I am just not interested in buying things

[kally]

It seems that nearly everyday there is an expense that I didn't quite expect. A pricier cat food for medical needs in a cat, today a wrist brace for a very painful hand and wrist. A plumber's toilet snake last week, things I didn't actually see coming.

So when it comes to buying other stuff, I just don't want it. Even stuff I know I need, B Vitamins etc. I want to parcel it out so that the things I need I spread over the week. Then I really won't feel like buying stuff.

Now experiences, meals out, movies, trips etc. those I love to buy, but rarely do, except simple meals. I feel that is a lot more fun/

Anyone else feel this way?

[rodeosweetheart]

My husband and I were just talking about this this afternoon. I like to get out and see places, and he doesn't like to go into stores if he can't buy something. I had to return something at faraway hardware store today and so it's a great store, and we like to shop there. So I bought some soap that we normally buy, but bought it there.

Not exactly a touristy item, but we needed it. And yeah, there are so many things you need that are like that, if you spread them out during the week, instead of doing one big efficient shopping trip, you have the psychological market experience that I seem to crave--getting out among people and seeing things. I find looking at the different textures and colors very soothing.

I'm actually going to try to shop more this way, a few items at a time, to savor the experience and avoid buying more than I need, if that makes sense.

[Ultralight]

Having to buy anything over $20 dang near gives me a hemorrhage! haha

I don't like to shop. I strongly dislike malls. Billboards and commercials and product placements are everywhere. And when I see this visual advertising clutter I feel like they are insulting my intelligence. >:(

A couple years ago I bought a cheap pair of "dress" shoes from Target. I have been "repairing" them for about the past year. I wore the soles down so there are holes that leak water. The front of the soles are peeling off. Some of the black faux leather color is coming off. They are covered in little dents and dings. But I keep rubber cementing the soles and duct taping (on the inside) just so I don't have to buy another pair of dang shoes!

[Chicken lady]

When my daughter was little we had a sesame street book about grover and the "Every thing in the world museum". As she got bigger she loved to grab all the catalogs out of the mail and pour over them, looking at all the things. But she never wanted any of the things. Even the toy catalogs were like the Grover book to her. She just wanted to see all the things.

Now, she likes to buy things she likes - once. She has a pair of dress shoes she loves. They were pretty expensive because they are really good quality. I've never seen her as excited as she was when I told her I found a real cobbler in town where she could get them reheeled. She does not like to buy things because she has to have them. She was furious last month because she had to go to a store and buy a dress for a wedding and it was $60 on the sale rack. (she picked a red shift style.) She now has a black shift dress and a red shift dress and she's set for weddings, funerals, and whatever formal occasion she may be thrust into. She'll probably wear one of them to her own wedding. If she wears a dress.

[lessisbest]

Chicken lady - Your daughter and I are kindred spirits. I have a wedding/funeral outfit for spring/summer and one for fall/winter. I hate to buy clothes that just sit in my closet - at any price. I've learned to "change" the same old outfits with a different scarf or wrap.

Spending money as feel-good "therapy" just isn't normal for me - which probably comes from years of poverty and thriftiness even when we have the money. An occasional splurge when on vacation (which we rarely take), is about as good as it gets, and even that is carefully thought through with a budget amount and often a household item we couldn't find where we lived.

We consider ourselves lucky to have enough used plastic store bags to use as trash bags for 2-months, since I only go "shopping" every other month (other than groceries, which I get weekly - but I use cloth bags for groceries). Six months out of the year are no-spend months - unless it's a true emergency or necessity. I've even quit shopping the middle two weeks of the shopping months, for even more savings. My sister-in-law is a shopper, so if we run short on plastic store bags, she'll save hers for us.

I have price point spending limits for items (like bars of soap, deodorant, dishwasher detergent....). If I can't find something at that price point, I generally won't purchase it, or try to find a less expensive option. As an example of price points - I have a $125/month food budget for 2 adults that includes $10/week limit for meat. AND, I try to spend no more than $2 per pound for meat --- but no more than $10 total no matter how much it is per pound. I try to keep produce to $1/pound or less. I make my own "convenience" foods from ingredients found in the pantry, instead of paying a company to do the measuring and mixing for me. I'll slice/shred my own cheese from a bulk amount - and even make some of our cheese from powdered milk (which I purchase in bulk amounts), cut my own vegetables/fruit, grind my own sausage, grind my own flour from whole grains..... For each extra pair of hands it takes to process something, the cost goes up.

When it comes to shoes, I'll pay more for quality shoes, but try to find them discounted. I also make sure I purchase shoes that will last for years and not kill my feet. My feet thank me ;). I purchased my snow boots in 1976, at the time it was a very hefty price of $60, but they have been a real bargain when you count the cost per wear. I keep them oiled and change the shoestrings as needed, and have replaced the insole a few times. Cost per wear is also how you can figure whether something is a true bargain. That pretty party dress for $95 - marked down from $145 - is a bargain price, but is actually expensive when you factor in you wear it twice. While $95 for a pair of good leather shoes you wear for 15-years @ 60-times each year (with a little polish, maybe a new insole) is a bargain.

The same goes for socks. I'll buy high-priced quality wool socks that wear like "iron" (even my sports socks I wear working out 5-days a week are wool - I've worn the same three pair for 5-years - and they should be good for at least 5 more), and they will be around years longer than a bag of 6-pair of cheap cotton socks I used to purchase once a year. I am also an expert at darning socks to extend wear. That's what you call value. Being "cheap" means you don't have a place in your budget for value, just something that is cheap/inexpensive. Being frugal means you are a steward of your money while trying to maximize the resources at your disposal, which may mean paying more for quality to last longer.

