You should totally watch this http://www.storyofstuff.com/

You have really inspired my life Laurie! I was listening the last time you did this and I twisted it to fit me. For me its not the bank account growing, it's the lack of stress because of the lack of clutter. I am no longer guilty because my house is a mess - there is no clutter! The house looks amazing and I have time to do what I want. I now have a rule that if something comes into the house something else has to leave. Thanks for the inspiration!

your recent posts have re-awakened my resolve to not spend on crap. my big weakness is earrings. i have more than enough.

we're living pretty lean however, and these are some of the ways we save.

1. library for all books, music, movies.
2. salvation army for work clothes.
3. cook at home.
4. maintain organic garden and entertain three hens.
5. the honda scooter gets ~100 mpg. that's GOOD!
6. pay off all bills in full every month.

we could spend even less if we weren't comcastic, but i need my high speed internet.

Laurie, I don't know if I've mentioned this previously (sorry if I repeat myself), but I enjoy reading the personal finance blog at Get Rich Slowly (http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/). Like you, the author had a personal financial crisis (I think he had cc deb in the neighborhood of $20K) but slowly made his way out of it. He, like you, has made an inspiring recovery from mindless consumerism. The 'blog is full of hints for frugal living, personal stories (his own and those from readers), guest columnists cover many different aspects of personal finance, etc. NAYY, just thought it might be interesting to you.

China is buying up most of our debt. The most economically sound way to spend your money is to use cash to purchase things at garage sales. That way, the money goes from person to person, not China to China. Just a thought. :P

You should read "Not Buying it: My Year Without Shopping" by Judith Levine, it was really interesting.

I need to declare a spending moratorium of my own.
I have debts to pay down, way too much stuff, and necessary expenses looming in my future.

I've been entirely unhappy and completely apathetic at my job for a VERY long time now and have decided that I need a new career for myself. Friday I'm going back to the local community college to meet with a counselor and decide where I need to start, what classes I should be in, blah blah blah.
With tuition and books in my future, I am going to have to control the spending.
I have more clothes than I could possibly wear, more shoes than I need, more yarn that I know what to do with, stacks of books that I've never read, DVDs that I havent watched in years, I have way too much of everything and do not need anything more. Now, if I was just organized enough to host a yard sale I'm sure that the sales from one could cover all educational expenses for at least one semester.

Mmm... Gin!

(I am going to get political for a moment. Enter at your own risk!)

As far as I'm concerned, as long as our current government doesn't feel responsible for the terrible effect it's decisions have had on Middle Class Americas' finances, then I feel no responsibility to spend money that I don't have anymore to help stimulate "their" economy.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled non-political comments. ;o)

Hi Laurie~

I've been thinking about your post all day. You make a lot of sense, but I am a big chicken. I'm not a huge shopper to begin with...but I know I can do better. I'm going to do three months of no unnecessary shopping. If I need something, I am going to attempt to purchase it second-hand or borrow or rent it first. More importantly, though, I decided to quit smoking! It's not cluttery, but it's gross and definitely falls into the category of unnecessary!

I agree. I feel like our country is on shaky ground economically. I know right now I am fine, but I have kids and want to know that they'll be fine, too. I also wonder if were going to get to a point where I am not fine any longer. I can't change the economy, or even worry about it, but I can change myself and my own spending habits.

Thanks, once again, for being a source of inspiration!

I feel our economy in the UK is about to drop dead and im pissed at it to be honest. See my blog for a nice little rant I had the other day :(

I have been spend spend spending a LOT lately, and eat eat eating tons too, so I am going to follow your mid-year resolution example with a no crap diet, both life-wise and food-wise.

Dammit, I hope I make it to Christmas!

I thought a lot about your post yesterday and decided that I am brave enough to try a version of it, for me.
I have doing the library thing for months, and have subscribed to Netflix for years. Entertainent is an essential for me, but I don't have to own it all! And if I need to bring something into the house, 2 other things will have to leave before it's allowed in. NO more shoes, tee shirts, yarn (gasp), scrapbook schnitzel. No more throwing something into the cart at Target just because I think it's cute.
Wow, i feel better already!

A lot of the same thoughts over here. You know what gets me? There are ACTUALLY signs in the mall saying something along the lines of "Uncle Sam wants YOU . . . to spend!" WTF?

i'm considering purchasing an on-demand water heater. i'm thinking of it as an investment that will save rather than a buying of stuff. Anybody out there got comments/thoughts on that?

Otherwise, i'm all in on the no spending.

What a well written post! Kudos to you for making this a commitment, if more people realized that buying stuff doesn't buy happiness, there'd be happier people everywhere. Personally I have found that if I wait to buy whatever I think I "have" to have, that oftentimes the desire goes away. And there are so many ways to entertain myself for free or cheap, like going to the library, enjoying nature, taking photographs with my little digital camera, creating art whether it's journaling or collage from old magazines. Just to find something that is enjoyable and keeps me having fun for the time that I would end up shopping is what keeps me from spending more on junk. Still have a ways to go on this goal, but every little bit is one step closer :)

I love to look on "freecycle" and at the "free" part of craig's list first if I need something. I got some tiki torches this year! My girlfriends and I do a little clothes swap, too, occasionally. All for the best price ever - FREE! Of course, these ideas do nothing to reduce the amount of junk in one's house, but it costs nothing. I've gotten rid of stuff on freecycle and craig's list, too. I feels so GOOD to be debt free!
For me, it's a matter of choice: deciding if I truly want that thing in the store or if I just am trying to fill a space. It's easy to know if you truly need something; desire is trickier.

Good for you Laurie! I know you'll make your goal!

Facing 30K in debt was no fun, so I just took a loan agaianst my 401K to pay off the debts, will NOT rack up any more spendyness, pay off the bills in full each moneth, and see how much I have leeft over (if any) at the end of the month, which will then go into further paying down debt and into savings.

I'm too old to keep saying "I'll take care of it tomorrow," and it feels good to take action against the history of costs.

Now, if I could convince myself that bourbon wasn't an essential, I'd be that much further ahead of the game! ;)

Good for you!! I've been doing a variation of this for a while but it's more as a result of small apartment/cheapness. Who knew I was now trendy? And I wouldn't put the weight of the whole US economy on your shoulders. It's not like you're going totally off the grid. Just make sure that some of that wine you buy is domestic and I think you're doing your part.

When does the CAP Ashram open?

Don't tell Bush... I used my tax refund and econ stimulus check to pay down my car loan.

Oh, this makes me feel so guilty. I stress-buy too much. My 5 year old son is having some serious health problems that I can't control, so I have gone on an organizing kick (probably because I can control that), and I am realizing how many things I've purchased that I've never used/worn/consumed. It makes me feel so bad. But there is still a part of me that thinks I can deal with anything if I have some new shoes.....

CAP Ashram -- you guys crack me up.

For me, the office pool would make it so much easier to do. I hate being told that I can't do something.

I personally spend most of my excess money on yarn. I decided a couple of weeks ago that I wasn't going to buy any more for myself for the rest of the year. Hopefully I can get out from under the rest of my debt like that.

Megs~ The on-demand water heater is a great idea! It is very green, since you aren't wasting energy on keeping water hot all the time in a hot water heater. And it also doesn't have to travel half the house before it gets to your sink, so you aren't wasting water while waiting for the hot water to arrive. It is a good, earth-friendly, energy-saving investment. My mom really wants them, but she has to convince dad first. Glitch.

Laurie~ My mom (old school frugal) has a clothing rule: Something must leave the closet before something is put into the closet. So, her favorite grey work slacks died, she purchased a new grey work slacks. Same with shoes. Tennis shoes die, buy new tennis shoes and put the old ones in the trash. It works for her.

Amen to that!
I work full-time, my husband is self-employed, and we're expecting our 2nd child any moment. The time is ripe for us to pull in the belt a little, especially since my husband's business is sucking eggs right now. After we get our phony economic stimulus package, we're paying off our credit card debt and locking all cards up. We'll have our mortgage, our utilities, and a car payment, and that, paired with groceries, daycare for 2 and taking care of the animals (2 dogs, 3 cats) will suck up the remainder of our income.

One step I'm taking is to not buy books just because I want to read them. I've joined the library and plan on having them get the books for me - if I love them, then I'll buy them eventually (and used). We've also cut the budget for going out to dinner, down to once every couple of weeks, and we're also going to make meat proteins a treat instead of a mainstay of our diet, and go to more vegetables and grains. How we'll pay for fuel oil for heating the house (we live in western Vermont, and yes it gets cold in the winters!) I don't know... we have some savings, so probably with that.

