I had a dream this morning of taking my children to see Happy Feet 2 at the $2 dollar theater today because Carlos had off. Apparently every parent in SA did as well due to the schools being out for MLK Day. So I did the next best thing....shopping.
I got a ton of stuff by the only thing I am going to mention is that I got a Lulu Lemon running shirt today for 99 cents. If you are not aware of the cost of that athletic gear get online and check it out...make sure you are sitting while searching (lol).
Ok so I have a sorta dilemma & I am looking for an opinion. Toys R Us this year gave you back 10% in vouchers for any money that you spent between October and Christmas last year. Of course I have 3 kids so TRU is a staple in our household so I spent, well needless to say now I have these vouchers that are sitting in my email. It is basically free $ on the money that I already spent. My issue is that I said nothing "new" and I am sure that TRU does not sell anything used. So if I go and spend the free money am I breaking my rules?
So I came up with 3 thoughts. First it's not really breaking the rules because it is not for myself, but I did say that I wanted my kids to participate. Second perhaps if I went and spent it on someone other than my family, would that make it better. Third if I don't go over the voucher amount (which is 50 bucks) then I can say that I am not actually purchasing anything because it is really free.
I don't want to blow my own concept only 2 weeks in but I am stuck at a crossroads and I have till the 28th to decide. Anyone interested in lending an opinion...I am all ears.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Few Things
First it is awesome the amount of support I am getting from my friends to pursue this resolution. In particular I have one cheerleader that I wasn't really expecting and she has been very enthusiastic about hearing what I have to say and seeing how things are going and even lending me some help, she recently gave me a link to a website that www.freecycle.org and it basically is for people in your area that are looking to get rid of stuff for free.
Also my other friend "CNN" is depressed about the economy and I know there are a lot of you out there so here is another website that offers free clothing swaps for kids www.thredup.com (Jenny McCarthy trades via this).
In order to further my quest for nothing new I have also decided to remove myself from the following emails that sell tangible goods. I would like to take a moment to say goodbye to Urban Outfitters, Shoe Dazzle, Victoria Secret, Kohl's, and OMG I can't believe I did this....TARGET! It's true, baaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I am also getting my name off of bed, bath, & beyond's mailing list; side note did you ever notice how many mailings you get from BB&B?! I mean wow if the postal service keeps them as a client they shouldn't have any budget shortcomings, ease up BB&B save a tree for G_d's sake!
Another comment that I would like to address is that, NO I do not go to the Goodwill every day. I have 3 children ages 5 & under and I don't really like to inflict unnecessary pain on myself for no reason. I am ending this on that note so....PEACE & CHICKEN GREASE!
Also my other friend "CNN" is depressed about the economy and I know there are a lot of you out there so here is another website that offers free clothing swaps for kids www.thredup.com (Jenny McCarthy trades via this).
In order to further my quest for nothing new I have also decided to remove myself from the following emails that sell tangible goods. I would like to take a moment to say goodbye to Urban Outfitters, Shoe Dazzle, Victoria Secret, Kohl's, and OMG I can't believe I did this....TARGET! It's true, baaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I am also getting my name off of bed, bath, & beyond's mailing list; side note did you ever notice how many mailings you get from BB&B?! I mean wow if the postal service keeps them as a client they shouldn't have any budget shortcomings, ease up BB&B save a tree for G_d's sake!
Another comment that I would like to address is that, NO I do not go to the Goodwill every day. I have 3 children ages 5 & under and I don't really like to inflict unnecessary pain on myself for no reason. I am ending this on that note so....PEACE & CHICKEN GREASE!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Rules
As I was sitting at lunch with my friend (the one who told me to do this), she asked me "What are the rules?" So I guess I kinda touched on it a little in my first blog, but I guess I will go more in detail....so here they are.
1. Nothing new for myself/house/kids/dog (including but not limited to: toys, clothes, household items, shoes, ect)
2. Only necessary stuff when it comes to health and beauty items (nail polish is not necessary = ))
3. No new gifts for me, I am asking that if someone is to give me something that it be used or handmade
4. My children are being subjected to this even if they object...husband too!
5. Entertainment is exempt as long as it is not a tangible good being purchased, tickets to Monster Jam...OK. Brand new Blu-Ray...not OK.
I guess my rules can be amended as I see fit, but the main concept of this "campaign" is to make sure that everything is used. Now I am sure over the next 355 days that I will have breakdowns or slip-ups. I plan on being completely honest about those times.
