{ the spending diet...weeks 3 + 4 }

Hmmm...this gets harder each week. WHY. OH. WHY? does shopping have to be FUN!?!?! And why are we programmed to do it?

Anyhoo, I did order this book from amazon. Its not at our library and I love her blog and I'm really interested in her green smoothie revolution.

I resisted buying this. And these. And this. And this. And this. All were in shopping cart for 2 days before I shut it down. I did pick up a new soccer ball for Henry and a few small gifts for Samme's birthday party.

I found that the time I like to shop the most is at night after the kids go to bed. So instead I've been turning on a Tracy Anderson DVD and doing mat work or watching West Wing (we have all 7 seasons and on a side note...I declare there has never been a better television show) or reading a book. I've been trying to stay off the computer. And off the aptly named gilt. That helps.

I'm still selling stuff like crazy on ebay & craigslist. I chant, Less is more, less is more.

Came across this quote on the new YouvsDebt website that really resonated with me... "I want my children to know financial peace. I don’t want them to worry about finances. I want them to be able to be free to do what they want to do, regardless of income.” Yes and yes.

How y'all doing? I'm moving onto APRIL. Around and around I GO!

{ the spending diet... week 1 + 2 }

Well... I already knew we weren't going to be totally successful this month because my husband had his eye on this.... Speaking of the ipad2...(note: we don't have an ipad (the first version) but we do have lots of MEpads! ha!;-).... we generally wait for the 2nd generation (lighter, faster, cooler)...but I was thinking that in our house we already own... 2 MacBooks; 2 iphones; 1 itouch (that the kids use?!?! - what 6 1/2 yr old needs to use an itouch?); 2 ipod nano's (sometimes used on runs/workouts); 1 ipod shuffle (no longer used); and apple TV (I don't even know how to use this). I mean, really? At some point isn't enough, enough?

Anyway, the past week we were on spring break with the kids (hiking in Sedona and a water park in Phoenix), and we managed to do good on the spending diet....we ate out a fair amount but we were staying in a hotel so we knew (and planned for) as much. I bought a new toiletry holder at the drugstore (the zipper on mine busted) and a fashion design pad thing for Samme (to keep her quiet & occupied in the hotel room while Henry was napping). But other than that I haven't purchased anything other than food + household items so far this month. (Please note that I was in a 5-mile radius of Anthropologie, Lululemon & Target on the trip and didn't go in them, not even for a peek). I've had stuff sitting in shopping carts online & in the grocery store and managed to abort purchases. I've also been selling a bunch of stuff on ebay too towards the Bora Bora fund. In addition to our Spring Break trip, we've been doing lots of fun, free things (Discovery Museum, Rec Center, hikes, bouncing on the trampoline, bike rides, starting to work on the garden, etc.) and no shopping.

I have this picture (above) of our house on my desk bulletin board to remind me how great it will be to have NO mortgage and this picture of our (fingers crossed) Bora Bora trip for our anniversary next year and a picture of the orphanage in Kenya that I want to go on a mission trip to...all to help keep me motivated to spend our money wisely.

Those of you participating, how's it going so far? How do you stay motivated to stay on track budget wise?

{ on my mind...the spending diet }

Love this quote above via Sherbet Blossom. I've been thinking about this a lot lately especially in light of the Spending Hiatus (beginning today). This year I'm calling it the Spending Diet via Anna at Then She Saved. Because to me it is like a diet - there are still the necessities (mortgage, utilities, gas + healthy food) but there doesn't need to be the random, unnecessary purchases or consumptions like Forever21 clothes and cupcakes. So, the Spending Diet has begun. I will be reporting back on a weekly basis...

{ on my mind...money }

“It's time to get back to a more balanced state of acquiring what I need, when I need it.”

— Martha Beck

Will & I spent some time this weekend going through our finances, trimming the fat from our budget and revisiting some ambitious savings goals (early mortgage payoff fund, retirement savings, college funds, giving plans and travel funds). Additionally we are trying to save a big chunk of change to take a BIG 10 year anniversary/Will's 40th birthday trip to Bora Bora next winter. So with that AWESOME goal in mind, I commence my spending hiatus.

But prior to starting my spending hiatus, I would be remiss if I didn't say that I picked up a few things that I "needed" recently. But I went through a detailed process to figure out what it was I "needed."