I agree that the economy is in the toilet, and I have to say that we're all to blame. Yes, the Bush administration sucks, but we as consumers have allowed our jobs to go overseas, we have allowed car manufacturers to make inefficient cars and have bought them up, we've kept ourselves stupid (in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage mess - I can't believe how ignorant people choose to be about signing their life away!). We can turn this to our favor, but we have to stand up and not be appothetic and we need to take charge of what's become of our great country.

I think there's a silver lining to this: our communities will grow. People won't be jetting off to here and there, and won't be driving so far away. We've lost touch with the people who can help us the most - our friends and neighbors. Go to your libraries, your church suppers, your school sporting events. It's fun, it's free, and it builds support around people who you live among. We're also poised to become more self-sufficient, and less reliant on imports of things. Head to the farmer's markets for your produce, buy local products. Take up the challenge to build your community!

rb - don't feel bad. Sometimes "essential" is getting through the day. If you want to stop, you'll stop hon and if you need a little something after a hard day with son, try to make sure it's something you'll use and feel good about. Maybe make a list of all the things you need and do that for your retail therapy!

As for me, total moratorium. I'm with Laurie. The only thing that I'm exempting is gifts for b-days (essential in my book), a closet system (which I've been saving for) and work clothes when really needed. Otherwise, I am not buying more crap!

I've been on the anti-spending-money-on-stuff kick for awhile now, knitting out of my stash, buying only things I'll save and use(like tools), using the library more, mending clothes instead of tossing (this is hard for my husband to deal with because of a childhood poverty thing mixed with pride - I'm a good mender, so he's the only one who notices). The one good cure for wanting stuff is de-cluttering, it's hard work, and makes a person a little ashamed.

I was able to convert my kids with the "Human Footprint" on National Geographic Channel.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/human-footprint/

I watched this with my 2 kids (9 & 11), and I truly think it changed the way they think of THINGS. They are already anti-Chinese imports, a very hard thing to be when you're toy oriented.

My son's bday was this month and he got plenty of stuff. One little thing from my daughter was made in Germany. He looked at the packaging and announced that it was made in Germany... they both chimed in "yea Germany!" That doesn't help the carbon footprint much, but hopefully the little German toy doesn't break as soon as it's played with (it hasn't yet), and it won't be covering them with lead dust.

Way off the track here, but personal finances is only one part of the anti-spending deal... yes, of course this attitude will affect the US economy in the short run, but most importantly, our environment could use a spending break too.

Don't forget your local public library. Most offer movies and magazines along with all those books that you can check out for free.

The whole debt-spend-economy circle is so confusing. We got our economic stimulus check yesterday, but it's already spent - we're fixing up our house and a new garage door ate that sucker right up. I know the gov't wanted us to go buy a new TV or something else we don't need, but we hardly have enough for gas some weeks. How is sending me some money that is just going to get turned around and taxed again a help?

By the way, I'm definitely with you on the wine as essential thing :-) I consider wine a food group!

While I didn't exactly sit down one day and say/think "I'm not going to shop anymore!" I've found myself doing less and less shopping. Something clicking in the lizard part of my brain that said "No, you don't need any more stuff." I still go to TJ Maxx and Marshalls, but it's less often (was going on a weekly basis) and I rarely buy anything when I do go. I'm just not that into shopping anymore, I guess. I've also started eating in more. And by "more" I mean eating in (I hesitate to call it cooking, since it's a lot of quick serve meals from the grocery store) 4 days a week instead of eating out 5-6 days a week. It must be a good thing 'cos there's still money in my checking account before payday and I've lost 1.8 lbs (Hubby's lost 2.6 lbs but we won't talk about that).

so, if you do make it til the end of the year, do YOU get the money from the office pool? if so, that is BRILLIANT.

I really enjoyed this and your previous columns. Thank you.

You may not be an economist, but I am. What's best for you and what's best for the economy are at opposite ends of the spending spectrum. Stick with your plan; the government won't pay your credit cards for you if it ever has a surplus.

i'm not betting against you. you quit smoking. so this is going to be cake!

and cake is an essential.

seriously though, i feel overwhelmed by clutter so i've been pretty good about not overspending on stuff. except for yarn and fiber. which needs to stop.

when my economic stimulus package check comes it's going to be used to pay off my car. i'm THIS close to owning my mini outright and i can hardly wait. and when i do, the money i used to pay for my car will go in the bank. and this is getting me very excited

I don't do well with self-imposed dictatorship on my spending habits, and while I might cut back here and there it's only when it suits me and isn't too terribly painful. My big expenditures are clothes, jewelry, books and creative stuff like yarn--I'll buy new wardrobe items for spring and fall, then stay out of the stores for a few months. If you don't see it, you can't buy it! But books and yarn, well, I have no control over myself there and buy any and all books that I want--fiction and crafts, Amazon loves me to death and I do buy used if possible. I donate books to libraries, sell a lot on eBay, and donate clothes, etc to the Salvation Army. Creativity is the joy of my life and I TRY to be reasonable with my urges, and mostly succeed. I can only knit 1 or 2 projects at once so I keep the yarn hoarding to a minimum, but I'm also a quilter and primitive rug hooker and then I got interested in altered art....But I did the right thing with my tax rebate check--I started a savings account and will make that the first place I put money instead of buying more stuff!

I am a longtime lurker and I love your blog, Laurie. I even bought some envirosax!

Anyway, I have been de-cluttering my life recently and I think I'll try a spending diet as well. One website that has helped me immensely is Unclutterer.com

It's full of great tips on organizing your stuff and your life.

Wow. What great conversations you start, Laurie. I second Monique on watching The Story of Stuff. And Huzzah! Liz R. for your political public service announcement. What if everyone did stop credit spending on junk. Yes, there would be a scary economic rock of the boat, but wouldn't it stabilize after awhile and be better for us all?

I gave my economic stimulus package to the monks at the Society of St. Francis.

GO, Laurie- beat the shopping craziness and the office pool. You should join in to collect when you make it to the end!

Living simply is a lovely thing.

Well, my income is now at an all-time low, so I feel like I can offer some insight from someone who can't afford to buy extras. I was an Amazon junkie; now I'm on a first name basis with the local librarians. Instead of a huge monthly cable TV bill or exhorbitant movie theater tickets, we have Netflix. No gym membership here - walking is good exercise and saves on gas. I rummaged around in all my old purses and found enough lipstick to last a year, at least. Most of us live in a place where you can read your local newspaper online instead of buying it. I lost weight cutting back on fast food and eating at home or brown bagging. Alas, I still can't resist Dunkin Donuts iced coffee. Maybe that should be my eliminated item for June.

I found a place to sell my crocheted and knitted items, so yarn is now a business expense and I at least make back what I spend on yarn plus minimum wage. Sneaky way to keep the stash circulating!

I decided a couple weeks ago nothing but necessities until Aug 1 (and several people asked if I didn't want to try it for shorter). I decided yesterday thrift shopping would be okay, as long as I get rid of some stuff too, but I haven't decided yet about vintage clothes on ebay. For me it's about being more mindful and intentional about my purchases, and not just buying stuff because I'm stressed or bored. I'm allowed to buy gifts, and I'm considering a dress for a wedding, not one that I need, but it would be revolutionary for me to buy one dress instead of three to choose from and return none.

Like so many others I totally agree with you, but i am curious! When you asked your co-workers about that CCI... what did they SAY??

You go girl! I know you can do it! ;)

I think this is a really awesome goal. I was a collector (partly because I enjoyed the rush of ebay auctions and partly to fulfill the buying = happiness thing) and when I moved I sold it all. It feels so good to have less stuff.

I love you and I don't even know you! (Since I love you, does that make me "friends and family"? I'd love me some Envirosacs! Thanks for the encouragement to kick our (as in collectively, as a country) rampant consumerism. My mom is taking my sister and me on a "girls trip" to a rustic spa and hot springs in Mexico, and I don't want to get caught in the tourist trap of buying mementos. I'm going to take lots of pictures, enjoy time with Mom and Sis, and soak in the hot springs - a LOT.

P.S. I hope you are so successful with your continued un-dieting/eating better that in seven months it will be NECESSARY to buy a whole new wardrobe! I've lost a few pounds by ceasing to eat between meals, and it is a rush to fit comfortably in my clothes again. I think I have enough "skinny" clothes that I won't NEED to shop for a very long time....

