Mmmm . . . we had peach smoothies for breakfast. Have you tried putting a little ginger in them? Heaven in a glass!

All of what you wrote above? ME TOO!

No new yarn???? What about new yarn for a gift you need to make?

Good for you! And I really like the idea of writing down what you want and then looking at it later; I think that would work for me anyway: If it's not essential, I will write it down and look at it again in a month and see if I still want it.

Yay for you.

I also totally dig the idea of a MIDyear's resolution; I'm going to think about THAT, as well.

Thank you! You always make me think.

If you had any idea of my stash, Allyson, you wouldn't need to ask ;) I have PLENTY of yarn just languishing in plastic tubs, waiting to be made into pretty things.

I think that kind of hoarding (even if it's on a small scale) is this underlying sense of needing to be surrounded by abundance because I grew up poor and didn't have abundance. But I'm an adult now, and I'm working and making money, and there is always yarn available in the world. I don't think I need to hoard all the yarn LOL. It's ok for it to exist somewhere not inside my home.

Now see that is a breakthrough!

I do still have a huge stash. *sigh*

Hurray you! And thanks for the motivation for the rest of us!

Every day I try to remove one I-forgot-I-even-had-this item from the house or garage and put it in the car to donate to a thrift store. I've got me several beautiful little clear spaces so far -- and they're growing!

Good for you, sounds like a great idea.

I am having a problem with multiple cats. We got a "new" one and the older cats are spraying. What was that product that you recommended to make your cats zen?

HELP!!

I love you. Too bad we're both straight girls.

Awesome all around.

I've also been on a mission to declutter, so you've added to my motivation by setting such a good example!

No buying is easier to do when you flat broke. I know that economic stimulus check was supposed to jump start the economy, but by the time I got it I had past electric and phone bills to pay and a seriously empty pantry. Essentials only for me, too.

Lastly, my first thought was, "What about yarn?" That's pretty essential, right? Glad you have a yarn stash to keep you knitting.

I think it was Comfort Zone: http://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Zone-Feliway-Plug-Refills/dp/B000RI88SQ

I've used it in the past, but luckily, our current monster doesn't need it.

I love the resolutions. With a little discipline (ha!) I need to try a few of these. You are great, btw.

I just moved from college back home for the summer, and realized I need to stop buying CLOTHES. I have 10 trashbags full of clothes, plus more clothes that I kept on the hangers during the move. I'm going to try this moratorium on clothes-buying. Except this weekend when I have to buy new shirts for my new job. :P

I've made the same resolution (except for Christmas presents)!!! For the past month, I've been chipping away at the crap I have on my enclosed back porch. I work on it just a little at a time because when I start getting tired, I start wanting to save everything. Not good. I use the "Wish List" on Amazon.com. I put books and CDs I want (why would I ever want another CD?) on the Wish List, and after a few months, I look at it and realize I can delete a bunch of my "wishes." (By the way, did you know the women from "How Clean is Your House?" have a book out and another one coming out in October?) I am on Weight Watchers and as my sizes go down, I give away the clothes that are too big for me. (I have a closet that goes from size 4 to 14, so I won't have to buy new clothes for a long time.) I'm actually starting to look forward to this! Great post, Laurie!

Just one tiny little suggestion for what else to do with all that extra money, that doesn't involve accumulating material goodies (which god knows I love): take a cool class like bellydance or Tai Chi or hoop dancing (with Hula Hoops!). They're usually cheap if you take them through your Parks & Recreation department or YMCA, they're all about moving around and experiencing your own strengths, and you get to meet lots of neat people that you can hang out and laugh with. Like the newest research shows, it's our experiences that bring us continuing joy, whereas our accumulation of material goods brings only minor pleasure.

I am right there with you. After moving, during which I got rid of a lot of junk, I realized how much stuff I still have and don't need! So the old Norton's anthologies and lit crit and other books I won't read again are being donated, I have cleared out the clutter, and I am going to get a library card and actually use it. Before I used my visa like it was a library card for amazon. I have a moratorium on buying yarn, since I have more than enough for the next several years and I am not going to buy another purse or shoes for a while. Instead I am saving as much as possible and getting a kitty for my new home!

I have found that going to the public library has solved my jones-ing for new books.

I've just come home after an extended travelling trip where I only had 20kg of "stuff" and I can't believe how much crap I have in my house which I just don't need. I'm having a major declutter - ebay is my friend. The best place I've found for unwanted books is www.bookmooch.com (paperbacks don't tend to sell on ebay) although there is always the temptation to get more books from there. If you operate on a "one out, one in" principle - you can reward yourself with previously owned books.

You should check out "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Simple Living". I read it recently and was very inspired to declutter and simplify! Alot of it is very commonsense and easy to acheive.

That's a great mid-year resolution. You've almost inspired me to copy it. Almost.

I work at a library and so of course want to make the following public service announcement:

- libraries have DVDs; some places let you borrow them for free, others charge a small fee; we charge $1 for 3 movies for a week.

- libraries have CDs...which you can download onto your ipod or mp3 player and then return! Usually no charge.

- libraries have...books! If your library doesn't have what you want, you can usually get it via inter-library loan from another library; there may be an online way to do that from home; or staff can do it for you.

- libraries have...new books! If you can wait, you can go on a list for new books and when it's your turn they call you to let you know the book is available. If you really enjoy new books, waiting may be hard, but think of the money you'll be saving! And I love books, but don't really want to own bestselling novels...most aren't keepers you want to read again and again.

- libraries have childrens' programs; usually free to residents of the municipality in which the library is located; free! and time w/o the kids! Summer programs are popular with our kids, especially the summer reading program.

Your resolution reminds me of a new year's one I made several years ago to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reduce is what you're doing now...stopping the flow of crap. It was actually kinda fun and creative. And some good habits have stuck with me.

Keep us posted!

