Blog Update!
For those of you not following me on Facebook, as of the Summer of 2019 I've moved to Central WA, to a tiny mountain town of less than 1,000 people.

I will be covering my exploits here in the Cascades, as I try to further reduce my impact on the environment. With the same attitude, just at a higher altitude!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Sunday Confessional - Week 1

Buy Nothing Sunday ConfessionalForgive me people, for I have spent. It has been three months since my last confessional.

Well, here it is three days into the challenge and I already have a confession. I guess this first sin isn't too bad since it was something I was supposed to have purchased by the end of July and it's something I promised my kids way back at the beginning of June. Anyway, I got each of my children two very small Lego sets as promised.

Next up, I broke the new commandment: I ordered pizza last night for my belated birthday party. I was just too tired to cook for everyone. My husband also ordered a cake instead of making it himself, but he's still recovering from his stem cell transplant. But no one, and I mean no one can make cakes like Morfey's Cake Shoppe. Mmmmm. Champagne cake.

Minor transgressions, but I will do better!

How was Week 1 for you in the Buy Nothing Challenge - August Edition?

By the way, it's not too late to sign up!

81 comments:

Kelsie said...

I am so glad you sinned. If you hadn't, I never would have found out about the miracle that is champagne cake. I had no clue such a brilliant idea could have existed. Bless you and your sinning ways.

-Kelsie

Lisa Zahn said...

We went out to dinner last night on the technicality that my HUSBAND didn't sign up for the challenge. So I gave him the cash and HE paid...

But still, it totally feels like a sin. We won't do it again.

Anonymous said...

I'm shocked and appalled at the sheer amount of items that I think of to buy each day! In the last two days I have thought 'Oh! I need to get some...socks/eucalyptus oil/fertiliser/cheesecake/a cow(seriously. We have land- it's ok)/lush shampoo and an exercise dvd. Luckily I was nowhere near any of those things when I decided that I needed them. I did buy some daffodils today from a roadside stall. I totally forgot about the challenge until I'd pulled across two lanes of traffic to the side of the road, and by then I wasn't leaving without the flowers, ok? On the whole I'm pretty happy with my effort, even though it's been three days and I've been near no shops :).

Hannah said...

I had made such a good start but this morning was our local monthly farmers market and I bought some nutty granola that I could've made myself at home. I splashed out on some fancy cheese and a fruits of the forest milkshake for my son too! Thank goodness it doesn't come around again until September!

Anonymous said...

We had beer and chips in a cafe. And I bought underwear and socks - it's pretty hard to get these things secondhand. My big transgression was buying a pool noodle and kickboard: pure plastic and probably could've borrowed them. But when stuff (plastic stuff) is so cheap, it always seems easier to buy... Must do better...

Anonymous said...

I have done very badly. We have just had our coldest winter week in 20 years in my corner of the world. It isn't truly cold by many standards but I don't have any colder weather gear. I have lost weight and haven't bought many clothes for years. I splurged and bought some wool to knit myself a vest. Then I went to a Stumpin Up event and bought some stamps! Now that was a sin.

Suzan

Kim said...

I had a coffee and a dinner bought for me. The coffee was a surprise from my husband, and the dinner out was something we'd planned with friends and kids and their kids for ages.

At least the dinner out was at Ted's Montana Grill, where they're 99% plastic free, serve free-range and organic food, and so forth.

Otherwise, the only money I've spent has been on groceries. I still consider myself within the legal letter of the month, since I didn't actually pay for anything. And the spirit, since the coffee was a gift and the dinner out was a social event with environmental happiness.

knutty knitter said...

I was asked out to dinner at a friend's place at the last minute and bought some fancy bread so as not to go empty handed.

I'm also guilty of some fabric for a quilt for eldest son's birthday - just a feature piece for the centre section with very cute turtles on it.

I'm supposed to go shopping with a friend tomorrow but I think we'd better work on quilts instead.

viv in nz

Adrienne said...

I spent $4 on coupons (worth $25) and we went grocery shopping yesterday for the week and spent $50. That's it. We avoided eating out and we used some free movie tickets last night for entertainment. Woo hoo! Even husband didn't spend any money; that's a biggy around our house

Eileen said...