Inspired by this great article from Oprah Magazine about how to shop smarter and only acquire what you need, I recently went through my closet (eagerly looking forward to spring's arrival and the shift in clothes that brings) and made a pile of things that I no longer wanted (to donate or sell) and made a small list of things I'd like to acquire (wants) and a few things I need (a relative term for sure). Like I want a cute spring romper and I could use a gray tank top and a pair of black wedge sandals. I am trying to get all of my clothes so that I can mix & match them and coordinate them (think lots of blacks, grays, purples & whites). And am letting go of the cute, but doesn't match with anything, turquoise top and the tan linen pants and the vintage brown & orange Lululemon bag I don't use. The ebay shop is open again.

So, March 1st is the official start of the spring spending hiatus. I'm visualizing money flowing into the "Bora Bora" fund and the kids "i'm setting my kids up for the future" fund and the "I'm going to lie on the beach in our retirement" fund.

Anyone want to join ME?

{ mindful consumption }

That is what I am calling the spending hiatus when I drop the ball on the hiatus part of it {oops}. Many of you have been asking if I'm still doing it and seeking some inspiration for your own...

So, I confess - I've spent some money lately friends. And I'm feeling kind of guilty about it - especially since I had been being so good about saving $ and putting it towards our travel fund, our retirement fund, our pay off the house early fund. But the goods news it has been intentional (and it hasn't been on clothes). So what have I been buying? I spent $ on garden supplies (grasses, veggie plants, flowers, etc.). I bought a new Vitamix. Which I am in love with. I seriously would grab it (right after the children, the photo albums, my laptop and then the vitamix) if my house were ever on fire. I bought a new juicer. With the amount of green juice I am desiring (and the amount my family keeps drinking) I needed one more powerful than my $6 thrift store juicer. I scoured the internet and read a million reviews and finally settled on this one. Oh, and I bought this print from Ink+Wit which I will love looking at everyday. Such a simple, yet potent reminder to focus my day on what's important. I've been spending more money on food lately - healthy, organic goodness. So basically, all of these purchases fall into the home & self improvement/maintenance arena, right? I think I'm feeling the pain of all of it a bit as it comes right on the tail of summer camp payments, house repair stuff, horseback riding lesson fees (yikes), plane tickets, etc. Anyway, I'm done. I've got my kitchen goods and garden stuff and now onwards & upwards of a summer of less consumption period.

More doing and less buying.

{ aahhh...the spending hiatus }

I think I might need to change the name of the spending hiatus. To {the year of mindful consumption}. To {I don't need it so don't buy it} or to {making do with what i have} or to {live well with what i have}.

I know I said last month that I was done with the spending hiatus (and it was a success) and yes, there are a few things on my list of things I'd like to get. But, upon further reflection, they aren't things I NEED. While I would love a VitaMix I have a cheap blender that works fine (albeit slowly). While I'd love a cute new pair of jeans, I have 10 pairs. 10 pairs. I think I have a pair that will work! There are people all over the world (Haiti being majorly on my mind) who have nothing. Nothing. This is what I've been thinking about.

We've also been hit with some untimely repairs (car, new dishwasher after old one died, hot tub died (not fixing or replacing that right now), etc. It seems like we have been burning through money on repairs and replacements lately.

I am doing a tradeshow in a few weeks in San Francisco and I was like, oh I want to get some new clothes (especially after these adorable suggestions) and maybe a new pair of comfy shoes, but then I looked through my closet and I STILL have so many clothes. Even after my ebay purge of 2009. I have lots of clothes. I have comfy 5 year old danskos that will work just fine. So I'm going shopping in my own closet.

I don't need anything. Repeat, I don't need anything. So, I'm thinking I may carry forth on my spending hiatus in 2010. Joslyn just ramped hers back up for the next 60 days. In particular when it comes to clothes and things we don't need. Not because I HAVE TO like last year but because I WANT TO. Hmmm...

So in light of all of these things I'm ramping back up. Full disclosure people.

{ps - but maybe, just maybe.... i'll reward myself with a new pair of jeans after my p90x challenge is over!}

Who's in with ME?


image above via flickr

{ keep spending + stay in debt }

Holy questions people...I think I have gotten more emails asking personal finance questions than I do about my products since my guest post on Man vs Debt (that may be called bad marketing on my part because I am the organization guru not personal finance!)... ;0 And believe you me, when I say I am no financial guru. I don't think I ever even looked at our bank accounts until about 18 months ago. I was clueless. But not anymore. My husband and I have big plans and that means saving a ton of money, paying off our house in the next 5 years and having a great travel fund so we can travel internationally for 4-6 weeks each year.

