May we all find comfort, happiness and many blessings at our hearths in 2015.
Now, to get down to business! I have declared 2015 to be the Year of No Superfluous Spending. (I toyed with the title Non-Essential Spending as well, but just loved the word superfluous too much not to use it!)
After moving house, I have discovered that our family has an embarrassing surfeit of 'stuff'. Admittedly, most of it is mine, in the form of yarn, fabric and books.
Online shopping is just way too easy and way too tempting! Even when I make the resolution to not buy any more, those email alerts or Facebook feeds keep coming up with new sales and specials that just cannot be passed up.
Yarn, oh yarn - you are my downfall!
When moving and thus collecting all the yarn from the far-flung corners of the house, it has turned into an astonishingly large pile (ah, mountain!) of yarn. I have definitely hit S.A.B.L.E. (Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy) unless, of course, I live to be 300! I am feeling shame at the amount of yarn I have accumulated, to be honest, as I would hate to add it up in dollar terms. But I have decided not to de-stash, but simply to accumulate no more and to work on knitting it up, particularly as gifts.
I think a lot of my problem with excessive purchases of yarn and other craft items is simply lack of organisation. I often purchase a new 'whatever', even though I know I have one already, as I do not remember where it is!
Enter a new storage plan. I have begun crating up and labeling everything and will continue this (it is not a quick solution!) Our garage will be wall to wall shelving and this should, in theory, make everything readily accessible and prevent excess purchasing due to misplacing items.
Books, oh books - you are my other downfall!
 |
| See, this is my idea of heaven, whereas hubby's eye is twitching uncontrollably just looking at this picture! |
I must also remember to tell myself that a bargain is not a bargain if you do not need it, no matter how cheap it is! I am terrible at resisting purchases that are on super-special, as it is such a bargain and surely we will use it some day. For example, having 64 new blue pens (yes, I counted them!) as I always buy school supplies when they are marked right down after the school year has started. No more of that!
So, where am I heading with all this? In the Year of No Superfluous Spending, surprisingly there is to be no superfluous spending! Fairly self-explanatory, I hear you say. Well, let us see if I can try and tweak this (ok, admit it, I mean cheat!) by sneaking some yarn and books by as absolutely essential. I have no delusions that I will not try this at some point.
I am still thinking of how I will document this without boring you all with lists of figures. I am hoping that this will lead on to savings in other areas as well. After all, I should have heaps more free time to cook and garden more, with all the time freed up from scrolling through pages of yarn for sale on the internet!
I would love to hear any ideas you have or how you managed to stop succumbing to spending temptation.
Wish me luck!
That's a great plan. I, too, am a victim of the simplicity of online shopping. I recently set up an account at ebates, which made it even more enticing -- cash back on purchases. But, I'm also going to try to stop buying anything not needed. Need vs want is hard these days, but need should be the reason for buying, not want. And repairing broken items should be a priority over buying new!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely true. I don't know many people at all that mend clothes any more. I think some people think I am strange not to just buy new when something has a tear. I have a friend who has to ask her mum to sew on buttons when they come off her son's school shirt. I love to make do - it really gives you a great feeling of satisfaction.
DeleteI am the say I spend so much money on yarn or scrapbooking supplies! I need to get better... :) Have a Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too! There is just too much lovely stuff out there - I have to hide my eyes from it.
DeleteI Go in spurts with spending on yarn and luckily I go through dry periods when I don't buy yarn so I guess the spending balances out. I do have a set amount set aside for personal pursuits.
ReplyDeleteI do that too. That is why at the moment, easy peasy. But soon I will reach a spot where I really NEED to buy some more yarn and I hope I can hang on!
DeleteI have no hints, tips, or suggestions. Mostly because I seriously SUCK at it. Good luck on your journey.
ReplyDeleteHa ha - honesty is the best policy! We will see how I go - don't know if I will able to resist new yarn all year! Blogging is bad for that really, as you see all the gorgeous patterns and yarn other people are using and they give you too many ideas.
DeleteHey Jayne great to hear you are back on line. I hope the moving is going well, I have done it quite a few times and sort of got it down to a fine art, but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it at all :-). Blessings to you and your family belatedly for Christmas and the New Year.
ReplyDeleteI suppose for me to stop the spending (I also have heaps of fabric and the yarn is building) is to actually not have the money to spend. Our budget is quite tight lately so I just can't afford to shop for non necessities. Maybe you could start a savings plan with the spare cash so you don't spend it on non essential items. All the best with that one :-) will be praying it goes well for you. Looking forward to catching up once you have shaken your house and settled in. Blessings from ours to yours.
Thanks so much! Moving is a pain, but we are getting there. I have just been moving chickens this afternoon - so much more to move when you have animals as well. I would love to catch up sometime. I think you know which is our house? Drop in anytime you are passing - kettle's always on here!
DeleteThanks for the invite Jayne will see how we go. I think we are having a spinning day again in a week or two, will let you know. Blessings
DeleteHey Jayne, thanks for linking up at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings
Delete