The Three Rules of NOT Buying

**lukesmama** · 07-21-2007, 03:19 PM

There's a neat little site I'm sure some of you are familiar with, Cindy's Porch. It has a really cool article that is making me think, so I thought I'd share it.

http://www.cindysporch.com/pages/shopping_rules.shtml

Basically, she states the three rules of NOT buying are

1. DO instead of BUY

2. SHOP at home FIRST

3. PROCRASTINATE

I thought it'd be neat to talk about how we each already do these things, and in what areas we need to consider starting to apply these rules.

Personally, I am not so good at shopping at home first. I need to do this for groceries/HBA stuff rather than buying new (I have 5 bottles of body wash and twice as many shampoos, lol).

I also need to work on doing instead of buying. Like with my son, instead of ordering him a new toy off amazon every time he looks bored with his current selection, I ought to unearth one he hasn't played with in eons and play it with him. Hey, that idea also incorporates rule number two!

I have been procrastinating on purchasing a blender; mine broke three months ago. The only thing I use it for is smoothies for my son, which I have made successfully in the food processor/chopper (although it's more trouble and takes longer, admittedly). I will replace it eventually but I'm waiting on a good price. I have a $10 JC Penney's coupon and might check next week to see if they carry (inexpensive) blenders in their kitchenwares department.

I am procrastinating/making do with buying new clothes for myself...I can't fit into all my pre-baby clothes yet but am making do with the ones that do fit, since I don't want to buy more "fat" clothes (if you know what I mean).

Anyway, just thought it'd make an interesting point of discussion. Hope someone else thinks so, too.

**newresolve** · 07-21-2007, 04:30 PM

just a word on the blenders... it's worthwhile to get a decent one. I bought a cheap one and it died on me within months. So then I asked for a good one for my birthday--it's nothing fancy but much sturdier than the first one!

**peanut** · 07-21-2007, 05:19 PM

Oh this is so true! I try to do these things too.

1. DO instead of BUY - my efforts here are in the area of linens for the home. Rather than buy napkins, I rip up old tablecloths and sew them. Rather than buy bedding, I make quilts from old clothes, etc. Rather than buy dishcloths, I make them from old towels. Rather than buy pre-packaged food, I make everything from scratch. Lots in this area to think about and do!

2. SHOP at home FIRST - yep. Always see if there's something at home that will do the job. Doesn't have to be intended for the job originally; just has to fill the gap and be able to function for the job. For example the old fence we turned into a computer desk, bookcase, CD stand, plant stand, planters, etc. Yep, and the laundry detergent buckets we painted for planters for the backyard patio.

3. PROCRASTINATE - I'm doing this with my toaster right now. It's been on the fritz for some time. Actually a short in the wire where it meets the plug...too many people pulling on the cord and not the plug to unplug it. I've been putting off buying a new toaster because I'm thinking I might just get a new plug and rewire this one. But the controls aren't very good. Either the toast is really well done or not cooked at all. So a new toaster is really in order. Just haven't got around to it. Note: lest everyone think we're living dangerously...we don't use the toaster that often, and not anymore. It's just sitting there.

A note about blenders. Try to get them to plug it in and turn it on in the store. We bought what we thought was a really good blender, only to have it be so loud that it just about breaks our eardrums every time we run it. I just hate it, and wish we hadn't paid so much for it.

**lukesmama** · 07-21-2007, 06:25 PM

Good advice on the blender!

The one that broke was a $50 stainless/chrome (or whatever) Oster. It was a wedding gift. It was very loud and did a lousy job of blending (constantly had to shimmy the pitcher or stir with a spoon to get it to work right) so I won't miss it.

I guess that goes to show that price doesn't always correlate to quality. I thought $50 was steep when I registered for it, but I liked the way it looked.

**Jaded** · 07-22-2007, 04:37 PM

Well, I'm bad at 1 & 2, but I'm really good at 3. At work, I see all the specials and think "I should get that while it's BOGO" or something, when it's usually something I wouldn't buy anyway, or have enough of at home. I try to put it off as long as I can, and then the sale is over, and I didn't spend that money.

Do instead of buy is hard for me, because while I should actually cook a lot more, I don't. I also need to buy my veggies at the produce market more often (cheaper) instead of buying them at work, and take my lunch to work. I could probably save $50 a month doing that, but it's just so convenient when I have an hour for lunch to walk around and pick up what I want and eat it right away.

Shop at home first, I'm VERY bad at. I'll be out like at DG and can't remember if I have something, so I'll buy one, then find out I have 2 at home. I need to make lists. I used to have a bulletin board with a dry erase side that I wrote my list on when I ran out or was coming close to running out of something, but it went away with the ex, and I never replaced it. Guess it would pay to do so.

I'm procrastinating right now buying a new coffee maker. I'm actually using the old one like a Melitta...I'm heating the water in a kettle and pouring it through by hand! LOL I want to go to the thrift store and see if I can find a 4 cup Mr. Coffee instead of buying a new, cheap on for $10 that probably won't last.

I'm also procrastinating buying a bed for the guest room, because I'm looking on Freecycle and trying to grab a free one there.

**FrugalMomof3** · 07-22-2007, 06:13 PM

Thanks so much for the tips, I try my best to follow those rules and I would have to say I have been doing good with it too!

**peanut** · 07-22-2007, 07:33 PM

The other thing I've been procrastinating on is buying furniture for the house. We've never fit into this house well furniture wise. Just don't have the right type or design. I always said I wanted the house renovated before I bought nice furniture. Well, the house has never been finished renovating, so I'm saving my money. I'm not throwing good money at a white elephant. So right now we have no sofa, and I don't plan to purchase one until this December at the earliest. Just means fewer people watch TV because there's no place to get comfy. I don't feel bad at all.

Jean

**claimsgirl66** · 07-22-2007, 07:59 PM

Thanks for the link!

**lukesmama** · 07-22-2007, 09:36 PM

Today I used one of these rules to save some money...#2, shop at home first.

My son needed a new pillow, as his toddler size one is really stinky from being drooled on

. Anyway, I have shopped and can't find a small one, so the alternative is to buy a regular one; I saw one for 2.99, and almost got it, but DS told me he really wanted another small one.

So, I got resourceful. I found an old pair of pants I'd placed in my fabric scrap heap (not that I sew) that has a broken zipper. Since I don't sew I will certainly never replace a zipper, so I went ahead and cut off the leg, which was the perfect width for a toddler pillow. I had some poly-fill stuffing sitting around, so I just stuffed it, sewed it up, and voila! Saved 2.99 (at least, I know those small ones cost more though, as if I could find one anyway) and got to use some of my "supplies" that have been sitting around here forever.

Yay!