Grandparents are the best, at least mine are. After getting approved for the apartment I knew I’d have to take advantage of my grandmas offer to come take all their extra stuff out of their basement to stock my kitchen. So this weekend I drove up there and went “shopping”. 

I ended up getting everything I need for my kitchen except for a can opener. Seriously. I got pots and pans, dishes, glassware, cutlery, knives, rugs, cooking utensils, a toaster over, a waffle iron, a grill pan, and some other things I’m forgetting. 

Not much has happened in regards to my not buying anything in the last couple days. Though I will say that I almost broke this afternoon and got some coffee while I was out and about before class. 

It’s funny because before I decided to severely limit what I could buy I wouldn't have thought twice about grabbing a latte while I was out, especially since there was a Starbucks on the way and they are my weakness. But now that I’m not allowing that its funny how often I want it. Every morning I have to stop myself from going to the coffee shop on campus. If I really want coffee I can make it myself, and its of course healthier not to drink massive quantities of caffeine each day anyways. I haven’t fallen asleep in class yet, so I can assume I don’t actually need a latte, I just want one. 

A lot of people wonder why I’m not buying anything for a year. And I suppose that’s fair. It is a rather strange thing, at least it is for me. I’ve never been in a situation where I couldn’t just buy what I wanted or needed. I’ll admit to many an impulsive buy either online or in person. After a while all this random stuff has piled up and caused way more stress than joy. So I decided to get rid of a lot of it and not add to it. What exactly is the point in having at least three pairs of headphones when one would do the job? Or two laptops, one of which I haven’t used in a year? Or three saddles for my one horse? Its quite frankly ridiculous. I don’t need everything I have. 

Its also incredibly wasteful. Most people, if asked, will say that they care about the environment, and they of course mean it, but most people won’t actually change their lifestyle to align with their beliefs. Which makes them unhappy because you can see everything wrong with what you’re doing but you just keep doing it because its convenient or the only way you know or whatever other excuse you come up with. We’ll I’m a bit sick of living in a way that doesn't align with what I believe to be true so I’m done with that. Buying cheap clothing made by people in sweatshops with materials grown in damaging ways is ruining our planet and causing horrifying human rights violations so I won’t support that industry. If you want to know more about how fast fashion is terrible watch “The True Cost” its on Netflix. It inspired me so maybe it can do the same for you. Will I be perfect? Of course not, no one is, but I’ll do my best.

When I tell people that I’m going to buy nothing for the year they seem to first laugh (obviously its a joke, right?) then realize I’m serious and ask “well how are you going to live?” great question. Obviously I’m allowed to buy certain things. Below is a list of everything I’m allowed to buy this year. 

Food (excludes coffee while out and only eating out once a week)

Shampoo, Conditioner, soap, face wash, razor blades, and deodorant (after I run out)

School Supplies (if required for the course)

White Breeches (if I show my horse this year at rated shows)

After watching the documentary Minimalism I decided I had enough of all the stuff I felt was taking over my life. I had too many clothes, too many things, just too much stuff overall. So I decided to purge out my closet and ended up donating three garbage bags full of clothes. I’m left with under 70 clothing items and the desire to cull even more as time goes on.

After getting rid of most of my clothing and making plans to donate most of the items I don’t use I realized that this would only work as long as I didn’t add to my possessions, so after reading a couple different blogs where people didn’t buy anything I decided to give it a try. I’ve official decided not to buy anything non-consumable this year. To stick with my decision I figured I should tell someone so in addition to a couple of friends I’ve decided to tell the internet as well. I’ve made a list of rules in regards to what I’m allowed to purchase and will be posting this on Wednesday.

Happy 2019, I figured this year I might try to buy nothing for myself all year.  In the run up to Christmas, I was asked what I’d like as presents and as normal I thought about how spoiled I have been with a wife who always gets me awesome things that are nicer than I’d get for myself and how incredibly lucky I am with family and friends and the gifts I get. I don’t really need anything. I don’t really need anything. Not in the real need sense.

So for 2019 I’m going to try and go without buying myself anything new. There are three notable exceptions to this rule.

1. Food - yeah no second hand food for me. The yes men concept was funny but this shit eating grin doesn’t need the real thing. 

2. Parts - second hand parts are great for the Maestro Van i own but they’re a headache and if you actually want to fix most things some new ancillaries make sense. If you disagree, try rebuilding an engine with an old head gasket and then we’ll talk.

3. Underwear - I’m gross but i’m not that gross, my daggy boxers might need replacing. I want to finish the year with socks without too many holes. I might need to get fresh undies. 

Well we’re just about settled in to our new place and I don’t know that there’s anything left to get besides a couch, which is nice. We’ve been cooking a bunch which is nice because it curbs my desire to eat out, which is something I have a big problem with. It’s just so much easier to stop and get food than make it myself. I’m also doing better at keeping up with my dishes since I’m spending time in the living room and can see the mess instead of spending all my time in my bedroom and not being able to see it. 

Well it’s been almost two months now! At this point it’s been pretty easy not to buy anything. I’ve been able to come up with solutions to problems or just live without things so far. I think the biggest challenge has honestly been loosing the little rubber thing that goes on your headphones. I lost the right one so I haven’t really been able to use the right headphone thing. Well I can use it, its just less comfortable because its just plastic in my ear and it doesn’t stay put if I move, but having slightly uncomfortable headphones is the biggest first world problem I’ve ever heard of so I’m not really going to complain about it. Besides that I haven’t truly needed to buy anything yet.