How I didn't buy anything new for an entire year

Top 6 things that you should not buy new

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:45:00 +0000

1. Cars
Unlike houses, cars depreciate 15-20% during the first three years.

2. Books
Most books are only read once and then put up on a shelf. You can find books at your local library or used books at garage sales, amazon.com, ebay.com, half.com, and bookfinder.com

3. Designer Clothing
Ebay.com and your local thrift store is a good place to start with used designer clothing.

4. CD's and DVD's
You can find great deals at garage sales, ebay, and craigslist.

5. Baby items, toys and games
Take advantage of garage sales and craigslist this Summer.

6. Homes
House usually appreciate with time. Right now is a good time to buy a used home that you can fix up.

How to find free stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:34:00 +0000

Here is a great article from Yahoo Green. They not only have Craigslist and Freecyle, they have several other websites that I had not heard of. Just thought I'd share.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/53/how-to-find-free-stuff.html

Washer broke!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:35:00 +0000

We moved into this house two years ago. With it came a used "Magic Chef" washer and dryer. It is rusting at the hinges but it still worked. The other day I went to wash some clothes and found that one of the plastic hinges to the door broke off. If this were last year, this would have been my excuse to go out and buy one of those beautiful Maytag washer and dryer sets. You know the ones that cost $1,000 plus each? The one I have dreaming about for the past 8 years? Yes that's the one.

Anyhow, long story short I am not buying a new set. The washer still works. I have to be careful when I open the door, it will shut the laundry cycle off because it goes to far without the hinge. But other than that, it still washes the darn clothes. I'm going to do a little research to see if I can find a replacement hinge or some super duper glue that will hold up to my laundry four times a week.

Update: My husband found some kind of special glue laying around the house and decided to give it a try. It worked! The hinge is now attached. Now the question is for how long? My good ol' washer is still kickin!

Another great article

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:03:00 +0000

http://www.thedigeratilife.com/blog/index.php/2007/01/31/borrow-barter-buy-used-espousing-the-frugal-lifestyle/

3 months!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:51:00 +0000

Here we are at almost three months. I can't believe how we don't have a need for new things. So far, we have only needed to buy food. I feel like my house is still full of things I don't need. I'm working on donating and selling some things on ebay.

WikiHow.com's ideas for not buying anything new

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:00:00 +0000

The link has 21 steps and examples of how not to buy anything new.

http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-Nothing

Things to do on Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:00:00 +0000

It's funny how I find that I have to be more creative now that I am trying not to buy anything new. The easy pick up a card at the store and something from the store is out the window. I decided to look around to find what I could do for my loved ones instead of buying something new. I am a member of ehow. I wrote an article about my findings.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4758682_things-valentines-day.html

It's called "How to find 10 free things to do on Valentine's Day"

I'll let you know how our free Valentine's Day went. :)

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:28:00 +0000

It is really something how I havn't found a real need to buy anything. I don't know if it is because it is January. I don't buy much in January because I'm trying to pay bills down from December.

As of yet, I still don't need anything. I still feel like I have too much. I feel like my house is cluttered with things that I no longer need. We will see how February goes. I know that we have Valentine's coming up. I'll have to think of something that doesn't require buying something new. Any ideas?

Did you know that you can shop at GoodWill online?

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:42:00 +0000

I was on the internet yesterday and found an online store for GoodWill. Even GoodWill is going modern. It reminds me a little of ebay. It is in auction form.

Here's a link:

http://www.shopgoodwill.com/

Some things I have to buy new

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Here is a list of things that I just have to buy new.

Things You Need To Get New (Likely Exemptions)
Food
Underclothing
Toiletries like toothpaste and shampoo
Anything needed for health and safety reasons
Anything needed for hygienic reasons

other than that, everything else is going to be used. So far I havn't needed very much of anything. I was one of those people who has to much. I loved to shop for bargains and because of this my house is overflowing with stuff. I'm still working on getting rid of stuff that I do not need.

My New Pyrex

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:55:00 +0000

I decided that I don't want to deal with plastic anymore. With all the articles that have been out about how certain plastics are dangerous, I decided to go back to glass. I told my mom that I was interested in getting some pyrex. Well guess what? She ended up offering me hers. Well one of her sets. She said she had 3 sets! It's not new, it's a green and yellow set. But it's new to me!

I'll see if I can post a pic later.

It's been awhile

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Well it's been awhile. Family came in town for the holidays. It's been busy, but things are just starting to simmer down.

3 weeks!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:18:00 +0000

I just realized that yesterday made 3 weeks without buying anything new.

I have found something constructive to do with my time. I have been making a little bit of money writing articles on ehow.

Here's my article of things to do instead of shop!
http://www.ehow.com/how_4622028_other-things-do-instead-shop.html

Day 22

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:17:00 +0000

I made it. I was so tempted to shop last Wednesday. I looked around a website, but didn't make any purchases. I guess I window shopped.

Day 19

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:05:00 +0000

I am sooooo tempted to buy stuff right now. It's the deals. I think this is my weakness. If I find something for 80 or 90% off, it makes me want to buy it. Even if I don't need it. I think this is my biggest problem with spending. I like to buy stuff on sale. Especially 60% or more off. I have to stop this. I don't need the stuff.

Day 16

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:40:00 +0000

I've been coming up with a list of things to do for free....check it out.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4622028_other-things-do-instead-shop.html

Day 14--2 weeks!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:19:00 +0000

I'm at the two week mark!!!! I went to Walgreen's today for some shampoo and milk. I had to practice a great deal of control. It's hard doing this during the Christmas season. All the sales out there tempt me a great deal. But I held on. I didn't buy anything aside from food and shampoo.

Day 12

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:17:00 +0000

I've decided to get rid of some of my stuff. It is so crowded in my home. I need to turn some of my unused stuff into $$$$.

Day 12 and still going strong.

Day 11

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:30:00 +0000

My wallet is feeling better already.

I give myself a certain amount to spend every week on gas and other things that may come up. I looked in my wallet today and I still have money. By this time I would have spent all of my money for the week on stupid stuff. Now maybe I can put the unspent money away for a rainy day or pay a bill with it.

Day 10

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:24:00 +0000

Why did I decide to do this?
A lot of people want to know why I chose to not buy anything for a year. Here are a few reasons why:
1. I would like to do what is better for the planet.
2. I like the idea of recycling.
3. I have bills that I need to pay so I figured this would be a good way to cut back.
4. My house is crowded. I have too much.
5. New stuff is expensive.

My reasoning is a mixture of "save the planet" and "saving money".

Day 8

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:15:00 +0000

Well I've gotten through my first week of not buying anything new. The temptations are certainly out there. Especially with Christmas coming up, the sales are out there like crazy. I'm still looking for a safety gate for my daughter. I also need two baby bows for Christmas. I don't know what to do. I kind of don't want to buy them used. If I make them, I will still be buying new product for ribbon, etc. So I don't know what to do. That's my dilema of the day.

Day 6

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:31:00 +0000

Still going strong. My parents need us to get a baby gate for them. I'm going to have to find a used one from somewhere.

Day 5

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:01:00 +0000

It's day 5 and we havn't made any new purchases. We've made it 5 whole days!!!

Day 4

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:53:00 +0000

Didn't make any new purchases. This has been a little easier than I thought.

Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:27:00 +0000

I was given a coupon for $30 off of $30 at Kohl's. I purchased underclothing for the enitre family.