Girl, you are an inspiration and I'm hooked. I am very excited about this idea. I just gathered an unbelievable amount of stuff for a huge rummage sale to collect money for our local pet adoption group. I could not believe how much I had to let go of!

NO TO BUYING STUFF!!!

Thanks again Lori for sharing such great ideas. I love the idea of Mid-Year Resolutions - I'm going to make a list today. And as for accumulating crap - AGH. I actually tallied up how much time I spend taking care of stuff - putting it away, cleaning it, dragging it out from whatever creative place my kids have jammed it into - and it was damn depressing. What's that saying? "Own too much stuff and your stuff owns you", something like that. I'm tired of living that. So it's stopping now and it's a two-step process - 1) decluttering and 2) anti-buying.

Thanks again for providing the little push I needed to make these promises to myself.

ps I assume wine is an essential? It is for me.

As ever, you and your words and deeds are incredibly inspiring. Just this weekend I was gazing around my home in shame--the STUFF, and the money I'd spent on it, was all too much to contemplate. Joining you in your resolution to stop trying to fill the void. Thanks--you absolutely rock.

I think that's the smartest thing to do right now...but...I just read an article about consumer confidence falling to a new 16 year low. So...the more we worry about the economy, the less we spend. The less we spend, the worse the economy gets. It's a vicious circle and everyone doing the smart thing could have pretty dire consequences. Depressing and confusing. But I'm still going to stop spending AND my tomato plant had it's first fruit last night! Yea! Free produce!

I need to go on the same kind of consumerism diet. I am not brave enough to say all year so I am going to do it until Labor Day.

I have also started getting books from the library instead of buying and I joined Netflix instead of buying DVDs and subscribing to the premium cable channels. The thing I love about Netflix is that you can put your membership on hold for a few months if you find that you are not using it.

I also grew up poor. I recently discovered that when I have money in the bank I actually want less and spend less. When I am broke is when I feel the urge to splurge and pull out the credit cards.

I'm cutting back on purchases too, after we did a big home renovation and I boxed so much stuff for storage. I didn't need any of it for 14 weeks, so most of it is going to donation, including 6 (!) trash bags of clothes that didn't *work out*.

And indeed, I have a huge stash of yarn, books and art supplies that will last me through years of self-occupation that will replace shopping as a time-filler!

I'm with you girl! I keep thinking of things I want but I know I don't need them - especially now. One thing that has helped is I've taken to getting books from the Library and swapping out what I have at paperbackswap.com. I'm thinking about giving up TV next. There's never anything on.

"this is not angela's ashes" -- SNORT!

woman, you are so awesome. i am totally with you on the not buying stuff. what a waste of time, energy and money. i would rather work less, read more books, garden and spend time with my chooks than support the crap industry.

This resonates with me so much! I am saving up to buy a place, and somehow this makes me want to shop a lot... But I really need to reduce what I have to move, since I'm combining households with someone with his own excess of books and art and knickknacks. I could probably get a few more bags of stuff out of my closet, and I've been BookMooching away everything that doesn't fit in my one bookshelf. I hope the new place will have more organizational space, so I can pull my fabric and yarn stashes out from under the bed and have them someplace they can inspire me, rather than being forgotten and going to waste.

Not making a spending promise, since I'm planning to invest in scuba gear this summer, but this is still very inspirational.

you have to make an exception for yarn, unless of course you have a HUGE stash!!! Even then...there oughta be an exception for yarn...

Good for you! I'm not sure I can do the buying moratorium but I will try to cut down in solidarity.

I bought that Julie Morgenstern book on organizing and I tackled my "Household Information Center" (i.e. office area and overflowing mail table) this weekend and I feel so much better. It's nice to feel like I am in control rather than that whole "I wonder what's in this pile?" or "Why does the post office hate me?" thing.

And I agree about the frozen peaches - YUMMAGE!

I love this and am going to try my best to live this. My hardest obstacle will be determining what is 'essential' in my life. And my kids. They want every thing and I want them to have what they want. I am tired of living under a mound of debt and enough stuff to sink a ship.

Good Luck! I'm with you in spirit, I'm at the point in my life where I still do need to buy stuff, I just haven't lived by myself in one place long enough with the same people to guarantee that I have everything I need. I also haven't knitted for long so my stash is not large enough to knit from, and I finally start a proper job in September for whihc my wardrobe is not ready!
I am however going to try and cut down on what I buy... particularly shoes, I do not need more of those!

Hooray! I really admire your ability to stick to this big! mid-year's! resolution.

I tell myself pretty much every week that I am going to quit buying crap, but my willpower is not equal to to the task, so for the time being I have started small: I've put a moratorium on buying makeup and jewelry, because even though there's a fashion-magazine-reading part of me that believes one more pair of hoop earrings will fix my life, the truth is, they're going to lie at the bottom of a drawer while I wish for my twenty dollars back.

Don't you love going to the library when you're on a tight budget? I know I do. I leave with armloads of stuff and I FEEL as though I've not only been shopping, but somehow put one over on somebody, because I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY OF IT.

Side message to Kere:

Thank you, I really appreciate it.

Bossy is right there with you. Down with purchases! Wait, do shoes have to count?

Hello! I'm de-lurking to say way to go on your resolution! We did the same thing at the beginning of the year and have almost completely paid off our credit cards! Good luck. Next you can try the other rule we are trying to follow, try to buy things made in the USA for as much as possible! It's a bit harder than you'd think!

I'm with you on this one and will also be blogging about the "Stop Buying Crap" movement. I have been in my house since August but have been working too much to feel "settled" and crap is everywhere. Finally this weekend I had enough time to settle into the kitchen fairly well. At last (shame-faced) I can say that the dishes are caught up and the sinks are cleaned. There is more to do, but I really felt like I turned a HUGE corner and now have the momentum to continue purging in other areas of the house.