[iris lilies]

I wish I could say that I don't wish to buy stuff, but the truth is that I shop online pretty often, but don't buy. I don't shop for conventional things, though. Right now I am looking for a sideboard and I will consider new, although I'd prefer something old. I've been looking for 8 months and can find nothing because the truth is I don't want it badly enough. Yet, we heed a way to serve buffet dinners. I have been thinking out of the box. Still,haven't made a commitment.

One lesson about enjoying "things" without owning them --there's a bulldog in our rescue group who is adorable, both DH and I are freakishly enamored of her.but as long as we get a regular Punky fix thru meetup events and ?Facebook photos, we don't need to "own" her.

[pinkytoe]

I am facing retirement and thus a smaller income in a few months so shopping doesn't appeal right now if it ever did. I have been in the habit of thrifting for work clothes and won't need to do that anymore but will miss the thrill of the hunt. I am however looking to find the best quality for some replacement items we will need like good cookware. The only thing I love to buy is food to try all the recipes I have collected. Just yesterday I bought a small quantity of porcini mushroom salt - now who needs that? On the sideboard, I once saw a neat one made of three kitchen cabinets glued together, painted and topped with a nice piece of wood. I had no idea it had been made from cabinets by the look of it.

[Tradd]

IL, how big of a sideboard do you need?

[iris lilies]

I am facing retirement and thus a smaller income in a few months so shopping doesn't appeal right now if it ever did. I have been in the habit of thrifting for work clothes and won't need to do that anymore but will miss the thrill of the hunt. I am however looking to find the best quality for some replacement items we will need like good cookware. The only thing I love to buy is food to try all the recipes I have collected. Just yesterday I bought a small quantity of porcini mushroom salt - now who needs that? On the sideboard, I once saw a neat one made of three kitchen cabinets glued together, painted and topped with a nice piece of wood. I had no idea it had been made from cabinets by the look of it.
I know, I've thought of something similar since DH can build anything.
i have to love the piece or else I won't buy it, and I can't envision something like this that I love.

[SteveinMN]

I can get into researching a larger purchase (tonight's mission: entry doors. I lead such an exciting life) but I don't like writing the check for it.

Right now, aside from grocery shopping, I'm in utter non-acquisition mode.

[pony mom]

Since I won't be working for a while, recreational shopping is off limits. Now I carry a list of "needs" instead of wants. Recently purchased toothpaste and cotton balls--woohoo! New eyeliner and mascara (old and thick) are on hold since I haven't felt the need to wear any lately. This week I'll be visiting SA to buy a warm long sleeve shirt with buttons because I can't pull on a regular shirt yet.

I see lots of things I like when out, but don't feel the need to own them anymore. It doesn't make shopping less fun at all. We'll see how much of what I own will stand the test of time and still "spark joy" in the months/years to come.

[iris lilies]

IL, how big of a sideboard do you need?

oh, I change my mind a lot. If it is to be the only thing against that wall, it should be 60" to 66".

If I decide to keep a cabinet on that wall, it should be no more than 50."

I'll pay up to $1,000. But I saw one today that is $198 and I may go look at it, it's down the street at a second hand dealer. There is also one that's not bad for $250. I just don't love either one and I like being in love with my old furniture. But maybe for those low prices I don't have to be in love.

I did see, weeks ago, the cutest vintage buffet I'd ever seen, it was Deco style and perfect in size, price, and style. I loved it, cutest thing ever. Only problem is that it is light wood, that blond type wood they used on Deco pieces and I could not reconcile that in my mind with all of our other dark wood furniture.

[kally]

We have two personal celebrations coming up in a few months.

February is always Undies month - out with the ragged old ones, in with a few nice new pairs.
March is sock month. Does it get any more exciting than this. We like to spread our purchases out.

[TxZen]

I have never been a shopper. I do minimal for food and necessities each week. Over the past 2 weeks, I stretched what food I had in the pantry, to the point of really having nothing left but I used up all I had and made some yummy meals.

I am a list maker. Hubby says I shop like a man. I go in, get what I want and get out. I am already done with my Christmas shopping because I do it all year and I avoid stores as much as I can this time of the year.

[ToomuchStuff]

oh, I change my mind a lot. If it is to be the only thing against that wall, it should be 60" to 66".

If I decide to keep a cabinet on that wall, it should be no more than 50."

I'll pay up to $1,000. But I saw one today that is $198 and I may go look at it, it's down the street at a second hand dealer. There is also one that's not bad for $250. I just don't love either one and I like being in love with my old furniture. But maybe for those low prices I don't have to be in love.

I did see, weeks ago, the cutest vintage buffet I'd ever seen, it was Deco style and perfect in size, price, and style. I loved it, cutest thing ever. Only problem is that it is light wood, that blond type wood they used on Deco pieces and I could not reconcile that in my mind with all of our other dark wood furniture.


Any luck on your local CL? Or do you have the basic skills/tools, that you could build something via a site like: http://ana-white.com/ ?

[pinkytoe]

Right now, I am very intereted in selling things rather than buying. When we do need furniture or housewares, with patience we have very good luck with CL. Our kitchen has never had much storage so I decided to seek out a china cabinet for the mudroom off the kitchen to store extra pantry food, pet food etc.. On CL, I found one of those 1960s solid oak ones with beveled glass cabinet doors for $35. DH painted it white, changed out the hardware and it has served us well.

[pony mom]

iris lilies, do you have a Habitat For Humanity Re-store near you? They are swamped with buffets and hutches (just remove the cabinet for a sidebord) of all kinds.

[rosarugosa]

February is always Undies month - out with the ragged old ones, in with a few nice new pairs.
March is sock month. Does it get any more exciting than this.
No, it doesn't. :)

[Meezer_Mom]

Love you guys. That is all. (((HUGS)))