As y’all know, I’m taking part in Crunchy Chicken’s Buy Nothing challenge. Well, slowly but surely the ‘I need to gets’ have been creeping into my thoughts, and I’ll be honest, I’m the queen of rationalization so I really don’t trust my own assessment of ‘essential’ here. So here’s the deal:
Lucy’s Sigg bottle cap broke this morning. We have some cups with straws so that she can take her water to school, but the straws are pretty mangled from when Lucy was chewing on *everything*. Plus I recently decided that we’re going to use Sigg for Chico when he gets to sippy cup stage so all of these cups are going to eventually end up either at my MIL’s for other grandkids or at Goodwill. So here’s my quandry. I can buy a replacement cap for the Sigg, but do I do that now or wait until April is over? If I buy now, I can send the excess sippies out on Thursday, clearing space in my cabinet. I will want to order a couple of the infant size for Chico to save packaging and transport.
Second issue: diaper covers. It has become clear that having 3 diaper covers is not enough. We only use pockets at night, so if there’s a big soak or, heaven forbid, an explosive poo, I’m having to use more than one cover in a day. Do I buy now or do I wait?
To be completely honest, I’m probably going to wait on both purchases. As I’ve been writing this, I’ve realized that I can make do without these things for the next 3 weeks or so. It’ll just be a little bit less convenient. And maybe I’ll find out we can make do without for good. Well, not the bottle cap but maybe the diaper covers. The funny thing is that I really only have to keep one straw cup for school lunches so I can send the rest out anyway. I never would have thought of doing that.
I feel much better now. It’s remarkable how easy it is to just buy something. This must be how I ended up with a house full of crap.
Speaking of crap, I’ve started in on Lucy’s closet. There’s a send to grandma pile, a donate box, and a big mound in between. We did get her dress-up stuff organized, and doll clothes (some old Lucy baby outfits) as well. Toys Chico will grow into by October have a place to live even though I’m not finished sorting them. Thankfully I just sorted through her clothes last month.
And! I am happy to report that the box is going out today if it effing kills me. I’ve got to get it out of my foyer. I’ll email you when it goes out, Radical Mama!
I would think that the entire buy nothing thing doesn’t refer to stuff that’s necessary… but that’s just me. Plus, doesn’t it kind of negate the point if you know you’re still going to buy it but you’re just waiting?
yeah, essentials are allowed. I’m just waiting because I want to prove I can go a month without shopping
Personally, I’d get them now. It won’t make that big a difference in the big picture whether you buy them this month or next. In my opinion, the idea of the challenge is to reassess your needs, not just postpone shopping. Not much help, am I?
I broke down and ordered them–I promised Lucy a new bottle for at home if she got rid of two large toys. She didn’t even hesitate before saying yes
I just got my first Sigg bottle. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!
I’m trying to cut back on things to see if I can. Another bipolar promise destined to fail!
As I’ve been writing this, I’ve realized that I can make do without these things for the next 3 weeks or so. It’ll just be a little bit less convenient. And maybe I’ll find out we can make do without for good.
I think that THIS is a big part of the purpose of the challenge. If you HAVE to wait to buy something, a new acceptable solution often comes along. For example, I have three extra SIGG lids- all of our bottles sprang leaks within a year, but I’ve been meaning to pass lids on to other friends who have them. There’s a good chance that networking and making do (like with a homemade diaper cover) would enable you to come up with a more innovative solution- even if eventually you decided to buy.
Thor–aren’t they awesome? I’m a total Sigg fanatic!
Sarah–you’re so right. I did go ahead and place the order for the replacement lid, but have been able to make do with just the diaper covers I have. It has given me the impetus to dig out my old sewing machine to get repaired so that I can try my hand at making some covers out of some leftover fleece. Now I just need to empty out my junk closet to get it