Well, now that the first month of the 'new' year has almost past, I’m sure you’re DYING to know how restrained I’ve been
in sticking to my list of things-I’m-not-going-to-buy. So, one by one, here is the truth:
1.
Handbags – 2 (a smallish cross-body, and a
largish shopper/cross body – from TKMaxx, of course...) I think this particular addiction is going
to take some serious treatment to overcome
2.
Travel bags – 0 (although we don’t have any
trips planned right now, so probably not a good test)
3.
Storage containers – 0 (feeling good!)
4.
Skirts/dresses – 1 of each – in the sale…. Although I have actually worn both items more
than once so far (with long boots), so that isn’t too bad!
5.
Tights – 2 (see previous item)
6.
Cookbooks – physical – 0, virtual – about 8 –
although I have resisted the urge to add another glossy hardback book, with
lots of exciting pictures, to my bookshelf, I have purchased around 8 e-cook
books. They were VERY cheap though….
7.
Kitchen appliances and gadgets – 0
8.
Fitness equipment – 0 (Fitness equipment used –
0)
9.
Apps – hmmm, I recently bought a Nexus tablet,
which runs on Android so some app purchases were necessary. More details to follow at a later date…
10.
Black trousers - 0
11.
Black boots – 1 pair (I HAD intended to get rid
of an older pair when I got them home, but I just couldn’t choose which pair
had to go…)
12.
Heston’s popcorn ice-cream – 0 (although I have
bought 4 tubs of Haagen Daaz Strawberry Cheesecake, which is ALMOST as
irresistible)
13.
Travel size toiletries – 0 (see point 2)
14.
Bikinis – 0 (as if!)
15.
Indian spices – 0 (and managed to cook 2 curries
using the spices I bought before my blog)
16.
Bargains – FAILED! See items 4, 6, 11, 17, 27, 29…
17.
Food bought on its “use-by” date – fail! Have definitely continued to buy these ‘bargains’
18.
Clothes for DS – 1 - a tiger ‘onesie’ for
Christmas (he loved it!)
19.
Fleeces – 0
20.
Earrings – 0 (although Santa brought me a pair
of long silver ones…)
21.
Stuff to put in bath – 0 (Santa didn’t bring me
any of this!)
22.
Tins of chopped tomatoes – 0 (managed to use up
a few tins from stocks)
23.
Deodourant - 0
24.
Stationery – some sticky labels, but that wasn’t
too much of a splurge!
25.
Novelty items as gifts – totally failed! Well, it was hard to fill up an 11 year-old’s
stocking without resorting to some of the items I vowed not to buy. Items included some “Bush Tucker critters”,
which he wouldn’t try - and neither would anyone else; some little puzzles,
which never get done; some silly little books, which never get read; various
other over-priced c**p that I have already forgotten!)
26.
Learn to speak Spanish books – 0 (I think I’m ‘fixed’
of this urge – for now….)
27.
Fresh food on offer – definitely didn’t stick to
this one. Bought lots of 3 for 2s, 4 for
3s, etc, over the Christmas period.
Didn’t waste TOO much
28.
Bed and bath linen – 0 (although we did buy a
new bed for DS)
29.
Comfortable clothes – hmmmm – I guess I have to
come clean about the cashmere tracksuit I bought in the sale from Tesco. They are lovely and soft for lounging around in (and were a fab bargain), but they look like PJs,
so not the sort of thing to be caught wearing out!
30.
Cheap versions of expensive items – as I
mentioned in item 9, I bought a new Nexus 7 tablet. I really wanted an iPad mini, but it was
almost twice the price. I don’t think
this really counts, as the Nexus is a pretty good device (is has, of course,
required some additional investment in Android apps…)
31.
Costco items not on my list – popped in to
Costco for a few items on my list (24 tins of baked beans, lots of bottles of wine, some
meat, etc), and did come away with some additional meat and frozen food that wasn’t on my
list. Shouldn’t have done this as I didn’t
have enough room in my freezer! (note to
self – must start using up all the stocks in the freezer….)
Well, we’re at the end of the first month, and it has been a
bit dismal really. I had hoped that by
broadcasting my intentions to the world (!!), I might actually stop and think
before purchasing any of the items on my “banned” list. Obviously it hasn’t worked, so I think I need
to try an alternative approach. Perhaps
I should have a month when I am only allowed to spend cash! Having to prise grubby little notes out of my
purse, and hand them over to receive lots of little coins to carry around in
return might go some way to making me give a little more thought to what I
purchase. However, unless someone forcibly
removed all internet access, I wouldn’t be able to control the urge to accept
the offer of “buy now”, “add to basket”, “checkout”… It is just soooooooooo
easy, and you don’t even have to enter your name and address or payment details
on many sites. It isn’t even like
spending money! (until the credit card
bill arrivesL
). Perhaps I need one of these "Smart" cards?