I thought you might be interested in a somewhat related blog post over at http://goodreadings.wordpress.com. The post title is Gospel of Consumption. Here's the beginning:

Say somebody offers you a job at a decent wage—enough to support yourself and your family in reasonable comfort, but not so much that you’ll be able to buy the latest designer fashions or consumer electronics with any regularity. Your neighbors will have newer cars and flashier toys—but on the other hand, your boss will only expect you to work thirty hours a week. You won’t be rolling in cash, but you will have lots of time to spend with your friends and family, and to pursue whatever hobbies or pleasures might strike your fancy. What do you think? Would you take the deal?

The United States was essentially faced with this same choice in the 1930s, and decided in favor of money over leisure—of the power to buy more over the freedom do more.

I've been trying to get my thinking about the economic crisis pulled together in my head, and have so far been failing to do so.

However, what I would say to commenter Jennifer is that the entire consumer economy appears, at this point, to be a house of cards. Yes, good are increasingly cheaper, but the only way to achieve that is through eroding the income levels of Americans generally either by lowering wages for producers employed here or by moving production offshore. The low cost of goods lulls us into buying more than we need, because each individual purchase seems so small, but the cumulative effect of all that purchasing combined with decreasing real wages leaves us with nothing but debt.

Many analysts are saying that right now we are headed for some tough times, as what we've been doing was never sustainable in the long term. We're now suddenly having to make good on the checks we (as a government and as individuals) have been writing for the last 10 years, and it isn't going to be easy or pretty, but is both necessary and unavoidable.

Hi Laurie,

I was inspired by your previous post about not spending on non-essentials but I am not sure I can do it for the rest of the year. So, I am going to try for a month. I am the QUEEN of consumerism and I need to renounce that title. After one month, maybe I can extend to two? As long as liquor is considered an essential, I am good to go!

Wow, the power we have to bring down the Consumer Index? Hahaha I'm on a "declutter" kick and it's amazing at the amount of "stuff" I have? I'm with you though, it's time to declutter and learn to live like the rest of the world. Do I feel guilty at shoving America down the flusher with my not spending? Nope, not at all, because I know for every me, there are at least 20 shoppaholics out there that will cover for me!

Yarn and books are my downfalls, and I easily have enough yarn and enough books to keep me occupied for the six months. Maybe even 12 months.

I can't believe I just typed that. :)

I put my economic stimulus money in my ING savings account; I'll be spending it when a Democrat is in the Oval Office, thankyouverymuch.

Very timely post and kudos to you! I've been on a similar kick as of late and it's great to hear there are others out there thinking the same way. I was "restructured" this spring and, while years of living within my means meant I could "afford" to be temporarily unemployed, I suddenly found myself reconsidering things that had quietly become "necessities". It was eye-opening to say the least.

I know you'll beat the ofice pool. Happy knitting!

If de-crappifying isn't a word, it should be.
.

I, like you, think of wine as an essential.
Are you able to find organic wine easily, or do you have to go to a specialty shop?

Arduous' blog (http://arduousblog.blogspot.com/) is another great read, and she too is a LA woman on a "buy-no-crap" mission (has been at it for about 8 months, I think). You may find some inspiration in her archives, the way the I have in yours! Thanks for continuing to share your journey to a home you love and a bank account you can be proud of (not a debt load you are afraid of!)

Laurie,

Can I borrow you for a week??? I seriously need to de-clutter my house! I'm almost 16 weeks pregnant and my "nesting" instinct hasn't kicked in yet and I have a ton of stuff to go through/get rid of! I could use a plan of attack if you have one....

Is it sad how that seeing my little comment quoted here made my little office-worker afternoon light up like a jack o'lantern? Seriously, though, I'm glad you thought it was a good idea. ;)

(Also, I hope you make it through the 7 months and then you can have the last laugh on your DOUBTING CO-WORKERS, in addition to improving your life and all.)

Laurie - you are so fantastic, your posts are so relevant to my current situation. I am in the process of getting ready to move to a new house at the end of the month. My fiance and I are building a 3,200 square foot house for ourselves and our three cats. We don't have plans for kids so its not like we NEED all that space. I work at a bank and make good money, but I always feel like it's not enough. Now we are going to be tied to a house payment. Not that we can't afford it, but I keep wondering if we shouldn't have bought something smaller and less expensive. Then, if I want to change careers in the future, I don't have to worry about not bringing in the same salary to support us.

And on top of that I look at all the crap I've managed to accumulate in the 4 years I've lived in my townhome and I can't believe it.

Something that dawned on me while I was shopping recently. I realized that buying an item does not automatically make a change in my life. For example, purchasing my 10th yoga DVD does not make me do more yoga. Buying another workout outfit does not make me any thinner. Somewhere in my mind, I had made the connection that purchasing something made it "real" in my life. Those darn marketers - I guess their tactics worked!

Thanks for letting me vent! I'm on the bandwagon with you honey!

Another thought - sorry for clogging your comments, but this is something else to consider...

I have thought for a long time that the American economy thrived on hiding the "true cost" of nearly everything we consume - be that human cost, environmental cost, long-term vs. short-term, or whatever else you'd like to lump in there. Even when the price we pay would cover the "real" cost of an item, unless we were directly buying it from the producer, I don't believe that the money we shell out goes to cover it's costs, but instead to line the pockets of the leaders and stockholders of the corporations doing the shilling - people who arguably don't need the money.

One thing I would suggest to everyone reading this that if you DO have the urge to shop, try to find places to spend your money where it will do the most good - support a small producer of goods instead of a giant company. Go to a craft fair, or etsy, find an artisan making handmade chocolates, something like that. You might actually spend a little more money, but that money would be doing more good in the world.

Good for you. I look at most purchases with the thought 1) where will I store it; 2) how much maintenance; 3) do I have something that will do the same thing? Also, check out unclutter.com for great ideas and moral support. Good luck; I would not bet against you!

Wow. I get highlighted on CAP and, in keeping my thought short, I'm taken as an idiot who thinks people should charge their life away on credit cards to save America. Neat. Basically, the economy is likely to tank no matter what anyone does. Being prepared for that is the smart thing. Pay off debt. Save money. Learn to grow / hunt your own food. Reduce your personal fuel dependency. If nothing goes wrong...great...but you'll be in a better position than you used to be.

Hang in there, CAP! Don't let the pressure get to you. I have been trying to live within and maybe below my means since I moved out on my own 6 years ago. Credit card paid off and run back up twice! Personal discipline is bad enough, but I get pressure from family and friends. "Don't you need an air conditioner...cable...flat panel TV...land line phone...new furniture...appliances?" "When are you flying to visit me?" "You deserve it". It's worse than junior high school peer pressure. And I'm old enough to be your mother.

Jennifer-- I didn't mean to imply you were anything but thought-provoking! I thought your comment was spot on and that's why I highlighted it. I'm sorry you felt it was displayed differently, that was never my intention!

I, too, had to think through the conundrum of CCI vs. saving/not spending, which is why I gave my theory on it.

However, I highlighted your post first because it seemed most relevant and timely and made me really think, which I am so grateful for!

It was said ...the more we worry about the economy, the less we spend. The less we spend, the worse the economy gets.

The funny thing is, this echoes two Law of Attraction concepts as well as a religious concept (Seed Faith Giving).

The LOA (and, come to think of it, the Bible) says that what we focus on expands; what we think about we attract to us. If we focus on OMG the economy is baaaaad and whine about rising gas prices, guess what? We'll get MORE of that. The economy will respond by getting worse. Gas prices will go higher.

Both the LOA and most religions say that saving is counter-intuitive--seeds must be planted in order to grow (it's in the Bible). Why is saving counter-intuitive, you ask?

Because of the thought energy behind it. Saving keeps it to yourself and sends out thoughts of lack: "if I spend it I won't have it".

Spending--or giving--releases it back into the flow (cycle) where it becomes a blessing for another, who then passes it on to someone else, and so on. It is embued with the energy of abundance: "I'm lucky to have had this, look at the resources it helps me acquire".

Both methods of thought tell us, if you're down to your last dime, GIVE it to someone, because it will activate the energy. Just make sure you do it GRATEFULLY and fully expecting to receive more. (If you do it reluctantly, it shuts off the benefits.)

And, if you see a penny, pick it up, and celebrate the abundance. Yes, it's only a penny. But with 99 more, you can order dinner off the dollar value menu. Think about it. It's not the value of the lone penny, it's what it represents.

I'm not advocating becoming a spendaholic or running oneself into credit card heck; just, perhaps a shift in perspective is in order. We need to take away the POWER the money has had over us, and the power the economy has had as well. Put the power where it really belongs.

