Nothing New for Me Challenge

Shopping is no longer a sport - time to stop the collection of stuff and start the collection of living.

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Sentimental value

In the concept of less stuff, more living, how do you part with the sentimental?  My home is filled with items that were given to me by people who are no longer with us and which have sentimental value.  Some items were passed down to me by people who are downsizing but can't part with their sentimental items so they send it my way.  It lessens the discomfort of getting rid of someting if you give items to someone you know.... Do you keep the chipped cup, the ugly shoes, the worn out blanket? (just examples of fictitious items but you get my point!)  What do you do in terms of sentimental clutter? (Author:Olive Oyle)

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How many emails do you receive from companies showcasing their latest and greatest? Any time you buy something online, you are automatically added to their email list.  Anytime you sign up for information, another email list.  Coupons, Groupons, Couvons, WagJag, Hotels, Airlines, travel and the list goes on all enticing you to buy.  Given my job as an academic marketer, these are great tools—companies can send specific emails to people who have chosen to receive them. I teach direct marketing concepts.   However, as a consumer, these are bad news for those of us trying to reduce our consumption patterns.  I tracked the number of direct emails I received this week either through my work email or personal—guess how many?  8 per day at work and 6 to my personal account.  That is a lot of enticement! Not to mention how long I need to spend sifting through them.  So, I unsubscribed from them all!  I am looking forward to a little more free time:)   (Author: Olive Oyle)

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one of many stories, movement is not new… do a little research to be inspired by those that transformed or set standards that are not tied to how much stuff one has.

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Lunch Hour therapy

So, the lunch hour is looming ahead and I usually take a wander through the stores, or the mall across the street with no intention of buying anything but inevitably find a sale I can't resist.  Now what do I do with my time?  Where do I get my therapy from at lunch?  The usual suggestions come to mind, like walking around, going to the gym or making a lunch date but really those things take more effort than retail therapy.  Today is my first day of going to get a sandwich without stopping in a store along the way.  I can't wait until I can appreciate the free time lunch affords me to discover new activities once I get over my "need to buy" addiction.  Wish me luck! (Author: Daffy)

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First days

So, is it ironic that the day before the challenge begins the malls are actually closed? Did it force me to go into a consignment store in my neighborhood to get my shopping fix in?  Does buying something used but not needed really help my transformation?  I think I need firmer rules for myself. 

Another "gotcha" is the ease of online shopping.  So you have your credit card on file with your favorite online book store and start to preview book, fall in love with it and just click the buy book without any conscious thought to the purchase.  Beware - these shopping forays are also off limits in the Nothing New for Me Challenge. 

The only way I can see avoiding this pitfall is to remove any credit card info stored (good practice anyways) in any consumer sites.  Does anyone still put their credit cards in a block of water in the freezer to stop impulse shopping?  Or is this trick from the dark ages?  What are the new tricks out there to make sure you don't buy anything - especially things you don't "need"! (Author: Daffy)

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What do you actually spend?

So, have you ever really tracked what you spend on non-essentials/ non-consumables? You think you don’t spend much….I was shocked when I added up 3 months of spending. Think bath bombs, wool, the odd lipstick, crafts, hair accessories for your daughter, nail polish, sticky notes and on and on. And shoes, sigh, shoes. What travel fun I could have if that money was put to good instead of evil! And yes, a reduction in my footprint. I am excited to see what insights this challenge will bring especially for my 11 year old who could use different viewpoints on consumption:) (Author: Olive Oyle)

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Nothing New for Me Challenge

I am a shopaholic.  Yes, the terms retail therapy, clothes horse, shoe maven, and which way to the mall were all invented for people like me!  But no more.  After reading a magazine article about a family of five who managed to buy nothing new for a year we figured it was time to reform. 

We recognize and respect our individual challenges with buying nothing new and what that means for each of us in our family.  The rules have to support the transformation you want to make in your life, and not necessarily the transformation someone else is making so we are going to be somewhat flexible.

When: April 1 2013 for three months (to start)

Who: family members who want to join in (which ended up with 4 out of 20 volunteering)

Rules: second hand, shared, bartered (for other products/services), borrowed is acceptable.  Buying anything new for your person is not allowed.  Having others go and buy for you is not allowed. Other than that, well, each person may have their own rules. We aren't here to judge, just support each other in whatever way we can to help them on their journey to buying less, reducing their carbon footprint as a shopper, and spending more time in activities that don't include shopping (yes shopping has been a sport in our family!) (Author: Daffy)