Anyway, the question I get most frequently seems to be that you TRY not to spend and do good for a few weeks and then fall off the bandwagon big time...I got one email last week from a mom of one who has over $80,000 in debt - school loans, credit cards, vehicle loans, etc...and still shops for cute designer clothes for her son each week. They struggle to make rent, she isn't working right now and they have no savings or emergency fund. This isn't a good scenario. The bottom line is, you can't get out of debt if you keep spending money. I would encourage her to think about her son's future - does she want him to have to take care of her when she is older, does she want him to wind up with thousands of dollars of school loan debt because she can't help him go to school? And if they want to buy a home someday, they need to pay off the debt and set up a savings account for a down payment (home loans don't come so easy anymore). What advice do you have for her on ways to NOT fall off the spending hiatus wagon?

Some things that have worked for me in helping ME not fall off the spending hiatus completely (note: there have been a few slip ups here and there) have been to avoid my personal triggers (Target & Anthropologie in particular). Don't GO shopping. If you put something in an online shopping cart leave it there for a day (unless of course it is a LobotoME notepad!) and see if you still feel that same urge a day later. Find something else to do instead of shopping. Shopping should not be a hobby. And if you do feel the urge, go to the thrift store with $10 in your pocket and that's it. See what treasure you can find (things that I've found recently at the thrift store - new winter boots for Sam ($2), a food dehydrator ($3), a vaporizer for Henry's room ($3), a great piano ($150) - Samme's Christmas present, Christmas craft stuff ($1), vintage Parents Magazine children's books ($.10), Brand new ice-skates for Samme ($5) - another Christmas present, etc.

Many of you have asked if I am going to keep at it with the spending hiatus....after 9 months I can enthusiastically say NO! ;) But I do believe my spending habits are forever altered. I don't anticipate going on a shopping binge anytime soon (although there are a few things on my wish list - this, this and this in particular).

Here are some tips for developing a saving & spending plan for 2010:
- Set specific, realistic goals
- Take control of your finances - know how much is coming in and how much is going out.
- Create a monthly spending plan for you & your family (make sure to include room for unexpected expenses and for some fun!)
- Pay down debt (especially credit card debt).

ps - Here's a great spending hiatus/budgeting article via Amy and another one on the Choosing Voluntary Simplicity blog on knowing WHY you buy. Here is also a great post about 3 little white lies we tell ourselves when spending money.

“The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want now.” -Zig Zigler

Great print pictured above available here.

{ ME vs. debt }

Check out my guest post today on Man vs. Debt ---- How I paid of $15,000 in school loans in 9 months by selling 'stuff' on ebay.

ps. Thank you Colgate for the wonderful (albeit expensive) education. However, I am equally as thankful to finally done with my school loans. Hooray!

{ ebay round 413...and yes i'm selling my frye boots }

What is the world coming too? Listing what could be the coolest pair of boots ever made? I just don't wear them hardly ever. I know I probably should. I should rock them out with a cute pair of skinny jeans and a long tunic and be hip. But I'm not going to. I wear my yoga pants most days or my super comfy and not skinny joe's jeans. And I just have come to the realization that I don't NEED a HUGE closet full of stuff (just in case I might someday want to wear something again). I know what I like to wear and that isn't going to change. So, I've got some more lovely stuff up on my ebay shop. And I'm so so so so close to paying off my school loans ($15,000) with the ebay sold stuff to date. So close. So, who wants my loved Frye boots (size 7.5)? ;-)

{ the spending hiatus is still going on...and on...and on }

While I haven't written much lately about my spending hiatus I am still on it. In fact I wrote a guest post over at Daily Worth yesterday about how it's going so far... I know there are still skeptics out there who think they can't do it. But you can. And it gets easier as time goes on.

I even found that at one point, I caved and bought a new bag, and as soon as it arrived I returned it because I didn't NEED it. I had others to use. That money would be more wisely spent on something else. That (the act of returning a beautiful bag) would have never happened before. I would have found a way to rationalize the purchase. Somehow.