OK, I'm done hijacking your blog, Laurie, with my food for thought. I'm all for moderation. :-)

Laurie, I too have been thinking a lot about your post from yesterday. I started the year out gun-ho to get rid of the clutter in my house. It worked real well for about 6 weeks and then I got boggled down - or couldn't remove myself emotionally from my stuff - and stopped. But I am getting ready for a garage sale in 2 weeks and realized how much JUNK I have in my house.
So I informed my teenage son this morning that I am going to tighten my belt as far as spending is concerned. And since I am the one who has the $$, this effects him too. I like your idea of a notebook, I'll have one with me and give him one too - that way we can both make a list of must have's.
I too need to get my spending under control. So I packed my lunch today and that is how I am going to start saving. Instead of going out to lunch, I am going to pack it. One step at a time.
What a great post

Have totally enjoyed the last 2 days posts and comments. I am right with all of you. I have trimmed down a lot of unnecessary stuff. NO MORE CREDIT CARDS! I am about to finish off the final payments on the last one. Can you hear the sound of my scissors cutting them up? No yarn until I deplete some of my stash. No clothes unless needed, I wear scrubs all day so no need to worry about work clothes. I go to my local Farmer's Markets. Even if it is a little more (it usually isn't), that is my contribution to the crapola economy. I drive a 10 year old car with 220,000 miles on it and am waiting until the wheels go square before I buy a new one. But the gas issue concerns me and I am frustrated that it appears that nothing is being done about it, except by those of us that are walking, biking, busing and what have you. What can we do to stop this insanity?

As a person with a retail business experiencing slowdown due to the decline of consumer confidence, but also one who in her personal life is trying to stop buying and declutter, I understand this struggle.

What has worked for me is finding balance, redefining what need means and prioritizing those needs. Having a little patience and waiting to buy something really helps, too, even if it means imposing rules on yourself to curb spontaneous or emotional buying.

I'm not betting against you. I applaud your challenge to yourself, since this is how we learn and grow.

Congrats on stopping the 'stuff cycle'. I started it at the beginning of this year by giving away every outfit that I hadn't worn in the last year and every shoe and every belt. Guess what, my closet looks like I live in Europe. I have two very nice suits, a few good blouses, a couple pair of jeans a few sweaters and jackets and about six pair of very nice shoes. My resolution was not to stop shopping entirely, but when I do, it's only the good stuff... not this 'throw it away in six months' stuff.

Americans are so caught up in quantity, that we've forgotten a little thing called quality. Guess what... I'll have my suits and blouses a lot longer, and will always feel good in what I'm wearing, and I will not be surrounded by crap. Guess what else... I've moved this theory into everything in my life, and I've found that I spend a lot less in the long run if I just buy the right thing to begin with. This has even extended to hair cuts... I only need about four a year instead of 6-8, so when I add it all up, even that is less expensive, even though the haircut itself is more expensive.

So... for me, by focusing on quality, I actually by less stuff all of the time. One, because it's generally a little more money, so I really think about it, and two, it lasts longer because it's made much better. You know what else this has achieved... I buy things from smaller stores that help the local people rather than large chains (not to say I don't buy anything from large chains, I do)... and that makes me feel better as a consumer. I also throw away a lot less stuff, because it actually lasts... so I'm not filling up our land fills with crap.

Jeanne B -- thanks for the words, but if you go back and re-read my previous post it focused entirely on what I will have MORE of by stopping mindless consumerism. More time, energy, contentment, and money to GIVE. I thought I was fairly clear on how this is a perspective thing -- it's not about lack and scarcity and limitation, it's about loving what I have that isn't material, living happy and free, and having less crap to vacuum around.

Please keep in mind I am not trying to convert anyone. I write what goes on in my life, I don't write to tell YOU what to do in YOUR life. I am thrilled with my choice FOR ME! And you're right, it's not moderate. I made a radical move for ME that makes ME happy! If you want to shop and spread your seeds I am thrilled for you! That's just not my choice at this time. Trust me I did some seed spereading already and this is my time to watch other things bloom. I doubt that my spending another $400 at zappos will increase the abundance and prosperity of the world at large, but if someone else feels differently that is awesome for them.

Also, on "what you focus on expands..." please re-read above what I wrote about ME breaking out of my own poverty mentality. If you re-read above I explicitly said that (for me) hoarding is a sign of poverty mentality and my theory on that and how I choose to live. I think that for me this is the right path and I think if anyone has read me for any amount of time they know I am trying out new stuff all the time to see what sticks for ME in my life and I'm not into converting people to my crazy.

This is not a religion. This is not a creed. This is not fear talking. I am one person, I am not going to ruin the whole economy, I assure you. But I was trying to illustrate that I am making a choice that's for my own well-being, and by doing so I will emit more happiness and contentment and joy instead of debt-fear and doubt and uneasiness, and surely one little ray of happy is better than a cloud of doom.

I am making choices that make me happy. It's simple, personal, and I shared it because this is my diary. And I'm excited about it. But I truly believe each person finds their own way, and it's almost never the same way as another human. I'm not sharing to convert, preach or evangelize. I am just... sharing.

You know, I paid off my credit cards last month. They're at zero. Null. Nada. Rien. And it was the most liberating thing ever. I've done this twice now, always in the face of an impending layoff from work, and let me tell you, it greatly reduces any existential stress.

ONE IMPORANT PIECE OF ADVICE, THOUGH: Never cancel your long-term credit cards once you've paid them off. Cancelling those will eliminate the credit record you've built through them for all those years. Says Suze Orman.

One of the cool things I've done, too, is to track my net worth once a week (bank accounts, 401k, IRA, stocks, etc.)--it's cool to see the numbers go up, on the whole, especially if you're doing it in MS Excel and using the graphing tool. Nice visual which helps you spend less because you want to see the curve go up.

Anyway, Suze Orman's Guide for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke has been my rulebook for the past two years, and boy! has it made a total difference in my life. I can't recommend it enough, for simple living and for sound financial choices.

My husband used to work at a major credit card company (the name of which ends in ONE) and he made a joke at a solicitation meeting back in 1997. They were looking for a new advertising slogan and he suggested (with tongue-in-cheek) "Mortgage the Future!" The room fell silent and my husband was mortified. It hit entirely too close to home.

We sure have mortgaged the future with consumer debt, credit card debt, no payments for a year debt, paying for groceries with credit-debt. I have been debt-free since 2002 (except for my house) and it's still a struggle to get through the month financially. We have to stop getting trapped into the "I'll buy it now and pay later" mindset. You may not be able to pay it later after 29% interest and/or you may not enough want it anymore.

I'm completely with you, Laurie. We have so much compared to others in the world. When is enough enough?? Living frugally changes your soul; you begin to realize what's really important in life. And it isn't having more stuff.

You go, Laurie! I'm proud of you for taking on this challenge. Minimizing my crap load has been a long-term project and I tell you what, the benefits are wonderful. What's really neat is when you can open a closet and actually see all the way to the back. Or the carpet on the floor of the closet. Amazing. There's so much to the upside of a clutter-free lifestyle. Leaves more room for the good "clutter," like friends and family. My bumper sticker? Less mess=less stress!

Good luck on your endeavor!

I find your essays so well-written and well thought out - always makes me pay attention. I've been paring down as well and although my closet/jewelry box is a tad bare, it is 'real'. Awhile back I relieved some of the 'pain of needing' by carrying around shoes or a purse in the store and then putting it back. I could just be pleased that a pretty thing existed. I'm really impressed with the moratorium and am looking at how to apply it to my life...stopping buying things I like that I already own e.g., art supplies, pens, yarn, knitting needles, DVDs, books. None of it huge dollar purchases, but none of it necessary and most of it a sort of 'busy work' instead of purposeful.

I have thought long and hard about yesterdays post. My goal is to buy local-Idaho and "made in the USA" I know that I can't cut back on everything, let's be realistic... but I can (and do) buy better products and have cut out buying junk.
I feel a huge sense of accomplishment when I go to the grocery store and come home with $100 in groceries and hardly anything I have bought is processed or in packaging. I recycle more and use less. These are the things I can do.... and these things can make a change in my little world and eventually ripple out into the big world.

I used your excel budget spreadsheet way back when you posted it, remember that? I was in some really bad credit card debt and was up to my ears in junk. I too lived so close to the edge that it was a a little too scary some weeks, but I got it all paid off - every bit. And slowly, slowly, the buying is creeping back into my life. I'm not doing it on credit anymore (it's my own money form my bank account) but it's still stealing from myself. I could be saving that money and really accumulating lasting wealth, instead of an apartment full of junk and clothes. I think it's time for me to reevaluate for a while too.

