Anyone interested in a buy nothing (or buy almost nothing) challenge for 2023?

[JenniferW]

@JenniferW, I am going to respond one final time, then I'm going to leave this alone.

You can "what if" ad infinitum.  Maybe the china from my parents' house can be sold for 5x its original purchase price in 20 years because it has become rare?  Is that then named an investment?  Maybe I should start buying beanie babies or bobbleheads or baseball cards because they *might* be worth more someday? 

The truck was not purchased as an investment.  The original purchaser has not stated his intent with this vehicle.  But buying something known to be a depreciating asset and then telling yourself it is an investment because you may be able to sell it for more later is not investing, it is speculating.

You don't have to repeat yourself.  You aren't getting my point obviously though. In the short term it is an investment because he's fixed the car and can get twice what he paid for it.  In bookkeeping software it increases net worth.   Say he spent $2000 and he *knows* he can get $4000 for it now, he just increased his net worth by $2000.  Net worth goes by current fair market value of your property.

The only reasoned I mentioned this is because I don't think it should disqualify him from "buy  nothing" challenge because he hasn't "spent" anything at all.  Since it's worth twice what he paid of for it, that easily allows him to cover the title transfer, registration and insurance on it for the time being.  He could always sell it when his total expenses for the vehicle starts to approach the fair market value, and not have lost any money; if he sells it for more than his total expenses over a longer period of time it would therefore be a long term investment (over one year).  But for the time being it is definitely a short term instant gain.

[JAYSLOL]

@JenniferW, I am going to respond one final time, then I'm going to leave this alone.

You can "what if" ad infinitum.  Maybe the china from my parents' house can be sold for 5x its original purchase price in 20 years because it has become rare?  Is that then named an investment?  Maybe I should start buying beanie babies or bobbleheads or baseball cards because they *might* be worth more someday? 

The truck was not purchased as an investment.  The original purchaser has not stated his intent with this vehicle.  But buying something known to be a depreciating asset and then telling yourself it is an investment because you may be able to sell it for more later is not investing, it is speculating.

It was certainly speculation (aka a calculated gamble).  After taxes and insurance, parts and a tank of gas running around, and my time, I’m into it for more like 60% of Kelly Blue Book, plus I’ll need to do a bit more to it cosmetically if I’m going to get all the money for it, and there’s still no guarantee what I’ll get for it.  I’m probably going to run it for the summer and see if it’s practical to keep, and if it isn’t adding any value to me, I’ll list it in the fall. 

[Serendip]

Still going well on my end.

Haven't bought anything recently physical except groceries and oh yes, one e-book that I couldn't get from the library.

Had a few more cravings for actual real-life things (spring clothing, an ice cube tray, mountain bike--ha). But so far am holding out & working with the things that I have and trying not to justify too much too soon since for me it's a slippery slope.

Will aim to do a repair project or two today.

[JenniferW]

Still going well on my end.

Haven't bought anything recently physical except groceries and oh yes, one e-book that I couldn't get from the library.

Had a few more cravings for actual real-life things (spring clothing, an ice cube tray, mountain bike--ha). But so far am holding out & working with the things that I have and trying not to justify too much too soon since for me it's a slippery slope.

Will aim to do a repair project or two today.

Awesome job!  But wouldn't the ice cube tray be a necessity?  And perhaps shouldn't count against you for the challenge?  For me personally I am doing a buy nothing related to discretionary items only.  I'd expense an ice cube tray under Household:Kitchen much like a needed utensil.  Or maybe you have another ice cube tray and the one you wanted made cute little animal ice cubes or whatever ? :)

[PMG]

@Serendip back when I was super minimalist I made and ice bag out of a linen kitchen towel then froze ice in random containers and crushed it in the bag with a hammer.  Crushed ice is superior to tray ice.  I’m not minimalist anymore and ice cube trays came with my house, but I thought I’d pass that idea on.

[Serendip]

Ah, an update on the icecube tray situation :)

I realized that we must have one somewhere since we froze heaps of pesto last summer and found a silicone one in a different cupboard (my partner is more organized than I am so he must've tucked it in there).

Thanks for the input @JenniferW  & @PMG but seems like it was a mislaid desire, sometimes we already have exactly what we need. ha.

[Josiecat23503]

@Serendip, that sounds like a perfect solution.  It's like shopping in the back of your closet!