Oh, I have sinned, seems odd that if I am trying to be good I am not and when I am not trying I am sinning/spending. Friday night my husband came home from a business trip and we went out to eat. Split one meal( we are at the age where meals out are to big to each order). Then on Sat. afternoon we went to an Irish festival and I had some Guinness. it was wickedly hot here 100+ and my choices were die of thirst, walk behind people and try to catch their spills or just get my own. I chose the latter. Had more than one and it was great sipping and listening to the Irish bands
, from Ireland mind you. I did not buy any CD's!

Will not be going out today, so will not be spending.

Sonnjea said...

I bought a book that's not yet available at our library, but I will donate it to the library when I am done, so I think the act of charity somewhat mitigates the sin of spending!

Anderson Family said...

Th enot eating out got me, like I knew it would. We went out of town for a wedding and I was careful to pack a lunch while we went there, but a 4 hour drive on the way back we stopped to get lunch. We couldn't exactly pack lunches from a friend's house. But the good news, is that I really thought about how hungry I was, because I didn't want to have to confess and break the challenge. So at least I didn't do it mindlessly.

Anonymous said...

I fell down the very first day; I went with coworkers to get an orange julius with gift coupons we all got from our job, but when I got there I didn't have mine, so I paid cash.

Also I bought bras. I was going to do that July 30 but childcare stuff got shifted to Friday instead. I DON'T CARE. Having bras that fit is important to my mental health, and I was down to just one.

Anonymous said...

It's amazing how much BUYING is always on my mind -- I use it as entertainment of some kind, even if I don't actually buy anything big -- a Sonic coke, a fancy coffee, a run by the used clothing store to see if something is on sale, a run to the grocery store for a pint of ice cream . . . amazing. I am hoping this month will start to "cure" me of these impure thoughts :)

The only thing I bought that was not allowed was a $1 lemonade at the farmers market for my son!

Erin

Anonymous said...

I am actually doing well - I only bought food, on the grocery list, at the grocery and used an already loaded gift card for that - I didn't even leave the house yesterday --

The fun starts tomorrow.

Chile said...

I bought a couple of totes on the 1st, but, like you, we had discussed getting them in July. I'm not going to sweat it.

Yesterday, I purchased carrot juice to drink in the car. I never buy this to bring home, so I kind of consider this restaurant-type food. However, it was HOT yesterday, we'd been out running errands (used stuff!) for a while, and I'd even stood outside for 15 minutes at one point in 100+ degrees. So, I was sweatin' this one and got the carrot juice to cool off.

Anonymous said...

CTDaffodil here!!
No I still cant get into my account - I guess I'll be setting up a new one :(

I totally was doing well. Until Friday and the kids came down with a stomach bug...I had to run out and get saltines and gingerale - while I was there I also picked up more lysol (so I dont get this stomach bug from cleaning up after them) and stuff to make a fast dinner.

On the good side though I picked 9 pounds of blueberries yesterday at a UPick orchard and will be making christmas presents (blueberry syrup) today. I will head back out to pick more for the freezer. We just used up the last of summer 2007 last week for a cobbler.

Today I will'sin' more since I have to go buy some little canning jars for the christmas presents/syrup. But they are on sale at TrueValue so thats not too bad of a sin.

Rachel said...

We were out running errands on Friday and our plans changed. We didn't pack any food so we had to pick up lunch. Not eating out is going to be HARD.

Unknown said...

I'm taking my oldest son to a movie this afternoon! Premeditated sinning! I told him I would, and I'm looking forward to it. He does a lot of things with dad while I take the younger son, so I like having a little adventure, just first son and I. It's a matinee at an independent theatre, a little savings there... no, that still doesn't mitigate it.... but other than that, I'm doing ok, nothing else to confess!
Happy belated birthday!

...e... said...

well, on the 1st i had an outpatient medical test so after not eating for 40hours before (doesn't count?) i was going to splurge on breakfast out after, but they wouldn't let me drive so instead i spent the $8 on a cab home, making it a necessity, right? then saturday i had coffee and cookies at my local yarn store, but i DIDN'T buy the yarn i picked out to match the color test i'd done, and i DIDN'T (almost, i forgot, that was a lucky save!) buy the cellphone upgrade i've been considering so i'd have a new toy to play twitter with. but i did buy unnecessary Bad Food (including CAKE) at the grocery to make myself a restorative picnic for one...and now it's sunday.

Oldnovice said...

I already confessed to getting takeout on the very first day. I still can't believe it; we NEVER get takeout or eat out unless we're on vacation.

