Happy New Year Compactors! January thread - Page 3

[wechoosethis]

Well I used the last of my "coffee shop" gift card, so no more "glamorous" coffee for me, atleast for awhile. DH and I are limiting ourselves to $50/mo of food/coffee out, so that is either one dinner date or 5 coffee dates a month or one family dinner out.

[boogiemonster]

Originally Posted by swellmomma

nope st. albert. I have not been to the one on whyte, is it a good one? OF course it does nothing for my decluttering if I keep shopping lol I take it you are in Edmonton too, cool.

No, but my sister lives close so I'd love to drop in there sometime. I stopped by during Fringe once but they were closed due to lack of staff. Seems like they're up and running again.

I seem to end up at Goodwill more often than not. I heart Goodwill. Much more than the VVs...although the one on Whyte is pretty good. I got DD1's Halloween costume there for $8. It was adorable.

See?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ72qpS67Fk

Wow, I'm really off-topic here. Sorry, mamas.

[swellmomma]

Originally Posted by boogiemonster

No, but my sister lives close so I'd love to drop in there sometime. I stopped by during Fringe once but they were closed due to lack of staff. Seems like they're up and running again.

I seem to end up at Goodwill more often than not. I heart Goodwill. Much more than the VVs...although the one on Whyte is pretty good. I got DD1's Halloween costume there for $8. It was adorable.

See?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ72qpS67Fk

Wow, I'm really off-topic here. Sorry, mamas.

I'm gonna keep it off topic for 2 seconds longer lol I hate VV too, the smell when I walk in gets me. I love Goodwill, I usually hit the one on teh westend up by WEM. OTherwise I go to the Sally Ann in St. ALbert or a kids consignment shop in St. Albert I love. All depends what I am searching for. That costume is so precious, love the stinger wiggle.

[HipGal]

So far, so good! Of course, it is only day 3.

Dd wants a tricycle for her birthday and in the past I probably would have gone to the toy store. Now I'm checking out Craiglist and finding some nice Kettlers out there! Ds needs a new helmet, but I will buy that new since I consider it a safety item.

Originally Posted by mumkenna&lucas

On one hand I am buying something "new". On the other hand, I am changing from disposables and I am helping a wahm..Now I find out how horrible dryer sheets are. I "could" stop buying them and change to something else, but that would break my compact So confused..this is hard..

I know where you are coming from. I purposely bought a snap-setter before January so I could make mama pads. But then I ended up using the snaps that came with it for ds's waldorf doll's shirt and overalls instead! So I have to decide if buying new snaps is worth not buying disposable pads. It is kind of a trade off. But I also bought a diva cup so I might be able to get away with the mama cloth that I already have!

RE: dryer sheets - we just don't use anything. Occasionally our fleece pjs come out a bit staticy, but otherwise everything seems fine.

Looking forward to compacting in 2008 with y'all!

[RedAnt]

no more unwanted catalogs!

An easy way to get off unwanted catalog mailing lists:

http://www.catalogchoice.org/

Definitely helps calm my shopping urges.

[rainbowmoon]

Originally Posted by HipGal

So far, so good! Of course, it is only day 3.

Dd wants a tricycle for her birthday and in the past I probably would have gone to the toy store. Now I'm checking out Craiglist and finding some nice Kettlers out there! Ds needs a new helmet, but I will buy that new since I consider it a safety item.



I know where you are coming from. I purposely bought a snap-setter before January so I could make mama pads. But then I ended up using the snaps that came with it for ds's waldorf doll's shirt and overalls instead! So I have to decide if buying new snaps is worth not buying disposable pads. It is kind of a trade off. But I also bought a diva cup so I might be able to get away with the mama cloth that I already have!

RE: dryer sheets - we just don't use anything. Occasionally our fleece pjs come out a bit staticy, but otherwise everything seems fine.

Looking forward to compacting in 2008 with y'all!

a ball of tin foil thrown in with your clothes helps with the static

I really want to to try the diva cup. (cloth pads are way too uncomfortable here in our triple degree summers!) I had the keeper from a co-op here, but never used it so i resold it to a mama here.

