Before I get started, let me make one thing clear: this is not for everyone. What's more, I certainly wouldn't want you to abstain from buying anything from the many companies that advertise on the site. Please, if you want or need something, by all means, click on their ads! And buy, buy, buy! It helps support TheSkiDiva.
What I want to talk about here is pretty much the antithesis of the Gear Addiction and Jacket Slut threads we've had on the site. Because now that the year is nearly half over, I thought I'd come clean: I made a resolution to not buy anything for myself in 2015.
Why? Well, two reasons: First, I just wanted to see whether or not I could do it. I have a friend who went 12 months without drinking any alcohol, and this seemed like an interesting twist on that. And second, I already have a ton of stuff. And not just ski stuff. My closet is full of shirts/sweaters/pants/shoes/you name it. I mean, how much do I really need?
I did leave myself two outs: necessities, like if I was in desperate need for underwear or socks or something like that. Also, shampoo, toiletries -- that's all okay. Oh, and I left ski boots on the table. I knew I'd need a new pair, which I did (mine were badly packed out and had over 200 days of wear). So I bought them. Believe me, for me that IS a necessity.
Reaction has been funny. My mother is aghast -- though I'm not exactly sure why -- and other people have said it's a good idea but they could never do it themselves. To be honest, I think they'd be surprised by how easy it actually is.
Have I been tempted? A bit, but I'm really not a huge shopper, and living out in the woods makes it pretty easy to not buy things. The hardest part was avoiding all the end of the season sales in the ski shops and on line.
So here we are: nearly six months down, six more to go. Will I make it? Yeah, I think so.
One more thing: By doing this, I'm not passing judgement on anyone's choices to buy whatever they like. This is just something I'm doing for me, because I'm in a place now that makes it possible, both emotionally and materially. Once the year is up, there's no telling what I'll do.
What I want to talk about here is pretty much the antithesis of the Gear Addiction and Jacket Slut threads we've had on the site. Because now that the year is nearly half over, I thought I'd come clean: I made a resolution to not buy anything for myself in 2015.
Why? Well, two reasons: First, I just wanted to see whether or not I could do it. I have a friend who went 12 months without drinking any alcohol, and this seemed like an interesting twist on that. And second, I already have a ton of stuff. And not just ski stuff. My closet is full of shirts/sweaters/pants/shoes/you name it. I mean, how much do I really need?
I did leave myself two outs: necessities, like if I was in desperate need for underwear or socks or something like that. Also, shampoo, toiletries -- that's all okay. Oh, and I left ski boots on the table. I knew I'd need a new pair, which I did (mine were badly packed out and had over 200 days of wear). So I bought them. Believe me, for me that IS a necessity.
Reaction has been funny. My mother is aghast -- though I'm not exactly sure why -- and other people have said it's a good idea but they could never do it themselves. To be honest, I think they'd be surprised by how easy it actually is.
Have I been tempted? A bit, but I'm really not a huge shopper, and living out in the woods makes it pretty easy to not buy things. The hardest part was avoiding all the end of the season sales in the ski shops and on line.
So here we are: nearly six months down, six more to go. Will I make it? Yeah, I think so.
One more thing: By doing this, I'm not passing judgement on anyone's choices to buy whatever they like. This is just something I'm doing for me, because I'm in a place now that makes it possible, both emotionally and materially. Once the year is up, there's no telling what I'll do.
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