Background story:
I'm new here, just learning the ways of the mustache. I also follow the non-consumer advocate and other money saving blogs. I am currently a SAHM with a small part-time job. I make very little money, but the job was necessary for me to apply to graduate school next year. My DH is the primary breadwinner, and he does not really like budgets or restrictions. We make a good income, save for retirement, but we are definitely consumers.
So, I was talking to my DH today about the Compact. I asked him how long he thinks he could last without buying anything new. He thought he could last a long time (my guy that loves new exercise shoes and clothes). Then he asked why, and I told him I've been thinking about it and whether we should try it for a week or two. DH is a bit competitive, and he proposes that we see how long we can last. Exclusions are the normal things... food, socks, underwear, and necessary items for the house we can't get used (lightbulbs and nails, etc.) He wants our birthday money ($100- he has his eye on some Nike and Under Armour shorts) excluded and an exclusion for kids shoes or clothes if we can't find something they need in good used condition. (We have tall, skinny kids and we are not in an area with a lot of thrift-store options.) Our bet is whoever cracks first is the loser. The kids are taking bets too. I said they can only wager non-monetary things like chores or services. It's kind of fun to see the kids have a stake in who will win. As my daughter said, "Normally, I'd say Mom will win. But Dad is super competitive." So it should be interesting...
So I guess I'm posting this for accountability, and to ask any advice. I'm normally someone who buys most everything new. Any advice for a newbie to the used scene. In our area we have two goodwills (but 20-35 mins from home), a large DI (like goodwill, but cleaner, picked over, and overpriced), a Savers (20mins away), and a couple random higher quality clothing thrift stores. We also have Craigslist and I am a member of a facebook yard-sale for my town. I almost forgot freecycle. So I guess I do have some choices. It just might take some legwork. The hardest thing right now is to try to predict needs, so I can have the time to find them. So any advice is welcome!!! I want to win!!! :)