I petered out about mid-year. And before that, we did end up buying new couches after months of searching for a deal worth driving 1.5 or 3 hrs for on craigslist. Although I guess that fits within the realm of compacting. We also replaced our dying hot water heater and washer and dryer with new items rather than used, but that was a conscious decision as well. (And I have to say I'm glad, I've never had a dryer that works before this one, and they've all been used. We hope to have the set for 10-15 years if things last that long anymore.)
I can't say we bought much anyway. Trying to think what. Not much. But I stopped thinking about it mid-year so I'm sure there were lots of little things that I could have done better on. And we did go out to eat a few times. But I started out "not buying" and that definitely turned into compacting by mid-year. And for Christmas I bought little, but what I've bought has been new.
For 2008 I want to do Compacting. I think having a plan for actually buying things will help me not feel "Oh I've failed at not buying, I may as well buy whatever I want." So having a priority to work through will help.
The thing I learned most is that it costs an incredible amount of gas money to get most things used, here. I understand why people hoard things in barns for generations.
I learned that most things you don't really need anyway. I learned that having basic pieces of furniture for your house is something I feel I have a "right" to. I had a really hard time letting go of the idea that we "deserved" to use our tax money to buy sofas to sit on. I learned that I have a sense of entitlement about a lot of the things I buy, right down to the types of groceries we buy. It was good for me to examine all this, but I wasn't willing to fully let go of my beliefs in some areas. But being aware of them, was a step forward.
(Just to explain, I'm here because it's Saturday morning and I'm "off" work.
Not slacking!
Slinking back out of the forum...)