Nothing new for a year...

[drewan]

I just noticed this article on Startribune.com about a family which has joined a Compact to not buy anything new for a year.

Funny... I had been thinking of something similar for myself for this year. I was thinking of making a resolution or goal to not buy any big purchases in 2008. Nothing over $150, and this would include buying a bunch of cloths at one time.

I think I'm still going to attempt my goal to keep my shopping simple this year. Yes, this may mean no big gadget purchase this year. (Which is a brave statement one week before the Mac World Expo next week!) The exception would be travel tickets.

I'm making no promises this year, and I'm definitely not ready to join this "nothing new" Compact (I don't think I'm patient enough to buy used comics). But I recognize that I'm a consumer whore and I will change that in 2008.

Comments

[yarram.livejournal.com]

Heh. 10 years after college, I'm finally earning enough that I can afford to be a consumer whore, and I intend to enjoy it to the fullest extent I can afford... <points to "new LCD TV" on his birthday list>

But I understand the urge/desire for greater simplicity. It can be a good thing, especially if you've accumulated Way Too Much over the years. :-)

[jwg.livejournal.com]

One of the advantages of getting older is that you begin to seriously think of reverse accumulation. We really don't buy much stuff (yes I got a new iMac recently and upgrade my cell phone) and this year we're going to get LCD HDTVs (plural because we have two houses and don't like to move much stuff back and forth) and a new Tivo to match (baseball is much better that way as we are addicts). We buy essentially no books; and use the public library extensively.

[mattmn.livejournal.com]

I have a similar resolution in my LJ - no DVDs for 2008 and watch what I have. Don't know how long I'll be able to stick to it, but so far so good (only 8 days in, lol.)

[mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com]

What exactly does this mean? I mean what if you need a new bath mat or something in your house breaks you use all the time does that mean you can't replace it with a new one?

What about gifts for other people?

I guess I should click on the article. Or what if you don't feel like cooking are you allowed to get takeout?

I think I'd rather have a set budget that limits spending rather then eliminates it.

It's so rare I ever spend more then $150 on clothes at one time it's hard to imagine the splurge where that might happen.