Please, do tell. What are your plans? I am seriously contemplating it this year. We have racked up more debt this year, and we truly need to get it under control. We'll blame it on having a new baby in the house. Anyway, I think I'm ready. I am thinking of all kinds of things we can do for gifts and so forth.

Inspire me! ;)

I imagine that part of continuing with the Riot 4 Austerity will be a renewed commitment to following the Compact. I'm actually pretty excited. I know at least two families in my area who are going to give the Compact a try, and DH is actually very interested this year.

The first part of the plan is making some decisions regarding how we'll make exceptions, and how we'll overcome previous obstacles. For instance, I'm fairly certain that I could find jeans at thrift stores, if I could shop alone and try things on, or if we all went so DH could watch the boys.

Our exceptions will most likely be related to transitioning to a lower energy usage lifestyle. I am contemplating finally buying a drying rack so I can line dry even if it is damp or rainy outside. I will be buying what I need to make warm window coverings.

This is what I wrote last year, in italics, with new comments in color:

I will carefully consider each purchase I make, even in the exception areas. I will strive to see if I have something that I can use before assuming I need to buy something. I will consider the food I buy, the amount of (used) clothing that comes into the house, and where any allowed new goods come from and what they are made of (natural materials, organics, fair trade, fair labor, etc.)

We did really well with this. My mindset changed dramatically.

This is the year of making do. No new towels, no new sheets, no new furniture, no new small appliances, pans, or kitchen gadgets. No new decorations for holidays or decorative house items. No new hair accessories, or aprons (but I can sew one), or jewelry. Certainly for 12 months we can make do with what we have.

Hmmm . . . I know I bought a few new hair accessories. I'd forgotten that I wrote that. DH bought me a new pan; it was a surprise gift and he wasn't compacting. This year we need new towels; the Gymboree hippo towels that were cute at age 4 are way too small for an 8YO and 9YO. OH, and DH bought a Lego train for Christmas, but again, he wasn't in on the Compact.

It is also the year of making. If we want fancy soap we'll mill it from the plain soap we have on hand with herbs and essential oils. I will make the new pot holders I need (I have the loom and wool loops). I really want to make the quilt I planned out (just need to scavange more denim and corduroy).

I found that I didn't even need to rebatch the soap I had on hand. We used it plain. I never made the potholders, although they are on the list. I didn't make the quilt. We made do with what we had.

All my and the boys' clothing except underwear, socks, shoes, and boys' pajamas must be bought used, traded for, borrowed, or received for free. We're not frivolous shoe purchasers anyway, but I will only replace necessary shoes (sandals and walking shoes) that are beyond wearing. The boys may each have one pair of sandals, one pair of sneakers, and one pair of hiking boots, and I am ordering T-Guy a new pair of slippers for next fall and will pass his down to J-Baby. This goal is actually a continuation of one started last summer, except that we won't make exceptions for sale new clothing.


I never bought the boys new pajamas. But this is the area I fell down in; I had lost a lot of weight and when my grandfather died I had nothing to wear and not time to thrift. Then I lost more weight. I purchased several shirts and several pairs of pants new this year, along with two lightweight jackets.

I will stop buying the little stuff - a toy here, a snack there. You know, the kind of stuff that will nickel and dime you to death.

I did far better with this. Really well.

Food must be carefully considered and chosen based on need. Natural sodas (the kind made with cane sugar) are out. Prepared snack foods are out (it will probably be a month or more before they run out of the GF pretzels, microwave popcorn, and organic fruit leather we bought for consumption during my recovery). Chocolate will be okay for special occasions (organic and fair trade, of course). DH will still buy wine and tea. I will make whole wheat bread, but will purchase vegan GF bread. Canned beans are allowed as an emergency food.

We did well with food, and as the year wraps up we are doing even better. We got hit with a major medical diagnosis in February and had to change how we eat. Then I read and researched more and we changed more.

Our goal is to eat out only twice a month, coinciding with payday, and only at local establishments. We will have to make some allowances for travel. We also have to figure out how this works with family, as both of our families prefer to get together at restaurants rather than cook meals (large holidays excluded). I am more than willing to cook, but people don't always want to come to us, nor do they all like eating vegan food.

