So I was wasting time at work reading through this thread (I FIRE in 3 weeks so have a fair amount of down time at work these days!!!) and found myself thinking, "Gee, I don't really have a gazingus pin anymore. I get my books from the library or Paperbackswap, I hardly ever buy clothes if I can help it, I don't like jewelry.... I mean, the only 'stuff' I ever really buy is outdoor and fitness gear...... oh CRAP."
Friends, I do indeed have a gazingus pin. My name is DTaggart, and I have a problem buying outdoor gear. Mr. Taggart and I really enjoy hiking and camping, and we've been slowly acquiring gear to get into overnight backpacking. It's pretty ridiculous how much stuff you need to enjoy such a supposedly minimalist hobby! One of our long term post-FIRE plans is to travel around and do some long distance backpacking like the PCT and AT so I've been trying to buy high-quality, lightweight stuff that will last us for a long time, but that also means EXPENSIVE. Late last year we finally got the last pieces of "essential" gear we need to start doing some basic treks, so my goal for 2018 is to not buy any additional stuff or "upgrade" any existing items, and to focus on using and enjoying what I already have. There's a lot of little additional things that are so easy to pick up here and there - a new pair of wool socks (I have tons of good socks already!), an inflatable travel pillow (I can stuff my extra clothes into an existing stuff-sack!), a cook pot that weighs .1 oz less than my current pot (extra weight is good for training!).... Nope. I already have the things I really need.
So, this year I will not buy new outdoor or fitness stuff with the following exceptions:
1. Consumable stuff that needs to be replaced (I'm thinking mainly of fuel for the stove, maybe a new cartridge for the water filter)
2. My current pair of hiking shoes are in good shape, but they may wear out before the end of the year, so I will allow myself ONE pair of replacement shoes if necessary. I may also require a new pair of running shoes for road-running, which I am trying to get back into - one pair if necessary.
3. If I find high quality performance clothing at the thrift shop in my CURRENT size, I can buy that. This is a pretty rare event and usually saves 90% or more so I don't want to pass up such a unicorn if I happen upon it. But I will NOT buy used gear from online resale groups, or gear from discount sites, because those deals will come around again next year if I still think I really want the item.
4. If anything breaks and cannot be repaired, I am allowed to replace it.
So that's it. Mr. Taggart isn't going to like this, but if there's something he really wants he can spend is personal spending money on it.