Gender: Female
Status: In a Relationship
Age: 26
Sign: Aquarius
City: SPRINGFIELD
State: Oregon
Country: US
Signup Date: 9/24/2004
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[01 Aug 2008 | Friday] 4:02 AM
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Current mood:  cheerful Category: Life
I was inspired and challenged by this blog post that I read yesterday: The Financial Wisdom of Fight Club @Wisebread.com
The things you own, end up owning you...
I thought about that line for a while, then proceeded to make a list of many things that I own.
1.My cat collection
This started about a year ago. I was at one of my favorite stores, Antrican, kind of an alternative thrift shop, and I found a cat made from wood and painted orange and black (made me think of my tabby - the orange part). It was $3, I thought it was cute, they were unique (made in Thailand), I was out and about shopping anyway, so I bought it.
I now have about 7 cats. Four that mirror my "tabby" and about two that are small, wooden, and painted but that don't match the others. And one that was 50 cents and is sorta medium and doesn't match any of the others except for the fact that it's small (ish), wooden, painted, and a cat.
I resigned myself to the fact that it has now become quite a collection. Even though they're now $4, but they are unique. After I made the rest of the list of stuff I own (that owns me), I realized the cat collection isn't that bad, even if it didn't start out with any particular purpose. I only really go looking for them once a month, or once every two months or so and if I don't find any that really jump out at me, I just don't buy them, so it's not a collection for the sake of having one - I just really like the little things.
Thinking about the stuff I own really put a lot into perspective for me, but the wooden cats are here to stay, unless they get to $5, then the collection comes to an end, and anyway, they really are cheaper than the other stuff I used to collect, namely, glass pipes.
2.CDs
I used to be a cd collecting fiend, back when I lived in Jersey and didn't have anyone but myself to spend my paycheck on. I have a ton of cds now, most of them are those "greatest hits" $6.99 ones, but a few were bought new. Recently (as in a few months ago), I went on a cd shopping spree. I just really felt like I needed some fresh music in my collection. Two weeks later, I was hit with some unexpected expenses (small crap but expenses nonetheless) and I took my cds that I had just bought at regular price and sold them for below half price at the local cd and game exchange store to try to scrounge up some money. I was successful, but decided that that was the last of the cds I was going to buy (at regular price, anyway), so now, whenever I feel like I need some new music, I just borrow from my boyfriend, or shop at the cd and game exchange store for much cheaper than regular price. The thing about the cd and game exchange store is they keep the cds all stacked up and in alphabetical order, but behind sliding glass doors under lock and key, and trying to flag someone down in that store to come and unlock the door so you can look at a cd is almost impossible, sometimes. It gets really crowded in there. So, I have to want it badly to flag someone down with a key, and most of the time I just leave the store without buying anything, because in the process of trying to find someone to unlock the doors so I can check out the cd, I realize I don't need to damn cd anyway! LOL
Plus, I have a Zune mp3 player (that I got for Christmas), and there really is no excuse for even buying cds, but I don't like to be plugged into the damn thing all the time, so yeah, and my old ass stereo that used to be Joe's (ha!) just plays AM/FM, tape, and cd.
3.Books
I have a shit ton of fiction paperbacks that are sitting on my shelf. Not only that, but my ex's mom's coworker is an avid reader and frequently purchases paperbacks that she inhales in a day and then passes along to us, so the downstairs shelf is packed with paperbacks, as well. So, why is it that when I'm in the general vicinity of the used bookstore, do I go in and buy yet more books when I have a ton sitting at home to read? It's because I think of days gone by when I didn't have ANYTHING to read and was raiding the battered women's shelter's shelves for some Harlequin romances. Yes, I did live at the shelter at the time with my mom and brother. No, I didn't break in, lol. So, I'm sure there is some emotional trigger that makes me buy books and then horde them until I'm drowning in them. They're also excellent ways to escape.
How do I break this habit? Simple. I have a "Don't Buy" list and I plan to stick to it. Fiction paperbacks (that leaves it open for non-fiction) are on my 'don't buy' list, at least until there is not another paperback to be found in the house! lol
4.Notebooks/Pens
I'm confessing; I am a stationary junkie. I write a lot, mostly ideas and lists and plans, and I like having my notebook around (and my pen) in case inspiration hits. I have a lot of paper, but when I'm at Target or something, my eyes wonder and I think "Oooh $1.99 for that cute notebook. I'll get it for that price!" Except shit adds up and when you find yourself at Target 4x a week, umm yeah, it adds up. Running out of paper and pens is another fear of mine. When I first moved to Oregon, I brought my books (which I sold within 2 weeks of being here because I was broke and needed to eat). I brought all my clothes and my laptop. I didn't realize how important a notebook and a pen were to me, especially with all the crap that started happening, and I didn't have a way to express it on my broken down laptop. I was about to start writing on walls. And the quality of pen is important to me too, and I realized I go through cycles. One day it's a certain type of pen that will do; next week, it's another. I have now resolved to not buy another pen until ALL the pens I have are out of ink.
