Yesterday, two weeks before Christmas, I made a trip to Costco. While I try to avoid this place during the holidays, I figured going in as early as possible with a cup of coffee might make it okay. And it was! It wasn't bad at all.
I went in for two things. I'd already made the big trip to get all of the things I needed a few weeks ago, and now I needed to get the few things I'd forgotten. I needed chicken and chicken stock, and that was it. No extras, no gifts, and especially no desserts. But I did want to peruse some of the aisles just for fun.
That was my first mistake. With free time and the willingness to entertain buying, which isn't hard to do at Costco at Christmas, aisle after aisle had something that I could use, give, or need "for survival." And at the same time, every one of these things wasn't truly needed.
For example, I came across an eight-pack of Christmas hand towels for the kitchen. Of course, I wanted one for the season. It's standard for me to have a holiday hand towel in the kitchen, but the last one I'd had was now being used as a rag, and I needed another. But here was the real question ... did I need eight?
I stood there looking at the colors of green, red, and blue, and longed for the soft cotton towels. I could easily justify this. I could use one or two and put the rest away for seasons later. But then I'd be storing them. Just "holding this for later," which is pretty much a cardinal sin for all minimalists. That's how we become maximalists!
But the price was right. Incredibly inexpensive. It was a worthy, needed, and inexpensive item. But, eight? I told myself I can go somewhere else, buy one towel, and call it good with zero waste, zero need to store more, and save money in the process.
I walked away from the towels. No one needs eight towels for their kitchen in any season. But Costco, and their advertising ways, made me think that I do; that I'm crazy for walking past this amazing deal! And if I were to do this with everything that tickled my fancy, it's how I would walk out of there with a cart full of stuff I really don't need.
Do you have trouble with this like I do? Here's a to-do list (I momentarily forgot to use) that kicked in once I came to my senses:
1. Make a list
2. Only buy what's on the list
3. Don't look around unless you're willing to say no to yourself on EVERYTHING
4. Think about why you're buying: need or want?
5. Think about your budget
6. Remind yourself about your style: You are a minimalist
7. Think about staying on track financially
8. Only buy what's on the list (yes, I wrote this twice)
9. Run to the car after checking out, so you don't change your mind!
10. Sip coffee, pat yourself on the back, and drive home satisfied that you made it one more trip to Costco without buying something you didn't need.
So, I'm reconfirming how to shop and stick to both a budget and a minimalist plan because even though I've been doing this minimal thing for a while, it doesn't mean I'm never tempted to buy. And there will be trips that I do need to buy, or hey, sometimes, there's the occasional item that finds itself in the cart, and that's okay!
This trip was a good reminder that there will always be many reasons to spend: because it's fun, because I'm bored, have the money, and want to spend said money. But just because I can, doesn't mean I should. And that's where I want to be: willing to live with less, appreciate what I have, and have the courage and fortitude not to buy something just because it's there.
Sometimes you just have to say no to yourself, walk away, and let the desire fade on its own (which may take time).
Merry Christmas, my minimalist friends. Stay strong, stick to the list, and all will be well!
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