We can do this!

Best wishes on your adventure. Not getting new magazines will definitely help. Thank you for being inspirational. We just went on a two day vacation. I feel more energized and better able to tackle things. Now if I could just remember that every time I feel I need a little break at Starbucks, then I might get to go on more vacations!

I have been participating in something very similiar myself and well it's a work in progress BUT one way I got new books without spending any money was....I went through all my books selected the one's I didn't want anymore or were dull books, went to the locate second hand book store and traded them for more books, NEWER USED books....it was quite rewarding. Consignment stores are awesome for clothing too!

I also try not to eat out as well but as this week is birthday week in my house it's a little hard and my budget for May is a bust )c:

* I made that same resolution, but only in regards to yarn, on January 5th. It gave me that same calm feeling of freedom and unburdening that you describe. (I have fallen a few times, but only for enough yarn -- on sale -- to supplement certain items I already have but didn't have enough of to be useful, if that makes any sense)

* W is gonna be pissed at you. Buy, buy buy! is his motto. The jerk.

* You are so not alone in feeling insecure in this economy. $4/gallon on top of the credit crunch seems to have woken people up. Finally.

Does your book count as an essential for all of us who want to make this mid-year resolution? I think the answer needs to be yes!

Is there a cost for you to keep up this blog? Please reassure me that it's an essential cost!!

Someone's comment about magazines reminded me that I forgot to say: libraries have magazines. I really don't like subscribing to magazines. It seems like I get the first few issues and then they start talking about renewing already! I have a sneaking suspicion that it's some kind of sham where you renew earlier and earlier every year and end up paying for 10 years in advance. Our library lets patrons take out all but the most recent issue of magazines. So you can get your mag fix for free, if a little late, but most magazine info isn't time-sensitive.

A few years ago I read a small book with suggestions on simplifying and one was a month-long moratorium on non-essential spending. That sounded good to me so I did it and discovered that I am actually addicted to internet shopping. I had physical symptoms! That was an eye-opener but I still find it so easy to slip back into buy-so-you-get-boxes (presents!) in the mail. It's the hunt not the actual stuff that is addicting for me. You are an inspiration.

I was right with you, I was cheering, I was hot, all ready to sign up and then you said no yarn and I think you said no books....I'm breathing hard now. but of course, I know you're right...it's a great plan. I'm in - and the minutes I find myself thinking, "Oh! I'll knit more now that I'm riding the bus so I can't do this." I have to think about that basket (okay, two) of yarn. yeah, I like this plan. ~lee

I like your idea. I will buy a souvenir or two on my trip next month, but clothes - I don't need anymore. Yarn, I have enough for a long time. I have started reclaiming the yarn from thrift sweaters - Buy a $3 lambswool sweater and after you have reclaimed the yarn - a gift for yourself or a friend!
Good luck and I am going to try it too!

That is a great idea. I wish I could sell the little kids in my family on it. I just read Total Money Makeover (check it out since you aren't buying anything). It will give you some great ideas about how to make your money grow. I was really inspired. It takes so little to grow into so much for later on.

I'm so going to make a "Buy Later" list. And I'm not even going to buy a cute little notebook to put it in. Dammit.

Hey! I'm right there with you!

Does wine count as a necessity? I think it does...for health reasons, naturally. ; )

The challenge will lie in getting the munchkins on board. And very, very clearly defining the word "necessity" for them.

Good For You!!! A random ?...I was just wondering...Are you still friends with Jennifer? I don't hear you mention her anymore in your blog?

Love Ya!

So simple, and yet so brilliant. You're awesome for doing this, and for telling us about it. I will take my daughter to the library TOMORROW and get a library card instead of using amazon.com as my library. Before the piles of books crowd out our cats :) And I'm going to set aside an hour this weekend to list crap on ebay. You have inspired me!

While I was going through "crap" on my porch Sunday, I found an entire Rubbermaid 18 gallon container of counted cross stitch kits that I had bought with the intention of doing them. I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch about 10 years ago, and that is how long I've had these kits. Some of them had the prices on them -- I paid almost $40 for one, and more than $20 for quite a few more. What a waste!

hi! I'm totally going to copy you! I might need a support group for this, though. not easy to not spend money all alone. hm. do haircuts count as essential?

Cabbage soup and Lentils?? Oh my......

This not buying crap sounds like a good plan to me. I remember when you did it before and remember thinking, "wow good for you Laurie". But this time, I think I will join you, because I too have been feeling unstable and this sounds like the stabilizing factor I need. Plus, it can help me pay off some bills.

I am IN!

I'm so glad that many others share the same feelings I have for the library. We started using ours regularly several years ago when I decided that buying more books was impossible -- we had no place to put them. I had run out of ways to use stacks of books as furniture.

Another thing to do with the books you own and have read and don't need anymore is to donate them to the above-mentioned library -- in addition to the good feelings you get from de-cluttering and making charitable gifts, you get the tax deduction for that year. I give to a number of causes that I believe in, but that tax incentive helps me to justify the gift even more.

I stopped buying Stuff last July 13 when I looked around my house, and realized I was tired of moving one pile to get to another. Since then I have sold a lot on ebay, paid off my credit card, and freed up lots of space. It's liberating. I can't believe how long I held on to this crap. It's true what someone else said -- when I've got money in the bank, and no credit card debt, the temptation to buy is zero.

And Toni? If you've got any Danish Xstitch kits, try ebay. I've sold a lot and have gotten really good prices for some of them. There's a high demand for them in Japan.

So ironic I read your blog today after coming to the same conclusions this weekend myself.

This particular conclusion came after realizing that my hubby and I have exactly $152 to last us until we both get paid on June 6. This needs to cover food and gas. We carpool so that is helpful and the first week of June we are taking off to finish our bedroom so we don't really need to drive that much. Alas, an overnight trip to Portland, OR is NOT going to happen that week. At least all of our bills are paid.