I'm now coveting Jam's new knife, though. ALL my knives are getting dull; need to find someone in the neighborhood with a sharpener.

I might have already forgotten the rules, as well. Isn't it okay to buy used stuff?

Ellen said...

So far so good. I am transitioning to a raw foods diet and am coveting a Vitamix on Ebay ($60!) so I might sin if I think I can win it. Otherwise, OK. Tuesday is my youngest's 3rd bday. I plan to head to the consignment shop Monday afternoon to see if there are some things she might like. She loves tents, so maybe they'd have a kiddie tent-like thing. Thanks to your April challenge, I challenge almost everything I think I want. Thank you!

EcoBurban said...

Two reusable Baggu totes for my sister as a "moving away gift". She is moving to Chicago for a new job and as it's her first time on her own, she surely needs the totes. The rest of her gift is homemade canned jam, blueberry sauce and homemade soap. Not bad!!

Anonymous said...

We went out to lunch on August 1st-- no excuse, really, other than we were hungry and not that close to home.

Other than that, I even have things to return. But I don't want to think about just how decadent July was...

EJ said...

Buying nothing is a good exercise and worthy in every way. But please don't be so hard on yourself! There are worse things going on than 2 little lego sets, pizza and a birthday cake.

cindy24 said...

Did good on the 1st. Yesterday I paid $10 to park at the beach because we got there late and it was too far to walk with 4 kids. Then I finally was able to trap a feral cat and she needed $55 in vet tests. I then bought the flea treatment (3 month supply for 2 cats) for my others cats and it was $92. I need to look into alternatives. My one cat is highly allergic to fleas and i am afraid to try anything else. I must admit on the 31st I bought body scrub for my kids, a skirt for me, and pink berry....I usually don't but I think I needed to get a few purchases in before the challenge.

Anonymous said...

Sinned the very first day! I work in the management office at a shopping mall- surrounded by commerce! Luckily, I've really never been a recreational shopper, I'm kinda immune to temptations.
BUT, we do have a Costco Wholesale which has a food court, and I had under $2 left on my Costco fast cash card. Lunch on the 1st was a $1.62 quarter pound hot dog and a soda. Then I went to GNC and bought two Promax bars and a jar of Stinging Nettles to see if they'd work better/longer/etc then allergy meds. Bars were not necessary. Nettles were new, and I have a cupboard full of allergy meds at home, so I really should have waited until September to try Nettles. Oh, and bought two reusable grocery bags- one at Trader Joes, one at Food City. You may say that those are ok, even if I already have a half dozen at home and just never remember to put them in the car?
You are forgiven, chrunchy, for your transgressions. Legos last a long time, you purchased future-used legos!

Anonymous said...

This challenge has made me confront my retail addiction head on. I didn't realize that I used spending as recreation! Bought: $3 worth of used books at library sale, picked up 3 "Little House" books for a friends' son for $.25/apiece and a few books for my kids (silly, since we were checking out a ton of books). My son had a bday party to attend (must we buy presents for every tom, dick & harry in his class?). We went to Barnes and Noble & I bought the kid two books, and ended up with "Max & Ruby's ABC" and a reptile guide. I love this challenge b/c it is making us all so much AWARE of our spending, and ONLY getting the things we need. I am not going to sin again, father...

Jen said...

No sins yet, but we've been moving, so too tired to go shopping, even accidentally.

Bobbi said...

Folks, a quick perusal and I'd say we're all off to a good start. At least everyone is questioning their purchases and most are basics: food, family and friends.

I will confess going out to dinner with friends last night. But we hadn't seen them in months (perhaps friendship maintenance should be a challenge)and we chose the neighborhood restaurant rather than driving into the other valley. And then we invited them back to our house.

My other confession is coveting another face powder compact. You know how when you get down to near the end and the powder breaks up and you drop some of it in the sink? Well, now I save remnants by carefully transfering them to a reused hair gel container. But the breakup happened yesterday and I thought, whoa, can I make it through August? We shall persevere!

Anonymous said...

A lot of thinking about "not spending" and a few minor transgressions at the start, here. We went had a planned outing on Aug. 1, and I bought a cool souvenir t-shirt at a big discount before I even remembered the challenge. On our way back, my partner wanted to check out a shopping opportunity -- remembering now, I didn't even buy the $1 remainder book on living without electricity or the nice but extra canopener for our food storage. Yesterday was farmer's market and grocery shopping -- again my partner found browsing opportunities but I bought nothing -- except food . . . and 40# of bird food, hardly a necessity since the wild birds aren't going to starve but part of our routine.

