I'm not a huge fan of the baby shower. I actually find it a little appalling just how many "things" people want for their babies, even if they don't have room to store them or if they have previous children and have many of the items they need. Except in blue. Or in pink.
I believe gender specific colors is another way manufactures promote and ensure multiple purchases. And we all fall for it. Because it would be horrible if a little girl had to ride around in a blue car seat. Or vice versa. . .
And while I was happy to help a new mom who otherwise might not be able to provide diapers for her baby, I was less than thrilled by the $200 worth of decorations that went in the garbage can after the party was over.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Not alone
The more I actively try to limit the amount of money I am spending on unnecessary things, the more aware I am of other people doing the same thing.
While blog stalking today, I came across a site from a site from a site and I can't find it now. I left a comment, so maybe she will find me! :)
She said:
3. Consumer Mentality- CONFESSION: I love to consume things, especially new things. I love the thrill of seeing it pass over the scanner, drop into the plastic shopping bag, and leave in my arms. I love experiencing the excitement of ripping into the package and admiring my new "kill". Coming to terms with my consumer mentality and the effects it was/is having on my family, my pocket, my world was/is painful. It all boils down to self-centeredness.
I appreciate how she summed up that sometimes need to have the experience of conquering the store. There is a certain satisfaction in owning something. Even if it's poorly made and useless. Weird.
We have been fighting our battle here still. Maybe not as diligently as we should be, but fighting it anyway. I feel like I conquer one thing, such as the over stocked T shirts for my boys, and I'm just putting the money into something else non-essential.
It's a struggle every time I enter a store, which is an excellent excuse to stop shopping entirely!
While blog stalking today, I came across a site from a site from a site and I can't find it now. I left a comment, so maybe she will find me! :)
She said:
3. Consumer Mentality- CONFESSION: I love to consume things, especially new things. I love the thrill of seeing it pass over the scanner, drop into the plastic shopping bag, and leave in my arms. I love experiencing the excitement of ripping into the package and admiring my new "kill". Coming to terms with my consumer mentality and the effects it was/is having on my family, my pocket, my world was/is painful. It all boils down to self-centeredness.
I appreciate how she summed up that sometimes need to have the experience of conquering the store. There is a certain satisfaction in owning something. Even if it's poorly made and useless. Weird.
We have been fighting our battle here still. Maybe not as diligently as we should be, but fighting it anyway. I feel like I conquer one thing, such as the over stocked T shirts for my boys, and I'm just putting the money into something else non-essential.
It's a struggle every time I enter a store, which is an excellent excuse to stop shopping entirely!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Check this out
An interactive site to help you see how your consumption affects the planet.
http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences/
http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences/
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Freegans
OK, I'm not ready to go trash picking for food, but I'm feeling pretty close in a lot of other areas. . .
Check out this Oprah link I found today.
http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200802/20080227/slide_20080227_350_101.jhtml
Check out this Oprah link I found today.
http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200802/20080227/slide_20080227_350_101.jhtml
Traveling
It is not easy to limit consumption when traveling and preparing to travel. Even if you have sunscreen at home, you still have to buy more once you get there. Or try to explain to FSA why a life of limited consumption should qualify you larger items through security. . .
The biggest thing that's killing me right now is clothes. Several kids have outgrown their stuff. I don't have time to sort through thrift shops for used stuff, so I am stuck buying new clothes. Expensive and frustrating. I am donating and/or using (for cleaning rags) every time of outgrown clothing, but I still wish I had time to thrift shop. The kids are quite fine with their new clothes.
The biggest thing that's killing me right now is clothes. Several kids have outgrown their stuff. I don't have time to sort through thrift shops for used stuff, so I am stuck buying new clothes. Expensive and frustrating. I am donating and/or using (for cleaning rags) every time of outgrown clothing, but I still wish I had time to thrift shop. The kids are quite fine with their new clothes.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Sums it up
And this is why our country is in trouble right now:
"People were relying on home equity to maintain consumption. They can't keep doing that once the equity's gone," said Dean Baker, co-director at the Center of Economic Policy Research. "Undoubtedly, this is one reason for the falloff in consumption in last couple of months."
Home equity fueled spending. Pure insanity.
"People were relying on home equity to maintain consumption. They can't keep doing that once the equity's gone," said Dean Baker, co-director at the Center of Economic Policy Research. "Undoubtedly, this is one reason for the falloff in consumption in last couple of months."
Home equity fueled spending. Pure insanity.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Birthday Parties
I wonder when the shift happened that everyone decided a birthday party had to cost a fortune. I am guilty of spending too much myself. The kids are not going to be thrilled to realize that part of our anti-consumerism year includes cutting back or excluding extravagant parties. I'm not really looking forward to telling them.
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