5.Stuff for Aria
This always gets me. I spend grocery dollars on chocolate Nesquick powder and pop tarts (two things she loves). Those two things are fine, they don't break the bank. But, I bought her a ton of summer clothes and dresses. Summer is almost over, and I'm scrambling to make sure she wears everything I bought her, even if only once, just to make buying it worth it. My new plan? Buy only stuff she needs, literally, buy it as she needs it.
6.Jewelry
I like jewelry. Recently, I made two major purchases from PhoenixFire Designs and I'm happy with my purchases. They're the most I've ever spent on jewelry. Mostly, I buy cheap stuff from Fred Meyer or Wal-Mart cuz they're cheap, right? Stuff adds up though. I have a ton of earrings and I've discovered that I really only wear one or two pairs that I really really like. Jewelry is on my "don't buy" list now, too, especially the cheap stuff. Much better to save for some really cool, unique, well-made stuff, then to just blow your dollars on the cheap stuff.
7.Pipe Collection
I used to smoke pot. It was an excellent way to de-stress. Nowadays, I use other methods to de-stress as I don't care much anymore for that "fuzzy head" feeling, plus I like having my memory back. I haven't smoked pot since March, and it's amazing how much money I've saved! Pot is expensive! But, I always like pretty smoking pieces too and I usually just went for the $10 specials. My last pipe however was $26. The more shopping I did on pipes, the bigger and more expensive I was getting them. My pipe collection has since been washed and put away in their own lined box that's in the closet. I could just smoke tobacco (and I actually do have a half pound or so of tobacco that I bought because I wanted to smoke something but I just never got around to it). Now that I don't smoke weed, going out to buy a new pipe just doesn't carry the same excitement it used to. So, this one's easy. I don't need the things, so I'm just not buying anymore and the activity that I did while using them, I don't do anymore, so there's no point.
8.My Grand Stock of Bath and Body Products
This is another fear. The fear of running out of hygiene products, as it has happened before, like when we lived at the battered women's shelter, and all they had was Ivory soap that made my skin itch. I never want to go through that again, but I do take it to the extreme. Any time something is on sale (like body wash), I buy it and store it, because you never know when you won't have any again. Except that I now have quite a bit and when it comes down to it, it's money that's being spent, money that could be used on other things for the time being. I have like 10 sticks of deodorant, a ton of lotion, a ton of hair care items...and the thing is, I keep buying more, because it's on sale, and you just never know right? Well, I realized, I was being unrealistic and a bit of a hoarder (ya think?!) and, with as much as I've accumulated, I know (logically) that I'm not going to run out any time soon (maybe not ever lol) SO...and this one is hard for me, but this stuff is also going on the "don't buy" list, until each and every deodorant stick is run down to the quick, and the last drop is being squeezed out of my shampoo.
Okay, okay, maybe not to that extreme either. But, I don't have to buy something every time it's on sale. I think it's sane to just have a backup. One backup, that's it. Not five.
I'm glad I made this list, as it became clear what was owning me (the emotion behind the hygiene stuff and the books), what was just a harmless collection (the cats), and the other things that own me that don't anymore. Also on the "don't buy" list is lighters (I have like 6 of them and don't use them anymore), buttons (I like buying buttons with sayings on them but I only keep one on my purse and the rest are in a jar...), candy and chocolate (I don't need either of those things and they are another purchase that are made more out of emotion/addiction than any real necessity).
Now that I've figured all this out, this leaves it wide open to buy stuff that I only really need. Maybe a few luxuries thrown in here and there. So, what do I do with the extra money? Save most, spend a little. I want to learn how to sew (and of course I decide that when I am away from all my cousins and aunts in Jersey that know how) and I want to check out the farmer's market in downtown Eugene and perhaps expand my food tastes a bit. :)
So, check out Wise Bread. Maybe it'll open your eyes about something, too. :)
 | Currently reading:
The Fifth Vial
By Michael Palmer
Release date: 2007-11-27 |
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