Anonymous said...

Sinned last night and will again tonight. My housemate/ex-boyfriend's folks are in town & I couldn't say no to dinner & a movie last night, and dinner again tonight. Also bought a coffee this morning. But I resisted buying a coffee yesterday.

Anonymous said...

I bought a peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie from the cookie ladies at the farmers market. I had not had breakfast yet.
We stopped at Coldstone Creamery for ice cream on the way home from my husband's company picnic.
We went to Toys R Us and bought a birthday gift for an unplanned birthday party my youngest is attending next week.

Anonymous said...

No sins to report here . . . but I was home and didn't have to go out. I thought a lot about wanting things, and the challenge was a comforting reason to dismiss those thoughts. I have to go downtown tomorrow, and will need some strength to keep from sinning then.

camp mom said...

I forgot to drop check off for dog before the challenge started. But the guy who has the dog gave us a used kennel and the wife is going to give us some toys for it along with 20 lbs of puppy food. This will be their last litter to be sold so they are sending off food and toys with all 4 puppies. They found they had an extra kennel and asked if we wanted it so even though I spent the money on the dog well saved some on all the other stuff. We won't have to get its next set of shots til Sept. We figured another dog would be good for all of us and our mental health. We put off getting another one after the last dog we had had to be put down because of cancer...we are all excited! And with all we do save from the next few weeks (hope hope hope) we can afford shots te next few w/out blowing our budget out of the water...

Kelsie said...

For Cindy24, if she reads this: I buy my flea treatments (usually Advantage) from Ebay! There are tons of people on there selling bulk vials of the stuff, with instructions for dosing included. I think I got enough to treat six cats (I do the stray/feral thing, too...as well as my own 2 kitties) for a very modest sum--around $30, I think. I've never had a problem with the product. Definitely look into it!

Anonymous said...

friday was our 9th wedding anniversary. my husband and i have made a great effort to begin to eat mostly at home (we live in san francisco and both tend to work later, it's so easy to eat out!), and we've been loving it. friday i let him take me out to a glorious fancy dinner. it felt like so much more of a treat not to have done so for a while! i appreciated the beauty of being fed truly fine food by kind strangers so much. yum!

today we'll be buying a new washer/dryer, as ours died last weekend. it came with the house, wass 25 years old and more expensive to repair than replace, which makes us sick, but we'll be replacing it today. in the past we've always repaired it ourselves but it is too far gone this time, both units broken badly. our goals are cost-effectiveness and and energy usage, primarily. we canceled the weekend at the hot springs we had planned to celebrate with and had a marvelous time at home instead!

i bought a bottle of red wine, which i think counts as food and is ok, but still, it felt like a rare treat given that i was holding back the urge to buy everywhere else.

i've also decided to see how long i can go without letting my husband know i'm doing this, *grin*, just to make it a more internal process.

Robj98168 said...

Excuse me I thought this was the confessional for the Sweaty Butt-Crack challenge. Sorry- wrong floor!
Happy belated birthdya to ya Crunchetta- enjoy the cake from morfey's

Anonymous said...

I sinned on the first. I went out to dinner with a couple of friends, and we ordered one appetizer, one entree, two desserts, and three glasses of wine, and split the bill between the three of us. Sometimes sinning feels so good.

lauren said...

No item purchases here...yet!

I am going to have to buy supplies for my classroom, but since it is required for work, I'm allowing my own exemption.


As for eating out, I'm not doing great after a trip to Sonoma yesterday.

Unknown said...

I haven't paid for anything since the challenge started, but my daughter bought me the new book, Breaking Dawn, for my birthday on Wednesday. Does that count against me?

Vanessa said...

So far, so good! Nothing spent, but I do feel precariously on edge because my significant other *lives* to eat out. He would eat out 14 times a week if he could (and did while living in NYC). I am determined to stay strong!

Anonymous said...

I had lunch out today - an old friend came over. I suppose I could've cooked. I simply didn't want to. But we did go to a shop that I adore and usually spend £10 in, and I didn't buy anything!

JessTrev said...

