Frugal Babe

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Recycling Isn’t Just About Cans

December 8, 2006 By Frugal Babe

Last night I was working at the library, and talking with some of my friends there about a book I’m currently reading.   It’s called Not Buying It – My Year Without Shopping.   I waited on the hold list at the library for over two months for this one, as it seems to be a pretty popular book.   Anyway, it’s the story of Judith Levine and her domestic partner, Paul,  as they spend 2004 without buying anything non-essential.   They can buy unprocessed food, toilet paper, work supplies, etc.   But movies, clothes, dining out… all the non-essentials are axed for the year.    It’s in journal format, and I’m only to April, but it’s very interesting so far.  

As we were talking about it, one of the other librarians mentioned that someone should try to go a year without buying anything  NEW except for food and other obviously consumable stuff – toilet paper comes to mind.   She was musing out loud about whether it would be possible to only buy stuff at thrift stores, garage sales, Craigslist, freecycle, etc.   I mentioned that I pretty much do that already, and she said I should write a book.   Or I could just blog about it.  

As it is, we never buy clothing new, and we rarely buy anything else new.   The exceptions are few.   I am a runner, and I buy new running shoes every 7 or 8 months.   Used running shoes have already formed to someone else’s foot, and if they’re in a thrift store, chances are the shock absorption has seen better days.   Since this has an impact (literally) on my knees, I have found over the years that new running shoes are an invaluable investment.   Underwear and socks I buy new, although I have been known to buy the occasional pair of socks in a thrift store.     I just found a sweet pair of Patagonia hiking socks for $1.   Didn’t look like they had ever been worn, and I’ve seen similar socks for $15 in sporting goods stores.   We will be buying a new computer in January.   We have an on-line insurance agency, and since we work from home, the computer and our phones are really the only infrastructure we need in order to work.   We use them pretty intensively, and mine is almost 5 years old.   It will be retiring soon.   We’re going to buy J’s dad a heart rate monitor this weekend, as he’s recently gotten into biking and is working really hard to get himself in good shape.   He’s doing a great job, and we want to encourage him.   I go to the scrapbook store every 6 months or so, but I could skip that for several years and probably still have supplies left over – I have enough paper to last the rest of my life.  

Other than that, we pretty much buy everything used.   Our cars, full suspension mountain bikes, bike shoes, bike jerseys and shorts, clothes, furniture (and no, our house does not look like a college student’s apartment), dishes, pots and pans, comforters, our juicer, even our pets were recycled! (Humane Society).   And we’re not into upgrading or replacing stuff just because.   We pretty much keep the same stuff until it’s no longer useful.   We’re not likely to go buy new furniture or dishes  until what we have falls apart.   It’s the ultimate recycling – keeping what we’ve got already.

So yes, I think it’s absolutely possible to  spend a year only buying used stuff.    I can’t imagine buying only new stuff.   That would take all the fun out of it, since I’d be worried about the money I was spending, and because I love how thrift stores are like a treasure hunt.   You  never know what you’re going to find.   Not so in Banana Republic or Pottery Barn, where you  can pretty much picture what’s in there before you even walk inside.    

Filed Under: our frugal stories, the simple life 3 Comments

Comments

  1. iportion says

    December 12, 2006 at 11:57 pm

    I like to mix it up old and new,
    I know people who can get in debt buying thrift store iteams. Sometimes they are cheaper new. Then some people think they need the best but end up buying stuff they don’t need.

    Reply
  2. MOMM says

    December 13, 2006 at 5:46 pm

    I read a piece from that book and it was so inspiring! I also recently read about a couple who didn’t buy anything – AT ALL – for a year. They did buy gift certificates for grocieries and gas and such so technically they were shopping – but not with current money.

    Anyway, I love buying used items when its okay to buy them used (like not with your shoes and underwear, etc.). I LOVE older furniture, used books don’t bother me, and I like finding great deals. I have had a hard time finding used stores in my area other then Goodwill, which is nice sometimes and sometimes not.

    Reply
  3. Millionaire Artist says

    December 19, 2006 at 2:46 am

    You and I sound very similar! I think I will take heed, however, and buy new running shoes next time.

    I am waiting to read that book, too. (Check out the link to the Washington Post article on the same concept at my site: http://millionaireartist.com/2006/12/18/nothing-new-and-thats-the-point/)

    Reply

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