Anyway, for those of you who have joined ME in the never ending spending hiatus of 2009 how is it going? And for those you who are hesitant - why not join Amanda of Daily Worth next week for a one week spending freeze beginning October 5th? See what happens when you don't buy things, just because. Let me know how it goes.

And for those of you itching to buy something ask yourselves these 4 questions:

• Do I need it?
  
• Can I get it free?
• Can I get it for less?
• Can I get it in exchange for something else?

Topics coming up in the spending hiatus update realm now through year end will include: financial goal setting, a simple Christmas, why I prefer spending plans vs. budgets, a {use up what you have on hand meal planning week}, and how to sell stuff on ebay to bring in extra $ tips.

{ spending hiatus - month 5 }

{aka...the I'd like to go out and buy a bunch of super cute fall clothes but I'm not going to edition, because we are going to MEXICO!}

"To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own even in the midst of abundance." - Buddha

So, its been awhile since I've done a spending hiatus update...I've been continuing to purge, sell some stuff on ebay and craigslist and donate a ton of stuff to goodwill and the woman's shelter. I haven't been shopping in {oh so long}. But, boy do those fall catalogs tempt ME. But, I'm resisting because we are SO ON TRACK to pay off all of our non-mortgage debt (school loans & cars) by Dec. 1st. So, to celebrate doing that and busting our butts to do that this year, Will & I are going to Mexico for a week this winter. Just him + ME. No children. We sort of feel guilty SPENDING $$$ on a vacation when we are kind of used to not spending anything (and when many people we know are struggling), but we will have it saved and set aside for the trip and we really feel strongly about the need to celebrate getting closer to financial independence and we just really, really want/need some time to ourselves. This is our first non-family trip since the kids were born. As Samme would say "For reals people."

Anyway, how are you all doing? I know some of you have been purging and some have been tempted by the fall goodies... Onward & upward people.

{ spending hiatus - month 4: week 3 - the grateful edition }

Trying to find that balance between enjoying life, sharing with the community, getting back into a routine and meeting our financial goals by year-end is what I am thinking about this week....

One of my favorite lines in my favorite book (other than the Twilight books that is), Eat Pray Love, is at the end of Part Two when, after spending four months at an Ashram in India, Elizabeth shares two poems that she's written - the first at the beginning of her stay at the ashram, when she was struggling, and the second one written her last day there after she had found peace and happiness within herself. She writes, "In the the space between the two poems, I have found acres of grace." Acres of grace. I love that.

Last week we had to cancel our last event of the race season due to a super low turnout...We began to get pretty stressed about this as we've never had to do this before but we acknowledged that it was partially out of our control due to the current economic situation. And then we reminded ourselves how lucky we are...we have 3 businesses that are making money, that allow us to work from home with the kids and we have a warm and loving home over our heads.

We reminded ourselves of all of the stories of true suffering in our community, in our country, in our world. I do not wish to diminish or ignore problems of this magnitude. Problems like this remind me that in the midst of trying to spend more wisely, meet out grocery budget with wholesome, organic food and achieve certain financial goals, I don’t want to lose sight of things that are even more important...Our health, a roof over our heads and the fact that we have each other. To this end I am grateful for our abundance and will continue to share it with our community. {Sam & I are going to the food bank this week with a truck full of donations and we dropped off additional items (clothes, books & toys) at the woman's shelter and local school. While she is starting to get the "lessons" on saving, its equally important to reiterate the lessons on "giving and sharing". }

I find myself thinking in terms of acres of gratitude this week...I have so much to be grateful for - happy, healthy children; a loving, kind husband; wonderful parents who I get to see often; Sam's contagious giggle; Henry learning to blow kisses, Sam and Henry's birthparents who chose us; my grandparents who are still alive and able to get to know my children; wonderful friends who are supportive and loving; my health and being cancer free for 8 years; our warm & welcoming home; the men & woman working to protect us everyday against the evil in the world; and the affection of our dirty, but adorable golden retriever.

And because this IS a brain blog....Ellen Weber points out some ways gratitude transforms the human brain in Two Words Can Transform a Workplace. She writes: "Interestingly, the art and science of gratitude grows easier the more you practice it."

Oh, and there was no unnecessary spending this week (other than kickboxing classes which is now considered a necessity!) - in fact we were gifted with a huge bag of peaches from a dear friend and a huge box of hand me down clothes for Henry. {We are grateful - Thank you Liv.}

What are you grateful for, even in times of less?

