I've noticed a few things

I've noticed a few things in my shopping trips and because I'm a list making virgo the rest of this post will be as such...

Things you find in abundance at a thrift shop:

*T-shirts from various Church/School/Family events

*Food processors- wedding gift to many, used by few

*Water Purifiers- To much up-keep. Turn on sink, fill container. WHOAH NOW!

* Wedge Rope Sandals- I question if they were ever in style

*Jeans- Currently 99 cents at my local shop, they have that many. it's 95 outside, low demand

* Stuffed Animals- Quite possibly the grosses thing ever. THROW THEM AWAY!

* VHS- yea, rewind a tape. I-don't-think-so

*Candle Sticks/Holders - It's a yankee candle generation now

*Holiday Decorations- Like the bear that says "you're beary special". Who wouldn't love that man! 

*80's furniture- Fashion and Bold colors making a comeback, furniture not so much

Things you can never find and I need:

* Storage containers- I know women across america spend big at the Container Store and fail to organize!

(I also live in the south where Cool-whip containers are perfectly acceptable tupperware)

* Desk Chair- I have yet to see a completely intact chair

* Water Bottle- Found at a soccer field lost and found nearest you

* Unique picture frames- Your basic shape and style... BOOORRRRING

* Antique Detailed Furniture- See above list

* Sun Dresses- I love them therefore they don't sell them 

* Athletic Clothes- Rare find in the women's department

Ever find anything good at a thrift shop? 

One down, Eleven to go..

It's been a month and buying nothing new and I have to say it wasn't that bad. Ask me this again in two months when its full on summer and there's only about a billion summer dresses I want to buy. I'm sure  my answer will be different. While it wasn't that hard to not buy anything I did learn to avoid just wondering around stores. I still haven't bought any major items for the big move. But the hunt for a couch and bed continue. I hear there's a craig's list ap that makes tracking postings very easy. Now if some one would buy me an iphone or ipad.... 

The great debate

The other day, while explaining my year of nothing new to Mother May, she declared I simply can not buy a used couch. Like any good child I asked why. Her reply: It's simply gross. Does she really think I'd buy a gross couch?? While the giant pile of laundry in my room would prove I'm not neat freak, I'm no slob. Sheesh. 

While I agree a good couch is a good investment you'll keep around a while, There are plenty off good couches for great prices out there on that list of Craig's. We debated and yes it would terribly easy to go to ikea and buy the couch I saw and loved down there. But with there being 3 major colleges in my neck of the woods, Kids are selling their stuff on craig's list after only owning it for a short amount of time. I've already found that exact couch 4 different times on craig's list. I'll have to do is simply go to ikea and get a new slip cover and wa-la! good as new. I'll have to buy a couch one day soon so check back in. Any one out there buy a used couch?? thoughts? Tips??

So far so good.

Well I've decided to go a year of buying nothing new. NOTHING. Ok new underwear and bath towels but I had to draw the line some where people.  Now I'm not doing this to cure some horrible shopaholic lifestyle, save money (not that I'm rich) or save the environment, but more as a challenge for myself. Others may run a marathon, bike across the country, climb Everest. But I've decided to see how creative I can get with decorating and reusing things. I think it will be fun and who knows what adventures it will lead me on. 


Now I have come to my first road block/ shopping lesson. TARGET. While I could easily spend my life savings in that store, I did well not buying anything. My solution, simply to not go to the parts of the store (clothes, home decor) that tempt me. I did not stop and collect my two hundred dollars, I turned a blind eye and buried my head and kept going! Tough? yes. Impossible? no. I can't imagine if I were a true shopaholic. I'll have to think twice about just waltzing into a store these days to look around and kill time. Might just have to carry a good book around with me. Feel free to suggest a good book.