Oh, dear, I need to whip myself into shape. I bought some shade plants for my back patio (had planned for months, actually was waiting until after trips so they don't die from lack of water), a chain leash for my ^&*! dog cause he chewed through his 9 millionth cloth one (including the etsy hemp hand sewn one), and THEN, the biggie, went out to dinner for my 11th wedding anniversary and out to a movie. So not feeling like a no consumption month so far. Sheesh, I will get on the program.

mudnessa said...

went grocery shopping on friday and bough coconut oil, yes im using it for my hair so maybe a forbidden purchase but its also used as a food item so i dont feel too bad about it, hehehe.

eating out is going to be the death of me, husband is having no part of that but since i am the only driver its a bit harder for him to just go out and get food, for dinner and on the weekends at least, his coworkers take him with when they get lunch. he had jack in the box for lunch yesterday (its in the same center as the grocery store) and i couldnt pass up on a kona coffee shake.

we had chinese for dinner last night, his mom brought it over as a belated birthday dinner for me, she got her vacation paid out at the end of july so all celebration had to wait.

i did feel the need to buy a few things but i realized i could live without them and i found a few things lying around my dads house that i could use instead so for the most part its going well.

i think this might finally get me to the library to get a card because i will have extreme I NEED TO BUY SOMETHING urges at some point and maybe "renting" a book will help that.

Anonymous said...

We've sinned as well--we went for croissants and coffee on Friday and Saturday and had a slice of pizza each last night...but they were all worth it :)

Anonymous said...

Forgive me for I have sinned as well.... My daughter was playing around and cracked her chin open and we ended up at the E.R for four hours and we were straving! And I promised her ice cream for being brave while getting stiches. So, we went to Braums and got burgers, fries and ice cream. But, that has been all. I feel pretty good about that though! :)

steffington said...

My family went out to dinner three times since August started, but we were on a 15 hour road trip. Technically I didn't pay, so I'm not the one who sinned...
And then I had to buy a drink at the farmer's market because it was like 100 degrees in the shade.

Also, I bought a 99 cent shot glass for a friend who gave me money to do so.

Anonymous said...

This challenge has made me aware of how much money I spend on junk--an iTunes song here, a magazine there--it really adds up.
I've only made one purchase so far. We are homeschoolers, and I had to buy math workbooks for my 5 year old twins.

Wendy

Jenette said...

I have sinned one time ... I bought lunch Thursday. I packed lunch wed night and forgot to put it in the frig. Well the ants got to it :(

Teri said...

So far, so good.

I ran into the store on Friday and only bought the food we had to have.

It is interesting as you start to evaluate every purchase, how much you don't need. Even in the food department, there is so much food that I buy that we don't NEED. And so much gets wasted because of it.

J said...

Aside from the already planned upon early birthday dinner at my favorite local Mexican restaurant, we've been doing fine just fine.

Harper said...

I have had impure thoughts but have not acted on them. However, I have been thinking about getting more reusable bags and realizing I couldn't buy them in August, I rushed to get them July 31! Hmm. On Friday I realized I had neglected to bring a lunch so I drove (sigh) to the grocery store and bought the fixings to make my lunch -- a venial sin at most.

Jill said...

I'm not sure if this counts, but I'm saving up to relocate so I listed a bunch of stuff on ebay. Other than that, nada.

Annarchy said...

I thought this would be a piece of cake...our son leaves for college this month and we are scrambling for his tuition. I was feeling very smug, until I realized that August 1 was the day of the Vampire Prom at B & N and I had told my daughter that because she had a perfect dental check-up I would pay for her book. So, the first day of the challenge I committed two sins...bought a book I could have gotten at the library, AND paid retail for it. OK, three...The Prom was two and a half hours in the middle of the night...I was incredibly thirsty. BUT, I bought a bottle of water instead of the frappacino that I wanted.

Maggie said...

Well, I'm glad it's not just me! Although it would probably be better if it was just me. We ate out on Friday night. Plus, I went to Joann's and bought a couple things there that I could have done without, but that I do like very much :) I am determined to do better and reap the savings!

Anonymous said...

I'm not doing very well so far. I'm a college student and still live with my family (I commute), so I don't have very much control over what's for dinner. They like to eat out a lot and definitely would not get on board for the challenge. They also tend to get offended if I don't go out to eat with them. So, I went out to dinner with my family tonight.

I also bought some underwear and bras that I actually needed at the Gap (we had a 25% off coupon that expired today).

