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

21 Things You Should Never Buy New

2010-06-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

I came across a wonderful article from the Yahoo Finance section. I figured that I would share. It's titled 21 Things You Should Never Buy New.

From recreational items to timeshares. Check out the article!

Top 6 things that you should not buy new

2009-04-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2009-03-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-21T10:03:00.001-08:00

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

3 months!!!

2009-02-20T15:51:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

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. :)

2009-01-28T17:28:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-01-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-10T06:27:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-03T08:53:00.001-08:00

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!!!!

2008-12-20T06:18:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-20T06:17:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-17T19:05:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-14T10:40:00.000-08:00

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!!!!

2008-12-12T21:19:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-10T18:17:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-09T20:30:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-08T13:24:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-06T12:15:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-03T19:01:00.001-08:00

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

Day 4

2008-12-02T16:53:00.000-08:00

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

Day 3

2008-12-01T16:27:00.000-08:00

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

Day 2

2008-11-30T08:15:00.000-08:00

I am making a purchase today. A used purchase from Craigslist for $13. My daughter needs some more winter clothes.

2008-11-30T08:13:00.000-08:00

My husband is having second thoughts already. Yikes! We are only on day two.

2008-11-29T07:26:00.000-08:00

*I have decided that everytime I get the urge to shop, I'm going to go visiting instead.

Day 1

2008-11-29T06:43:00.000-08:00

My husband and I have been thinking about not buying anything new for year. That was a year ago. Yesterday we went shopping on black Friday. When we got home I didn't feel happy at all. We got so many deals but something was missing. I spoke with my husband and we decided that after a year of thinking about this, we are going to give it a try.