Comments on: Resisting the Desire to Acquire http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/ Simplify your home. Wed, 16 May 2012 23:17:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: rachel http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/#comment-22954 rachel Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:42:58 +0000 http://smallnotebook.wordpress.com/?p=538#comment-22954 I just found your blog, it is amazing! I am doing some soul searching for way I buy/return so many clothes for my children. I love the idea of thinking of the clothes in the pile of laundry!!! This really spoke to me. I guess I buy "cute" clothes for that special "thing". We do not do that special thing that I have made up in my head. I worry they will stain the clothes. What a waste of time and energy on my body. I need to buy clothes that kids can play in and enjoy life, not be wasting my time thinking about a cute outfit to wear in the life. That is not real living. I also love the idea of being accountable, if I called my best friend and told her I was spending $$$$ on clothes for my kids, she would say "no you are not, you are crazy". I just found your blog, it is amazing! I am doing some soul searching for way I buy/return so many clothes for my children. I love the idea of thinking of the clothes in the pile of laundry!!! This really spoke to me. I guess I buy “cute” clothes for that special “thing”. We do not do that special thing that I have made up in my head. I worry they will stain the clothes. What a waste of time and energy on my body. I need to buy clothes that kids can play in and enjoy life, not be wasting my time thinking about a cute outfit to wear in the life. That is not real living. I also love the idea of being accountable, if I called my best friend and told her I was spending $$$$ on clothes for my kids, she would say “no you are not, you are crazy”.

]]> By: genie http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/#comment-16172 genie Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:53:02 +0000 http://smallnotebook.wordpress.com/?p=538#comment-16172 Sheryl Crow said it best in "Soak up the Sun" It's not having what you want It's wanting what you've got "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" is another saying from the Depression era - at least they seemed to have learned something from that financial disaster back then. We're pretty good but I want to try the no spend month thing with my hubby - just to see how it goes. We are getting better though... and for us, not having a smart phone is a big deal compared with everyone that we know. That's a HUGE savings right there! On to cutting the budget even more - just to see if we can! Thanks for the inspiration! Sheryl Crow said it best in “Soak up the Sun”

It’s not having what you want
It’s wanting what you’ve got

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

is another saying from the Depression era – at least they seemed to have learned something from that financial disaster back then.

We’re pretty good but I want to try the no spend month thing with my hubby – just to see how it goes. We are getting better though… and for us, not having a smart phone is a big deal compared with everyone that we know. That’s a HUGE savings right there! On to cutting the budget even more – just to see if we can! Thanks for the inspiration!

]]> By: The No Spend Month http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/#comment-16025 The No Spend Month Tue, 06 Jul 2010 04:09:39 +0000 http://smallnotebook.wordpress.com/?p=538#comment-16025 [...] Resisting the Desire to Acquire [...] [...] Resisting the Desire to Acquire [...]

]]> By: Tiffany Wilson http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/#comment-15405 Tiffany Wilson Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:49:59 +0000 http://smallnotebook.wordpress.com/?p=538#comment-15405 WONDERFUL article! I too am always looking for that next "thing" to bring home! I have also realized that when I declutter I feel so much better...cleaning an area of my home brings me more satisfaction than buying something to put in there "just because". Obviously we can't go through life without ever spending, and there are certain items we do actually need and even a few justified "wants" but what a great reminder to be mindful of your purchases! I always feel a great sense of accomplishment when I take something out of my Target shopping cart and put it back on the shelf! WONDERFUL article! I too am always looking for that next “thing” to bring home! I have also realized that when I declutter I feel so much better…cleaning an area of my home brings me more satisfaction than buying something to put in there “just because”. Obviously we can’t go through life without ever spending, and there are certain items we do actually need and even a few justified “wants” but what a great reminder to be mindful of your purchases! I always feel a great sense of accomplishment when I take something out of my Target shopping cart and put it back on the shelf!

]]> By: Debbie http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/#comment-15299 Debbie Tue, 18 May 2010 16:17:31 +0000 http://smallnotebook.wordpress.com/?p=538#comment-15299 I found I was doing this years ago. Everything was a bargain and often unique, but not really needed and my home was filling up with stuff. I first decluttered my entire house. I asked myself do I really need this? I mean, really need it. Not want it. And I gave away everything I didn't need, except I kept some I really loved. And I still declutter twice a year but don't have to get rid of much. I give everything to charity. I stopped looking at catalogs, I ignore commercials, I pay no attention to what the people around me are buying, I stopped collecting the few things I was collecting and got rid of almost all of it but a few. I don't compare what I have to what other people have. When I have to buy what I really do need, I never buy new if I can find it used. I give myself time to find the used thing for which I'm looking. I also think about the maintenance of what I'm buying, like if it's a shirt I have to iron will I do that or will it just hang wrinkled in my closet? For furniture or anything in my house, I think is it going to be difficult to clean or keep nice? I don't want to give myself more work by my purchases. Living a simpler life has made me much happier. I found I was doing this years ago. Everything was a bargain and often unique, but not really needed and my home was filling up with stuff.