I feel like we've been purging for years.  We've moved multiple times in the past 10 years, each time a downsize and/or a calculated move to bring us to FI.  We *still* occasionally happen upon an item we forget we still own. 

[Serendip]

@Serendip, that sounds like a perfect solution.  It's like shopping in the back of your closet!

I feel like we've been purging for years.  We've moved multiple times in the past 10 years, each time a downsize and/or a calculated move to bring us to FI.  We *still* occasionally happen upon an item we forget we still own.

That's funny @Josiecat23503 --I do a post now & then in my journal under the heading Shopping in My House..ha. I think many of us forget certain things we own if everything is not in constant rotation. Keeps it interesting to find items!

[billygoatjohnson]

I hate owning/buying stuff. I don't get it.

I have some gear for outdoor activities. Once you buy it, it's good for 10 years. Bike, skis, tent, etc.

[JenniferW]

I hate owning/buying stuff. I don't get it.

I have some gear for outdoor activities. Once you buy it, it's good for 10 years. Bike, skis, tent, etc.

Yeah I know what you mean.  I try and buy stuff that lasts a lifetime and buy it used at well below fair market value, that way if I need to get rid of it, I get all my money back.   Just bought four Emeco Navy 1006 chairs for $50 each; they retail for $720 each and last forever (150 year warranty).. indestructible chairs.   They just happen to be functional minimalistic chairs as well -- but I didn't buy them because of that.. I just thought they looked cool and were a good value.

[StarBright]

Yeah I know what you mean.  I try and buy stuff that lasts a lifetime and buy it used at well below fair market value, that way if I need to get rid of it, I get all my money back.   Just bought four Emeco Navy 1006 chairs for $50 each; they retail for $720 each and last forever (150 year warranty).. indestructible chairs.   They just happen to be functional minimalistic chairs as well -- but I didn't buy them because of that.. I just thought they looked cool and were a good value.

That is an amazing value on those chairs! I got mine at cost over a decade ago and I thought that was a good deal - $50 bucks is a steal!

My Navy chairs are still my favorite furniture in my house. Also the seats are small enough that they are the most versatile furniture we own, they tuck in just about anywhere. And they are handmade by well paid artisans, using recycled materials, in the US! Win/Win all around.

[JenniferW]

Yeah I know what you mean.  I try and buy stuff that lasts a lifetime and buy it used at well below fair market value, that way if I need to get rid of it, I get all my money back.   Just bought four Emeco Navy 1006 chairs for $50 each; they retail for $720 each and last forever (150 year warranty).. indestructible chairs.   They just happen to be functional minimalistic chairs as well -- but I didn't buy them because of that.. I just thought they looked cool and were a good value.

That is an amazing value on those chairs! I got mine at cost over a decade ago and I thought that was a good deal - $50 bucks is a steal!

My Navy chairs are still my favorite furniture in my house. Also the seats are small enough that they are the most versatile furniture we own, they tuck in just about anywhere. And they are handmade by well paid artisans, using recycled materials, in the US! Win/Win all around.

If you need more of them, the lady I bought them from in Oklahoma has like 80 more for $50 a piece.  She bought like 150 of them for $15 a piece from a closed down Arby's .. crazy!   Here they are with my $25 table I bought from Facebook marketplace.. ignore the walls.. still need to finish trim paint and put the mop boards back on.  (Lamp and vases were free, artwork on wall is from a japanese calender I bought for 50 cents from flea market, and the menu card holder is $1.25 acrylic 5x7 portrait frame from Dollar Tree.)  EDIT: these are how the chairs looked right after I bought them, before I polished them.

[billygoatjohnson]

I hate owning/buying stuff. I don't get it.

I have some gear for outdoor activities. Once you buy it, it's good for 10 years. Bike, skis, tent, etc.

Yeah I know what you mean.  I try and buy stuff that lasts a lifetime and buy it used at well below fair market value, that way if I need to get rid of it, I get all my money back.   Just bought four Emeco Navy 1006 chairs for $50 each; they retail for $720 each and last forever (150 year warranty).. indestructible chairs.   They just happen to be functional minimalistic chairs as well -- but I didn't buy them because of that.. I just thought they looked cool and were a good value.

