Compacting Mommas Late Summer Thread - Page 4

[Aguazul]

Originally Posted by slvsquared

Well, I talked to dH last night. He wasn't nearly as excited as I am...but he was supportive. We'll see how it goes day to day, especially as I decide NOT to buy things

That's great! Even just having a supportive partner helps greatly. After he sees the great progress you're making, maybe he'll jump on board!

[Aguazul]

Originally Posted by superstella

I've been lurking and reading as well and I have a question for all you mamas, especially given the last post. Any of you have a dp that is NOT on board? My dp is very materialistic, hates not having paper towels (and paper plates for that matter), loves shopping, and does not want to simplify.



Am I doomed, or do you think I could just make a compact for myself instead of my household? Some is better than none, right? And maybe he'll be convinced when he sees how positively it affects me?

You can definitely make a compact for yourself! Will he be supportive of you doing for yourself without pushing it on him? For example, can you use a cloth napkin without making a big deal about even while he's using a paper towel? For cleaning, definitely you could use cloth. Even if he buys unnecessary things for himself or the house, you could just be very deliberate in what you purchase for yourself. Perhaps if you just do all of the little things you can on your end, he will be inspired and get on board with you. And, even if not, you will personally be reducing the impact that you're making on the planet and I bet you other people will become inspired by what you're doing!!!! Please join us, we can give you support and encouragement as you go about it!!!

[VeganCupcake]

Originally Posted by superstella

I've been lurking and reading as well and I have a question for all you mamas, especially given the last post. Any of you have a dp that is NOT on board? My dp is very materialistic, hates not having paper towels (and paper plates for that matter), loves shopping, and does not want to simplify.



Am I doomed, or do you think I could just make a compact for myself instead of my household? Some is better than none, right? And maybe he'll be convinced when he sees how positively it affects me?

My DH isn't materialistic, but he's not against buying anything if he thinks we "need" it. He's also a heavy paper towel user!

I think there's a good chance our reluctant partners will come on board, as long as they don't think we are simplifying just as one of our odd quirks. My DH has really gotten into a lot of the things I do, like the compost and the clothesline, even though he was very reluctant at first.

[superstella]

That is good to know, thank you for sharing your experiences with your reluctant dps. We already use cloth napkins, rags, etc., and I use cds but he won't if he's home with the baby. Also a no-go on cloth wet wipes, although I'm usually the one here and so we only use about 1 package of wet wipes/month or less. Paper towels I just stopped buying lol, and he's made do even though he complains.

I'm in the midst of a LOT of decluttering at the moment, it's very uplifting and inspiring.

[Aguazul]

Originally Posted by superstella

That is good to know, thank you for sharing your experiences with your reluctant dps. We already use cloth napkins, rags, etc., and I use cds but he won't if he's home with the baby. Also a no-go on cloth wet wipes, although I'm usually the one here and so we only use about 1 package of wet wipes/month or less. Paper towels I just stopped buying lol, and he's made do even though he complains.

I'm in the midst of a LOT of decluttering at the moment, it's very uplifting and inspiring.

You're already doing great!!! How exciting!

[slvsquared]

My DH complains at first, then gradually comes around. Sometimes, I've even heard him bragging to friends about "his" environmentally sound idea - cracks me up. Cloth diapers were like that - he hated the idea at first, and now he goes on and on about how much money it saves, how much less waste, etc.. I figure he'll come around to this, too, it just may take awhile. In the meantime, he'll treat it as another of my funny hippie quirks

[erthe_mama]

Thanks for the inspiration, mamas! I think tomorrow will be my declutter day. I'll have to admit that I'm a MAJOR packrat. I have a lot of work ahead of me... and a lot to post on Freecycle.

[Fiestabeth]

So, we committed to doing this just about a month ago. I'm a little frustrated already, because I'm not totally clear on all the rules.