{ spending hiatus - month 4: week 2 - the cash envelope system }

This week I'm back on track with the spending hiatus and since I don't have anything to confess, I thought I'd answer some questions I've received about the cash spending system I've been using. I've written before about using the cash envelope system...I did buy the Dave Ramsey wallet thing specifically designed for this purpose and it was the ugliest wallet I had ever laid eyes on so I returned it and made my own envelopes with some I had for about .29 cents and stuck them in my uber-cute Sherpani Wallet. There are also some homemade cash envelope options here and here.

Anyway, I've gotten lots of questions about my system... I am not an expert and you will note I still have credit cards. But, I can tell you that it has helped me plan out our purchases and stick to a budget way better than before. I simply decide what our budget for groceries, family excursions, household supplies, garden items, etc. is for a given month (varies due to our travel & work plans) and withdraw that money from the bank and allocate it into the appropriate envelopes. This month we are home for the most part but do have one trip to Moab planned, some company coming into town and some back to school expenses so I have the following cash envelopes:

Week 1 Food
Week 2 Food
Week 3 Food
Week 4 Food
Home & Garden Items (dog food, garden supplies, laundry detergent, etc.)
Family Fun (company in town - hot springs, drinks with girlfriend, Moab Trip, outdoor movie night & mini golf, date night)
Back to school expenses (school supplies, some new outfits & sneakers for sam & back to school lunch out with her)
Babysitters (I have lined out a babysitter for date night)

{ additional notes: Then I put the receipts back into the envelopes to enter online at a later date. I also sometimes take money from one envelope and swap it around which sort of feels like cheating but i figure its okay as long as i'm not withdrawing more cash or charging to a credit card. }

Simple Mom has written some great articles on this subject that you can read here.

And because this is a brain blog, here is a great article entitled Your Brain on Shopping.

Do any of you do the cash envelope thing? How does it work for you?


Here's another pic of the Sherpani Wallet that I have (it fits passports too!)

{ spending hiatus - month 4: week 1 - the falling off the wagon edition }

I was doing SO good... And I stayed out of Anthropologie last week. And I was feeling pretty darn proud of myself. And then, I fell off the wagon. Now, some of this stuff was planned and we had money set aside for it (eg. the pond liner)...but thick plastic is darn expensive and the associated costs (ditch digger, more dirt, manual labor, etc.) caught me a bit off guard...oh and then there were the new trees and the flowers for around the pond...and the metal wind sculpture for the garden...and the new temple bell windchime...and the cute new dress for sam and the new lunchbox for kindergarten... yikes. But, now that this huge landscaping project is done, I'm done. Spending that is. I'm glad I'm not Catholic. This confession stuff isn't fun.

{ spending hiatus - month 3: week 4 - the brain edition }

Scientists have identified the region of the brain responsible for all your bad money moves.... ;-)
"A specific site within the prefrontal cortex, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) is, in fact, among the suspects in the colossal global economic implosion that has recently rocked the globe," according to a new article in Scientific American.

This spending hiatus adventure has helped ME {re-program} my brain with regards to spending. Before, I would see something cute (and often on sale) and think, I like those jeans, they need to come home with ME... Now, I 1) try to stay out of the stores that pose a risk and 2) try to talk to myself about why I think I want those jeans and ultimately out of wanting them. Do I think they will make my butt look good? {yes} ...but so will getting off my ass and going for a run. {note to self: go run now} Do I not have 10 other pairs of similar looking jeans? {yes} 3) Isn't that money better spent on going to MEXICO than on overpriced denim made in China? {yes}

What tricks to do you tell you mind to keep you from spending money?

So, the spending hiatus went well this week... I WILL avoid Anthropologie, Target & The Container Store this weekend, mostly because I don't want to have to confess to all of you! ;-)

With regards to reprogramming our brains...I really feel that mine is now re-programmed to look at money differently...instead of landing a big order that I wasn't expecting and blowing through the money... Now, that money instead is labeled for a very specific purpose (towards either a very specific debt payment or a very specific savings account - travel fund, kids college fund, etc.) This has helped us reach our financial freedom goals more quickly.