We are focusing on the next two weeks as a challenge. If we can survive on that much then we are indeed spending way too much and a lot more per month can be put on our debt. Reducing that is our real goal.

Love your blog!

Great idea -- have you read about the group in San Francisco, called the Compact? They have gotten it down to a fine art.

I am have been bringing less crap in my house for the last six months and I am amazed at how much easier it is to keep the house tidy (keeping it clean is another thing all together). Unfortunately I have not been able to convince the grandparents to give less junk to the kids.

And it can be so fun! I like noodling away on how to solve a problem with things I already have, or getting a book (for free!) from the library, or whatever. I can't claim to be perfect at this. But it's better than being a mindless consumer.

"of course the occasional cat toy, because this isn't Angela's Ashes over here." I cannot even begin to convey how hard that made me laugh.

You are seriously my hero. I wish I could do this. I too have been decluttering my life and it's insane what I've spent money on. I'm cutting back on buying stuff, but I still like to go out every now and then and buy something completely useless. If this goes well for you I may just have to give it a shot!

You are right about the economy.

I have two friends who are losing their business, some other friends who have lost their business, I just had my car repossessed, another friend is about to have her car repossessed, one friend sold his house barely before it was foreclosed on, and another friend is doing a tap-dance at the bank trying to keep his home.

The IRS is telling me I don't owe them any money, but they took $125 out of my Social Security because I didn't fill out some forms right. They say they're going to give it back, but they'll take more out next month first. So, in effect, the US Government is getting a loan from me, and they didn't even ask first!

I think they just don't have enough money. Just like the rest of us.

The last 10 years have been downhill all the way for the economy.

I was going to protest that no yarn AT ALL was too much, but you say you have so much that it won't be a problem.

Here's a suggestion: whenever you want to spend money to feel better, drag out your stash and find something new and wonderful to knit. It'll make you feel better without spending money.

I'm making the same resolution about buying stuff, but in my case, it may save me enough money that I can afford something to eat.

I hope your resolution doesn't apply to Christmas presents. Envirosax are great, but your family and friends deserve more. Maybe something hand knit? Have some fun and give out great presents without spending money if you can do it from your stash.

Amen sister! I just finished a moritorium myself to get my bills paid off and it really worked. What I need to do now though is get ahead so I don't have to constantly plan to do things "when I get paid."

I slipped a little with three Amy Butler patterns and a new purse (which is completely to die for, I'm not sure it isn't a necessity) but I'm ready to hop back on.

Actually, this has been a gradual change for me and I've grown to love the "less stuff" philosophy so much that I kind of dreaded Christmas and tried to steer everyone to giving me practical things. Home Depot cards for the house stuff, etc.

And I did the envirosax at Christmas too. With Trader Joe's gift cards. I don't think anything I have ever given has been as well received as those. I heard it really pulled my brother's stones out of the fire the other month when he was broke and needed groceries.

I have done the same thing this year. I donated 36 grocery bags of books to the library book sale, other stuff from closets to thrift shops, or friends. Even gave six grocery bags of Yarn to my daughter! Feels so good!

Oh, and I meant to chime in on libraries and garage sales too (I'm wordy today).

Annie is right! My library has ended up being the BEST resource! Because it is a county library system, I can search and reserve stuff online and then just pick them up when they give me a call. Love it. I get to check out a lot of knitting books and patterns rather than buy. And I'm slowly replacing my albums by checking out CDs and ripping them. And my library is all free. LOVE the library!

And when I first moved into my house I had a garage sale to get rid of crap I should have never moved and I noticed that all my neighbors took the opportunity to come by and introduce themselves and buy a little something. It was like they were showing me that I was a part of the 'hood now because they each had a little of my crap in their homes. It was actually pretty sweet.

Amen, sister! Preach on! This is awesome.... I need to enact something like this. Especially for toys for the kiddos. They do NOT need another toy around here at all. And it will let me save up $ for a new wardrobe when I lose all my baby weight!

Have you seen this?

http://www.storyofstuff.com/ Twenty minutes that might well change your life. I don't consume *much* as it is - but this brought a whole new level of awareness.

I second (53rd, whatever) loving the library! I have a book habit, too, even accidentally got the Amazon Prime account 'cause I forgot to cancel it after 30 days. So I'd been justifying - but I have to buy these! To make the cost of Amazon Prime worth it! Uhhh... no. I can write off the $49 or whatever it was. My sons and I go to the library once a week - always something new! And free!

What a great idea... the impossible part is getting my significant other to participate. I'm starting it at 1 month to see if he can really do it!

Read your book this weekend in 2 days, Laurie! Fabulous!

I agree - you are my hero. This post has me thinking more about what I've got and why, especially about how the 'getting' doesn't seem to cancel the 'wanting'. I'm glad your dentist stuff is over and the yard sale was a great day.

You have inspired me. Now that I have all my "Big" purchases taken care of for the year ( http://notfainthearted.com/2008/05/26/whats-in-a-name-2/ ) I'm done.

Of even bigger inspiration to me though is the Clearing Out The Clutter mid-year resolution. I'm two years post-divorce and still feel like I'm carrying so much of that weight around with me. And I am, because so much of it is still in the house.

But I'm not going to have yard sales. Can't stand them. Freecycle or Craigslist all the way, baby!

Thanks for the kick in the pants on this.

You go girl!

Good move. And, I love the notebook idea.

Sorry for the double-post, but I just remembered: I saw a repeat episode of Clean House this weekend, the one called "The Messiest Home in the Country". It was SO SAD watching the mom in that home try to hold on to absolutely everything she owned - why? "Because you don't know what's going to happen." I wish they provided therapy on that show - the family ended up with literally hundreds of big Rubbermaid bins of stuff in their basement, full of stuff they weren't willing to get rid of.

