Second-hand for an entire year
Posted on April 8th, 2008 – 3:37 PMBy Kara McGuire
In January I wrote about Karen Heimdahl, who on April 8th, 2007 made a pledge not to buy anything new for a year. She wasn’t trying to save money, although that naturally happened. Her attempt was designed to reduce her footprint on the environment and increase her awareness of her role as a consumer.
She had joined an online movement called the Compact, which was started by a group of pals in San Francisco and caught national attention because it’s such an intriguing and controversial topic.
People wrote me and called participants anti-American. They said this would bring down the already shaky economy. If new stuff is bad for the environment, then shouldn’t newspapers be banned, asked one person. Yet another said he wished there was a list of “these people” so he could make sure to never patronize businesses where Compacters were employed. Certainly not the ones they owned. And I was to blame too for writing about it.
On the other side, people contacted me for information about the users groups. One woman asked for a copy of the story so she could use it in a small group meeting at church. A student at a local high school called. TV news people called Karen.
I started shopping less. I bought kids clothes at the thrift store (although interestingly that can be just as expensive as buying new on clearance). I decided not to replace our warped pots and pans.
I haven’t made the commitment. But just knowing more about the Compact has reduced the amount I’ve purchased this year.
I recently checked in with Karen via e-mail. Today her the Compact she made with herself ended. This is what she wrote:
I have to admit I am counting the days left for my first year of the Compact. There are a few things we want to do with our home (paint the bedroom and finish the hardwood floors) and I’m waiting for my year to be over (Oh yeah, and get a new dining room light. I’ve strongly dislike the one we have since we moved in over 2.5 years ago. I really have looked for a used one but just can’t seem to find the “right” one - it’s a total want, not a need, but I think I’ll splurge on it).
Overall, I don’t think my habits will change all that much. I will look for options to get something used before buying new (for most things) but I won’t be going on any shopping sprees. I did get the shopping urge not too long after the article was published; I went into a big box sporting store and was immediately overwhelmed and felt rather disgusted with our society, so that urge was dispelled very quickly.
I am grateful for the experience and so glad that I’m doing it. I think it has helped me to focus on the more important things in life and it confirmed my belief that I don’t need pretty, shiny, new things to be happy.
Rather, I think I experience more contentedness being happy with what I have. I realize I really am extremely fortunate to have the freedom and the security and really everything I need, even if it’s not the the most fashionable.
Patty Selly of Minneapolis started the Compact on Jan. 1st. Her family of four says so far so good:
We have so much more time on our hands now that we aren’t spending so much time
shopping. We are doing lots of fun stuff on the weekends as a family, which
is so nice. Surprisingly,we have hardly missed shopping/buying. It’s been
remarkably easy to let go of that habit/time sucker/whatever it was. Of
course, there are moments, but overall it’s been easier than we expected, so
far.I’ve been shopping for kids clothes a few times, and that is taking longer
than I expected. It’s a bit more trouble than just ordering stuff out of
catalogs or hopping over to Target for a few pairs of pants when I need to
get them.We are also still going through all of our old belongings and getting rid of
stuff because our lives still feel cluttered and we have way too much stuff.
Check out the Minnesota Compact users group.
And congrats to Karen for seeing her commitment through.
Ka-bloggers: What economic/personal finance challenge would you consider embarking on? What would be really tough for you to change when it comes to money or stuff?
4 Responses to "Second-hand for an entire year"
Kara - We still find thriftstores cheaper - from the looks of everyone at Lifetime last night I was probably the only one in a used Reebok shirt ($1.99).
Challenge? Paying off mortgage (early)would be a great challenge to embark on.
Change? Money - It would be difficult to give up good wine and go downmarket.
I’ve slowly weeded out buying new clothes lately. Not that I am buying used either, just no new clothes. I have an excess of clothes and I said nothing new until I get rid of the something olds…and that is quite a bit. We had a family friend who had that principle and I think it’s a great one.
This may change as the weather warms up, I have to admit. The nice thing is I can spend it more on things I want like eating out. That is something I should probably cut out, but I am kind of a foodie, so that is my indulgence. I don’t go to bars much either, just restaurants!
After my divorce I forgot to change my W4, so I am paying a higher-than-expected tax bill (though I invested the money, essentially, so it’s all good). I haven’t had any credit card debt in a year, so to keep that streak going I have declared April to be my personal “Appreciate What I Have” month. I like that better than “Don’t Spend Money” month. So when I am tempted to buy something — including groceries — I first look at what I already have. It doesn’t mean I’m not spending any money at all, but I sure am not spending very much, either. The attitude has spread to other areas of my life — when I complain about the weather, I try to turn that into noticing what I have. Today that meant noticing there is very little snow on the ground and warm spring is truly around the corner! It has really made me notice the bounty in my life, not just in material possessions but in people and fun and happiness. Plus, I will pay my tax bill, not be broke, and still have savings. Excellent!
My mom and Dad just spent the last month eating everything from the cupboard. Like the chili spice packet they got as a housewarming gift and that extra Pampered Chef and Tastefully Simple stuff that looked so good when you bought it, but then just sits. After a month of forcing themselves to eat it, it gave her a fresh perspective of what to buy and fill up the cupboard with in the first place.
I’m starting this month trying to do the same thing. Last night was Lipton noodles an tonight we are having wild rice and something. I’m trying to just buy the fresh produce and meats and use up everything else.
