I never used to contemplate consumerism. In the past, if I wanted to buy something, the only consideration was whether or not I should spend my hard earned cash on it.
Maybe it’s because I am pretty frugal… ok I admit it.. I’m kinda tight with my money. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good bit of retail therapy as much as the next person, but more often than not, I’ll look but not buy, preferring to hold on to my money until the perfect item comes along – even if it never does. Every now and then though, I’ll go out and spend spend spend… because it’s fun, it makes me feel good.
And that’s the thing isn’t it… I’ll blow some cash on stuff I don’t really need just because buying things is good.
When you say it like that it kind of sounds a bit pathetic. I wonder how I got to be like that? How our society and culture managed to intertwine spending money with feeling good? Is it as evil as it sounds? Is it like any other addictive substance – ok if you only indulge in moderation? If you don’t spend more than you have? Don’t put shopping and spending before your family etc?
How on earth do you pull yourself out of the brainwashing and remember that there are millions of free things in the world that make you feel even better than shopping?
Take today for example.
I decided we needed more face washers (they are like socks in this house, they all get together and run off to fairy land to live with one of every pair of ear rings I’ve ever owned.). I contemplated packing the kids into the Big White Bus and heading into town where I knew I could buy a couple of packs of cheap washers. But then did I really need to spend money on face washers? I have been feeling the sewing urge of late, surely I had plenty of material in my stash, I could sew my own? But the lure of nice new, brightly coloured, matching face washers was almost too much for me….
You will all be very proud of me when I tell that the photo above is just some of the 28 face washers I sewed today. All of them from recycled material – towels, flannel PJs and scraps I had around the house. Sure they don’t look as fancy and perfect as store bought washers… but they work, they were free, I got to practice my overlocking (I might even be getting better!), and they satisfied my urge to sew (along with some new wheat bags and two cushion covers).
Mind you… I am still lusting after a pile of nice new face washers. What is wrong with me?
I think they look great. It would be ace to have an overlocker!
Well, given I thought you’d gone and bought yourself a new stash of material, I think your facewashers look fabulous!! Oh how I wish I could sew, I’d like yours over bought ones any day!
You could have just written my dilema word for word! I have been wanting to get some new towels and bath mats for the bathroom. I have been inspired to blog about it. Although your post is a better read :)
ts hard isn’t it??
That lure of buying lubberly NEW stuff.the smell of it and fondling it before you buy it.and then when you bring it home.its just *stuff*.
you will so well making your own!!WELL DONE GIRL!!!
I struggle with this spend/save thing all the time!
Like yesterday. The big boys need new pants, they seem to wear holes in the knees of their old pants very quickly these days. and I’m not handy with a sewing machine (I don’t actually own one either)…
So, off to the shops for pants, found a great pair of jeans for Luey (7.5), in size 7, which turns out to be way too big on him anyway, so he’ll get a couple of years out of them (if he doesn’t wear through the knee of them before that) for $8! Yay, me!
But then I see the new Bonds range, and despite have PLENTY of clothes (even more than that if I drag myself out to the garage), I bought Ari yet another top and yet another pair of leggings, just because it gave me a thrill! That cost me $19, oh dear…
well done Kate. They look great.
I am wondering if you can the same thing without an overlocker?
I need new washers too and I hate spending money on stuff lately too.
It should be able to be done without the overloacker (Im going to try.) I am thinking of doing it with a small hem.
I am the sort of shopper who walks into shops and saves by not buying ALL THE TIME.
The thing is, you completed that NEXT fateful step by actually following through and making stuff. Onya!
I love new facewashers.
I love the ones you sewed but I SO understand your need for bright, fluffy new washers, just like I understand how the sock fairies have danced away with one of your sock pairs and your earrings. (They stop by my house frequently).
I get entirely where you are coming from, only my nemesis seems to be socks and undies. Maybe because all my socks and underwear are off gallivanting with your earrings?
They look great!!
Wish I could figure out my overlocker…….. sigh