Next week is going to be even worse. We're going on vacation! Oh boy.

Pat said...

So far...I bought two books on 8/1 from the 50% off clearance table at the grocery store - $5.50 total.

Also, we went out for ice cream last night after a nice long motorcycle ride. $7.84

Today - NADA!

Anonymous said...

I am afraid this isn't going to be a good month for us for several reasons. August is the month that I order stuff to start gearing up for winter preparedness. I put in two orders for supplies to start making make medicines, ointments and soap. I have to do it now because I do that sort of stuff while my husband is on vacation and around to help.

We also had a birthday party for our son this weekend and while I made all the food, drinks,and games the kids played, I did buy a pinata and the fillings for his party.

I expect I will see you next Sunday. We homeschool and I need to get some things around. I did manage to get quite a few of the books I need from Paperback Swap.

Anonymous said...

I just got back from camping (glorious) and after unloading everything I ordered a local burrito instead of cooking for myself. *sigh* I also bought hobo-pie makers for camping, but that had already been decided and was needed for camping survival. :)

Tina Cardone said...

Do ice cream shops count as restaurants? I bought a delicious ice cream cone from a locally owned shop. It was worth sinning if it was sin, it was hot out!

I also bought pots and potting soil, sometimes I wish my thumb was slightly less green so everything didn't grow so fast!

ib mommy said...

I bought nothing! except the back to school clothes we knew we needed. Can't talk the fashion diva into the "vintage" clothes idea. Also, I chastised the rest of the family for purchases they made when I wasn't looking:)

Anonymous said...

I felt bad because I went to my favorite store to shop... on the first day of the challenge!

Let me backtrack a bit... This summer, I lost 20 pounds. So as a treat/reward, some family members gave over some money to spend at my favorite store. The store is an hour's drive from home and one that I only go to 4 times a year (if lucky). So I went, picked up a couple things for a neighbor (who payed me back), a meditation cd, and two gemstones I've had my eye on for 6 months or so.

And today, another relative bought me a pair of pants... because (and I quote her on this) "Your pants look huge on you! You can't even fill out the butt! I refuse to let you be seen in them anymore." So I got a new pair of pants.

Ok, that's my con...oh, wait. My grandmother gave me $20 to chapperone my cousin and her boyfriend, so I technically handed the money over for dinner last night. Crud.

April said...

Dang I missed the sign up. But honey, I'm not spending squat on anything! Last week I bought all my son's uniform pants at a used clothing store (5 pairs of shorts/pants for 35 bucks!). I have not spent one dime on new clothes for my youngest two this summer, they are wearing cut off jeans in addition to their old shorts and hand me downs. I found a thrift shop in my home town that sells shirts for 50 cents so I stocked up on a bunch of t-shirts for them and we were good to go!

We are challenged each month to get out of debt so I'm doing everything possible to keep money in my pocket and out of the consumer world.

My kids have been really great about our spending habits. They thinks it's fun to go to the library to check out movies instead of Blockbuster and they have been inviting their friends over to trek down to the creek to swing on an old tire swing! It's amazing how little they need to entertain themselves.

mudnessa said...

had taco bell for dinner. husband said if we went to taco bell tonight he would make the mahi mahi my dad caught tomorrow night, i wouldnt hold him to it though so we will see.

i also may need to go and get something for burns because i got boiling water on my belly thigh and foot. making some tea and my glass crate and barrel mug just exploded apart. i have been using them with hot beverages for years, my poor belly.

mudnessa said...

my burning belly has me all flustered, forgot to mention that when we went to taco bell there was a little sign on the counter that said they donate all their used cooking oil to some sort of bio diesel production or something like that. was quite hungry at time and dont remember what it actually said seconds after i read it.

made me feel a bit less guilty, well not really but i can pretend it did.

Lisa said...

I did good as my coffee maker broke down on the first day but i am improvising as i refuse to get a new one. I will make it though the month without buying one. I did almost buy some long skirts that were clearanced for $5 a piece...had them in my hand, carried them around for a while but put them back :) I have only spent money on groceries so far.

maryann said...

I had to double check but no, didn't buy anything other than groceries. I might as well confess now though I will be buying a propane burner for canning. I tried it for the first time this weekend (made pickles and pickled beets) and it just took way too long to heat up on the electric stove. I'm going to take my neighbors advice and invest in a burner to speed up the process and use less energy.

Anonymous said...