I've done way more than my fair share of stimulating the economy over the last two decades, time to let someone else take a turn.

Aunt Purl, I love you.

Yarn is one of my biggest downfalls, so I have vowed that I can only buy yarn for two reasons: if I have a specific project in mind, or if I am at a fiber festival, and then only if it is an item I cannot get elsewhere. (I brought a little totebag to the Maryland fiber festival and told myself I'm done when it's full -- worked really well, and I didn't need to take any plastic bags from the vendors either!)

For everything else, my standby rule is to walk away for a week. If I still want it, then it's OK. Usually, I forget about it, which proves I didn't want it that badly anyhow!

Laurie -

I have been giving your post a lot of thought, and pathetically, my first thought was "I'll do it as soon as I buy...."(!) Anyway, after realizing that was a completely contradictory and defeating thought, I began to think realistically about what I could actually do. I don't want to set myself up for failure, after all. I don't think I can do a complete moratorium, but here are some concrete changes I am absolutely going to make/have made:

- Changed my insurance coverage at work to a less expensive (but oddly almost equal) plan and
- increased my 401k contributions with the savings
- eat at home more!
- think very hard about every purchase I make and buy only the best I can afford (if I had all the money back from buying super-cheap particle board furniture that fell apart the minute I looked at it, I would have a housefull of good stuff by now)
- set up an automatic withdrawel from checking to savings to work toward that "3 months expenses" goal

A really great book is Smart Women Finish Rich.

So thanks once again for the inspirational words!

As an aside and at the risk of being completely eviscerated by commentors....
while I agree that the price of gas is ridiculous, it only causes such outrage because we actually see it. If we actually got our entire paycheck every week, and had to see and write a check for those payroll taxes, there would be a mutiny. And maybe we wouldn't be in such a hurry to elect someone who is actually *promising* to raise taxes (only on the wealthy, I know, but I believe you would be shocked to know who is considered "wealthy". In California I think it is 60K.)

Anyway, just this conservatives opinion...BTW, we don't all think Bush has done a great job (but others could be worse), and I for one, think the economic stimulus was stupid.

~sigh~ Laurie - I'm sorry some commenters feel the need to use your comments area to proselytize about their own theories, views, etc. If they feel so strongly about something, they should get their own blog and write about it. I hope you know the majority of us aren't here to disagree with you. :)

I really like what you said about not always waiting for that rainy day. That's something I've been focusing on in my life--not worrying so much about the future. Thanks for posting your thoughts. It's so nice to see other people out here in left field with me!

I love all the ways people are thinking of using little changes in their own lives, Deb I loved what you said about changing your medical plan to one that cost less but had roughly the same benefits and using the leftover to add to your 401(k)!

It's awesome to feel like I am not totally wacko and alone over here in needing to feel that change in my life. Thanks to everyone for sharing.

And I love all the book ideas -- I even went online at lunchtime and reserved a few from the library!

Also I promise I don't want everyone to jump on my bandwagon, after all I need someone to buy my book BWAHAHAHAHAHA. whew I cracked myself up on that one. Also I promise I won't blab on and on about the excitement of ... doing nothing ... for seven long and arduous months.

Mostly I just am happy no one offered to join the office pool LOL.

I think its great what you're doing. Good luck cause I couldn't stop buying books, my one, well one of my great weaknesses.

Credit Card debt is a huge problem and becoming bigger all the time. My hubby and I have one card and we pay if off every month, which I know drives the company crazy, but its so we can get those reward points toward things like iTunes! No interest payment and then free iTunes, can't be bad.
My daughter lives on her own and finally has a good paying job and she doesn't even have a credit card and just saves up for what she wants, like the TV stand she finally got so she doesn't feel like a college student still with the TV on a cardboard box. It feels better not to be in debt and to actually own what you buy!

Beth - I hope your comment wasn't directed at me. I was just offering a different (and hopefully inoffensive) take on cutting back, gas prices and (tangentially) politics, all of which have been commented on here. And I certainly do not disagree with Laurie - on the contrary, more power to everyone who wants to get off the consumer merry-go-round. I am working toward that also and just thought I'd join in and share a few things I am commited to doing.

I realize that my political opinions might be in the minority, but merely sharing them surely does not constitute proselytizing.

On the other hand, I guess there is the (slight) possiblility that the world does not revolve around me.....(heh)

I am all for giving it a big try. My girl friend and I were just commenting on how so often we use shopping for entertainment and not for need. I love yarn shops but my stash is so huge I could stock a wall in a yarn shop. I just bought a book that states that our lives are so cluttered with stuf that we cannot declutter our bodies until we get rid of the excess mess around us. Do you think it would work? Will give it a try. Happy Knitting and Saving!

This is great - I'm glad you are talking about it and I hope you'll continue to share. I need/want to do something along theses lines. (and get the husband on board) I'd LOVE to travel more, and we always feel like we don't have the funds. But I'll bet if we tried something like this we'd be surprised at the extra money that would "appear." Also, I am sick of the clutter. It seems like I am always decluttering! I need to give this some more thought and devise my own plan of action......

In the words of Tamika Johnson "you are strong, you are proud, you go girl". You have the formula for financial success! I've been on a buying stand down lately also, but with a different twist - I will not purchase it if it is not made in the USA. The way I see it is the collective WE buy buy buy, but, things we are buying is practically all imports. Someone is getting the money, but it is not USA. Imported goods are so cheap that American manufacturers can not compete, they are forced out of business (we could compete if we paid our workers less than $1 an hour, had no standards to abide by, and were less regulated). And the govt allows more imports to less exports...

Also I didn't mean to write a novella to Jeanne B. for her comment, I am just sensitive. I'm a dork. I take things so personally sometimes, it's a sickness I swear.

I just wanted people to be sure I'm not advocating this for everyone, it's just good for me at this time. I really saw myself walking very quickly down the road of more debt and I wanted to stop it before I got back where I used to be.

And I know I still have shreds of a poverty mentality and I want to actively change it. I'd like to believe I will always be able to purchase pretty yarn, that I don't have to hoard it all in my house for me to feel safe. (see "I am a dork" above!!! LOL)

You Go Girl! I did that years ago. I was buried in credit card debt, had bought a house, new(ish) car, and just had a baby. WHEW! I started having panic attacks and my health deteriorated. I was depressed. We started a plan, paid the debt down, and only bought the things we needed. My husband helped alot. He could do all the work that comes with a house and was a great! Daddy.

That was ten years ago. We still do it. We haven't used a credit card since. We have used the Credit Union for a few small loans, but only things that we needed for repairs to the house. And these are low interest and paid from my paycheck. We can make it now on less.

The more you do it, the more it becomes a habit. Who needs all the crap we have in our lives.

I salute you.

My sister and I decided not to buy anything new in March. Our rules were that we could buy anything second hand, we could make a list prior to the moratorium that we intended to buy, and we could buy it during the moratorium, but then had to add a day to the moratorium, but it had to be a necessity. We considered home decor and fix up as necessity. She considered wine essential. I had a tough time not buying magazines, but I did ok for about 3 weeks.

Here is what I found- used crap is still crap. I love magazines entirely too much.

It is hard, but sort of empowering. Good luck.

I'm all over this too. Started a couple years ago, and really cemented itself when I visited Africa in January.

I have come to realize that every dollar I spend, I'm investing. And when I gave it some thought, I realized that I don't want to invest my money in drive-thu junk food chains. I don't want to invest my money in big box stores. When I spend, it's in small independant stores if I manage it. For gifts (to people who think you're cheap if you give to charity in their name) I invest by buying from people who hand craft beautiful things.

As I've eliminated a lot of stuff from my life, I also stopped wanting people to give me things for gifts. I already have enough! So folks know to donate to charity if they want to give me something. My mom gets all twisted about it though... she needs to give tangible things. Luckily, she really loves giving "care packages", so at Christmas I get toilet paper, dish and laundry soap, etc. It's the most fabulous gift ever!

Imho, if the North American economy needs to shake up and wake up so there isn't such a disparity between the richest and the poorest... I say, RIGHT ON!

I totally don't want people to buy crap or be in debt. But for us freelancers, the downturn is having a very real impact on our income - I work in books, people are buying fewer books, therefore fewer books are being published, therefore I have less work. I'm NOT SAYING TO BUY CRAP OR GO INTO DEBT. Just want to be clear about that. Just also want to be clear that people not buying stuff has an impact on the economy. I already pretty much live like what you're going for here. And I'd like to not lose my house. BUT I DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THIS. Good heavens, I could never have a blog, I'd be anticipating all the criticism constantly. :P

Patti, I do anticipate the criticism each time I write. It's a weird thing.

