I open my inbox in the morning and there are messages from some of my "best friends" - Gilt, JCrew, DailyCandy, Saks - encouraging me to take advantage of special offers, free shipping, priority shopping. Delete, delete, delete. Then I go on Facebook and Twitter. Same thing. What feels like hundreds of messages, all tailored for me, urging me to buy.
Retreating from my computer, I consult my To Do List, realize I'm out of toilet paper, and head off for a day of errands. Wandering around the CVS (why is every store laid out differently!), I pick up a new mascara; my current brand leaves smudges. Next SuperGlue; I need to repair a ceramic pitcher. Finally, a cork board; I'm trying to set up a home office and that will help me get more organized.
As I'm walking up and down each aisle, I think. Do I really need new mascara? Will this make me prettier? Won't it make my lashes longer? My face more appealing? It will help me get a date in 2010, right? The cork board will make me more organized. I will pay my bills on time; I will write my novel. I know I will, really.
The conversation is almost deafening. Now I know why gamblers shouldn't go to Vegas. Why alcoholics shouldn't be in bars. I can't even make it four days without giving into the pressure to purchase some ideal version of myself!
Stop it! This is what I say to myself. (Thankfully, I was using my inside-my-own-head voice and not actually talking out loud or I would probably be in jail.) Slowly, I put the mascara down. Scared to go back to the cosmetic aisle I leave it by the light bulbs. Terrified it will jump into my basket, I actually back away from it.
I decide the Super Glue is a necessity; it is my grandmother's china, after all. The cork board makes it home. Martha Stewart made me do that. I need an inspiration board is what I heard her say to me. But I haven't taken it out of the bag and I'm taking it back tomorrow.
I don't need it and when have I ever listened to Martha, really?
Actually useful advice and information
In just a few short hours after posting about my 12 Things idea, I received emails from friends with at least a dozen articles about financial fasts, happiness plans or suggestions on mapping a new life. Here are a couple that are interesting.
- Michelle Singletary's 21-day financial fast. While this is more extreme than what I'm doing, I love the community aspect of her program that is literally a fast. No unnecessary purchases, no window shopping, no gifts for other people and no restaurant meals or snacks. I'm not sure I could ever follow the whole plan but I applaud those who are.
- Not Buying It. I find the freegan movement a little wacky but I'm very interested to read several of the memoirs written by folks that gave up shopping for a year (who knew there were several!). First up is Judith Levine's "Not Buying It: A Year Without Shopping". Publisher's Weekly thought it was interesting; I'll let you know.
- Happiness Project. First it was a blog, then a book, now it is a movement and I'm sure it will be a movie (someday). I like the fact that Slate and Woman's Day have adopted it, are encouraging people to sign the petition, and laid it out month-by-month.