What I would have asked her is, "Don't you believe you'll have the resources to deal with whatever might happen? If we get rid of this robe, don't you believe when you *really need* a robe like this, you'll be able to get one?" Really sad.

I am in! I have a major spring-cleaning/spending freeze bug and am now even more committed.

One of my favorite tricks: I love bookstores, but have given up buying books (unless they are by a few loved authors). I do, however, still browse the bookstores with a little pencil and paper in my bag and write down the names of everything I want to read. Go online to my local library system, place holds, and pick them up when they send me an email. Surprisingly, the wait isn't even that long even for new releases - I got the brand new Nevada Barr in only two days.

Now if only I could make the dreaded grocery bill go down....

Thanks for the inspirational thoughts - it's nice to know I am not alone in frugal-ville!

I may seriously print this out and hang it on my fridge. There is stuff we really legitimately need (like, unfortunately, new cars, or at any rate newer ones: ours are 12 and 15 years old, and we could get something more fuel-efficient), and then there is stuff we just kind of accumulate. I have, conservative estimate, about 30 miles of yarn and 20 pounds of fiber. It's possible that this is enough.

"Cats are not clutter." Har!

Good for you for your resolution! As someone who dislikes shopping, I agree with you that shopping just builds more and more stress...After buying the matching shoes to go with the outfit, suddenly you have to buy something to organize all the shite that builds up! And then clean it all up! After I started working, I went through a buybuybuy phase. Then I came to my senses, and now I look back and realize that a lot of what was purchased was unnecessary, or was a crappier version of what I would have gotten, if I'd taken the time to think about it. So your idea of writing stuff down in a notebook is super!

Laurie, that is so awesome. My boyfriend and I have been doing the same thing (not spending) at all this entire year and it has been easier than I thought and so much more fulfilling than buying the latest gadget that then sits cluttering up your life.

Someone already mentioned: http://www.storyofstuff.com/ This awesome web site will keep you motivated.

We are doing the Compact and here is info on that group: http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Features/what_happens_when_people_stop_shopping_and_join_the_compact

Basically what we do (and we modified some from the original Compact group) is buy nothing new except for food, toiletries, underwear, shoes, pet supplies, and kid's items for schools. The shoes, pet supplies, and kid's items are a modification from the original group. We live in a very small, rural area and find it very hard to find good used items here so we modified a little.

We also added an extra twist and decided not to eat out anywhere except at local restaurants so that means no fast food! We did this to cut down on the amount of trash we were generating.

I didn't think I would be able to do it because I have 2 children, but we are almost halfway through the year and going strong. It has freed us up to do a lot of other things instead of shopping. We go to parks, the river, hiking, kayaking, movies, etc. We have also had to get creative when we need something. We joined our local freecycle.org group and I was able to get a free washer and dryer when I needed one. He just picked up an electric typewriter that he needed. You will be amazed that the things you need will pop up into your life (you just need to put the word out), and the things you "want" will lessen as you continue not shopping. You are going to inspire a lot of people, Laurie. Good for you!

Wow, first reading this post and then all the comments is so inspiring! I have been "yarn diet"-ing for a few months now because I hate, and I mean HATE, taking money out of the bank. As a pretty much broke student, I try to avoid non-essential spending as much as I can, but there is so much more I could do... like stop eating out so much, and also carpooling is a great way to save gas money and spend time with friends (or get to know neighbors better so they BECOME friends).

Another library lover here! The downside is that there are a number of my own books that I haven't read and removed from the house.

I bought a few new clothing items yesterday- but I promptly went through the closet and got rid of as many, if not more, items than what I bought. And that was just the quick cull.

I keep a mental "stuff to buy later" list, but I think I"ll write it down as you do- it will be a good reminder. I don't think I could stop buying new or used things cold turkey- too much like "dieting" and not eating 'forbidden' foods. Sooner or later one binges.

Wish I had a cat to clutter my apartment, though.

yay! i am officially on a yarn diet...have way too much yarn, not enough time to knit. so i will be knitting exclusively from my stash until further notice.
i also plan on giving away books that have languished on my bookshelf for 5 years untouched...as well as go through a garage full of stuff (including a car) that moved with me when my ex- and i separated and i haven't had the heart to do anything about.
you, laurie, are amazing.
especially the fact that you know that cats and wine are essential. :o)

I did the same thing for lent this year and my husband thought it was a bit lame but I felt the same way you do--that it was freeing! Woo-hoo!

Here's another take on that list of things that you'd like, but wait until after December 31st to get it...(this is why I use the Amazon Wish List, FYI)...Use it as a gift list. If someone says, "Hey, what would you like for your birthday/Christmas/other holiday," then you have a LIST of things that you'd really like, and you can tell them! So that way, you might be able to get some of those things as gifts a week earlier than your deadline. Just an idea. I do that for birthdays, Christmas, and other gifting holidays. People always know what to get me (if they ask) because they can always refer to my online list, which I do update now and then.

GREAT idea! I have long been trying to extricate myself from the consumerism borg. One question though - does your 'diet' include services things? Like going out to movies or restaurants or getting pedicures? I go back and forth on that one...

I have a great quote by G.K. Chesterton posted on my computer: "There are two way to get enough: One is to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less." I try to remember that when I'm stricken by the urge to buy, buy, buy. Sometimes it helps.

This is great! We moved in September and my husband just started taking our old crap to the flea market. I'm putting the money towards a piano! I recently strted saying that if I were a superhero, my name would be "The Anticlutter" and I'd have all kids of superpowers to accomplish that! Perhaps you are feeling some of these superpowers too!

As usual, well put. I am so right there with you on everything you said. I started doing this a few months ago out of necessity, and you know, it's surprising how little we really NEED to live, isn't it?