I know it's a balance -- one of my best friends, Allison, runs SuperCrafty.com and makes her living selling yarn. I don't want her business to suffer! I am trusting it will all work out and balance out somehow, someway.

Thanks everyone for the comments!!

One thing I worry about is the tendency for people to go back to their old ways once a crisis is resolved (not necessarily permanently resolved). Remember the gas crisis of 1973? People were up in arms about saving gas, and 10-15 years later we're driving SUVs. I hope the concern about the economy doesn't follow a similar pattern, it would be nice to eliminate the national debt in my lifetime but I doubt it would happen. We can do what we can and if something that works for you doesn't work for me, well, it's a free country, isn't it? At least, the last I knew it was supposed to be...

I'm getting my shopping mojo on b/c if I'm no buying it for myself it doesn't count, right?

Deb~

Heck no girlfriend! My comment wasn't in reference to your comment. It was in reference to someone else who admitted to "highjacking" Laurie's blog.

CLARIFYING NOTE: If you find yourself "highjacking" someone's blog comments with a lengthy dissertation on your thoughts AND those thoughts aren't in support or only related to the original post by a very thin thread, it's time to get your own darn blog! On the other hand, if it is a blog meant to provide a forum for people of dissenting opinions to gather and "discuss" then by all means, please do so.

Okay - better stop before I violate rule #1!

You are such an inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences on the whole clutter/debt thing.

We are at the very bottom, just clawing our way up the sides of the pit of debt. I just had a great yard sale to get rid of some of our mountains (plural) of clutter (although ironically I am donating the money to an animal shelter to fulfill a promise I made long ago.)

Sometimes I dream about just letting people into my basement to take away anything they want. I would be so much happier if it were completely empty!

Thank you again. You give me hope. :-)

two years ago i decided that we had too much of everything including debt and i began my pilgrimage to become debt free...i'm getting very close, but the extra reward was learning so much about myself. never a spender to begin with, the "not spending" wasn't really a problem...i'm all about clearing my life of the clutter, literal and figurative...each and every month i go through the house searching for things i don't wear, don't use, don't need, and donate them to an appropriate charity...instant tax deduction!!!! funny...my grandparents were the most content people i've ever known and they lived with next to nothing compared to what most of us have today...so i always ask myself, "do i want it? do i NEED it? and can i live a productive life without it?" works for everything except tequila, yarn and fabric!!

Beth - well, thanks for shattering my illusion that I am the center of the universe....and I am now blushing furiously at being so silly!

Thanks for clarifying! I love Crazy Aunt Purl!
And BTW, just convinced hubby to go to the library instead of the bookstore - small victories add up!

And also apparently love exclamation marks!

My husband and I have been spending a lot less on entertainment thanks to bookmooch (for books) and lala (for CDs). There is a small amount of spending involved on lala, but $1.75 is way different than $20 for a CD. And hey, if you don't love it, you give it away!

Idea: how about buying as little plastic as possible? Everything made of plastic comes from oil. We can reduce oil demand by driving less, using less plastic (including plastic wrap, my personal gluttony) and buying natural fibers whenever possible.

Now to figure out how to do that . . .

I was forced through circumstances to do just about everything you are talking about, Laurie. I thought I would die when I took on the job of being a full-time caretaker to my mother who'd had a stroke. I still had some money then but that dried up pretty quick with the 'feel-better-purchases' I made. Then my Dad got sick and now I'm caring for two. That means few trips out of the house, a *very* limited social life, and my economy has been reduced to a point where I thought I would die. But I have found that living on less than $100 a month, after bills are paid, can be done and, no, I didn't die.

With so much time at home, I remade my house, spending money on paint and garage sale finds that made my house much more pleasant to spend time in. It's freeing to get your life in order and to find out that the things you thought you Had To Have to live were only providing you with more to get away from! I've donated, thrown away, and trashed so much stuff that only a few years before I would not have been able to live without and I feel so much better. My parents are horrified that I'll start on their stuff now. Hanging on to a book you enjoyed when you were 12 is so dumb when you can sell it and then buy a book that you'll love now! At half price, of course!

My take on the economy is until I have the funds to spend I can't help the economy. I'm already saving Uncle Sam and the medicare/medicaid people thousands of dollars a month by taking care of my parents instead of institutionalizing them. And really, if the price of gas goes up much more, who will be able to afford to pay taxes?!? The middle class is crying out for help and, so far, I believe most everyone in Washington and the local governments believe we're crying wolf!

Still, it is liberating to find out that I was much stronger than I thought I was and to discover I can live with a few things so much better than I ever did with all the clutter and debris I'd been spending my days with beforehand.
My expenses include a cell phone to keep in contact with the old people when I do have to leave (and for ER trips), an internet connection, Netflix, gaming membership where I can get a $20 game for $7 each month, Napster, Walmart credit card that only has a $200 limit, and satellite TV. That's it. I'm not rolling in the dough but I'm not spending $4 to get to work every day either. I do get stir crazy sometimes but a trip to the gas station cures that right quick.

Not everyone has the personality to be a caretaker but it's also true that if we have to we can live on a lot less and still find good in our life. I think that it's the advertising media that conditions us to buy, buy, buy and there are no messages currently out there to balance that philosophy.

Sorry to be so long!

So, once you have your debt paid off, instead of buying stuff to reward yourself, shop for the stuff you want, then instead of buying it on credit, save your money and don't buy it till you can pay cash. Then you will be supporting the economy all patriotic and stuff, but not racking up the debt and guilt.

Back in the '70's The Mother Earth News printed the following quote (which made a big impression on me):
The Good Life:
The good life exists only when you stop wanting a better one. It is the condition of savoring what is, rather than longing for what might be. The itch for things - so brilliantly injected by those who make and sell them - is in effect a virus draining the soul of contentment. A man never earns enough; clothes are never new enough, food is never fancy enough. There is a point at which salvation lies in stepping off the escalator, of saying, "Enough. What I have will do, what I make of it is up to me."
- Marya Mannes
This subject has been on my mind the last couple of weeks and it's time to get back to basics.

Phone your agent, sweetie - I've got the title for your next book!

PURLS OF WIDSOM: Crazy Aunt Purl's Guide to Living a Cheaper, Healthier, Saner, and Better Life

(or words to that effect)

When I started writing down every single cent that I spent, I started realizing that I was frittering money away. A fiver 2-3 times a week in the work cafeteria adds up to a (gulp) credit card payment at the end of the month. So, I put a mental stop sign up and just quit. I no longer buy books and DVDs--I use the library. I rarely buy lunch at work--I brown bag it. I try to see just how long I can make a tank of gas last by planning my trips around my travels to and from work, and by using my cruise control. I try not to buy impulse items when I grocery shop (but I could not resist stocking up on candles when they were on sale last week). I, too, want to pay off my credit card debt so that I can be debt free. One trick that I learned from a TV show--a trick that goes against everything I thought was sensible--was to pay off the small debts first. I just finished paying off a debt at the rate of $70 per month. I now add that $70 to my credit card payment. I have another debt that will soon be paid off, and then that $270 will also go to my credit card every month.

What really sticks in my craw is that half of my credit card debt is the result of purchases that no longer mean anything to me. I have two feet, so I really do not need 60 shoes. I have 2 ears, so I really do not need 100 earrings.

I guess we all try to assuage pain with "things" at one time or another in our lives. Some of us learn the hard way that all we get when we do that is a heap more pain, and a pile of useless junk.

I am going to stick with my plan for more than 7 months, because I shall be in debt for at least another year. But stick with it, I shall.

Thanks for the post, Laurie. I shall not say that misery loves company, because I feel that when we take positive steps to get out of a pit, we should be patting ourselves, and each other, on the back.

This is my last "summer" out of school before I have to grow up and get a big girl job in December, and last week I decided I will not be spending any of my minuscule budget on anything non-essential this summer. I do not need work clothes (or shoes!), my parents feed me, so besides the occasional movie I shouldn't have any expenses at all, for the last time in my life.
Besides, I just cleaned out the space under my bed... yipes! And I haven't even TOUCHED my closet yet...
Anyone who isn't participating in a no-buy period, look for my crap on ebay and in local yard sales!