We have been able to eliminate almost all eating out except for travel and meals involving family. We have had family over for meals, which is a good first step.


No new books. First I see if the library has the book I want to read; if not, I see if I can borrow it from someone I know. If it is a must have book (for information, no fiction allowed) I will find it used. My book addiction is serious especially since half the time I realize I could have done without whatever book I ordered from Amazon. In addition to not buying new books I will not browse used bookstores or the thrift store for books that I am not specifically searching for. Really, I have enough unread books here at home to keep me reading all year.

I bought new books. All relating to learning skills or sustainability. Usually it was books the library didn't have, and in one case a book I took out repeatedly. I did buy used whenever possible.

No magazines purchased in stores. I have subscribed to the magazines I am most likely to pick up, and will read the others at the library, go without, or find a way to borrow them or buy them used. I do have one homeschooling magazine that I need to call and order on the 3rd (no online orders).

I fell down here. Certainly I bought fewer magazines in stores, but I did buy magazines such as Permaculture. Having seen The Story of Stuff I feel more motivated in this direction, now. I also now have a way to pass on magazines that I have read and don't want to keep.

No new music. This isn't usually an issue for me until holiday time, but I am putting it out there now.

I did great here. I didn't expect it to be a problem anyway, but I haven't purchased a new holiday album this year.

I am going to inventory our craft supplies and choose projects based on what we have. We have so much to choose from that we just have to say no to some of the great stuff out there. It will be okay to replenish consumables such as glue, chalk, crayons, etc. Even then I don't anticipate needing to do much more than replace the frequently used Stockmar colors. We do need 9 X 12 drawing paper.

This was a great goal, and one I will continue for 2008. We still have so much!

We will make all greeting cards or use our stash cards (scavenged by my dad). We will recycle gift bags, make wrap, and use any old wrap we have.

This was an easy one. In addition to stash cards and wrap, we used old maps for gift wrap, and made greeting cards out of watercolor paintings we had done.

I will not buy new yarn until the stash is gone and even then I will try to find sweaters to frog. Any yarn purchased after the stash is gone must be for a specific project. The exception to this will be if I decide to make hats for any kids as I don't have any superwash wool and I don't anticipate many parents wanting to care for merino or alpaca.

Here I've been thinking that I failed miserably at this, and I did far better than I thought because almost all of the new yarn I bought was yarn for children's hats. The goal will go on for 2008.

I am going to learn to sew. Any fabric purchased new must be for a specific project. However, before that I will use reclaimed fabric, thrift store fabric, etc. I have about 5 yards of flannel but certainly do not have a stash and am not going to build one.

I was given a small stash of fabric ~ hurray! I have starting learning to sew. I am unfortunately learning that most fabric at the thrift store is synthetic, and often more expensive than new fabric. So I have to evaluate this one. Still, I want to stay away from stash buying and only buy for projects.

I have begun studying herbalism. I will allow myself to purchase necessary supplies to make herbal medicines and personal care products. This is an investment year; I may need funnels, storage jars, etc. that I will never need again. Still, I will source used goods whenever possible (please don't suggest pickle jars...I never seem to be able to get rid of the pickle smell and I will not ruin good herbs that way).

I mostly gave up herbalism after finding out about my many sensitivities. I have enough leftover goods to make salves/balms again this year, and floral water sprays. I have lots of round Altoid tins from DH.

We are allowed to purchase what we need to start our garden, including minimal tools, lumber for raised beds, seeds and starts, soil amendment, etc.

We grew food this year! Exciting! And we didn't spend a lot of money doing it, either. We plan to get started again in January.

Photo paper and inks are permitted.

Artisan goods are allowed. Entertainment is allowed if it falls within our budget. Experiences are allowed.