I did make an exemption for school clothes and supplies, just because dd will be going to school for the first time this year (we've been homeschooling until now) and she has to wear uniforms, and she's just really excited about the idea of everything being new, which I can totally relate to so we are happy to provide that experience for her. Next year, on the other hand, she will be reusing as much as possible!

What is really throwing me for a loop though is gifts! We have 5 (yes, 5!) family birthdays from July 23 - Aug. 14. What do you all do for gifts if you are not buying anything new? For people close to us, like both our moms we have gotten creative. Dh made an awesome dinner for his mom's b-day, and I am planning on spending a whole day with my mom, just the two of us, for her gift. I also had a bridal shower yesterday, and I ended up getting a gift card to the store the bride was registered at. Is that okay?

And for two other gifts we just got a coupon in the mail for a new local shopping center, to get a free $15 gift card when you spend $15. So we were going to buy one gift for $15 then give the gift card as a gift. But whatever I spend that $15 on will obviously be new. I feel like I'm breaking rules.

Okay, sorry this is so long. Last question: I have been selling things (mostly clothes) online, both on the TP here and a little on Ebay. All of the clothes are starting to take up a lot of space and I'm feeling crowded. Should I just donate them all, have a garage sale, or take the time necessary to get them all listed for sale online? Or I could keep the items I think will sell best, and donate the rest. Forget that garage sale idea...I don't think I have the time or energy right now. :

Thanks, mamas!!!

[insahmniak]

We just deliberated a gift issue, too. This one's probably a bit easier, though. It's DD's swim instructor, who (whom?) we adore. She's going off to college in a few days and at first I thought I'd just get a gift card, but then it occurred to me that cash would work. In this case it's probably considered a tip. But as I think it over I'm not sure it's such a bad idea for others. For very personal relations I can certainly make something that would be appreciated. But for others I'm going to consider cash and a thoughtfully made card from now on.

[VeganCupcake]

Originally Posted by Fiestabeth

What is really throwing me for a loop though is gifts! We have 5 (yes, 5!) family birthdays from July 23 - Aug. 14. What do you all do for gifts if you are not buying anything new? For people close to us, like both our moms we have gotten creative. Dh made an awesome dinner for his mom's b-day, and I am planning on spending a whole day with my mom, just the two of us, for her gift. I also had a bridal shower yesterday, and I ended up getting a gift card to the store the bride was registered at. Is that okay?

And for two other gifts we just got a coupon in the mail for a new local shopping center, to get a free $15 gift card when you spend $15. So we were going to buy one gift for $15 then give the gift card as a gift. But whatever I spend that $15 on will obviously be new. I feel like I'm breaking rules.

I am as far from an expert on this as anybody, but I totally understand your gift-giving situation. We also have a lot of birthdays and other gift-giving occasions this time of year.

For one person, I'm thinking of giving cash, because it's someone I know could really use basic help with stuff like her electric bill. For others, I'd like to find something locally made, a gift certificate for a local service, or even something nice I could make myself and give.

I'm shying away from chain-store gift cards, because that seems to encourage more consumerism--but I also recognize that it's MY decision to avoid consuming so much, not the recipient's decision! So I guess that means if I can't find something suitable, I'll go for a chain-store gift card.

My personal compact allows for that, so that's why I'm handling it this way.

[jlazx2]

Decluttered more magazines, some of the kids toys & put away some on my older daughters clothes for my younger one.

Bought shoes with $ from grandma for school expenses. Still have money left over.

I am having a hard time with wanting more shoes though.

Getting there!!

[chiromama]

ah, the gift issue. I have a million birthdays to shop for ( a whole years worth!) at the beginning of the summer, because my fam has a big camping trip and we do everyone's birthdays then. I decided I didn't have the time or energy to make stuff, or do all thrifting, so I chose the next best thing. i chose to shop locally and but renewable or reuseable things, like gardening supplies, camping gear, books.