I find that I "unshop" quite often - I see something I love and carry it around the store for 10 - 20 minutes. By the time I come to paying and leaving the store the thrill has worn off and I don't need it anymore so I put it back. I don't think I've ever gone back and bought the item after I've left.

Did you all see this article on Yahoo yesterday? It was really interesting, and very encouraging for those of us striving to save money instead of spending it.

Spend $10 Today, Be Out $100K Tomorrow

http://tinyurl.com/5xfmrj

I thought this was particularly interesting:
"After 10 years, the person who saved $10 a day would have $46,585 in the bank, whereas the person who spent the $10 he didn't have would be $167,470 in debt, resulting in a net worth difference of over $210,000."

I wish there were words strong enough to express how much I agree with you on this.

The best thing I ever did was move into a tiny tiny apartment in downtown Vancouver. We got rid of everything we didn't need and now we're discouraged from buying random things because it would be so much work to find a place for it in the apartment.

Once we got out of the habit of buying stuff... it became really easy to not buy stuff... and now it just seems weird that so many other buy so much.... stuff.

(I assume someone has linked to our you've already seen "The Story of Stuff" http://www.storyofstuff.com/ = it's awesome)

Laurie - This is great, you are great, your readers are great! (me too!)

My husband moved out in March (after 17 years of lies and treachery) so I have been reading the archives voraciously (and re-read your book) - you're helping me a lot. Getting back on track financially is one way, and decrappifying is another! It seems like now that the house is 220 pounds lighter (heh), it has cleared the way for even more stuff to go.

Reader - I did that too, paying down the smallest balance credit card, even tho it wasn't the highest interest one, and it worked for me as well! Great sense of accomplishment, and then I had more money to apply to the next one. I am down to the last card of three; it will take me 3 years to pay it off, but at least I have a plan.

Oh, speaking of zukes, I thought of you today and my best non cooked zuke recipe. Eat a jar of pickles. Save the pickle juice. Cut small zucchini in half or quarters the long way. Place in pickle juice jar. Wait one week. Take jar out of fridge, eat zucchini pickles. Repeat.

(Plus, you know, the day-to-day survival when the person who was supposed to love you the most walks out. You're helping me with that, too.)

Laurie,

This is so weird but I dreamt about you last night! I've never dreamed about a blogger so this is pretty weird. I'm moving from London to San Francisco this week, and I dreamt that I was on a car journey through LA and I met you and flagged you down and told you how much I like reading your blog, and you were very sweet and showed me your garden and--no kidding--you tried to give me a ton of zucchini.

Dream Laurie was really nice! Yay!

That will teach me to read this right before bed.

Keep writing...This could be your next book. I hated getting to the end of the post. I wanted to keep reading. Linda

I 'unshop' too - what a great way of putting it! - usually because by the time I've queued for half an hour I want to poke my own eyes out and have to leave the shop before I kill someone. If something is 'essential' for me, I try to do without it for one week. If I still want it, I buy it. I'm trying to learn to make my own clothes but fabric is really expensive! :( I try to do handmade or local gifts and avoid buying other people crap too. It's hard work, but my PhD won't pay for itself! Love you, CAP.

First off, Laurie, I am so sorry for misspelling your name in my comment a couple of days ago. AGH.

Second, I really think Boomette is on to something! What a great title for a book that would tap into the sentiments of so many people right now.

Third, I was so happy to see other commenters suggest quality over quantity and also buying locally made or handcrafted goods. Small changes in buying patterns like that can, in the aggregate, lead to big changes in the economy. And lordy, y'all, what with DuPont announcing their plan to raise their prices 20% we're all going to get a crash course in just how prevalent mass-manufactured chemicals are in our way of life! Oy! (Please note I am not saying such chemicals are bad things - without them, all kinds of things from life-saving medical equipment to computers to diapers wouldn't be possible - I'm just saying I think most people don't realize how many products they're used to make.)

I'm grateful not just to you, Laurie, but to everyone who's posted - even the ones with whom I disagree - this whole series of posts and comments has been really thought-provoking. THANKS Y'ALL!!!

At the beginning of the year I went through 45 days of not shopping. It was strangely easy and nice and I never ever stepped foot in the mall because there was no reason for me to be there. I've thought about doing it again before I buy 878 dresses for the summer and end up with closet overload.

For me essentials are my netflix (sad but true) but I probably don't need a pedicure or a manicure or perfectly formed eyebrows but it's just too hard to give up and my eyebrows look so good when done nicely. Anyway, you've got me thinking once again so we'll see how this goes.

Oh and wine is always, always, always essential. The end.

Way to go girl! I used to have a bad Target habit, I'd go just because I wanted out of the house and it's kid friendly. All the stuff there is so fun and sure I need a cute glow in the dark ghost soap dispenser for Halloween for $5. Then my husband pointed out I spent like $1000 there in one month. Granted some was on kids' clothes and household consumables (Tide, toilet paper) but I honestly couldn't tell you what at least half of the money bought. So I stopped going to Target out of boredom. Can't mindlessly spend $1000 there if I'm never in the store.

I wanted to comment on one aspect of this whole "crap diet" idea... I am all for it... and in one of my "decluttering books" (by the way if you own more than 2 books on decluttering, the books themselves are now officially clutter)it says that when you think about buying an item, also take into consideration how much square footage you will take up by storing it, maintaining it etc, and how much you pay per square foot each month and do the math as to just how much that item is REALLY going to cost over the years.. I am currently in mad decluttering mode and since my husband's business is also in the crapper (construction) I have enrolled in school full time, taking medical assisting classes so that I can make some money myself in a job with more benefits. This will take me another year hopefully. In the meantime I am going through every closet, shed (we have 9!!!)and putting up everything I don't need on craigslist. Does anyone need a brand new leather office chair with ipod speakers built in??? I was just SURE my husband would love it for his birthday but alas... he is still using his old one.. thanks Laurie for your inspiring post!

There was a real scientific study done recently, and long-story-short, the results showed that once one's basic needs of food, shelter and clothing were met, having more money did not make one happier. So my suggestion is to stop working so hard to make money to buy so much crap. Life is not a dress rehearsal; live it now.

Sweetie and I have been "bad" Americans for 15 years, (we're not proud. Or tired.) and by "bad," I mean we try not to get caught up in the cycle of work more so we can buy more. We pay off our credit cards every month. If we can't afford it, we don't buy it.

Because of a small and unexpected inheritance, we were able to buy our fixer-upper home with cash and we have put a heck of a lot of sweat equity into it. I've always made his lunch. It's far enough to town that we eat out maybe twice a month. Any windfall money goes into The Black Hole of Savings, which means we can make big cash purchases when needed. We shop at Goodwill, where one can find lots of good old stuff made in America. Stuff that lasts.

And I don't work outside of the house, although I certainly earn my keep with cleaning, mowing, cooking, grocery shopping, bookkeeping, etc. etc. (I used to work for a paycheck, and I worked hard.)

However, the clutter still accumulates! How can this be??? We are both inveterate dumpster divers or that little cute thing at the yard sale was only fifty cents or he will bring stuff from home from work "that they were going to throw out." I am right now in the midst of yet another decluttering session. It is a burden to have superfluous stuff.

This works for us, do what works for you.

Laurie,
I love your blog. I think you have hit upon a great idea. I hope you make it the entire 7 months and then go on another fantastic trip!!! You really are inspiring. I'll be rooting for you.

Like most everyone else here, my husband and I have been decreasing our spending and increasing our "de-crappifying" recently.

I highly recommend requesting a copy of The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn from your local library. It has a bajillion ideas for thrifty living, including recipes, crafty projects, budgeting, etc. The articles were originally written in the early '90's, and the time-warp parallels between now and then have been fun/weird/unnerving to read.

Have Fun!

I'm a bit late in commenting but I am an accountant, and know quite a bit about the economy and such, and I really agree with your comment about how consumers are not confident because we've already put ourselves in a ton of debt. Just a few years ago a ton of us were refinancing our houses to pull out extra money to pay off credit cards (which we subsequently ran up), go on vacation, ect. I know quite a few people who did this. Now that housing prices are correcting themselves, I think many people are finding themselves with larger mortgage payments than they'd like. Also, tution costs keep rising, and as more people worry about the economy, they're investing more into commodities like oil, corn, ect, which drives the price up for those. I don't think your little goal to stop getting stuff will hurt at all... in fact if a lot of us (myself included) started that a year ago we wouldn't feel so bad about the economy now :)

Quick note for all of the book lovers reading this post (as I note that Libraries, one of my favourite spots, are coming up often!). When you ARE ready to buy a book, check out www.abebooks.com, an on-line marketplace for a vast number of book sellers...it's possible to get fantastic buys on all sorts of books (new, old, rare, whatever), and even with shipping thrown in, prices are often very reasonable.