Items I didn't get around to purchasing in 2006 that are still possibly on the slate for early 2007: a wool mattress pad for the boys' bed, a futon mattress for FIL to sleep on when he is here (if he decides to come weekly), ear phones for my iPod (yes, I have one...it's nearly 3 years old), a clothes rack and/or umbrella style drying rack. I'm going to try to find alternatives (such as finding a used king-sized 100% wool blanket and felting it for the boys' pad). I planned to buy ear phones before now, but haven't been able to get out to try any.


I did find a wool blanket to felt for DS's bed; $3 and it works perfectly. We have our old futon for FIL to sleep on. I never bought ear phones. I'm still waffling on the drying rack. We did buy a bunk bed and mattresses for the boys.

I found that shifting my perspective to buying used was really easy, and that after awhile I was able to see that I was buying too much, even used, because it seemed to have so little impact. Buying too much used doesn't break the Compact, per se, but it wasn't simple for me, so I cut back.

Thanks, Kimberly! I love seeing this. I hadn't thought to actually write down my goals and "rules" for our purchases. This is a very good thing to do, obviously, and certainly allows for some accountability and reminding throughout the year, I'm sure!

Hmmm...now to get started and get DH on board!
;)

Wow, what wonderful and realistic goals Kimberly. I want to write something like that myself for this next year.

We are doing something like the compact. We are streamlining our expences and starting to work out ways of buying things before hand (which helps with planning and usually costs less than having to buy things last minute; from food out, to gifts, to cards for birthdays), and planning for what we do (and not what we want to do, or think we do when we are actually thinking about spending. ;) ).

I will be putting my budget up for comments in a moment. ;) Feel free to post yours. I am trying to remember EVERYTHING.

Val

We will be doing it very strictly because by the end of the year we hope to have very few possessions so we can move internationally in January 09. We will only take what can fit in luggage. So over the year as things wear out or break or we realize we can live without them, they will be freecycled or given away or thrown away if they're undesirable. LOL.

Kerri, you are amazing. :)

I've been working on a budget too. And on rules for spending.

No eating out except on vacations. Have easy healthy pantry meals on hand at all times. Take food with when needed. Make food from scratch as often as possible. Offer to bring a meal to IL's rather than winding up eating out when we get there...

Continue Y membership. Use it. Use open gym time for PE for kids. Take fun stuff to play with there (they'll be getting some things for Christmas that will be great to play with during open gym--quite often there's no one in there in the afternoons but us).

continue cable and internet service (I use internet for work). Keep checking periodically to make sure we're getting the best deal possible.

Use library as much as possible. Develop a system to eliminate late fines as much as possible.

Seek out sources for used items, including homeschool supplies. Consider joining a homeschool group.

grow a bigger garden...maybe...

Shovel snow and do yardwork ourselves. Resist the temptation to throw $15 at those neighbor boys standing on the porch with shovels in hand!!! Borrow neighbor's snow blower if needed (it's been offered, we just give a couple bucks for gas).

Buy from farmer's market and local sources as much as possible.

gifts--homemade, photos, foods, services

Get used to the house being colder in the winter and warmer in the summer--reduce use of heating and cooling.

Turn off, unplug, etc.

Line dry when possible.

May go to some movies at the Dove Family Film festival, but pack own snacks and drinks!

Kerri, you are amazing. :)

:agreed:

Aww, you guys. I'm scared to death. Just sick thinking about it all. LOL.

Aww, you guys. I'm scared to death. Just sick thinking about it all. LOL.


Well, to me it's positively inspiring what you're doing, scared or not. :p It's really making me think about what I really want to do with myself, now that the kids are older. I'm leaning in one direction, but I'll have to finish the stoooopid math degree first...

Planning on compacting. Dh and I will work on our guidelines together over holiday break. But, the biggest thing for us is going to be: setting a budget with sinking funds (we really already have one worked up, that's not the hard part) and sticking to it. Finally looking like we'll have the income to do that! *crossing fingers* The other is going to be saving up a cushion to tide us over in lean months for my income, since it's freelance and unpredictable.