I have an idea I've been toying with doing: hosting monthly swaps. Wine swaps, yarn swaps, book swaps, cookie swaps. It's a way to get new stuff without spending money, plus it also fills that giving urge, too. TTYL xo

Laurie D: "It was like they were showing me that I was a part of the 'hood now because they each had a little of my crap in their homes."

That's a very funny and sweet way to think of it!

Another great way to save time and money is to call the 800 number on all the catalogs that flood your mailbox and ask them to remove you from their mailing lists. Not only does this reduce your recycling pile, but you save time browsing through them, and when you don't browse them, you don't know about all the momentarily cool things you can't buy! A triple savings!

That's a really cool idea, I should get on this bandwagon as well. My plan for this weekend is to declutter the boy's room. How DOES a six-year old accumulate so much crap, especially little plastic character thingies.

As for the new office furniture, that would be the end of my not-buying-anything stretch. I'm just hopeless, because when I get a new office, I need new desk organizers that match, and a cute postit holder, and new pens because mine are all empty, and file folders that don't look chewed on... yeah. Don't listen to me, and you'll be fine.

I was with you until the no new yarn part.

I too work in a library - we have it all! Books, DVDs, CDs, Audiobooks. our library has a free foreign film night once a month, plus free downloadable audiobooks (and music after 7/1). I've not bought a book in several years except once when I was stuck in an airport and had read everything I had with me. I desperately need to declutter more, and I'm thinking hard about a mid-year resolution myself. My husband would be thrilled if I did!

awesome.

i did this last november, and it was surprising how much it helped. i called it nanoshomo, since it was also nawrinomo and nablopomo and nakniswemo so it seemed appropriate. and for almost two months, i didn't buy any new things.

i did allow myself to go to the grocery store and buy food, which means i something like twice what i normally spend on groceries that month, but even still i was only allowed to buy FOOD (no "stuff").

seems like a good time for a revival.

My stereo's on as I sat down to write this, and in a nice bit of synchronicity, Sheryl Crow announced, "it's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got."

And I just got back from selling a box of books at Half-Price books. $17 for a file-storage box full. I could probably get more selling them individually, but my time is valuable too. Sadly, I stopped at Hobby Lobby too and bought some more stuff I don't need, though this particular stuff I at least know I'll use (unlike some stuff I buy and then never even use at all, or use once and then it gets buried under other stuff and never used again). But not even remotely essential. No, not yarn. I've been on a yarn & needle diet for a while and have done pretty well. I don't think I've been in the GOOD yarn store since... September? When my mom was here? Not sure, but it might be that long. I think I may have bought a skein or two since then at Hobby Lobby, but not much. And I think I need to give away some stash.

Anyway, can I join you in No New Stuff? I've been trying but it's a perpetual struggle for me. I got a little better about it after I was in the hospital and had like $8K of bills (student insurance is crummy). But I've been living off savings for three years of school and doing that is misleading. It is disconnected from the work I did to earn it so it feels like free money, but of course it isn't. I did finally take loans in my last semester when I wasn't sure if I had enough to get by until my new job starts in August, but I'm trying to treat the loan money as emergency back-up money, which I'll pay off as soon as I get settled into my job.

My list of essentials will be different from yours -- I don't know what the dress code will be at the new job, plus I'd like to lose weight by then, so I might truly need some new things. But not as many as I ever think when I'm shopping. I cleaned out my closet and dresser over the weekend and I clearly have way too many of some kinds of clothing. I found like a dozen pairs of socks that I haven't worn, as far as I can recall, since I moved here 3 years ago.

You might want to check if your library has the book "Not Buying It". It's about a couple who did this same thing (no non-essential purchases) for a year.

Unpopular perspective coming up:

OK, people, the only problem with this no-spend love fest is that as the dollar goes down, it makes more and more sense to invest in goods that can later be used for barter (or just plain used) rather than save up money that will have even less buying power in a month/six months/year than it does right now. This is if you believe that the dollar is going to continue to plummet. Which some of us do.

I am not advocating buying junk, mind you. Precious metals aren't a bad idea, though.

I have the perfect thing to fit into your new mid-year-resolution. My sister turned me on to Paper Back Swap, which is this wonderful swapping service for your books. I bet you have a lot laying around, and you can swap yours that you've already read for someone else's! All it takes is a little postage, and you're set to go. It's the ultimate in book recycling - check it out!

http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php

Oh my god, you are a god. THIS is a fabulous idea! And hey, I CAN do this! This is gonna' sound creepy, but you are my idol!

**and thanks to the ladies above on the tips about cat urine. My neutered boy cat, who has decided I must belong to him and no other--this of course also holds true for everything that is mine--likes to mark my closet door. Just so I know what he knows. My husband does not appreciate this.

I feel like I'm having a somewhat parallel life to yours. I also went on a "buying no crap" diet last year and felt really good. Then gradually, I started buying stuff again; not too much crap but more yarn than I could knit in a lifetime, more clothes than I could wear in a season and I was just thinking I need to STOP UNNECESSARY SPENDING as I'll be having a few huge unavoidable non-crap expenses coming up (medical, dental, housing...). I discovered a huge pile of never worn t-shirts that I had bought last year on sale and completely forgotten about.

So please make room on the band wagon for me.

I'm trying to remind myself of the pleasure of shopping at home; when I have a huge urge to, say, buy more yarn to go into my stash and choose the nicest stuff I can find (which I've often forgotten I've even bought). Ironically at the same time I usually discover some crap that I decide to get rid of.

All the best in your campaign for a better crap-free life. We all deserve it.

Awesome idea! Love the concept, but have no confidence in myself at the moment that I could actually follow thru! Perhaps in a month or two. It's very enthralling though and oh can I imagine how much $$ I would have by year end! Hmmmm....thanks for the idea!

What about yarn? I think you could give up giving your peeps those bags and make some out of old clothing and then keep that cash for yarn. One can not knit on bread alone....