[SugarAndSun]

DH is also onboard! Neither of us are spending much anyway though since we are paying down debt. I am thinking the touch part will be birthdays.

I did go to the store today, but only spent the gift card amount exactly (since I actually don't want to give any of my money to big box stores) and only bought food and safety items. I bought stainless steel coffee mugs for dh and I since we can't find any used (have checked for months) and we have been drinking our coffee out of plastic. I don't know if this real safety issue, but I feel it is.

[rainbowmoon]

btw I just realized all my cloth pads are fleece/flannel. maybe that is the problem I have a pile of old tie dyes and towels here I was going to donate or use as rags. I think I will make some new cotton/terry pads for summer! I think I will ask for the diva for my bday though!

[mamaveggie]

Originally Posted by RedAnt

An easy way to get off unwanted catalog mailing lists:

http://www.catalogchoice.org/

Definitely helps calm my shopping urges.

Thanks for the link. I got 5 catalogs in the mail yesterday and I was looking at all of the great clearance deals. I usually feel motivated to go shopping after looking through them, but I tossed them all into the recycle bin instead of keeping them around.

[wechoosethis]

So I have something I am struggling with. I have awesome photo albums that I purchased a few years ago (honestly) I am finally at the point where I am ready to fill them. But I have to print pictures from my computer. Am I totally going against Compacting to upload and get pictures printed??

[rainbowmoon]

I think pictures are a great thing to spend $ on! I say go for it!

I sometimes feel there is too much stressing on the compact "rules". I see so much about frugality and guilt over "breaking" the rule of not buying ANYTHING on these compacting threads. I don't think compacting is all about frugality though either and being no spend. I think it is slightly flawed and unrealistic to expect not to spend any money at all for a year or extended periosd of time anyway! (especially if you don't live in a great city like SF with a plethora of resources at your fingertips ie; freecycle, etc. like many of us!) so for me compacting is more a state of mind. trying to decrease my footprint and dependance on "stuff" in general. using stuff I already have. but, personally I am still going to spend money, though I am going to think alot harder where and what I am spending my money on. and not just shop frivoulously/mindlessly. just overall buy, use and need less "stuff" in general. anyway jmho so take it fwiw!

[wechoosethis]

Originally Posted by rainbowmoon

I think pictures are a great thing to spend $ on! I say go for it!

I sometimes feel there is too much stressing on the compact "rules". I see so much about frugality and guilt over "breaking" the rule of not buying ANYTHING on these compacting threads. I don't think compacting is all about frugality though either and being no spend. I think it is slightly flawed and unrealistic to expect not to spend any money at all! (especially if you don't live in a great city like SF with a plethora of resources at your fingertips ie; freecycle, etc.) so for me compacting is more a state of mind. trying to decrease my footprint and dependance on "stuff" in general. personally I am still going to spend money, but I am going to think alot harder where and what I am spending my money on. and not just shop frivoulously/mindlessly. just buy and use less "stuff" in general. anyway jmho so take it fwiw!

So totally how I have been feeling. Not just spending to spend. Not just buying without thinking. Assessing our needs and desires and then going from there. I want to changed my thinking, not just put off purchasing until next month, year, etc. ITA with what you had to say!!

[boogiemonster]

Originally Posted by #4ishere

So I have something I am struggling with. I have awesome photo albums that I purchased a few years ago (honestly) I am finally at the point where I am ready to fill them. But I have to print pictures from my computer. Am I totally going against Compacting to upload and get pictures printed??

I'm pretty sure lots of Compacters write photo developing into their exceptions.

Oh, happy update on the black dye situation: someone actually emailed me about my Freecycle post and offered me some! Woo hoo! I picked it up today.

Also, a good day at Goodwill: a huge Pyrex with a lid, some glass storage jars for my pantry, and a striped wool sweater that I can cut up for longies and mitts. Double woo hoo!

