Post by theend on Jan 4, 2024 20:35:21 GMT
It is been over 100 days since I have purchased anything for myself as an individual that couldn't be bought typically at a grocery store. This has been a practice in trying to be more active in consuming the amount of stuff I already have. Part of that effort is to throw away stuff that has wear and tear and just lower the amount of just plain stuff I have accumulated in buying stuff because I could. So, no hoarding. No holding on to the jacket or something if it has a small hole that can be barely seen. Toss it, you have another. Wear that one.
Currently, my projection is that by need, black t shirts could break the streak. Often they get deodorant stained or fade in general. To curb this and to keep the streak alive I have started to wear my other colored shirts more often, and I have pulled more colored plain tees out of the stock pile.
The other part is to curb spending in excess. The Amazon guy basically has forgotten where I live. He must be confused and distraught by now. The UPS driver is equally confused. In the past I would sit, board, at work, endlessly researching and shopping items until I felt compelled to buy them. Normally, when I like something. I would buy a back up or multiple back ups of things I consume. Like sneakers for pickleball. At the start, I had like 11-12 pairs. I would typically wear one pair until the sole got smooth and then go to the next pair. When I did, I would end up searching the bowels of the internet to find a replacement and end up with multiple. When Eddie Bauer would send me a $5 off coupon, I would inevitably buy a t shirt. When I drove by the outlet I would buy whatever stock they had in my size. Similar with many pieces of apparel.
I have over 25 books on my shelf waiting to be read. Currently, when I finish a book, I will take one off my "read" bookshelf as well, to be sold to Half Priced Books. I only buy books used on Amazon under $11. This is because I read frequently and sometimes books don't hold my attention or live up to expectations. So, I would wait, park the books on my Amazon wish list and when they went below, I would buy. Sitting on 25 books is a bit much. I need to consume.
The Amazon wish list stalking also led to other purchasing I am no longer doing. If I parked something and it discounted, I would buy. If there was only one left and I feared it would not be replenished I would buy. I have stopped this as well.
I have survived Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and I work part time at two retail stores that provide me discounts. And yet, I have refrained from gifting myself. I still pay for court fees and services, just no more unneeded stuff that isn't intended to be consumed.
A note on habit tracking. Keeping a streak alive can be powerfully addictive. The habit tracking and hitting milestones are one of the mechanisms of success in programs like AA. I have a friend whom if she eats peanut butter out of the jar she will eat the whole jar. Nasty, or awesome I know. she has kept track of a multi year streak of not eating peanut butter in that way for years.
Currently, my projection is that by need, black t shirts could break the streak. Often they get deodorant stained or fade in general. To curb this and to keep the streak alive I have started to wear my other colored shirts more often, and I have pulled more colored plain tees out of the stock pile.
The other part is to curb spending in excess. The Amazon guy basically has forgotten where I live. He must be confused and distraught by now. The UPS driver is equally confused. In the past I would sit, board, at work, endlessly researching and shopping items until I felt compelled to buy them. Normally, when I like something. I would buy a back up or multiple back ups of things I consume. Like sneakers for pickleball. At the start, I had like 11-12 pairs. I would typically wear one pair until the sole got smooth and then go to the next pair. When I did, I would end up searching the bowels of the internet to find a replacement and end up with multiple. When Eddie Bauer would send me a $5 off coupon, I would inevitably buy a t shirt. When I drove by the outlet I would buy whatever stock they had in my size. Similar with many pieces of apparel.
I have over 25 books on my shelf waiting to be read. Currently, when I finish a book, I will take one off my "read" bookshelf as well, to be sold to Half Priced Books. I only buy books used on Amazon under $11. This is because I read frequently and sometimes books don't hold my attention or live up to expectations. So, I would wait, park the books on my Amazon wish list and when they went below, I would buy. Sitting on 25 books is a bit much. I need to consume.
The Amazon wish list stalking also led to other purchasing I am no longer doing. If I parked something and it discounted, I would buy. If there was only one left and I feared it would not be replenished I would buy. I have stopped this as well.
I have survived Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and I work part time at two retail stores that provide me discounts. And yet, I have refrained from gifting myself. I still pay for court fees and services, just no more unneeded stuff that isn't intended to be consumed.
A note on habit tracking. Keeping a streak alive can be powerfully addictive. The habit tracking and hitting milestones are one of the mechanisms of success in programs like AA. I have a friend whom if she eats peanut butter out of the jar she will eat the whole jar. Nasty, or awesome I know. she has kept track of a multi year streak of not eating peanut butter in that way for years.
