The 365 Day Non-Consumption Challenge

I have challenged myself to go 365 days (started on Aug 1, 2011) without purchasing new, off-the-shelf items.

What does that mean?Lets say I need to buy a new backpack for my daughter for school...I have to find that backpack in some way (thrift, friend, etc.) that doesn't require me buying a brand new, never before used item. Essentially I want everything I purchase to be giving me their "second life".

Why?
#1 The environmental impact used to produce, ship and package new items while perfectly good ones sit in consignment stores, thrift stores and basements.
#2 To challenge the idea that status=belongings. To rethink the phrase "He who dies with the most toys wins" and prove (even if just to myself) that I am the sum of my actions, not my belongings.

So NO buying items brand new for 365 days.
(p.s. I am not a martyr so exclusions will apply to things like runners, undies, etc. to make this realistic it has to be achievable...no recycled TP) see "ground rules" post below for more details.

Stay tuned...

Tuesday, 23 August 2011

In Praise of Little Houses

"Small rooms or dwellings discipline the mind, large one's weaken it."
Leonardo Da Vinci.
(You said it Leo, my little house gets messy in minutes. Thank goodness it only takes minutes to clean!)


For years my hubby and I lived in 2000+ square foot homes.

While snuggling on the couch we would always joke about how we didn't need a big house at all as the whole family (2 kids, 2 parents and a fluffy cat) were always piled on the same couch cushion!

In reality we DIDN'T need the square footage and really only used about 25% of the house. The kitchen, one (of the three availiable living rooms) and the bedrooms. The rest of the space was just there to vacume and dust! So when we went shopping for our current house we vowed to buy a 1000 sq foot bunglow!
Those trees were a bonus!

I think my realestate agent (sally.krulis@remax.net who is stellar!!!) thought I was crazy dragging her to all these little, rundown homes but we finally found "the one" (and couldn't have done it without her.)


We adore this house, in fact we feel liberated by the limited space forced to pair down to what we REALLY need and love.

But as we snuggle up on the front step together (the only way to watch a thunderstorm! I highly recommend it) I think we could go even smaller...our front step is 10x10 and everything I need fits on it just fine.

So...

It's funny what you end up reading when you can't buy a magazine, my sis had a issue of House Beautiful and in it was an artical titled "The Tiny House Movement" the articile was all about the benefits of living small. "As houses grow bigger and bigger people feel less and less at home." (House Beautiful, july/august 2011)

So besides feeling more at home I save money on energy bills, land taxes and lessen my "footprint" but the BEST part?
Spending more time doing what I love and less time vacuming!


Thor 960 by Meka World, mekaworld.com


I want this house next! 960 sq. feet of well planned and organized ease... I wonder if it comes with the beach....


That's my less consumption thought for the day. Enjoy yours,
L
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