I've gotten some emails from some of you participating in the spending hiatus because you or your spouse had gotten laid off...so it was out of necessity for the interim period but now that everyone is re-employed, now what? First, I'd urge all of you to be prepared should that happen again (with a 6-12 month emergency fund). Second, I'd encourage you to look at any non-mortgage debt you are carrying. Now that the income is coming back in, but you've been living below your means, could that extra income go towards paying off your debt more quickly? Third, look long-term...What do you need to be saving for in the future? We really want to be able to pay for 2/3 of our kids education (the other 2/3 will be their responsibility, as it was ours). What that means is we need to be putting a minimum of $4-5,000 a year away into the college fund. We know that our annual travel plans need a fund of $xxxx. Let's keep socking money away into that. And let's max out our IRA's each year. This is an interesting article I came across about "forced frugality" and how easy it is to forget the "lessons" learned once circumstances improve.

I know that some of you are frustrated with your personal finances and your personal debts. I hear you. I do. We bust our butts to make our businesses successful so that we can not only feel at ease and comfortable but so we don't reached a stressed out point. Will & I are both FINALLY on the same page financially and it feels good. Instead of arguing about where the money is going, we celebrate how it is staying and where WE are going! But it takes time and hard work.

Money is a complicated subject matter and it helps to really think about what money means to you...does it = happiness? Here's a great article on the subject.

This year our specific financial goals were to pay off both of our newer vehicles (one down, one to go), pay off my grad school loans (almost done) and to beef up our savings funds (IRA's, kids college funds, travel fund). So far this year, thanks in large part to the spending hiatus, not-traveling -which did involve not being able to go to some weddings & family events far away ;-( and increased revenue from LobotoME, and selling our pop-up camper) we've paid off over $16,000 in non-mortgage debt and have a 6-month emergency fund. By the end of the year we will have paid off the remaining $16,000 on the other vehicle, have a 12-month emergency fund, maxed out IRA's, kids college fund deposits and a great travel fund established. Then, we'll start tackling the mortgage. Seriously. If I can do it, so can you.

“Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself to it.”
~Benjamin Franklin

{ spending hiatus - month 3: week 3 - the food edition }

Not much new to report on the spending hiatus, other than we recently acquired 3 new fruit trees to plant near the creek that runs through our property. {We purchased trees in lieu of celebrating our anniversary with an expensive dinner out.} I also bought the above {adorable} reusable produce & bulk bags, thereby making it possible to never use a plastic bag at the grocery store ever again.

I did raise our food budget up from $100/week to $125. Just to accommodate some of the yummy, fresh food we've been buying. We've been enjoying lots of greens from our garden and the farmers market. {Samme has been eating lettuce and greens straight out of the garden!} We've been savoring the season and feasting on food that's fresh right now. {Eat locally for the tastiest produce, meat, and cheese and you'll be supporting the local economy and local families.} Farmers markets are also in high gear right now across the country. Get to know the growers, ask questions, bring cash. Find a list of local farmers markets here.


And YUM... Berries + a bit of agave + sparkling water + blender = refreshing drink on hot summer days!

ps - The spending hiatus will be tested next week when I am in Boulder but I have lots of fun stuff planned in between work meetings, including a visit to a lavender farm, so my plan right now is to not go within a 5 mile radius of IT and stay busy with experiences instead of shopping. Next week I'll answer some questions you've had about the spending hiatus and our {financial freedom} goal progress.

ps - I've also listed a few more things on ebay - still on my mission to get rid of STUFF.

{ spending hiatus - month 3: week 2 - the hoME edition }

As many of you know, my little family and I have been on a mission to try to reduce our spending and energy consumption and grow some of our own food. To simplify our lives and adhere to slow family living. How is it going you ask? Wonderful! The other day I paused to look around and see how it was going... the clothes were up on the clothesline, the windows were open to air out the house, and the garden was tended to. Greens for our nightly salads were handpicked by Samme from the garden and the rest of the veggies were from our local farmers via the market. The TV was only on late at night when we watched the Tour highlights after the kids went to bed. Simple is good.
ps - I'm so inspired by all of you with your urban homesteading successes too!
pps - No unnecessary spending this week! Although I think Henry would look spiffy in this.

