Wow.

I had kind of forgoten about his blog, but jsut came acros it when I posted a coment on a friends blog.

It appears that we made it. One year and very little bought new. For anyone who happens to stumble upon this and wonder if we really went a whole year here is a quick summary of all the times I broke the rules from then to now. That's 13 whole months.

Jane
- accepted one new tooth brush
- bought a new hard drive for my computer
- accepted one pair of marino wool socks at Christmas
- accepted one dress/ shirt from Mexico
- bought a roll of packing tape (to pack)
- bought underware (desperate times.....)
- accepted a beautiful peuter wine goblet
- got a thing of crazy glue for a crafting project
- just (literally yesterday) bought new pants and 2 tank tops (but they were 50% off)

All and all I still think we need to buy things to make the world go round. But asking"do I really need to buy this" is a pretty good place to start consuming more responsibly.

Rock on.

Jane

Ebay

I just bid on a used pair of Blundstones. Right now I am at $23.00 not including the shipping and handling. Three more days to go. 

Almost too easy really...

So been a while since I posted. Little miss blog stealer (some may know her just as P1) seems to have gotten out of control. Anyways, this is me reclaiming the space. Typical middle child.

For the most part this whole thing has been pretty easy. Just ask Ann! She hasn't felt wanting for anything or had to carry 80lb of free weights home from the other side of town. Oh no wait both of those things have happened. Oops.

Presents. This has become a rather contentious issue. What do we do if someone gives us something? Something that is new (or not bought from the person that made it)? Give it back? Give it away? Keep it? What if I asked my friend in Germany to bring me back a fountain pen? Could he, he being Robin, give it to me in a year? What are we going to do with all the toothbrushes and hair elastics that people think--and kinda--are cute to give us?

Also, does really fancy talcum powder count even if you stop buying deodorant? Just a note that Sister Ann (like the nun) is the smelly kid...like candy on telcum days...like smelly on other smellier days.

What about buying new things to fix your old things. This occurred to me as I went over a particularly sharp looking stretch of gravel on my free bike. With skinny free wheels. That are older than me (and probably you too).

Light bulbs?

Overall though this whole thing has turned out to be much easier than anticipated. I guess it hasn't been that long though. And after 4 years of paying to fill my head with expensive information I forget what having money to buy things is like. The lip ring was a shocker though. Usually remember about not being able to buy stuff before I've mentally already bought it. Not that time. Caught very off guard.

I've developed a bit of a framework in my mind to categorize all of the things we (we in the general sense not we in the Ann and Jane sense because we don't buy anything) buy....it's a graph. With need on the bottom (increasing to the right) and ease at which the product can be purchased used on the side (decreasing up). This gives us broad categories in which products can be plotted (1) need/can't buy used (2) need/can buy used (3) don't need /can't buy used (4) don't need/can buy used.

Examples of these categories are:

(1) hair elastics (it's becoming an increasingly bigger deal around our house to ask to "borrow" a hair elastic), toothbrushes, Blundstones (Ann "needs" these), candy flavoured body powder (Ann "needs" that too)
(2) blender, wireless router
(3) lip ring, silver toe ring, as well as Blundstones and candy flavoured body powder (but only if you're Jane see #1 of you're Ani)
(4) vacuum food bag sealers, puppies, and those wooden honey dipping things.

How often do we put things in the wrong categories? And buy them new when they can be bought (better and cheaper) used. Or buy them when we don't need them at all. I will never buy a new blender ever again. And Ann (aka P1) may always need Blundstones.

Humm I think I just feel asleep at the computer...dreaming mostly about those little honey dipper things. Soo embarrassing.

Anyways, the other day I couldn't bring myself to buy elastic bands for work. I sent plans to the drywallers with broccoli elastics on them. Personal hardship. No. Weird. Yes.

Come visit our blender. You wont regret it.

Signing off.
Jane (the un-needy one)

A ring in trouble

Both Jane and Ann (me) have piercings. Both Jane and Ann (me) want to get new rings for them. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! That's right folks. We have hit the first real roadblock in our adventure. You can't buy used nose and lip rings, nope. We have to live without them. A first. We are altering our buying habits. This is the start of it all. The night is here and I am sleepy.

Bad breath?! Don't blame me!

What will I do when my toothbrush gets old? A friend suggested going to the dentist and getting a free one. That might work.
Ho hum.
My boss said that was kind of cheating because I am still consuming and supporting the product, and if everyone would stop accepting toothbrushes than the plastic toothbrush company would have to stop making plastic toothbrushes. So maybe I should say "screw this not buy anything new for a year revolution" and join the " screw plastic toothbrush revolution" which may or may not have just started right this very second.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/source_toothbru.php

Ha! They do exists. Well kind of.

I bought a wireless router today. $20.00 and it is beautiful, the guy I bought it from had the receipt and everything. Works like a charm. I heart craigslist! I have to figure out how to put pictures up on this blog thing. I feel the full effect of our purchases cannot be appreciated unless you can see the product.
Anyway, so far living off of society's "extras" has been wonderful. A true life of luxury, why anyone would buy things new is totally mind boggling. Never again my friends, never again.
Also, I need (ish) * side note* I feel I over use the term "I need", I am sorry and am now trying to make an effort to limit the use. Anyway, I feel like it might be time for a new record needle, I can't stand the sound of a needle skimming the surface of my records, Ouch!
Ok, well once again, the work day is fast approaching and I have yet again rambled on more that I should have. Shucks.

toodles friends...
Ann

Just a thought

This is not as easy as I thought it might be. I am one of those challenging people who want what they cannot have. So here I am deep in thought over things that I do actually need but cannot buy. I think I need an wireless internet router, it is getting to be a bit of a hassle to keep coming into Jane's room to check my email (and write this blog). I guess I should post an ad on those fancy websites. But I really want the Mac one. It is pretty neat, you can make any internet connection wireless, super transportable and small. Bummer, oh well. I also need shorts, that is pretty easy to find used. However, there is something nice about a new season and the clothes that come with it. A transitional thing.
Also we added a new rule;
8 (maybe) You can buy something if you buy it from the person who made it. In our attempt to buy solely previously owned items we also would like to stress the importance of local sustainability and support. "Art in the Park Ottawa" happened today and although myself and Jane did not buy anything we feel it would be an injustice to not support these local artists. Maybe we should consider barter, who knows. Just some thoughts.
Warm summer nights and smooth bearings to all.
Ann

An addition to "The List"

This is a lie, I figured that if we couldn't have new stuff we should be allowed frivolous food. But really who am I kidding? I need dark chocolate hot chocolate somedays and I am sure that would have been an item on the chopping block, this is supposed to be fun not torture. That is all.
Sunshine and smiles (and dark chocolate hot chocolate from Treasures--if you have the means I highly recommend you pick one up, two actually:))