Happy investigations!

Great post. Lots of Good Stuff (but not clutter!) there :-)
I need to make sure I don't buy Stuff just for the hell of it. We don't need junk, we need things like a stick blender for our smoothies. Or a new mattress, one long enough for 6'5" DH so his calves aren't dangling off it. That is not Stuff, that is necessities! But my hobbies are money pits too. Do I really need all that stuff?
But $1 junk from target or wherever? Nope! Only if it is useful (like the 25c rubber gloves for cleaning the bathroom). If I see something that I really want, I walk away from it, walk around the block, go Someplace Else and see if I really need it. If it is genuinely useful I'll often buy it, assuming we have budget.
Good luck in your quest. I don't think I could go seven months without buying some Stuff.
PS We don't have a car = no car payments, no gas, no insurance, etc. We ride/walk/take PT everywhere and occasionally hire a car for long trips (costs less than buying).

Don't know if anybody is still reading these comments, but I can't stop myself. I was thinking about this when I was sitting in traffic today, idling away my $3.99 a gallon gas. (In case you're wondering, it takes me about 45 min to drive there and public transport would take about 4 hours.)

Another way I keep from buying stuff? Google. Some examples:
Needed a crochet pattern for a kid's helmet.
Wanted a tutorial on needle felting.
Found ugly stash yarn and wanted to save it cheaply (and safely) by dyeing it with Kool Aid.
Wamted to read complete versions of classic novels and a blizzard had me snowed in.
All were found only via Google. (YMMV, use your search engine of choice).

This next idea does not necessarily lead to decrapping, but it can save money. I edit my stash twice a year and what I don't want goes to the "Junque Table" at my guild (Stuff there is sold for $1 as a fund raiser for the guild. Two months ago, my housemate beat me to a bag full of Patons Classic Merino for $1. I wanted to kill her.) So if you have any kind of knitting/craft group, you could have a get together where everyone brings yarn, patterns, magazines, etc... that they want to get rid of. Anything that is unclaimed should go to charity, be recycled, or tossed. Maybe each item should have a low price, like $1, with the proceeds to go to a previously decided charity. Or towards wine for the group.

One last suggestion: two weeks ago a coworker needed a textbook for a summer class. The book cost $130 new or $100 used in the college bookstore. He got it for under $20 on half.com including shipping.

Brava, Laurie!

I've been thinking lately of rereading The Complete Tightwad Gazette, which gave me lots of good ideas back in the 1990s when it first came into my life. Yours is an idea whose time has come (again, which is perfectly OK ... and probably means most of us didn't get it thoroughly enough the first time).

Keep your eye on the prize over the next seven months -- and then see how you (and your life) will have changed for the better. You go, girl!

Wow!

I have just recently started reading your blog but you are definitely a kindred spirit - I am totally with you re the amount of unnnecessary spending that we all do. and like you too, I had a time in my life when I had no money and really needed to focus. Looking back it was one of the most challenging and satisfying times I have ever been through - it sharpened me up and i had to think and live on my wits a bit - a lot - more. and it worked. No more fancy restaurants - dinner at home with friends instead - and I discovered I could cook and enjoyed cooking - home made gifts lovingly wrapped in recycled paper and trimmings -I even started growing my own veggies which was the best thing i ever did - it kept me occupied and fed me on next to nothing. As time went on - like you -I got a bit more cash and started spending it. Apparently no matter how much money we have we will always spend up to our limit - so I think I am better poor. I recently lost my mum and was going through her stuff to dispose of it and it was amazing how much she hoarded - clothes from 20 or 30 years back - stuff she would never wear again - and yet she wore the same few outfits all the time and kept the rest 'for good' which never actually came - so i learned another lesson - use the stuff you have - don't keep anything for a rainy day - use the crystal every day and if it breaks it breaks, at least you enjoyed it instead of it being in a cupboard. I have enough stuff to last me until at least the end of the year so will try and join you - at least by the end of the year I may have enough cash to indulge my weakness of buying paintings - i love art and can't afford to indulge too often- SO WHY DID I BUY THAT PAIR OF TROUSERS YESTERDAY? Actually, I just forgot - old habits die hard and they were in the bag and home before I remembered my new philosophy. I will have to be more aware- it's a bit like dieting, the cake is half eaten before you remember that you are counting calories - ah well such is life........... A friend said that if she was down or depressed she gave something away- I have tried it and it works - it gives me a good feeling and gets rid of another bit of clutter!!
Good luck and best wishes
Lizzi
PS I found mum's yarn stash too - i am DEFINITELY not going to need any more for years to come!

When I went to buy groceries couple of weeks ago, I left with $60 in new picnic wear (unplanned).

When I went to buy paint the other day, I left with a $15 bracelet (again, unplanned).

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

I have gotten impulsive lately not sure why.

Don't like it.

I am so with you on this one, Laurie. I did this last year for a few months, and it was so liberating. I went to a mall with my BF during that time to get a last-minute wedding gift (that couldn't be avoided, unfortunately...), and it was amazing how you could move through the mall so easily if you are not shopping. You also notice how much effort they put into marketing to make you spend as much as possible. It was kind of amusing, really.

My BF asked a while back what he can spend his economic stimulus check on, so I told him to invest in a company he believes in. Investing your extra dollars wisely (in a mutual fund, for example) will increase your net worth AND help the economy. A win-win. I have accounts in Domini because they try to invest socially responsibly.

Also, wilsonian's comment above that spending is investing really hit me. I never thought about it that way, but s/he is right. I bought a share in CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) this season and now I feel really good about it. CSA is a system where you pay a set amount in the beginning of the season to a local farm when they need it the most, and then you get fresh produce from that farm for the season. Mine comes out to be about $16 a week for fresh produce enough for a family of four (two adults, two kids). You can't choose what you get, so it does require a mental shift in what you cook and eat, but I am really excited about this adventure.

Thank you, Laurie, for your inspiring posts. I think I'll go on a spending moratorium once again. I really like the feeling of freedom you get. And when I do have to spend money, I can remember to get quality stuff, locally, and second-hand if possible.

hey there,

a long time ago I compared your writing (very favorably) to Laurie Notaro and said you had to write a book. and you have and it's great!!! I haven't commented in a long time but I had to comment on this topic and just say.... well, hell - I love you. not in a weird, creepy, be-my-best-friend-RIGHT-NOW way but in the way that all your other readers seem to love you. you're inspiring and funny and hopeful and real. thank you so much for writing and sharing with us.

I bought your book and loved reading it....then loaned it to my daughter to read...thus saving her money, but somehow it doesn't seem right to "rob" you of your commission.

Y'know, reading this, I keep thinking that the big movie premier this weekend was "Sex and the City". All that over the top, conspicuous consumption for clothing and accessories that most real women could never dream of owning; but why would we want to?

Yes, a gorgeous dress or pair of shoes is a pleasure, if you have the body for them, and somewhere to wear them. But how many of us do? I personally wear a 9 wide with a high instep, and HATE to shoe shop; it's an ordeal, and nothing pretty ever fits - sometimes nothing fits, period.

I keep flashing back to the TV episode where Carrie didn't have money for a down payment to buy her apartment. Miranda pointed out to her that she had about 100 pairs of designer shoes, at about $400/pair - FORTY GRAND!! For SHOES that look fabulous, but hurt your feet, and probably won't get worn more than 5-10 times.

Most of us aren't in that league. But I also watch Clean House a lot - in hope of getting motivated, I guess. I'm happy for the people, who have a chance for a fresh start. But I wonder how many of them maintain it. These people don't need a makeover - they need therapy! Again, I relate. I think it's very revealing to see just how much those "treasures" are worth out on the curb, with strangers pawing through them. But my heart wrenches for some of the homeowners, seeing that beloved player piano or crystal collection hauled away. Because they DO have such strong emotional significance and family history, in many cases.

Sorry for rambling; I know it's related to the topic, I just can't seem to tie it up.... except that I know in my head I need to declutter, but can't seem to get it into my gut, too. And my emotional attachment to stuff that I know intellectually is pretty worthless is daunting.

Suggestions?

I think shopping is a lot like watching TV. There's some good stuff and there's a lot of crap, and sometimes the best solution if you can't moderate yourself is to cut it out entirely.

But if you do so publicly, you'll get a lot of defensive reactions from people, even though it's about you, not about them.