Inspired by this post on Design Sponge, I decided to try not to buy things unnecessarily in May. It went well, very well, I came up with a "no buy" list, that I'd add items to, as I thought of them. I noticed a couple of things, firstly I seem to want to buy very random objects at all sorts of strange times. I didn't realise that. I didn't realise that I'd be walking down the road and decide that I absolutely needed a pair of espadrilles.When I started listing all the objects, it turns out that it happened quite a lot, and this also shows in a way what a curse internet shopping is, as it is now possible to go "I totally need a snorkeling mask" and be able to buy one without having to physically go to a store, look at various snorkeling masks and realise it's a ridiculous idea because you live in a landlocked city. Nope, you can buy almost anything instantaneously which means it is very easy to buy lots of stupid things, stupid things you don't really need.
The second was that, over time the list of things I actually properly needed or really wanted to buy was short, very short.
I said it went well, it did, for about a week and then I ended up with a broken leg, lots of time on the internet and being able to accept parcels at home. It kind of went to pot at that point. BUT, my mindset has changed, even though it properly happened for a week. It has forced me to think more about not just buying things because I want them then and there, but to consider it more, save for something good rather than lots of mediocre or rubbish items.