I want everyone to know that this is in no way easy for me to do. I LOVE to shop and have new things. It is hard for me not to have the latest trend of boots or a jacket that I love. I am like so many people out there and want instant gratification, yesterday was too late. Although I love a good deal, if I want something and it is not on sale chances of me waiting are slim. I read a quote on a bottle "The less I own, the less that owns me." and I knew that this way of life I had grown accustomed to was not really me.
On a side note, I dislike the word Blog and I got this brand new barbie motor home for my daughter for her birthday today at.....u guessed it The Goodwill!
1. Nothing new for myself/house/kids/dog (including but not limited to: toys, clothes, household items, shoes, ect)
2. Only necessary stuff when it comes to health and beauty items (nail polish is not necessary = ))
3. No new gifts for me, I am asking that if someone is to give me something that it be used or handmade
4. My children are being subjected to this even if they object...husband too!
5. Entertainment is exempt as long as it is not a tangible good being purchased, tickets to Monster Jam...OK. Brand new Blu-Ray...not OK.
I guess my rules can be amended as I see fit, but the main concept of this "campaign" is to make sure that everything is used. Now I am sure over the next 355 days that I will have breakdowns or slip-ups. I plan on being completely honest about those times.
I want everyone to know that this is in no way easy for me to do. I LOVE to shop and have new things. It is hard for me not to have the latest trend of boots or a jacket that I love. I am like so many people out there and want instant gratification, yesterday was too late. Although I love a good deal, if I want something and it is not on sale chances of me waiting are slim. I read a quote on a bottle "The less I own, the less that owns me." and I knew that this way of life I had grown accustomed to was not really me.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
First BLOG Ever!!!
I have always been sort of a tree hugger and was thinking "Green" before it became popular. I hang my laundry outside to dry, I don't use paper towels or napkins, I make my own cleaning supplies and I LOVE A BARGAIN. Which brings me to the current day, I decided that for my "new year's resolution" I am not buying anything new. Now obviously certain things cannot be used food, medicine and things of that nature. I am doing this for two reasons: 1st to prove that it is completely feasible to live my current standard of living without buying new items and second to see how much money I can save over the course of a year. I will be living off thrift stores, garage sales, Goodwill, eBay and any other site/store out there that sells used stuff.
It all started back in fall of last year....I had a corner armoire that I was looking to get rid of because my husband didn't like it and wanted to "update" the toy storage. So I put an ad out on craigslist and tried to sell it. Then my friend A introduced me to Pinterest and I found a desk that someone had repainted so I decided that I was going to do that to my armoire. I took it off craigslist and went to work. I bought paint from Home Depot in the oops section to save $ and borrowed some from my friend. All in all it cost me about 15 bucks in paint and about 15 hours of time and it is beautiful. I will add a pic soon.
Needless to say we are full circle back to today. Now for anyone who doesn't shop at the Goodwill this is the best time of year. Everyone drops off their crap before the 31st of Dec to get the tax write off and basically it's like Christmas in Jan, for people like me. So I went today and bought a pair of jeans (miss sixty) 4.99 which retail around $130 , a journal from Anthropologie that was originally $20 for 1.49, a Fancy Nancy book originally $11 for 1.99, and a professional picture frame for 4.99 (who knows what that person paid!!!).
This is the armoire that I repainted and below is the frame I got!
It all started back in fall of last year....I had a corner armoire that I was looking to get rid of because my husband didn't like it and wanted to "update" the toy storage. So I put an ad out on craigslist and tried to sell it. Then my friend A introduced me to Pinterest and I found a desk that someone had repainted so I decided that I was going to do that to my armoire. I took it off craigslist and went to work. I bought paint from Home Depot in the oops section to save $ and borrowed some from my friend. All in all it cost me about 15 bucks in paint and about 15 hours of time and it is beautiful. I will add a pic soon.
Needless to say we are full circle back to today. Now for anyone who doesn't shop at the Goodwill this is the best time of year. Everyone drops off their crap before the 31st of Dec to get the tax write off and basically it's like Christmas in Jan, for people like me. So I went today and bought a pair of jeans (miss sixty) 4.99 which retail around $130 , a journal from Anthropologie that was originally $20 for 1.49, a Fancy Nancy book originally $11 for 1.99, and a professional picture frame for 4.99 (who knows what that person paid!!!).
This is the armoire that I repainted and below is the frame I got!
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