I am off to a poor start. On the very first day of the challenge, I got fast food for lunch. Ugh. I also bought lunch for my friend and I on Saturday. I plan to do much better this week, and for the rest of the challenge.

Anonymous said...

I figured the not eating out was going to be our fall-down point and it was. All I can say in my defense was that I told the honey about the challenge and he said he wasn't going to participate. We aren't very consumer oriented and tend not to buy a lot of things but he still had no desire to do a 1 month challenge.

We knew we were going out to this outdoor free movie event and I asked him what he wanted me to buy from the grocery store for the picnic and he said he wanted to go out and buy something instead... so we did. We went to KFC for our picnic.

Adrienne said...

I bought a niddy noddy, which is a thing to wind freshly spun yarn around... the various things I'd tried as a substitute were just not working and I was ending up ruining my yarn. And I did go out to eat on Friday but it'd probably been a month since I last ate out so I don't feel too bad about it. Other than that, just the farmer's market and grocery store.

cashley550 said...

I failed on the eating out... and thought I just had to have some Rose Essential Oil when I was grocery shopping at Whole Foods... this weekend. I also need pool supplies, I don't guess they count as essential items but I'll have a gross unusable pool for the rest of the summer if I don't get them. So I'm off to the store today. I'm still trying very hard and have a list of some cooking utensils that I'd like to have after the challenge is over. It's amazing to "delay gratification"

Eb said...

Sunday was Boy's birthday. We don't do gifts for his birthday, we do eating out. We had breakfast out. I decided when I started the challenge I would allow food-only spending on his birthday. Other than that, no buying!

Anonymous said...

i kinda forgot i started this challenge, woops!
i had a couple of dates which involved eating out twice, and renting a video :P

scifichick said...

I am not starting this too good. I had a big sinful Friday... We went to the movies, had takeout, and I bought a CD for my son. I have a win though as well. I was invited to go to Ikea on Sunday and I declined! I just knew I will end up buying something if I go there.

Anonymous said...

oh wait, and i went out drinking and dancing with the girls on friday night. man, i need to crack down...

nicole said...

I'm a sinner too - though not outside the leeway I gave my cheating self when I signed up. Took my girlfriend out to dinner - we're about an hour and a half apart and the handiest place to meet is a restaurant at a mall halfway between.

And yes, while at the maul I did some shopping - but it was on a gift card my darling hub had goven me (does that count?). A sweater that will be useful this winter, a trivet (I know, NOT necessary) and a book - which turns out to be pretty depressing so I'll probably exchange for some sort of festive homeware tchotcki.

And I'll be sinning again on Wednesday when I pick up some prezzies for her kids. New. (the 2nd hand places around here are a bit grim - especially when it comes to kids stuff, no such thing as gently used). But my girlfriend is getting homemade jams and marmalade.

Anonymous said...

Hi! I am so glad to read you all spent..I felt so bad I could not even show up to confessional!
Anyway we went out to eat not once but twice over the weekend. We also shopped...but it was at Savers-does buying used count...ok I know it does. I also took the kiddos bowling-but had free games-just rented shoes. I rocked with a high score of 76! wow! Anyway so I could not even go two days...I will do much better this week....I have to!!!

Anonymous said...

O forgive me, I have eaten out every single day! but they were locally owed places (does that make it any better??) Also paid tuition for fall algebra class and bought an airline ticket to see my husband in October ( he is working in DC and I live in Phoenix). So I must do better because now I'm not only a mega sinner, I'm broke!

TheNormalMiddle said...

Had a tire blow out unexpectedly, so I had to fork out $$$ for a new tire. Then dear child #1 got a double ear infection that wouldn't quit, so we had to go to the urgent care facility AND get meds, so that was another dip into the reserve.

Spent more $$$ in 2 days than I have in months, but it was for things out of my control, so I am trying to be positive about it?

Anonymous said...

I went 7 days without spending any money which, frankly, I thought was impossible, so go me (no eating out, no soda, no tea, no coffee, no YARN holicrap). I'm not really counting this as a confessional, because I earned it, but here goes: last night I had to hit the grocery store and spend my first money in a week. I bought necessities and rewarded myself with a well earned bottle of Dr. Pepper. And you know what? It tasted delicious and was worth every penny. Soda has been returned to its rightful place as an occasional reward instead of a daily occurrence. I'm counting that as a victory. Onward!