[mumkenna&lucas]

Originally Posted by rainbowmoon

so for me compacting is more a state of mind. trying to decrease my footprint and dependance on "stuff" in general. using stuff I already have. but, personally I am still going to spend money, though I am going to think alot harder where and what I am spending my money on. and not just shop frivoulously/mindlessly. just overall buy, use and need less "stuff" in general. anyway jmho so take it fwiw!

I think that was well said and that is how I am looking at this also (even though I am grateful for the $$ saved as well) So, saving money is just an added bonus.

[sunanthem]

WE just talked about this on my local compactors yahoo group. One person there said they are consumables, so its ok to print pictures, and such a less expensive way to do it when you print your own.

[Ravin]

Originally Posted by RedAnt

I am so glad there isn't an Ikea anywhere close to me! That would be my downfall for sure. I think you hit on something so key though. I am planning to avoid all big box stores, and only go into stores for very specific purposes without DD. I'll be able to get through stores quicker without her, and she won't see toys and other tantrum illiciting things. Beyond that though, I'm getting off of all store email and paper catalog lists. If I don't SEE it, then I don't WANT it - especially during the ever-tempting 70% off Christmas sales.

Avoiding big box stores altogether is impossible for me because I work in one. I'm finding it easier and easier to ignore the sales, though. I guess it helps because it's Wal-Mart and before going to work there I hadn't shopped the place in quite a long time. I hate their clothes and shoes, and most of the rest of the store I can completely avoid because I don't pass through it on my way to the break room/time clock. I do grocery shop there quite a bit, but you've gotta buy food and I figure I'm saving gas by not driving someplace else.

I'm actually planning to take back a recent purchase that I only made because they gave me a stupid coupon as an excuse for a Christmas "bonus". It was a tent heater that I've decided isn't the best choice for us.

[SugarAndSun]

Originally Posted by rainbowmoon

I think pictures are a great thing to spend $ on! I say go for it!

I sometimes feel there is too much stressing on the compact "rules". I see so much about frugality and guilt over "breaking" the rule of not buying ANYTHING on these compacting threads. I don't think compacting is all about frugality though either and being no spend. I think it is slightly flawed and unrealistic to expect not to spend any money at all for a year or extended periosd of time anyway! (especially if you don't live in a great city like SF with a plethora of resources at your fingertips ie; freecycle, etc. like many of us!) so for me compacting is more a state of mind. trying to decrease my footprint and dependance on "stuff" in general. using stuff I already have. but, personally I am still going to spend money, though I am going to think alot harder where and what I am spending my money on. and not just shop frivoulously/mindlessly. just overall buy, use and need less "stuff" in general. anyway jmho so take it fwiw!

Well said!

[swellmomma]

Okay so this past week I visited fast foods places twice. BUT over all I have done well, I get a free tv tomorrow. Ours broke so an online aquiantence from a local board is giving me their old one that they planed to take to good will. Now that is a purchase I would not have made even at good will so bonus to me.

[wechoosethis]

Originally Posted by swellmomma

Okay so this past week I visited fast foods places twice. BUT over all I have done well, I get a free tv tomorrow. Ours broke so an online aquiantence from a local board is giving me their old one that they planed to take to good will. Now that is a purchase I would not have made even at good will so bonus to me.

AWESOME about the free tv. I am wondering what we will do if something like that happens this year. I guess if it was a TV we would be fine, we don't watch it anyway (we have no cable) only watch a few movies, but if it was the computer we would have to buy a new one, we use it for DH's business.

[swellmomma]

Originally Posted by #4ishere

AWESOME about the free tv. I am wondering what we will do if something like that happens this year. I guess if it was a TV we would be fine, we don't watch it anyway (we have no cable) only watch a few movies, but if it was the computer we would have to buy a new one, we use it for DH's business.

We are the same way, only use it for videos don't have cable. SO I didn't care about it being broken beyond knowing no more videos. But the kids were really bummed. If it was my computer I think I would cry lol It took me 3 years to save up for this computer and I need it for the kids schooling. I do have a 2nd one but it is not as good as this one, so I guess it would do the job.