{ spending hiatus - month 3: week 1 }

As mentioned before one of the reasons I have been doing this {official} spending hiatus and avoiding Target and Anthropologie like the plague is that I want Sam to understand that it is more important to be DOING instead of BUYING. I realize this will be a harder concept as she gets in school and feels the pressure to own certain things. It doesn't feel like that long ago, that I was there begging my mom for a pair of Guess Jeans because EVERYONE had them. ;-)

Here are some action tips on this topic from the New American Dream:

• Get rid of the TV.
• Expose kids to other media - surrealist films, art exhibits, museums, gatherings of interesting adult friends with non-mainstream stories to tell.
• Parents who resist consumerism for themselves are the ones who teach their children to resist it.
• Teach children to be doers and creators rather than shoppers and buyers.
• Supply them with sidewalk chalk, old cardboard boxes and other makings of creative play.
• Grow your own food. Involve the kids. Teach your child of the connections within the natural world. Experience their beauty together. Talk about where things come from, who made them, what they are made of.
• Teach by example and conviction a set of values that allow kids to make their own choices.
• Teach kids empathy for others. Instead of buying toys, suggest they spend the money bringing some groceries to the local food bank.

“My children are seduced into believing that if they have the right things or more things, they will not just be happier, but also more popular. This culture that sees kids mostly as consumers is creating a future generation of kids that have not felt valued for their character or their contributions to the greater community.” - Jane Brolsma, Oregon via the New American Dream.

What tips do you have for teaching your children mindful consumption?

{ps - my spending hiatus update from this week... I got a pedicure and we ate out 2 times as we were on the road for a fun, spontaneous trip to Moab. A little break {from work + the meal plan which was great}. Spent the last few days in Moab hiking, swimming & biking (and not shopping) - athough if any of you have ever been to Moab you'd know that avoid shopping when there aren't many stores isn't much of a feat in itself!)

image via flickr

{ spending hiatus - month 2: week 4 }

Nothing noteworthy last week (we were busy getting ready for a race, so hard to think about shopping when trying to find time to coordinate logistics for a 3 day stage race, take care of 2 kids (sans television) and entertain visitors from Korea (long story). Anyhoo, this week I did buy a few things that fall under the make life better category...I caved and bought these un-paper towels off of esty discovered via Josyln... I've been trying hard to kick the paper towel habit (hard to do with all of the messes those I love create around here) and I think these will help. I also bought Henry some new bibs and bamboo wash cloths - the kid drools all over the place so I am constantly going through bibs & cloths. Onto the good news, I SOLD over 50 items on ebay and my school loans (private university and grad school) are almost paid off! That will be reason to celebrate. Since you know, I am 33 years old and am not using either of my degrees (environmental studies or nonprofit management)! Gulp. Anyway, I've been funneling all extra $$ towards those damn school loans this past year...while at the same time setting $ away for our kids college in the future (while secretly wishing that they have some fabulous idea/invention and won't need to go to college)...Speaking of which do you have any idea how much 4 years of college will cost by the time your kids are 18? You will freak. I did. Okay, so back to the spending hiatus...I'm still doing good. How about y'all?

{ waste not want not }

Tea towel from here.

Are you guys sick of hearing about my spending hiatus yet? :) So, I've really been contemplating a lot lately how it seems as though we have lost the simplicity and practicality of our grandparents generation... I've been thinking a lot about my gram + gramp lately (now in their mid-80's) and still living in the same house they lovingly restored and raised 6 children in. They came from very modest means and gramp fixed everything...and I do mean everything. They didn't waste food (and still don't to this day). They grew their own veggies and hung their laundry on the line and shoveled their driveway by hand. They have never had a dishwasher or a cell phone. They have had the same phone number their entire lives. I think they are completely mind-boggled when I go back and visit and come back with my iphone, laptop, digital camera, card reader, ipod, yoga mat, portable crib, portable dvd player for Sam, multiple bags, 3 kinds of lotion (day time, night time and sunscreen), several pair of shoes (running sneakers, flats, flip flops), stroller, baby carrier...etc. etc. We have so much STUFF. I want less stuff. We have so many distractions today. I want fewer distractions. I don't have all the answers...all I can do is to continue to strive for my goal of a less hectic, more balanced, simple life. {Waste not, want not.} I've been hanging our laundry on the line each day, I've been tending to our veggie & herb garden, I've been selling stuff on ebay and donating items to the VOA thrift store. I've been slowing down. I've been spending less. Gram + Gramp would be proud.

{ps - I didn't buy anything this week other than groceries + dog food + one of those swimming noodles for sam ($1).} but i would like to buy this, this, and this. but i won't.
{pps - Here is a cute little picture of gram + gramp in their backyard in case you were wondering.}