So the less we can spend in other areas, the better. I think the Not Buying was sort of "all or nothing" and like a diet, we fell off the wagon hard and it was impossible to get back on. I'm hoping the Compacting will be more reasonable. We just don't have the time/energy to *really* devote ourselves to not buying *anything* except necessities. So having a plan to get the things we do need, used/free first, will be key. I like Kimberly's specificity with it...looking ahead and planning might work well for us, like planning specific purchases (for example, we do know, ahem, that when the funds are available, a screen of some sort that's bigger than 9" for watching satellite tv and movies, is going to be a purchase).

I'm trying to be very realistic. Setting goals works ok for me, but sometimes when I write it like an ultimatum, the obstinate little girl in me rebels. :lol:

I do have some financial goals to meet this year though and that won't happen if I am not careful with my spending.

I'm trying to be very realistic. Setting goals works ok for me, but sometimes when I write it like an ultimatum, the obstinate little girl in me rebels. :lol:

I do have some financial goals to meet this year though and that won't happen if I am not careful with my spending.

See that's how I'm framing it for '08 too. I have some (positive) financial goals, and I need to have spending in line to make that happen.

We still struggle with feeling "deprived" when we say to ourselves, "We can't do X." I think it comes from having been on a tight budget for the better part of a decade.

We still struggle with feeling "deprived" when we say to ourselves, "We can't do X." I think it comes from having been on a tight budget for the better part of a decade.

Ditto.. that is Don's rational whenever he wants something. "We have been deprived for SO long why shouldn't we look like we have the money we have." He hates my answer "Because we don't really have it. We have borrowed it and now need to give it back." lol...

BUT, I think a huge part of me compacting this year is going to be planning ahead. He is on board with that... and once we have planned ahead for every little thing (including his soft drinks, and my coffee shop dates with Cyan, eating out once a week, etc) then we will be able to cut back on some of those thing (well, we have left overs, so why don't we not eat out this week and have dinner in front of the tv instead (which is also a treat here)? KWIM? It will be easier if at first, we are not depriving ourselves at all.

I do have to tell you Lauren, that when we first started getting this income, it was all we could do to wait until payday to spend it (this was 4 months ago now) so expect a learning curve for you and Matt, you guys have been on a lean path for a long time now. There is some 'honeymoon' time that is diserved there. Be gentle with your choices... and know the buckling down is coming, even though it may not look like it... you know? :heart:

Val

I'm trying to be very realistic. Setting goals works ok for me, but sometimes when I write it like an ultimatum, the obstinate little girl in me rebels. :lol:

You and I talked about this before, that's why I "stopped" smoking, not "quit." :lol:

I was thinking about this thread all last week, and actually, I did really well. I bought one pair of maternity shorts new, I can't think of any other piece of clothing that I bought new, not for the kids or myself. I don't think dh bought new jeans either. He's going to need some soon, but the Costco jeans are about the same price as the thrift store, so we'll do that after the first of the year. We usually get a Costco gc or two.

Oh wait, I did buy dd tights at Halloween. And ds' Halloween costume was new, purchased on Ebay. It was Cyclops (X Men) circa '92. And ds needed new shoes (actually wore out his last pair), but I managed to put it off all summer. Finding the awesome thrift store near my house was a huge help, almost all of ds' shorts and jeans came from there.

We didn't buy anything extra on our Ikea trips, just things we had planned for. We just bought a new big Pyrex set, we're trying to replace our plastic storage containers. I bought a couple of waterproof um, what was I saying? Dh got up and we were talking about everything we need to get done today, and now I have no idea what I was talking about. :lol: I don't need anything for the baby. I loaned out my water sling, but bought another secondhand here, was gifted a brand new Boppy (with a plush cover, a friend got two at her shower), and have borrowed a nice new swing. I did buy some new pillows for the couch, and (now I remember) waterproof blankets for the park (clearanced for $2.50 each, I think), but everything I bought, I absolutely love and will use, a lot!

This year, I'll make an effort to cloth diaper and use my laundry line. I did with dd until she started overloading every diaper I own! Like last year, I think I can keep purchases to thrift store finds and planned purchases, like house remodel things.

I've been slowly writing my goals for the next year and many of them deal with compacting. They're mixed together.

