The Compact: Day 1

Last week, I had this idea. How about buying nothing. I'd heard about it before, of course. I'd tossed it around in my mind. But last week it finally clicked. I read about The Compact and I liked what I read. So I decided to give it a go. I'm making up some rules as I go, but here's the plan thus far:

RULES
1. Don't buy new products of any kind.
2. Borrow it or buy it used.

FINE PRINT

1. Okay to buy new food, drink, toiletries, and necessary medicine. Limited to three meals purchased outside of the house per week (coffee and a muffin counts here... it's my vice).

2. Okay to buy necessary cleaning products (but try to make them when you can).

3. Okay to buy undergarments (utilitarian – not couture/ornamental [to this rule Jonathan said "Ornamental?! It's not Christmas!" Clearly I don't buy couture or ornamental underthings]).

4. Okay to buy new clothes/items for Evelyn when absolutely necessary and if I can’t find them second-hand.

5. Okay to use services (veterinarian, plumber, mechanic) as needed; try to go local/use salvaged parts/do only what’s necessary and not elective things. (I will probably fail with the mechanic part since we really only trust the Toyota dealership with the Prius.)

6. Recreational services (massage, salon, etc.) – good as gifts; don’t overindulge for self; go local.

7. Charitable contributions – always okay and great as gifts.

8. Magazines, newspapers, Netflix – okay to maintain but no new subscriptions.

9. Travel is allowed; but no buying new stuff just because you’re on vacation.

10. Okay to buy school stuff as needed (pens, paper, textbooks) – not gratuitously.

Yes, I see the irony in having 2 rules and 10 exceptions. Oh, and my friend Marlo also said that it's okay to buy stuff that you're going to use to make stuff. Like, I could buy yarn that I'm going to use to make Evelyn some hand-knit babylegs, or some crocheted hats, or what have you.

I'm pretty much stoked to try this though. I hope that it encourages me to be creative and avoid impulse buys (that I usually regret anyway). I also have a pretty huge motivator. I'm going to save my monthly spending money and put it toward a trip with my little college posse. We've talked about going on a cruise together... we'll see!

I'm committing to six months of The Compact. I'll provide periodic updates of my progress from now until April 18, 2011!