I first decluttered my entire house. I asked myself do I really need this? I mean, really need it. Not want it. And I gave away everything I didn’t need, except I kept some I really loved. And I still declutter twice a year but don’t have to get rid of much. I give everything to charity.

I stopped looking at catalogs, I ignore commercials, I pay no attention to what the people around me are buying, I stopped collecting the few things I was collecting and got rid of almost all of it but a few. I don’t compare what I have to what other people have.

When I have to buy what I really do need, I never buy new if I can find it used. I give myself time to find the used thing for which I’m looking.

I also think about the maintenance of what I’m buying, like if it’s a shirt I have to iron will I do that or will it just hang wrinkled in my closet? For furniture or anything in my house, I think is it going to be difficult to clean or keep nice? I don’t want to give myself more work by my purchases.

Living a simpler life has made me much happier.

]]> By: Lily http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/#comment-550 Lily Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:04:00 +0000 http://smallnotebook.wordpress.com/?p=538#comment-550 You know, I discovered the whole frugality thing at the beginning of the year - perfect timing I'd say - and I love it. Now I appreciate the things I own and never buy compulsively. I live much better and I save more. Where I live things are not going well, people are struggling financially but keep buying new expensive things and even make debt to do so. Saving? Living fugally? No way... We are too proud... ignorant and silly. Consumerism has taken the place of the real values and not only in the US, trust me. You know, I discovered the whole frugality thing at the beginning of the year – perfect timing I’d say – and I love it. Now I appreciate the things I own and never buy compulsively. I live much better and I save more.
Where I live things are not going well, people are struggling financially but keep buying new expensive things and even make debt to do so. Saving? Living fugally? No way… We are too proud… ignorant and silly. Consumerism has taken the place of the real values and not only in the US, trust me.

]]> By: Simplicity at home and justice for the world http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/#comment-526 Simplicity at home and justice for the world Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:04:32 +0000 http://smallnotebook.wordpress.com/?p=538#comment-526 [...] purchases. We live in a very materialistic society and it is easy to want to have it all. Lots of people are learning that less stuff is better. So how do we make sure we are spending money wisely? There [...] [...] purchases. We live in a very materialistic society and it is easy to want to have it all. Lots of people are learning that less stuff is better. So how do we make sure we are spending money wisely? There [...]

]]> By: smallnotebook http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/#comment-549 smallnotebook Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:27:15 +0000 http://smallnotebook.wordpress.com/?p=538#comment-549 Ukrainiac, well so far it's just been an annual tradition. I don't think we're quite ready for more at the moment. But hopefully we'll be ready for it again in July '09! Ukrainiac, well so far it’s just been an annual tradition. I don’t think we’re quite ready for more at the moment. But hopefully we’ll be ready for it again in July ’09!

]]> By: ukrainiac http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/#comment-548 ukrainiac Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:53:59 +0000 http://smallnotebook.wordpress.com/?p=538#comment-548 This is a fabulous list. I so appreciate your links to articles or blogs that give additional insight or ideas. I'm proud of you on this July 31...that you've made it through the month. Well done. Wondering whether you've considered doing this at regular intervals throughout the year? This is a fabulous list. I so appreciate your links to articles or blogs that give additional insight or ideas. I’m proud of you on this July 31…that you’ve made it through the month. Well done. Wondering whether you’ve considered doing this at regular intervals throughout the year?

]]> By: Richard http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/27/resisting-the-desire-to-acquire/#comment-547 Richard Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:47:17 +0000 http://smallnotebook.wordpress.com/?p=538#comment-547 This is great! Thanks for this list! I've used many of the things you list, and I found that it's sort of a re-programming thing, where the longer you do it the more you find fulfilling things to replace the desire to acquire. A couple of things that were helpful to me: turn off the TV, put down the magazines. These are both chock full of things to want. They begin to skew your thinking, and you rationalize purchases more easily. They're both part of our culture, but to the extent that you can do without, you'll be better off. I've cut down on both, and it's forced me to crack books more often. Thanks again for this post! This is great!
Thanks for this list!

I’ve used many of the things you list, and I found that it’s sort of a re-programming thing, where the longer you do it the more you find fulfilling things to replace the desire to acquire.

A couple of things that were helpful to me: turn off the TV, put down the magazines. These are both chock full of things to want. They begin to skew your thinking, and you rationalize purchases more easily.

They’re both part of our culture, but to the extent that you can do without, you’ll be better off. I’ve cut down on both, and it’s forced me to crack books more often.

Thanks again for this post!

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