Okay, I finally came up with my rules for next year. (Keep in mind I can change or update them until January 1rst.) I think it would be easier to simply list my exceptions because the basic rule is just buy nothing new except for food and expendables (like trash bags) for a whole year. Because I usually shop at thrift stores anyway I am upping my compact by promising to buy nothing except food and expendables.
My exceptions are:
1. I am going to renew my newspaper subscription in July. I know I can get the news on-line but I like having a newspaper to hold in my hand AND I want to support the printed press as newspapers are dying all over.
2. If anything breaks I'll fix it instead of buying something new but I won't necessarily buy used parts. That just seems like trouble.
3. If (and this is a big IF as I've been planning to do this for years) I finally get around to screening in my front porch I am not going to try to find used screens or lumber.
4. Birthday presents for my niece and nephews.
5. One time only, in July, I get to go to Savers and buy something for a birthday present for me.
My goal is simply to reduce consumption and waste. A few of the ways I've thought of to measure this goal are:
1. Fill up only 1 garbage can a month. (currently I use 2 a month; I pretty much skip every other garbage day.)
2. Donate one grocery sack size bundle a month to Good will. (I will have to give to Chip to take in, otherwise I might be tempted to shop.)
3. I will give myself one month, January, to either use my YMCA membership or drop it.
4. Put an extra $200.00 a month to my house payment using the money I'm not spending on junk.
What do you think Roothy? (and BTW, Nancy is sad that I'm not using her name as my screen name.)
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Well, I only said UncleSam because a) I think its funny and b) I didn't remember that you have Nancy. You could always change it to UncleNancy if you like!
ReplyDeleteYour rules sound great. I will be incredibly impressed if you pull it off. I'm already nervous about my own Compact. I *love* that Savers that you and Peggy took me to.
I like your idea of getting rid of the junk around your house. I certainly have plenty of that, too. I won't make it a formal part of my Compact, but I'll try to do the same. In particular, I want to try to ebay/craigslist some stuff my roommate left behind. I've had remarkably good luck doing that sort of thing.
It's amazing what people will actually give you money for. The trick is to ask for very little, and tell people in the ad (I'm talking about craigslist right now) that if more than one person is interested, you will sell it to whoever gives you the most for it, either below or above your stated amount. I've gotten $25 for a small color TV, $5 for a humidifier, etc.
I remembered a couple more rules.
ReplyDelete5. No canned beans or bottled water. I'll use dried beans and Brita filtered water.
6. Buy in bulk, especially beans, grains and nuts.
MomCat says:
ReplyDeleteI have done the same things as you other cats - really cutting back. I did not renew about 4 magazine subscriptions; I prepaid minutes for my cell phone; Have cut back on charitable giving as a necessity; no longer put $750 per month in my Money Market acct; not eating out as much etc. etc. All my clothes and many household items come from thrift shops so that hasn't changed. And I do not use paper towels - washcloths and dish towels instead. When I'm home I even use them for Kleenex.
Have you read Barbara Kingsolver's book about her family "living on the land" for a year; inspirational.
Roothie talked me into preparing a budget when I retired. It was helpful but became somewhat obsolete when the market crashed (and when I sent Chip $10K). That's why I started the auterity bit outlined above.
May I be on your blog? Becca will have to show me how - she is here until Xmas morning.
Cool! The more the merrier. We can all out-cheap each other. I'll send you an invite. But email me to tell me what account you'd like me to send it to--you have several email addresses.
ReplyDelete