This is the way

[StarBright]

Yeah I know what you mean.  I try and buy stuff that lasts a lifetime and buy it used at well below fair market value, that way if I need to get rid of it, I get all my money back.   Just bought four Emeco Navy 1006 chairs for $50 each; they retail for $720 each and last forever (150 year warranty).. indestructible chairs.   They just happen to be functional minimalistic chairs as well -- but I didn't buy them because of that.. I just thought they looked cool and were a good value.

That is an amazing value on those chairs! I got mine at cost over a decade ago and I thought that was a good deal - $50 bucks is a steal!

My Navy chairs are still my favorite furniture in my house. Also the seats are small enough that they are the most versatile furniture we own, they tuck in just about anywhere. And they are handmade by well paid artisans, using recycled materials, in the US! Win/Win all around.

If you need more of them, the lady I bought them from in Oklahoma has like 80 more for $50 a piece.  She bought like 150 of them for $15 a piece from a closed down Arby's .. crazy!   Here they are with my $25 table I bought from Facebook marketplace.. ignore the walls.. still need to finish trim paint and put the mop boards back on.  (Lamp and vases were free, artwork on wall is from a japanese calender I bought for 50 cents from flea market, and the menu card holder is $1.25 acrylic 5x7 portrait frame from Dollar Tree.)  EDIT: these are how the chairs looked right after I bought them, before I polished them.

Oh my gosh- yes! Please feel free to message me the contact info or link. My son has a small desk that needs a Navy sized chair and I would love to have my 6th dining room chair back at my table.

Your table set up is adorable!

[Newday]

I bought 3 pieces of clothing - all for work that was an exception to my buy-almost-nothing list. - one jacket, one top and a dress. We are at the end of 3 months I've been good so far.

I had put on so much weight during pandemic + high stress year in 2022 that none of my work clothes fit anymore. I'm extremely careful on what I buy - lesser in quantity and high in quality is what I'm going for. I am also hoping to supplement with some sewing from my stash.

[Weisass]

I bought 3 pieces of clothing - all for work that was an exception to my buy-almost-nothing list. - one jacket, one top and a dress. We are at the end of 3 months I've been good so far.

I had put on so much weight during pandemic + high stress year in 2022 that none of my work clothes fit anymore. I'm extremely careful on what I buy - lesser in quantity and high in quality is what I'm going for. I am also hoping to supplement with some sewing from my stash.

Congrats! That is so awesome. You should be proud :)

[Serendip]

Was at the grocery store yesterday and grabbed a lighter (for incense/candles/etc) and I felt on the edge of being transgressive...shifting baselines are a wonderful thing.

[K_in_the_kitchen]

Was at the grocery store yesterday and grabbed a lighter (for incense/candles/etc) and I felt on the edge of being transgressive...shifting baselines are a wonderful thing.

I bought a pack of lighters because all of ours were completely out, and while matches work for a candle here and there, they are impractical when I'm lighting a dozen or more tea lights for our Advent and Lenten spirals. Indeed, by the time we reach Holy Saturday, I'll be lighting 40 candles.

My edge of transgressive purchase was buying two makeup items while purchasing skincare i'd run out of.  I don't usually wear much makeup (and not daily), but I'll be on stage next month and last time I was on stage I watched the replay and realized I was completely washed out -- natural makeup disappears in the bright lights.  The makeup items were enough for me to get three items I use regularly for free (a moisturizer, summer moisturizer, and cleanser), so it ends up being a wash.  Clinique is just weird like that, a little pricey but working their deals brings the prices down to drugstore levels.  I spent $100 and got $243 of full price product, plus one of the bonus sampler bags (which Clinique claims is worth $107 but wouldn't cost that much on a per unit basis if buying the items full size).  I always wait until they are doing 30% off plus free full size items plus a bonus sampler bag, and then I look for an affiliate offer as well -- so it's only a few times a year.  The skincare and powder with SPF were definitely planned purchases and I'll need to buy more before the year is out.

But really, we are doing astoundingly well with the buy almost nothing challenge.  Hobby spending has ceased, and indeed, after decluttering my library I decided to skip the various used book sales I had previously given myself permission to purchase from.  We're happily wearing clothing and shoes we already own, reading books we own or get from the library, and making things with the hobby materials we have.  I spent the past week rearranging rooms in anticipation of the college kid graduating and moving back home, and managed to create a lovely craft room / office workspace / library using only furniture and organizers we already own.

[Must_ache]

No, I'm not interested.