Guess What We Did Yesterday

You know what we did yesterday? We didn't buy anything new. You know what we did the day before that? We didn't buy anything new. Want to guess what we did the day before that, and even the day before that? Yep. That's right. No new stuff buying.

This isn't even difficult in the least. I thought it might be more so. I had thought that maybe the kids would feel burdened by our compact. I thought I would maybe see something and feel deep regret that I wouldn't be able to purchase it. But, no. This is easy. It really is.

We have chosen this lifestyle as a challenge for the next year. We willingly decided to forgo new purchases and to find creative ways to get whatever we need through out the year. As the year progresses, we're finding it easier and easier to naturally think in the ways that living like this necessitates you do. We have to anticipate a little bit more. We have to look a little bit more.

Some of the good feelings derived by all of this self denial come in realizing that we don't have to be enslaved by our possessions or the pursuit of having more. It's freeing, if its chosen. We have chosen this. We also know that at the end of the year, if we'd like to go get something new, we easily can. We don't feel deprived.

When I have gone to thrift shops, I have noticed people who it seems are not there by choice. They are there because that's the only way they'll ever get anything. They are poor and need to shop there. They can't get their daughters kicky little striped outfits from Hannah Anderson, or an i-phone, or whatever the "in" thing is even if they wanted to. Their purchasing used things is not a fun life challenge that will help them realize the overwhelming consumer ethos that encompasses this country. It's not to evade any kind of external pressure to buy, buy, buy!!
It's because the only way they're going to get clothes on their backs and on their children's backs, is if they shop at Goodwill. That's not a free choice there. It's not bad--not being able to get anything at goodwill would be bad...But, for people who have nothing but used, slightly broken down, worn around the edges stuff, I can see how that could be dulling in this country of new, new, new, get, get, get. The pressures to be "in" are huge around here.

You know what I'm going to do later today? Not buy anything. You know what I'm going to do tomorrow? Not buy anything. You know what I'm going to do at any upcoming homeschooling conferences? Buy stuff! Ha! Fooled you!! You thought I wasn't, but I am.

Generally, we don't buy it. Sometimes, we do...