Simple Living Manifesto No. 17
Posted on August 31st, 2011
(This post is part of a series. You can see the other posts here.)
Limit your buying habits. If you are a slave to materialism and consumerism, there are ways to escape it. I was there, and although I haven’t escaped these things entirely, I feel much freer of it all. If you can escape materialism, you can get into the habit of buying less. And that will mean less stuff, less spending, less freneticism. Read more.
Penury and living on one income are good for this. Also, crushing amounts of debt and living in one room (where would I put new things?). I just splurged on those cute red rain boots and a necklace, but yeah, at the moment I’m wearing clothes older than Pea, driving a car twice as old as Pea, and right now my idea of a good time involves finishing all the books I’ve started (which is a lot) because they’re already paid for.
My weakness is for hats. Fortunately, I just organized my hats and was reminded of the extent of my winter hat collection, so aside from needing wanting a red hat or a hat with red trim (I have one, but it has no brim), I’m set.
Anyway, this is a “duh” sort of prompt. Yes, life is simpler with less stuff and less debt.
I’ll give it a caveat: when you do spend money, buy quality. I eat on the same set of Pfaltzgraff dishes I’ve had for almost 20 years. Our furniture isn’t luxurious, but wasn’t cheap and will last a long time.
As to clothes, if you buy timeless pieces of clothing that fit you well, they’ll last. Resist trends: I don’t think there are many women over thirty-five who can pull off trendy clothing, especially in a professional setting, anyway. (I’m thinking of one lawyer who was only a couple of years older than I was, but who looked decades older because she tried so hard to dress and look young.)
Regarding shoes: try to pick cute-but-timeless shoes that will likewise age relatively well. (I am a huge fan of Mary Janes and T-straps for this reason.)
All of my non-work clothes are older than the Babby. And even some of my clothes that are now labeled work clothes and only get used for work are, too. Right now I’m wearing a shirt that’s four years old and a skirt that I bought at one of those NYC stores (http://conwaystores.com/) where everything is $10 in 2002. For the most part, I am spending averse. I was all bummed when I realized today that P.’s pedi appointment would break the X days of no direct spending I’d accrued because of the copay. Heh.
Because we enter all our spending into a program, I love days of no spending. No spending = no data entry!
I totally agree about the quality issue. I have given up on cheap clothes for myself and the boys. I know I can go with LLBean or Land’s End Canvas and get more than one season out of something. Of course I am also not that trendy
I am an LL Bean girl — those clothes last forever! (I think I have four LL Bean coats). M wears clothes out like a kid, and LL Bean lasts the longest (about a year for pants). He seriously has some crazy body chemistry that eats through clothes! I had to get him a ballistic nylon wallet because his body kept eating the leather ones.
I read this yesterday. And although (because?!?) I was supposed to be writing, I went and purged a couple of closets. Gods, it felt SO good. I didn’t realize until much later that this post must have been working away at my subconscious. Thanks, E.H.
I have a hard time writing when I am feeling overwhelmed (by stuff, emotions, obligations) and often can’t until I purge some stuff. So cleansing — go, Maya!