PLATEOFSTARS's CalorieKing blog
Tuesday, Aug 3 2010 - Buy Nothing Month
View PLATEOFSTARS's food & exercise for this day
Today is the official launch of "Buy Nothing Month" for me. Normally this sort of thing wouldn't bother to be mentioned here... but I'm finding that Buy Nothing Month, an unexpected by-product is that I will have to plan very well my meals in advance which is going to help me stay on track with calories. Yes! 
Buy Nothing Month means I will not spend money on:
- Clothing
- Presents (if I want to give a present, I have to make it)
- Entertainment (e.g. concerts)
- Eating out
What I will spend money on:
- standing appointments (e.g. cello lessons)
- necessary expenses (e.g. metropass, hygiene products, cello rental, etc)
- groceries ($150/week maximum)
- small weekly "allowance" (I'm thinking $20 for coffee or a snack in case I haven't packed enough food... kind of 'emergency' money)
These are considered cheating:
- Letting others pay for something and telling them I'll pay them back in September
- Letting others pay for something as a "present" (I'm NOT learning how to be a mooch, after all)
- "stocking up" before August
Benefits:
- budget "detox"; see clearly what money I can save if I'm more discerning
- force myself to find new and cheap ways to have fun
- make myself better plan ahead my meals for the day and consequently my calories
It will be an interesting month... I'll let you know how it goes! Let's see if my self-discipline I've been able to find with losing weight will transfer to my spending!!
In the meantime, here's a nice picture of me from my trip to Montreal on the weekend.
Buy Nothing Month means I will not spend money on:
- Clothing
- Presents (if I want to give a present, I have to make it)
- Entertainment (e.g. concerts)
- Eating out
What I will spend money on:
- standing appointments (e.g. cello lessons)
- necessary expenses (e.g. metropass, hygiene products, cello rental, etc)
- groceries ($150/week maximum)
- small weekly "allowance" (I'm thinking $20 for coffee or a snack in case I haven't packed enough food... kind of 'emergency' money)
These are considered cheating:
- Letting others pay for something and telling them I'll pay them back in September
- Letting others pay for something as a "present" (I'm NOT learning how to be a mooch, after all)
- "stocking up" before August
Benefits:
- budget "detox"; see clearly what money I can save if I'm more discerning
- force myself to find new and cheap ways to have fun
- make myself better plan ahead my meals for the day and consequently my calories
It will be an interesting month... I'll let you know how it goes! Let's see if my self-discipline I've been able to find with losing weight will transfer to my spending!!
In the meantime, here's a nice picture of me from my trip to Montreal on the weekend.
11 comments so far.
11.
a decade ago
Love the new pic. You look radiant! i love your month long -no excess spending plan. I look forward to reading what you learn about about yourself.
by LILYHIKER
10.
a decade ago
Awesome idea! We have all been working hard to reduce our waistlines and this is a great next step. If my dear wife would consider trying this, we might have to give it a chance for at least a week...
by AARON_GREENE
9.
a decade ago
What a great idea!
You are fantabulous! Are you feeling as great as you are looking?
by MAURABARTLEY
8.
a decade ago
That is an EXCELLENT idea!!!
by SOFTSPOKEN
7.
a decade ago
I love that idea! Cool pic, too.
by JENDF
6.
a decade ago
Nicole, I do that sort of thing to myself every now and again...put myself on a no spending spree. Glad to know others do it too. And by the way, very nice picture! You look as if you've been thin all your life!! LOL
by DIAMONDWOMAN
5.
a decade ago
Love, love, love the new pic. You look beautiful!
:)
Good luck with buy nothing month
by MRSDSB
4.
a decade ago
I have heard of it! I decided not to read it until after I'm done my buy nothing month so it doesn't change how I approach it. I sort of came up with the idea and started telling friends (so they know in advance not to invite me out for meals, coffee, etc) and then someone mentioned the book to me. I will get it, out of the library of course - once I'm done August.
:clown1:
by PLATEOFSTARS
3.
a decade ago
have you read Judith Levine's "not buying it"? It might be fun to check out of your library as you undertake this social experiment. I loved that book- she did something like what you are doing and writes about the social theory of consumption, too. I thought it was awesome.
:y:
Great picture!
by NEIMANMARXIST
2.
a decade ago
Cool idea! actually when I stopped eating *out* and just ate what I packed for lunch everyday, I was amazed how long I could make $20 last.
:wink3:
by THORNEAPPLE
1.
a decade ago
WOW! You look fine, girl!
Interesting, your Buy Nothing Month! Is this part of a larger movement like the "Wear only 6 items of clothing for a month" group?
Even thinking about such efforts is good for all of us. I know I'm too much of a consumer. I need to go on a "No new art supplies for a year" plan!!!!
by RKYROAD