Jill in Florida

so... when will your book about your experience come out?!

No new yarn?!?! I hope you have enough in your stash to last through December. I've read how determined you can be, Laurie, so there's a good chance you will succeed. If you "fall off the wagon," just restart where you left off. And Good Luck!

Don't forget about the public library when you need books to read. They are free!

Music to my ears!! Love this!!!

When my husband was in grad school and I was home with two kids under the age of 5, and we were just plain poor, I stopped reading the flyers in the paper and, lo and behold, I discovered the list of things we "needed" went way down.

Recently I've tried to go into stores with the attitude that they are museums. This works pretty well, too. If I don't think of the stuff as for sale, I just don't find myself wanting it as much.

I love your comment on not having to hoard all the yarn, and the idea of not denying yourself stuff, just delaying the purchase till later (when you might find it isn't desired anymore) is great.

Thanks!

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man oh man. my birthday is in june, so i always make a new year's resolution list and then a birthday resolution list, effectively tackling the mid-year slump. and i'm right with you this year. i'm horrified at the amount of clutter i've got. the two laundry baskets in my office, full of stuff i haven't wanted or needed since they were put in there. i'm afraid to go through it though, for fear i'll decide i "need" the items after all.

i've decided to knit from my stash and read what i've got until both are used up. that alone will take me through the year, for sure. and i'm also asking that for holidays and my birthday, if people want to get me presents they donate money in my name. make the earth a better place while not accumulating stuff? that's my kind of present!

So you may have already read this but I read most of a book (for free at Powells) called something like, A Year of Not Buying Anything. Can't recall the exact title. Basically a couple did just what you are doing (but, obviously, for a year). Perhaps you could check it out at the library...I found it inspiring and have been on again off again contemplating doing some variation--I would have a hard time not buying fabric but lord knows that is the LAST thing I need! Good luck--can't wait to hear more about it on the blog.

I just made that almost-same resolution yesterday after hauling out 5 garbage bags of crap to Good Will, and another 3 to a local homeless shelter. I just had aquired so much stuff I just felt like it was weighing me down, I would look around and mentally add up all the money I wasted on things that I never even took out of the box. I almost cried at one point. When you start almost crying over your junk, you know you're 2 DVDs and a knick-knack away from Clean House.

It's so funny that you post about this, because I was thinking about challenging myself to a non essential purchasing moratorium next month.

I've never done this before, but like you mentioned, the best way to not accrue debt is to stop buying stuff. I'm a terrible impulse shopper, so this will be a good lesson for me to learn. I love your Xmas present idea and may have to copy you on that too!

Hello Laurie,

congratulations, sounds like a revolution, an American refusing consumption, unbelievable!
A few years ago, the same process started in Germany after economic depression because of the re-union with our east part of the country. The saving amounts in the bank accounts were increasing again, the garment business and others made enourmous losses, people started to go on hoilydays within the country again (vacations on balconia!) or just did not travel any more, like me and my husband for example.
And or little weekend trips to the seaside had to be diminished to once in two months (against every weekend before!) because of the gigantic fuel costs.
I guess this will going to end one day in Germans growing potatoes again in the back yards and working for the chinese, painting little wooden figures for christmas or so, going to work by bycicle and living in a flat with three generations together. like in the fiftees.

I dont't worry about that, it'll be o.k., because I was born in the fifties. But for all the later born generations, like that of our son, used to space, consumption, restaurants, holiday trips, vacation in foreign countries, car driving, it'll be harder.

Have a good day!
Paula
Hamburg / Germany

p.s. thanks for deleting my last comment! So you really read all your e-mails, amazing!

Hi Laurie

I think your notebook is a fantastic idea, so much so that I'm going to reassign one of my notebooks for that very purpose. At the beginning of the year I said that I was going to use up my sewing/knitting stash before buying anything new. But being a hardcore textile addict makes it very difficult. Especially now as the weather here in NZ is turning rather chilly and all the new, yummy wool is turning up in store...(insert Homer-esque drool here.)Good luck for your thrifty stint!

I'll join in, too. Nothing extra, which for me would be scrubs, Subway for dinner on work nights, shoes, and no side trips to Target on the way to the grocery store. Target is veerrrry dangerous territory for me.

W. :o)

Hi - I second the person who said try borrowing 'Not Buying It' by Judith Levine from the library. I read it last year just before I quit my job to go back to university for a year. It was inspirational in getting me into the right frame of mind and stopping me from buying stuff I really didn't need. The other thing that helps is keeping a little notebook of your purchases because you'll find that you buy stuff without really realising (I was spending a huge amount on take out coffee from a particular Seattle-based global chain).

And go to the library. Libraries are fantastic and if the US is anything like the UK, they need all the support they can get to stop getting their budgets cut any more.

Delurking here: That idea about the list is really great! I think I will follow your example, only buy the essential stuff and make a list of stuff that I want, to see whether these are impulse buys or not. I have so many great knitting books that I still have to make projects from, so many books to read, etc. Thanks for writing about this!

My husband and I were discussing this last night. Monetary issues aside, I just feel overwhelmed at times- by the amount of stuff I have and all the things that it represents. Even my stash becomes overwhelming because at some point I need to knit it, which is just crazy. So I am going to give this ago too, from July when a few obligations will have been met and I will have time to make a proper plan.
Please keep us posted on how it goes! x

also de-lurking here to say this is a wonderful post! not only because we all love to read what you have to say (and the way you say it)... not only because this is so great for you... but because it's spreading inspiration!

i'm blogging about this on two different sites - and while i'm not even close to your level of readership - i will potentially reach about 100 people. i'm including information about www.storyofstuff.com and the compact - that link joyce posted earlier was cut off. the whole article can be found here: http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Features/what_happens
_when_people_stop_shopping_and_join_the_compact

thanks laurie!
and thanks all you crazy non-shoppers!