Putting the word out/waiting/looking for used has worked very well for us. The house has some carpeting and we put off buying the vacuum, crawling around on hands and knees with a broken shop-vac that gets only the top layer of dirt off. We finally buckled down and went to buy one, but not a cheap one because we’ve been together nearly 9 years and have gone through 3 cheap vacuums ($300). I wanted something that had a reputation of lasting. We’d been looking for two months but happened to go in after the store had reduced a $324. vacuum to $199. But none were left but the floor model so they marked it down to $100. I am totally thrilled and the vacuum works very well and folds down to be compact.

Anyhow, here's what I have so far. I hoe I don't come off as a lunatic. :o As strict and consuming as it sounds, it really isn't. I don't think twice about some of it and others have led me to make friends, meet new people and go to great places.

• I will feed my children at least one hot, home cooked meal per day.

• My food will be local, or self-produced and organic unless not available. Exceptions: vanilla beans and olive oil. Occasionally this will not happen because of the nature of life.

• I will grow some of my own food. I will trade for some of my food.

• I will not be eating out at restaurants. I am concerned about their sources of food and the quality. For that reason, should I have a date night with the SO, I’ll be eating at a local vegetarian eatery or at the local co-op. This will mean that I must be more prepared for outings.

• I will continue to home educate daily.

• I will read to my children daily.

• I will continue to “put the word out”, wait and thrift for any needs.

• I will continue to purchase used but only after searching for a way to make what I have fit my needs or altering my needs to fit what I have.

• I will continue to trade for things I do not make.

• I will continue to learn to make things and continue learning to sew better.

• I will support local and domestic workers when all but impossible and only after looking at used options.

• I will open a stand at the farmer’s market, partially for business, partially to get to know my community better and develop relationships.

• I will make gifts or trade if I do not have the skills to make them (for instance, the mugs we got as a family this year).

• New books are allowed but if they can be found used that’s even better. I will search the library first if it's not a book I need for reference (herbalism, sustainability, woodworking, gardening, homeschooling)

• I will exercise daily unless health conditions prevent it.

• I will spend less time online.

• I will give my husband attention and affection daily.

i'm not ready to commit to compacting perse, but i am obligated to simplifying & downsizing from our small (1300 sqft, family of 7 & 2 dogs) cluttered home to an uncluttered, more organized home.

working on my list of goals.

You and I talked about this before, that's why I "stopped" smoking, not "quit." :lol:



:lol: Yeah. You just slowed down to nothing. I did too. Totally our choice. :D

An aside...can't wait to find out all about your baby. :hbeat:

I've been slowly writing my goals for the next year and many of them deal with compacting. They're mixed together.

Can I just copy yours??? ;)

I am seriously considering doing some advertising and seeing if I can't start up a co-op with Frontier and possibly Country Life Foods. I already have a membership, and if I can order every couple of months and charge a 5% handling fee, that will allow me to get the things I want (spices, shampoo, etc.) that much more cheaply. However, I go back and forth with this because it is not local. Country Life is within 40 miles of me, but is a distributor and not a producer, and while they are organic, some things are imported from other countries, etc.

I need to kick things into high gear and get my kitchen working again. I want to be cooking from scratch daily. I've been doing better, but all to often, like tonight, I'm cooking sloppy joes or something not as wholesome as I'd like.

I've done so much better with this in the past. Somewhere along the line, I lost it.

One of my more fluid goals is to make something each week for "snack foods"... Like have a glass tupperware of muffins that I make on Sunday for the kids to snack on along with fruits and veggie sticks (and I just found a ranch with out MSG that I like)... You know? I want to start that this weekend and see if we can do it.

And another of our bad habits I would love to break is going out during lunch time. We leave the house (on Don's days off) right around 11:45... before we are done with our first errand everyone is cranky and hungry... and so we eat out. We did it today even. I really really want to stop this. It is SUCH a bad habit... and we fall into it twice to three times a week without even thinking. It sucks!

Anyway... more babble from me.

Val

great post!! definitely inspiring and informative!! :D

I love your list, it is very inspiring!!