[MamaPam]

One of our girls has a birthday this month and I have also been thinking ahead to Christmas. For my own kids I have no problem with gently used items. This is especially true for some of the pricer stuff we are looking for like wooden dollhouse furniture. So I have been looking on the TP, Freecycle, and Craigslist. If I am not going to buy/trade for something gently used then I will look next to something I can make and local places. For Makayla's birthday one of the things she is getting is some food handmade by another MDC mama. I am learning to knit so that is where some of our Christmas gifts will come from. While it is not part of the original compact I am allowing myself for gifts some more wiggle room on buying new. I'm going to look for used, bartered, and local items first though. In particular I know I will buy some things for my grandmother new. I want to put together practical items in a basket. That will include some handmade cards but also stamps, kleenex etc.

Hope that gives you some ideas. Etsy is also a great place to check out for homemade/handmade items.

[VeganCupcake]

Oops, I bought a book. And I bought it from a huge box store.

Last night DH said he wanted to come with me to the library whenever I next went, because he wanted some new stuff to read. So when I was in said big box store buying cocoa powder, I saw HP and the Deathly Hallows and knew he would love to read it (we're a little behind the times--I'm not a big HP fan, and DH isn't a shopper). So I bought it.

I could have gotten it used, I could have gotten it at a local bookstore, I could have borrowed it from any of the millions of people who have it, but I didn't put in the time to do it.

Shame on me!

[chiromama]

I don't think we should 'shame' our selves or others for stepping out of the compact I think it's more about raising awareness than guilt levels.

[MamaPam]

Where we are in our journey.....

DH and I talked a long time last night about consumerism, stuff, clutter, simplifying, and the idea of compacting. This is the first time we have really talked about "the compact" directly and he had a very positive response. DH is a geek so I was surprised to hear him talking about keeping this computer till it completely wears out and then looking about buying used rather than directly from Apple. DH also brought up going TV free and even at some point getting rid of it. I'm not ready to do that yet but we have canceled our Blockbuster subscription and I have put all the kids movies in the closet. I need to find a place to put ours away. Out of site, out of mind. Its funny that I'm the one having more reservations about letting go of the TV. So far this month I have made something and traded for something DD's birthday present and bought a tea kettle used off the tp rather than buying new.

How is everyone else doing?

[slvsquared]

Doing ok here so far. Went to the grocery store day before yesterday and carried around a "Working Mom" cookbook - quick easy meals, for quite awhile before talking myself into putting it back and writing down the title for my next library visit. Books are going to be an issue for me - looks like I'll get lots of use out of the interlibrary loan feature at our library over the next year

Talked to my dad about the compact, too, as we're going to visit him this weekend. He's very nonmaterialistic himself, and seemed to think it was a really good idea. He's always had issues with how cluttered our house gets, so his take was - if you're not buying new stuff, you can sort through the stuff you already have! Very true.

[erthe_mama]

Originally Posted by MamaPam

DH also brought up going TV free and even at some point getting rid of it. I'm not ready to do that yet but we have canceled our Blockbuster subscription and I have put all the kids movies in the closet.

Is this part of compacting, or something extra?

[MamaPam]

Originally Posted by erthe_mama

Is this part of compacting, or something extra?

Something extra. Although I think it will assist us in keeping the compact since we won't be paying for the Blockbuster subscription, buying new movies etc.

[AngelBee]

Sharing A Proud Moment...

Dh is not really into the whole Compact thing. Doesn't make any sense to him....bless his heart. He is so innocent, he does not even see the evil half of the time.

But I think the idea is rubbing off on him.

Last night, he decided to surprise Abby and pick her up some new skirts/dresses. I had mentioned I was going to stop at Saver's (thrift store to look). He decided to go to Target. He did not like anything there. He was discouraged with the style of clothes for Abby's age (5yr). So.....


He headed to Savers! He picked her up three beautiful dresses!
She loves them! He said, "From now on I will just go to Saver's first!"

We are making progress