Yay Crazy Aunt Purl! I haven;t readthrough all the comments but this is a terific book -http://www.simpleliving.net/main/item.asp?itemid=952 - maybe check to see if your library has a copy?

This is awesome! I'd love to have the self-control to do this. My biggest spending tends to be eating out though. And it's tough to stop, since I don't have a kitchen of my own yet. Soon hopefully!

I was going through my divorce at the same time you were, and I tell you, my ex was smart! He moved out, and left me with the house and all the stuff! He just took his "essentials". And now I've sold the house, and bought a condo, and I am having the Mother of All Garage Sales this weekend because I will have no room for non-essential stuff. It's amazing what a person accumulates! And I'm not talking important stuff like books, or CDs, or yarn, or decorative items for the home - I'm talking the stuff that's been in boxes in the basement, and you've forgotten is there, but somehow it keeps growing! Why do we think we need more stuff?!

Can I join you in this half year save-along? Yeah I just invented a word. :D

Peach smoothies are my favorite too...

On another post you had about smoothies - people recommended Stonyfield Yogurt in Banilla - a mix of banana & vanilla - but I can't find it! Where do you get this guys???

I have been doing just-buy-essentials for a little while and am using up both my yarn and fabric stash. So if you are in the San Francisco areas and you see a large woman wearing homemade looking clothes in fabric that was in style 5 to 10 years ago, it's me!

BTW, SCRAPS in San Francisco will take art and craft supplies as donations. http://www.scrap-sf.org/

I think you're a groovy, thoughtful woman. Yay for you. It's a pleasure to watch you think and change.

Okay - 3 places to remember if you want to turn trash to cash.

eBay - sell pretty much anything, if there's a buyer for it.

half.com - one of eBay's offspring, this is a great place to buy and sell media - books, CD's, DVD's. No auctions, just set prices. And NO fees until the item sells!

etsy.com - a great site with low fees that offers strictly handmade items and supplies; great place to get rid of your stash, old patterns, etc. Of course, you've gotta have enough self-control not to buy more than you sell.

I've had my ebay store going for over a year with hardly any sales, and no new items listed - such a waste! I plan to get back in gear this summer, and do some serious clutterbusting, with the help of these 3 sites; I have everything y'all have, plus tons of beads.

Hi Jennifer! I made a Stonyfield banilla yogurt comment awhile back. Here's how to find it in a local store:

http://www.stonyfield.com/StoreLocator/Index.cfm

Best of luck!

AMANDA IN NY!!!!! Thank you so much about the banilla yogurt! I hope they carry it somewhere around me!

Late to the party here (story of my life) -- but I have to say that your resolution sounds like an Excellent Plan. I feel the same kind of economic unease and need to bump the rainy-day savings a bit, just in case. I especially like the "Things to Buy Later" list -- the delayed gratification thing really works! It's kind of like the In-Out Rule I try to stick to: if something new comes into the house (other than food, etc.), something must go out. I also have the Clothing Corollary -- if I haven't worn it in two years, it's out the door (with *no* automatic replacement).

De-cluttering is good, less dusting is good, less STUFF is good. If I have it, I must take care of it. Piffle! Enough already -- I've got better things to do.

My biggest hurdle is yarn -- I TRY to stick to using some out of the stash for every skein that comes in, but I'm not succeeding lately. So. I'm with you for the rest of the year -- no new yarn. (Unless I run out completely before the end of the year. If that happens, I'll send up a flare!) I'll just wind up with a really long Yarn to Buy Later list. Best of luck to us both!

Just to make you feel better...down under in Australia, we're currently paying $1.54 a litre for gasoline. That works out to something like $5.60 a gallon.

Does that make you feel any better????

k

You took the words right outta my mouth! I've been ranting about all the stuff I've accumulated in my home over the past 10 years and how i'm feeling overwhelmed and smothered by it all! My yarn room looks like a bomb hit it and that is one area that begs for restraint! No new yarn! I have a small yarn shop in that room already!

Need to start a 12 step program online to keep yarn sober!!!! Any joiners?

Congrats on your new resolution, Laurie, to curtail non-essential spending for the remainder of the year. As I have been unemployed since June of last year, I found myself with extra time to remove a lot of the clutter from my house and garage, and I can honestly say, it's quite liberating. Now instead of indulging on impulse buys in bookstores and yarn shops (my faves!)I walk in and take a long time browsing. What I've found is that most(99%) of the time, I can walk out of the store because I really don't need (or even want) the stuff I see. Ditto for Wal-Mart and eating out. I tend to be a bit of a tight-wad and I REFUSE to spend mortgage/food/utilities/gas money on stuff I don't absolutely have to have (it's amazing how one becomes addicted to living indoors :-))and I like being able to pay my bills.

Best of luck to you and all of my fellow readers/bloggers in this endeavor to buy way Less and save way More! Peace!

OK Laurie, how do you do that??? "...but I am genuinely happy with my life's weird path and I only think of my ex-husband in detached, random ways... like when someone asked me ...and I said, "... once back when I was married." I don't need revenge anymore, but at the time those fantasies helped keep me out of despair." --- weird factoid here - the ex-husband from my life, well, you know, DIED - suddenly - and I went to the funeral, because? well, Because! it was important! I saw his Mum, his brother, sister and brother-in-law (both men were the ones who said: It's OK, Jen, he's resting/at peace ... ) His mother was pleased that I came, and people who find out now are asking: "How do you feel? about him being gone?" well, now I know - the words were "detached" and "random" - and oh, how nice now to let go of the revenge fantasies!!!!

I'll finish reading the post now, but wanted to let you know you've done it again, CAP - Hit the nail right there on the head! Glad you had a good time at BEA, AND that you and the Yarn Harlot met up!
Jenni in Edmonton, taking time from work to read my two favourite blogs....bad Jenni!