Deprogramming Necessities

This is my final blog, sorry that it has taken me so long but I have been doing some research. My grand total saved after 30 days of living on just needs was $176. My list includes only items that I would have normally bought if not doing this project. It is not as complete as I had hoped because I forget to write some items down, it was hard to keep track. The total was still higher then I anticipated, even with the missed items, I live pretty simply anyways but even cutting back more saved me a lot of money.

McDonalds- $5.00
Rum for party- $11.00
Breakfast with coworkers- $6.00
Chips from Vending Machine-$0.75
Sandals $14.99
Lunch at Taco Bell-$6.00
Easter Bunny for Niece-$4.00
Case of Coke-$4.99
Drinks at bars-$10.00
Oreo Cookies-$3.45
Ice cream-$4.45
Cute Earrings-$14.00
Drinks at bar-$10.00
Cute t-shirt-$16.99
Movie with friends- $7.00
Dinner with friends- $15.00
Drinks at bar-$10.00
Vending Machine -$1.00
Bag of chips-$4.45
Mac-n cheese-$0.99
Frozen Pizza-$3.00
Sandwich at Union -$2.95
Case of Coke-$4.99
Drinks at bar-$15.00
$176.00

After weeks of trying to get more information about a worth place to donate I gave up. For one it is not that large of a donation and wouldn’t make that much of a difference to an organization. So, I determined that it would be more helpful to the environment to use the money for some environmental improvements in my life. I used $20 to buy reusable shopping bags. I have been meaning to do it for awhile but just haven’t had the extra cash or motivation. Next I switched all of my apartments cleaning supplies to more environmentally safe products, which cost me $40. I have also invested in several additional bins for recycling in my apartment. I have always recycled plastic and aluminum, and now have bins for glass and paper. The bins cost be about $15. The rest of the money will continue to go towards environmental improvements in my life. I learned a lot from this project, not only about needs and wants but also myself. I now feel more comfortable staying home rather then always going out with my friends. I learned that I can enjoy reading my book in the park just as much as going to the movie theatre. I hope to continue to live more on just needs, but not as strictly. There are several things that I cut out of my life because of this project and will continue to do without them because I don’t miss at all. Eating out frequently, going out and drinking every weekend at the bars, eating at vending machines. I will still do these things, just not as much. If nothing else this project made me more aware of the things that I purchase, and now I think twice before purchasing anything, so even though I had some slip ups (coffee, drunk trip to Gumby’s, a few books, DVD for a birthday) I consider my project a success.

Deprogramming Necessities

Spring Break was a lot easier then I expected it to be. I spent the break in Manhattan working. Which made spending money a lot less tempting. My friends have been the biggest problem. They like to go out to eat frequently, and my girlfriends like to go shopping as entertainment. I have gotten use to going with them and not buying anything though. I have also gotten into the habit of just not going.
For entertainment I have been reading a lot more, I was a book worm to before starting this project, I am far beyond that title now. Also, the weather has made it easier for me to avoid spenging money. I have been able to go on more walks and spend time out in nature, walking or just sitting and reading, rather then at activities that require money.
I have ran into a problem though. I have gotten so use to not buying anything, that I don’t even notice things that I would have ordinarily bought to keep track of. But I guess that was is the purpose

Deprogramming Necessities

I am back again to discuss my life living on just necessities. As the past couple weeks have gone by I have actually found it easier, and easier to avoid non-necessary items. I have even been just going shopping a lot less. I normally would go to the grocery store about two times a week, but since my list is smaller and I have been buying bigger quantities of items like milk, I haven’t had to go grocery shopping as much! This saves not only the resources I would have used by buying items, but also on pollution driving to the store.

I also went on my first trip to the mall since starting this project. I was eager to check out the latest shoes and accessories, even though I couldn’t buy anything. What made it even more tempting was I had just got paid on Friday. I am happy to report that I did not purchase anything, I was tempted, but I left the mall with a since of pride in myself for not succumbing to the temptation. And just like I suspected at the beginning of this project, when I got home and thought about the item I was debating purchasing I realized that I didn’t need it. At the mall I thought I might, but now I realize that it was all just a programmed reaction to something I found cute and at the time useful.

There are some unnecessary items that I decided I would allow, like my coffee, snacks at vending machines when I forgot mine from home, and I bought a bottle of body lotion. I ran out of lotion about 3 days after starting the project. By this week my hands were so cracked, they were bleeding. To make up for it though I found a lotion that was non-animal tested, and contained no additional color, scent, or chemical additives.

Deprogramming Necessities

Three days have gone by with my Lived Experience of only buying needs, and I have already made an unnecessary purchase. I feel guilty, so maybe by confessing it I will feel better. It started Tuesday night when I stayed up until 2 a.m. finishing a project for a class, Wednesday I was extremely tired and left my apartment without my coffee. I am not a human without my coffee on normal days and am especially unhappy after a late night. So I bought a cup of coffee from Caribou. I normally have one of their small, caramel, latté’s two of three times and week. When this project came around I knew that giving up my beloved beverage would be a big save on resources, I just never thought it would be so hard. I have decided that I just can’t do it right now with my schedule, and bodily dependence on it. It is going to have to be my guilty pleasure. I have my drink made in a reusable, coffee mug, which has to count for something.
Grocery shopping has also been tough. I put things into my cart without thinking about it, until I am either three aisles down or at the check out. Then I scold myself and back to replace it. I am not starving by any means, actually I am probably eating better then I have in the three years. I am trying to avoid prepackaged, snack, and just excess foods, and in exchange I have been eating a lot more fruits and vegetables.
As far as saving money I have noticed that my food bill did not change that much. Even though I am cutting back on packaged and excess food, I have been buying out of season fruit and vegetables which are expensive. The trade off may be better for the health of the environment and myself, but I will have to wait and see if I really saved money at the end of the month.
Not eating out, has also been a challenge. My friends like to eat out frequently; it is definitely a big source of entertainment to my group of friends. Instead, I have been inviting to cook dinner for people. It has been just as much fun, but once again I am not for sure if I am going to save any money since I am still spending money on the food. Eating out is also a wonderful convenience. Now I have had to make more time to cook, which can be hard with my schedule. I find myself making bigger amounts to last me several meals.

Deprogramming Necessities

For my project I am tackling the kindergarten lesson of needs and wants in as Lived Experience. I am only purchasing things I need for 30 days. This is to reduce the amount of resources I use, and the amount of waste. Since we are such a consumer driven society, I believe we have been programmed to think that some things are needs when they are not. 
Some of the items I am giving up include: pop, juices and other drinks, alcohol, lotion and perfume, make-up, apparel, accessories, candy, eating out, snack foods like chips, cookies, crackers and other items not considered needs.
Things I can buy include: necessary hygeine products, medicine, school related items, food, and milk. I am already having problems though determining needs from wants as far as food though. I think I am going to keep food a broad topic concerning needs. I am going to try to keep my food buying down to basics, like breads, raw meat, vegetables, fruit, and rice, but I am already experiencing problems. Needs and wants seem like easy terms to define, but I am finding that I have more programmed needs then actually ones
As far as a schedule I am going cold turkey on this one, I have 30 days and am not buying anything I don’t need. I imagine that I will have some slip ups but will try my best.
At the end of thirty days I will also be able to see the amount of money I saved by keeping tract of the things I would have usually bought, or done if not doing this project. Then I plan on writing up what would have eventually happened to them item if I had purchased it.