You can find out more about Buy Nothing New Month 2011
here.
x
Megan
p.s The photo above is a little microwave rice cooker that I bought from an op-shop a while back that we use as our kicthen scraps bin. Works a treat.
7 comments:
We're having a go at it too, so far so good but it is harder than you would think. Such a buying reflex to control. We have birthday party this weekend. hmmmmm
Myself, my husband and my two little ones are nine months into a 12 month buying ban (buying nothing new). The exceptions are medical and/or safety and consumables, as well as water bottles and underwear. We are expecting baby #3 in 7 weeks and have had a great time getting everything ready for him, the secondhand way. It does get easier. Stick with it, your life will be enriched in ways you don't expect!
Hi Kirsty - I should have been more organised for the birthday present and I wouldn't have been in such a flap! There's a lesson for me. Hope you find something suitable in time for the weekend!
Hi Nicole - Wow! Your story is inspiring. I am sticking with it, but I am also surprised at just how easy it can be to consume without thinking it through first-even for someone who considers themselves quite frugal. I have much to learn, still :)
I've taken up the challenge too, and we are moving during this month. I feel the same, I feel I am quite frugal and thrifty but I know there's always more I can do. Freecycle is helping me share the love and get what i really do need for our new space.
Have you heard of The Compact? Here in the states, there is a group that pledges to buy nothing new for an entire year. I haven't tried it myself, although most of what I buy is used anyway. I think I would have trouble with that last little bit though!
I've been trying to buy nothing new all year. Some success and some new purchases. But on the whole I have been pretty good and don't feel I've missed out.
Today I had a gift for a some one at work. My personal rules are "not new and within $10 budget". This person is fussy and not like me at all. So in the end I used a big old glass coffee jar someone at work gave me. Filled it with dried apricots and apricot balls. Non clutter food item and within budget.
Last month my 4yr old and I made a necklace for one of her friends.
Last Christmas we filled plastic jars with beads gathered from op shops and old clothing for 2 of her friends and melted down old crayons and placed in christmas chocolate moulds to make new crayons for another friend.
For her teacher we gave a bag of veggies and made some honey cinnamon butter that we placed in an op shop container and cute spreading knife.
Last week we gave a Op shop bought candle and book for a 40yr birthday.
I blogged about all of these. There are lots of solutions and wonderful ideas from other bloggers showing their creations and ideas. They inspire me all the time.
Currently we are preparing for gift giving to 2 teachers and about 8 people. It will all be thrifted, made, harvested or cooked.
Good luck and enjoy the journey. It's fun, creative and addictive :-)
What a great challenge. I love buying from op shops and I'm really lucky that there is some great ones in my neighbourhood.
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